ACE mods / upgrades

[millwind]

Our Ace 27.1 did not come with a rear screen for the large rear facing window (was told a/c it's an emerg. exit). Could not stand missing out on all that fresh air so fashioned a couple of 3" wide battens from 1/2 ply, fastened some 1" scribe on the back side to make a recess for a screen frame & added a little velcro for cushioning btw. the two. Screwed one batten to each side of window right above and adjacent the latches thus creating square hole. A trip to HD for some screening materials, add a couple side hasps, a length of 1/2" PVC pipe & we now have one, albeit very low tech, effective breeze way that allows a lot of additional air movement through the rig while parked. Note: The entire 3 piece valance had to come off which was quite a pain.

Next added a DVD player nitch above the TV. This done a/c the OEM HDMI cable installed btw. ceiling & roof (over to the designated DVD player) was inop. f/get-go. Rather than run a 20'+ long rpl'mt cable around the nose, or have to run across the ceiling with an exposed cable raceway, we opted to put the DVD player right above the TV. Worked out best a/c both now on same wall in near proximity & we freed up some cabinet space - no fancy O.K. Corral remote dueling motions either - just point & shoot in one direction. Wish I had matched the "cherry" finish better, but used new stain (new to me) & will never again use brand X. if you want to know which & why just send PM. Some pix below.

[UMEKiki]

Thank you millwind for giving me these mod ideas and the PM w/ the details.
Also noticed the white hooks under the remotes. 3M Command, I assume.
Another good idea for jackets if you get the right ones.
Velcro to hold the remotes is also an assumption. Hook on wall, loop on the remote.
D.

[millwind]

Originally Posted by UMEKiki

Thank you millwind for giving me these mod ideas and the PM w/ the details.
Also noticed the white hooks under the remotes. 3M Command, I assume.
Another good idea for jackets if you get the right ones.
Velcro to hold the remotes is also an assumption. Hook on wall, loop on the remote.
D.

Por nada
Yep, hooks for keys & such are supposed to be non-marring, sticky back, can't recall brand - Kmart source. Yeppers on the Velcro/remote deal too - pretty secure but waiting on a good bump to nix that - maybe need to rethink that one - maybe.

[Farmer Steve]

I just noticed I don't have a manual for the lippert jacks. The Thor manual has a one page brief on how to use it on auto but does not explain manual mode and what the lights mean. I'm trying to raise it up to wash underneath.

Can anyone paste the link for Lippert Jacks?

Thanks!
Steve

[EricGT]

I'm sorry I can't assist Steve.
But I do want to add the Thor ACE manual is one of the saddest excuses of a manual I have ever seen. Every single entry has instructions followed by a disclaimer stating your motorhome may or may not have this option. ugh

[Farmer Steve]

Originally Posted by EricGT

I'm sorry I can't assist Steve.
But I do want to add the Thor ACE manual is one of the saddest excuses of a manual I have ever seen. Every single entry has instructions followed by a disclaimer stating your motorhome may or may not have this option. ugh

I agree! It was probably written by the sales department.

[chogard]

Originally Posted by Farmer Steve

I just noticed I don't have a manual for the lippert jacks. The Thor manual has a one page brief on how to use it on auto but does not explain manual mode and what the lights mean. I'm trying to raise it up to wash underneath.



Can anyone paste the link for Lippert Jacks?



Thanks!

Steve

Steve,
I have a PDF copy of the manual that has the info you're looking for. If you can give me your email address, I send it to you.

[millwind]

Originally Posted by Farmer Steve

I just noticed I don't have a manual for the lippert jacks. The Thor manual has a one page brief on how to use it on auto but does not explain manual mode and what the lights mean. I'm trying to raise it up to wash underneath.

Can anyone paste the link for Lippert Jacks?

Thanks!
Steve

You can down load it f/Lippert web site too.

