Wally15
02-03-2014, 03:18 AM
Not having schematics or drawings of my TT is driving me nuts. I'm a new RV'er (or at least I've moved up from pop-up camping), and I need to run some wiring and I don't have a clue how to even get started.
I know the search engine is my friend, but I haven't been able to find a good thread on fishing wires through ceilings and walls. I'm not sure I even understand the structural make-up of my RV.
For example, I'm putting in a 2nd a/c in the MBR roof. I'm also adding a simple digital wall thermostat to control the temp. I know enough not to put it on an external wall, but before I start drilling holes in walls of my almost new RV, I need to understand how I'm going to get from point A to point B.
Is there a thread out there that I missed? I hard wired my whole house with Cat-5 and coax 4-5 years ago, so I have all the stuff and knowledge to run wires and cables in houses. Spent a week in the attic running drops back to a nice Leviton multimedia panel. Not long after I did that they came out with smart TV's just to make me look dumb.
My '13 Laredo has a curved roof and a rubber membrane over a plywood base (I guess?). I'm assuming there are "rafters" (16" centers"?) running across the TT to support the roof. The internal walls are thin, so I'm assuming there are 2x2 studs going from floor to ceiling. Basic "stick house light" construction. Are there any "cripples" or cross bracing in the walls to stop a fish tape? How do you get through the rafters? I'd have to cross at least one to get to the wall I want to mount the thermostat. I need to go about 3' from the a/c toward the rear of the TT, then 3' toward the curbside, then down about 4'. So three 90 degree turns in about 10' of wiring. Or can you angle across?
As many electrical mods and adds as I've read about on this forum, almost everyone has a much clearer understanding of the TT structure than I do.
A tour of the factory is not possible at this time. Maybe a tour of a somewhat local mobile home manufacturer? How close to TT's are MH's in construction details? Are there any books on TT construction and modification? There are hundreds on houses.
DW will have a hissy fit if I turn the MBR into a Swiss cheese factory.
And a reputable dealer to do the installation is a couple hour drive. Plus I'm cheap, and I want to "learn" my new toy.
This is more of a vent than a rant.
Mike
I know the search engine is my friend, but I haven't been able to find a good thread on fishing wires through ceilings and walls. I'm not sure I even understand the structural make-up of my RV.
For example, I'm putting in a 2nd a/c in the MBR roof. I'm also adding a simple digital wall thermostat to control the temp. I know enough not to put it on an external wall, but before I start drilling holes in walls of my almost new RV, I need to understand how I'm going to get from point A to point B.
Is there a thread out there that I missed? I hard wired my whole house with Cat-5 and coax 4-5 years ago, so I have all the stuff and knowledge to run wires and cables in houses. Spent a week in the attic running drops back to a nice Leviton multimedia panel. Not long after I did that they came out with smart TV's just to make me look dumb.
My '13 Laredo has a curved roof and a rubber membrane over a plywood base (I guess?). I'm assuming there are "rafters" (16" centers"?) running across the TT to support the roof. The internal walls are thin, so I'm assuming there are 2x2 studs going from floor to ceiling. Basic "stick house light" construction. Are there any "cripples" or cross bracing in the walls to stop a fish tape? How do you get through the rafters? I'd have to cross at least one to get to the wall I want to mount the thermostat. I need to go about 3' from the a/c toward the rear of the TT, then 3' toward the curbside, then down about 4'. So three 90 degree turns in about 10' of wiring. Or can you angle across?
As many electrical mods and adds as I've read about on this forum, almost everyone has a much clearer understanding of the TT structure than I do.
A tour of the factory is not possible at this time. Maybe a tour of a somewhat local mobile home manufacturer? How close to TT's are MH's in construction details? Are there any books on TT construction and modification? There are hundreds on houses.
DW will have a hissy fit if I turn the MBR into a Swiss cheese factory.
And a reputable dealer to do the installation is a couple hour drive. Plus I'm cheap, and I want to "learn" my new toy.
This is more of a vent than a rant.
Mike