Roadtrekking in our 210P via Lily Pads

This is our Trek in our Roadtrek 210P. Hint: Scroll to a list of "Topics and Destinations" on the right. Our RT is a portal to a much larger world and we have established "lily pads" from which we travel and we'll post about those, too. Life is a Journey of discovery in our Motorized Alpaca, a "tiny cabins on wheels". It has been said that "Life Begins at the end of our Comfort Zone." Content and photos are original unless noted. Click photos to enlarge. Copyright and disclaimers apply.

Monday, November 30, 2015

My list of Spare Parts and Tools and Stuff

A few of the manuals that came with our Roadtrek

Updated December 11, 2015, September 30, 2017, July 2021
This is a personal list and what we each consider to be essential will vary. I think it is helpful to have some basic tools, etc. However, this will be determined by your style of trekking. If you boondock you might want to expand the list. If you trek in the vicinity of major towns, you will probably have many hardware stores and you may have an authorized Roadtrek dealer/service center nearby, etc.

However, my approach is to be self-sufficient and self-reliant. I approach this as a necessity because 210Ps are no longer manufactured and I am not all that assured that the repair technicians fully understand the details and complexity of my 2013 210P. I can say that when I purchased it I crawled beneath it and took a lot of if apart to figure it out. I've changed the oil in the Onan generator, studied the electrical system, replaced the battery separator, replaced the AGM coach batteries, added solar, etc. I doubt if most of the RV techs have that specific experience.

I've posted about my maintenance costs and these are lower than others might experience because I use my parts and tools to maintain the coach of my 210P. I'm aware of the limits of my abilities and so I use specialists and professionals to maintain the chassis, including the engine and transmission. I do follow a rigorous preventative maintenance schedule.

I originally posted this list because a while back I was asked about what I pack for repairs or to maintain our 210P. Someone at the FMCA Roadtrek cyberrally also asked this question and so I originally posted this in 2015. Keep in mind that G and I have trekked for up to 100 days continuously and we stop at a couple of "lily-pads" we have established in the U.S. Our perspective may not be yours.

I've used just about everything on this list while on our treks, or provided it to others. I do a lot of my "modifications" and other things while trekking and so I need the tools, etc. to do them. For example, I added the interior LED light strip while trekking. On the road we have lots of time (sunrise to sunset outdoors) and the opportunity to think things through. I have used the 12VDC battery charger to fully recharge the chassis battery after retrieving the 210P from storage. As of July 2021 that battery is 9 years old. It would be wise to replace it as part of my "preventative maintenance" program.

Some of these things I carry because I don't want to interrupt a trek to find a good hardware store, find a qualified RV specialist or wait for a specialized part to arrive via UPS. That's a personal choice.

Here is a partial list.

These are items that I consider useful and important. The reader should consider each on this list from the context of how they use their Roadtrek. For example, I don't want to wait for a macerator pump replacement to arrive if we are trekking, so I carry one. Ditto for a spare Thetford Sanicon hose. Waiting may be perfectly acceptable for the reader. On the other hand, I don't carry a spare water pump because they are so common at RV dealers and repair depots. If the TrippLite inverter-charger were to fail I can charge the coach AGM batteries with the solar system I installed and by running the chassis engine. Ultimately, I view a parts list as a means to avoid disruptions to treks between our lily-pad stops. Those stops are for weeks and they provide ample time for me to do any upgrades or repairs.

1. Spare Parts:

Suburban hot water heater anode (232767 magnesium)
ShurFlo macerator pump 3200-001 (12V)
Thetford Sanicon hose for macerator discharge.
Fuses of all types and sizes.
JR Products 10245 Stainless Steel Baggage Door Catch
(2) fluorescent bulbs for overhead lights.

2. Tools, Accoutrements and Such, categorized:
Electrical:

Dogbone 50A to 30A, Camco 55175
Camco 55165 15M/30F 12" PowerGrip Dogbone Electrical Adapter with Handle
12V 10 ft. extension cord
12V three-way splitter (3-outlet cigarette outlet adapter with digital voltmeter)
Digital VOM for checking 120VAC and 12VDC.

Klein Tools NCVT-2 Dual Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Electrical tape (Scotch 33)
ESI 305M 30 Amp Fuse Buddy Mini Tester and adapters for different automotive fuses
Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C (installed with twist-lock 30A connectors)
(2) 25 ft. #16AWG 3-conductor extension cord.

Miscellaneous electrical connectors and crimping tool.
Miscellaneous electrical wire (#14 AWG).
Soldering iron and solder
AAA and AA rechargeable batteries with charger

(2) Maglite AA LED flashlights
12V Jumper cables
NOCO Genius 10 Battery charger-maintainer.

