An All Electric Camper

[Ron F]

Hi Bruce,

We met Darald and Pat at the Salisbury State Reservation for the Columbus Day weekend. It was like a mini EggCamper rally, amoung all the stick and staple rigs. We had a great time and although the nights got chilly, we stayed nice and snug with the heat on.

Ron

where in Mass did you go? I'm from southeastern CT, near the casino's..........bruce

[Ron F]

Bill,

Mine is the EggCamper with 6 tail lights. There are 2 reflectors and 4 incandescent at this point and I don't really have any plans to LED them. They're only on when we're hooked to the tow, so I'm not sure the benefit would offset the cost of LEDs. This was an experiment that Jim Palmer tried, and then abandoned. I think mine is the only one with this configuration.

I did replace all of the interior lights with LEDs. I got the soft white LEDs from VLED over the web (http://www.v-leds.com/Interior-LED/C...-LED/sc267101/).

If you search the Mods area, you can find some photos of the mods that I've done. The EggCamper is very easy to customize.

Ron

Darald and Pat -

BTW - I'm not sure, but I think your Egg has SIX tail lights? Did you order it that way? Are they all LED? Any hints for DIY'er? I love the look and safety factor!

Would sure love to see more pics of your rig inside and out...

Bill
oceansalive (at) mac.com

[artspe]

Ron,

The LED's inside, are they an exact replacement the the existing bulbs? Is the amount of light equal? Is the coloring the same? Thanks

Art

[Ron F]

Art,

I got the 48 LED matrix, which is a small circuit board with a 6 x 8 matrix of LEDs. Each one comes with adapter plugs to mate with various light sockets. Mine was adapted the permanent plug to a 921 socket in the EggCamper.

When I got the LEDs, the circuit board was connected with a wire to the loose permanent plug, so I simply epoxied the permanent plug to the edge of the circuit board so that I didn't have to do anything fancy to hold the circuit board in the light fixture. Then I just added the adapter plug and that's it.

Oh, and I did do one other thing to each light fixture. I added a voltage regulator to the 12v wiring for each fixture. The voltage regulator was off the shelf from Radio Shack. I think they were about $1.89 each. I read somewhere on the forum that the LEDs were sensitive to overvoltage, so it seemed like a good idea to protect the $19.99 investment in the LED.

The LEDs come very close to the brightness of the original 921 bulbs, but are a fraction of the drain on the battery. The color is also close to the original 921s.

Here are some photos of the LED and plugs:

Ron

Ron,

The LED's inside, are they an exact replacement the the existing bulbs? Is the amount of light equal? Is the coloring the same? Thanks

Art

[Ray N]

I wonder how those would compare with these?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs...10-D.htm#OTHER
These have a built-in current limiting resistor and also come in either warm or cool white, and cost $14.95 each.

[Ron F]

[quote]I wonder how those would compare with these?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs...10-D.htm#OTHER
These have a built-in current limiting resistor and also come in either warm or cool white, and cost $14.95 each.
Attachment 24534


Ray,

That looks very interesting and the price is nice. Did you have to do anything to attach the plug? What about polarity?

I should have mentioned in my earlier post that it's important to check the polarity at the light fixtures before epoxying the plug to the circuit board. In my EggCamper, all of the fixtures were wired with the same polarity, so I could just orient the hot wire the same for each LED assembly.

Ron

[Ray N]

Ron,
They come all set up that way, complete with polarity protection and current limiting resistor. Read the print next to the picture in the link.
I don't have any LED lights yet - I'm still looking at all the different options.

I really don't even know why I'm considering LEDs, we never seem to camp where there isn't any electric hook-up. I guess I just like to tinker around with things.

Ray

[Jane P.]

OK Still have some questions regarding the EggCamper. Given a width of 8FT 8 inches, do you have to add large mirrors to your Tow Truck to see around the camper?

I know it is a larger bed, but does the person on the inside of the bunk have to crawl over your bed mate when getting out of bed?

Can you add an after market high axle to the egg camper?

Can you drive through a fast food car line like Scamp and Casita Owners?

Thanks for your answers.

Jane P.

[Orlen Wolf]

OK Still have some questions regarding the EggCamper. Given a width of 8FT 8 inches, do you have to add large mirrors to your Tow Truck to see around the camper?

