Wins/Fails Follow Up
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- Опубликовано: 9 сен 2024
- A number of questions came up after last week's Wins and Fails video so I thought I would address them asap: cab shelf, fridge, cab window covers, taping mosquito screens to name a few.
Humble Road cab shelf: • Easy Step by Step Cabo...
My video that references original shelf: • Camper van storage (2 ...
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Link to cargo net: www.amazon.com...
Music in this video is from a subscription with Epidemic Sound:
Green Summer Waves--Qeeo
Hi Debbie, I also saw the video George did where he was installing the drawer refrigerator and freezer. I did some digging after that video and I'm fairly certain it is by vitrifrigo. They are an Italian marine brand.
Thanks! I'll look it up.
Yup, me too. We have what looks like the same set up on our boat. They are a good size, but we have found that the freezer ices up more than our dometic chest freezer
Thanks Deb, you’ve addressed so many of the issues that we all come up against. I feel as you do, that fridge is the biggest problem. I hope George is watching and can enlighten us all.
Hearing everything you like and don't is quite useful for our own future planning of traveling. There are so many options for rigs and I listen to your videos and others as I'm cooking dinner almost every night so I can be an informed customer when it comes time to buy something. Thanks for taking the time - I love your way of articulating your experiences.
Thanks. You are always welcome to email me for info or feedback as you move forward with your decision. I will be doing a tour of a 2020 Ascent in October. To compare the new features with ours. Energymaven@gmail.com
Loved all ur AK videos. Been following ur fridge woes because I too, had numerous fridge issues with my Dometic absorption 3 -way fridge. I was hesitant to buy another Dometic fridge but I found a compressor drawer fridge with a small freezer inside for $700. I also upgraded to lithium batteries. My son put it in and I hooked it up to batteries and AC myself. Just came back from 3 week trip, boondocking every night except 5 nights at LTV rally, and battery power sufficed each night. Love new fridge. My food was super cold and it got up into 90’s. Never leveled either. Highly recommend the compressor style over my nightmare experience with absorption fridge which never cooled on gas and while cooled much better on elec, was still not to my satisfaction on hot days. Next project is to use old propane line from fridge for grill hookup. Wish I had switched sooner instead of wasting $500 trying to get repaired numerous times to no avail.
Thanks. Can you share the make and model fridge you purchased?
This is great info especially about the Dometic fridge! I will explore other options when I’m ready to purchase my RV! There is nothing I hate more than an arrogant manufacturer especially one who suggests that the user is at fault! Why would Pleasureway continue doing business with this company? If they make a high quality rig, one would think they would want all their equipment’s manufacturers to be of the same high quality!! Pleasureway needs to dump Dometic!! They certainly can-they have the reputation and market share. Thank you for sharing!
I don't have any inside knowledge but I think they will be switching to compressor fridges in the near future. I'm going to try one more thing which is to replace the regulator.
Thank you! Very easy! Taping the edges! Im not usually having issue with skeeters but hope to see Alaska sooner than later
I agree that the Dometic refrigerator is a problem. I never put milk, meat, etc. in ours; these perishables instead go in a cooler that takes up valuable space. Plus, we are buying 10 lbs. of ice every couple of days. I’m taking notes about potential replacements. Thanks for the good info.
We replaced ours with an Isotherm compressor model this past winter and love it.
The model for the drawer fridge is Dometic CRXD-1065EFM AC/DC Pull Out Drawer Silver Fridge and Freezer. They only had 2 on Amazon when I ordered mine and now they are saying unavailable. If u replace ur fridge, I prefer the pull drawer because all my items toppled over in my upright fridge bouncing down the road. West marine had same fridge when I ordered mine but it was over $1000 instead of $700. It is smaller than my old 3 way but I added extra insulation around new fridge and storage shelf above fridge and is plenty big enough for half gals of white and choc milk, and all my necessities like mustard, mayo, butter, eggs, drinks, etc. even was able to fit a gal jug of water. Downside is small freezer inside but it still held 6 burritos, frozen cookies, and pretzels, and had a little more room. Best improvement I’ve made to my RV. U probably know difference in absorption and compressor, but at rally, many people didn’t, so for ur viewers: this is not a dorm or residential style refrigerator that only runs on elec. it is designed for marine and RV purposes and also uses compressor like residential refrigerators, but is much more efficient because mainly operates off battery power. Also, cools to temp range u set and doesn’t vary depending on ambient temps like the absorption. Also, it is very quiet. Hope this helps.
Thanks for all the good info.
Hello Deb, I just want to say your videos are getting better and better -- and they were so good to start! You impart a lot useful information each time, favorable and unfavorable, and its all so nicely said too. I especially love your detail on how you handle maintenance and service with all the components in these modern rigs. I'm picking up my new Lexor FL in a couple weeks and may see you on the road sometime!
I hope our paths do cross. Enjoy your new rig!
You are so bright and happy and well spoken and fun to watch1 I especially enjoy your tips on using and improving the Pleasure Way. Thank you.
