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 -

[thewaggonerfami]

Does anyone have some good pics/link/suggestions/ideas for neatly storing a lot of fishing poles? We are a family of 9, so at least 9 fishing poles, but usually more, because my hubby will have a few different types of rods and also likes to have a couple extra, just in case. Also a couple of those will be kid rods. We have a TT and no long cross camper storage bays. (I wish!) We do have a large storage area under the RV queen bed that lifts up, but is only accessible from indoors. The exterior storage is under one of the dinette benches and under the rear bunk bed, but that also has the water heater and maybe the furnace under there. Oh, and needs to be fairly cheap. Ideas?

[Winged_One]

Other things done:

Switched out the WHITE box on the end of the kitchen counter to brown and added a bronze night light that covers the WHITE GFCI outlet (WHITE meaning how out of place it was with the wood and bronze accessories).



Added a small indoor outdoor temp monitor above the wall furnace/AC thermostat. Found to be a good spot to mount the monitor for the Progressive Industies 50 amp protector (EMS-HW50C).



Added a TurboMaxx Deluxe with Thermostat to the bedroom. It was challenging but the instructions were excellent. Had it professionally painted black to match the trailer (why doesn't it come in black??).



Added a much larger fan to the bathroom. It is as loud as the little one, but it draws much more air AND the tone of the fan is not nearly as annoying as the little fan was. Easy install.



The wife made a cover for the tv in the basement/shed/cavernous area. It has a soft interior and extra padding where the screen is. Put a little shower holder I had laying around up to hold the remote. (Three TV's, really, do I need three? Aren't we supposed to be "camping"?)



I do not like clutter. These cavernous holding bays in 5th wheels are excellent. I can put everything into plastic containers, add short descriptions of whats in each and then easily and quickly find things. Oye, so nice.

[Winged_One]

My wife is a huge cat fan. Thus one of our three will be traveling with us. That made a big difference in our options regarding a trailer/5th wheel we would purchase. It had to have a good spot for a cat box. Something out of the way and not in the bedroom. There were usually 1 or 2 floorplans from every manufacturer that would work. We ended up with a Brookstone 354TS.

The cat box would go in the closet, in the hallway to the bedroom. A cat door/opening was in order. So I put one in one of the doors (hard, hard hickory). I also put one at the bottom of the door to the bedroom, so the cat can have access at night without having to leave the door open.



We removed one of the shelves so that the topper would fit over the box.



So far the wife and the cat are happy.

[mike_the_music_]

jetboater454 wrote:
My lights are remote controlled.I used a 120 V remote plug and just cut the plug ends off and wired the lights to the female end and the male end to a 15amp fuse then to the battery.Also have a chasing controller I plan to install some time to the lights.

I know this was from a year ago but I used the same lights as my awning lights. I stuck them to the roller and cut off the plug and used a 4 pin trailer plug. When the time comes to leave camp, I unplug the 4 pin and then roll up the lights in the awning. Great when the weather gets too windy and I have to roll up in a hurry. Also, the lights can be changed to any color and any brightness I want. They can also flash (don't do this at the campground) and fade between all colors. The kids think they are great!

Mike

[myowneq]

The thing about theft is you never know when or where it's going to happen. It can happen on the road, or in your own backyard.

I think the majority of theft is opportunistic. Someone sees something that's left unsecured, they can pick up it up quick, and there's little to no chance they get caught.

That being said, I've left chairs, tables, even my Coleman grill outside, and no one's taken them yet. But who's to say they won't next time?

As for that cut up box, there's a reason. The clips on the box that you thread the wires through holds the splice in the box in case the wires get pulled somehow. How you have it, it's not a very safe idea. Not saying something will go wrong, but it could. I'd see if I could find a box to fit that's shallow. They're out there.

Tim

[PenMan]

The only thing I have had stolen while camping in a campground was food. It was stolen by a black bear. I had my battery stolen while my trailer was in the driveway where it is normally parked. I have added a locking steel box that now has two 6 volt batteries.

[westend]

fairfaxjim wrote:

westend wrote:
Just curious, I'm new to CG camping, is there a theft problem in some camp grounds?

Not until you get ripped off! Ask me how I know.

To be honest, I have only ever been hit once. They grabbed a rubermaid action packer that normally held all of the "trailer" accessories for my PUP. It was at a CA State Park that had a public road going through it that had no entrance kiosk or gate, so access from Highway 1 was very easy.

The ranger walked a trail that he seemed to know would be used for getaway, and found a bunch of my stuff, but no Action Packer.

Bummer, those bins aren't cheap! I read on this forum about batteries being stolen and theft diversion so just wanted to know what some others have experienced. We don't have a theft problem where I live (exurbia) but I'm unwilling to donate my camping gear when I'm on the road so will look at some mods for keeping everything secure. Right now, my '72 Starcraft isn't a likely target but scatter a bunch of useful items around it and I can see where it would look inviting to the wrong crowd.

[fairfaxjim]

westend wrote:
Just curious, I'm new to CG camping, is there a theft problem in some camp grounds?

Not until you get ripped off! Ask me how I know.

To be honest, I have only ever been hit once. They grabbed a rubermaid action packer that normally held all of the "trailer" accessories for my PUP. It was at a CA State Park that had a public road going through it that had no entrance kiosk or gate, so access from Highway 1 was very easy.

The ranger walked a trail that he seemed to know would be used for getaway, and found a bunch of my stuff, but no Action Packer.

[beemerphile1]

peirek wrote:


They do make shallower boxes. I would consider a shallower box and not have the wires exposed.

Agreed, an open box is no box and doesn't meet any code.

[peirek]

cyberiankhatru wrote:
Moved my bedroom TV shelf to the lower kitchen cabinet end that holds the stove. I had to add braces to the inside since there were no studs. Used some old brackets I had to prop it up.



Also had to relocate the GFCI outlet to keep it accessable. Cut the new hole too big and had to replace the smaller-than-usual box with a new one. It was too deep so I cut the back of it out.


Still worth the effort to expand the counter space.


Before pic:

They do make shallower boxes. I would consider a shallower box and not have the wires exposed.

[civlized]

-

[Fisherguy]

Toylok

They don't come with mounting hardware, that's all extra. I was able to use the 2 holes and bolts it comes with see in the link above, (the nuts break off when you tighten them) and I put an extra 5/16" bolt through the side of the step that goes into one of the 3 bolts the mounting kits attach to.
I know a set of bolt cutters would probly go through the cable pretty easy but that's true of chain too, if they want it TAHT bad they're gonna get it no matter what ya do.

[Bit_Bucket]

Geesh Fisherguy, way to make us google it ourselves! 😛 :B

I like that idea :C

Did you bolt yours up or weld it or what?

[Fisherguy]

westend wrote:
Just curious, I'm new to CG camping, is there a theft problem in some camp grounds?

We camp at out of the way places, not paved sites next to the highay but I still lock up stuff that would cost a lot to replace, like my outboard (if I had it off the boat for various reasons), chain saw, generator, mtn bikes etc.
Ya never know...

[pasusan]

westend wrote:
Just curious, I'm new to CG camping, is there a theft problem in some camp grounds?

Just like anywhere in this world, you have to protect high value items. Generators are high on the what to steal list. But, most other things like chairs and other camping items are usually perfectly safe.