What do you consider the most valuable upgrade in your TC?

sleepy wrote:

.....
NOTE: a church key with attached magnet works fine and doesn't require all of that mind numbing engineering

As an old engineering prof once said to students at a freshman engineering class at Purdue: "Just remember when you are trying to make something "fool-proof" that those fools can be mighty clever"

I have a church key with a magnet stuck on my hitch (and a carabiner with an opener on my fastguns.) The problem is, as your friends consume a beer or two too many, is getting them to remember to PUT IT BACK! :)

Been meaning to dig up my old steel Coca-Cola opener from the basement. But I'm going to WELD IT ON! Real men weld on their bottle openers to their flatbeds don't they? ;)

Bigfeets wrote:


Can you show us a pic of your homemade generator compartment?

On second thought generator box might of been a more accurate description.

I think the most essential option on our TC is the built-in generator

It works in the middle of the night, and on the cloudiest of days. It charges batteries, and cooks our food in the microwave....

The 10 year old AGM batterries are still wonderfully maintaince free, and carry a 100% charge.

The battery blankets keep them at the optimum 77 degrees F (25 C )

The LED lights allow us the luxuray of unlimited light

The Tri Metric battery monitor is priceless... essential

The 255 watts of PVSolar panels are more usefull day to day than anything else... quietly doing their job of keeping us going 24/7

The PlatCat vented heater saves huge amounts of electric power for 90% of our heating needs.

The two Fantastic fans (Model 6050) are worth their weight in gold.
Rain sensors, thermostats, and insulated smoke colored domes

My list could go on... but the best things on our camper won't be soap dispensors, or bottle cap removers

NOTE: a church key with attached magnet works fine and doesn't require all of that mind numbing engineering

bcbigfoot wrote:
From best to, well, lesser best.

1} replacing the awful scissor steps with a platform and electric steps
2} 1000 watt pure sine wave inverter
3} heated AGM batteries for extra amps in winter.
4) 4 gauge charge wire from truck to camper.
5) water accumulator.
6) air deflector (noise reduction)
7) extra insulation
8) added gen. compartment.
9) solar panel
10) drinking water filter

Can you show us a pic of your homemade generator compartment?

A decent mattress, it just had cheap foam when I bought it but I changed that for a box spring with a foam topper.

in order:

1) Tundra 12vdc compressor fridge
2) All LED lights
3) Solar panel

1. Air Bags.
2, 3 AGM Batteries.
3, Solar panels.
4. Satellite TV with an inverter.
5. A conveniently mounted small box with 12 volt receptacles for holding and charging cell phones.
6. A removable weather station from Oregon Scientific to monitor wind speed and direction, temps in and out, humidity and barometric pressure changes.
7. Wilson Truckers cell phone antenna to extend our range to improve the broad band internet service.

LED Lights in 2009

in 2010, 300 watts of solar and some AGM batteries

Added solar
Extra battery
Electric jacks
Inverter/charger
12 volt TV
Electric water heater /gas
Memory foam topper
Small extra drawers under the table
Added aux heat to the AC

The Outfitter came with 190w solar which was ok until the temps got above 90F in the daytime. Compressor fridge was sucking a fair bit of juice in the desert so I added another 140w solar panel and have never looked back.

Last time I used genny to charge batteries was Feb,2012 and this is with hundreds of days dry or boondock camping.

Man, I love this solar.

Dave