Must-have upgrades...what are yours?

[bout2buy]

I *think* I'm done upgrading our new 21qb. I loved, and still do love the floorplan, but I knew due to the entry level quality I'd need to do some upgrading.

First was the "mattress" in the back corner queen. I don't think that foam board even deserves to be called a mattress! 2 memory foam toppers later it's as good as the bed at home. Top one is a blue cool gel foam and it does stay nice and cool!

Upgraded the overhead bunk with a 5" featherbed. Slightly less unsightly than a piece of foam up there, and it does the trick quite well.

My favorite though was the Oxygenics bodyspa showerhead. So easy, I installed it by myself! Took longer to break into the packaging than to put it on! Increased water pressure amazingly...can't believe it.

Finally, I ordered 2 camco square foam thingies with reflective material on one side to block light (and heat) in the 2 skylight vents.

Everything from amazon.com

I'm pretty tickled with my little rig. We crammed 6 in it this past trip and were still just fine. So is there anything else I need that I don't know I need yet? LOL

Oh, almost forgot, I also bought a fish filet table with a sink built in, so I could set up an outdoor handwashing station. That was the thing I missed the most about giving up our 5er...the outside kitchen and sink. The table is too tall for the kids so we used a stool, but I think I'll have my brother in law use the sawzall to cut the legs down. It sure does save on dirt being tracked in every time the kids or I need to wash our hands.

Oh yeah, and my propane fire ring because I can't build a fire or keep one going. But I guess that's not a motorhome upgrade! LOL

[ron_dittmer]

pnichols wrote:
Ron,

Since I'm due for shocks anyway, I'll give them a whirl and post how they work out.

I hate to buy any unproven product like the first of these for E450, but since the FSD has been available quite awhile for Class A rigs and Super Cs, I'll take an early chance on them to work at least as well as Monroes or Bilsteins on our chassis. If was to put Bilsteins on our chassis, it would be the soft ones anyway - thus missing out on the high frequency dampening that highway cracks require. I'm sure hoping beyond hope that Koni's FSD shocks deal with this issue once and for all!

Koni's FSD technology claims to offer a soft ride when conditions are subtle (simple highway cracks), and gets "Heavy Duty" as needed.

Like you say, if you need new shocks anyway, why not try them over "fixed ride" conventional shocks offered in the industry which we know will yield a heavy duty ride all the time.

Please keep us updated come decision time and your experience, and please include cost.

Thanks!

[derh2o]

one upgrade i have already done was to run a lead from the propane tank to the side of the motor home for a BBQ connection. this saves carrying that 5 Gal tank and running out of propane in the middle of grilling. surprisingly for me, i rarely see that at campgrounds.

[pnichols]

Ron,

Since I'm due for shocks anyway, I'll give them a whirl and post how they work out.

I hate to buy any unproven product like the first of these for E450, but since the FSD has been available quite awhile for Class A rigs and Super Cs, I'll take an early chance on them to work at least as well as Monroes or Bilsteins on our chassis. If was to put Bilsteins on our chassis, it would be the soft ones anyway - thus missing out on the high frequency dampening that highway cracks require. I'm sure hoping beyond hope that Koni's FSD shocks deal with this issue once and for all!

[ron_dittmer]

pnichols wrote:
They emailed me back and said the E450 version of their FSD shock should be available sometime in October.http://www.konirv.com/FSD.html

That is great news. Back in 2007 when replacing our shocks, I wanted those FSDs real bad.

If they become available for the 2007 E350, I may replace my Koni-RV adjustable shocks with FSDs and put my hardly used red ones up on ebay. But I'd first wait for FSD reviews from people like you and see what you think before jumping in.

[pnichols]

The one upgrade I'm really looking forward to is new shocks. My Ford OEM shocks are nearing the end of their lives at 42K miles and the shock I've been keeping my eye on is finally getting real close to being available just in time for our Ford E450 Class C motorhome chassis.

I've email'd Koni twice in the last year and their recent response was real encouraging. They emailed me back and said the E450 version of their FSD shock should be available sometime in October. This shock is the only one I can find that adjusts itself dynamically in real time when dampening to handle the two extremes of providing just the right stiffness for BOTH sharp jolts like highway expansion joints AND the gradual rolling action from curves, curbs, road ruts, cross-winds, etc.:

http://www.konirv.com/FSD.html

[rivercity22]

Old John T wrote:

Added an aux 80 gallon fresh water tank (total now 110 gallons).

Old John T in Indiana

Thats a lot of extra water capacity.

How did you do this upgrade?

