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550 / 560 Could Use Your Collective Input...

Brian Lewis

Brian Lewis

Newbie
Just a few questions....

1) Has anyone installed a battery monitor that monitors volts, amps, amp hours and time to go for the battery?

2) Is there space to store a solar panel under the 550 or 560? Maybe a metal rack could be welded to the underside of the frame where your large solar panel could be stored. Is there space? Can the panel be tucked somewhere in the frame?

3) Anyone spray an undercoating on the bottom of a trailer? Is it varnished plywood on the underside? What about something like the undercoating used on a car?

4) I read somewhere about linking the two water tanks together and using a bucket for the grey water. What are the pros and cons of this approach? (I can think of several, but would like your thoughts. Is the current 8 gallons for drinking water problem?

5) Is there a way of adding a "sight gauges" to the water tanks?

6) I would like feed back from someone who has opted for the parking brake option. How do they like that option? I know that some folks think it is a lot of money to do what a couple of blocks can do. How do folks feel that have this option? Is there a way of locking the handle into the "lock position" to deter thief?

Your input would be welcomed. I numbered the questions so you could answer by number if that helps...thanks. Signed, Tearfully Yours
 
Good questions.

1) I've only ever used the standard meter that comes with the CI - or you can get it at Camping World. Volt meter only.

2) I suppose it's possible to rig something like this. However, I'd be concerned about the beating a panel would take underneath the frame.
Ron has a PVC storage pipe mounted under his tear, so there is some room down there.
http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthr...in=450&Words=map+storage&Search=true#Post3198

If you are going to mount a large panel, why not put it on the top. This way it's catching rays all the time, even if it can be removed and setup in the sun.
http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=4073&page=3

3) Not a good idea according to Camp-Inn.
http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2690#Post2698

4) Ron & Olga did that to their trailer themselves, and I think others have had it done by Camp-Inn.
http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthr...Main=397&Words=16+gallon&Search=true#Post2455
I think it depends on how you plan on using your CI. Lots of extended trips in the middle of nowhere? Maybe a very good idea. You are trading the convenience of not having to think about your grey water for the extra capacity. We are certainly thinking about this one, but for now we are doing fine on 8 gallons. It will last for about 4 days with conservative use.

5) That's a Cary/Craig question.

6) I can't answer this - I didn't think it was worth the money. For theft deterent, I'd recommend this set of locks by Brinks:
http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthr...e=1&Main=179&Words=Brinks&Search=true#Post991
 
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6. Parking Brake Option: Well, I won't say that it's necessarily "worth the money," because it is quite an expensive add-on, and Evan has noted -- maybe more than once -- in other threads that he doesn't think it's worth the cost.

I initially left a lot of things off my 560 order last year, and then, true to form, mission-creep took over and I started piling options on during the five-month wait.

I consider the parking brake to be one of the more valuable additions I made. Here's why. On multiple occasions I've had to park and maneuver the trailer in very tight spots that just didn't lend themselves to backing it in all the way to the final position. In those instances, I've backed it as far as I conveniently could, then decoupled and moved it, or swung it around, by hand. Believe me, you don't want to decouple and try to rely on controlling a 1500 pound trailer with a mind of its own if there is even the slightest slope, using wheel chocks to stop or slow it. Chocks, wheel pins, or what have you are fine for maintaining a final position, and I do use chocks for that, but not for trying to move the trailer around by hand. It is so convenient, and so much safer, to be pushing and steering at the tongue and able to control the braking action at the same time using that parking brake lever. YMMV.

And in answer to your second parking brake question, no, there is no built-in mechanism for locking the parking brake lever in place after it's applied. In theory, any strong kid could come along and release it for the thrill of watching your trailer roll away. But then, the same kids who might think that's a fun thing to do would find wheel chocks an even more obvious target. There are, however, some pretty inventive people in this forum who might have ideas as to how something could be rigged to make the parking brake tamper-proof. For securing the trailer from theft, I count on a keyed device that locks to a wheel, described elsewhere in this forum
 
That's very good info, Jim. Having never seen the hand brake lever, I didn't realize that it was in a position where you could run it while pushing the trailer.
 
Jim...helpful info. Curious, why would you still use the blocks and not just the parking brake when you got to the final position? Any other posters have input to the parking brakes option? Jim...did you opt for the heater? We live in the same climate, but I see you travel all over (ie., your rain drop is in Maine right now.) If you got the heater, thoughts on this option? If not, why not? I see it takes up extra space, but not clear how much you lose.

