Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-11-2010, 02:22 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: On the Road
Posts: 324
Best addition to your rig

I recall a thread discussing the best additions/upgrades/changes/customizing/mods to "your" rig. I really tried to find it, but failed.

I want to add our $.02 so, a new thread.

In the six months we've full-timed, DW and I made a number of additions to our rig. All were the result of a need (at the time) and most have been of use from time to time. Only one has proven to be valuable ALL of the time.

We bought our coach in Tucson and used it on and off for two years before dumping the house. This is relevant because in the Southwest, humidity is rarely a problem. When we left Tucson and headed towards the mid-west, humidity became a factor, to the point we were finding it terribly uncomfortable. We hated going into the coach!

We finally broke down and bought a Frigidair 50 pint dehumidifier. Longer story shorter, what a difference in livability! It took two full days running at full capacity to remove the excess humidity from the coach, but once it was there, life was good again.

As we wander about, we always check the rigs around us when the air is humid and the temps are cool and are surprised at the moisture on the inside of most windshields. No good can come from that. Ours has none.

It takes less AC or heat to keep us comfy.

Since the latent moisture was removed (all of that moisture being held in the fabrics, woodwork and carpet) the dehumidifier now removes one to three gallons (yep, gallons) of water a day from the air. Initially it was three to six gallons (max ability).

Cost was $200. A tad steep at first, but well worth it. We bought ours at Best Buy, but have seen them in Lowe's as well. We bought the extended warranty too. Glad we did. We'll probably wear this one out in a year or so. We run it all of the time.

Steve
__________________
'07 Bounder Diesel 38N
'08 Jeep Liberty Pusher
SSteve is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 09-11-2010, 03:01 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
wkdwitch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 184
Our best addition was a set of wireless headphones for "any" of the televisions. Just plug them up and save a marriage!~ He can skip my music (oldies on xm) and I can skip his VERY old westerns and sports galore. Gotta admit, they are also useful when doing the sat dish set up in the trees and such - one MAN job so no arguments there either.
wkdwitch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 04:22 PM   #3
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
3 additions.

MotoSAT F1 satellite internet dish.

MotoSAT HD-SL5 DirecTV HD dish.

Sony 40" HD TV.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 05:59 PM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
JMonroe's Avatar


 
Jayco Owners Club
RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
The best addition was my butt in the driver's seat!

SSteve, I wonder if you're not pulling in some air from the outside, somehow? Unless you're living in a rain forest, 3 gallons a day, once the initial 'dry out' is done, sounds excessive. Are you running an exhaust fan when you shower, or cook?

As we live in the mid-west, we're very familiar with the need to run a dehumidifier in the summer, in most cases in the basement only (and in the winter we have to run a humidifier to put it back!), and we won't take out much more in a week than you do in a day. Or are you trying to maintain a desert like 10% humidity level?
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
JMonroe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 06:45 PM   #5
Member
 
Catch and Release's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Woodlands Texas
Posts: 93
My additions

Both safety related.

Added the Pressure Pro Tire Pressure monitoring system (saved 2 tires) and the Progressive Industries surge suppressor (saved the electronics twice).

Spent $800 and saved multiples more not to mention what would have happened when tires came apart from low pressure.
__________________
Retired, Twice!
I do nothing and I do it very well!
Catch and Release is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 07:09 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
UFO Pilot's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,490
Tire-SafeGuard and SurgeGuard tied for best. Second best, Clean Dump.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta

08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
UFO Pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 07:24 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
azloafer's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,170
Roof-top AC

The best single thing that we have done was to add a roof-top AC unit for use during our summers here in the desert southwest. The AC unit is only needed during the daytime when parked in full sun. Any other time the basement air does fine. It is difficult to park with trees for shade and still be able to extend the slides.

