Several Electrical-ish questions

[Nelsondewey]

Might as well get my newbie questions out of the way...
Re our 2019 Imagine XLS 17MKE (now into our second season of camping):
1. Wondering if the interior ceiling lights are LED or incandescent. I can’t see how to remove or open the fixtures to change or replace bulbs
2. Is there some kind of schematic drawing that shows the actual locations of things like the winterizing water valves (well-hidden behind kitchen drawers) and wiring & piping routing?
3. The shore power cable plug contains an LED light to show current flowing; but am I correct in assuming it does not also have any overload protection built in?
4. I have to use a Parkit 360 electric dolly to maneuver the trainer in and out of our driveway. I think I may have bent the shaft of the hitch jack, which has jammed a couple times recently, and blown the inline 30-amp fuse. Any suggestions for straightening the shaft?
5. I’m interested in a backup camera, but I want more options than just the Furion plug-in.
6. Also interested in using solar panels (which I already have) but again, prefer more options than Furion.
7. Previous RV was a motor home, which had built-in backup lights. For some reason I assumed a trailer would also have them, if only for parking in the dark. Any suggestions for adding them?
8. Our tow vehicle is a pickup, and with the trailer attached, the gate can’t be lowered very far without hitting the buttons on the hitch jack control. Suggestions?

Any answers or suggestions for where to find answers will be appreciated!

[traveldawg]

I'll take a stab at some answers......

Might as well get my newbie questions out of the way...
Re our 2019 Imagine XLS 17MKE (now into our second season of camping):
1. Wondering if the interior ceiling lights are LED or incandescent. I can’t see how to remove or open the fixtures to change or replace bulbs
not sure - gonna guess LED
2. Is there some kind of schematic drawing that shows the actual locations of things like the winterizing water valves (well-hidden behind kitchen drawers) and wiring & piping routing?
no. although a lot of us wish there was)
3. The shore power cable plug contains an LED light to show current flowing; but am I correct in assuming it does not also have any overload protection built in?
LED indicates voltage present. No overload protection built it.
4. I have to use a Parkit 360 electric dolly to maneuver the trainer in and out of our driveway. I think I may have bent the shaft of the hitch jack, which has jammed a couple times recently, and blown the inline 30-amp fuse. Any suggestions for straightening the shaft?
Yikes - I doubt it? Ram your dolly into from the other side?? - ha, just kidding
5. I’m interested in a backup camera, but I want more options than just the Furion plug-in.
tons of solutions. Search the web. Search this site (e.g.: "mygrandrv.com backup camera"). And, BTW - it's a rear view camera IMO - only useful to see how close you are to something immediately behind your rig. Use a spotter when backing.
6. Also interested in using solar panels (which I already have) but again, prefer more options than Furion.
Again - search YouTube, this site, the web. LOTS of options and opinions.
7. Previous RV was a motor home, which had built-in backup lights. For some reason I assumed a trailer would also have them, if only for parking in the dark. Any suggestions for adding them?
Pretty much have to run your own wiring to the rear from the 7-pin plug on your tow vehicle. Then it becomes your choice for where & how to mount the backup lights.
8. Our tow vehicle is a pickup, and with the trailer attached, the gate can’t be lowered very far without hitting the buttons on the hitch jack control. Suggestions?
Somewhere I read about how folks are removing the head, rotating it 90 degrees and that gets them extra clearance.
Here is one such link... https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...motor-function


Any answers or suggestions for where to find answers will be appreciated!

I hope some of this helps. I was trying to be brief so sorry for the short answers. Others will begin to "chime in" soon. Welcome aboard!!

[Ynot4me2]

Thats a lot of questions for 1 thread. Larry gave you bang on advise. Lights should be led pucks that are just spring loaded. Just pull it down. Some are real tight though. As for your dolly, maybe try your local welding shop. They have presses and might be able to help you out. As for solar and camera and backup light, there's so many options available.

[jkwilson]

Backup lights are less useful than you’d think on a trailer. The area they light isn’t visible from the cab anyway, and a rear view camera doesn’t need lights to see when backing.

[RV Sailor]

Might as well get my newbie questions out of the way...
Re our 2019 Imagine XLS 17MKE (now into our second season of camping):
1. Wondering if the interior ceiling lights are LED or incandescent. I can’t see how to remove or open the fixtures to change or replace bulbs
2. Is there some kind of schematic drawing that shows the actual locations of things like the winterizing water valves (well-hidden behind kitchen drawers) and wiring & piping routing?
3. The shore power cable plug contains an LED light to show current flowing; but am I correct in assuming it does not also have any overload protection built in?
4. I have to use a Parkit 360 electric dolly to maneuver the trainer in and out of our driveway. I think I may have bent the shaft of the hitch jack, which has jammed a couple times recently, and blown the inline 30-amp fuse. Any suggestions for straightening the shaft?
5. I’m interested in a backup camera, but I want more options than just the Furion plug-in.
6. Also interested in using solar panels (which I already have) but again, prefer more options than Furion.
7. Previous RV was a motor home, which had built-in backup lights. For some reason I assumed a trailer would also have them, if only for parking in the dark. Any suggestions for adding them?
8. Our tow vehicle is a pickup, and with the trailer attached, the gate can’t be lowered very far without hitting the buttons on the hitch jack control. Suggestions?

Any answers or suggestions for where to find answers will be appreciated!

A few answers

I have a DoHonest backup camera .1080 picture in color..works great. They provide Furion template instal for free took me 1 hour

Have 3 - 200 watt Newapower panels with Victron controller and upgraded batteries. Also a Victron 3000 / 12 / 120 inverter charger which makes all the 110 outlets live when not connected to shore power.

Our Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi has a tail gate which doesn’t interfere with the hitch

[SolarPoweredRV]

Solar panels...

I recommend getting the highest power "Residential" Solar panels that your camper and wallet will accommodate. I installed 4, Canadian Solar panels at 305 Watts each. If you shop for panels by dollars per Watt, you can easily compare different panels and easily get the best bang for the buck by buying the lowest $/Watt panels.

PS: if you look at $/Watt on your Furion panels you will quickly discover they are over $3.00 per Watt, whereas you can easily find better, higher Wattage panels for $0.50 to $0.70 cents per Watt. Buying Solar panels at "Cents" per Watt lets you install more Watts for much less money (your wallet will thank you).

[Pap and Mimi]

Might as well get my newbie questions out of the way...

7. Previous RV was a motor home, which had built-in backup lights. For some reason I assumed a trailer would also have them, if only for parking in the dark. Any suggestions for adding them?


Any answers or suggestions for where to find answers will be appreciated!

I installed LED offroad "4 diode cube" lights under the front of the camper and tied into the reverse wire in the junction box just behind the propane tanks. The lights are angled outward slightly. They illuminate along the sides of the camper, but are tucked under the camper so I'm not blinding anyone (unless they are laying on the ground beside where I'm backing in)

[bdelcurto]

I installed LED offroad "4 diode cube" lights under the front of the camper and tied into the reverse wire in the junction box just behind the propane tanks. The lights are angled outward slightly. They illuminate along the sides of the camper, but are tucked under the camper so I'm not blinding anyone (unless they are laying on the ground beside where I'm backing in)

I’d love to see some pics of your install and what they look like at night.


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[Ynot4me2]

For the #8 on your list, check out this video, a few have been successful. I plan on doing this sometime in this summer. https://youtu.be/xeWl1CYH94U

[Pap and Mimi]

I’d love to see some pics of your install and what they look like at night.


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The lights are mounted on the back of the front cross member, you can see the mounting bolt in the first pic below.