Mods and Upgrades--Post 'em here!

[AbdRahim-WO]

That is too funny! I was going to use undercoating along the bottom for protection against flying gravel. Gorilla tape sounds a lot easier.


I must say, after reading this thread, you folks are real craftsmen.

 

[Oldchinahand]

Chinese disease making us antsy

Although we have taken two short trips to state parks and BLM this spring, can't deny we've slowed our normal spring travel. So we've once again dusted off our old (1975) Singer.

When escaped from California in '93, we sold our Catalina 27. The new owner didn't want red sails (no accounting for taste) so we brought them and plans fo a 16ft Weekender with us. Built the Weekender, cut the Catalina jenny/jib into a working jib and main. Sold the Weekender, sans sails, and built a 13.5ft Peapod. Cut the Weekender sails into a lug sail for the Peapod.

Still had the Catalina main when we bought our Journey. Cut the main into windshield and side window sunshades. Not happy. Can't see through. Bought some commercial sunshades
Since it is a slow spring, cut the sunshades into wheel well skirts and mirror socks.

In a way, we still have red sails in the sunset.


Looks like a tonneau cover. Really a sail maker's lofting table

Looks like a wood shop. Really a sail maker's loft. Peapod in back resting in her skids for refit and paint

Red looks fine -- if you account for taste.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

 

[BCam]

In a way, we still have red sails in the sunset.

View attachment 173212
Looks like a tonneau cover. Really a sail maker's lofting table
View attachment 173213
Looks like a wood shop. Really a sail maker's loft. Peapod in back resting in her skids for refit and paint
View attachment 173214
Red looks fine -- if you account for taste.��

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Cool, we had a Catalina 27 for many years, followed by a Catalina 30 that we sold in 2014. Both were great boats. We sailed out of Stockton, CA in the California Delta (lots of tacking, so both boats had self-tending jibs, the 27 had a club jib and the 30 had a Soling rig jib) with occasional trips to SF Bay where we berthed the boat for two or three months at a time. Our RV group is made up mostly of sailing friends, most of whom are also boatless.

 

[Oldchinahand]

Saying "boatless" makes me shudder. Severe downsizing, but our Peapod is just right for our Arizona lakes. Rows like a shell, and is sweet under sail.

Sailing a lugger is a new skill, but how cool is it to sing out "slack the snotter"!

Fair Winds and Following Seas

 

[BCam]

Saying "boatless" makes me shudder. Severe downsizing, but our Peapod is just right for our Arizona lakes. Rows like a shell, and is sweet under sail.

Sailing a lugger is a new skill, but how cool is it to sing out "slack the snotter"!

Fair Winds and Following Seas

I suppose "boatless" was an overstatement. I still have a canoe, a kayak and an inflatable w/outboard. I should have said sailboatless.

 

[David_Laura]

Upgrades #1 - Arm rest & cup holder

I've had a chance to complete a few upgrades. Here is the first.

Built and installed a cup holder and armrest for the sofabed.

 

[David_Laura]

Upgrade #2

Here's my second set of upgrades - motion activated battery powered LED lights beside the mirror, and a wood cup holder held in place with a touch of rubber cement.

 

[David_Laura]

Upgrade #3

Here is the third upgrade - A cover over the sink in the kitchen, cut from extra flooring.

 

[Wyatt-WO]

Ok, I’ve been pondering this very mod. How did you fish the wires into the back of the handle? Thanks!

 

[David_Laura]

Here is a photo of the armrest/cupholder in relationship to the captain's chair.

 

[Wyatt-WO]

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=172288&stc=1&d=1570058392

Added Green LED to entry door grab bar.

Nice. How did you access the back side of that handle to get the LED in there? Thanks!

 

[Oldchinahand]

Nice work David_Laura!

Making someone else's dream into our (your) dream is satisfyingly never ending.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

 

[John Locke]

2018 Vista 32YE bathroom mods

In my Vista 32YE, the corner cabinet had a lot of wasted space. It really needed a second shelf, so I built one. This was a bit interesting to design, as simple as it looks. The shape of the shelf was chosen to make it possible to install the shelf without removing the cabinet from the wall. The L shape allowed that. The black screws hold on the shelf lip. I like the "rivet look". Since it's a small shelf, the only mounting support needed was on the two back walls, not all 4 sides. It's extremely strong, overkill for the small amount of weight that can be put in there.

We also installed a 2nd towel rack on the bottom of the corner shelf, very handy to have.

 

[Capor2020]

40" Smart TV upgrade

Recently acquired a 2014 Vista 26HE and have started a few mods to help us feel at home away from home. First significant project is to upgrade the Insignia 32" in the front to a TCM 40" Smart TV mounted so we can watch it without twisting necks. Small cabinet next to the door gets sacrificed but we are fine with that. Wall mount here is a bit challenging because you really need to fit reinforcement materials back to the holes the cabinet screws were in as there is steel behind the paneling it seems. You need a mount that is wide enough to span the wall to pick up the reinforcing materials.
I used 1x2 fir for reinforcing and these seem to add plenty of strength for a 33# TV.

 

[imnprsd]

Adding a 8,000 BTU portable AC to the living room area, and hiding it inside my cabinet is turning out to be a "homerun!"

Today it was 92F outside in Montana, with 55% humidity, and I did not turn on my Basement AC until 2PM. Then I ran it on low and by 5PM-6PM, which is the hottest time of the day, I turned it on high and inside it stayed 82F.

