Customizations / mods to the Freelander 21QB

[rockfishon]

I am starting a thread for my mods to a 2016 21QB:

1: Added spare tire and jack

[rockfishon]

I just got done adding a WFCO T30 30 Amp Transfer Switch.

Also added Smart Solutions Rock Solid Tow Guard for RVs, 16" x 48", 2 pieces. This seems to work well to keep rocks off of things that I am towing.

[ron_dittmer]

Since we are sharing......

CLICK HERE for my list with pictures of mods and little things added to our Phoenix Cruiser since we bought it new in 2007. I have maintained this post since it's inception in January 2009.

[pnichols]

Another tip for any RV that helps to extend coach battery life between charges when camping without hookups (that was also mentioned way earlier in this discussion) is to power as many electrical items as possible directly off 12V instead of using inverters to power electrical items off 120V AC ... as inverters are not 100% efficient - and hence waste coach battery energy.

We now use such things as:

1. All 12V fans for warm weather ventilation.

2. A laptop that is charged using a 12V brick for it that plugs directly into cigarette lighter receptacles in the coach.

3. 12V brick chargers for our phones that plug directly into cigarette lighter receptacles in the coach.

4. A 12V brick charger for a CPAP machine that plugs directly into cigarette lighter receptacles in the coach.

Checkout this website to get an idea of what appliances can be powered by 12 volts from the coach battery system in an RV when drycamping:
https://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-appliances-c-88.html

[coolmom42]

mlts22 wrote:

rockfishon wrote:
2: Added second house battery and switch.

Feel dumb by asking, but did you add a second battery, or a second battery bank?

Regardless, I like your switch, and the only thing I'd probably add to that would be a 200 amp catastrophic fuse just so the batteries are protected against a dead short.

I was just reading through this thread and found your mention of this fuse. THAT'S what the one under my hood is! (On the side of the engine compartment, between the chassis battery and something else, which I now think is the house battery.)

[Gjac]

Now that you owned the MH for a while now are you still satisfied with it or would you get another? Also have you ever weighed the MH front and back to see how the weight is distributed? I like your model especially large rear storage bay and the 50 gals of FW.

[rockfishon]

I just added a spray port to the side with a shut off valve next to the propane tank. It looks and works great.

Pic of spray port

[pconroy328]

tred0956 wrote:
On my 2008 21QB,

We took half the closet and put in shelves and made a pantry.

Added a back up camera, Rear View Safety from Costco, love it.

Great minds think alike! 🙂 We have a 2008 21QB too. I took the left half of the wardroom and slid in shelves on a removable frame. The right side is four full extension drawers also in a removable frame. I figured a future owner might want their closet space back so that's why I made everything revertable-back-to-factory.

The side of the frame is pegboard. Towels and toiletries on the left, foodstuffs and pantry items in the drawers. Larger pans on the pegboard.

For the massive storage underneath, another frame that sits so that it doesn't obstruct the compartments. Then shelving for camping chairs and gear. More pegboard to hold hoses, dump stuff. elec cords etc.


All of this got started when we got the RV and noticed that our previous owner had installed shelving in the basement and decided to screw directly into the freshwater tank!!!

[rockfishon]

tred0956 wrote:
On my 2008 21QB, the cupboard under the sink was all but useless. By slightly moving the sink drain and P-trap, I was able to build four full extension drawers. The bottom one is high enough for pots and pans and the other 3 are about 4 inches high. We now have lots of room for cutlery and everything else.

We took half the closet and put in shelves and made a pantry.

I built a sliding mechanism for the table so we can slide it towards the outside wall when there is only the 2 of us to give more interior space in the kitchen area.

Repalaced the mattress with a residential style mattress in RV size(75 inches vs 80). Much more comfortable and the shorter size allows it to slide back and forth a bit so bed is much easier to make up.

Added a back up camera, Rear View Safety from Costco, love it.

On the 2008 model, the shower hose comes from the bathroom sink faucet. I moved that faucet to the bathtub, where it belongs (bit tricky with the plumbing) and bought a new sink faucet.

Project for this spring: we have a Thule platform rack that is great for 2 bikes, but there is lots of room between the rack and the back of the MH over the bumper, so I bought a couple of roof mount bike racks and will built a mount on the bumper for them so we can bring both our road and mountain bikes with us.

Wish I could include photos, but we are at our winter home (skiing is GREAT this year) and MH is at summer home.

I would love to see some picture when you get around to it. Thanks for the additional great ideas.

[tred0956]

On my 2008 21QB, the cupboard under the sink was all but useless. By slightly moving the sink drain and P-trap, I was able to build four full extension drawers. The bottom one is high enough for pots and pans and the other 3 are about 4 inches high. We now have lots of room for cutlery and everything else.

We took half the closet and put in shelves and made a pantry.

I built a sliding mechanism for the table so we can slide it towards the outside wall when there is only the 2 of us to give more interior space in the kitchen area.

Repalaced the mattress with a residential style mattress in RV size(75 inches vs 80). Much more comfortable and the shorter size allows it to slide back and forth a bit so bed is much easier to make up.

Added a back up camera, Rear View Safety from Costco, love it.

On the 2008 model, the shower hose comes from the bathroom sink faucet. I moved that faucet to the bathtub, where it belongs (bit tricky with the plumbing) and bought a new sink faucet.

Project for this spring: we have a Thule platform rack that is great for 2 bikes, but there is lots of room between the rack and the back of the MH over the bumper, so I bought a couple of roof mount bike racks and will built a mount on the bumper for them so we can bring both our road and mountain bikes with us.

Wish I could include photos, but we are at our winter home (skiing is GREAT this year) and MH is at summer home.

[rockfishon]

Added a Wide Angle Rear Window Lens so that it is easier to see what is behind me.



Trimmed the seat hatch covers to allow for the table to be mounted further towards the side window. The small pole normally used with the table as a bed is placed in the back hole.

[rockfishon]

16. Added a LED light and switch to the storage compartment.

[rockfishon]

NWboondocker wrote:
Nice ideas, thanks for sharing.

Since you're concerned with battery life, a few simple things:
1) Upgrade to LED lights if not already. After trying a few different styles in my 26QB, I really like this one. A bit brighter than incandescent, still warm, and 1/10 the power.

2) Much more efficient to connect your TV direct to 12v instead of running off converter, if possible. Did Coachmen not install a 12v TV, or did you upgrade it?

The 2016 21QB has LED's as a standard feature. The TV is 110 only. My main reason for the battery upgrade was to run my coffee maker in the morning without starting the generator at 6am.

[NWboondocker]

Nice ideas, thanks for sharing.

Since you're concerned with battery life, a few simple things:
1) Upgrade to LED lights if not already. After trying a few different styles in my 26QB, I really like this one. A bit brighter than incandescent, still warm, and 1/10 the power.

2) Much more efficient to connect your TV direct to 12v instead of running off converter, if possible. Did Coachmen not install a 12v TV, or did you upgrade it?

[rockfishon]

Healeyman wrote:


Because my tank drain valve was as equally hard to get to as yours I moved the fresh tank drain valve to the rear skirt of the house.

I plan to do the same as you. On my last RV I found it was also a good place to wash my hands.