Sad, this pile of a forum logged me out after typing maybe two paragraphs for you folks....so let me start again writing it local then pasting. It's a long post, but lots of good stuff and links.
We bought our 2015 16XRB on July 28th. Picked it up in Houston, drove to Discount Hitch to get a CURT #17001 Weight Distribution Hitch -
https://www.discounthitches.com/coll...products/17001 for the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport. They installed it for $402. Then headed home to Austin, and it pulled it flawlessly.
The XRB was a one owner. Never used. Sad story short, a sweet old man and woman bought it. Seven days after they got it, he got sick, and passed 30 days later. She kept for the next 2 years before she could get rid of it, and sold it to a small dealer (
RV's and Specialties). There was a note taped to the inside of the door from the original salesman that said something to the effect of "Mr and Mrs so and so, enjoy your new camper and all the adventures that await you." It was hard for Austin at RV's and Specialties to take it off and throw it away. I told him we would have adventures for them. The old man would be happy.
So I spent the next few days in the 105 degree temps in Austin getting the XRB ready. As you all know, you just gotta do some things so it makes it all easy.
So I get on Amazon and Walmart and start ordering. A good friend and seasoned RV'er told me "Go to walmart and buy everything in the RV section, you will need it."
Since we were not assured that we would have electric everywhere we might camp, it was time for some Generator research. A buddy has a Champion 4000 watt I could have borrowed. That unit was made by a Chinese company, and it is based on a Honda Motor, as they built Honda Generators, and when the agreement ended, they kept making them, and sold them as Champion. So that bar was set. But I am going to need LP Conversion....
So I find a dual fuel Champion at Walmart for $362, but they could not get it shipped before our departure date of Aug 2. So I settle on the:
Sportsman Gasoline 4000W Portable Generator -
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sportsman...rator/46542325 at $299 (now $599!!! lets hope this isn’t price gouging because of Harvey).
The Sportsman runs the trailer without issue. It will start the AC without any issue, even in 105 degree temps, with the Fridge on. It does not “chug down” like the Champion either.
So I ordered some Safety Struts -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JM3GJD/ for the back bumper, as Jayco told me it was rated to hold 100lbs total, and the spare tire is “roughly 45lbs”. I assumed that was just guesses since customer service didn’t know the weight of the mount. Then added some CURT 19100 RV Bumper Hitch -
https://www.amazon.com/CURT-19100-RV.../dp/B0007M1ZGE, two of them to provide a stable mount point. Then I cut some 2” square tube I had and mounted it to the generator skids, drilled for lock pins. Moved the Spare tire from center to the driver side and put the CURT’s as close to the passenger side frame as possible, square tube up. The Generator mounts perfectly and leaves about 1 inch between it and the bed when folded out.
I would not run the Gen when hooked to the trailer, as it is better to put it on the ground to isolate the vibration.
It needed some stability on the front, so I ordered BAL 23026 Tent Trailer Stabilizer -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9ATEW/ rated for 700lb lifting, and 1000lb load. Ordered the Round Feet, Camco 57883 Stabilizing Base Pads (4, only needed 2) -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024E6Z9U/
These mostly fit, you need to cut down the rubber sleeve that goes over the bolt to fit. These work well, but the crank arm fitting is specialized and not a socket style like on the back. Oh well, I’ll just carry two cranks.
These just have self taping screws, and with a 18v impact, they were easy to install. I just had to align them a little of of 90 degrees to screw to the frame and cross-bar. They work perfectly.
Noticed that the battery was hot. Too hot….smelled of acid. Normally I’d have dropped a Walmart battery in there, since they have far outlasted any other brand I have used, but I didn’t want anything but a sealed jell, so I went with a Optima Blue Top 8016-103 D34M -
https://www.amazon.com/Optima-Batter...dp/B00075OSCO/
I also needed a few other things that are what I think is necessary:
Camco 42183 Screen Door Bar -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012GTVVA/
Camco 40055 Brass Water Pressure Regulator -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BZD08U/r - you don’t want any pressure blowing fittings or seals.