With the sun beating down on the RV skin there was the usual thermal conduction, but with the portable AC blowing 59F out of it's vents I was actually cold.

So, if you have a 14" wide cabinet, under a window, I highly recommend you consider adding 33% more AC (8,000/24,000=0.33%) to your RV.

This week it's supposed to break 100F, and I have no doubt I will be very comfortable all day and all night long.

For more information, go to:

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums...ac-to-my-2004-itasca-horizon-40ad-360836.html

 

[Wyatt-WO]

You did a really nice job of blending in the AC exhaust to the sidewalls! Your buddies in Mexico?

 

[imnprsd]

The Reef RV PARK - RV DAY SPA - IN ROCKY POINT, MEXICO

Thanks. Yes. My buddies Carlos and Pablo did a great job! I just came with the plan and supervised.

I just met Carlos last year, which was the first time I traveled to Puerto Penasco based on the recommendations from another RVer and IRV2 member. He convinced me to go, and I have returned 3 more times since then, because I am 120% satisfied with the quality and service quality I get at The Reef RV Park. Plus, I get a vacation. And while my RV is getting work done (over 3-5 days or more) I can supervise, help, watch or go to the restaurant and enjoy lunch on the beach and drink margaritas. It's perfect for an RV owner like me who wants to learn and everyone is so easy to work with and they have earned my trust. I don't even negotiate with them anymore. And FYI, they don't give me special treatment. They have high standards and don't "cut corners" or "short cut" the job to make more money like so many body shops do in the USA. Plus they use Sherwin-Williams Automotive Paint... the best in the industry... and a very high quality clear coat!

The Reef RV Park in Puerto Penasco, MX (aka Rocky Point) is my RV DAY SPA and I highly recommend making the trip to everyone. Note: The boarder crossing is no problem and the town of Puerto Penasco is a tourist town full of luxury condos.

There is so much to do in Puerto Penasco, you can both vacation and give your RV a spa treatment -- all in one place! You also will spend 50-60% less than you will in the USA; and you will not get "any attitude" or BS; and no one I have worked with in Mexico short cuts the job... Except maybe Kiko who does a good job washing the RV, but I think he could do a better job waxing the RV for what he charges. Still, it's acceptable.

The secret to a good paint job is good prep! And Carlos and Pablo have been paining RVs for 15 years. And Carlos' dad (Chewy) has been painting RV since the 70's.

When I leave The Reef I feel like I am finally "out in front" of all the maintenance I need to do to my RV. And I plan to return every May and October if I can, because during these months the weather is fantastic and typically not windy.

For more information on all the work you can get done a this RV DAY SPA go to: https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/f259/f259/f259/f259/f259/f259/...ad-360836.html

When it come to maintenance and upgrades such as these, you need bring all the parts and supervise and help as needed.

Carlos is my body and paint guy; and Gabriel and Manuel really come through for me when I want mechanical, air conditioning, and electrical work done.

In May-2021 Gabriel and Manuel not only helped me remove the ATS, he also fished a separate power cord to my power bay so I can run it off a 20A shore power plug -- and I'm still amazed he was even familiar with how to service and adjust my HWH "StoreMore" Flat Floor slide out.

For more information on how to replace those HWH plastic triangles, go to this thread:

HWH StoreMore (Flat Floor) Service & Adjustment - 2004 Itasca Horizon 40AD

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums...justment-2004-itasca-horizon-40ad-361658.html


Gabriel is a licensed electrician and he's also a great mechanic; and I trust his judgement, because I watched how he serviced my HWH system and took about my ATS.

My Spanish is really week, but but somehow everything works out perfect. And never in the USA have I ever said I left a service center thinking they did everything to my 100% satisfaction. Not even Winnebago in Forest City get my full appreciation, because I have caught them "short cutting" the job on two occasions. (And on one occasion Winnebago even refunded me, because they did a very poor job fixing my spice-storage cabinet.

The only thing you have to work with is the scheduling aspect of getting work done. I.e., you just need to communicate in advance using What's App and then you need to get in line after you get there. So it's best if you plan at least 7 days and preferably 10-14 days for bigger jobs.

 

[Jakm]

Note to fellow sufferers

 

[John Locke]

That's me!

Note to fellow sufferers

Oh man do I have that disease! I've installed over $10K in upgrades, and I'm getting ready to install a dual provider cellular hotspot in the rig to the tune of $1000. Where does it stop?

All kidding aside, we really love all the upgrades. And yes, half of them should have been provided by Winnebago IMHO.

 

[Dibbsvtx1]

Fuel lift pump and guage upgrade

I have a 2000 Winnebago journey36l. After alot of research on the 5.9 24valve Cummins engine I decided to upgrade the Achilles heel for that engine. I went and bought a direct replacement fit heavier lift pump from Airdog. Once I removed the factory pump and dry fitted the new one, I noticed a clearance problem to mount under the fuel canister. It was not a big deal finding a bracket to bolt to the frame and install a new longer hose ( snap lock fitting)to the fuel canister. I then installed a 3 pod guage on the dash to support my EGT temps, Turbo boost and most importantly the fuel return pressure. The 5.9 Cummins gen 2 MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 5PSI return pressure that cools the very expensive VP44 Bosch fuel injection system. Once everything was done , I now hold at a minimum 12psi while only getting 6-8 psi with stock lift pump that was fairly new.