Preparing the FT "Nest"

Topic: Preparing the FT "Nest" (Read 1282 times) previous topic - next topic

Preparing the FT "Nest"

March 20, 2017, 08:25:58 pm

After returning from NAC we're working on our house where we can store the coach as deed restrictions were never renewed in our subdivision back in the 70's. This has worked out well for homes in our neighborhood since the subdivision also has a waterfront park with boat ramp. Nearly every house has either a boat or an RV.

Our yard is fenced from the front of the house to the sides of the lot and along the sides and across the back. We installed a 12' gate (2x6') along the front and we have 14' clear between the air conditioner on the side of the house and a shed inside the fence along the property line.

At 102" we'd have plenty of width room for the coach. And, we'll have plenty of room for the 34 or 36' length we want. All the "desirable" coaches we're hunting for have either no slide or only a front slide. A no-slide would give us 51" on each side. Not sure how far a front slide would extend out....but I bet someone here does! Please reply with that dimension.

Also, how far does the entry door and steps extend?

Finally, how long is the 50 amp service cord?

Thanks

Randy and Karen

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #1 – March 20, 2017, 10:07:00 pm

Don't have a slide but I think somewhere between 24 and 30". Front step 8". Door 28" fully open. Bay doors (if you don't have "bus style"...ie 270 or 295 stock) 31" at 90 degees, less when fully open. Mirrors are approx 12" wider than the body of the coach each side, unless they are forward.
My cord is 30'. Not on a reel.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #2 – March 20, 2017, 10:27:54 pm

MAKE FULLY SURE that your electrician knows the coach is 120 vac ONLY. A 50 amp hot leg and a 50 amp nuetral. Otherwise smoke and $$$$ damage.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #3 – March 20, 2017, 10:51:24 pm

Oh yeah you can probably get by with a 20 amp circuit if you are not running an air conditioner, or other major appliances. Since you may be in Florida you might want to invest in a portable dehumidifier and go with a 30 amp 120 vac outlet/service and the associated adapter plug. Dehumidifier requires a drain to the exterior. 50 amp allows you to run both air conditioning units if you are using as a guest house. ALL 120 vac

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #4 – March 20, 2017, 11:04:52 pm

With 30 amp service you can run one air conditioner and fridge. You do not need a dehumidifier with one ac.
In South Texas I set the one ac at 84 f and it keeps interior humidity under 50% Outside most of the time in the 90's with humidity in the 80 to 90's.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #5 – March 21, 2017, 12:17:52 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – March 20, 2017, 10:51:24 pm

Dehumidifier requires a drain ALL 120 vac

What i did was get the middle sized dehumidifier from Sears (the one with a hose drain).
just put the unit on the sink counter and ran the drain hose to the sink .. will take quite a while for it to fill a 112gal gray tank me thinks

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #6 – March 21, 2017, 12:53:42 am

Quote from: jcus – March 20, 2017, 11:04:52 pm

With 30 amp service you can run one air conditioner and fridge. You do not need a dehumidifier with one ac.
In South Texas I set the one ac at 84 f and it keeps interior humidity under 50% Outside most of the time in the 90's with humidity in the 80 to 90's.

Good idea, as one continuous operated a/c unit running near full load is best to remove moisture. Works well in the texas Summers but when temps drop to the 80's and 99 % RH doesn't work. Florida is a whole different ball game maybe.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #7 – March 21, 2017, 07:32:17 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – March 20, 2017, 10:27:54 pm

MAKE FULLY SURE that your electrician knows the coach is 120 vac ONLY. A 50 amp hot leg and a 50 amp nuetral. Otherwise smoke and $$$$ damage.

OPP,

I would suggest that a 50amp RV connection has 2 legs of 50 amps, 1 ground, 1 neutral. Set up properly you should get ~230 volts if you measure phase to phase and ~120 phase to ground or neutral.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #8 – March 21, 2017, 08:49:24 am

Guys,

No difference between house-type 50 amp outlet and RV 50 amp outlet. It is 30 amp outlets that are confusing.

50 amp:
Two outer straights= hots from opposite sides of the main breaker box so 240 VAC as measured between them.
Center straight= neutral
Center round = ground.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #9 – March 21, 2017, 09:01:24 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – March 21, 2017, 08:49:24 am

Guys,

No difference between house-type 50 amp outlet and RV 50 amp outlet. It is 30 amp outlets that are confusing.

A good reference: RV Electric

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #10 – March 21, 2017, 10:25:28 am

Ah 4 wires incoming 2 hots, a nuetral, and ground. hots split at panel. So isn't the genset just 120 vac output, along with the inverter? Still confused somewhat. God help me if we get off on Y-delta or straight Delta service entrance.

