I'm addicted to mods...

I understand the hobby side of life, I certainly have many. If your hobby is the satisfaction of modifying your TT then by all means enjoy it.

Most of my trailer mods were a little more mundane in nature. We unstuffed the fold down sofa so both halves are the same level when folded down. We removed two thirds of the dinette seat so the DW could have a real chair at the kitchen table. The remaining third covers the water pump and is still wide enough for a grand kid. Add to that various hooks, mirrors and such; problems that were solved as they arrived.

I will admit we took a long hard look at the floor plan, so I would not have to do to many changes.

GrandpaKip wrote:
For me, rebuilding, replacing, and making changes in and on the camper is a form of recreation and enjoyment. I have the tools, shop, skills, knowledge and time to do them. Hopefully, this is our last camper and I like customizing and improving it for us.
So, Samhain, go for whatever you are capable of doing and enjoy the process and the fruits of your labors (labours).

X2

Westend

"...Just wait to you realize you want more solar..."

Solar, battery suite, and PSWI: it is like the old meme for Crackerjacks, "the more you eat, the more you want!" I have told Elaine and our son (who is in the solar business) that more solar and battery would be great. And they tell me that we have more than we need already.

And I agree fully with your statement: "...It may be possible that the modifications add value to the trailer. At time of selling, those may return some money on investment.

For me, it's less about the small bits of money and more about the large changes in comfort or function..."

To us it is all about the changes in comfort (and) function. It is a really bright day at 7800' at son's place in mountains of northern NM so we are running fridge and hot water on AC (why use propane when solar will do it) and we are harvesting 1400 W at moment according to TriStar monitor but draining 13 amps (650 W at 48 V nominal from battery suite).

Doubt that modications to ourrig would make any difference in resale value since there are very few folks that want solar autonomous rigs. Much of what we do/have done in mods are peculiar to our own wants and desires.

Reed and Elaine
Open Range 337RLS 34' 5th wheel (cheap but quite nice)
2006 Chevie 4x4 diesel (duali) w/50 gallon Transferflo auxilliary tank
1420 W solar panels (6 x 235 W), 90 V to controller
8.7 kW-hr LFP (48 V nominal) = 7 kW-hr usable
4.0 kW Magnum PSWI
1 kW Honda generator (never used just turn on every month or so)

For me, rebuilding, replacing, and making changes in and on the camper is a form of recreation and enjoyment. I have the tools, shop, skills, knowledge and time to do them. Hopefully, this is our last camper and I like customizing and improving it for us.
So, Samhain, go for whatever you are capable of doing and enjoy the process and the fruits of your labors (labours).

A hobby is a hobby, making it an expensive hobby does not always make it better.

It may be possible that the modifications add value to the trailer. At time of selling, those may return some money on investment.

For me, it's less about the small bits of money and more about the large changes in comfort or function.

Downtheroad - Should like to see photo of your kitchen mod when you let the slides out.

Pump failed somewhere in Montana last year so we bought a Shur-flo at an RV shop in Billings. The guy in parts said to buy a "Silencer" which was really not much more than a length of braided hose as Sound Guy suggested. It didn't cost much and has proven effective. We just parked by the side and we replaced it in half an hour or so.

Larger battery suite, solar and LEDs probably only make sense if you are off shore power. We have used shore power once in last two years and generator not at all, so battery, solar and LEDs make sense to us.
Reed and Elaine

I believe mods should be purpose driven. If I were off grid, the expense of a big battery and LED lights with solar would make sense.

Since I am never more than a day or two without shore power, the original equipment works just fine.

A hobby is a hobby, making it an expensive hobby does not always make it better.

Of course it is just my opinion, not my money.

RoyB wrote:
Unfortunately alot of the mods are done with low skill owners and no documentation whatsoever.

You know how it goes - need a receptacle located at the table so install a power drop hanging out of the ceiling type of thing... Nothing done according to any safety specs.

That's funny you mention that! I'm adding a receptacle to mine right now. And I am *gasp!* NOT a certified electrician *OMG the camper's going to BURN DOWN!*...seriously, I get where you are coming from, but not ALL DIY'ers are inept / accidents waiting to happen and will do harm to others in the process. Some of us actually take time to research a new type of project and do all we can to do it right....takes a QT breaker, BTW....

And for the "next guy" .....you are right in that an unsuspecting person lacking knowledge of how things SHOULD be done could buy and wreck of half-baked DIY work...but that is why I recommend those who are not handy enough to know better should just buy a brand new unit 'till they learn and can recognize some of these issues.

And how many stories do you hear, in ANY genre of repair / install / modification where the one doing the work is a pro and still messed it up / left a mess for the next guy.....

And remember: we're talking about campers - mostly assembled as rapidly as possible by the cheapest labor the mfr can find.....most DIY'ers will care more about the quality of work they do....

Unfortunately alot of the mods are done with low skill owners and no documentation whatsoever.

You know how it goes - need a receptacle located at the table so install a power drop hanging out of the ceiling type of thing... Nothing done according to any safety specs.

We all want to make it to our own liking myself included. I did alot of somewhat similar work related system installs so sort of have safety in mind in all I do to my trailers.

Works great for the owner and all is well. Leave the cleanup with the next owners problem.

Roy Ken

downtheroad wrote:
You think you are, "addicted to mods."
This is the mods we have done to the kitchen in our trailer...

Absolutely stunnung, can't wait to the rest, :p