Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Ok.. I have to say this cell phone booster and high gain antenna is worth the $ paid. No bars shown outside on my phone. I pointed the antenna in the direction of the nearest tower. 4G LTE in the CTC with 532Kbs data throughput. It was enough to stream a Netflix movie by tethering my laptop to the cellphone.

I did some grilling this afternoon after spending the morning in the woods. Love this grill.

Also set up my portable HF rig.. Made contacts in NY and Mississippi with a wire antenna up in a tree.

Not as fun as riding the dirtbike, but after yesterday, thought I'd not go out solo today.

A few pics:



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Glad to see you stayed camping. Much nicer weather than here. We had 0° as wind chill yesterday. High was about 25 today teens at night. I still hope for another ride.
What mods if any does your son's DRZ have?

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Thanks for the added info on the antenna. I picked up a directional cell antenna this fall, and I'm looking at the different ways to mount it. Your mount on the ladder is awesome.

flboy wrote:Ok.. I have to say this cell phone booster and high gain antenna is worth the $ paid. No bars shown outside on my phone. I pointed the antenna in the direction of the nearest tower. 4G LTE in the CTC with 532Kbs data throughput. It was enough to stream a Netflix movie by tethering my laptop to the cellphone.

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sorry for the hijack, which cell booster are you using?

It is the Surecall brand. I got the home version and added the directional antenna when the Omni-directional just is not strong enough. It is the 4G version. Look back in the thread. There should be an Amazon link. Here is a pic of the repeater unit.



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Hi Don, just curious, I ordered some led lights for my awning. The same ones you got as a matter of fact. When you wired them up did you just cut the connector off on the lights and the controller, shove them through the wall and resolder? Or did you disassemble the white controller box and connect them when you hooked up the power and ground?

I hope that makes sense,

Thanks, Darin

PiddleFart wrote:Hi Don, just curious, I ordered some led lights for my awning. The same ones you got as a matter of fact. When you wired them up did you just cut the connector off on the lights and the controller, shove them through the wall and resolder? Or did you disassemble the white controller box and connect them when you hooked up the power and ground?

I hope that makes sense,

Thanks, Darin

I cut the wires and the resoldered them. I figured that would be easiest and a very small hole to pass the wire through. Good luck. My lights still are working great.

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How do you like that cross over helmet? I really like the idea of them here with use for snow or summer. It they are kind of heavy


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Padilen wrote:Glad to see you stayed camping. Much nicer weather than here. We had 0° as wind chill yesterday. High was about 25 today teens at night. I still hope for another ride.
What mods if any does your son's DRZ have?

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Yes, I had to stay in any case to wait on someone to drive Tommy's rig home. Made the best out of the camping. Was kind of a downer though.

My son's DRZ is 100% stock. He bought it from an old guy who had ~3,000 miles on it from riding around town. Never was offroad. I think working on the suspension (progressive springs and revalving) and getting more aggressive off road tires are needed for his bike. Then I'd uncork the exhaust and re-jet the carburetor. The thing that really wakes these Dual Sport DRZ's up is a pumper carb and a much less restrictive exhaust .... but my first thought is get the suspension dialed in first... then worry about a few more HP. It is all about the control when the trails get nasty.

What mods does yours have?

BigDave_185 wrote:How do you like that cross over helmet? I really like the idea of them here with use for snow or summer. It they are kind of heavy


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I really like it. Off course it would be no good if you are getting roost thrown on you at a track or in a hare-scramble... but for the dual sport riding, it is good. I can wear my sunglasses underneath and it really is nice for when you get caught in rain. It does not fog up like the googles do if you leave it cracked open a bit. I just put RainX on and it seems to clear itself as long as I am moving.

Need some ideas on my toilet. I am thinking I may have developed a seal leak where it mounts to the floor flange. I leave the top vent open when traveling and it pulls a vacuum when going down the road I think. This trip, I was smelling black water tank fumes in the camper when I stopped on the road. The trailer is air tight or close to it, so I cracked open the door window a bit on the second leg of the trip, and I didn't get the smell. The bowl retains water so I am thinking it can only be the floor flange seal. Anyone have any ideas before I take out the toilet and try to reseal it (assuming that is the cause). The vent piping all looks good to me.

