Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #100 – April 21, 2015, 04:10:08 pm

Please keep posting as I'd be interested in hearing how the battery pack performs over time.  Great reno!

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #101 – April 21, 2015, 07:55:39 pm

you're actually going to LEAVE Nac ?!?! 
It hasn't even been a year yet!  Why so soon?!?!

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #102 – April 21, 2015, 07:57:26 pm

If the current rate is still a coach buck per day, I can see why.....................

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #103 – April 21, 2015, 09:54:08 pm

Haha, Mogan David. We're thinking it will be Friday, but we have some other business to wrap up here as well. Hope to be back in Virginia by next week. It will be nice to drive this rig farther than AROUND THE CORNER. Every. Single. Day.

Susan

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #104 – April 21, 2015, 10:18:22 pm

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.  On my way home from Nac, I saw a lot of debris on the road (some of it behind the wheel  )

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #105 – April 23, 2015, 09:13:39 pm

Thanks! We are finishing up tomorrow. Getting a bath and blowdry in the morning and then we have one final part that needs to be installed on the electrical system in the shop. Even so, we were capturing solar power this afternoon and Tigger was configuring all the systems to monitor and control the new battery, inverter, etc. I'm sure he'll follow with a more detailed post on that side of things. I wouldn't know - I'm interiors.   

We plan to stay through Monday at least though so that we can give the systems a run and make sure we're not forgetting anything. We might actually escape the parking lot and take a trip for the weekend! If you're here at FOT, stop by and say hello!

Susan

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #106 – April 24, 2015, 10:20:18 am

It is so tempting and desirable to just get going when all is nearing completion.  There are some nice Corp of Engineering campgrounds just east of Lufkin on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir, a short ways away, not in the parking lot, for a day or two (or more) of shake down.  Close by (closer than Virginia) to get back for any adjustments.  All of your changes have been fun to watch as they come together.  Have fun!  Roger

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #107 – April 24, 2015, 11:38:20 am

Thanks!

A park near Lufkin might be perfect.  Our daughter soooo wants to go to the "Which Wich" in Lufkin anyway, and getting the rig on the road there and back would be a great shakedown drive.

The last part going in today is a heftier thermal block for the Inverter/Charger.  I'm also still waiting on a reply from the battery manufacturer to figure out why the BMS is tripping the battery offline @ 14 volts.  The published charging curve has the absorption phase set to 14.2, so having the battery trip itself offline @14.0 is kinda a problem. :p  An even bigger related issue is that the alternator trips the battery offline pretty much every time we drive. Growing pains.

I really enjoyed being able to connect to the Solar Charge Controllers (MPPT) and the Multiplus Inverter/Charger using the Parallels install on my Macbook and change the configuration on them quick and easy. Still have to configure the battery monitor (BMV 702), but that's just waiting on some detail info from the battery manufacturer.  Seeing it all working and WATCHING the solar panel charging @400+ watts yesterday late afternoon was really cool. :-)

Waiting until I've got it all working right before I do all the pictures and detailed write-up, but that's the quick version.  For anyone having anything similar done @FOT, I highly recommend Aaron as the tech of choice.  Great person/tech with an amazing story about how he came to work in the shop.  He's very skilled and motivated, and loved working on cutting edge systems. Really thrives on challenges and makes sure it's done right. :-)

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #108 – April 24, 2015, 10:31:06 pm

That there's one fine coach. I considered myself lucky to have gotten the guided tour last week. Glad to have met you and your great kids!  You made dealing with the waiting room a lot easier. Good luck guys and many happy travels in the days to come.

Bruce

P/S Please remember to invite me to the grand opening of Chez Elizabeth when the day comes.

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #109 – April 25, 2015, 11:42:18 am

Thanks, Bruce! It was great fun meeting you and hanging out for a few days. We were just talking this morning about needing to know our new height since we removed the sat dish and contemplating your method...measure the height of the lightpost, the shadow's height, apply some math...LMAO. Too much. Anyhoo - take care, and next time we want to meet your lovely wife and hounds.

Susan

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