What Kind of Modifications Have You Done In Your Rig? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

What Kind of Modifications Have You Done In Your Rig?

Kerri · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sounds awesome to me! I am doing some mods to my little Class C, too, and love reading what others are doing. Do you have a blog/website? smile

Kerri in AL - for now... smile

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mods are so much fun! It's fantastic to be able to really make the space your own and unique to your own style!

We've been having fun making modifications to our bus conversion (which we bought already converted). Here's our log so far:

http://www.technomadia.com/zephyr

- Cherie

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Let's see.... I took the big old TV out of the front of my Fleetwood Fiesta Class A, and put my printer in that space, as well as a basket that hold miscellaneous and some house plants.

I took out the extra chair, the one behind the passenger seat, and replaced that with a crate for my dog.

I added solar panels and wind power.

I added a back up camera, with a nice new receiver that also plays DVDs

I put 6"+ egg crate and memory foam on top of the mattress (comfy!)

I cut off the curtains in the bedroom, because they looked faded, were unnecessary, and got in the way of making the bed (especially with 6" of foam!)

I added curtain rods and nets to keep things from falling out of the cabinets

I changed out the 751 storage compartment keys for combination locks

I put in a hitch safe (a mini key safe that goes in the hitch receiver)

To Do List:

I am about to add air filler extenders (?) on the tires, so I can check them and fill them easily (now, it's like I'm letting air out!)

I need to cut a hole in the back of the gas fill, so I can fit a locking cap on there.

Larger fresh water tanks

Rainwater collection

Here's my You Tube channel documenting all my handy work! http://www.youtube.com/user/2012escapee1

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

So far the only things I've done to the new travel trailer are screwing a small plastic basket inside the door beneath the sink to hold sponges and post scrubbers, put non-skid liner in all the cabinets and drawers, hung up a paper towel holder and added a cat flap to the basement area under the bed so the litter box is out of sight. Details are on the blog.
http://nightskyandprairiewind.blogspot.com/2013/06/cat-flaps.html

Still need to drag the crappy piece of foam that passes as a mattress out of the TT and put my pillow top mattress in, and figure out how/where Marley the snake is going to ride/live. I'll probably replace the single 20 pound propane tank with a 40 pounder rather than adding a second 20.

-- Edited by nightsky on Tuesday 2nd of July 2013 12:13:22 PM

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Intentional modification: We swapped the RV mattress for our Tempurpedic from the house.

Unintended: Not scooting the recliner over far enough before putting the slide in, which now has a cut out and slides right on over that recliner handle. oops.

Also unintended: The missing corner of the closet slide that was chewed off by a German Shepherd puppy. Woops.

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

New mod: new tires. $2,000 cry Took it in for the valve extenders, and got a talk about driving on 10 year old tires. OK, I hear ya', road safety.

Nightsky, creative cat door solution, quite a bit of work, more than my dog crate. wink How goes the Caboose restoration?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

removed all contents of forward storage compartment, installed drawer rollers and pullout shelving to hold all my tools and stock for carved signs..

added removable hooks for awning bar to hold displays and lighting for instant roadside sign shop!!!

added outlets inside rear compartment with breakers & GFI for tool usage and installed upper slide to hold tables

added solar hot water heater to roof for boondocking put plumbing on quick disconnects so they are plug and play thru bathroom rooftop vent...(free hot showers are a good thing)

built shelving and added safe to upper cabinet that the original TV was in and installed Dish control box and computer printer up there

added forward camera in front of A/C on the roof for viewing forward low clearance problems from dash...

Life is good!!!!.......Boondocking is better.......Mother nature is the best!!!!!!

Live , Breathe, Relax !!!!!

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

Scrappy, those unintentional remodels just mean the RV is totally personalized to fit your lifestyle!

Hina, yeah, a dog is much easier in a lot or respects. I have not started on the Caboose yet, trying to finish up remodeling the house here in TN and get out of here so I can clean out the farm up north this summer.

Mike, I'm intrigued by your free hot showers. How much hot water does the solar installation heat, more than you can get out of a 6 gallon electric/gas one? Got any pics of the installation?