Plumbing:

Camco 39313 4" x 3" Sewer Hose Seal
Camco 22484 Water Bandit
Camco 40043 TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector
Water pressure regulator
Teflon tape (for replacing hot water heater anode)

Paste thread sealant (for plastic fittings)
50 foot reel-in water hose (American Specialty MRT-50 50' Marine Handi-Hose & Reel)
25 ft. & 10 ft, water hoses (potable)
2-way hose connector with valves
Spray nozzle for hose

Funnel with 18 inch flexible discharge (for pink anti-freeze)
Garden hose 0-ring washers

Lubricants:

Powdered graphite
WD-40
Spray Lithium Grease
30W Oil for Onan Generator, and other purposes.

Adhesives and Fasteners:

Black and grey duct tape
White plastic tape
Clear packing tape
3M SkotchBlue (interior and exterior tapes)
Rescue Tape (for pipe leaks)
Reflectix FT21024 2" x 30' Reflective Insulation Tape (I only take what I need with me)
3M Scotch adhesive putty
Eternabond white RV EPDM repair tape (for roof leak temporary repair, etc.).
Assorted nails and brads
Assorted machine screws, washers and nuts
Assorted self-tapping screws
Goop
Duco Cement (a general purpose glue)
5-minute epoxy - JB Weld

Assorted plastic cable zip ties
Velcro cable ties
Bungee cord set

Tools:

1-1/16 inch socket with extender and handle (for hot water tank anode)
Various sockets
Neiko 100-Piece Security Bits Set with Hard Storage Case (includes S#1, 2, 3)
Neiko 03044A 1/4-Drive Mini-size Ratcheting Screwdriver and Bit Set, Cr-V, includes 7 Bits
Ratchet screwdriver handle for bits.

Various Phillips and straight blade screwdrivers
Needle nose and sidecutter pliers
Wire stripper
Adjustable wrenches (8 inch and 12 inch) crescent wrenches.
Channellock pliers (small)

Channellock pliers (large)
Hammer
Square edge
25 ft. tape measure
6 inch bubble level

Fiskars 1/4 inch hand drill.
Stanley 15-809 Metal Mini Hacksaw
Hand Axe
Pop-rivet tool and rivets
Magnifying glass

Right-angle mirror
3-Piece Shovel - Snow removal
Reflective triangle - automotive distress

Miscellaneous:

Copy of all manufacturer's manuals for the RT (RT, Suburban, Thetford, etc.) Many are in pdf format on my PC laptop.
List of all installed equipment including model and serial numbers, if known
Valterra A10-2606 FridgeCool Fan
Campbell Hausfeld CC 2300 Portable Inflator
Set Walkie-talkies

Soft-close door bumpers (small) for cabinets
Felt adhesive bumpers (rectangular and round)
3M "Command" hangers - various sizes and types
1/2 inch aluminum angle x 30 inch
Aluminum bar 1/16 x 30 inch

(2) bricks with holes
Awning hangers
Highland Washdrops Wash and Shine Solution
Expandable handle automotive soft scrub mop for vehicle exterior
Scotch-Brite Scrub Sponges, Non-scratch
Scotch-Brite heavy duty sponge

50 ft. cord, tent pegs, guyline adjusters, etc.
Sea-Foam gasoline additive (for gasoline generator, transferred to 1-qt. aluminum bottles)
Alcohol wipes
Rags
3 watt solar panel for vehicle (chassis) battery

Bleach for water system sterilization
2-gallons pink anti-freeze (if winter trekking).

Solar Charging of Coach Batteries:

BatteryMINDer Model SCC-005-AA-S3
50 watt solar panel

Additional Tools:

Kill-A-Watt P3
Infrared (non-contact) Thermometer

Original Material: Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Setting Up the Winter Base

Drove to the southwest with the RT to set up our winter base. Left during a three day rainstorm as the consequence of a large stationary front which extended from the gulf of Mexico to Canada.

I recall a Thanksgiving a couple of years ago in which serious snow arrived in the midwest. Once everything ices over it becomes difficult or impossible to get the RT out of storage. Then there was the early December snow and ice storm in 2013.

"He who hesitates is lost" is my motto in late November and early December.

So, at 4:00am on the 18th I got into the RT during a serious downpour, but I had loaded the RT during a break in the weather during the previous evening. I headed south, south-west. By the time I got to St. Louis it was merely overcast (9:00am). By Oklahoma the clouds were breaking. It was an easy, but tedious drive of about 1782 miles. My Verizon Navigator had predicted 1770 miles, but a road closure in northern Oklahoma resulted in a slight detour. Not bad and a lot better than my TomTom GPS (aka "DumbDumb."). Total time with engine spent running was 29:15 according to the Chevy 3500.

Spent the first night in a rest stop in Oklahoma. Low of about 40F so I ran the generator and the heat pump, got up at about 3:00am and continued my trek. Spent the next night in a rest stop in New Mexico. At about 4500 ft elevation the temperature reached a low of about 31F. Again, ran the generator and the heat pump. I could have used the propane furnace, but it was mild when I went to sleep. At dawn I continued on the road.