Informative video! Thanks for posting!
I love to hear you -say it the way it is - and your openness -on any topic plus the Frig. It’s never overkill. Thanks- Be good to yourselves!
Im sooooooo glad our trailer did NOT come with a dometic fridge. Every person I've seen with a dometic has a fridge that doesn't work. Horrible! Travels With Delaney had such problems that they sold their trailer and bought one without a dometic. I think you should keep mentioning that it doesn't work... people need to know!
Keeping it real.
Hi Debbie,
I’ve been a bit busy, but still keeping up with your videos. They are all very
nice and it looks like you and John had a great time, but I’m with the folks who
would enjoy a little more of the day to day stuff to make the videos a little
more personable, like cooking.... trips to the laundry mat.... something that
didn’t work right on a given day (as it happens).... when you’re wearing or using the special things you brought with you like the mosquito clothing or mosquito racket.....
or, say, when you (or John) stop at a restaurant and have a nice fresh, Real cup
of coffee :)
Meanwhile, what led you to change the cab shelf?
Have a pretty day! Skip
I will try to do just that. I guess I changed the shelf just to give it a try and let viewers see the options. Quite liking the cargo net for pillows.
The Nova Kool 12 volt compressor refrigerators might be a suitable replacement for your Dometic. The Nova Kool was an option we could have installed on our new pontoon boat. We chose not to have a refrigerator installed, but we looked at the refrigerators at the boat dealership. They seem very well constructed.
Thanks. I just saw Humble Road's latest video. He was talking about various upcoming projects. One is replacement of his fridge. Can't wait to see it.
Hear what you’re saying regards to component parts in the Pleasureway and those manufacture warranties. However I feel Pleasureway should do business with suppliers that provide and service their products to the same standard Pleasureway sets. If they don’t meet this then move on and find one that will. I think these failures still fall in the lap of Pleasureway because they should take on the service issue directly. All said its their brand and reputation this reflects. When so many things go wrong on a rig the result is to walk away from brand as a whole not the itemized components. Tks.
I always love your videos! Thanks for another one! Safe travels.
You do such a wonderful job, very informative and helpful.
Great video as always. I made my own DIY over can storage shelf with shiplap and 2” L brackets.
I really enjoy all your tips and fixes, I also like to hear about the fridge issue too and how people are making it work. We hope to buy a used Pleasure Way soon. When you first got your rig, did you find it difficult to use it as your transportation and camper. We have only camped in a travel trailer.
Super easy to drive and use. There is an initial learning curve but that doesn't take long to learn the systems.
Thanks again and I need to start storing my bedding in the cab overhead in my Lexor. Been cleaning up stuff and getting my inside less messy as I am now about three weeks on my first long trip and storing things differently thanks to your videos. Regarding the fridge, I have run mine on battery since I bought it and only thing I get s freezing on the coils. I installed a three fan setup (had to trim a bit off one end to fit) in front of the fins and get some ice build up, but never gets high temp.
I saw the fridge in a Lexor last week. That thing is huge! I think our experience is exclusive to the fridge in the Ascent.
That’s what I was thinking and yes, it is very big and one of the features I wanted. My Golden, Bridger, is spoiled and loves his frosty paw ice cream cup each night. So, I can get 36 cups in the freezer, no food for me, but that’s okay. Not every place has them and as I said, Bridger is spoiled, but gives me unconditional love!
@@timsmith7625 As Rodney Dangerfield would say, "all dogs smell that way."
Just rearranged my cabover and now all my bedding except the mattress pad fits. May need to downsize the 2” foam pad to an 1” one or something like you made in previous video. Now my couch/bed area is less messy. Thanks again and being in it more than a weekend trip makes you look hard at everything in and out of the coach.
It was ironic that Dometic was one of the advertisements that I watched before this video. I actually clicked their link before watching this.
That’s funny. They seem to own quite a few of the companies that make components for our van.
Another great video! I noticed on the new pleasure way ontour 2.0 and 2.2 built on the ford transit they went with a compressor refrigerator. Thought maybe the 5.5 cubic refrigerator pleasure way used on the 2.2 on tour may fit for you guys
Yes, I noticed that. I think that’s the direction PW will be going. They are probably tired of hearing all the complaints. 🥴
From She to Me yes I am assuming they will use the smaller refrigerator on the assent and Luxor. And the larger one on other models. I think that’s why the 20 foot transit has 200 watts of solar and the 22 foot with the larger refrigerator has 300 watts.
If your want more vertical room for the shelf, move the plywood to the other side of the bracket. If you need more room, use a spacer and longer machine screws.
Turns out the underside has been great for attaching the cargo net where I now stow the pillows.
Thanks for doing this series! So much great info.
Good video. We love our van however you are correct about the components. The 3 problems we are experiencing are all installed component related. You wonder if they actually test some of this stuff. It looks like you have 2 Ebikes. What make are they? What rack do you use? Do you have a video on them?
Found the bike video. Thank you for all the info you provide.👍
Hey great info on your trip. Thanks!! I hope to head up there in the next couple of years. Just curious, did you have any flat tires?
