2000 Xplorer 230 XLW for Sale.

[wincrasher]

This is a rare beast. She's a beauty and you'll never find another this good.

See my video review below.

https://youtu.be/srUTk9_DNus

[goreds2]

Not interested in buying it but very nice.

[D&J Phillips]

Very nice Xplorer. I'm not a buyer simply because we already have a 1999 230 xlwt that we love. I agree that yours is in remarkable condition and the two upgrades I wish ours had is the electrical system and the Helwig sway bars you have.
The one sales point I was surprised you didn't emphasize is the coach entry door. The reason we searched the entire country for ours is the entry door height. I had looked at a similar vintage Pleasureway and really liked it until I tried to exit and found how difficult it was to bend over enough to get out - I finally had to turn around and back out. Then, I saw an Xplorer with the high door extension and knew it was the solution for us since I have a bad back. I can just walk out without turning around and I don't think that feature was available on any others of that era. Obviously the Sprinter era has high doors and it is no longer an issue, but if someone is looking at these earlier vans, I think it is a big sales point. Beyond that, Xplorers were very well built, ours has about the same miles on it with nary a squeak or rattle anywhere. If I didn't already have one I would be very interested, good luck with the sale.
Dave

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

This is a rare beast. She's a beauty and you'll never find another this good.

See my video review below.

https://youtu.be/srUTk9_DNus

IIFC, the alternator is a 130 amp Bosch. With the effective very low internal resistance of the batteries, doesn't the alternator get pushed pretty hard?

Is there a BMS for the lithium batteries?

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

This is a rare beast. She's a beauty and you'll never find another this good.

See my video review below.

https://youtu.be/srUTk9_DNus

You should add a photo to get instant captured audience.


ps. if you use the regular URL for your youtube video, the website will show a preview image instead of just a URL.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by cruising7388

IIFC, the alternator is a 130 amp Bosch. With the effective very low internal resistance of the batteries, doesn't the alternator get pushed pretty hard?

Is there a BMS for the lithium batteries?

No it doesn't. I've measure peak charging around 35 amps. The stock hardware will limit how much charging can occur. The Magnum will charge peak around 100 amps, and the solar seems to top out at 25 amps. It also appears that the charging will stack if multiple sources are active.

The drop in batteries have their own BMS internal to the battery. It does all except low temp charging cutoff - you have to manage that manually.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by BBQ

You should add a photo to get instant captured audience.


ps. if you use the regular URL for your youtube video, the website will show a preview image instead of just a URL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srUTk9_DNus&t=72s

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

No it doesn't. I've measure peak charging around 35 amps. The stock hardware will limit how much charging can occur. The Magnum will charge peak around 100 amps, and the solar seems to top out at 25 amps. It also appears that the charging will stack if multiple sources are active.

The drop in batteries have their own BMS internal to the battery. It does all except low temp charging cutoff - you have to manage that manually.

With the acceptance charge rate for the lithiums, what stock hardware limits the peak charge rate of the alternator to 35 amps? And at this charge rate, doesn't it take close to 12 hours of driving (less he solar input) to get 80% DOD up to snuff?

With the batteries outside, how is low temp cutoff manually accomplished and how do you accurately monitor when this is necessary?

BTW, this is unquestionably the best designed and executed upgrade I have ever seen on any Xplorer. I hope the new owner appreciates how well it's been done.

[wincrasher]

Almost all manufactured RV's will have a hard limit on how much charging from the alternator can do with the use of circuit breakers. Practically speaking though, you don't have a runaway on the alternator because of the limits of the wiring, the solenoids, the separator, etc. On my last Travato, the most charging I saw was 45 amps and that alternator had a much higher output rating.

I suppose if you draw the batteries down to a low SOC, it could take along time to recover with just the alternator. That's why you size a larger pack than you would normally need - so you aren't drawing down to low SOC. Giving your pack a workout every day certainly doesn't lead to long life. Normally, I'd see getting down to about 80% SOC and that was easily recovered by my solar by mid-day or so. Generally I got all the charging I needed from the solar. Alternator charging is basically a top-off. In a pinch, the inverter charger can put out 100-125 amps on shore power. Plus, with lithium, you are only doing bulk charging anyways - there is really no need to top -off. So that gives you a generous time frame to recover SOC as it does no harm to have the pack at 60 or 70% at the end of a given day.

