Share some cool custom improvements

crdouger · 09-30-2008, 09:22 PM

I love seeing people do things that are cool and innovative and simple and trick...but are home grown. I'd love it if some people would share what are the improvements that they are most proud of in their airstream. Please include pictures if you can.

Doug

overlander63 · 09-30-2008, 09:50 PM

I installed an electronic household thermostat for our Armstrong a/c. The entire unit now turns off when it reaches set temp, it is much quieter.

Doogie521 · 10-06-2008, 06:51 PM

Hi Doug,

I am also a Doug and live close to you (Grant) one thing I wanted in my 70 Safari was a NOAA weather radio. I found one on ebay meant for marine applications - that had an am/fm and cd along with 3 weather bands. I added some 6x9 blaurpunkts for good sound! And of course that overhead compartment was just begging for a stereo to fill it's void.

jeff4506 · 10-09-2008, 09:14 AM

I have the audio upgrade package and I installed a switch to interrupt power to the head unit, CD changer and Satellite radio to save power. Very simple. These devices slowly leech power even when not in use. Also, I installed a 12 volt power port inside the refrigerator access area to facilitate tire pumping with a 12 volt compressor. Again, quick. Both under $10.

Jim Foster · 10-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Our 1965 17' Caravel has four Toyota car jacks attached to the frame. Each jack os located about 2/3 the distance from the axle to the outer end of the frame rail. Whan the jacks are extended, the trailer is not only "steady as a rock", but can be leveled from side to side. Now.... I always get the trailer level or nearly level side to side before extending the jacks, but lifting one side a small amount has never been a problem. When not extended, the jacks protrude only about three to four inches. No clearance problem at all.

Really handy, as storage space on a Caravel is at a premium.

Foiled Again · 10-09-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff4506

I have the audio upgrade package and I installed a switch to interrupt power to the head unit, CD changer and Satellite radio to save power. Very simple. These devices slowly leech power even when not in use. Also, I installed a 12 volt power port inside the refrigerator access area to facilitate tire pumping with a 12 volt compressor. Again, quick. Both under $10.

Well D'oh.... 12 volt inside reefer access ---- LOVE IT!

Paula

crdouger · 10-10-2008, 07:28 AM

Doug...I love the 12v power access idea. I'll have to remember that. At first I thought you were saying that you installed it INSIDE the fridge. I couldn't figure that one out.

I've also been looking into the car jack concept under my 22' safari. I don't want rip them off at the end of my driveway...so I'll have to install them back a little bit too.

Keep the good ideas coming!

I needed to rebuild my kitchen table in my front dinette area. It came with one leaf to extend the table while you were eating and then shrink it when I need to make it a bed for my kids. When I rebuilt it, I made it even shorter and made two leaves. Now I can shrink it down to the size of a little end table during the day so we can more easily sit down to put on shoes or get dressed.

markdoane · 10-10-2008, 07:55 AM

I bought some of those Xenon puck lights (3 for $20). Mounted them in the overhead and wired them to a marine light switch so I can turn on just one, or all three.

These put out a ton of light. I'm looking for an inexpensive DC dimmer switch to make them a little more romantic. Needs to handle 60 watts.

purman · 10-10-2008, 09:43 AM

You can see my custom bunks here along with the dinette...
Remodel of my 68' Ambassador.

uwe · 10-10-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdoane

I bought some of those Xenon puck lights (3 for $20). Mounted them in the overhead and wired them to a marine light switch so I can turn on just one, or all three.

These put out a ton of light. I'm looking for an inexpensive DC dimmer switch to make them a little more romantic. Needs to handle 60 watts.

I might have extrea dimmer switches in a month or so.
You might be able to fit 5W or 10W xenon lamps in the pucks to bring down the light output, ,depending on which lamp is in there now. You said 60W, so I assume you have 20W lamps in the fixures..

**Stefrobrts** · 10-10-2008, 12:03 PM

The lights sure look nice, Mark. Did you just hide the wiring in the cabinets behind them?

markdoane · 10-10-2008, 12:33 PM

Uwe,

I'd be interested in the dimmers, or even just a mfg and PN. I found some cool schematics but they need a power transistor and a couple of amplifiers.

Stephanie, yes I ran the wires through a rabbet in the cabinet, and touted them to the light switch on the pantry wall.

tphan · 10-10-2008, 12:53 PM

One thing I did was make more countertop space- we like to cook and I've yet to see a tt with enough food prep area. I did this by getting rid of the original fridge-vent enclosure, and by extending the lower cabinet and countertop. Some day we might have a small convection oven in the corner.

**Stefrobrts** · 10-10-2008, 01:18 PM

How did you do that brushed aluminum backsplash, tphan? That looks really nice! We have the yellowed, cracked plastic fridge vent on ours, I've been looking for an easy way to hide it.