Once again, it’s time to list the projects I’ve been working on.
They keep me busy. I was just pondering today how it never seems to end. I still have two or three projects on the back burners. Nothing monumental or all that important that I can’t put them off for years if I want, but it’s been several lazy months as it is, so maybe time to get some things done. And I did get some things fixed, and some remodeling started and I’ve listed everything here for your perusal. Enjoy!
- Basement compartment lights…
- Entertainment – LR Remodel…
- Drinking Water Filter…
- Rooftop Antenna Upgrade…
- Water – Experiment with an Electronic Scale Reducer…
So that’s what I’ve been working on for the last 6 months with long lapses in activity. Like all of August was pretty much just sit in my AC’ed home and web surf. I did visit a few museums and things like that but sometimes that grows old.
Anyway, there you go, check out those projects around the RV that kept me somewhat busy. I’m enjoying the LR remodel the most so far. Still a bunch to do but the TV is mounted on an electric lift/lower and all the audio systems are connected and work well. I’m watching TV right now! Side eye like.
One main thing is I’ve still got on the ‘major’ remod list is the dishwasher (DW) install. I bought it at an equipment recovery business down in Pahrump. I was told it came out of a hotel. It’s one of those small 18″ wide DW’ers with stainless steel interior. Kind of DW you see in a hospitality room on a hotels upper floors near a bar or mini kitchen. I paid $80 for it, found it online at $2200, carried it in the back seat of my car up here then removed it and placed it next to the RV so I could use it. Have got to get that dishwasher into the house and bolted to the floor before I leave this area and as it’s rather heavy, it’ll take some thought on how to make it safe for travel in an RV. Right now I’ve got it set up outside but I’ve been using it regularly. Works great. Much rather have a dishwasher in the RV than a washer/dryer that’s for sure. I hate washing dishes but don’t mind going to the laundry. The DW will be a new project I’ll write up when I’ve got a handle on it…and I’ve actually started it. And of course, I’ll do a write up of the LR remodel as that becomes a bit more polished.
So for now, enjoy! these articles, unfinished as some of them may be. And thanks for reading!
Consider for your water project, if the current device doesn’t work out, an On-the-Go unit. I got a medium (8000 grain) sized one for the Beaver 6 years ago or so and it does the job.
It’s primary job is softening, removing calcium and not necessarily filtering, and for many more remote parts of the Northwest it’s really helped. Washing and showers suds up better and scale on faucet screens and appliances isn’t an issue. I usually don’t hook it up if I know the water isn’t too hard, unless I’ve nothing better to do around camp.
It stores standing up easily in a bay adjacent to the water bay, so it’s handy. It’s a squeeze of hoses, but I also found I can run hose between the bays as the door is common to them, so the device isn’t theft bait hooked up outside.
I had a secondary meaning to my madness when I got it on sale at CWorld; at home I use it for rinsing my vehicles after washing. The HydroSilex ceramic I put on them, and the front of the coach, makes water bead high; the On-the-Go helps mitigate deposit rings if they dry before I get the rigs chamoised.
Brilliant! I have edited that post so it includes a link to the On-the-Go softener. I like how you’re using yours.
I don’t really have a compartment next to the water bay in my Journey so I’ll have to maybe store it inside one of the LR slide compartments on the temp, then pull it out when using, set it up just under the wet bay when parked. Maybe use a cable lock to attach it to the RV.
That is if I’m unable to figure out some way to actually install it in the wet bay, which has advantages. There is some room there, but the device’s dims are 19.5 x 7.3 x 7.0 inches and needs room for hose connections. I don’t have that much space. I only have 5″ depth (and only ~18″ of free space above) between the compartment door and the water panel (with all the valves on it – sheet of steel that spans the compartment). That water bay door opens on both the water bay AND the electrical bay. I am loath to put any water source inside the electrical bay at all so using any of that space is verboten.
I suppose I could cut some portion of the end of the panel off on one side and squeeze it in there by cutting a big hole in the floor of the water bay. Not a great solution. But when I’m traveling, I’d be giving up much of the space I use for the 50′ of coiled water hose I carry. That white RV water hose gets stiff easily and is already hard to get into that ‘under the water panel’ space. So that basically means I’d have to drag it out whenever I parked somewhere in the SW and take the chance that it’ll be there next morning. Even a cable lock is no grantee it’ll be there in the AM at some parks.
Okay, so I’m going to go play with those dimensions of the On-the-Go vs my RV’s water bay available space and see if I can fit it in somehow. So I’ll be ready when I decide if I need it or not. THANKS, HAF!
To HafCanadian; Got to agree about portable water softeners. If that’s what you mean. If/when I get another RV or make one, a softener is the way I’ll go. Plus an on-demand water heater. Awhile back I researched on the ‘net about how well water softeners removed impurities. And was amazed to find that most every impurity is removed except 1 type of radioactive material? Water filters are okay? but don’t remove as many impurities. This house uses a water softener. My GF’s brother uses a water softener and a Britta filtering pitcher to drink. But I like taste to my water.
