Mods/Upgrades while waiting out social distancing . Please share yours.

AnOldUR

How about an easy table upgrade. I don't remember if I stole this idea from here or one of the Facebook user groups. It's a Husky tool box cover from Home Depot. Might not be for everyone, but I like the wood look better.

AndreO

Hi Folks,

More mods made over the Covid summer.

It started with replacing the faucet that sprang a leak underneath the sink.

While I was there I added a HepvO elbow to save space. The 2018-400s had them under the shower but not the sink.

Note to people closing up those gaps from Critters and dust.  BIG hole under the sink to be filled in with steel wool and caulk.  Also open the vent under the shower door there is a big hole where the drain goes through the floor too.

Added shutoff valves which are fast to get to then moved the water supply back to the corner of the shelf so they are not in the way on the top shelf anymore.

Note the 2018 didn't have any cover on the vents under the kitchen window.

I picked up some cheap plastic gutter leaf covers from Home Depot and put them under the counter (Top back of picture) so stuff could not fall under the lower shelf. (just cut and stapled to the back of the radiator covers)

Next I tackled the Bugs getting in.

After putting foam weather strip behind the trim of all the window screens and still having lots of bugs get in I figured out the main issue was the screen door! The pictures below show light coming through the gaps around the door

The top left cornet of the Screen door:

Top Right:

Right side: (used a flashlight to show the gap.)

And yes even under the door:

Basically I had to take out the Screen and put foam weather strip around all of it.

The top I could not do that way as the gaps were way too large. There I just used the foam pipe insulation

cut to length and shoved up behind the screen then some double sided tape to hold it in.

Last I found some sliding door weather stripping and but it on both sides of the screen door (and windows) mesh facing each other with the mesh between.  it comes in different length hair strands. Don't get the shorter ones or there will be a gap.

Next I fixed an issue I suggest everyone do BEFORE they have water leak out of your fridge. In my case from defrosting. (I have the 2 way fridge under the stove)

NuCamp does not put any finish on the shelf under the fridge. If it gets wet this is the result.

Unfortunately this section can be seen when you open the fridge.The solution is to just take out the fridge and put 3-4 coats of polyurethane on, under and up sides of the shelf. (you don't have to go too far up just 1-2 inches)  I could not even sand out the stain. So preventive measures will keep you 400 looking good. Make sure you get lots into the joints to ensure a goo seal.

Three simple mods were to put Command velcro strips on the wall and remotes.

I was surprised to see they stay up even on the road.

I also found that a battery operated sensor light right under the Driver side kitchen seat is great as an automatic light when you enter the trailer at night or getup to use the washroom. It does not bother the other person sleeping as the light faces away from the head of the bead.

 

Mounted a cheap Walmart magnetic white board on the bathroom door. (Great for shopping lists)

Then outside to put Critter Covers over the holes in the frame both in front and behind the wheel.

Two reasons mice and I saw rust on the internal parts of the frame from wheel splash.

I used aluminum soffit vents. (You get 2 out of one sheet) and "No more Nails" tape to hold them on. That tape really stays on!

Mine were actually painted brown just spray painted black after the install

Note: Make sure you face the vent opening to the rear.

Still on the outside I flipped the Crank handle to the back so it would be out of the way.

And had to raise the tub to get the Anderson Weight Distribution System on.

I also purchased a GenTent for my Generator. However the system, as seen setup below, is really a pain to put on.

So I made this support out of some ceder and plywood I had laying around.

The legs cross and slip together under the platform and dowel pins through the top lock it all together.

Beside being setup in way lest than 2 minutes as compared to at least 8-10 for the original....

(Much appreciated in the rain)

It keeps the generator out of puddles and dirt.

The last project (well not the last but the last for this post) was due to a leak around the bathroom window.

I had to remove all the calk and trim back the decals with a razor. (Newer Tabs already come cut back this way as they found the decals shrink and expand differently than the Azdel and the caulk breaking the seal.)

Below I used electrical tape to mask off the window.

I don't want to go through all the steps,  so here are the results. (if anyone needs more info on how it's done just let me know)

Cheers,

Andre

AnOldUR

Another pretty easy one. Replace the small drivers side shelf in your 320S with something more useful. Came out of the need for more clothing storage on longer trips. Soft baskets work great.

RFraer

I recently purchased an Ender 3D Printer. For one of my first projects I designed a Light blocker for the Alde backlight display that stays on at night when the Alde is on.

Dutch061

@RFraer, dumb question but why not just set the control panel to automatically turn off the backlighting? It turns back on as soon as you touch the display.  I know it is a setting that has been there at least since 2017, because our 2017 320-S had that ability too.

