Recent content by GhostOrchid

I'm intrigued by what I've read about the Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid, and wondering whether anyone has experience with it, or any other PHEV, as a tow vehicle. Rated tow capacity is 2,500. When I'm camping, it's usually at sites with electric, and the tow vehicle often just sits for...

Demonstrating another of his many talents, Cary did a fine job explaining the teardrop mystique and the Camp Inn difference in a WHBY interview for their "Made in Wisconsin" series this week. Click below to hear the piece and learn all the secrets, including what they call Craig. Cary, now I...

My 550 was new in August 2014. Now has in the neighborhood of 25,000 miles on the original tires. Tread is in good shape, but a friend with a Brand X teardrop tells me they should be replaced every seven years regardless of wear. Is that right?

Rotus8- I also have the factory installed solar controller. What sources did you find for adapters and extension cord to connect the solar panel’s MC4 connectors to the trailer’s female cigarette lighter connector for the controller?

Thanks to JohnC and Rotus8 for the tip to the 100w Renogy suitcase at HD. Curiously, I went through the same rigamarole to get one. Ordered the STCS100MB-NC online at the $219 price to be delivered to my local HD. Sure enough, what was delivered was the STCSLW100MB-NC, which is actually a very...

Renogy lists the folded dimensions of the Eclipse 100w suitcase at 21.1 x 21.5 in; The larger of the undermattress bins in the 550 is listed at 22 x 22. So, does the Eclipse suitcase solar panel fit?

For comparison purposes, I have a 2014 550 insured with American Family with $500 deductible for $18/mo. They classify it as "recreational vehicle/other." My cars and house are also with AmFam, so I get a multi-product discount, but it's not huge.

Yes.

We started carrying one in the TV last season. Our 550 does not have water. So, the sprayer's proven very handy for cleaning things off, from muddy stuff to especially dirty dishes. Could use as a shower in a pinch, but so far haven't had the need.

No, although that's also a consideration now that you mention it. Wish I could remember in greater detail how I figured this out, but it was obvious to me at the time that the moisture had gotten in from behind the gasket, not between the gasket and the lens. And those weep holes pretty clearly...

Have had moisture only in the left rear marker light, after about 16K miles. By the time I noticed it, the bulb was rusted to the bulb holder bracket. I got a replacement unit from Necedah (although it's pretty common and available lots of other places, too). When I went to swap them out, I...

We'll be heading to Aspen (from the east) with our 550 next week for a family gathering. We hate driving on interstates. Is Independence pass doable towing with a 2.4L, 4 cyl, 6-speed automatic and NO trany cooler? (2014 KIA Sportage)

On a related note . . . Is there any simple way to test the original AGM battery? Have not had any problems, partly because we don't stress it much and most of the time have shore power. But it's 3.5 years old now and we have inadvertently discharged *way* down a couple of times to the point...

We’ve also got one of those. Have never run it all night, though. When you forgot to turn it off, was it on all night? Did it crash the battery?

No. Unless on shore power, I’d only use it for 30 min or less in the evenings before sleep and in the morning to get toasty before rising. I’m thinking there will also be times when we’ll use it in the tow vehicle, since it warms up a lot faster than a car heater.