Ans: I had to add extension mirrors on the Aerostar van and clip-on extension mirrors on the Land Rover but the Bronco and Dodge pickup work fine with the standard mirrors. The Dodge came with mirrors that flip out for use with wide trailers. I guess the answer depends on what you have for a tow vehicle. Check the spec's.

I know it is a larger bed, but does the person on the inside of the bunk have to crawl over your bed mate when getting out of bed?

Ans: Unless you've mastered levitation the person in the back will still have to crawl over to get out.

Can you add an after market high axle to the egg camper?

Ans: Mounting tabs are welded to the frame on an EggCamper (at least on my EggCamper) and the axle is bolted to the mounting tabs. You could make some extensions for the mounting tabs if you want the trailer to sit higher.

Can you drive through a fast food car line like Scamp and Casita Owners?

Ans: My EggCamper is 8' 1" tall. Most fast food pickup lines are placarded for about 9'. Just read the sign and act accordingly. If you have a very talented camper you could teach it to squat to get under the bar (limbo anybody?).

Thanks for your answers.

Jane P.

Hope that helps.

73
Orlen

[John Wootton]

OK Still have some questions regarding the EggCamper. Given a width of 8FT 8 inches, do you have to add large mirrors to your Tow Truck to see around the camper?

I know it is a larger bed, but does the person on the inside of the bunk have to crawl over your bed mate when getting out of bed?

Can you add an after market high axle to the egg camper?

Can you drive through a fast food car line like Scamp and Casita Owners?

Thanks for your answers.

Jane P.

Jane,

I'm seriously considering an Egg as well. My other short list trailer is a 13' Scamp Deluxe. I think the width is 88 inches or 7'-4", compared to the 80" width for a Scamp. The ht issue is interesting too. The 2006 Scamps are taller than the "pre fire" Scamps. The EggCamper is 98" tall with or without an AC unit because it's under a dinette seat. The Scamp is 90" without AC. The Coleman Polar Cub adds another 10.6" to the Scamp. I have no idea if either would fit through a fast food place.

John

[Bill Robison]

I'll add my $0.02 to what has been said...

OK Still have some questions regarding the EggCamper. Given a width of 8FT 8 inches, do you have to add large mirrors to your Tow Truck to see around the camper?

WE TUG OUR EGGCAMPER WITH A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY - I CAN SEE PAST THE 'EGG' ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT EXTENSION MIRRORS. To improve parallel visibility for backing into campsites and improved highway safety I still slip on my extension mirrors - they go on right under the factory mirrors. (I'll have to post a pic of how simple they were to make - two mirrors and metal bar stock was total of $20 and they take 1 minute to put on.)

I know it is a larger bed, but does the person on the inside of the bunk have to crawl over your bed mate when getting out of bed?

IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW LONG THE BED REALLY IS UNTIL YOU LAY ON IT - if the person on the 'aisle side' slightly bends their knees, it leaves an area the size of a small landing strip for the person in the rear position to easily slide out for any 'nightly need' ;-)

Can you add an after market high axle to the egg camper?

AGAIN - DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE EGGCAMPER - - (Jim Palmer put lots of engineering into a little package). Unlike other 'eggs', on mine the black and gray tanks are very 'low profile', i.e. they drop only 1" below the channel frame. The ONLY spot with less ground clearance is the dump valve - which is immediately in front of the road-side tire so it is moot to raise the EggCamper to achieve greater ground clearance - unless you plan on doing true two-tracking on very rough terrain. Also, ours came standard with 14" 205 6-ply tires. It was intentionally designed to reduce drag - no roof-top A/C, sits safely at 17" tongue height with great ground clearance and is very stable without equalizer or sway control - - WHY would we want to RAISE it to negate all these positive characteristics?

Can you drive through a fast food car line like Scamp and Casita Owners?

I THINK IT COULD EASILY PULL THRU MOST FAST FOODS - -but the question begs to be asked - - why would one want to DRIVE thru? Getting out to stretch ones legs is a GOOD idea - - use the facilities - - while 'camping' we should not have to press forward with the clock ticking in our heads ;-)

A wise person once said, 'Life is like a journey down a beautiful road - not to be enjoyed only at its destination, but rather all along the way.'

