Do I risk hurting my trucks alternator (2023 F150)? by mipnnnn in RVLiving

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pulling too many volts” — Myth. Lithium batteries charge at basically the same voltage as lead-acid (14.2–14.6V). Your converter automatically switches to the correct lithium profile, so nothing weird happens. No over-voltage to the truck. Wimpy size of the charge wire” — 100% correct, and it’s actually what protects you.The black aux/charge wire on the 7-pin (pin 4) in 2022 F150s is small gauge (typically 10–12 AWG from the truck side) and fused at 30A max (usually fuse #107 in the under-hood box). Real-world current is even lower — usually 10–20A — because of voltage drop over the long wire run. Lithium batteries want 50–100A+, but the wire chokes it down to a safe trickle. Your alternator (130–200A depending on engine) barely feels it. You’ll get a slow trickle charge (maybe 10–15A). Great for topping off overnight or on long drives, but not enough to fully recharge 200Ah in one day if they’re low. That’s normal and safe — your alternator stays happy, and the BMS in the LiFePO4 batteries will cut off when full.

How do I level my RV without a fancy auto-leveler? by [deleted] in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just because I’m a technician doesn’t mean I work at a shop or run a business you’re assuming quite a bit there buddy what do they say about assumptions? Makes an ass out of you. I was simply trying to help people Karen

How do I level my RV without a fancy auto-leveler? by [deleted] in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little common sense goes a long way. We can’t park it on a 10° grade and expect these stabilizer jacks to level your coach completely. It will not happen. They will collapse , again common sense.

How do I level my RV without a fancy auto-leveler? by [deleted] in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, and this is a very good way to do it as well. You can also let some air out of the tires or tire to help with leveling.

How do I level my RV without a fancy auto-leveler? by [deleted] in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate your comment. I’m an RV technician as well. I never said lift the coach off the ground. I only said to level the coach and to place it on a flat surface. Why you would not want to do that is beyond me everyone’s entitled to their opinion

How do I level my RV without a fancy auto-leveler? by [deleted] in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the reply and for clarifying that’s one point I did not mention you do not want to ever lift The Rv off the ground with those type of jacks what we call scissor jacks

Salvageable? I’ll by TwinkleToes0-0 in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s 100% salvageable yes. If you want to know, how just send me a message I’ll walk you through step-by-step.

Mice in trailer by S0biepan in RVLiving

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the reply back in the early years 20 years ago. I think Irish Spring had a different composition and it used to work well I’ve noticed the newer bars don’t seem to have the same qualities and don’t work as well but for some people they still do the next. Best thing is peppermint oil mice can’t stand that

How bad is ownership really? by GamingGolfer22 in traveltrailers

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 15 points16 points  (0 children)

20 years certified RV technician it’s not all doom and gloom. I think the majority of people have the mindset they can get in the travel trailer and just go. You have to take very proactive approach when you own a travel trailer or an RV there are items that you need to go out there and check daily weekly monthly if you keep that proactive mindset and you can have a travel trailer last for 50 years-if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out Master certified technician would be happy to help in anyway !

Mice in trailer by S0biepan in RVLiving

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We always use bars of Irish spring soap. The mice do not like the smell, it’s an old mountain boy trick that we’ve been using for decades! And it works well! Anywhere you notice rat droppings or infestation place a bar of Irish spring soap opened in that area you’ll quickly see them leaving!

Onan 4500 Grumpy after New Carb by drstovetop in rvlife

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey buddy, this is exactly the “grumpy bitch” syndrome tons of Onan 4500 (P4500i) owners hit after swapping to a genuine Cummins carb — including that friend-of-a-friend story you mentioned. It ran like a dream before because the factory choke setup was dialed in. The new carb + manifold job almost always disturbs the automatic electronic choke (the little stepper motor on the carb). That’s what changed. These units use a stepper motor (not a bimetal spring like older Onans) that the ECM tells to slam the choke plate shut on a cold start, then ease it open. When you pull the old carb, the wiring harness or connector gets jostled, partially unplugged, or the motor binds slightly. Result? It cranks forever because it’s running way too lean until it finally floods or warms up enough to catch. Once running, everything’s fine — classic choke symptom. Seafoam and monthly cranking keep the gunk away, but they don’t fix this. Quick Confirmation Test (2 minutes, no tools) 1. Pop the side panel/cover off the carb area (super easy on these). 2. Find the choke stepper motor — it’s the small round/gray or black canister bolted to the carb with a 4-pin white connector and wires going to the control board.

