Minor fix questions on my trailer

[Iowa Dave]

Hi Jon
Is heavier always better?. I was in an auto parts store the other day and on the $5 table were three battery cables, new in the packaging there were two that were 15 inch and one that was 35 inches long. Each was $5. I passed on them but thought that looked like a good deal. I just didn’t need them. I thought about replacing the one between the batteries with a heavy duty unit.
Iowa Dave

[ghosthunter]

Thank you all for the reply’s. I will hook up the solar after work today. The panel has been on my trailer several times over the last couple years. But I had never hooked it up..

Thank you.

[ghosthunter]

Got the solar hooked up tonight. Charging away. All good.

Thank you.

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

My next project. Sometime next week is to tackle a interior light over my cook top.

The seller told me it had stopped working just before he returned home from a four month trip.
He had sold his house and was working on moving to Utah. So no time to trouble shoot it.

All other lights in trailer work fine. The trailer is on shore power.
I thought maybe it was a bulb, but I moved a known good bulb from another fixture and still doesn’t work.
The wiring in the cabinet all seems in good shape and the light over the sink is working fine.

Do these fixtures go bad?

I have a brand new Klein MM400 multi tester that I just bought. But barley know what to do with it.

So how would you approach this problem?

Thanks in advance.

Well got around to this light today. I removed from the cabinet and start wigging wires.
Got it to come on. Closer look there was a loose connection at the switch. Tightened it up and works fine.

Tomorrow going to check torque on lug nuts. First owner replaced all lug nuts with rhino nuts. Takes a special socket.

[ghosthunter]

We also added a cargo carrier.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

We also added a cargo carrier.

Looks great

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Hi Jon
Is heavier always better?. I was in an auto parts store the other day and on the $5 table were three battery cables, new in the packaging there were two that were 15 inch and one that was 35 inches long. Each was $5. I passed on them but thought that looked like a good deal. I just didn’t need them. I thought about replacing the one between the batteries with a heavy duty unit.
Iowa Dave

Welding wire works well for that

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Hi Jon
Is heavier always better?. I was in an auto parts store the other day and on the $5 table were three battery cables, new in the packaging there were two that were 15 inch and one that was 35 inches long. Each was $5. I passed on them but thought that looked like a good deal. I just didn’t need them. I thought about replacing the one between the batteries with a heavy duty unit.
Iowa Dave

With the exception of the 17 which has the batteries on opposite ends of the rear bumper, the run between batteries is so short that the voltage drop caused by the difference between a couple of wire sizes is negligible. You still want to have the wire large enough for the expected current, but for the most part Escape provides large enough wire.

[Iowa Dave]

Thanks Jon
i just wasn't sure and didn't think about a short distance. Since it's worked well for 4 years I didn't figure a change needed to be made.
Iowa Dave

[ghosthunter]

Ok so let me know if my thinking is correct.

On my last trip I filled my fresh water full for the first time.

Right off the trailer was swaying like it never has.

I knew it was water related. But my thought was the water was sloshing around. I pulled into a rest area and drained 1/3 of the fresh water out.

No more problem. 800 miles round trip no problem.

Now couple weeks later I am thinking that it was not sloshing but weight at the rear of the trailer causing the problem. The 15 has the fresh water across the back.

I would like to travel with a full tank at times. But I can’t figure how to add more weight to the tong . The trailers galley is across the front and we have it stocked. Also the front storage is full.

Any ideas?

[cpaharley2008]

Perhaps a 5 gallon portable container would help, normally blue to indicate potable water.

[ghosthunter]

Was thinking that might help.

[Randy in Maine]

My current trailer (a 2002 Shadow Cruiser) is kind of light in the nose and as such is also subject to "trailer sway". I keep my front mounted fresh water tank about 1/2 full and also keep things as my tool box and coolers as far forward as possible. I also have an anti-sway gizmo on the hitch that also helps. Looks sort of like this and came with the trailer (that was given to me).

https://ic.carid.com/curt/items/17200_1.jpg

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Ok so let me know if my thinking is correct.

On my last trip I filled my fresh water full for the first time.

Right off the trailer was swaying like it never has.