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky Mike wrote:
removed all contents of forward storage compartment, installed drawer rollers and pullout shelving to hold all my tools and stock for carved signs..

added removable hooks for awning bar to hold displays and lighting for instant roadside sign shop!!!

added outlets inside rear compartment with breakers & GFI for tool usage and installed upper slide to hold tables

added solar hot water heater to roof for boondocking put plumbing on quick disconnects so they are plug and play thru bathroom rooftop vent...(free hot showers are a good thing)

built shelving and added safe to upper cabinet that the original TV was in and installed Dish control box and computer printer up there

added forward camera in front of A/C on the roof for viewing forward low clearance problems from dash...

Life is good!!!!.......Boondocking is better.......Mother nature is the best!!!!!!

Live , Breathe, Relax !!!!!

Really like some of your mods Mike -- especially the drawer rollers and pullout shelving and the upper slide to hold tables.

Any chance of getting some pictures of those? I love the idea of the pullout drawers in the under storage, but they always seem to take up so much space themselves. And if I'm understanding correctly, the upper slide to hold tables would eliminate stacking things on top of each other in the bay and be much more convenient for organizing and accessing.

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Nightsky, dogs are easier sometimes.... mine is shaping up to be aggressive furious which can be problematic.

scrappy · RV-Dreams Family Member

One dog may be easy.

We have four. lol. Actually, they are great. They know the routine and are good citizens. Im quite proud of them.

Well, except for Odin the Modifier. Ish.

bigboomer · RV-Dreams Family Member

We started by removing king OEM mattress and bringing our Sleep Number bed instead. We then add a whole rig water filter system. Next we added an additional skirt around the top of the bed compartment for extra space. We have changed out all of the OEM light bulbs to LED's. We just finished installing our solar panel system. biggrin

Jane,

How has the wind turbine worked out for you?

Les

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here's my latest; a failed attempt to put on a locking gas cap, definitely put a ding in the resale value, but I am determined to secure my gas tank! I sent this video to Fleetwood. Next, a locking door! You Tube 6:45 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JXr1zkc-T4

Rob_Fla · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our Mods,

Sold Factory Recliners and got a Lane Theater Seating unit, moved couch to the rear of the coach, put Theater Seating across from TV

Replaced Halogen Lights with LEDs

Installed Stackable Washer Dryer

Installed Fireplace (Unit was ordered without a Fireplace but plug for Fireplace was installed at factory, just remove cabinet doors and install FP)

Changed Kitchen Faucet to High Rise type

Installed Reico Titan Leveling System

Installed additional shelves in various cabinets

Upgraded tires from E Rated to G Rated

Upgraded Suspension to MorRyde SRE 4000 and X Factor Cross Member

Removed Wine Rack and turned into storage cabinet

Removed Kitchen Sliding Cabinet and turned into standard swing door cabinet

Added A/C Registers for better air flow and cooling in the summer

Added Floor LED Lights at Steps going up to Bedroom / Bathroom for better visibility at night

Put air circulation fans in Refrigerator to improve cooling efficiency

Ditched factory King Mattress and replaced with custom made Memory Foam Mattress

Rewired TV Cables for easier switching between the Satellite, Park Cable and Roof Top Antenna

Installed Max Air Roof Vent Covers

Replaced A/C - Furnace Analog Thermostats with Digital Thermostats

Upgraded Shower Head in Bathroom to a larger one with better spray

Added 120 Volt receptacle on back side of kitchen cabinet

I think that's about it, we are very happy with our "Home on Wheels"

suse1023 · RV-Dreams Family Member

we own a 2002 carriage cameo for full timing and while it's got terrific storage, there are a few mods which will make it a whole lot nicer to live in.
the bed and the fold out couch and the recliners it came with were all left at the dealers and replaced. we didn't bother with a couch as we don't have any use for it. i added our pair of lazy boy recliners, the queen bed is a futon with latex topper and thick wool topper over that (this is the best investment ever) which is wonderfully comfortable.

we've replaced the kitchen sink faucet for a gooseneck, which makes it way more user friendly.

and the 16" deep cabinets over the kitchen sink---they have got to go. one has to duck their head to see through the tiny window under them and they are so deep i hit my head on them and lose things in there---
i intend to keep a small overhead cabinet there and replace the window with one a bit bigger.
ours also has the corner tv station/desk configuration in the slide and the tv corner cab is coming out so i can add a bit more counter space there and storage underneath. the tv is a flat screen so there is no need for that huge corner space to be wasted.

i'll be in touch with bob jones rv to see about changing the window in the slide to something bigger as well, my understanding that if there's no complicating plumbing or wiring then changing them out is very achievable.

i'd like to replace the valances with actual curtains too, that sort of as me stumped though.

