Top 5 upgrades

[RoamingGnomes]

Just curious

Have a 5th wheel, and do anything from 3 to 9 weeks on the road mostly national & state campgrounds. I upgraded my 5th from 1 battery to 4, added a 2000w inverter, Fantastic fan, looking at solar, & external fuel tank for the pickup.

Wondering what others think are the top 5 upgrades they wouldn't/couldn't do without.

[kellertx5er]

In no particular order:
1. Stabilizer bars for front/rear jacks
2. Lighting in pantry, switched by doors
3. Sat TV DVRs
4. Vent covers
5. Dedicated 30A RV receptacle just inside garage door

Next let's all post our top twenty "want to do" projects. I'm
sure there are more than that on my list!

[RAINEYTXX]

Here are my FIVE
-Auxiliary fuel tank for truck
-140 degree thermostat for Suburban water heater
-separate 12v battery for generator
-17.5 Michelin tires
-Dishwasher/Washer/Dryer
-Level-up system

That's six...sorry

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

RoamingGnomes wrote:
I upgraded my 5th from 1 battery to 4, added a 2000w inverter, Fantastic fan,

Did you put in the Fantastic Fan yourself?? I want one in our 5er - and wonder if the wiring for that is already "in place but ignored" when they install an ordinary vent??

[Paul_Clancy]

Max fan with remote for bedroom vent and upgrade to fantastic fan for bath. All vents with maxx air covers. Slide toppers. 2 6v batts with easy watering system. Yamaha 2400is gen. Future includes winfield stabalizers , wineguard antenna booster with signal finder for ota. Eventually sat setup. Realize our rig cAme very well optioned so many upgrades were already done at the factory, like auto levellers, dual panes, 90 amp charger with charge wizard etc.

[ArmyAirborne]

I wouldn't call it un upgrade since it was the first one I bought but I couldn't imagine pulling without the trailer saver air hitch. Reading all the reviews before I made my choice seems to have paid off.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

RoamingGnomes wrote:


Wondering what others think are the top 5 upgrades *they* wouldn't/couldn't do without.

Reply is to what *I* wouldn't do without - not what's best for you.

And - of course *I* could do without my favorite, as I did "do without" it - from 1970 to 2005, LOL!

During that time, ALL my RVs had power cords.
Until my current (5th wheel) - all previous RVs had 30amp power.

Then came a 5th - and the 50amp "anaconda"!
If I wanted to utilize 50 amp (I do) anaconda wrangling was a whole new chore.
What a genuine - PITA!..:(
(Which of course, stands for "Pain In The Amperage")

So, whatever my "other four" favorite upgrades are -for me- they pale in comparison along with lots of other options, gadgets, and gizmos.
The others are not even close, or worth attempting a ranking.

The "anaconda" solution -
I added a (12v) powered cord reel. Pull out the amount necessary to reach the power pedestal, push button to retract (rewind).

Bonus benefits:
Wired as follows....pigtail from trlr power center with male plug.
It can be connected to any (only *one*) of the following female plugs:

1. The power reel cord which is in a front compt, or
2. The existing wiring to the marinco connection at the rear of the trailer, or
3. Either directly (with adapter) - or via (w/adaptor) to 30amp cord to the gen in the pickup bed.
4. Connect my portable PI surge protector in-line with any of the above.
5. And - The aftermarket 50amp supplied cord is way, way more flexible than the factory anaconda. (obviously better quality).

Pricey - but when/if I move on to another RV, if so desired, it's easily removed.
The factory (trlr mfgr) supplied anaconda now sleeps in a box in my garage..;)

:B..:B..:B


.

[C_Schomer]

For sure:
Shocks
Solar
Accumulator tank and the way I plumb it to silence the pump
I've done these things and will do them again in a flash, whenever needed:
Disc brakes
Suspension mods for better ride

[colliehauler]

Centerpoint
Trailair
Better TV
Better Stereo
Better Mattress

[Larryzv7]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Larry,

What you are talking about is called "double conversion". I use it lots, especially when I'm on limited shore power.

Here is what I did:

1. added an auxiliary shore power cord that has two standard outlets
2. put a plug powered by the auxiliary cord in the power center for only the converter
3. put an inverter powered outlet in the shore power cord box
4. plugged the shore power cord into the inverter powered outlet.

That worked so well, that I decided to add another power outlet in the kitchen that is only powered by the inverter. That way I can use more than the 30 amps my RV is equipped with.

Since I used standard plugs, I can switch back to OEM wiring in 20 seconds.

You can not do it forever, because most converters can't "keep up" with the load, so the batteries eventually become discharged. But it is great for cooking and etc.

Larryzv7 wrote:
I’m thinking I can hook my inverter to my 5th wheel batteries, which would give me an additional 120 power source, and the trailer batteries X2 will be recharged by the shore power; or is this incorrect?

pianotuna, thank you for responding to my inquiry. My 30-amps only gives me about 3,300 watts and I use two 1,500 watt space heaters to save on propane, but I can not run them both at once else they will trip the gfci outlet, so I currently run a 110 extension cord from the 110 outlet on the shore power box into the 5th wheel via the pass-thru storage compartment, in addition I have the 30-amp hooked up, and I plug 1-space heater into the 110-extension cord and the other into an RV outlet, and they both run fine that way, but I am always looking for ways to get more power sources for my RV.

I have a 1200-watt inverter in my truck, which helps me when I’m dry camping, but as I’ve said I have to run the truck when I use it else I will drain the truck battery. And I have 2-Honda 2000 generators, but I've been brainstorming ways that I could somehow use that inverter in the 5th wheel instead of the truck without draining the battery. Again, thanks for your information, I have printed it out and will give it some serious consideration.

[pianotuna]

Hi Larry,

What you are talking about is called "double conversion". I use it lots, especially when I'm on limited shore power.

Here is what I did:

1. added an auxiliary shore power cord that has two standard outlets
2. put a plug powered by the auxiliary cord in the power center for only the converter
3. put an inverter powered outlet in the shore power cord box
4. plugged the shore power cord into the inverter powered outlet.

That worked so well, that I decided to add another power outlet in the kitchen that is only powered by the inverter. That way I can use more than the 30 amps my RV is equipped with.

Since I used standard plugs, I can switch back to OEM wiring in 20 seconds.

You can not do it forever, because most converters can't "keep up" with the load, so the batteries eventually become discharged. But it is great for cooking and etc.

Larryzv7 wrote:
I’m thinking I can hook my inverter to my 5th wheel batteries, which would give me an additional 120 power source, and the trailer batteries X2 will be recharged by the shore power; or is this incorrect?

[Larryzv7]

RoamingGnomes, did you add the inverter directly to your 5th wheel batteries? I had an inverter in my vehicle but had to run the vehicle when I used the inverter else it would drain the battery. I’m thinking I can hook my inverter to my 5th wheel batteries, which would give me an additional 120 power source, and the trailer batteries X2 will be recharged by the shore power; or is this incorrect?

[2hams]

Brand new 5er so not much done yet, just moved the following from previous 5er

- upgrade to 16" wheels and LT tires
- upgrade to residential mattress and 3" foam topper

Soon to be done

- wiring for ham radio antenna

[fj12ryder]

1. Better tires.

2. Some kind of suspension improvement like EZ-Flex with wet bolt or greasable parts.

3. Auxiliary fuel tank for the truck.

4. Stabilizers like the JT Strongarms, and RotoChox.

5. Another air conditioner if it only came with 1.

[outdoorlovers]

One more add on - single burner induction cook top. Saves on propane. We love it