I see that I am piling on options too that initially I thought...no go. I am leaning towards a 560 vs 550 and adding air conditioning and maybe a sunroof. I already included the Fantastic Fan. I may be adding brakes too, especially if I go with the 560, hence the query on the parking brake. Maybe you have already answered this question elsewhere (and you could direct me), but what options did you get? What are the pluses and delta's of your final build?

Do you think an amp meter would be needed? My sailboat has a battery monitor and I live by monitoring my amps used and replaced in addition to the voltage state (battery monitor). But then again, being somewhere on a boat with a dead battery is far worse (and life threatening) then a having a dead battery on your Tear or Raindrop...
 
As for making the two water tanks into one larger clean water tank, first check with the state laws.....

Another consideration is how are you going to catch the gray water from the sink?

Consider taking along 5 gallon water jugs instead of using the other water tank.

Sunroof option is only available on the 560 if you have both the sunroof and fantastic vent.

First consider if you want the 550 vs 560...
Initially I wanted the 560, after renting both, decided upon the 550 because utilizing the front cabinets is much easier in the 550. I use the cabinets like a headbord. Keep flashlight, book, water, etc for easy reach while relaxing in the teardrop.

The one advantage of 560 is being able to sit up on the couch to watch a movie/TV. Do you anticipate spending time in the tear to watch TV? I found I used the bed as a headbord catchall during the day/night resulting in a cluttered couch.

I like the look of the 560 though over the 550, just couldn't justify the extra dollars. After making decision on model, purchased a used 550.

Furnance option takes up half of the front storage space. On the front storage, the top half is cuboards, bottome half is furnace and storage.

Jean
 
Jean...I appreciate your perspective on the 550 being your preferred choice over the 560. I have seen both the 550 and 560, but have sat in only the 560. I was surprised at the "roomy" feel of the 560. My reaction was leaning towards the 560, which seems to be most folks reactions when they compare the two. I actually like the looks of the retro 550. It seems the smart thing to do is to rent both, like you did. Living in California, it is a bit harder to make that happen...Thanks for the feed back and sharing the pros of a 550 (other than cost.) T-o-J
 
Yes, the parking brake is on the right side of the trailer tongue, so when you're standing at the hitch pushing the trailer backward or pivoting it, you can reach down and apply the brake at the same time. There's a picture of the parking brake lever on the Camp-Inn site, linked athttp://tinycamper.com/options6.htm . Why use wheel chocks at the same time as the parking brake? I dunno, no good reason. I guess it's insecurity -- "belt and suspenders." I agree it's redundant.

I did get both the heater and A/C. I was just going with the heater when I placed my initial order, but Cary convinced me that the A/C would be a valuable addition, so I added it. Haven't had an opportunity to use it yet. I'm back in sunny, warm California now, and my 560 and Highlander tow vehicle are tucked into a New England garage awaiting the arrival of my daughter, her husband, and my two grandchildren ages 2 and 7, to tour and then drive it back to Albuquerque in late-December. I used the heater on several nights in New Hampshire last month when the temps dropped into the high-20's, and was sure glad I had it. Put it on for about 10-15 minutes when I went to bed, turned the thermostat down, and it cycled on once or twice during the night for just a few minutes each time. The interior heats up very quickly because it's so small. I now consider the heater to be absolutely essential for me, although some others seem to be using small portable electrics, which is probably just as good if you're not worried about battery charge.

Not sure why one would need to monitor amps instead of just the state of battery charge (i.e., battery voltage), but then I'm no sailor. My mind analogizes that to one wanting to monitor instantaneous fuel flow in one's car, when what you really care about is how low the gas tank's getting so you know who much farther you can go and when to fill up. I suppose an ammeter might be useful if you're parking the trailer away for some long period (as I am right now) and want to see if there are any vampire current drains you weren't aware of. Or if you were just buttoning it up for the day's travels and wanted to see if perchance you'd unknowingly left something electrical on that shouldn't be.

I opted for the 560 over the 550 primarily because of the bunk beds. They make it suitable for a family of four -- The two kids fight over who gets to use the upper bunk versus lower bunk.

I also opted for the 72ah battery to get the physically larger battery space that comes with it, on the theory that it would give me more options in the future when it comes time to replace the battery. Battery size, and the battery space size difference, was discussed in another thread some months back.
 
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The reason I like an amp meter is that it tells me the rate I am using my battery. If you know your rate, you can judge how long you have until you need to charge again or have a flat battery. Knowing your charge tells you what it is for that instant, but you can have a dead battery in the AM. It may be an overkill for the trailer. This isn't so much an issue for one night, but it could be if you are off the grid for a couple of days. I'll talk to Cary and get his input. By the way, I was planning on the larger battery too.
 
