A Midwest winters dream, has me thinking of mods to do to our HTT. I'd like to add some roll out shelves to the wardrobe cabinet and figure out a good way of mounting our lcd tv so that I don't have to take it down for travel. What mod's have others done on HTT's that might get the wheels turning some more. Pics would be great so if you have any please post.
I just finished replacing all of the interior lights plus the exterior yellow light with LEDs. I never liked how hot the fixtures get with the incandescent bulbs in there, plus if we ever dry camp, we're set. Over all, I'm very pleased. The only things that haven't been replaced are the range hood, step light on the main door, and the big flood light. Most of my fixtures used 921 bulbs, and a couple used the BA15S/1156/1141 style and one used BA15D/1142.
I wrote this up elsewhere and figured I'd share (and fixed a couple of typos and errors I found).
I bought every light from ebay seller 2011_LED and basically did everything with 4 styles:
[img width=140 height=116]http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/pict/1708952970254040_2.jpg[/img]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170895297025
^ BA15S Round - Used for the outside amber light. Not sure if it'll be too bright because the area the camper sits in isn't very dark due to my neighbor's light post. It should also work in my flood if it is, but I haven't pulled the cover off to be absolutely sure.
[img width=140 height=116]http://i.ebayimg.com/t/10x-BA15D-1142-1178-SMD-bulb-18-5050-SMD-LED-AC-DC-12-24V-Warm-White-18ACWW-/00/s/MzEyWDM1NA==/$T2eC16dHJHgE9n0yHB0pBQWBIYM+hQ~~60_12.JPG[/img]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170748594101
^ BA15D Round - Used for the light fixture above the dinette which is the only one that required BA15D bulbs - note these are just like the BA15S bulbs but with two contacts instead of one, and are *not* the dual-level bulbs like you find in your trailer's turn signal.
[img width=140 height=127]http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/pict/1706745499264040_7.jpg[/img]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170674549926
^ 921 Paddles - used these where I wanted a bit more directional light, primarily the ceiling fixtures.
[img width=140 height=131]http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/pict/1809389545304040_1.jpg[/img]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180938954530
^ 921 Round - used for the single/double overhead fixtures that I wanted to be less directional - sconce in the slide, ceiling style fixtures under the cabinet, on the ceiling in the slide and in the nook above the bed.
The color is all warm white, and is very similar in both color and perceived light output to the original incandescent bulbs. The paddle style are fairly directional for obvious reasons, but you don't lose any light output like you do with the round ones with some of the LEDs facing up.
I ordered 28 lights (1x10-pack of the paddle, 2x2-pack of the paddle, 1x10-pack of the 921 round, 1x of the BA15S, and 3x of the BA15D and it only came to $89. So far, I'm quite pleased. The only problem is I mis-ordered the 2x two-packs of the paddles and they were "white" instead of warm white, but one of those went into the storage area where I don't care about the color as much, and I had ordered a couple extra of both the paddle and round 921 style so I managed to work around it. I also somehow missed the fact I needed one BA15S (porch light) and two BA15D bulbs (dinette fixture) instead of three BA15D. The BA15S I ordered was originally for the flood, not the yellow porch light. Still, it wasn't a horribly expensive mistake. I'm not totally keen on ordering from China vs. US, but it's hard to argue when there's such a differences in the prices (i.e., $5 vs. $20 for what appears to be an identical BA15D from a discount US vendor).
I read a post somewhere that mentioned they ordered from M4 Products, which is a company in California. The prices are only a little higher than the ones I got from ebay and the LEDs seem to be better engineered. I'll give them a try when I try to get the remainder of the bulbs I need to finish the job.
I have so many mods I want to do so I guess I had better prioritize.
1 ) dual wheel chocks - I'm thinking the bar clamp style. Look nice, easy to use and not too expensive.
2 ) Bunk end covers - thinking about buying and fashioning from cabelas blankets or similar - again monetarily easier on the budget.
3) LCD Mount - have to get creative here because our outlets/ connections on our HTT are not in the best location for a permanent mount. I may just have to move them to a better location.
4) rollout and/or additional shelving throughout the camper - I am a woodworker by trade so I will use that knowledge and come up with workable solutions.
Hopefully I can get a few of these done in the off season. Will post pics when or if I progress.
Camping is my favorite activity in the world, but work and other scheduling issues sometimes trump what i really want to do. My new years resolution is to tackle my list one at a time and then reap the rewards of my labor. ;D
Nothing major in ours.
Built a dual wheel chock. What a difference they make. Quick and easy to do and really helps stabilize the camper.
Added simple wire closet shelves to the two big storage areas we have.
I was going to buy/or make gizmos but when we were out at the end of summer the camper maintained a nice level of comfort. Our site was full sun and it was mid/upper 90's during the day and probably upper 70's at night. Hate Florida summers.
I think our hybrid (Starcraft) uses a darker top on the bunk ends compared to other brands.
If you look at pictures from inside our camper and look at other campers, our bunk ends are darker inside.
I'll have to try to bring up a few pictures later on the computer to show what I mean.
[quote author=Wizfisher link=topic=2154.msg19484#msg19484 date=1357311097]
I think our hybrid (Starcraft) uses a darker top on the bunk ends compared to other brands.
If you look at pictures from inside our camper and look at other campers, our bunk ends are darker inside.
I'll have to try to bring up a few pictures later on the computer to show what I mean.
Wiz,
I believe your Starcraft has Aqualon tenting on the ends. Completely different that the coated vinyl that is used by most of the other brands.
My HTT has Sunbrella and when I bought it I thought I needed the gizmos for it. In three years of ownership, I've never had a problem with sun or heat.
And I also should mention, no problem with condensation in the bunk ends at all.
I do have a couple of space blankets I clip on when I'm parked under pine trees just to keep the tenting clean.
I've gotten a few things off of my list, Some are mods others just added accessories or fixes.
1. Bought a stove top cover through Forest River Parts - Check & love it
2. Purchased some carpet wraps for the steps - Check - Jury is out but I think they'll be helpful.
3. In the process of making Dual Wheel Chocks ( Bar Clamp style ) being a woodworker I tend to over do anything that has to do with wood so my chocks will have solid oak blocking with several layers of polyurethane finish to protect from the elements. Will post pics when finished.
4. Replaced Broken running light lens - from a SHYT ;D (Stupid Hybrid Trick ) I made while backing into the back yard.
Items Still on the list.
1. Bunk end covers - Probably going home made with Cabelas blankets or others.
2. 12v lighting under the steps.
3. TV Mount
4. Pull out shelving in wardrobe
[quote author=Wizfisher link=topic=2154.msg20909#msg20909 date=1361320414]
Not yet. I'll take a couple tomorrow.
It is just a couple pieces of 4x4 connected by a threaded rod with a couple of wing nuts on each end.
you can find pics by simpy Googling: homemade wheel chocks.
that's what i did and i also built a couple of them with 4x4's. total cost was about $12.
My mods up to this point. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9.....245271@N06
my toys, you wouldn't happen to know the model info for that backup camera, would you? I want to do that also but the reviews are all over the place for the wireless models. Some talk about there not being enough power to get from the back of a pickup to the dash, not a good thing if the camera needs to go on the rear of a camper.
I got the cheapo Peak wireless back-up camera. I get a great picture. It's on the back of my 17Z. The monitor is in the cab with me. I even drove across the street into the neighbors yard and still had a clear picture. Someone with a 30 footer may have trouble?? I got a Peak 25 foot extension cord from 247autoparts.com for 19.99. I love mine.
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