(10-08-2026 10:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-07-2026 08:40 PM)TripleA Wrote:  Let's hope so! Here's a real update, where something finally happened that I planned to see.

Badlands National Park in western South Dakota. That place is spectacular. Looks like the surface of an alien planet. Thankful I lived to see it. I also enjoyed Wall Drug yesterday, and for breakfast this morning. Good coffee. And it was 5 cents. For real.

Also visited the Minuteman Missile Site. Was interesting to me, since I lived through that era as a kid.

But I discovered today that my RV battery that powers my fridge, microwave and A/C is dead. No clue why.

Have to take care of that first tomorrow. At least I am now in the vicinity of Mount Rushmore. Only took me 7 weeks to get here, lol.

You're doing our summer 2021 trip! You definitely need to do Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. Both have lots of buffalo. The cave tour is pretty nice.

Both are on the menu.

Did Rushmore today. Better than expected. Pumped up my patriotism.

Left early this morning for the wildlife loop at Custer State Park. Have to get there early to see the wildlife moving into the valley for the day.

Unfortunately, I came to a tunnel that was narrower than my truck, even without my trailer, which I am leaving at my home base in Custer SD for the week. I guess my truck nav doesn't realize he is a fat ass, lol.

So I turned around, headed back to Custer, found a little Cafe that was busy, and had one of my best breakfasts ever.

Lemons out of lemonade, lol.

By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

(10-08-2026 06:42 AM)U_of_Elvis Wrote:  

(10-07-2026 08:40 PM)TripleA Wrote:  Let's hope so! Here's a real update, where something finally happened that I planned to see.

Badlands National Park in western South Dakota. That place is spectacular. Looks like the surface of an alien planet. Thankful I lived to see it. I also enjoyed Wall Drug yesterday, and for breakfast this morning. Good coffee. And it was 5 cents. For real.

Also visited the Minuteman Missile Site. Was interesting to me, since I lived through that era as a kid.

But I discovered today that my RV battery that powers my fridge, microwave and A/C is dead. No clue why.

Have to take care of that first tomorrow. At least I am now in the vicinity of Mount Rushmore. Only took me 7 weeks to get here, lol.

You should have three ways to charge the house battery.

1. Solar
2. Converter when plugged into shore power
3. Truck from accessory 12v on 7 pin.

If you were parked for a while (I know you said you were in a hotel) with the 12v fridge on and the trailer was in the shade, or just up north in the winter with some cloudy days your solar may not have been able to keep up. I think a lot of people end up adding another panel.

Do you have a lead deep cycle, or a LFP battery? I think they are still putting normal deep cycle on by default, which is fine with a three way fridge but could be marginal with a 12v. If you decide to swap to a lithium iron phosphate you may want to get a heated battery if you keep it on the tongue, or move it to your pass through. If you swap take a look at Redodo, we have a pair on the boat going on 5 years now that are doing really well. Added a third just for electronics about 1.5 years ago.

I forgot to mention this, but I actually added a second 200W solar panel to the roof even before I picked up the trailer.

And in the end, there was nothing actually wrong with the battery. The dealer who sold me the trailer simply didn't have the wires tightened properly.

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

I feel like I should have figured that out myself, but I'm so overwhelmed with things I have to remember, learn and do, that I'm not surprised at me for now, lol.

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

That's what we were taught to check first in the AF...check the connections.

(10-10-2026 10:21 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

That's what we were taught to check first in the AF...check the connections.

Seems like a good idea. They didnt teach us that in the Navy. I'll check with you guys next time something goes wrong.

(10-10-2026 10:19 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

I feel like I should have figured that out myself, but I'm so overwhelmed with things I have to remember, learn and do, that I'm not surprised at me for now, lol.

You being overwhelmed, I completely understand. You are starting a new journey in your life. You go out and buy a brand-new truck and an RV. The last thing you expect is something not working.
I can't wait until you're able to start posting some pictures of your travels. It's been a long time since I have been out that way to all the places you have mentioned about seeing.

(10-10-2026 10:53 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 10:19 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

I feel like I should have figured that out myself, but I'm so overwhelmed with things I have to remember, learn and do, that I'm not surprised at me for now, lol.

You being overwhelmed, I completely understand. You are starting a new journey in your life. You go out and buy a brand-new truck and an RV. The last thing you expect is something not working.
I can't wait until you're able to start posting some pictures of your travels. It's been a long time since I have been out that way to all the places you have mentioned about seeing.

Now we're talking. I made it to Badlands NP and to Mount Rushmore in the last couple of days. I have plenty of great pics now. Just have to figure out how to post them from my phone to here. I'm taking today off, more or less. Been on the road 7 weeks full time visiting relatives, zigzagging around, waiting on parts, etc. Maybe I'll work on that today.

(10-10-2026 10:21 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

That's what we were taught to check first in the AF...check the connections.