Just want to give you an update: I first sat in a 560 and was impressed with the space inside. I thought I was sold on the 560 even though I like the looks of the 550 more. I then sat in a 550 and I was impressed with its size inside. I really expected the the 550 to feel a lot smaller after sitting in a 560. I am actually leaning towards the 550, which surprised me.

Besides the looks, it seem that if you add brakes to the camper, you need to pay an annual registration fee. If you do not have brakes, you only pay a trailer fee every five years. I would be more inclined with the brakes on a 560 as compared to a 550.

The couch on a 560 is nice, but how often will I be a couch potato? I was not going to get the TV/CD option. The couch could be a place to stack clutter, which is a negative.

Our choice on the 550 560 is not being driven by kids or grandkids (our grandson barely fits into the bunk and is always always on the run...)

Just some rambling thoughts....signed Tears of Joy
 
If you will only be camping during good weather you probably don't need the couch. However, with the couch it makes it a lot easier to use the trailer during winter months and bad weather when you can't sit out doors. We plan on spending at least 20 nights this winter up on the ski slopes.
 
We've got a 550, for much the same reasons you mentioned, and won't be doing much winter camping with ours. What we have done to make the 550 more 'lounging' friendly is to get a couple of TV chairs from Target for $15 a piece. They work perfectly for sitting up reading/ watching a movie on the laptop, etc.

41fgDhpEpiL._AA400_.jpg
 
I would rather have the couch and not use it than not have the couch and wish I had.

I think the clutter statement is a valid one and that comes down to organization. I know when we get our 560 I will try and make sure that we only carry what fits in the trailer and does not have to be moved to utilize all of the facilities or causes clutter.

Its all in the planning
 
Learning to get rid of the clutter is part of the fun. Every trip we pack less. By the time were are old campers we will be down to nothing at all. :)
 
I guess other reasons for the 550 vs 560 is that you always will be hauling around the extra space weather you need it or not. On the odd day I might get cabin fever, I'll check into a hotel, go to a lodge, make new friends, etc. It is sort of like buying a house...do you get a lot of extra space in case you have house guests?

Now that we may be getting a smaller trailer, do we get the heater or the AC or both? Anyone with a 550 with the heater or AC? Thoughts? I got an email from Cary explaining the loss of space on a 550 vs 560 with the AC and Heater. Not a whole lot of difference, but some.

I spoke to someone without the heater and AC in their 550 and they have never felt the need. They live in their 550 from May until Oct in a National Park. It can be in the 20s in the AM in June or September, with snow. They said with blankets, they are fine. He also argued less to go wrong. It seems there is something to be said for smaller (preaching to the Choir) and less complicated. My inclination is to be a gadget guy, like Evan...well, maybe not quite that bad ;) I am flip flopping a bit on the heater and AC. It would help with resale, but I rarely sell anything. Can some 550 weigh in on the AC and heater? Do you feel deprived of space? How often do you use the heater? Do you use the AC? Where are you (geographically) when you do use them?

Anyone have a WiFi antenna? I was thinking of this product: http://www.5milewifi.com/store/default.asp

I guess the other issue is ice cooler vs refrigerator...I have seen some discussion. Any sense of durability/reliability on the refrigerators? Thanks for your views and responses...Tearfully yours
 
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I would pay special attention to the options that get built in and are hard to add later. Unless you are absolutely sure about the fridge (or have money left over that needs spent) it is something that can always be added later. I don't know about its reliability, but even if the fridge has a problem later on, it could easily be replaced.

(We have the cooler, but may get the fridge later. With our solar panel it may even be able to run indefinitely off of the battery.)
 
Tears of Joy said:
Anyone have a WiFi antenna? I was thinking of this product: http://www.5milewifi.com/store/default.asp
Click to expand...

I've never seen anything like this before - a setup like this could be useful, if it's able to draw in distant signals as advertised.

*EDIT* I just looked at the price - WOW! $400!?! - too pricey for me. But I suppose it could be worth it if you really needed the connection and/or would be out for an extended period of time.
 
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Nice to be able to connect more often than not but I use a blackberry for emails anyway so that keeps us in touch wherever we are and its usually a short trip to find a free WI fi service with our Itouch or pocket book.
 
We are going to get a unit called captifi from radiolabs. Sounds good at 140.00 and I have not found any bad reviews yet. Time will tell.
 
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