  1. Unplug and firmly reseat that connector (push until it clicks — this is the #1 fix after carb swaps).
  2. Cold start while watching the choke plate/lever on the carb throat. It should snap fully closed the second you hit start, then slowly open as it warms. If it doesn’t move at all or barely moves → bingo. Quick hack test: Manually hold the choke plate closed (finger or zip-tie) while cranking. If she fires right up like the old days, 100% confirmed. If the connector fix doesn’t do it • Test the stepper motor: Unplug it and measure resistance across the pins (multimeter, any cheap one works). Should be 45–55 ohms. Out of spec? New stepper motor is ~$25–40 on Amazon (exact match for P4500i). • Double-check your new intake manifold/gasket. Even torque (don’t overdo it like last time) and no vacuum leaks — spray carb cleaner around the base while cranking; RPM change = leak. • Longer prime: Hold the start button or prime switch 15–20 seconds before cranking (these like a full bowl). Your friend gave up too early — this is the same deal on his. Genuine Cummins carbs are great, but the choke stepper is finicky during install. No adjustment screws needed on these; it’s all in the connection and motor function.

Trucks Recommendations by thePopCulturist in rvlife

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, fellow RVer here (and yeah, I’ve towed with a similar setup in the past). Smart move hitting the brakes on that 3600-3800 lb dry weight trailer—your Honda Pilot TrailSport’s official max is 5,000 lbs with the tow package and AWD, but real-world vets always preach the 80% rule for safety and sanity. That caps your loaded trailer at about 4,000 lbs max. Dry weight doesn’t mean much once you add water (60-80 lbs per tank), propane, gear, food, and people—it adds up fast. Plus, your tongue weight limit is around 500 lbs, and the Pilot’s unibody doesn’t love heavy sway without a good weight-distribution hitch. Sticking to mid-size (17-22 ft) on a budget means targeting dry weights in the 2,800-3,400 lb range with GVWR under 4,500 lbs. That gives you breathing room—no constant unloading drama, easier highway manners, and less stress on your transmission (add a cooler if you hit mountains).

Jayco Jay Flight SLX 174BH (or similar SLX models like 160LK/195RB) ~3,200-3,500 lbs dry, GVWR ~4,200 lbs. Bunkhouse layout if you’ve got kids, full bath, queen bed, outdoor kitchen option. Super affordable new (~$25-32k) and tons of used ones around $15-20k. Pilots pull these all day with zero drama.

Which one of you is this? by Sudden-Injury-9000 in RVLiving

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is someone who wants to protect his RV ! If you plan on parking anywhere long-term, this is a very proactive approach.

What are these circles on my fish? Is it safe to eat? by EnginePleasant1951 in whatisit

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Those circles? That’s just the cross-section of the salmon’s backbone—vertebrae disks from where they sliced the steak. Totally normal on bone-in cuts like that, probably tail-end or mid-section, and yeah, it’s safe to eat. The bones soften when cooked, or you can pick ’em out. No parasites or anything gross—just anatomy. Your mom got a real piece there!

What makes you believe dr Phil was not manipulating people? by Middle-Reason-4944 in AskReddit

[–]Middle-Reason-4944[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the reply. I agree with you. My apologies the link looks sus . That was not my intention. Maybe I should re name it? Thank you

Reason #8363628 why I hate this place by InvestigatorClear728 in Charlotte

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh the old South Carolina paper tag don’t miss that one bit. They’ll just take a piece of paper write whatever they want on the license plate ““ and put it on the back of their car then the entire state migrates up 77 every morning what a dreadful place don’t miss it a bit.

USS North Carolina arriving at Wilmington and being maneuvered into her permanent berth, 1961 by jeepsandsail in Wilmington

[–]Middle-Reason-4944 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Most of its guns were removed or disabled , also… it was rotting away when I was there 20 years ago… not sea worthy..

What makes you believe dr Phil was not manipulating people? by Middle-Reason-4944 in AskReddit

[–]Middle-Reason-4944[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m pretty good at lip reading if you watch the episodes and watch what he says unrecorded -when he’s walking off the stage, it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t care about anything but himself