What would you change about your camper?

Hi Scott,
Just curious as to why the Atwood thermostat would be better? The first mod I made on my eagle was to replace the analog thermostat with a digital thermostat from Home Depot, seems to improve the constant turning on and off of the heater.

No idea what they'll have but the ideal in my book would be digital programmable with user input on and off temperatures or a large range of selectable temp differential. The temps in a camper can swing a digital thermostat with a breeze and having the thing kick on/off more than needed seems silly to me. I want more than a couple degrees between on and off.
 
Hi Scott,
Just curious as to why the Atwood thermostat would be better? The first mod I made on my eagle was to replace the analog thermostat with a digital thermostat from Home Depot, seems to improve the constant turning on and off of the heater.

The Atwood runs from a 12v supply, while my cheapo runs from either disposable batteries or a step down circuit. The step down circuit, while fun to build, isn't all that robust and I don't like storing disposable batteries in the when temps exceed 100 degrees. Furthermore, I prefer to limit my failure points as much as possible (i.e. I have less batteries to test).

Back to durability, I'm not super happy with the cheapo digital. It wasn't designed for the rigors of travel. It's already failed in the field...

I'd really prefer to handle the Atwood before I purchase, though... Worth it if it's robust...
 
Hi Scott,

Thanks for the info about the Atwood thermostat. I'll check it out. I saw a digital thermostat at either Home Depot or Lowe's that also had a remote control, which would be nice, but it cost about $90, as I remember.

I think I'll call Chicali at FWC to see what they charge for putting a dinette in my Grandby. That may determine if I try it myself or not. However, I don't even want to start a major project like that now with the travel/camping season starting.
 
Thanks for the feedback on this one !!

Chicali (our production manager) just changed the jig on the frames.

Starting tomorrow all of the new Hawk, Grandby, & Keystone frames coming out of the welding dept. will have the water sink drain moved a bit over.

This will allow the outside shower door to fold all the way down pretty much flat on the side of the camper.

Believe it or not, we do watch the forums and make changes from some of the good ideas from this group.

:thumb:


--------------------------------------------------------------------


The one thing I would change is; On the outside shower hatch cover is a built in bracket to hold the shower head. Well when you open the hatch it hits the sink drain. So if you set the shower head in the bracket it points up! This causes the spay to shoot into the air and cool off real quick. I ended up just dropping the shower head while soaping up then reaching down to pick it up to rinse off. So move the sink drain two inches.



.
 
FWC Dinette Install

Hi Scott,

...I think I'll call Chicali at FWC to see what they charge for putting a dinette in my Grandby. ...

buzz, When we stopped at FWC in January we asked what it would be for our Grandby to change to the dinette and Chicali gave us a very loose figure (don't hold anybody to it) of around $800.

Chicali also said, as I remember, that they didn't have a source for the "old" oak to match the stuff in our camper. If anybody has a source for an exact match (almost exact?) I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Happy Trails!
'birds
 
Call Chicali if you want / if you decide to do the conversion.

I think they got some more of the Western Oak wood for repairs and modifications like this.

So if we still have some, they will have an exact match for you.


"Chicali (800) 242-1442"

or e-mail him at ...

Chicali@fourwh.com


-----------------------------------------------------------------


Chicali also said, as I remember, that they didn't have a source for the "old" oak to match the stuff in our camper. If anybody has a source for an exact match (almost exact?) I'd appreciate hearing about it. [/QUOTE]





.
 
Shower Bracket

Thanks for the feedback on this one !!
...Starting tomorrow all of the new Hawk, Grandby, & Keystone frames coming out of the welding dept. will have the water sink drain moved a bit over...

Good to hear Stan/Chicali. No weight gain no cost improvement (?) is a real plus.

'birds
 
Oak

...I think they got some more of the Western Oak wood for repairs and modifications like this...

Thanks Stan. I'll talk to Chicali to see if I can either get some from FWC or from FWC's supplier. It woud be good to pick up a sheet or two of our own to guard against non-availability in the future if we decide to do (or have FWC do) the dinette.

'birds
 
Chicali also said, as I remember, that they didn't have a source for the "old" oak to match the stuff in our camper. If anybody has a source for an exact match (almost exact?) I'd appreciate hearing about it.

