Tired of working on the B+

[Snowman9000]

On the one hand, I enjoy tinkering with an RV. Our 2005 Trail Lite B+ is our 3rd RV in about 4 years. And I've done a lot of tinkering with each of them. But a lot of it is fixing or improving cheap or shoddy or negligent or just plain stupid stuff produced in the RV version of China, aka the greater Elkhart, Indiana area.

Today was the last straw. The fire extinguisher was falling off the wall. They just screwed the bracket to the hollow luan interior wall, and the luan is all of 1/8th inch. It's the thinnest luan I've seen. Gee, boss, think we should put some wood behind that? Nah, it'll hold. Right.

I've learned a lot, and it's satisfying. But there does not seem to be an end to it. Our next RV needs to be a better built one. I hope such a thing exists in the small MH world. 🙂

I guess it's time to put down the tools and go camping.

[Snowman9000]

SkiMore wrote:
Snowman9000: I've seen advertisements for dog ramps to help them get into the back of SUVs. Do you think something like that would help your dog?

We have one of those, a PetStep, and it worked pretty well with the pickup truck and fiver. But it's heavy and takes a lot of room to store. I custom built a lightweight ramp just for this MH. I should do a writeup on it. It stores on the ladder. It fits on, and above, the single step we have, and ends just under the door threshhold. We can still use the step and door ourselves, while the ramp is in place. It's pretty nifty. The ramp is 5' long and makes a very shallow, easy angle for the dog. Our door is near the rear end of the curb side, and sometimes on a un-level site, a rear door will be pretty far up in the air. We had the same thing on our fiver. At those times, the ramps can get too steep. With this one, we should be good even in that situation.

[SkiMore]

Snowman9000: I've seen advertisements for dog ramps to help them get into the back of SUVs. Do you think something like that would help your dog?

[Snowman9000]

SkiMore wrote:

Snowman9000 wrote:
On the one hand, I enjoy tinkering with an RV. Our 2005 Trail Lite B+ is our 3rd RV in about 4 years. ....

That sounds like a high turnover rate. Why have you gone though so many in such a short time? Is it the quest for the right features/floorplan/type? Is it about finding a good used MH?

Our first one, after a 15 year absence, was an old cream puff fiver from a neighbor. It turned out to have some water damage though. It served the purpose of seeing if we wanted to RV again.

Then we bought a bigger, newer fiver. After a year or two we realized pulling a good-sized trailer across the country is not quite what we want to do. So we downsized to the small B+. We still have to get around to selling that fiver, though!

Our dog is getting lame, and too big for us to pick up, so we are glad that this B+ is low to the ground. (Another problem with the fiver!) When she goes to doggie heaven, we might the look for a MH a bit larger. Or heck, maybe not, maybe this one will be big enough, what with one fewer occupant.

[mlts22]

Leisure Travel has some B/B+ rigs, and the PW Pursuit seems to be a decent rig.

For something bigger, I'd go for a Coach House or something similar from fiberglass which is expensive, but they are built well.

[SkiMore]

Snowman9000 wrote:
On the one hand, I enjoy tinkering with an RV. Our 2005 Trail Lite B+ is our 3rd RV in about 4 years. ....

That sounds like a high turnover rate. Why have you gone though so many in such a short time? Is it the quest for the right features/floorplan/type? Is it about finding a good used MH?

[jdog]

YES, IT DOES GET OLD FIXING STUPID THINGS DONE JUST GET IT SOLD!

[Snowman9000]

Dog Folks wrote:
I have spoken to many folks with older well kept units that will NOT consider a new one because they have "fixed" all the stupid things in the old one. They don't want to start all over again.

I am one of these folks. Wife is angling for new. I have done over 100 "repairs" or improvements. I have this unit just how I want it. Why start all over?

My wife and I talk about this a lot. Whether for houses, or RVs, we have a habit of getting one just the way we want it, then selling it. So someone else gets the benefit of all the improvements.

I've just about got this RV where I want it, knock on wood. We have vowed to keep it for a while, even though we would like a little bigger rig.

[Snowman9000]

Thanks, I used some basic plastic drywall anchors this time. We'll see how they hold up. I do keep the plastic pop ones on hand, I like the way they work.

It's amazing how much stuff is just anchored to luan. 🙂

[hotbyte]

Know the feeling! Our used MH came with fire extinguisher stored in a magazine rack because it had pulled loose from wall. I reattached using short molly bolts. Only issue I've ever had with these is the bolt trying to spin as I initially tighten it up to expand anchor portion inside wall. I've found I can stop the flange from turning by first tapping it to set the point into luan and then using a flat head screw driver in the slot where point is punched down.

I've also used some plastic molly type bolts that work pretty well. Drill hole, insert plug and then use a plastic tool to push the anchor wings out. I replace wood shelves with the white wire shelving in our pantry using these and they seem to hold well with heavy canned goods.

EDIT: Here's link to the plastic anchors Plastic pop anchors

[Dog_Folks]

I have spoken to many folks with older well kept units that will NOT consider a new one because they have "fixed" all the stupid things in the old one. They don't want to start all over again.

I am one of these folks. Wife is angling for new. I have done over 100 "repairs" or improvements. I have this unit just how I want it. Why start all over?

[quietjake]

great idea Snowman!!!

I'm just beginning my quest with my own 04 Trail Lite 213. Everything you've told me so far is much appreciated.

I'm beginning to consider replacing the killer sofa bed with something else.

Haven't found the photo lay outs of all the good ideas on that though.
If you need any tips on Oregon region camping I'll be most happy to give you the local tips.

[rvten]

Do not condem all class C's because of yours.
There is different build quality in all the RV's out there.
Hope you have better luck on your next one.