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Old 06-01-2017, 02:59 PM   #1
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What I learned over the last 2 weeks.....

after driving close to 7,000 miles out to California, up to Osoyoos and returning home. (1) Way too many clothes, I brought 7 pr dress shorts and 4 pr casual. Only wore the casual and did one load of wash. With washing opportunity in California and/or Osoyoos, one can reduce their luggage. (2) Always sanitize your water containers before filling, even if you did it after last use. Both my dogs suffered some sort of malaise. (3) Call your cc companies before leaving, prevents charges from being questioned while out of town. Also ask about foreign fees, one in four of my MasterCards will waive the fees. Also ask about promotions, one of my Visa offered interest free for rest of the year. (4) Obtain "The Next Exit" publication for determining while on the road the next available fuel/rest/food stops, if your GPS in not so equipped. (5) Check your trailer hitch height after loading the truck and trailer, I found the stock height was too high and lowered mine one inch to make my unit level while towing. An adjustable hitch is preferred. Also check your tongue weight via a scale. Mine was 450 lbs loaded. (6) After 2 weeks my battery operated interior fans stopped due to size D battery failure. I'm installing the permanent battery fans purchased 2 years ago for the Dometic RM 8555 issues. I also used the fridge fix internal plastic panels which allowed door items access without impacting the internal temperature. (7) I had an incident in 107 degrees with a rise in the refer to 50 degrees. Reace inspected the unit and said it was not blowing out but losing air via the condensate drain. I installed a balloon piece on the hose end, my refer stayed 37 on set# 3 the entire trip home. Granted it was not 107 but did get to low 90's several times.(8) Shelves are needed in the closet, maybe 5-6 will be made and installed. (9) The bath door needs to be reversed to allow better egress and entrance ease from the dinette area vs the kitchen area. (10) the trim around the countertops and table needs to be trimmed smooth, the edges are too sharp for comfort.
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Old 06-01-2017, 03:08 PM   #2
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I'll try the ballon on my two door's tube. Filling the water bin helps my temps, but would be nice to have a permanent solution
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Old 06-01-2017, 04:05 PM   #3
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Bottled water

Hey Jim.

You might consider using bottled water for the pups. That's what we do for Abigail and never have gastro issues due to varying water quality.

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Old 06-01-2017, 04:09 PM   #4
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Which adjustable hitch do you have?
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Old 06-01-2017, 07:10 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
Which adjustable hitch do you have?
Here is the link to the one I'm using...https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts...Tite/7390.html
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Old 06-01-2017, 07:34 PM   #6
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Thanks for your summary of ideas needed on your way back home.
But WHAT are dress shorts
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Old 06-01-2017, 08:06 PM   #7
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Dress shorts require a belt, have pockets, regular bermuda shorts come in waist sizes like regular pants. Casual shorts generally come in S/M/L/XL sizes, have draw waists, very comfortable.
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Old 06-01-2017, 08:35 PM   #8
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For people who travel weeks at a time in your trailers, do you re-sanitize the water tank periodically?
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Old 06-01-2017, 08:49 PM   #9
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For people who travel weeks at a time in your trailers, do you re-sanitize the water tank periodically?
I was referring to portable 5 gallon containers for the dogs, my on board fresh tank is only for flushing the toilet. If I knew I would not have water hookups, then yes, I would clean my fresh tank at the beginning of the season and during the season. At the end of the season it is drained.
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Old 06-01-2017, 09:06 PM   #10
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"Reace inspected the unit and said it was not blowing out but losing air via the condensate drain."

.......That's what got my attention. Had to go looking for the condensate drain in my RM8551. Think I found it inside the fridge. Too small to put a cork in it so think I'll try Duct tape.
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Old 06-01-2017, 10:37 PM   #11
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OK, Jim, thanks for the comparison of shorts. May have to go out and buy a belt...

Continue on with the thread...
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Old 06-02-2017, 06:41 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyronL View Post
"Reace inspected the unit and said it was not blowing out but losing air via the condensate drain."

.......That's what got my attention. Had to go looking for the condensate drain in my RM8551. Think I found it inside the fridge. Too small to put a cork in it so think I'll try Duct tape.
Hi: MyronL... The 8551 has a plastic cup that straddles the bottom black pipe behind the fridge. The condensate drain pipe fits into the cup which should have water in it to prevent it from drawing air into the fridge box. Alf
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Old 06-02-2017, 07:27 AM   #13
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Right, Alf, I saw that. Thinking however - condensed water accumulating inside fridge may be a non issue compared to cold air loss out the tube. Keeping a sponge in there may be all I need.
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Old 06-02-2017, 07:41 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyronL View Post
"Reace inspected the unit and said it was not blowing out but losing air via the condensate drain."

.......That's what got my attention. Had to go looking for the condensate drain in my RM8551. Think I found it inside the fridge. Too small to put a cork in it so think I'll try Duct tape.
Careful Myron, that drain allows water to exit when the unit is not being used and the condensate drips into the tube. Do not block it but instead take a small ballon, cut it and put the top half on the drain end, it will allow water to escape but not air back in. Similar to a Hepvo valve.....See here
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Old 06-02-2017, 07:42 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MyronL View Post
Right, Alf, I saw that. Thinking however - condensed water accumulating inside fridge may be a non issue compared to cold air loss out the tube. Keeping a sponge in there may be all I need.
Hi: MyronL... I can remember forgetting to dump the drip tray in our '07 5.0's 5cu. ft. fridge. What a soggy mess in the crisper. Nothing was crispy!!!
I'm going to try a condomsate balloon. A cheap pkg. of balloons is an easy solution!!! Alf
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Old 06-02-2017, 07:54 AM   #16
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Interesting... So, on your Dometic they eliminated the cup. Maybe that's where I'll insert a sponge.
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Old 06-02-2017, 09:00 AM   #17
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I do not have access to my condensate cup, I have the model as shown above. Is the balloon a solution for the RMD 8551? Can a balloon be fitted on the plastic tubing?.

In my mind another solution would be a method of retaining water inside the cup. I would be concerned that when driving that water in the cup could disappear in any of a number of ways. Once gone you now have an method for warm air to enter the refrigerator.

How about a cover on the cup?
A larger cup?
The "balloon"
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Old 06-02-2017, 09:34 AM   #18
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Anything that will keep air from entering the hose, either submersed in water, adding more hose and forming a loop, similar to a "P" trap in plumbing, or a ballon, similar to the "Hepvo" valve operation.
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Old 06-27-2017, 09:07 PM   #19
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No number chart, but the 2door 6.7 did well (overly well, as the veggies froze over night several times) at keeping the food/beer cold while boondocking for a week in up to a 38c parking lot. Typical fridge temps were 2c during day.

Ballon helping? Furnance mesh on outter vent helping too? No idea but hasn't hurt obviously.





Now about that frost build up ....
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