BIM160 Chassis Battery Charger?

[Lucky Lady]

Hello Everyone!
I have a 2016 Thor Vegas 25.3 on a F350 chassis.
I am curious if anyone knows if this unit has a BIM (?) that allows the chassis battery to charge while the unit is plugged into the 30 amp outlet?
If so, do you know where it is?
My battery keeps dying. I know there has been talk about it being wired wrong from the factory. If I have one, I would like to find it so I can see it is wired correctly.
Thanks in advance. I love reading these posts and threads!

If you're wondering why it's the Lucky Lady...it's named after an abandoned Casnio in Mississippi.

 

[16ACE27]

A 2016 should have a 2016 BIM 160 under the hood in front of the drive knda hidden behind the windshield washer bottle as I recall from previous posts.

 

[DavidEM]

This is what a BIM 160 looks like, although I am a bit surprised that they were installed as early as 2016.

David

 

[16ACE27]

This is what a BIM 160 looks like, although I am a bit surprised that they were installed as early as 2016.

David

I believe the change to a BIM from a BIRD/Trombetta was made in the 2016 production year. If he doesn't have a BIM he'll have a BIRD/Trombetta in the same area.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

I believe the change to a BIM from a BIRD/Trombetta was made in the 2016 production year. If he doesn't have a BIM he'll have a BIRD/Trombetta in the same area.

I'm guessing it's a Trombetta. Ford cutaway chassis had Trombettas, so I figure they just grabbed one of those from the same parts bin for Axis/Vegas stripped chassis. Duck??

 

[ducksface]

I'll get the op a location picture in the morning.
Trombeta or bim or bird I imagine they're all in the same location.

Mine charged just fine until I switched to lithium house batteries and the lithium bim.

My theory for it now not charging is the voltage differential(though it used to click every 20minutes or so and now I hear nothing).

If i don't get you a picture;
Open the hood
Stand yourself centered
Look up at 2oclock at the radiator mount
You'll see a ball of wires

That's it.
It's kinda coffin shaped.

 

[Lucky Lady]

A 2016 should have a 2016 BIM 160 under the hood in front of the drive knda hidden behind the windshield washer bottle as I recall from previous posts.

Thank you for the info!

 

[Lucky Lady]

I'll get the op a location picture in the morning.
Trombeta or bim or bird I imagine they're all in the same location.

Mine charged just fine until I switched to lithium house batteries and the lithium bim.

My theory for it now not charging is the voltage differential(though it used to click every 20minutes or so and now I hear nothing).

If i don't get you a picture;
Open the hood
Stand yourself centered
Look up at 2oclock at the radiator mount
You'll see a ball of wires

That's it.
It's kinda coffin shaped.

Thank you for the info!

 

[Lucky Lady]

I'm guessing it's a Trombetta. Ford cutaway chassis had Trombettas, so I figure they just grabbed one of those from the same parts bin for Axis/Vegas stripped chassis. Duck??

 

[Lucky Lady]

Thank you for the info!

 

[Lucky Lady]

This is what a BIM 160 looks like, although I am a bit surprised that they were installed as early as 2016.

David

Good stuff and I see the attachment, I really appreciate it.

 

[Lucky Lady]

I believe the change to a BIM from a BIRD/Trombetta was made in the 2016 production year. If he doesn't have a BIM he'll have a BIRD/Trombetta in the same area.

 

[ducksface]

No pic today.
200yards, 25mph winds, 32°, rainy snow mess(and i need a nap).
Tomorrow for sure.

Somewhere, unfindable with the new forum format, there are detailed pictures in my signature thread.

 

[ducksface]

Pics of a 2018 bim location.
Yours is probably black.
I think I'm drawing power for my light bar from that point so you might not have as many smaller wires.

To get mine off of the chassis...
I had to break it.
I could use one existing hole but had to put a rivnut in to get a second mounting point.

My bim was installed by thor before the axis body was put on...the body blocked the screw....
And
while I have hundreds of pounds of specialty tools
I could not reach one of the self tapping screws they used.
That's why mine is probably sideways from what yours will be.

And
Some were wired backwards at the factory.
If mine was,it still is.

Someone here knows how to tell but I don't remember how...so check while you're in there doing surgery.

 

[Lucky Lady]

Excellent! Thanks much this is good stuff.
Also, I love the light bar.
I may have to add one!

 

[ducksface]

The light bar is an easy.
$64 curved amazon unit.
Relay is powered from the bim
Trigger is powered from the fog lights.

This makes it all controlled by the fog lights and the high beam switch.

Fog light switch off and the bar is always off.
Fog switch on but low beams and no light bar
Fog light switch is on with high beams and the fog lights go off(factory thing) and the light bar comes on.

The axis grille keeps it from blinding anyone.
Only the very weakest of Sally types indicate it bothers them. 1 in 500 cars.

 

[Lucky Lady]

Did you move your BIM so you could hook up things such as the light bar? I added a backup light bar when I had my fifth wheel. I may do the same with this Vegas, I hated parking in the dark. I am going to give the front light bar a go. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

The BIM terminals are clearly labeled... amazing how the Thor assembly kids messed that up! To check just use a voltmeter and check continuity between positive battery post and corresponding correct BIM terminal. No beep... no joy!

 

[ducksface]

No. It was within an inch of where it is now. It was moved so I could mount it. I could not mount it where it originally was due to body interference.

 

[Lucky Lady]

Good pro-tip! Nothing like the Covid campers that were coming out....some were absolute nightmares. Back then, if you had a heartbeat and could walk you had a job building campers. So many terrible units were put together. Back then we had a 42' fiver, so glad I got rid of it before the frame cracked. Love our little Vegas.