Jane,

I hope all this helps you in some small way. Some comments certainly were 'tongue-in-cheek' - I like to create 'modified paradigms' for life when it makes sense. A. Einstein told us that 'we can't expect to solve life's problems using the same flawed logic which created them.' The EggCamper takes one to a 'new dimension', hence at times may require a 'different' way of thinking about 'eggs' - one day we will all understand ;-)

[Jane P.]

Hey Bill, Orlen, Ray, Roy & John:

Thank you so much for your replies -- particularly enjoyed the tongue and cheek stuff.

I added the question about driving through a McDonalds because of the many comments from Scamp and Casita owners that they could drive through these facilities while other (stick) trailers had to park. Such obvious added on value got me thinking about what an Egg Camper is capable of doing.

As winter approaches ... I keep thinking about that missing gas furnace! I had a nice conversation with a friend who bought an AS Bambi several years ago. She does a lot of dear hunting and, prior to the Bambi, would spend the night in her car on forest service roads (talk about dry camping!). The one thing that she absolutely loved the first morning she woke up in her new Bambi was that furnace!

Having said that, the EggCamper does remain on my short list. I like hearing about the enhanced sense of space inside the Camper. I really want something that I can tow through the mountain states worry free.

[Ray N]

The EggCamper is 7'4" wide. With our little S-10 as the TV, I felt that we needed an extension mirror for the drivers side. The other side was fine as is. I bought the cheap little extension mirror from Walmart and it worked great for the trip from Michigan to Florida.

Oh, and being 6'4" tall, the EggCamper was my only real choice - I tried a 17' Casita but didn't like having to hunch over all the time, (even my 5'8" wife felt cramped in it).

[Dennis O]

I'll be an Eggcamper owner in less than 2 weeks. Leaving from Michigan and picking it up in South Dakota. We've always camped in tents and are new to rv's. Any words of advice would be appreciated. We've learned alot just from reading these forums.

Any information on winterizing the camper would be helpful.

Thanks

[Donna D.]

Any information on winterizing the camper would be helpful.
Thanks

Congratulations Dennis See the left nav bar of any page, under tutorials you'll see a great write up on Winterizing ... and one on Winter camping!!

[Radar1]

I'll be an Eggcamper owner in less than 2 weeks. Leaving from Michigan and picking it up in South Dakota. We've always camped in tents and are new to rv's. Any words of advice would be appreciated. We've learned alot just from reading these forums.

Any information on winterizing the camper would be helpful.

Thanks

Hi Dennis,
Did you get the Eggcamper? If so, how do you like it so far?

John H

[Ray N]

I was wondering the same.

BTW, I'm really impressed with how easy it is to "winterize" the eggcamper. Looking underneath I see the only lines exposed are the two large drain lines. Every other line runs through the inside. To drain the hot water tank and the fresh water tank all you have to do is open one valve each, pre-installed drain lines lead directly down and out, (be sure to unplug the heater before draining to avoid any potential problems). It looks like the sink and the shower empty directly into the gray water tank with no exposed lines. Both the gray and black water tanks are nestled neatly between the frame with only a very little hanging down below. I don't know if all of the brands of molded fiberglass campers are designed so well, but I'm impressed.

[Ray N]

Oh, and I have a question for all of you other EggCamper owners, do any of you have the weight distribution hitch? Jim Palmer talked us out of getting one, he told us that with a light, well designed, and balanced trailer, (like ours), WDHs cause more problems than they solve. After towing it over 1000 miles, I think his advice was correct. Did any of you find differently?

[Mike Magee]

Oh, and I have a question for all of you other EggCamper owners, do any of you have the weight distribution hitch? Jim Palmer talked us out of getting one, he told us that with a light, well designed, and balanced trailer, (like ours), WDHs cause more problems than they solve. After towing it over 1000 miles, I think his advice was correct. Did any of you find differently?

My Burro is about the same size and weight as an Eggcamper, and my Equal-i-zer hitch is gathering dust. The trailer tows great, not a hint of sway. I bought a FG to get away from needing a WDH, and it's been a good move.

[artspe]

I tow with a Dodge Nitro and do not use a WDH or anti sway bar. Have newer had a problem.