Drew Callahan · May 23, 2026
Hi, I’m Drew Callahan. After traveling over 80,000 miles across North America in three different rigs, I’ve learned that the Thor Sequence diesel heater has a specific vulnerability that can catch many of us off guard. When the glow plug begins to fail or the fuel pump loses pressure, the system doesn’t just go quiet; … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 22, 2026
When I first started my journey across North America, I never imagined I’d put over 80,000 miles on three different rigs. There’s a lot to learn on the road, and one of those lessons came when my Winnebago Travato’s diesel heater quit firing on a frigid morning. The owner’s manual didn’t mention it, but I … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 22, 2026
It was around mile 340 of a high-desert loop through Nevada in February when I first heard it—that unmistakable click-click-click from beneath the Jayco Terrain’s floor, followed by the unmistakable scent of unburned diesel wafting up through the vents. The heater would attempt to fire, struggle for maybe three seconds, and then completely shut down. … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 21, 2026
Hey there, I’m Drew Callahan. After traveling over 80,000 miles across North America in three different rigs, I’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs of RV living. One of the challenges I’ve faced is dealing with diesel heaters, particularly when they refuse to light on those chilly mornings. Many folks assume that if … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 21, 2026
I’ve spent enough mornings elbow-deep in the battery compartment of a Chinook Bayside that I can practically diagnose its power problems by sound alone. The click-click-click of a dying lead-acid bank trying to crank the inverter. The way the lights dim halfway through coffee because the voltage sags as soon as the compressor kicks in. … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 21, 2026
Mess up a lithium battery swap on a Melbourne and you’ll spend the next three weeks troubleshooting a system that won’t charge, won’t discharge, and leaves you stranded with zero margin for error in the field. I’ve watched owners install a lithium bank that’s technically compatible on paper but fundamentally incompatible in practice — dropped … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 20, 2026
I’m looking at the battery terminals on my Galleria right now — corrosion creeping up the cable lugs, voltage sagging to 10V by dinner time, and the alternator spinning its wheels trying to keep up. That’s what a lead-acid bank in an RV tells you after a few seasons of real use: you’ve hit the … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 20, 2026
“Drew, I’m looking at this Thor Dazzle with what the seller says is a lithium battery setup, but the wiring looks sketchy and I can’t tell if it’s actually safe or just a ticking time bomb.” That’s the conversation I had with a friend last spring, and it’s the exact reason I pull the battery … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 19, 2026
I’ve got the Aterra’s battery box open and I’m staring at what was supposed to be a state-of-the-art lithium setup. The charge controller’s readout doesn’t match the battery voltage. The inverter’s cutting out under load it should handle. The wiring upstream of the main breaker is undersized—I can feel the heat on the insulation. This … Read more
Drew Callahan · May 19, 2026
A shop quote for installing a 12V lithium battery system on a Class B van runs $2,500 to $4,000 in labor alone—sometimes more if they have to rework your existing wiring or jury-rigged solar already in the rig. That number hung in my head the first time I sat down to map out what a … Read more
