Mountain Bound C357

[jason_v26]

Good day people of Keystone Forum. I'm Jason and am picking up a brand new Carbon 357 Saturday (tomorrow) morning. This will be my second RV, first fifth wheel and first Keystone. I plan on making this an ongoing forum where I document installs, share ideas and inform others of my experience with my new toy with lots of pictures. Who doesn't like pictures?

As far as camping is concerned this trailer will almost exclusively be used for dry camping. I plan on purchasing a third battery, an upgraded converter and a small generator like a yam/hon 2000W. I seem to prepare well and have maxxair 2's waiting to be installed along with other protective and preventative items. Stay tuned for further installs.
Questions I already have: This is a 50 amp service trailer, there are connectors that reduce the size of the cable to a 30 amp or small cord right out of the trailer without having to use the massive provided cable, do these work and can you safely charge a 50 amp trailer from a little generator? What brand of converter or "junction box" do these trailers have? I upgraded a converter on my last trailer to a Progressive Dynamic system and it was one of the best things I have ever done.
Thanks and stay tuned, -J

[spicercars]

The only time I use my 50a cord is when I know I am going to run the air day and night for a couple days other wise I use the 30a cord. Much easier to handle.

[therink]

The are a 50 to 30 amp adapters available at most rv stores, Amazon, etc. My current and last 50 amp Keystone fifth wheels came with the adapters when I bought them new. Keep in mind, you will be limited on amperage draw once you reduce down to 30amp and even more so if you reduce that down to 20amp. Also, the longer the 20amp cord the greater voltagedrop.

Welcome to the forum.

[ajohnston78]

I understand the whole winterize thing but I'm just curious to the female hose end I have between my city water hook up and black tanks flush . I travel for work so I may or may not be staying in my rv depends on how long I'm at this particular job

[Nailz]

Where's the pictures!!!"bouncey:

[jason_v26]

Trailer is home and in great condition. I have only found one thing that is not working being the main cabin lights above the kitchen area. If someone else can chime in on where the switch may be that would help tremendously. I have searched up and down for it and am afraid a switch turning on only one light near the bathroom is meant to turn on all others.
Other than that the purchasing experience was flawless. Lots of things lift to buy!

I am having difficulty uploading images from my iPad. I read the posting pictures help thing from this forum and still won't work. I'll continue to attempt. -J

[jason_v26]

Test for pictures.

[jason_v26]

Inside the cabin.

[jason_v26]

Opposing view

[gilpinbrewer]

Looks Great Jason! Welcome to the forum! I see we are not too far away from each other.

[ajohnston78]

Check beside the couch on the slide there is a switch over there on mine

[Nailz]

Looking good! We plan to upgrade to a fifth wheel and are looking at the Carbon, Fuzion & Raptor models. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Curtis

[jason_v26]

ajohnston78- On my coach, that switch only turns the lights on that are above the slide out. Is that the one that turns your cabin lights on?

[BlueknightWI]

In my Keystone Impact 311, the main cabin light switch is the first one in line nearest the door in the control panel, which is just above the jacket closet.

[ajohnston78]

That's what mines does too didn't know what lights you meant or maybe it different on yours took me a month of living in mine to find that switch . I have an interior switch in control panel for my lights

[MontanaMike]

My Carbon 357's main cabin light switch in located in the main panel where the fresh/black/grey tank indicators are. It's labeled "Interior". Horrible place for it to be located because the panel is behind a small door that hides it.

Your 357 didn't come with a built in genny? I didn't know they made it without. How many AC units does it have?

[jason_v26]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the reply on the lights, I will look there ASAP. The trailer did come with an onboard generator though I will be optimizing the camper for boondocking which doesn't include running the onboard often. Camper has 2 A/C units.

Purchased/purchasing this week: Power Dynamics 4655 converter, Smarter Power 2000w inverter generator and a third battery. Installs and tests coming soon. The stock converters just aren't up to snuff for dry camping. -J

[BOWWOW]

Welcome Jason.
I also dry camp 90% of the time.
I did the same converter, switched to 2-6 volt batteries after using up 3-12 volts, have the small gen.
I would recommend a solar set up as well, there is so much sun here in Colorado.

[jason_v26]

Thank Bow,
I plan on switching to 6V in the next few years. The dealer I purchased the trailer from included the two 12V's when I bought it so I think I will go with those for awhile. Thanks for the replys everyone.