What a Find!

[dr carver]

I ran across this forum doing a search for ham radio and travel trailers.

I am looking to add radio capability to my Trailmanor, mainly for emergency use. I'm sure, however, that it will require regular testing. After all, this is Florida and hurricane season will be here before you know it!

73,

Don -- KA4HHM

[NN5I]

Welcome, Don. You'll find we're an opinionated lot, but cordially opinionated for the most part.

Where in Florida? Your callsign isn't in the ARRL data base yet. Oops -- yes it is, I entered it wrong. You're in Keystone Heights. I have friends near you, in Melrose. At the moment I'm in Clermont, and will go to Tallahassee in May and North Carolina in June.

[N3LYT]

Don't you people even think about posting how warm it is down there!

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by N3LYT

Don't you people even think about posting how warm it is down there!

It was 78 today. See, I didn't have to think about it at all!

[N3LYT]

That's not nice it made it to 21 today you keep that up and we'll dump a tractor trailer load of snow in your drive way we have plenty to spare.

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by N3LYT

That's not nice it made it to 21 today you keep that up and we'll dump a tractor trailer load of snow in your drive way we have plenty to spare.

Whee!

[Radio]

Originally Posted by N3LYT

That's not nice it made it to 21 today you keep that up and we'll dump a tractor trailer load of snow in your drive way we have plenty to spare.

Kids down there may appreciate the novelty of some snow.

I say go for it!

[N3LYT]

Originally Posted by Radio

Kids down there may appreciate the novelty of some snow.

I say go for it!

Yeah the first ski slope in Florida elv. 11 feet! Open Sat. closed for the season Monday.

[Radio]

Get an extension cord and put a blender out in the yard. margaritas and daiquiris for the grown ups. Slushies for the kids.

Say, can you hold the snow until June?

[wa8yxm]

THat is what I like about Upstate SC below 1,000 feet.

THe low (Annual) hardly ever drops into the teens. (hit 11 this year)
And the hurricanes usually only hit the EAST end of the state. SO I'm close enough to lend aid, but not to get blown away... Though we do get strong winds.. They are not Hurricane force by a long shot They are either slower and wide spread (Took out one car port here in the park, a few tree limbs) or faster and very local (Tornado, which so far have spared this park,, But have cut a path half way between where I'm at and where I sing in the choir).

[N3LYT]

Originally Posted by Radio

Get an extension cord and put a blender out in the yard. margaritas and daiquiris for the grown ups. Slushies for the kids.

Say, can you hold the snow until June?

Yeah at this point I think so.

[W9CMG]

I may be the only one dr carver, but I would be interested in what you have in mind to add radio to your TT.

[NN5I]

Me too.

[N3LYT]

Right you are we kind of hijacked the thread. I would suggest a IC 7000 very small very advanced DC to day light ham shack in a box. I use a Tarheel screw driver antenna and a mount on the side of my camper with pretty good results and also have a box of poles and different antennas I use when I'm parked for any legnth of time. If you are looking for some thing more substantial but portable I really like the IC 7200. Both of those radios have excellent DSP the IC 7200 also has USB connectivity.

[dr carver]

No problem... I was getting ready to break out the popcorn...

I have a Yaesu F-450AT that can be for HF and an ADI for 2 Mtrs. For antennas I have a ground mounted 40-10 vertical and a couple of dipoles that I can throw in the trees or use a push-up mast.

My thoughts are to add another deep-cycle battery through an isolator so that I can have dedicated power for the radios when there is no shore power available. Maybe even mount solar on the roof. I still have to work out the details such as where to put the battery, getting power to the rigs, etc.

It will be a fun project!!

Don

[N3LYT]

I have two batteries mounted on the tong of my camper. I use 50 amp Anderson connectors in the camper to plug in my radios the batteries also have a 50 amp connector that I plug in my 100 watt solar panel into. I made a frame that allows me to elevate the panel and turn it so I get max wattage and it folds flat so I can store it. Even my truck has a 50 amp connector there is no way I'm not going to get on the air! It's no problem at a camp ground because the charger will take care of the needs but more often than not I' m not where there is power so far this set has worked well been 7 days with out 120 volt power. I have gone to great pains to reduce my 12 volt demands LED's, accumulators on the water system even the fan only draws a couple of amps.

[NN5I]

Yeah, and up there in the Hyperborean Wastes you don't need air conditioning.

[N3LYT]

Originally Posted by NN5I

Yeah, and up there in the Hyperborean Wastes you don't need air conditioning.

See there is a reason for all this snow takes months just to warm it back up again!

[dr carver]

As I make progress I'll put updates and pictures on the Travel Trailer section.

Hurricane season won't be long. I'd better get to it!

Don

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by N3LYT

I have two batteries mounted on the tong of my camper...

That statement,, Right there, is one of my BIG complaints when I'm browsing RV forums, Two Batteries (or 4 or 6 or 28)

I have two AA cells in the remote beside me (Two batteries though technically a single cell is not a battery)
I have a small (like 9 amp hour) AGM battery doing paperweight duty just now that also runs lights, blowers, charges the Hand held battery and does other low-load jobs.

I have some group 29s. I have a pair of GC-2s.. I've seen 8D's I have towed a battery that was so big they had to set it on the trailer using a fork lift (I might add the power for the fork lift came from it's twin).

TWO OF WHAT SIZE BATTERIES?