[streamcamper]

Originally Posted by millwind

Our Ace 27.1 did not come with a rear screen for the large rear facing window (was told a/c it's an emerg. exit). Could not stand missing out on all that fresh air so fashioned a couple of 3" wide battens from 1/2 ply, fastened some 1" scribe on the back side to make a recess for a screen frame & added a little velcro for cushioning btw. the two. Screwed one batten to each side of window right above and adjacent the latches thus creating square hole. A trip to HD for some screening materials, add a couple side hasps, a length of 1/2" PVC pipe & we now have one, albeit very low tech, effective breeze way that allows a lot of additional air movement through the rig while parked. Note: The entire 3 piece valance had to come off which was quite a pain.

Next added a DVD player nitch above the TV. This done a/c the OEM HDMI cable installed btw. ceiling & roof (over to the designated DVD player) was inop. f/get-go. Rather than run a 20'+ long rpl'mt cable around the nose, or have to run across the ceiling with an exposed cable raceway, we opted to put the DVD player right above the TV. Worked out best a/c both now on same wall in near proximity & we freed up some cabinet space - no fancy O.K. Corral remote dueling motions either - just point & shoot in one direction. Wish I had matched the "cherry" finish better, but used new stain (new to me) & will never again use brand X. if you want to know which & why just send PM. Some pix below.

Very nice mod to the rear window. I did something very similar and fabricated a removable window screen, but also added OEM window stay that enables the window to be propped open and secures the window when closed. I installed the hardware because it locks the window in place preventing the window stay from falling out if the wind were to blow the window open.

I used hardware similar to this....

One RV Window Emergency Escape Latch C3 | eBay

Regards...

[millwind]

Originally Posted by streamcamper

Very nice mod to the rear window. I did something very similar and fabricated a removable window screen, but also added OEM window stay that enables the window to be propped open and secures the window when closed. I installed the hardware because it locks the window in place preventing the window stay from falling out if the wind were to blow the window open.

I used hardware similar to this....

One RV Window Emergency Escape Latch C3 | eBay

Regards...

Nice, was thinking along those lines too but was not sure how to make it practical on my window/frame set-up. Will take another look-see.
Thanks.

[streamcamper]

I did need to make minor cuts in the frame to allow for the stay to be installed. Used a dremmel to make the cuts and was surprised as to how easy it was to install, and how well it came out.

Regards...

[EricGT]

Originally Posted by jtseltmann

This was my latest project for the ACE...drawers to access storage under the benches. They work great...and allow easy access to the bench without messing with the cushions and seat cover.

Basically the drawers are a box that rides on roller ball bearings on the ground. The two rollers at the front are mounted upside-down on the floor and the back ones are mounted to the bottom of the drawer facing down. The drawer is built to have extensions on the side that ride along the channel made out of 1x2 and the top piece overhands to hold from tipping out. The right one is much easier..no mods required. The left one required that I move the electrical box to mount it on the back of the bench. Also had to use a few washers and shims to balance out the rollers and guides because of how they roll on the floor and slide access cover. Because of the access hatch...i only used screws and numbered the boards so to take it out...just unscrew all the supports and lift out drawer. Just make sure nothing catches any wires. Secure everything out of the way. I even made one drawer cut off so that odd shaped things fit. The opening for the drawer is much wider than the drawer itself.

Attachment 65046

Attachment 65047

Attachment 65048

Attachment 65050

Same project, added an outlet under the bench...so that I could mount and power the Dyson Digital Slim vac on the slide by bench. Now completely out of sight and always plugged in.

Attachment 65051

Attachment 65052

This is probably my favorite mod!
I dislike how we need to take the cushions and boards off to access the space below the booth seats. It's such a pain, we rarely store anything in there. But it is such a large amount of space.

I have next to no carpentry skills or I would give it a shot.

[UMEKiki]

Has anyone made mod's to the pull out pantry on the 27.1? I have added a velcro strip to the top so that it won't pull out on a right turn, but there is so much space that can't be used.

[rivraton]

Originally Posted by UMEKiki

Has anyone made mod's to the pull out pantry on the 27.1? I have added a velcro strip to the top so that it won't pull out on a right turn, but there is so much space that can't be used.

I had the dealer install a second catch (like the one on the bottom) at the top of the pantry, so far it has not opened unless asked to.