We also added two suspension improvements as shown in our signature. Joe
__________________
2008 Itasca Latitude 39W. Cummins ISB 6.7 Turbo 340HP. Allison 6 Speed. Freightliner XCS. Michelin XRV 255/80R 22.5 LRG. SuperSteer MCU. Safe-T-Plus.
azloafer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 07:26 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Appalachian Campers
Coastal Campers
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: New Bern,NC
Posts: 2,033
It is between the Transflow 30 gal tank/tool box or the Pressure Pro.
diandtom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 08:00 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 31,976
Added new longer springs to accommodate the new Sailun 235/85R15 LR G tires, all at once. 5er tows much better, and now have a 20% safety factor on tire weight. TST TPMS for 5er tires alerted me to all four ST tires failing at the same time-ply separation.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;GS Life member,FMCA" My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 08:37 PM   #10
Community Administrator
 
NLOVNIT's Avatar


 
Pond Piggies Club
LA Gulf Coast Campers
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Entegra Owners Club
Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 41,968
Blog Entries: 1
Progressive Industries EMS. Has alerted us of low voltage 3x & reversed polarity once. Won't ever own an RV without one of these installed.

Lori-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
NLOVNIT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 08:50 PM   #11
Member
 
Froggi Donna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Living my imperfect todays rather than waiting for my perfect tomorrow...
Posts: 98
Don't think I could choose just one but these are at the top of our list:

1.) Progressive on-board EMS
2.) Pressure Pro Tire Monitoring System
3.) Splendide stack W/D
4.) Winfield Cross Brace Stabilizers
5.) Electric levelers (front & back)
6.) Solar system
7.) HDTV setup

I'm sure I've missed something but that's our list...
__________________
Keep on rollin'......Donna [Froggi] & Stu
BLOGS: 2 Taking a 5th ~ Riding Route 66 in 2011
Freightliner FL60, KZ Escalade, HD Tri-Glide & HD SuperLow
Froggi Donna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 08:56 PM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
RickO's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Litchfield Park, Arizona
Posts: 10,530
Hmmmm..... Probably Doran 360 TPMS and our Safe T Steer. But, I like the comments on the dehumidifiers... after spending our very first summer in the south and midwest. We ain't in California any more Toto.
__________________
Rick, Nancy, Peanut & Lola our Westie Dogs & Bailey the Sheltie.

2007 Itasca Ellipse 40FD
RickO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 09:11 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
micd's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 609
Sound insulate the dog house

Prior to our last trip I would have said the back-up camera. However since I slowly backed into a small tree last trip (no damage as it was very pliable and I was going very slow) I am so disappointed that I didn't see it in the back-up camera that I now have to say that the best addition was sound insulating the dog house. Quiets the engine noise and don't really feel the heat coming through any more. I have no idea why the manufacturers don't do this.

I also like my tire pressure monitoring system. No more wondering what they are! Haven't had my surge protector tell me anything interesting yet. But I do really like my awning lock so I don't have to worry about it becoming unfurled while driving.

Cheers!
Michelle
__________________
Proud owner of 1994 Winnebago Brave 29RQ.
Chevy 454 on a P30 chassis.
https://1994brave29rqrv.blogspot.com/
micd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2010, 09:19 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
ChrisNiemann's Avatar
 
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 235
my single best was simple - G P S !!!!

other than that, i've done so much remodeling and rearranging of furniture that i don't even know where to start... i did it all cause it was needed or wanted so it was all great!
ChrisNiemann is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Rig, Who needs a Monaco warranty anyway? Timturbo New Rig Show-Off! 5 01-20-2010 12:28 PM
Cost of owning/operating a diesel rig Craig H Class A Motorhome Discussions 39 12-12-2009 03:01 PM
New Rig is home! Lynnvt Northeast Region 32 10-13-2009 09:12 AM
Motorhome(MH) vs towable rig as to cost Don Rob iRV2.com General Discussion 29 08-12-2009 08:13 PM
ANYONE IN THE PORTLAND OREGON AREA WILLING TO LOOK AT A RIG FOR ME? apackof2 iRV2.com General Discussion 1 07-14-2007 08:15 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:01 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.