Our Journey Begins - 2018 AI TB Lounge

[busb2]

Wachuko have you got a link to the place I can order the ladder. I can’t find a local source . thanks

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by busb2

Wachuko have you got a link to the place I can order the ladder. I can’t find a local source . thanks

Sure. Here you go:

https://realtruck.com/p/prime-design.../pmd-aal-8003/

[DNM]

Wachuko
When you get your new solar panels, you will have one across the rear to get away from the AC shading. This will make rear access less convenient than roof access from the side. Just a thought

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by DNM

Wachuko
When you get your new solar panels, you will have one across the rear to get away from the AC shading. This will make rear access less convenient than roof access from the side. Just a thought

Can you elaborate?? This is what mine looks like now:

[DNM]

Originally Posted by wachuko

Can you elaborate?? This is what mine looks like now:

Just finished mine; is why I was thinking of it when I read your post. attached is a picture. You want the rear two away from the shadow of the air conditioner. Same situation in front of the AC and TV antenna, although you have the fan cover to consider as well. This leaves space mid section but not much rear where your ladder would be. Sorry that my picture is rotated and couldn't find a correction in the management tool.
Bob

[wachuko]

Bob,

Understood now... will take that into account when installing the new panels. I also have to take into account the new quiet A/C install. My understanding is that it is a little bit bigger. Plan is to do the A/C first and then the panels later.

There is enough space in the back for me to move the further back, so I should be good there. And that is the reason I wanted four panels... to compensate for some of the deficiencies of the front ones that get shade from the stuff around them...

Thanks again for the heads up on this.

[wachuko]

Several post in FB on folks that have been able to change their sink in a Lounge. I have been after this since Mark (Tronadora in the forum) made the change in his GT... and that wood cover, man! that wood cover... beautiful wood art... What stopped me was the lack of space in the Lounge due to the Microwave that is right beneath the sink

Anyway... John (Pahaska) is doing this in his GT as well... so a renewed wave of changes has hit me... and now that I know how to accomplish this... starting to order the stuff required.

To make the sink fit with the microwave in the Lounge, I need to use this shallow trap:



This is what it would look like installed:



And this is the faucet that I am looking to use... I have looked at several... my concern was that the movement from the AI while on the road, would make the pull out drop. Delta makes one that the pull out is held in place with the help of additional magnets. So road vibration should not be an issue... problem is that it costs a little bit more than the equivalent Moen version (I like the looks of the Moen more and the price! )



And this sink, which I believe is the same one Mark used.



Then I will get wood covers that match for both the sink and over the stove top... everything must match or I go crazier...

[wachuko]

One table mount installed... the easy one... The one in front will be a challenge as the wall next to the seat is really not strong enough to hold the base... some reinforcement would be needed... that means removing the wall, installing something there and then installing the wall back... no idea what that means in terms of effort...

I installed the base off-centered to allow the table to move back and forth a few inches as you rotate it in place... I did make holes for installing centered just in case... had to drill all the holes so that they would work on piece of wood that was in the table...

[wachuko]

More photos...



And the approval that really counts

[Mansderm161]

That is awesome!

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Mansderm161

That is awesome!

Thank you. Too bad we seldom use it in the back. I just wanted the base there in case it was ever needed.... and it was easier to install and get some parts out of the house...

For the front, I need to reinforce the front wall... for several reasons, this location does not work either...



The other thing I did was to install the bracket to hold the air compressor quick connect...



Good thing I did since all the bolts holding the front spoiler were loose...



One was even missing... Got a replacement bolt from the garage then took them all out, a dab of Loctite and all back in and tight.



Since I had to take everything out in the back to install the backplate that comes with the Lagun base... took the opportunity to organize things a bit better... this is what it looks like now without the ARB cooler in place...



These bags work great to keep it all organized...



Oh, and I installed the quick connect for the back flush hose... recommended by a fellow forum member:

[wachuko]

Just updating the list again, of pending items and some additional improvements that I want to make to my AI:

Pending and improvements mods:

• Remove and replace chrome side trim. Parts arrived from Airstream have not had a chance to do this...
• Install second Lagun base mount in front. This will require removing the front side wall to build a brace/structure behind it for holding the base plate...
• Add bathroom light controlled by normal switch... parts are in, just need to do it.
• Rear door mounted ladder ordered. Prime Design - Rear Door Access Ladder
  
