WXbuoy; We’re back and now in a 2016 Interstate Grand Tour EXT

[wachuko]

Congratulations and welcome back!!!

[wachuko]

With a GT, from other threads, two batteries are not enough... even Airstream updated the newer ones to 4 batteries to cope with the larger fridge and freezer.

One upgrade we like a lot is the sink... removing the stock unit and installing a proper sink with faucet.

John has a thread on it (and his AI is a GT like yours):

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...nt-195792.html

Here is what that looks like in mine (Lounge)



With a GT you benefit from so much more counter and storage space... if we ever change ours (doubt it) it will be for a GT...

[wxbuoy]

Thanks for the info!

Yeah the battery set up is really cheesy for such a power hungry coach.We are going to go with 400Ah of LiFePO4. We are going to redu the entire 12v system as well as approx 400w of panels.

We haven't used in enough to determine if we need a bigger sink yet. I have the info now if we do, thanks!

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by wxbuoy

Thanks for the info!

Yeah the battery set up is really cheesy for such a power hungry coach.We are going to go with 400Ah of LiFePO4. We are going to redu the entire 12v system as well as approx 400w of panels.

We haven't used in enough to determine if we need a bigger sink yet. I have the info now if we do, thanks!

Well, after a lot of use, I think the sink set up is fine as it is. The wife disagrees, so you know what I will be doing soon!

[wxbuoy]

Still trying to get back into keeping this thread updated.

I did some mods to the refer ventilation space and put in a fan to move more air. Here is the thread that covers that:https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...ml#post2436791

Here is a quick picture peak and what I did (and to keep track):
Looking down at the back of the freezer

Looking directly behind the fridge

sealed up all the gaps for better air draw


Installed the fans

[wxbuoy]

Had a local shop pull out the old radio. It was far to small and complex for a touch screen to be used while driving! A definite hazard to navigation! Not to mention it didn't have apple car play. Put in a Stinger Height 10, but might go with the Alpine Halo 9 or 10 if I could do it over again. They are around the same cost.

When I did the upgrade they were having issues getting the Alpines. The one big advantage of the Stinger is that it has 1 big button/knob to adjust the volume and click it on, off or mute. Also larger selection push buttons. I know a bit old school right? Well actually it is the easiest way to adjust the volume or turn it off with out looking and concentrating on the radio while you are driving (small buttons and fat fingers). The advantage of the Alpine is you can buy an accessory module to plug into your OBD II port and monitor engine parameters very easily. But it takes some screen shifting to do when driving and were are getting back into the realm of distracted driving which the Kenwood already does so well!

The Stingers Car play maps seem to be a bit washed out, but definitely doable for easy voice activated directions.

BUT, all that being said, I have a very easy to use radio with a easy to use Apple car play. A very large screen second back up camera (lower point of view with far wider field of view) that automatically comes on when I put it into reverse or can choose any time from the main screen. So now I have a camera that predominately points down at the area right behind the van and one that looks straight back.

Here are some pics of the final set up.




Attachment 384051

[Rocinante]

Looking good. We also love that two-camera view out the back of our van. We went with a Pioneer DMH-WT76NEX radio instead of Alpine. Overall it's quite good, but with my iPhone X the wireless CarPlay feature is unstable. Fortunately, CarPlay is solid as a rock via the USB connection. I am hopeful that future firmware updates will improve their wireless CarPlay support. We shall see.

[Titus]

Three mods that I have found most useful - on priority order and fortunately in inverse order of difficulty:
1) inside LPG switch
2) raise outside LPG fill panel so it is behind the lower skirt
3) increase to 200W solar with SOC meter and MPPT controller.

Our fridge could probably benefit from better air circulation but its not as bad as later models.

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by Titus

Three mods that I have found most useful - on priority order and fortunately in inverse order of difficulty:
1) inside LPG switch
2) raise outside LPG fill panel so it is behind the lower skirt
3) increase to 200W solar with SOC meter and MPPT controller.

Our fridge could probably benefit from better air circulation but its not as bad as later models.

We definitely want to do number 2! Did you document your project? We didn't see a thread on it.

[Titus]

I did not document it, but somebody else on this forum (don't recall who) did it and described in detail. Be careful when installing the hinge between the upper and lower plastic panels. If you locate the hinge too much towards the centerline of the van the upper and lower pieces will contact each other in the open position. This will limit how much you can raise the lower part and makes it difficult to install the fill pipe. Mine work - but just barely. Its a tradeoff since putting the hinge further outboard makes it more visible. I cut it with a metal blade in a jigsaw then switched to a hacksaw when I got close to the hoses. I did the work (carefully) with all hoses in place. I drilled bolt holes through one piece then clamped it to the other piece to drill through the second piece. I don't recall if which piece (upper or lower) is on the outside - and its in storage for the winter so I can't check. By making strategic measurements I was able to make one cut and have the two pieces overlap such that I raised it about 3". Seems like the limitation in raising it was when one of the fittings on the backside of the fill panel hit something located above it on the 'inside' of the body panel.

[Sueb77]

Does the table extend far enough to reach the passenger seat also? Is the table top the same height as original? The picture may be deceiving, but it looks like it is lower. Could you post other pics of table in different positions? Thanks.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by wxbuoy

We definitely want to do number 2! Did you document your project? We didn't see a thread on it.

I documented that task in this thread.

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...on-183081.html

[wxbuoy]

Originally Posted by wachuko

I documented that task in this thread.

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f24...on-183081.html

Thanks for the info/link!!