Jollyrogers
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2015
- Messages
- 159
So had our 2015 Hawk off the Ram 2500 since our last trip in October. We had a trip planned for this June, and to be honest I didn’t prepare. We loaded the weekend before the trip and did our tank clean and charging ritual. I failed to check some things but found others.
First problem, house batteries. I have 2x 12v Exides, and they were not managing more than one night on a full charge just running my fridge at 1.5 -2. I took them to batteries+ since they also listed some Duracell AGM series 24 as in stock. Batteries load tested @50%, but they didn’t have any decent AGM OR 6v batteries in stock. I spent all day locating something in stock I could use and ended up at a Bass Pro buying their branded $$$ marine AGMs :-(. But at least they are working and handling my fridge load for a few days. Seems my batts aren’t charging off my truck when running either, so I am having to run my genset (honda 1k) daily to top batts off when I don’t have another power source. Guess I get to troubleshoot that when I get home and thinking of dropping the truck hookup and adding solar.
Secondly, hot water tank won’t fire. Now I broke out the 1/4 bits and pulled it apart to clean. Nope. Cleaned the terminals and in fact the thermal was nasty. Nope. I pulled the meter out and checked for power when switched on by pulling the plug on the board. NOTHING? Back to the switch and find a terminal just hanging. Plugged back in and works great again. Check the switch if you never get a light at it... lesson learned.
Third and fourth problem: Man it’s been raining, and I’ve discovered leaks [emoji35]First my rear door window is leaking and it seems to be when I’m driving in the rain. I know I can probably pull the window frame, but it’s stupid square bit screws/bolts, and two I’m afraid to on the road cause I could make it worse. Anyone have this issue and fixed? I’d be interested in how. And finally (so far) we have discovered leaking in through the front marker lights. I don’t even use them and wish they weren’t there. I disconnected because the wiring created a problem were my trucks rear marker light was on all the time. And now I have a leak by my bed. Again worse if driving in the rain. So, best way for a temp fix??? and permanent? Again a little hesitant to break it apart on the road due to fear of worsening or breaking something, but looking for advice.
Hindsight after having camper for 5 years. Wish I had gone shell with heat/stove, rollover and called it a day. I could carry a powered cooler and water. All the amenities we have are nice, but totally unneeded, and don’t get used much if we go to a campground, which we usually do every 3rd day to shower and fill tank.
First problem, house batteries. I have 2x 12v Exides, and they were not managing more than one night on a full charge just running my fridge at 1.5 -2. I took them to batteries+ since they also listed some Duracell AGM series 24 as in stock. Batteries load tested @50%, but they didn’t have any decent AGM OR 6v batteries in stock. I spent all day locating something in stock I could use and ended up at a Bass Pro buying their branded $$$ marine AGMs :-(. But at least they are working and handling my fridge load for a few days. Seems my batts aren’t charging off my truck when running either, so I am having to run my genset (honda 1k) daily to top batts off when I don’t have another power source. Guess I get to troubleshoot that when I get home and thinking of dropping the truck hookup and adding solar.
Secondly, hot water tank won’t fire. Now I broke out the 1/4 bits and pulled it apart to clean. Nope. Cleaned the terminals and in fact the thermal was nasty. Nope. I pulled the meter out and checked for power when switched on by pulling the plug on the board. NOTHING? Back to the switch and find a terminal just hanging. Plugged back in and works great again. Check the switch if you never get a light at it... lesson learned.
Third and fourth problem: Man it’s been raining, and I’ve discovered leaks [emoji35]First my rear door window is leaking and it seems to be when I’m driving in the rain. I know I can probably pull the window frame, but it’s stupid square bit screws/bolts, and two I’m afraid to on the road cause I could make it worse. Anyone have this issue and fixed? I’d be interested in how. And finally (so far) we have discovered leaking in through the front marker lights. I don’t even use them and wish they weren’t there. I disconnected because the wiring created a problem were my trucks rear marker light was on all the time. And now I have a leak by my bed. Again worse if driving in the rain. So, best way for a temp fix??? and permanent? Again a little hesitant to break it apart on the road due to fear of worsening or breaking something, but looking for advice.
Hindsight after having camper for 5 years. Wish I had gone shell with heat/stove, rollover and called it a day. I could carry a powered cooler and water. All the amenities we have are nice, but totally unneeded, and don’t get used much if we go to a campground, which we usually do every 3rd day to shower and fill tank.