House appliances such as dryers, stoves, condensing units etc are mostly 240 vac but typically lack the nuetral (forth wire).

Hire an electrician and make sure he realizes it's 4 wires including nuetral. With 240 volts between the hots.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #11 – March 21, 2017, 10:40:58 am

Quote from: Old phart phred – March 21, 2017, 12:53:42 am

Good idea, as one continuous operated a/c unit running near full load is best to remove moisture. Works well in the texas Summers but when temps drop to the 80's and 99 % RH doesn't work. Florida is a whole different ball game maybe.

Old phart, Why is Florida any different?

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #12 – March 21, 2017, 07:45:28 pm

Still looking for the rest of the dimensions, single slide extension "add" to 102" coach width in particular. Also max coach height with A/C presumably the max height save for antennas.

Jet Doc got a good start.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #13 – March 21, 2017, 07:56:07 pm

Here is an excellent resource. Just about everything you want to know about FT is here.

Foretravel Motorhome technical help and information links

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #14 – March 21, 2017, 08:06:22 pm

I believe the advertised height of mine is 11' 2". Anything less than 12' clearance and I start to sweat.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #15 – March 21, 2017, 08:24:41 pm

My single slide extends 24 inches

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #16 – March 21, 2017, 08:33:19 pm

2001, LR slide extends 24" + 3-4" for the awning.. Front door sticks out 26", basement slide tray comes out 44". Coach height is 11'- 4-1/2". Our barn door are 11' 11-1/4" vertical clearance and the CB antenna hit going in, it is in the basement now.

Our barn is 14'x40' ourside, 13' x 39' inside. Our 36' coach fits fine and with some careful planning and big sliding doors on the sides, a tall man door, a big rear door and 11' 10-1/2" wide in the front almost every bay door, the engine hatch and all other doors can be opened. I could have engineered the left side so that the slide could have opened as well but never imagined that would happen. No room to work on the roof of the coach in the barn.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #17 – March 21, 2017, 09:08:39 pm

Jet Doc said his 50 amp cord was 30'. Is this pretty much standard (without an extension)?

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #18 – March 21, 2017, 09:16:35 pm

I have not measured mine but that seems about right. I have a 50' 50 amp extension on board for that rare time I will need it.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #19 – March 21, 2017, 09:31:37 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – March 21, 2017, 09:16:35 pm

I have not measured mine but that seems about right. I have a 50' 50 amp extension on board for that rare time I will need it.

Although we had 50 amp service mounted for our 5th wheel we backed it in to our side yard so the service side of the coach was adjacent to the house. With the FT we think we'll pull straight in so we can load from the curbside of the coach where the door would be more easily accessed than up against the storage shed on the side lot line side of the coach. This might limit access to the street-side bays somewhat but would most likely also allow a slide to open past the end of the coach. We're still leaning toward no-slide where this wouldn't be an issue. This means we'd most likely use an extension to reach....but then we'd probably want the extension anyway. On the 5th wheel we carried a 30 amp extension and a 50 to 30 converter so we could use parks where only 30 amp was available. We're unlikely to need 50 amp at the house as we'd simply be using electric for a single air or dehumidifier.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #20 – March 22, 2017, 12:08:54 am

....well Randy, you'll get to see another non-slide coach (I love it, many people who have slides have said it looks larger than their's on the inside....lighter, brighter, more spacious) on Saturday. Be ready for a shock, she looks pretty new!....+ you'll see how well just 30 amp works, I use one AC unit on "auto" all the time when plugged in & the fridge the day before a trip.

....looking forward to your visit!

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #21 – March 22, 2017, 12:55:11 am

30 amp is plently for that. I have 2 30 amp connections in the barn (one for the coach inside, one for the coach outside) and two 50 amp connections by the shop. It is pretty easy to run a 30 amp feed underground to an outlet closer to the coach. A coach with a slide works fine with the slide closed. And better with it open.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #22 – April 17, 2017, 09:15:13 pm

Electrician moved overhead power drop to house so low point is 13' above ground. Will 98-2000 coach clear including horns and a/c? Antenna?

Thanks.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #23 – April 17, 2017, 09:33:39 pm

Coach height with ac clears by 1.5 ft, about. But if tall radio or CB antenna, could be hit? I had to remove mine due to 12-2 ft entry to the cover.

Re: Preparing the FT "Nest"

Reply #24 – April 17, 2017, 09:48:46 pm

If you are pulling straight in you should be able to dump the air bags to pull in and out (but not if steer tires are turned).

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