No flat tires for us, thankfully, but we saw plenty of blown out tires on vehicles coming off the Dempster Highway.
So many problems. You'd think, with a fancy, expensive rig, like that, they would have ironed out all those issues. Not on my list, for sure.
RVs aren’t much different from homes and the myriad of problems that arise with our appliances.
I really like your window coverings. Would you have the patterns for the back windows? I am not able sew but I do know a friend of the family who does. I was thinking that removing the window frame and placing rare earth magnets and metal strips might be an effective method including the the ability to roll up. Looking for your thoughts and maybe patterns\templates for the windows. thx Rob
I didn’t do any templates, just measured the width and height and then gave enough overhang so they could be held with Velcro. I would be hesitant to remove the plastic frame. It likely holds the insulation in place. The Velcro isn’t ideal but it is adequate. You can use magnets on the sliding door and probably a few places on the rear doors. This should be a pretty easy project for someone who sews.
I took your idea of using a twin fitted sheet on the couch and ran with it. Just finished up all my bedding yesterday. SO happy with it. I'd love to send you pictures somehow.
Excellent. Email is energymaven@gmail.com
Great video as always! Any update on your couch/bed issue? I just purchased the same one from someone who removed it from their 2019 Pleasure Way and I’m planing on using in my van build. Thanks!
Really? They removed the sofa bed? I wish I could see what they replaced it with. We didn’t have time to get it fixed before we left and we never heard back from Atwood. Sofa is in flat position so not a problem.
From She to Me I’m happy the share some photos they sent me via email. If you want to email me at tim @ thevap.com.
That would be great: energymaven@gmail.com
Do you have condensation with feed bag cover?
Nowhere near what we had with the interior covers. Can’t recall the last time we had condensation. But maybe our dry air is a factor.
Just found you. Your name, "From She to Me" intrigued me. Are you in transition from female to male?
It’s from the last stanza of a favorite poem called A Bridge Across Time: I'll live my life and when It's done
I'll live again in those to come.
For I'm a bridge from she to me;
from those that were, to those to be.
Please KEEP talking about the issues with the 3-way refrigerator as the poor performance is widespread. I recently asked Pleasure Way about ordering an Ascent with a compressor refrigerator and they told me they do not offer that option. Tells me they do not realize the issues with these are as bad as they are. Not to mention the ugly outside vents that have to be there with an absorption unit. With lithium and solar onboard there is little reason to have an absorption unit in the Ascent. Personally I would be OK with an even smaller unit and a bit more storage if a larger compressor unit did not fit.
Totally agree. Glad they are offering the compressor fridge in the Ford models. I think it is an indication of where they are headed. I’m curious what year you have. I wonder if it is unique to a batch of units they got.
From She to Me I am currently researching Class B units and expect to buy in the next year. Love the Pleasure Way models Ascent, Lexor but hate those refrigerators. Keep doing these great inspirational videos.
Hi: 1) Do you keep the van plugged in all the time while at home and you are not traveling? If "yes," can I assume you installed a 30 amp outlet someplace? If "no," is the van affected in some way (batteries get low, etc)?
2) Do you use the van as a second car when at home or only for traveling?
3) Our driveway has a slight upward slant and we have heard that the auto should be parked on a flat surface, but that may be because of the refrigerator. I noticed in one of your videos you mentioned rubber mats to help level the van. Is there a link for those, or actually, what are they called so I can search for them?
As always, great information. Thanks!
1. We only plug it in the day before leaving on a trip. And we put it up on our leveling blocks to get it within 3 degrees of being level. I will typically leave the fan on at 20% with a window cracked so that air circulates to keep the temp down. The batteries stay charged thanks to the solar.
2. I have used it as a second car but more often use it to drive to the beach, park, and do video work where I won't be disturbed. John has taken it to ball games.
3. It is the fridge that needs to be near level. The leveling blocks we use are in my amazon storefront (link below video) but there are probably others that you might consider. We were strictly looking at what would store easily in our "garage."
@@FromShetoMe Hi: Regarding number 1 above: What do you plug into? Will this van plug into a regular electrical outlet or does it require a 30 amp outlet? My spouse suggested that we have a 30 amp outlet installed in our garage and I was wondering if this was actually necessary.
November S You just need an adapter to plug into your household 110 outlet.
@@energymaven Thanks, but I need more information, such as, what kind of adapter?
November S Camco Heavy Duty RV Auto PowerGrip Adapter- Contoured Shape For Easy Grip and Remo... www.amazon.com/dp/B00192JGA8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_JvJGDb8E6H10G
I saw a video from Pleasure Way (ruclips.net/video/WIyNk8hMoeo/видео.html at 6:41) regarding MultiPlex Wiring in an older version of the Ascent. The panel showed all the fuses; if they showed green all was well; if red, then a problem. Does your model have this panel of fuses, and if so, where is it located? The one shown in the link above was very convenient and I liked its location.
Yes, it is still very convenient, under the ottoman.