[ShapeShifter]

bout2buy wrote:
I *think* I'm done upgrading our new 21qb.

Done? Not a chance! :B

So is there anything else I need that I don't know I need yet?

Power Protection: http://www.progressiveindustries.net/catalog.htm

Look for any of the devices under the "RV Power Protection" category. They offer whole-rig surge suppression, low and high voltage protection, and protection from improperly wired power pedestals. Any of these can do damage to on-board electrical systems. I've had mine save me from open grounds, high voltage, and lots of low voltage. You can test the pedestal before plugging in, and you can use a plug-in volt meter to monitor voltage, but these units are on guard 24/7, even if you are asleep or away from the rig.

I recommend the hardwired models, so you can add a display inside to keep an eye on it. And if you have a generator and transfer switch, install it AFTER the transfer switch so it protects you against generator and transfer switch faults (which are more likely than an electrical surge taking out the transfer switch.) If money is tight, at least consider one of the plug in units.

Note that the less expensive "surge protectors" are not the same. That's just one function of these EMS systems which do so much more than surge suppression.

I have the EMS-HW50C, with two displays: one in the shore cord compartment, and one inside. I know it's already saved my A/C from low voltage on several occasions, and it's saved everything from voltage that approached 140 volts in the middle of the night! :E

[Gunner45]

We are still newbies so ours changes have been very small as we are still learning 🙂 So far mine has been adding the memory foam to the bed. Dh has installed the Wii in the front and a new flat screen in the bedroom.

We are getting our under bench cupboard changed to a drawer this weekend!

After that I'm thinking we will do the plexiglass in the screen door for the dogs and change the shower head 🙂

So many fun things to do, so little time and $$ 😄


~ Dori ~

[ron_dittmer]

A very recent upgrade for us was quite grand.
We changed our stock cloth dinette bench seat & backrest cushions to leather with memory foam. The dinette changed from "Uncomfortable" to "Wonderful". We can sit there now for a hour without giving it a thought.

But my "upgrade" list could go on and on and on.

Of coarse there were upgrades that didn't go so well. One being a memory foam mattress pad. We didn't know how bad it was until we removed it six years later. Given we have a rear corner double bed with limited access, the "fluff" made it hard to get in & out, and hard to change position during the night. It was so fluffy, the bed swallowed us up. We learned that it is best to use a tight fitting standard mattress pad and tight fitting flannel sheets for our limited access bed shown here with all the puff-n-fluff. Oh yes, we replaced the comforter too, to something less puffy.

[IAMICHABOD]

bout2buy wrote:
Oh my! I've got to stop checking this thread!!!

I need a swivel for my passenger seat now too! LOL

[Old_John_T]

Here are the upgrades I did on my 2001 Four Winds Five Thousand 29 foot Class C, mostly because we do a lot of extended dry camping and I wanted to be able to dry camp 8 days before I had to dump and take on water, which is the limiting factor when dry camping.

Added an aux 80 gallon fresh water tank (total now 110 gallons).
Added an aux 40 gallon grey water holding tank (total now 80 gallons)
Added an aux 10 gallon black tank
Added a water pressure regulation tank so pump dont short cycle and
pressure remains more constant
Added 200 watts of Rooftop Solar Panels and Charge Controller,
depending on sun and angle it can pump 16 amps into my house
batteries
Added Four Six Volt true Deep Cycle house batteries for total
energy storage capacity now of 460 Amp Hrs. I removed the wimpy
factory semi deep cycle RV/Marine battery
Added Max Air foof vent fans
Added energy efficient Fluorescent lights
Added a Xantrex Truecharge2 Smart 3/5 stage battery charger to
replace the factory installed junk noisy hot buzzing
Converter/Charger that can ruin house batteries

Lots of other stuff including a china toilet. Using ONLY our own facilities the two of us can stay out 8 days or so and thats long enough anyway lol before its time to dump and take on water

Old John T in Indiana

[bout2buy]

Oh my! I've got to stop checking this thread!!!

I need a swivel for my passenger seat now too! LOL

[Bethany_Carolin]

Just this past wkend we had 2 Fantastic vent covers put on plus 2 more-for BR & shower. The dinette awning looks great, too.
Future upgrades... new driver & passenger seats & 1 in the back.

[IAMICHABOD]

Where to start. In no real order.

Foam Mattress Cover

Swivel Seat

New Window In Door

Tire Man Valve Stems

Converter/Charger

Bravura Toilet

Fantastic Fan W/Remote

Vortex Fan for Bathroom

And of course Oxygenics, Maxx Air covers and LED lights throughout.