FYI: If you've got the darker colored oak wood like I do then Miniwax, "English Chestnut" stain is a pretty close match when used on oak stock/plywood. Close enough for a camper anyways. ;)

See the drawer face and counter edge band here for example, that is my work:
DSC02928Small.jpg
 
Oak

FYI: If you've got the darker colored oak wood like I do then Miniwax, "English Chestnut" stain is a pretty close match when used on oak stock/plywood. Close enough for a camper anyways. ;)...


Pods8,

Thanks for the stain information...it is a close match. (Nice work on the edge banding and drawer face!)

I got an email back from Chicali that they do have some oak ply in stock that "blends well" with the original. Their parts specialist, Rich, is working up a price for me. When we're through Woodland next time I may pick up a sheet or two just to have in stock for mods/repairs in the future....wonder if a 4'X8' sheet will fit through that little door....

Happy Trails!
'birds
 
The Ultimate Camper

Seems like I remember a thread on what should go into the ultimate pop-up camper. I've done a couple searches and looked at a lot of the recent threads but no luck.

Is my old brain just playing tricks on me (again) or is there a thread like that out there?
 
'birds,

I don't remember a thread about the ultimate pop-up camper, but I do remember a thread on the ultimate truck to haul our pop-up campers on.

Off subject...I was once a resident of Alaska. My parents homesteaded there in late 40's. I was born in Anchorage in 50'. I'd like to make a return visit with the FWC sometime.
 
Alaska

Buzz,

There were some great people born in '50...like you and me:thumb:

I just replied to your post on the trip report site but thought I'd give some encouragement here on your trip to revisit Alaska.

The main Alaska (Alcan) Highway is paved nearly all the way now and it's a pretty nice drive until you hit Alaska at the Yukon Border. Then there are some huge frost heaves that I've gotten air off of before...really gotta be watching.

The Alaska Milepost is a travel log of the Alcan, the Cassiar and the various access routes. It lists services and sights by milepost. It's the bible for travel to Alaska.

Our favorite time of year to travel the highway and in the interior is early July through mid August. The bugs are bad but the weather is nicer (can be in the 90's in Fairbanks) and we deal with the bugs pretty well after all these years. Fishing is usually best in the lakes right at breakup...probably early to mid June in the interior, if I remember right.

If you do decide to go let me know and I'll try to give you what information I can.

Being in Alaska before the oil money hit would have been a special thing for me...wish I could have seen it.

Guess I must have been dreaming on the "ultimate pop-up" thread. Not unusual for me any more.

Happy Trails!
'birds
 
Duane,

Thanks for the info. I may try a short trip into Canada this summer just to get my feet wet. Maybe north of Lake Superior.

Buzz
 
Dinette conversion

I had FWC do the dinette conversion. My girlfriend and I just love it. For us, it made all difference in the world.

When they do the conversion, they build up the height of the storage boxes on the front and sides 3 inches higher so the lower bed is even with the passenger side ledge. This may not seem like much, but it is a huge factor in being able to have some real storage space in the front. Since the boxes on the sides are 3 inches higher, I really didn't lose that much storage on the side boxes (compared to the area under the old couch).

Also, it allows enough room in the back to store the LARGEST porta potti that Thetford makes....and it is so much nicer than the small one that the camper came with.

I also requested that the table be made 1 1/2 inches wider on both sides, so the table is a much nicer size. Seems more like a table and less like a tv tray. Plenty of room for my 17 inch laptop and still lots of room to eat.
 
Pics & $

leadsled9,

Good information, thanks.

We'd really enjoy seeing some pics if you have time to post some and were wondering if the $800 Chicali mentioned to us was close for the cost to do the work??

Thanks again!
'birds
 
Pics!

Mine came to just under $800.

I'll try to get some pics taken today.

Leadsled9,

Thanks for the price confirmation...we'll look forward to seeing pics of your new dinette!

Happy Trails,
'birds
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads - WTW

D
Strong taste of plastic in water from tank
2
Vic Harder
Vic Harder
K7MDL
Installed Renogy One Core monitor and Battery Shunt 300
K7MDL
K7MDL
S
Should have checked wires from below....
2
AWG_Pics
AWG_Pics
craig333
Anyone changed out the water tank for a smaller one?
Bluedog
B
D
Check valve on city water inlet line? De-winterizing headaches.
Dipodomys
D

New posts - WTW

Back
Top Bottom