I know it’d be more difficult to store or hide, but for a full timer like you I’d recommend the larger unit. You run far more water through the coach than we part-timers, and you’d likely have to “recharge” our sized one inconveniently often. It uses table salt and some complain of that cost, but I’m not sure how valid a gripe that is. We haven’t been traveling for 5 years due to health, and I only wash our garaged cars twice a year, so I’ve only salted our unit once since I got it.
https://www.campingworld.com/on-the-go-portable-double-standard-water-softener-conditioner-56461.html
Before realizing I could get the hoses between “bays”, I would stand the softener in the corner formed by our front streetside slideout where it was mostly hidden from the front of the coach. But that wasn’t ideal, and it’s bright blue and pretty attractive to curious passing nerthewells I’m sure. Keep in mind it should be kept upright if possible, especially in use. I use a simple plant pot saucer under it to catch any leaks. Mine came a slight askew in its base, a manufacturing defect, so it’s not precisely vertical, but it’s not critical unless a person is a perfectionist… oh wait, some say I am! Still, it’s no biggy and wasn’t worth going back to Wood Village CW to exchange. But just a heads up to check that at the store if you buy one. Not so simple if you order and ship one instead.
I’d include a picture of it in place but don’t see a way to paste it here. Email me and I’ll reply with one.
Joel
I suspect most complainers aren’t talking about the cost of the salt. It’s the recharge stuff that costs. Runs around $50. Oh, and the unit itself isn’t cheap when you’re talking almost $300.
My plan is to monitor the scale buildup when I’m down in Pahrump and points south, maybe make it down to Mazatlan this winter, and decide next spring if the electronic scale reducer is working for me. It does seem to be doing something up here where the water is already comparatively free of scale minerals. If it doesn’t work well, then I’ll probably spring for the device that was linked. I figured out I use 800 gallons per month so I can get the smaller unit and only need to resalt once a month. Dunno how often the recharging goop would need to be changed.
You know, a person could build a plain wooden box that just slid over the softener to make it less obvious. Just stand it next to a utility post and it would look like part of the park infrastructure. 🤔
Good idea. But that is of course another thing to carry. But when I’m down in Pahrump here next month, they have a carpentry shop, and I’ll look into building one.
Put inside (hidden) brass piano hinges on it so it’ll fold up for storage.
As to hoses, for decades we’ve used Toro reels with flat collapsible hoses. One I purchased and another my bro-in-law gave me when he got rid of his class C. At the Tekamah, Nebraska, city park in 2012 I first used them both as it was well over 50 feet to one of few spigots in the middle of their adjacent big lawn. They take up didly storage room and latent water squeezes out by way of their built-in wringers when you reel the hose back up.
Nowadays there are imitators available, but the old Toros are quality built if you can find them. There are several on e-Bay, priced all over the map. But try to find one in good condition.
Joel
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234253215383?hash=item368a946697:g:kdEAAOSwG~FhB1WU
https://www.houzz.com/products/mintcraft-yp1121-flat-hose-reel-with-nozzle-50and039-prvw-vr~154781047?m_refid=PLA_HZ_154781047_10577457359&device=c&nw=u&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_b-Hmb_m8wIVRRB9Ch0T3wbTEAYYAiABEgLbOPD_BwE
Hey Jim. How’s the knee. Hope we don’t have to spend another summer down here. 117 was the high several times. Still working on getting over the heart attack in June.. Not coming along so quickly! Stay well and we’ll have a cup of coffee.
Steve
Hi, Steve. Knee is better then it was before the shot, but now it’s the same as the right knee that hasn’t had the shot. Ha! Much better though, I rarely need my knee brace any more. I just use it as a preventative. Easier to kneel now too. Keep at following doctors orders for your heart and if you’re like many I’ve known with heart trouble, one day you’ll just turn a corner and you’ll be much better. That’s my hope for you.
Yeah, hit me up when you see me posting from Pahrump again. I am on FB on the Preferred RV FB page regularly.
Jim
Jim, on your Journey and mine Where is the outside light switch? i use to turn it on with one of the switches next to the door but now nothing. Maybe i’m just getting old or something. i replaced the bulbs but now cant turn it on.
Sorry, Quincy, I have been traveling or I’d have gotten back to this comment sooner. There are two switches for the Journey’s external courtesy lights. One is in the stairwell on a panel of four switches. It operates the patio light. I once found a wire had vibrated loose on one of the switches and pulling that panel out made that an easy fix. If you aren’t getting that light to turn on, of course the first thing to do is to measure for voltage at that switch. There is a nearby ground as there are screw heads nearby for the stairwell cover box that’s attached to the chassis.
The other switch is in the wet bay. It operates that light up on the side wall between the two slides.
If you measure voltage there at the switch in the stairwell, then look at the light socket…they get corroded and sometimes need replacement or a good cleaning (be sure the switch is off before cleaning the socket). A nearby junk yard would have something that would adapt for a couple bucks…if not free…if you need a new socket. Or the new bulb could be bad, or there could be a bad wire going to the socket, or the ground could be corroded.
If you don’t measure voltage there at the switch, then it’s likely a fuse or bad connection.
Good Luck!