Thanks Pam, We bought expensive carbonite kayaks and was not comfortable laying the in the bed next to the hitch. I found that the 12' kayaks extended a foot and a half too far back, interfering with turns with the 5th wheel and properly placed with the cockpits within the front and rear rack. My solution was to install a front hitch to accept the Thule Goal Post as pictured. Now the Kayaks are completely clear of the 5th wheel. The third rack in the rear are rollers to help make loading easier but are not used for travel, though they could be.

Congrats, quite a milestone, wishing you many more.

I love Moab, cant wait to return, glad you had a good trip.

Unlike some of the other battery monitors on the market, the Victron is pretty fool proof and an easier install. As Logan X said with the Bluetooth capability of the Victron running wire is less of an issue as you do not have to mount the display in the coach, unless you choose to. I have found the Bluetooth Victron app so much more convenient than having to go to the display and my coach no longer looks like the NASA launch center. Installing the shunt is easy but as mentioned if you are not comfortable with working around electricity, no harm, no foul in engaging the help of someone who is or hiring a professional.

Thanks Greg. I am very happy with it, Victron sure makes fine products.

Hi Greg, That makes sense, yes with 30-amp there is no need for a sub panel unless you want to isolate the inverter loads. The Smart ATS accomplishes a couple things, it enables wiring 50-amp without the need for a sub panel, designed to include a generator into the mix.

I bought my inverter through AM Solar and got the Smart ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) with it. Other than working in tight spaces and with heavy wire, it makes for a fairly easy install as it eliminates the need for a sub-panel. It comes with a very clear wiring diagram. As for advice and tips unless you also have the Smart ATS from AM Solar I am likely not able to offer much as you will be needing to install a sub panel which I did not need to do. The connections should be straight forward. If you do not have the Smart ATS and do not want to deal with a sub-panel and/or want to more easily incorporate a generator, you can likely purchase just the Smart ATS from AM Solar, up to you. Also make sure to program the Victron Multiplus for the batteries you have.

I just completed my install of the Victron Multiplus 3000 W. Excellent inverter and is working quite well.

Nice video Ray and glad your new truck is working out well for you and you like it. We are also very happy with our 2015 Ram Cummins DRW w.AISIN tranny and 3:73 gears. It carried our 3-slide Eagle Cap truck camper without issue and now having traded the TC in for our 35' Grand Design Solitude.

Best of luck to you and enjoy. We went through the transition from a house to full-time a year and a half ago. We did not have any real issues getting rid of stuff except for tools as you are struggling with so I gt that. In our case we began our full-time adventure in a large 3-slide truck camper so we had some serious downsizing to do and unfortunately that included tools, keeping only the very basics. Now in a 35' 5th wheel and tackling a solar install, compost toilet addition and various other mods, I have had to re-purchase tools since I now have the space for them. Despite it all the last year and a half has been a grand adventure and only wished we had done it sooner.

Colibabas I have been thinking of getting a leaf blower as well as I have solar panels that seem to be magnets for debris. Thanks for confirming the idea of a leaf blower. For the most part it seems the water rolls off when retracting the slides, but there at times can be a lot of water and my concern is some of it can try to make it's way to the slide seals. Whether that is true or not, who knows but it makes me sleep better at night if I sweep the water off the toppers prior to retracting and I suspect a leaf blower might help here also. Having solar panels, I frequently check them and clean as necessary so while up on the roof anyway, no big deal to sweep the toppers.

Excellent idea I may have to try. We are on our second rig with slide toppers, in heavy winds they are quite noisy and annoying. Not sure I am all in on slide toppers, on one hand it seems they provide a sort of insulation barrier over the slide which can be a good thing. But while they keep most debris off the slides, I have found in some conditions, debris can make it's way under the slide topper and on to the slide. So I end up getting on a ladder to check before closing and have had to remove some debris. I also find it worthwhile after rain and before leaving sweeping accumulated water that pools on the toppers. My other concern is if the temps drop below freezing and they get wet and freeze, how that might effect closing the slides.

Correct the 712 has the internal Blue Tooth and is what I have so no need for the dongle.

Victron makes a very good monitor and very happy with mine. Nice install but I am curious with the Victron Connect App allowing you read the data on your smart phone, why you would go through the trouble of mounting the unit in the coach? Nothing wrong with that approach just curious. I mounted mine in the basement storage area just inside the door. It was an easy run from the batteries to the monitor and with the app on my phone I have looked at the actual monitor twice.

Hi Rush and Lola, we have 3- 320 watt residential panels for a total of 960 watts fed to a Victron 150/70 MPPT charge controller. Our battery bank consists of 7-100 Ah Battle Born lithium batteries.

Eddie, There is no question Bob knows solar and the information he has written is technically sound, I indicated this much in my earlier reply and also indicated it was his blog that got me started in solar and where I learned much. Also, there is no question he has helped many, myself included. But to say he does not have an agenda and a chip on his shoulder, you have to ask yourself, why in his blog where he conveys all the technical material and the how to's of solar, is all this information buried in endless pages of criticizing practically anyone involved in the solar industry or anyone who disagrees with him and endlessly touting his credentials? His material would be so much more useful if it were just presented in a logical sequence and not having the reader go on a fishing expedition to get the information... "just the facts madam".
With regards to his rants on batteries, while lead acid batteries have been around for a long time, his choice for batteries and have served many people well, he misleads some readers that anything other than lead acid batteries is crap. Yet there have been many who have been well served by AGM and they are a viable alternative for years. Now he has turned his rant towards lithium batteries which is interesting because lithium in RV's is a fairly new technology so I wonder where he has had the lengthy experience with lithium batteries to criticize them. The fact is every technology has it's pros and cons and not any one is right for every person or situation and he fails to recognize this.

There is much to learn from Bob for those willing to wade through all the pages of rants, but he is not gospel on solar and some of what he says is misleading. There are others who also are very knowledgeable on solar and offer very good and sound information on solar and who also by the way have helped many achieve good solar systems.

I like Handy Bob and it was his material, along with Jack Danmeyer who got me started with my very first solar install years ago. However, while much of his writing is technically correct, some of what he says you have to take with a grain of salt, as he often writes with an agenda and a chip on his shoulder. One point he makes is not what my experience has been with Lithium batteries and that is where he seems to indicate lithium batteries do not charge any faster. In my case I found my Battle Born lithium batteries were charging faster as soon as I installed them and others who I have spoken with have also found this to be true in their own experience.

While your unfortunate experience is a possibility, such an event is not a likely and a rare occurrence. Should not dissuade anyone from wiring panels in series if that is their choice.

In addition to what has been said, mono tend to perform slightly better overall and especially in heat. The gap between the two in performance has been closed over the years.

You saved quite a bit of money as these https://www.rvkayakracks.com/ are very nice and you can add a bike rack, but are quite expensive. I have seen them on some 5th wheels and 10' kayaks do not rise above the air conditioner. We are planning to get rid of our inflatable in favor of hard kayaks and considering one of these racks. Two things give pause, price and also while these are great to get to the campsite, but how do you transport the kayaks to the water if not at the campground? Considering the cost of a good kayak, I am not sure I want to transport them in the back of the truck and then the hitch would need to be removed. Anyway, nice job.