I knew it was water related. But my thought was the water was sloshing around. I pulled into a rest area and drained 1/3 of the fresh water out.

No more problem. 800 miles round trip no problem.

Now couple weeks later I am thinking that it was not sloshing but weight at the rear of the trailer causing the problem. The 15 has the fresh water across the back.

I would like to travel with a full tank at times. But I can’t figure how to add more weight to the tong . The trailers galley is across the front and we have it stocked. Also the front storage is full.

Any ideas?

Unfortunately a full tank of water can cause issues depending on the particular trailer and the overall weight distribution. It also changes as the fresh water moves to black and gray tanks that are farther forward. The only time I had a significant issue with sway (on the 19) was with rear storage box pretty full, fresh tank full, full fridge and some wood and a heavy cooler back over the axle. Too light on the tongue. My recommendation is to travel with a 1/2 tank of water maximum and make sure that your tongue weight is 10-15% of overall trailer weight. If you need more water fill up a couple of 5 gallon portables and secure them as far forward as possible in the trailer. When you get to your destination you can dump or pump them into your onboard tank. Scepter makes a really nice container. The portables can be convenient to have on your trip anyhow if you don't have water hookup and need to bring water back to your trailer from a remote fill location.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...8&gclsrc=3p.ds

[ghosthunter]

So new issue.

I got a new 2000 Inverter generator Predator.

Took it with me this weekend. Ran it four hours on trailer.

Monitor inside from bottom up. Red, red, yellow, green with generator hooked up and running.
Disconnect generator and bottom red light only… battery low.


Everything else works ,lights, refer, furnace

Batteries low. Worked fine two weeks ago when charged on home power.

Seems like I read about this issue a while back on here. Seem like there was a special plug or something needed for generator.

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

So new issue.

I got a new 2000 Inverter generator Predator.

Took it with me this weekend. Ran it four hours on trailer.

Monitor inside from bottom up. Red, red, yellow, green with generator hooked up and running.
Disconnect generator and bottom red light only… battery low.


Everything else works ,lights, refer, furnace

Batteries low. Worked fine two weeks ago when charged on home power.

Seems like I read about this issue a while back on here. Seem like there was a special plug or something needed for generator.

Hooked it up to shore power at home charging just fine.

[Iowa Dave]

You need a neutral ground bonding plug. You can make one or buy one from Southwire.
https://www.google.com/search?q=neut...&client=safari
That’s what I am using on the Honda 2200i.
Charges the battery just fine with the plug in one of the two outlets, doesn’t matter which one on the Honda.
Iowa Dave

[ghosthunter]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

You need a neutral ground bonding plug. You can make one or buy one from Southwire.
https://www.google.com/search?q=neut...&client=safari
That’s what I am using on the Honda 2200i.
Charges the battery just fine with the plug in one of the two outlets, doesn’t matter which one on the Honda.
Iowa Dave

Thank you

I knew I read about that some where.

[ghosthunter]

I am back with another question.
I spent October living in my Canvas wall tents around the state, and the trailer and wife have been snuggled up at home in the down pouring rain our state is famous for.

But with retirement coming at years end. It’s time to work on some trailer projects before we hit the road in spring.

So question.


Back when we first got the 15 b we were set up some where and a gust of wind caught the awning. Now everything works fine. Awning goes in and out ok. But I noticed it now has maybe 4 inches of slack in it when out. Maybe less. It use to be tight. We have rolled it in and out several times but doesn’t seem to change.
Any ideas on how to tighten it up a little?

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I am back with another question.
I spent October living in my Canvas wall tents around the state, and the trailer and wife have been snuggled up at home in the down pouring rain our state is famous for.

But with retirement coming at years end. It’s time to work on some trailer projects before we hit the road in spring.

So question.


Back when we first got the 15 b we were set up some where and a gust of wind caught the awning. Now everything works fine. Awning goes in and out ok. But I noticed it now has maybe 4 inches of slack in it when out. Maybe less. It use to be tight. We have rolled it in and out several times but doesn’t seem to change.
Any ideas on how to tighten it up a little?

I believe the manual has instructions on taking up slack.......