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> New to truck camper camping., 2 general questions

az5591
post Sep 27 2014, 11:18 AM
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Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 27-September 14
Member No.: 7,793
Favorite Truck Camper(s): lite craft
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: f150 Ford
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 F150 extended cab - stock. 1994 Lite Craft popup. Lights, stove/oven, 3 way fridge and forced heat. I am novice.



After 55 years of tent camping I have decided sleeping on the ground is over. My wife and considered a popup trailer and then decided to test the truck popup route. We found a 994 Lite Craft on craigslist that fit our budget. This brings me to my 2 questions.1) there is a electrical 3 way plug near the front drivers side of the camper. My guess is 1 for ground, 2 for trickle charge an 3 for powering lights/electric inside the camper ( no outside running lights). Is my thinking correct and would any one here know which lead is for what?
2) what would you recommend for a battery? Do not plan on running much more than lights and heater when parked. Also would a solar powered charger from Harbor Freight do the trick?
Thanks for the input. I can tell you I am anxious to get it all put together and go camping. See you on the road!
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az5591
post Sep 28 2014, 12:11 PM
Post #2





Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 27-September 14
Member No.: 7,793
Favorite Truck Camper(s): lite craft
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: f150 Ford
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 F150 extended cab - stock. 1994 Lite Craft popup. Lights, stove/oven, 3 way fridge and forced heat. I am novice.



Would there be a better category to post these questions? Or possibly a different forum? Greatly appreciate the input from those of you that have already traveled this path.
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Old Days
post Sep 28 2014, 04:52 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 3-November 13
Member No.: 7,017
Favorite Truck Camper(s): palomino
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2007 gmc sierra 1500
Type of Tiedowns used: torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: I have a 2007 gmc truck with a real lite 1603 truck camper



QUOTE(az5591 @ Sep 27 2014, 11:18 AM)
After 55 years of tent camping I have decided sleeping on the ground is over. My wife and considered a popup trailer and then decided to test the truck popup route. We found a 994 Lite Craft on craigslist that fit our budget. This brings me to my 2 questions.1) there is a electrical 3 way plug near the front drivers side of the camper. My guess is 1 for ground, 2 for trickle charge an 3 for powering lights/electric inside the camper ( no outside running lights). Is my thinking correct and would any one here know which lead is for what?
2) what would you recommend for a battery? Do not plan on running much more than lights and heater when parked. Also would a solar powered charger from Harbor Freight do the trick?
Thanks for the input. I can tell you I am anxious to get it all put together and go camping. See you on the road!
*


My battery sits by the wheel well so I bought the largest deep cycle battery that fit in that spot. The plug on the drivers side is for plugging in to the 7 pin plug on the truck.
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az5591
post Sep 28 2014, 05:45 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 27-September 14
Member No.: 7,793
Favorite Truck Camper(s): lite craft
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: f150 Ford
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 F150 extended cab - stock. 1994 Lite Craft popup. Lights, stove/oven, 3 way fridge and forced heat. I am novice.



Old Days, thank you. Battery solution makes sense. I had read something about having more than one battery - in tandem? I am correct in staying away from the deep cycle " starting " batteries.
I guess i need to find a 3 pin to 7 pin plug adaptor.
Thanks again.
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aqualung
post Oct 2 2014, 09:22 AM
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Posts: 165
Joined: 3-February 10
Member No.: 3,725
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer 90FWS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 3500 Dually Quadcab 4x4 6.7L Cummins
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Adventurer 90FWS Torklift Tiedowns with SuperHitch and SuperTruss Firestone Air Bags Torklift Load Stabilizers Fastgun Turnbuckles



To get the most capacity in your battery, its usually best to get two high capacity 6V batteries (i.e. 220AmpHour) and put them in series to make 12V. When using two 12V batteries in parallel, the battery bank is only as good as the weaker of the two batteries and the weak one will drag the other one down. Look for Golf Cart batteries, they're high capacity deep cycle 6V and usually the cheapest solution. Yes, stay away from starting batteries, they're not designed to be run down low and if you do they will be damaged, reducing their life.

As for the plug, it sounds like its a single connector with three conductors. If so this is the shore power connection for powering AC appliances inside (microwave, air conditioning, etc) and may also provide power to a 12V converter inside which is used to run all 12V lighting, appliances and for charging the battery.

Most campers also have a 7-way trailer style plug to run exterior running lights, brake lights, reverse lights and a 12V battery connection for charging the battery and running interior 12V lights etc. based on your description, you don't have one of these.

Solar power is always a good choice. The size/amount of panels depends on your power usage.
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