My hot water tank failed this trip too... I woke up the last morning to my water pump turning on an off with only a few seconds in between pulses. I began to think oh no! flood... but there was no water inside the camper... I went outside and it was running out the flame tube on the hot water tank. All I can think is that it must have developed a crack or hole in the flame chamber... This tank must be at least 20 years old. I recovered it from an old camper.. Is that a typical mode of failure? BTW... so glad I had installed a shutoff valve on the hot water tank during the build. If I hadn't, I would have had no water the last day for flushing toilet and etc..

I suppose I will just buy a new one. Going to get the gas/electric type. I converted the tank that just broke to electric also and I really liked that when shore power was available.

All, I did see Tommy at his house today after I got back in town. He is looking well and the pain is managed. It is going to take a long time to heal, but I am thankful he didn't loose his whole hand. He came real close.. if an artery or large vein was ruptured and I had to tourniquet at his wrist while waiting for medical help to arrive, he very likely would have lost his hand. So thankful that wasn't needed. He has feeling in his hand which is a good sign that nerve damage is not extensive.

flboy wrote:All, I did see Tommy at his house today after I got back in town. He is looking well and the pain is managed. It is going to take a long time to heal, but I am thankful he didn't loose his whole hand. He came real close.. if an artery or large vein was ruptured and I had to tourniquet at his wrist while waiting for medical help to arrive, he very likely would have lost his hand. So thankful that wasn't needed. He has feeling in his hand which is a good sign that nerve damage is not extensive.

Good to hear he has feeling in his hand. Hope you told him we all care and want to hear from him.
Now my DRZ, I've done case savers different shift lever and rear(bent) rack. Lowered it and new chain, sprockets, newish rear tire. I have radiator guards to install and air box/ boot . Air boot on bike is ripped and K&N filter has poor seal. I will be working on some other things this winter, too. Compression check, valves, timing chain and carb. I will probably do the 3x3 mod and JD jetting if carb is good.
Now about the question on ADV/dual sport helmets. They are nice but there is more wind noise than with a full face street helmet. I've had a Fly Trekker that was slightly big. My fault as it was cheap and available. But I needed correct fitting helmet. I now have a Bell MX9ADV, that fits properly.

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flboy wrote:Need some ideas on my toilet. I am thinking I may have developed a seal leak where it mounts to the floor flange. I leave the top vent open when traveling and it pulls a vacuum when going down the road I think. This trip, I was smelling black water tank fumes in the camper when I stopped on the road. The trailer is air tight or close to it, so I cracked open the door window a bit on the second leg of the trip, and I didn't get the smell. The bowl retains water so I am thinking it can only be the floor flange seal. Anyone have any ideas before I take out the toilet and try to reseal it (assuming that is the cause). The vent piping all looks good to me.

Have you thought about using one of these? It won't cure a leak but still might help. They are suppose to work like magic!!

https://www.amazon.com/Lippert-Componen ... 360+siphon

I think Icon is onto something. The fact that when you gave it air via window eliminated the odor is a good indication that the tank and toilet seal are OK. Water in the bowl is good but you could have "boiling" effect happening. Water will boil at room temp in a vacuum. This could be letting the gasses from tank rise and not only escape but "flavour" the bowl water as well. High temps will only enhance the aroma along with the humidity making a nice thick vapour that would be unmistakeable as to its origin.
Also, all the sink traps and shower trap are suspect event if they are "grey". That water may not have the same "solids", but it can get super funky, especially in nice warm temps in a dark place. Plus you can't really sanitize plastic and kill all the micro critters without UV. If any are hiding they will reproduce like crazy given the right conditions, dark, warm and moist. Like a tank under a trailer in Florida. And your tanks share a vent, right? Also, that vent under the sink may not be able to hold back vacuum from the interior, I am not familiar with the works inside those.
You haven't had any liquid leakage, I know you would have spotted it, so we are really talking about gasses. If you can either feed the vacuum or pull a vacuum on the vent pipe equal the vacuum being pulled through cabin vent or both you'll be golden.
Or,.......Hepvo. The water in one of your traps may have dried up enough since last use to let gas come through.
Just sayin'

McDave