RovingFalconer
Advanced Member
Thought I’d share some of my favorite mods. Pretty sure they’ve all been done before, or some variation has been. But I came up with a few changes that work very well for me. I have found other people‘s posts very helpful, so I wanted to pay it forward.
1) DINETTE CONVERSION: i cut out a 22” section of the bench and then used that section to form two boxes for each seat. No extra wood was needed. I pulled the upholstery off the sofa cushion and cut the foam into four pieces, using an electric turkey carver. Then I reused the upholstery and added some canvas on the bottom so that all the visible upholstery would match. Had to so in a few zippers, which wasn’t easy. I cut a piece of 18x22” melamine for the table, and it fills the missing section of the bench if I want to convert it into a bed. I added some support rails on the benches. Lastly, I installed an RV table leg into the side bench. Had to cut it down and reform the end of the table leg, which I did by carving a circle of wood as a template, inserting it into the pipe end, and then using a chisel and hammer to form the metal around it, thereby achieving the tapered end.
2) OUTSIDE WATER LINE: I converted the fresh water drain to a usable spigot off the back, which is way more convenient. I used 3/8” brass fitting from Home Depot to achieve a 90 degree bend, and then attached a shut off valve to prevent issues with the hose freezing in cold weather. A length of water hose is run under the outside of the camper and suspended with wire clips. I fabricated a small piece of bend aluminum to attach the spigot to. Pretty straight forward and works great.
3) OUTSIDE PROPANE LINE: I added some miscellaneous brass propane fittings to the tank, and created a T for a second line. It has a 1”-20 “throwaway” style fitting, as used in the small green disposable propane tanks. It’s a self-sealing valve so it won’t leak gas when nothing is connected. It goes before the propane regulator, as most stoves and heaters require unregulated propane input. I run an 8’ hose down the side of the truck bed and out the back, where it connects to my stove for outdoor cooking. When it’s cold, I reach through the rear driver side turnbuckle hole and pull the line through, and connect it to a Mr Buddy heater.
4) CO2/PROPANE DETECTOR: purchased a flush mount propane and carbon monoxide alarm from an RV supplier and mounted it beneath the fridge. Ran wires up through the cabinet and to an on/off switch so I could control when the detector was on. Don’t need it draining my battery 24/7. I hooked it into a spare port on my fuse bus, where the exterior spotlights would normally go. I don’t have or need them. I turn it on the second I start setting up and switch it off when I’m packing out.
1) DINETTE CONVERSION: i cut out a 22” section of the bench and then used that section to form two boxes for each seat. No extra wood was needed. I pulled the upholstery off the sofa cushion and cut the foam into four pieces, using an electric turkey carver. Then I reused the upholstery and added some canvas on the bottom so that all the visible upholstery would match. Had to so in a few zippers, which wasn’t easy. I cut a piece of 18x22” melamine for the table, and it fills the missing section of the bench if I want to convert it into a bed. I added some support rails on the benches. Lastly, I installed an RV table leg into the side bench. Had to cut it down and reform the end of the table leg, which I did by carving a circle of wood as a template, inserting it into the pipe end, and then using a chisel and hammer to form the metal around it, thereby achieving the tapered end.
2) OUTSIDE WATER LINE: I converted the fresh water drain to a usable spigot off the back, which is way more convenient. I used 3/8” brass fitting from Home Depot to achieve a 90 degree bend, and then attached a shut off valve to prevent issues with the hose freezing in cold weather. A length of water hose is run under the outside of the camper and suspended with wire clips. I fabricated a small piece of bend aluminum to attach the spigot to. Pretty straight forward and works great.
3) OUTSIDE PROPANE LINE: I added some miscellaneous brass propane fittings to the tank, and created a T for a second line. It has a 1”-20 “throwaway” style fitting, as used in the small green disposable propane tanks. It’s a self-sealing valve so it won’t leak gas when nothing is connected. It goes before the propane regulator, as most stoves and heaters require unregulated propane input. I run an 8’ hose down the side of the truck bed and out the back, where it connects to my stove for outdoor cooking. When it’s cold, I reach through the rear driver side turnbuckle hole and pull the line through, and connect it to a Mr Buddy heater.
4) CO2/PROPANE DETECTOR: purchased a flush mount propane and carbon monoxide alarm from an RV supplier and mounted it beneath the fridge. Ran wires up through the cabinet and to an on/off switch so I could control when the detector was on. Don’t need it draining my battery 24/7. I hooked it into a spare port on my fuse bus, where the exterior spotlights would normally go. I don’t have or need them. I turn it on the second I start setting up and switch it off when I’m packing out.