It took me a while to get it through my head when working on something to not think of the worst possible problem and start there. But instead to start at the beginning.

(10-10-2026 11:02 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 10:21 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(10-10-2026 09:55 AM)Redbanksdog Wrote:  

(10-09-2026 07:31 PM)TripleA Wrote:  By the way, it turns out the only thing wrong with my battery was the connections weren't tightened down well enough. Took 3 RV dealers before one figured it out.

The connections were my first thought. I'm lost for words that it took 3 RV techs to figure out the problem. In my book you start with the most common problem or simpleness problem to start with.

That's what we were taught to check first in the AF...check the connections.

It took me a while to get it through my head when working on something to not think of the worst possible problem and start there. But instead to start at the beginning.

The place I'm starting at is I paid a lot of money for a new truck and a new trailer, and I shouldn't have to be the one to figure things out, lol.

Added a new site to my list today. The Custer (South Dakota) State Park Wildlife Loop.

It's an 18 mile circular paved road through a few hills and valleys in the Black Hills area that have been populated with (or were native there) bison, wild burros, deer, antelope and a number of other critters. The most surprising one was a lone wolf that ran out in front of my truck as I was first turning onto the loop. What an awesome sight.

That place was amazing. They have a herd of wild burros that have been fed by tourists so much that they walk right up and stick their nose in your hand looking for food. They are apparently particularly fond of carrots.

If your hand is empty, they immediately turn and leave.

The whole place was just awesome.

Big change of plans. The weather and season lateness are changing my plans.

I'm headed back SE to spend Thanksgiving thru New Year's in Collierville. Then maybe wintering a month at a time somewhere between the panhandle Gulf Coast and the Texas Hill Country. Then finally out west in mid April.

Too many delays to the original plan to get out west before the weather got cold.

(10-12-2026 11:31 AM)TripleA Wrote:  Big change of plans. The weather and season lateness are changing my plans.

I'm headed back SE to spend Thanksgiving thru New Year's in Collierville. Then maybe wintering a month at a time somewhere between the panhandle Gulf Coast and the Texas Hill Country. Then finally out west in mid April.

Too many delays to the original plan to get out west before the weather got cold.

Devil's Tower is pretty close. You can hit it pretty easily before leaving as well as Wind Cave.

(10-12-2026 12:25 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 11:31 AM)TripleA Wrote:  Big change of plans. The weather and season lateness are changing my plans.

I'm headed back SE to spend Thanksgiving thru New Year's in Collierville. Then maybe wintering a month at a time somewhere between the panhandle Gulf Coast and the Texas Hill Country. Then finally out west in mid April.

Too many delays to the original plan to get out west before the weather got cold.

Devil's Tower is pretty close. You can hit it pretty easily before leaving as well as Wind Cave.

Thanks, but no interst in either and I'm concerned about getting south of the no freeze line. And I'm booked until I leave (Deadwood, Crazy Horse, trailer prep).

(10-12-2026 12:46 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:25 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 11:31 AM)TripleA Wrote:  Big change of plans. The weather and season lateness are changing my plans.

I'm headed back SE to spend Thanksgiving thru New Year's in Collierville. Then maybe wintering a month at a time somewhere between the panhandle Gulf Coast and the Texas Hill Country. Then finally out west in mid April.

Too many delays to the original plan to get out west before the weather got cold.

Devil's Tower is pretty close. You can hit it pretty easily before leaving as well as Wind Cave.

Thanks, but no interst in either and I'm concerned about getting south of the no freeze line. And I'm booked until I leave (Deadwood, Crazy Horse, trailer prep).

The cave is nice. And the wildlife is like Custer. Lots of buffalo.

I would look into ST Andrews state park in PCB for one of those months. If you dont like it too hot or too cold (most days) Dec is the month. Close enough to get back to your "home" if you wanted to spend a few days at Christmas.

(10-12-2026 01:42 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:46 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 12:25 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-12-2026 11:31 AM)TripleA Wrote:  Big change of plans. The weather and season lateness are changing my plans.

I'm headed back SE to spend Thanksgiving thru New Year's in Collierville. Then maybe wintering a month at a time somewhere between the panhandle Gulf Coast and the Texas Hill Country. Then finally out west in mid April.

Too many delays to the original plan to get out west before the weather got cold.

Devil's Tower is pretty close. You can hit it pretty easily before leaving as well as Wind Cave.

Thanks, but no interst in either and I'm concerned about getting south of the no freeze line. And I'm booked until I leave (Deadwood, Crazy Horse, trailer prep).

The cave is nice. And the wildlife is like Custer. Lots of buffalo.

Caves make me claustrophobic. Custer was chock full of wildlife, including a freaking wolf. But I do plan to drive through there, so I will see the wildlife. And technically, they are bison, not buffalo.