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I replaced a non-fan vent with a motorized one and the wires were right there, once the inside trim was removed. No need to remove the outside part of the vent, just installed the motorized assembly in it.. The wire colors were reversed between the camper and the fan. I believe the ground was...

1: An isolator is not just a diode. That would be too much voltage drop (~0.5 V). It's a relay that senses when the truck is running and closes to connect the camper battery to the truck battery. If you don't have the isolator and wiring yet, you are in the perfect position to implement a much...

Sorry, mine is the Attwood type. - Bernard

I replaced it on my truck and camper and I think I kept it. Can you post a picture so we can see if what I have is the right thing? - Bernard

I don't know if they would still do this, but a few years ago I got someone at FWC to send me pictures of the frame, taken at the factory of a unit being built. By measuring on the camper and scaling on the photo, I have been able to pretty accurately determine where the structural parts of the...

I've seen the CTEK charger in my Fleet/Tacoma pumping about 50 Amps at 14.4 Volts into the camper batteries from the truck at 13.6 Volts, for a little while after starting the engine. It soon settles to a steady 20 Amps until the battery nears 100%. I have no way to tell what part of that might...

I've had some trouble with the heads of those TORX bolts stripping out. Such a head is convenient at the Toyota factory, where the expectation is probably that the bolt will be threaded in once and never taken out. If you are taking them out for the first time, you will probably need an impact...

My Fleet did not have excessive caulk around the hose, just a reasonable amount behind the flange of the valve. I don't see what benefit a lot of caulk back in there would provide. I don't think you need to replace the caulk around the hose and clamp. - Bernard

As I recall, the OEM Whale faucet was connected directly to the pex pipes. My new faucet had stainless-covered hoses for connection, so I had to do some modifying. Access was very limited, so I took the sink out temorarily and then it was pretty easy. I added a provision for a charcoal filter in...

Good point, Sagebrush. Of course, I would "never" forget to tun off the pump before driving, but the padded cover I slip onto the faucet handle (to protect the wall fabric) also insures that the handle stays down. - Bernard

Soon after I got my Fleet, it became apparent that the OEM Whale faucet had to go. I looked at a lot of bath and bar faucets online, searching for the right combination of rise above the sink and extension out over the sink, trying to maximize both. It had to be single-lever to solve the problem...

Please post pics when it's done. I might want to do it, too!

I agree with Longhorn1: Leave them at home unless you plan to take the camper off the truck at your destination. Driving around with those things sticking down is an accident waiting to happen. - Bernard

The good thing about the drain as FWC configured it is that it comes right off the very bottom of the water tank, so it will drain the tank almost completely. The reason I want to connect a hose is not to have pressurized water outside (although that might be good, too), but just so that when I...

I got the valve from McMaster-Carr Supply. It's brass, quarter-turn. (Listed in the online catalog under "Hose Bibbs") .The blue handle was a plus! The mounting holes had the same spacing as the original valve. I used stainless sheet metal screws. The brass pipe thread-to-hose fitting is...

I guess everyone has to replace the original cheap plastic drain valve eventually. I chose this one because I want to be able to attach a hose. It sticks out far enough that the door was going to hit it, so I extended the door bumper.

FWC installed them on my Fleet. They are two 5-foot tracks on each side, just butted together. Not perfectly aligned, but close enough so the nuts can slide through. They used some kind of sticky stuff (butyl rubber tape?) beneath - about 1/8" thick and as wide as the track (maybe 1 1/4"). Sheet...

I carry a big plastic storage container (tub) in the asile of my Fleet and take it out each day. It mostly contains a bunch of pieces of 1" thick pressure treated deck board. It's called 5/4 x 6. The pieces are 12", 18" and 24" long. I stack them up as needed and drive up onto them. This setup...

Wooden blocks, above and below the switch bank, that protrude more than the switches might keep them from being bumped accidentally but still allow easy access. Sort of like takesiteay's protector but without the clear plastic. I added an LED indicator by the switches that lights if any outside...

The durability of the fabric on the really old models is not relavent because they began using a different fabric at some point.

plumbers' putty

I have been thinking of a tilt readout based on an angle sensor chip or module and a small dedicated computer. I level my camper by driving the truck up onto stacks of one inch thick boards. The readout would be in inches so I could know how many boards to use. The program would know the truck...

Yes, the OEM plastic Whale faucet comes out from above. I used a 3/16" stainless steel plate for mounting the new faucet so I could mount it from the top. I had to do something anyway because the new faucet mounted in one hole and the opening in the countertop was a much bigger rectangle. My...

I got someone at FWC to send me pictures of the frame.

I think most Tacomas with Fleets must end up being technically overloaded, but they do fine. Change the lubricants according to the trailer towing schedule. Mine has Boss airbags and LT tires and is easy enough to drive. It's slightly more inclined to roll, but perfectly managable. I do keep my...