Inexpensive Helpful Modifications

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Here are three mods/aids that have been made on our Ollie.  The first was done by the previous owner, it’s a handy way to grab and close the door.

Much easier to find and grab.

The next was simple and driven by my inability to remember where the fresh water tank drain valve was located.  I fastened two bright yellow zip ties onto a water line above the valve.  The tails stick straight up and are easy to see.

The third was because I like to sleep with minimal sheets and blankets, and when my posterior touched the interior wall, it was chilly.  I split one of my old Ensolite backpacking pads down the middle and tucked the halves between the mattresses and inner hull.

[MAX Burner]

Not so inexpensive - but a couple quick and easy modifications installed this morning:

1.  We became tired of hassling with the curly safety wires during hitching operations.  Found some sturdier chains and hooks on Amazon, a 3/8" steel spacer, a grade 8 - 5" x 3/8" bolt and nylock, and with @topgun2's suggestion some 1" wire comb and a couple zip-ties - voila, new safety chains for about $65.00:

 

 

2.  The key pad numbers on our keyless "RVLock" started peeling off a few months back.  The standard configuration is a thin numbered membrane over the keypad area.  For an extra $5 for a total of about $22 including shipping we received an upgraded pad.  It should really be the standard pad unless someone wants to regularly replace the thin membrane all the time.

The thin membrane before I started peeling it off completely with needle nose pliers:

 

A judicious application of GOOF OFF to remove the residue of both the weather gasket and the thin membrane:

 

The new fully rubberized number keypad neatly replaced the original white gasket:

 

Carefully removing all the residue from the original weather gasket with GOOF OFF, replaced same with provided new weather seal:

 

New rubberized keypad should last awhile longer than the original...

 

Thoroughly cleaned off door surface area and mounted repaired keyless locking mechanism:

One and done - good to go:

Cheers!

[SeaDawg]

@Wandering Sagebrush, so often, the simple path can be the best.

Thanks for sharing.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Here’s a suggestion for making the dinette more comfy.  Not exactly elegant, but it does a reasonably good job, and you don’t get in trouble for stealing a cushion from your significant other.  It’s just an old floating boat cushion…

[Ronbrink]

On 9/16/2023 at 11:31 AM, Wandering Sagebrush said:

It’s just an old floating boat cushion…

Good idea! I like nestling up in the dinette seat corner, but the window shade is not comfortable to lean against. Gonna look at the ‘white’ boat seat cushions for the fix. Thanks

[Dave and Kimberly]

Great idea !   Another game changer is a magnet mounted right there at the same light ... positioned just right to catch and hold the bathroom door open when you want.    I got the idea from Topgun.   First tried Command strip... but it didn't hold up so I eventually broke down and screwed it into the fiberglass.

[MAX Burner]

34 minutes ago, Dave and Kimberly said:

First tried Command strip... but it didn't hold up so I eventually broke down and screwed it into the fiberglass.

We used @topgun2's magnet mod, too!   We placed a strong magnet on the inside of the dinette seat compartment with silicone tape and screwed another magnet on the corner of the door.  This way, there's nothing "showing" on the outer gelcoat of the dinette seat...  Holds the door open nicely.

[topgun2]

50 minutes ago, Dave and Kimberly said:

I got the idea from Topgun.

To be fair -

I believe it was Mike & Carol that first had the idea of mounting the one door magnet to the bottom of the bath door and the other magnet to the INSIDE of the dinette seat nearest the bath.  This arrangement provides just enough "holding" power for the bath door, hides one of the two magnets for a cleaner look and is easy to do.

The one that I used is similar to THESE.

Bill

[MAX Burner]

"BRAVO ZULU" goes out to @Mike and Carol and I stand corrected!

1 hour ago, topgun2 said:

The one that I used is similar to THESE.

We used the same ones, Bill.  Thanks for the clarification...

Cheers to inexpensive and effective mods - great post idea, @Wandering Sagebrush!