Camco 40043 TastePURE Water Filter w/Flexible Hose Protector -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006IX87S/ - so many water sources are horrible
Camco 55312 125V 30M/30F Amp Dogbone Circuit Analyzer -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WED0XBC/ - this is critical in parks with flakey power
Camco 45164 62”x30” (4) -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VASH2Y/ to put together use tarp clips, and put over the top of the fold out to minimize heat (it works unbelievable well)
Camco 43712 RV Shower Head with On/Off Switch -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OAG2DK/ - Serious Jayco, this is a necessity. You waste twice as much water trying twice to get the temp set, once to get wet, then once more to rinse off.
For the Explorer, I wanted to take advantage of the 7 pin and utilize the electric brakes. I also wanted to mount the controller that would look nice. The 2013 Ford Explorer is already wired, you just need the adapter pigtail.
Reese Tow Power 74377 Pod Brake Controller -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CQSKV8/
Tekonsha 3035-P Brake Control Wiring Adapter for Ford -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NZQIDE/
This was a simple plug in and mount as the plug is just behind the knee panel. I could have gone with the Tekonsha digital Prodigy P2, then I have a reference number for the force, but just a turn dial works when you know how it should feel.
I already had the Magma Kettle 3 -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B1VPM7C/
and added the Magma On-Shore Stand Mount
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018Y8S24/
This is an excellent grill, as it gets good and hot (650 degrees) and I like to cook my steaks fast. I also don’t mind carrying small bottles, but will probably order the Low Pressure valve for (Magma A10-220 LPG Low Pressure Control Valve -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018Y6SZS/
We already had a Coleman 2 burner stove (we like to cook outside the camper and keep the smells down inside). I'll probably give this to a friend and buy the Coleman single burner, since it is just easer to pack.
I wanted the cleanest LCD install that would close up when in transit. There is no real place to store an LCD so I wanted it to mount to the back of the cabinet door above the fridge. So using some 2” x 1/8” aluminum bar stock and a Stanley Wall Mount Super Slim, Tilt (TMR-EC310T). Cut it to fit inside the cabinet door and drilled to mount over the hinge screws. I’ll post photos of that later.
Mounted a LCD from Fry's since there's one local and it was the cheapest local 12v/120v LCD from $129 for a NAXA 19" LED TV with DVD and 12V Car Package - [url=http://www.frys.com/product/8830472[/url] - It sucks where Jayco put the Coax, 12V and 120v for the TV. It's very much in the way of the cabinet door when open.
The Stereo was weak at best. I know Jayco saves a few nickels, but the difference in a $29 radio and a $79 radio WITH BLUETOOTH, that would also play DVD's (I originally considered using the Stereo for the DVD Player, with output from it to the LCD). So I picked up one at Walmart. Dual, thinking the wiring plug might be the same as what was there, it wasn't. So just wiredup. Funny I can't find that unit on Walmart, nor Dual, as I can't find a single din, with no pop-out screen, that plays DVD. Maybe I'm wrong....but I am sure it plays DVD's, it does have video out...I'll find the part number. But how can you live without BlueTooth???
Next is to wire some outdoor speakers.
A few other fun items just for fun that are on order:
Screens for the Furnace and Water Heater
Camco 5161 Hitch Mount Flagpole Holder
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IVGA0G/ I’ll mount another lower weight rated hitch mount pointing to the side, not back, that I will have a bar for the Grill, and mount the hitch holder and then the JTD Enterprises Flagpole To Go 20-Foot
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OWM2BE/ it collapses and reviews are good even holding 2 flags.
Fuller Wireless Tire Pressure Monitor System with 4 External Sensors
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZME9Q2/ for the trailer, and spare.
Chulux Single Serve Coffee Maker Brewer for K Cups
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010NMMPH0/
Next thing is to source electric blankets for the beds. Need to re-measure, but seem to remember 70x58, and a single control will work fine. Going to go with a 120v, and will probably install another socket for 120v next to each bed. For the front, it's easy to wire into the plug between the table and couch. Have not looked into the back area to see what I can do yet.
But this gives me something to work on this winter when I am not using it.
Linear Mode