Brad

RFraer

Dutch061 said:

@RFraer, dumb question but why not just set the control panel to automatically turn off the backlighting? It turns back on as soon as you touch the display.  I know it is a setting that has been there at least since 2017, because our 2017 320-S had that ability too.

Brad

I did not see that setting when I looked but probably missed it. I will try that next time I am at the Camper. 

AndreO

@RFraer,
From the 3020 manual;

Background lighting

The standby screen can be set in three different modes: Dark, Bright and Invert.

Dark: Turns off background lighting.

Press the screen or the menu button when 

standby is activated and the screen comes 

on, but returns to dark after 30 seconds if the 

panel is not touched.

Bright: Background lighting in standby mode.

Invert: Inverted background lighting in standby mode.

Standby is activated automatically after 

30 seconds if the panel is not touched.

Brightness can be adjusted to three levels 

(1-3).

Cheers,
Andre

pthomas745

No matter what, I greatly admire the 3D printed Alde screen cover!  Nice mod!

Blueespy

RCB said:

Apologies for posting this here - wrong post !

RCB - what awning are you using and is that a 400?

RCB

I guess the awning is an upgrade. It is a home brew - design and construction by moi. The fabric is heavy nylon - not the best as it stretches a bit when wet, but economical ; with a kedder  attachment,; a sleeve on the outboard end for a three sectional curved aluminum tube; and supported with three sliding tent poles with guy lines. It has held up well over the past three years.
Looks like the original post and photo has been deleted, however, it is also on the show photos of your campsite thread.

AnOldUR

Earlier last year we did the switch from a 3-way to a 12v fridge like @webers3 posted above. At the time I put a plug in the propane gas line, but just got around to adding the quick disconnect fitting to the end. Now it's available for things like our Blackstone griddle. We just bought a 5lb tank, so probably this won't see much use, but might come in handy for something.

webers3

@AnOldUR Wow, that’s a great idea! I still have the gas line plugged and stuffed in the back of the fridge, will try to do the same. I like the door you put on the outside, can you provide details? Did you have to do any modifications to the opening?

AnOldUR

@webers3. The one downside that comes to mind is that this is a regulated propane line. Not a problem for our Blackstone griddle, but no good for our propane generator.

Even though the old refrigerator gas vents were a commercial product, I had a hard time finding something the same size to replace them. The closest I could get were these Boat Deck Hatches from Great Lakes Skipper, but there's probably something better out there. I'm still trying to figure out how to use the space, but I think it looks a lot better. The width was ok, but I had to open up the vertical size by about an inch. The worst part of the project was removing the sealant that nuCamp used around the vent frames.

Denny16

The boat hatches look great, much better than the vents, and weather tight also.
i would build a box on inside of the hatch, and this gives you a small tool storage bin, rubber gloves or ?
 Cheers 

AnOldUR

@Denny16, I was going to use the upper door only as access for stove maintenance, but I like the glove box idea. There's not a lot of room with the fridge right there, but enough for a 4" deep box. There was a drip pan for the 3-way at the base of the bottom door. I removed that and it revealed some dead space below it that I can now take advantage of.

AnOldUR

Glove box it is ....

.... found an old humidor box that fit perfect,
even room for some hand sanitizer.
Much better than having them buried at the bottom of my tongue box

Denny16

Grand job, and it eliminates or restricts access to the inside of the TaB too.
Cheers

VictoriaP

This would be a small project by the standards of our expert modders, but I finally added a second Lagun mount, this one near the door so I can use the table as a counter.

Pardon the mess, all the tools were still in here when I took this shot, oops! I think I’ll probably change the table top out for the wood Husky toolbox top several others have used, because man, I forgot how crazy heavy the factory table top is. And I may pick up the “longer leg” from Lagun at some point, as raising the table closer to counter height as pictured is a bit less stable feeling than I’d prefer, even though Lagun says it’s fine. But overall, I think this will finally make the table a useful item in my Tab instead of being packed away in storage at home.

This is a 2019 320s, your ability to mount in this spot may vary depending on your model year. You can see how close the trim on the left is to the left facing adjustment handle…my hand fits, not sure if everyone’s will. This spot would probably work better with a right side handle.

SLJ

Pretty much got all my planned Winter mods done (and a couple more) to my 2021 T@B 320S Boondock. To much to list here so I posted the mod info on a page: https://solocanoes.com/camper.htm

Sharon_is_SAM

Social distancing has ended - HURRAH!  Discussion closed.