StormPOD: 2016

Friday, December 23, 2016

Last trip of 2016

On our way home from our outing to Shipshewana, IN we lost the differential in our tow vehicle delaying our season. With assistance from our friends the Brogans, the repairs are complete.

With the repairs completed, we have started the launch countdown for our next adventure. We will take the StormPOD to Saint Simons Island, Georgia for Christmas and New Year.

Using our rig during these particular holidays marks another set of first of "the list" for us.

Monday, September 12, 2016

During our trip to Sunset Beach NC in 2016 I hooked up to the city water and failed to check the water pressure. By the next day the cold water on the factory restroom faucet was dripping. I put my 40 lbs pressure regulator inline and finished our week.

During the week the drip continued. On the way home the leak got so bad the faucet failed and we could not use the on board water system because of the leak. We had to keep the pump off. No shutoff valves, no shower and no toilet. For us this was not acceptable.

After the failure I had to go to Walmart and find something for a make shift plug because there were not shutoff valves. This plug allowed us to use the water pump again for showers and flush.

So the next morning we found a Lowes and landed for repairs before continuing home. I did not have confidence in the plug.

I got new parts with shutoff valves. I had a pex cutter in my tool kit. This made a professional repair easier.

Perfect, clean fit.

A pex cap just in case I find myself in need of a plug in the future. This is now in the on board parts kit.

New faucet repair completed. The wife picked it out at Lowes while we were there.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Labor Day 2016 - 4 Days Camping

A near perfect weekend. Great Friends and Food and Excellent Weather. One more day.
Tonight we eat well thanks to our Camp Hosts Bill and Joyce.

Under Bed Lighting

We wanted a simple LED light to come on when we lifted the bed to access the storage area.

Found one at Lowes for $13. Seems to work just like we wanted. Several other "motion" activated lights did not work well enough.

This light mounted under the bed deck in the existing recess created by the deck supports. No loss of storage, easy access and maintenance. Every inch of the storage area is lit with little to no shadows.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/ecolight-6-in-Battery-Under-Cabinet-LED-Light-Bar/1000033557

http://www.lowes.com/pd/ecolight-6-in-Battery-Under-Cabinet-LED-Light-Bar/1000033557

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Over Bed Remote Tray

For the last year we have been on the hunt for something to re purpose as a remote holder in the bedroom. Sure we could put them on an end table or in one of the built in pockets above the pillows, but then one or the other of us would not be able to reach them.

After searching big box stores, flea markets, discount stores, garage sales we found this at Camping World.
Overkill but matches, will hold up and we can see through it to allow us see
the contents.

View from bed looking up with head on pillow.

View from the foot of the bed.

Holds TV Remote (top), Sleep Number Bed (middle), Night Light remote (bottom)

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Batwing Over the Air (OTA) Antenna replaced with the King Jack Antenna

Our factory batwing antenna worked well but leaked. So we replaced it. No more cranking and works better.

Original antenna after attempts of adding dicor failed to stop the leak.

Gear that raised and lowers the antenna.

Inside the batwing atenna housing, the manufacturer says to lube this twice a year.

Cable entrance, another source of water intrusion.

Base plate for the batwing antenna.

Replacement Antenna Kit. This is NOT just the antenna that goes on the batwing, it replaces the batwing.

After removal, we could see where it was leaking. Glad we caught it before permanent damage occurred.

I purchased the optional base plate adapter and I am glad I did. Ths is the finished product. I used Eternabond tape and dicor.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Sliding Door Mod

In our 2016 Jayco White Hawk 27 DSLR there is a sliding door sorta like a pocket door between the restroom and bedroom. We like this door but it needed an upgrade. After one year and 62 Nights - 1290 miles this door was becoming needy.

A few problems we had with this door - If you close the door too far it came off the track, if you open the door too far it came of the track, after a few trips the door wold come free during transit and swing outside its track damaging the door.

Below are the steps we took to correct the door and remove this pain point.

This was the only piece of hardware acting as a slide and or guide for the door. Within months started pulling out of the wall.

This is the only door guide provided by factory. You can see the wear on the door with only one year of being built.

This strap was designed to hold door in travel position. The snap pulled through often.

I used wood and an aluminium angle to create a full length guide that was fastened with proper hardware to wall studs. This prevents the door from swinging while allowing it slide no matter the door position. I used a commercial door stop fastened to the wood after the aluminium angle.This stops the door from being opening too far.

I used a surface bolt fastened to the door with its keeper fastened to the wood before the aluminium angle.

For travel mode the door is opened until it stops, the surface bolt is put int its keeper. The keeps the door stationary between the rear stop and the bolt. It can not move during travel now.

During normal use mode the surface bolt is left out of it keeper and it acts a stop keeping the door from being opened too far while allowing it to be closed.

Door in travel mode

I placed a table leg cap from Lowes that was the same width of the door as a stop to
prevent the door from being opened too far.
This is with door opened, you can still see the snap on the door from the factory keep that failed.

This show the door closed against the stop.

This modification has been a great improvement and removed this pain point for us.

Whole House Water Filter for Jayco White Hawk 27DSRL

I wanted to add a whole house water filter to the StormPOD for easy and clean setups and lower operating costs after two seasons. Because the Jayco White Hawk 27 DSRL does not have wet bay and the city water inlet is on the street side while the fresh water tank fill is on the curb side, this presented me with an interesting mod opportunity.

In the future I will drop the underbelly and plumb a line to the the fresh water tank. I have plans to add more water protection to this compartment. Also when winterizing and sanitizing I remove the filter cartridge. The filter has a bypass mode as well that I use during winterizing.

2 filters for $10 vs $25 for two RV blue filters. I get many more gallons per filter than the RV blue filters.

I can also permanently put a water pressure regulator inline.

This mod done in a Lowes parking lot to lower the time it will take because I do not know what I am doing.

Completed view inside the compartment. Still room for 2 spare filters, leaf blower to clear slide and wheel chocks.

Filter removal tool on left wall. On the left I add plywood (11 3/4"x24"x1/2"), this sits on the floor to support the weight, and give me something solid to mount to. I used flat L hardware to hold it in place. I added a block to mount the hose bib to.