Cool Mods - Thread restored 10/18/2012

[2Rad4U]

My daughter was getting a little warm in her bunk during our last camping trip, so I decided to put her a fan in to keep the air flowing.

I had been wanting to add a 12-volt fan to the main living area anyway, so I decided to tackle both jobs today. A trip to Wal-Mart for two fans($8.48 each) and we're halfway there.

She picked the spot, and I got to work -



I picked up the power from her overhead light. All I have left is to install a short piece of wire cover and I'm done -



I added one in the main area -



I dropped by Lowe's and found this cool soap dispenser. I also just installed these Pop-a-Toothbrush holders -



I added a sopa dispenser to the kitchen area as well. I also installed a Pop-a-Napkin under the radio -



Here's an easy mod. I found this over the door towel rack at Walmart and it works great -

[livingaboard]

snarfattack wrote:
So, I've been very jealous of the power tongue cranks I see... but I just can't justify spending the money when I have an arm. But, I can justify making use of my power tools :)... Resulting in:

(Clicky for larger image)


I removed the hand crank, put an eye bolt in its place and now my drill can raise and lower it in seconds!

Since we have a few kids and a couple being under two, no slide-out... Makes for very little room to set up playpens to keep them contained and everyone in the camper comfortable. So I made a remove-able side to the dinette using some 1x wood and stretched window screen across it to keep the weight down (There are legs going under the mattress so they can't pull it over). One of our bed protectors was exactly the right width to make the dinette into two smaller, completely separated beds so they don't knock each other out during the night. Makes night time much more bearable.

Funny, I was thinking about doing the exact same thing with the dinette. My problem is that the 1 year old can crawl over pretty easy so I was trying to figure out a way to keep him in the dinette area.

[sbrettell]

What did you replace the siding with? Aluminum or fiberglass? I'm thinking of working with fiberglass to replace some canvas on a popup.

[snarfattack]

So, I've been very jealous of the power tongue cranks I see... but I just can't justify spending the money when I have an arm. But, I can justify making use of my power tools :)... Resulting in:

(Clicky for larger image)


I removed the hand crank, put an eye bolt in its place and now my drill can raise and lower it in seconds!

Since we have a few kids and a couple being under two, no slide-out... Makes for very little room to set up playpens to keep them contained and everyone in the camper comfortable. So I made a remove-able side to the dinette using some 1x wood and stretched window screen across it to keep the weight down (There are legs going under the mattress so they can't pull it over). One of our bed protectors was exactly the right width to make the dinette into two smaller, completely separated beds so they don't knock each other out during the night. Makes night time much more bearable.

[Bob_Vaughn]

Tell me that is not your tv antenna crank in that cabinet? If so what were they thinking? How inconvenient is that? plus a waste of a cabinet....

[LynchMob76]

Great thread...wish I found it before I went mod crazy. I definitely have a ton of stuff I can now do this fall.

We only had our 189FBS out once since getting it in March. I have been tinkering around with various mods since then as we are leaving on two month trip cross country with our newborn twins and a three year old next week. Next I think will be a solar setup as well as to weld up a new arrangement up front to allow another battery, generator and bike rack.

First order of business...moving and extending the crappy 2' long slinky holder


Access under the bed to the pass through storage is nice but a PITA to get a finger under the wood pieces to lift them up...strap handles fixed that


Keeping the mattress up while accessing the area is also a PITA so I rigged up a strap that you simply buckle into the top bunk and then tighten snug...hands free now.


Close up of the upper female end to the buckle with the bunk down


Another one


This is left side under the bed...added a 750w inverter..just temporary to get us by for now when boondocked


power bar off inverter


TV/DVD for the kid


Reused the slide safety rod for a kids clothes rod...bins below


Various hooks here and there, shoe bin


Shoe rack and moved fire extinguisher


Key rack, papertowel holder


Various racks in cupboards




Shower caddy, hooks for drying towels and swimsuits


shower guard


I was going to use this to store pop/water etc but I think i might put a small safe in there


And the best for last...fishing rod holders!!

[dalenoel]

Finally got my decal from Donsdecals.com and put on the back of the Jayco.

Decal Link

[bigc3031]

Not sure on the tongue weight but with the additional battery and weight of the tool box and a few things I am carrying in it I added about 100lbs to the trailer.

[dougwhite]

bigc3031 wrote:
A couple of months ago I finally dove into a tool box mod.

How much did your mod increase the tongue weight? I'm looking at doing the same sort of thing.

[bigc3031]

Bonefish wrote:
I would add tie down straps on the batteries. Hit a good bump or have an accident and the batteries could be into the metal lid and it could cause a fire.

Bonefish

Good idea, I'll figure this out. I do have adjustable "L" channel on the back side so they don't slide around, it would be easy to add a top strap.

[brubinsky]

brubinsky wrote:
Question. I've been camping in a TT for over 20 years and never saw a problem storing the waste hose inside of the rear bumper. I've noticed a common mod is to create a way to store the hose. Rust inside of the bumper does not seem to be an issue. Am I missing more than usual?

Thanks to everyone for the info. I have to remember that all TT are not alike. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something(as I often do)

[dalenoel]

I don't normally do many mods to our trailers but got tired of having shoes in the way at the bottom of the steps.

Had an old piece of luann available along with 24" of 2x2 and left over paint. Under the steps I fashioned a board that will take all of the dirt and crud from shoes stored out of the weather but still outside.

The board sits on the framework of our folding step.

Shoe shelf.

I also set the outdoor thermometer on the board and it has not been forgotten this way.

[Bonefish]

I would add tie down straps on the batteries. Hit a good bump or have an accident and the batteries could be into the metal lid and it could cause a fire.

Bonefish

[shadows4]

bigc3031 wrote:
A couple of months ago I finally dove into a tool box mod. I wanted more storage for my towing gear as well as add a battery and a battery cut off for boondocking. I searched high and low for a good toolbox and an affordable price and found this shallow depth box at Lowe's. I bought some sheet aluminum and some "L" channel at Home Depot to build the battery box which I siliconed all the seams and used weatherstip on the top to keep fumes away from my tools. I have a vent on the way, I didn't want to get a lot of water in the bat box so I searched a little for a good system. I used wires I had left over from a 1970 Nova build for the battery cables and the cut off was a heavy duty one I bought from Jeg's. Mounting the box was easy, I just moved the propane tanks up a couple inches and it was good to go. I am very happy with this addition, it added a ton of storage for all the stuff that gets dirty on the road. I highly reccommend this mod for anyone with a trailer.

That look awesome! Wish I had to room to do such a Mod. Happy camping, John

[revrnd]

My Rhino Hose "almost" fits the bumper. It slides in then stops about where the spare tire mount U bolts are. I think when the nuts were tightened up, the bumper is pinched slightly smaller impeding the hose.

I made a holder out of white pipe that a friend had left over from when he made his sewer pipe holder.

[Fisherguy]

With a Rhino hose?