• Cover the rear shelf with the same plastic laminate used in the rest of the TB AI. Got it from a local reseller. - Panolam Surface Systems - Nevamar line - Macchiato - Pattern: WF0011 in Aged Bark (AB) finish - looking closely at the one in my AI, I think I ended up ordering the wrong one... looks like Airstream did use the less expensive version of it... oh well...
• Install cut-off switch for solar panels. Link
• Make the covers for the side windows with Reflectix... summer heat has not hit us yet, so I have procrastinated in doing these...
• Buy and install a drain valve for the fresh water tank. Need to get the parts (compact/low profile 90 degree elbow, and valve with water hose adapter)
• Install the ShowerMi$er...
• Add a light on the side where we have to do all the connections/hook ups (driver side). One just like what we have on the passenger side. LED patio light on the driver side that you turn on separately for when you have to deal with the hook ups or dumping in the middle of the night... Using an LED light with a magnet for now
• Build table for the front dash. I have the plans from Greg Eiffert and the hardware has been ordered... will do this when the laminate arrives.
• Also look into a gravity drain system like another fellow AI owner did and shared in FB... just in case the macerator fails, to have a plan B... always looking ahead of problems we might face and to make our trips as problem free as possible.
• Replace sink. I spent time this weekend doing a few things in the AI and the sink still looks decent. Will leave it alone for now. But now I have all the part descriptions of what is needed to make the swap.
• Flexible solar panels replaced with more durable aluminum-framed and glass covered units. This will be done in a couple of years. For now just monitoring the output I get with them.
• Replace inverter/charger with a Victron MultiPlus Compact 12/2000/80

Wishlist:

• Quiet A/C from Advanced RV - got pricing information. Just need to decide when to pull the trigger
• The less time I have to spend on the side of the dumping area the better… What I really want is to duplicate inside all the switches that control the dumping of the tanks... That way, if in the middle of the night or if it is raining outside, I see that the tank levels are high, I can dump black and gray tanks from the comfort of the inside of the AI. Why do we have to go outside to do that!!??
• RakAttach swing-away hitch - size large... to be able to swing away the Vespa...
• Lithium batteries

That is all for now...

[Mansderm161]

I just got back from Jackson center. All but one of my chrome trim was loose...one small piece was almost hanging. They reattached all of them. Wonder why they are not staying put.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Mansderm161

I just got back from Jackson center. All but one of my chrome trim was loose...one small piece was almost hanging. They reattached all of them. Wonder why they are not staying put.

That is great. The pieces not staying attached has to be related to surface preparation...


Any photos from the visit?

[Mansderm161]

No, no photos. Next time!

[wachuko]

I finally picked up the laminate... and again, I got the wrong one... I got a higher priced one that actually has texture... not an issue for what I will use it.. but for those wanting to get matching laminate for a TB, here is the correct one:


Panolam Surface Systems - Nevamar line - Macchiato - Pattern: WF0011 in ARP (T-) finish






I also replaced the cutting board that I have protecting the stove glass cover... the one I had got stained and I could not remove that stain... not sure what it was but no amount of sanding would remove it...





So I just got a new one... a bit thinner and darker color. Size: 22" x 16" x 0.75" . Moved the rubber feet to the new one...




I like it better... Link to it in Amazon.

[Mansderm161]

I really like that. You should get commissions from Amazon. Almost everytime you post a link, I buy it! This is a great idea for me. My cat goes nuts at night with reflective surfaces...he sees his reflection and shadow boxes....the cabinets, the walls, the freezer, the glass top for the burners. This will get rid of one! Still trying to figure out what to do with lower cabinets...that glossy finish drives him and me crazy.... only at night!

[Pahaska]

I thought I had finally found matching Panolam laminate to my "Beach Wood" cabinets. They sent me three samples, but it is not a match.

OTOH, it matches nicely in color, but it has a very similar, although finer grained pattern. It is close enough that I will probably order a sheet and build a shelf for my 2018. From inside the AI, one sees pretty much only the 2" vertical front of the shelf between black moldings and I don't think the mismatch will be noticeable. We really miss having the shelf.

I have plenty of plywood left over from the twin bed mod.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I thought I had finally found matching Panolam laminate to my "Beach Wood" cabinets. They sent me three samples, but it is not a match.

OTOH, it matches nicely in color, but it has a very similar, although finer grained pattern. It is close enough that I will probably order a sheet and build a shelf for my 2018. From inside the AI, one sees pretty much only the 2" vertical front of the shelf between black moldings and I don't think the mismatch will be noticeable. We really miss having the shelf.

I have plenty of plywood left over from the twin bed mod.

Your idea of the shelf has been a home run for us. When I take mine out to install the laminate I will move the support to the corners to leave it all open in the middle like you did... Can't thank you enough for the idea.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Mansderm161

I really like that. You should get commissions from Amazon. Almost everytime you post a link, I buy it! This is a great idea for me. My cat goes nuts at night with reflective surfaces...he sees his reflection and shadow boxes....the cabinets, the walls, the freezer, the glass top for the burners. This will get rid of one! Still trying to figure out what to do with lower cabinets...that glossy finish drives him and me crazy.... only at night!

We were so glad that a matte finish was available... but we were not that crazy about up-charge for it because we really do not see value in the rest of the TB stuff we got...chairs are not use, neither is the cooler or the mugs, or the glasses, or the bottle holder area, I can care less about the etched Marlin on the rear window... but we wanted the matte cabinets and that color on the seats...

For new owners the good news is that fro 2020 there will be a matte option with some beige seats (darker that the standard and lighter than the TB) without having to go with the TB package. From the few photos we saw, it looked great... very European/contemporary look to it.