RV Trip Wizard · RV-Dreams Community Member

I've always wondered why the manufacturers cram as much furniture into a rig as it will hold, particularly class A rigs. We love our 2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral, now that we have really made it our own.

Two sofas, facing each other. Huh? Out with the smaller one, in with a bookcase and recliner.

And those rugs that caught every bit of dirt and cat hair? Gone, except in the bedroom. We put in a woodgrain linoleum that looks great and cleans easily.

We also have a couple of accent rugs that wear and clean nicely. With 2 longhaired cats, the fur remains, but it sure is easier to clean up now!

The latest change was replacing those dumb little overhead lights in the galley and hall with LEDs. You know the ones I mean. They burned out quickly, and if you touch the glass, they might last a month! Love them LEDs!

galtgirl · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had our RV for 11 years so we've done quite a bit of replacing over that time. We have:

Replaced the kitchen faucet...plan to do that again with a high rise this time.
Replaced the 26" TV with a 32" LCD
Put a LCD TV on a swivel wall mount in the bedroom
Replaced the microwave with a residential convection microwave.
Replaced the shower head with Oxygenics....what a difference!!
Installed a Splendide combo vented washer dryer
Replaced the recliners, not once, not twice but 4 times (don't even ask)
Took out the sleeper sofa and put in a leather, double reclining theater seating (SOOOOO comfortable)
Replaced the table and chairs with a round, drop leaf table and two school house style wood chairs (bought unfinished and stained the table and painted the chairs)
Put a round glass top on the table...until recently when I forgot it was sitting next to the slide and moved the slide in...no more table top.
Mounted carry out satellite dish on rear RV ladder
Replaced the mattress with a new pillow-top residential mattress.
Added lots of additional shelves in cupboards.

TO DO LIST ( this year before fulltiming in 2015)
Remove carpet in living room, kitchen and bath and replace with plank vinyl flooring in maple color.
Remove the stove and replace with a cook top only and put in shelving below
Replace the awning with an electric awning with rain sensor
Replace the day night shades with roller shades.
Replace the washer combo with stackable washer and dryer
Install roof mounted satellite dish
Remove king mattress, cut down bed platform to queen size and replace with our memory foam queen mattress
Remove one recliner and get a larger end table. Put dog crate in remaining space.
Recover the valences.

DREAM LIST:
Install 6 point leveling system
Reconfigure TV cabinet and put in a larger LED TV
Remove dining table and chairs and install some sort of desk/table combination.

That's about it!!

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Though not full-timing yet, here's a partial list of mods to my camper.

1. Added an inverter and a tv/dvd player which I mounted in my large rear bubble window. Added tv antenna and cabling.
2. built a roller silverware/frying pan drawer between the stove and microwave. Removed the partition under the sink and added a large roll-out shelf with a storage basket. Built a large roll out drawer for linen under the couch area.
3. Added thermostatically controlled, dual, 3-speed quiet cooling fans behind fridge and hard-wired a small air stirring fan inside the fridge, under the cooling unit. 4. I also installed a Dometic baffle kit to prevent the propane flame in the fridge from blowing out in high winds or when driving down the road.
5.Added a king size 1" memory foam topper in a pillowcase style mattress holder to keep it clean and allow me to move it easier.
6. I attached Reflectix to all my windows using Velcro for added insulation and privacy. It removes quickly and easily when not needed.
7. I added a wire frame rack above the sink/stove area for handy storage of light weight items like bread, chips, etc. and attached a removable fluorescent light to this rack for more light over the stove when cooking.

Here's a few pics:

http://i56.tinypic.com/a4arsi.jpg

Part of the fridge baffle kit.

http://i55.tinypic.com/vrvbex.jpg

Interior fridge fan.

http://i56.tinypic.com/egcw1t.jpg

Inside fridge light that works with the door.

http://i52.tinypic.com/10zvcde.jpg

Under sink storage area pull-out drawer.

http://i55.tinypic.com/2ihv91v.jpg

Linen drawer under couch.

http://i56.tinypic.com/vgsy77.jpg

Silverware drawer utilizing wasted space under stove.

http://i52.tinypic.com/302qw53.jpg

Reflectix over windows and wire storage rack/mini fluorescent light.

There's more, but this post is too big as it is.

Chip

-- Edited by Sushidog on Saturday 10th of May 2014 07:01:00 AM

-- Edited by Sushidog on Saturday 10th of May 2014 07:02:05 AM