Camper Upgrades July 2023
Awnings.
A major update to this rig and our enjoyment. A must for any camper in the Pacific Northwest, or in a desert or beach environment. I vascilated for a while but we broke down last weekend and fitted two side units and one over the rear entrance. You be the judge.
I couldn’t imagine being in a small overland or even week-end rig without the ability to sit, cook, live outside. 50sq feet would get real ugly quickly, even with beautiful Shelley in close proximity…
I mount these awnings on my emergency response trailers and they have proven to be absolutely bullet-proof. Excellent finish, excellent design. These are actually manufactured for OEM-names such as Fiamma at five times the price I buy them for. Ping me if I need to include some for you in the seacan…
The 3m x 2.5m pull weighs 30kgs, all 6061 Aluminum and 316 Stainless, a 430g/sqm vinyl, manual crank in this case (less point-of-failure in the bsuh). Many options available.
Get there, uncrank the awning, get a beer, sit and relax. Done. ¡Disfrutar!
It doesn’t get any easier.
External LPG Griddle
We live in Bear Country. For now. Ursus Horriblis, well almost. Ursus americanus vancouveri. There are an estimated 120,000 black bear on Vancouver Island, an area of almost the size of Portugal. Half of those are perpetually with cubs and should be considered very dangerous, the other half are opportunistic scavengers (like most males). All of them love Californians. I do my best to avoid all bears. As such we avoid cooking meals inside the camper thereby creating lingering whiffs of great grub. I don’t ever need one to scratch on the door, wanting in to lick the bowl. 12g slugs are expensive.
The solution? Cook outside. We have the awnings’ shelter, the beer fridge is only a few steps up into the camper. Plumb a griddle into the propane system of the camper and place the BBQ on a table outside. Easy peazy. Tee into one of the existing copper lines, crimp some flare fittings to a flexible hose, add a bulkhead mount with a shut-off valve and QC LPG connector on the outside of the camper. With the appropriate fittings, run a hose to your appliance and spark it up.
Look me up for details. I source things like that wholesale from New Line.
The griddle here. Best deal going.
The manufacturer says this can’t be used in an RV. Bollocks. They need to say that to cover indemnity for the dumbest human and the smartest bear at the same time. Just ensure your camper’s LPG pressure is spot on 11″ of water column. You will need to have a two-stage regulator. Make a manometer to set your regulator pressure. Or pay an RV Stealer $150 for a 2-minute setup. Remember that a 5lb 40A:B:C fire extinguisher is a must in any camper at all times – the subject of Safety in another post…
We used it several times this past weekend. Ceramic griddle, grease catch-pan, easy to clean. Fast! B&E in ten minutes flat. It is large enough to cook a 15lb Rooster fish when we get to Baja. Easy to store. 20lbs. Creature comforts rule.
Cabinet Gas Struts
I’m tired of creasing my forehead on those cupboard doors. Problem: The OEM junk from the manufacturer is just that – junk. They don’t hold the leafs open. Here is the solution.
Gas Struts. Not 100lb gas struts, but 7lb 8″ mini struts. Enough to hold the door open, not too strong to whip the door up and break your chin. I got mine here. You’re welcome!
And that Dear Reader, is about it for now for camper additions. More in a few weeks.
Oso
