The 23D thread

[CindyH]

Hi,
After many years of pleasure with our 1959 Traveler, we have bought a 2013 23D Flying Cloud. We're excited about the changes this will bring us.

Are the lights over the kitchen sink LED? If not, has anyone changed them out for LED lights? We pick it up in Washington on January 2.

I'm going to love this thread!

Cindy

[RFP]

Originally Posted by CindyH

Hi,
After many years of pleasure with our 1959 Traveler, we have bought a 2013 23D Flying Cloud. We're excited about the changes this will bring us.

Are the lights over the kitchen sink LED? If not, has anyone changed them out for LED lights? We pick it up in Washington on January 2.

I'm going to love this thread!

Cindy

Congrats, Cindy, on your new 23D! And welcome to this cozy little group... there are some great folks here (and an old curmudgeon or two).

As for your light question: ours is a 2014 and the lights over the sink are LEDs... The lights in the range hood were regular incandescent lamps, but I changed even those to LEDs.

Rob

[Fred L]

Hello Cindy and welcome to the thread.

Mine is a 2007, so no LED, but have been ordering them, bit by bit. Plan is to replace all bulbs, inside and out. I replaced the bulbs in the reading lights fore and aft, as well as the bulbs over the sink and stove.
After boondocking for a week up north in Oct and living off the batteries, I found those 6 fixtures to provide plenty of light.
If I can find a warmer LED for a good price, I will replace all the ceiling lights at some point.

[Troutboy]

Welcome Cindy! We are just a year into AS ownership and it’s been great!

Take your time and enjoy. Everything will come to you in time. We love it.

Ask any questions this group is eager and willing to help.

[RFP]

So, friends, while I am waiting on our new Hansgrohe vanity faucet to arrive, I'm grappling with where to mount it. So, this morning, I cobbled up a dummy faucet (dimensionally correct... more or less) to help with this decision.

Fred had suggested an 'off center' mounting to facilitate access to the 120-volt outlets (or whatever) on the back wall. At first, we thought the standard center mount might be better, but after seeing the thing with the dummy faucet, I'm thinking Fred was really onto a good idea.

So, here are some photos... tell me what you think (be kind!).

Rob

[rmkrum]

There are two thoughts from my point of view...and a question...

Question: Where do you normally expect to put the 'stuff and clutter' that ends up on the vanity top. Things like toothpaste tubes, toiletry items, and other things tend to live on the countertop. Where they sit depends upon left-handed or right-handed users. Think about that first.

From the pictures, it looks like there is slightly more room to put 'stuff' on the right side of the sink, and a left-side mount gives a lot of useful space to the rear of the sink and to the right...

From my point of view, I'm right-handed, and most of my family is right-handed, so putting the faucet on the left, where it is easy to reach with my right hand makes some sense to me.

In a household of lefties, either the center, or the right side of the sink would be more convenient.

Try laying out your shaving gear, toothbrush, etc, and simulating use, and see if the faucet position interferes with normal operations. Do a similar test with the rest of the potential users of the lavatory sink. That will tell you what works best for your family before you drill a hole in the countertop...

Also consider reaching the faucet mounting bolts, etc when the faucet needs to be replaced in the future. Maintainability is important. We won't talk about what a pain in the butt it's going to be when I try to upgrade the faucets in my Airstream

[Two Peas]

Kamenstein Perfect Tear Wall Mount. Can get on Amazon or Best Buy. We have mounted under locker near sink.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

There are two thoughts from my point of view...and a question...

Question: Where do you normally expect to put the 'stuff and clutter' that ends up on the vanity top. Things like toothpaste tubes, toiletry items, and other things tend to live on the countertop. Where they sit depends upon left-handed or right-handed users. Think about that first.

Actually, there are only the two of us and we travel pretty light. When we are not using the "things" they stay in the mirrored cabinet... I guess it's a discipline left over from our years with a 17' Casita (with zero vanity space).

Originally Posted by rmkrum

From the pictures, it looks like there is slightly more room to put 'stuff' on the right side of the sink, and a left-side mount gives a lot of useful space to the rear of the sink and to the right...

The sink is dead center of the vanity top... the "more room on the right side" is an artifact of the photography.

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Try laying out your shaving gear, < snip >

Shaving gear? Clearly, you are a much more civilized "camper" than I am!

Thanks a million for thinking about this with me and for your comments! I'm really starting to like the "left side" mounting arrangement.

Rob

[Fred L]

Rob, I clearly have a biased opinion...., but my preference would be the position to the left (which is what I pictured in your original mock-up).

That said, I am left handed and its also where I would see it being easiest for me. That style of faucet leaves plenty of opportunities.

Only thought is on the supply lines and if there is sufficient space beneath for the hookup.

It also appears to leave much more room to access the tabs for the medicine cabinet.

[Fred L]

So walking through Costco this evening and what do my wandering eyes see... a Hansgrohe Metris faucet.
Not sure if that model was your choice Rob, but seems like too much of a coincidence.

The good news is it probably wont fit in the existing arrangement and I really don't have the time to build a new vanity and laminate it.

Not sure if you chose the Metris, but it certainly looks nice.

[Troutboy]

Rob, I like the offset look, just looks cleaner to me, as well as more elegant. Nice job with the mock faucet, great idea

[RFP]

Originally Posted by Fred L

So walking through Costco this evening and what do my wandering eyes see... a Hansgrohe Metris faucet.
Not sure if that model was your choice Rob, but seems like too much of a coincidence.

The good news is it probably wont fit in the existing arrangement and I really don't have the time to build a new vanity and laminate it.

Not sure if you chose the Metris, but it certainly looks nice.

Yep, Fred, I'm using one of the [many] Metris series faucets... please be merciful and don't tell me Costco's price (I ordered mine on line). As for building a "new vanity," I only built a new top... and even though I don't want to toot my own trombone, I have to say I did a great job (much better than the factory top).

[RFP]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

Rob, I like the offset look, just looks cleaner to me, as well as more elegant. Nice job with the mock faucet, great idea

Yea, another vote for 'offset' mounting.

Well, that's several votes for 'offset,' and only one for 'center' ... that one was Linda's vote.

So, 'center' it is

[rmkrum]

Always defer to the design department, which is headed by DW....same around here...

[Fred L]

Smart choice Rob, always listen to the Chairman.
I think I understand the work afforded to the mock up better now.

In case you need/want it, i did take a pic of the model and price, but thought twice on sending it to you.
Was going to suggest I would purchase it and mail it to you priority, if you wanted to save a few $$.

Suffice to say that Amazon also has it, but at twice the price of Costco. We recently purchased the Hansgrohe kitchen faucet from Costco and its by far the best we have owned.

[explore more]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

Been thinking about something like this. Steve, know you guys were wondering how to get more solar power, this guy added 340W on the back window!

What do you all think?

Interesting solution, thanks for the link. I think mine would get rattled to death back there while driving, and I don't really want panels that require removing or moving around.

I'm going to end up shortening my grey vent cap and installing 2 more panels up there in a few months. With 800w I'll have plenty for my needs. 600W is plenty, except for the winter months when the sun isn't out much.

[GMFL]

Got some nice cold weather and a little snow

[Troutboy]

Did you stay warm Ronnie? Looks like DENVER

[GMFL]

We did stay warm. Burned little over 30lbs of propane in a week but stayed warm. Could not dump tanks till we got home because they froze stuck and I did not want to force it. Low was 13, highs got in upper 30s.

[RFP]

Winter camping? Dang Ronnie, you are made of stouter stuff than I am... well, probably everybody is