Let's see your Outdoors RV Mods

[goallight]

Did some carpet work this weekend. I have no idea why ORV does not cut a flap in the carpet to access the tool box. So much nicer just having to move one chair vs emptying half the trailer to just lift the carpet. Also nice being able to now store some emergency tools that aren't used all the time in there and still be accessible in travel mode. Also trimmed up the corners so the carpet now sits flat next to the patio doors.

[Bigfin]

Just upgraded the suspension with Dexter's wet bolt kit. While at it I checked the brakes (OK for now, total backing plates/hubs due in two years), repacked the bearings and rotated tires. While the rig was accessible on jack stands I painted the frame with rust converter and then flat black Rustoleum. Ready for the next trip in about two weeks.

[ttavasc]

Added some radiant heat shielding to the corner of the fridge opening by the boiler tube. This was mainly to reduce the heat transfer into the living space that occurs, especially in warmer weather, when the fridge is working a little harder. The IR heat gun shows upwards of ~120-125 at the wall just under the microwave which makes it a bit harder to keep the interior cool, especially when no A/C and just using fans. This has been on the list of things to do for a while - finally got the time over the long holiday weekend to do it.

I had some scrap 2x3 laying around so I made a simple stand to slide the fridge onto - no lifting required. When I installed my ARP Fridge Defend all of the various wire connections behind the fridge got insulated crimp-style disconnects so removing the fridge is about a 15 minute job at this point.

I used two packages of Thermo-Tec 13575 Adhesive Backed Aluminized Heat Barrier which is affixed to a piece of 24 gauge aluminum sheet metal. Once in place there is 1/2" air gap between the heat shielding and the wall. The pink fiberglass insulation overlaps the radiant heat shield by 2". I fired up the fridge early this morning and so far the wall temp under the microwave is staying within ~3-4 degrees above the ambient temp in the trailer as shown by the wall thermostat.

[Mordecai]

Some simple ones.
The ten liter jerry can sits mostly out of sight when the Yamaha and rack are installed in the receiver.
The RV Awning Lock gives me piece of mind on cross windy days.
These simple battery powered lights from Costco are great indirect lighting while watching movies in the evening. They come with a little remote I stuck on the trailers control panel.

[Mordecai]

This one took a little work. I’ve been reading about the weak hinges on these Norcold fridges so I decided to beef up the lower hinge before it became a problem. Got a 2 inch by 1/8 inch aluminum piece at Home Depot, drilled out for the hinge then drilled and countersunk a half dozen machine screw into the bottom of frame.
Used a grinding wheel and brush to round off the edges and corners.
Even though it’s just plastic at the bottom of the door, the screws held tight. A little Rustoleum and my machinist neighbor says it looks like OEM. Hopefully it takes some of the strain off that plastic hinge.

[Howard Burger]

Great post, a " me, too " post. I was getting frustrated not finding a factory replacement, so I'll make my own. Thank you!
Howard

[Mordecai]

I hope it works for you. There is a youtube video of a guy who used an aluminum piece and it worked for his broken hinge. Norcold doesn't seem to make a reinforcement piece for the N7X but I think this might be a better solution anyways.

[2Curtass]

Originally Posted by Mordecai

This one took a little work.

Nice!! Good Job! I just had to replace my door as it broke the day we were leaving for a long weekend trip. I had the same problem with not finding a upgrade kit for the hinge. I have been working on basically the same thing you did, but don't have mine done yet, but will post some pics when I get it done.

[Green98gt]

Has anyone made better use of the space under the “nightstands” next to the bed on a 25RDS or a different model that has the same cabinet configuration in the bedroom? It seems like a lot of wasted space underneath them. One of those spaces would be a good spot for a hamper. Might be a tough mod to do well, but worth the time I think.

[G0ducks]

Originally Posted by Green98gt

Has anyone made better use of the space under the “nightstands” next to the bed on a 25RDS or a different model that has the same cabinet configuration in the bedroom? It seems like a lot of wasted space underneath them. One of those spaces would be a good spot for a hamper. Might be a tough mod to do well, but worth the time I think.

The space underneath the nightstands is your pass through storage. You could cut into it and add a hamper, but then you lose space in the luggage compartment. Hamper space would be nice though!

[Green98gt]

Yep. You’re right. I’m going to unscrew the top of the nightstand, hinge it and throw a laundry basket in the pass through for dirty clothes. I can be more efficient with my storage and make that work, I think. Thanks for the input!

[Mordecai]

We looked at a Arctic Fox trailer 6 years ago that had a hamper in the pass thru accessed via a hatch beside the bed. I cant remember if the hatch was hinged or a removable cover.

[IdahoBob]

Originally Posted by Mordecai

We looked at a Arctic Fox trailer 6 years ago that had a hamper in the pass thru accessed via a hatch beside the bed. I cant remember if the hatch was hinged or a removable cover.

Both of the trailers listed in my "signature" below came from the factory with a hinged hamper door in the lower section of the streetside-bedside table. Never used them, needed the pass through space. Instead we use a soft-sided hamper kept in the shower.

Bob

[IdahoBob]

Originally Posted by IdahoBob

Both of the trailers listed in my "signature" below came from the factory with a hinged hamper door in the lower section of the streetside-bedside table. Never used them, needed the pass through space. Instead we use a soft-sided hamper kept in the shower.

Bob

I "mis-spoke", curbside not streetside.

Bob