The battery tray is inside the heated space of the van, not outside. It will take pretty cold temperatures outside to get the battery temp below freezing - even without the cabin heater running. When not being used, I connect to shore power in the winter months and use a space heater to keep the cabin above 60.

[wincrasher]

my craigslist ad:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...616508204.html

[Frankshay]

We have the same unit with minor differences inside. Yours is remarkably clean and I like the changes you've made. The video was pretty interesting as it pointed out some of the differences between yours and ours.

(Sorry for the hijack....) Do you by any chance know where I might find replacement "hold up" latches for the outside compartment doors? The "female" side (attached to the van body) are weathered and worn and can't hold the doors open w/o a piece of paper or something to help lock the door in place.

Good luck with the sale!

[wincrasher]

I would try pplmotorhomes.com in houston. They have a pretty extensive catelog online of RV parts.

It took a couple days, but I'm getting a bunch of inquiries on the van - I'm sure it will sell soon.

[wincrasher]

SOLD! Got full asking.

[BBQ]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

SOLD! Got full asking.

Congratulations

Whoever bought it got an amazing uptodate RV.

[goreds2]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

my craigslist ad:

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...616508204.html

Did you know Xplorer Steve from YouTube mentioned your RV for sale? It has over 5300 views.

I think he tried to make it sound like HIS camper was for sale but actually mentioned yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHvucpgpEO4

[wincrasher]

Yes I was aware. You can see my comments on his video.

[goreds2]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Yes I was aware. You can see my comments on his video.

I saw that. Awesome!

[Etzu]

Very nice solar setup.

[donker]

Hello, I just registered here to ask you a question.

I have a 99 230xlw that im in the process of restoring. Currently I want to take the panth of lithium batteries, but I'm unsure due to the conflicting answers I receive about the effectiveness and safety of the alternator or stock 110v to 12v converter on the lithium battery.

I will also have 200 watts of solar and an mppt charger.

Did you modify an connections or anything to adapt the stock van to the lithium?

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by donker

Hello, I just registered here to ask you a question.

I have a 99 230xlw that im in the process of restoring. Currently I want to take the panth of lithium batteries, but I'm unsure due to the conflicting answers I receive about the effectiveness and safety of the alternator or stock 110v to 12v converter on the lithium battery.

I will also have 200 watts of solar and an mppt charger.

Did you modify an connections or anything to adapt the stock van to the lithium?

Welcome to the forum donker!

I'm in the process of doing a similar lithium upgrade on my '2012 Airstream Avenue (Chevy Express 3500 chassis). I have a group 27 sized battery compartment and the only 100ah lithiums that fit were from Renogy. There were also about $150 ea less on sale than Battleborn's, which wouldn't have fit anyway. I kept the other components Renogy as well in the hope they would play well together. So far I'm in for just under $2500.

To your question, all charging components (solar, engine charger, inverter/charger) need to be lithium compatible. Don't fall for the promise of direct drop-in replacement. Charging parameters are just too different.

Specifically, the engine battery and alternator are designed for lead-acid charging. You won't get the most from your lithium battery investment and could over-tax your engine alternator, so Renogy recommends installing a 20A or 40A DC to DC charger between your engine battery and lithium batteries. I went with the 40A.

It's so darn hot that so far I've only removed my old lead-acid batteries, slid in the new 3000W inverter/charger, and determined where to put the DC-DC charger. Batteries and inverter/charger are plug & play (hook up just like the old ones I removed) so I'm not worried about them. But I'm still figuring out how to by-pass the factory Precision Circuits Battery Isolation Manager which you must do. My generator hour-meter wire is fed off theold factory battery isolator so I need to determine what to do with it. I'll probably leave the old isolator in place once it's unplugged since the replacement DC-DC charger will be mounted elsewhere.

The new DC-DC charger will do the isolation between the engine and coach batteries, but since they will no longer be hooked together, I will loose the ability to charge my engine battery while plugged in or boost start the engine from the coach batteries. Driving will still charge the engine battery as normal and carrying a set of booster cables will solve the jump-start portion since I never boondock in insolated areas and can always depend on a fellow traveler for a jump start.