Whiskyecho
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2007
- Posts
- 114
What have you done to your Van to make it more livable, to make it ride better, to improve handling or..?
We bought a very slightly used '05/'06 Roadtrek 190 Versatile last summer and I've done a couple of things to/with it:
1) Had a 2 1/2" lift kit installed - front and rear - this after having to replace the Black Waste Tank's Slider Valve Housing (because I wasn't careful driving over a high-crowned driveway). Trimming bolts associated with plumbing brackets gave an additional 1/2" clearance.
2) I've built a bed frame (out of 1 1/2" pvc) upon which a blow-up air mattress and sleeping bag rest (pun). Two Adults and two 25 lb Dogs on a 21 day excursion out West showed me the need for a 2nd bed up towards the front of the Van. My frame is of good size - perhaps 4' wide and almost 6' long - it rests atop the seat cushions of the #3 & #4 seats but also has 4 legs for extra support. Some of the parts are "glued" while others aren't - that makes for easy take-down and storage in the outside compartment. Perhaps 10 minutes to install, blow-up the mattress and get ready for bed. Now nobody has to crawl over the other for those nite-time visits to the John and the Dogs have plenty of room - wherever they choose to sleep!
3) I use MS S & T for navigation (in the Van & in my F150). I've made a very sturdy pedestal for the laptop to sit upon (for both vehicles). It too is made out of pvc (great stuff), galvanized floor plates and a piece of 3/4" wood. The pedestal breaks down for storage but I've found that I like having another place to put "stuff" so I leave 'em "up" in both vehicles. They also rotate, left and right, so that either the Captain or the Co-pilot can have a dedicated view - or centered so that both get a good view.
4) A "no brainer" - bought the continental kit to get the spare out of the Van.
I'm in need of another "project" so if anyone has any nifty ideas let me hear about 'em.....bill
We bought a very slightly used '05/'06 Roadtrek 190 Versatile last summer and I've done a couple of things to/with it:
1) Had a 2 1/2" lift kit installed - front and rear - this after having to replace the Black Waste Tank's Slider Valve Housing (because I wasn't careful driving over a high-crowned driveway). Trimming bolts associated with plumbing brackets gave an additional 1/2" clearance.
2) I've built a bed frame (out of 1 1/2" pvc) upon which a blow-up air mattress and sleeping bag rest (pun). Two Adults and two 25 lb Dogs on a 21 day excursion out West showed me the need for a 2nd bed up towards the front of the Van. My frame is of good size - perhaps 4' wide and almost 6' long - it rests atop the seat cushions of the #3 & #4 seats but also has 4 legs for extra support. Some of the parts are "glued" while others aren't - that makes for easy take-down and storage in the outside compartment. Perhaps 10 minutes to install, blow-up the mattress and get ready for bed. Now nobody has to crawl over the other for those nite-time visits to the John and the Dogs have plenty of room - wherever they choose to sleep!
3) I use MS S & T for navigation (in the Van & in my F150). I've made a very sturdy pedestal for the laptop to sit upon (for both vehicles). It too is made out of pvc (great stuff), galvanized floor plates and a piece of 3/4" wood. The pedestal breaks down for storage but I've found that I like having another place to put "stuff" so I leave 'em "up" in both vehicles. They also rotate, left and right, so that either the Captain or the Co-pilot can have a dedicated view - or centered so that both get a good view.
4) A "no brainer" - bought the continental kit to get the spare out of the Van.
I'm in need of another "project" so if anyone has any nifty ideas let me hear about 'em.....bill