Adjustments ~ not MODs

[Kelly]

What are some ways you have made adjustments in how you use your PU?  I'm thinking of things we do to make it work that maybe the manufacturer didn't intend ~ not true mods.

For instance ....

I have 2 dinettes ~ a regular one and a u-shaped.  DS sleeps on the regular one.  Early this season I pulled out the table and all the back cushions for the u-shaped end.  Never put them back.  It gave us some extra space for storing stuff and just lazing around and it made it easier to climb up onto that bunk end.  All five of us fit at the other dinette if we have to eat inside.

So, not really a mod ~ but a change that made the camper work better for us.

What do you do?

[angelsmom10]

With the old PU... we took out the stove.. gave us a lot more storage.  We never used the stove, we just used the coleman outside.  

[PopupSgt]

We did the same with the popup when we owned it, we stored the stove in the shed and used a Coleman Roadtrip for cooking and grilling.

[ForestCreature]

About the only adjustments we have done is to leave the bed/couch down into the bed position all the time. There are 2 small seats if we want to sit down with a back.
 I'd love to take out the stove & replace the counter, but DH won't let me.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

We use our ice chest built into the camper for storing towels, tooth brushes, soap, shampoo.  I clamped off the drain that was intened for the melting ice so bugs could not get in.  

For the towels, I bought 4 sets of towels/wash cloths all the same color (differnt color than the ones we have at home).  This way when we was them, we know they go into the camper. I learned this from the great posts here at PUT.

Also, I buy lots of cheap tooth brushes and keep them in the camper.  That way we each get a new one when we go (never have to remember to bring one).  I keep them and the tooth paste in a zipper bag like the ones to keep pencils in.  I keep a bottle of baby shampoo and a bar of soap (soap stays in a plastic box with a string to hang in the shower)  They stay in a large zip lock bag-always let them dry completely before storing back.

Last, I added two 12 volt outlets in my camper.  This may be more of a mod, but it has really been very helpful!!  It was easy to do-all the parts I bought at my local rv dealer (terrellcampingcenter.com).  To make things simple, I wired them directly to the battery (with a fuse in the line).

Oh yea, since we do not use the built-in ice chest, we use a 120V AC/12VDC Igloo cooler.  It does a good job of keeping food cold and it is a lot easier than maintaining an ice chest.

[jpreiser]

We had our roof top ac installed after we purchased the PU, campering world ran the plug across the roof, clamped it nicely,   now i hang paper towels on a bungee cord from it. or i use the metal brace thinging that holds the sink when in traveling mode. this also works great as a paper towel holder....  

Also there is a small fold down clothes hanger i hang a three tier basket from it to hold keys, small flashlight etc.

last but not least the best..... I found large three pocket "bags" with velcro closures to hang by the beds, great for storing water bottles, books and  readiing glasses at night....Also nice for the kids for toys.

[sandykayak]

I have a U-shaped dinette in the Qwest 8U.  The dinette table was so heavy and since space is so limited in the small PU, it now lives in the garage.  

I use the 24" personal table from Sam's club (white "plastic" top - the kind that comes up to 6-8 ft. long).  I have alum. roll-top tables for outside, if needed.

A friend made a wooden platform instead of the table - I put it under the opposite mattress if no one is sleeping there but if it's crowded I can put it in the TV or wrapped in plastic and off the ground underneath the bunks.

He also made the center part of the wooden seat removable.  Hard to describe, but when I lift it off, I have a standard dinette look and no need to climb over the platform to get to bed. (Since I'm short I actually like the climbing over bit...plus it's easier for the doggies to join me!).  This does give more floor space.

Another thing he did was (since I opted against the furnace) to remove the door and widen the hole and replace it with a larger door.  I ordered it from Jayco - same as the other door.

The 5 gallon water container also lives at home.  Have never used it but who knows...

Unfortunately, my friend retired and moved to California.  

sandy kramer
miami, fla.

[gsm x2]

The little things we did to make things work better:

Replaced the screw caribiners with spring-loaded caribiners on the chains.
Put levelers on the battery box right where the crank is for easy leveling
Organized the little box under the Coleman door with plastic drawer dividers from Target
We climb over the U-shaped couch to get into bed.  Each night we lay down the cushion so we don't have to deal with the hard edge.
A place for everything and everything in its place philosphy
Love our Portapotti although we swore we didn't want one.  Can't leave home without it now.
 
Scott

[cb]

I found some canvas "Eagle Creek"-type, rectangular, zippered bags that are about 6x10x3.  When we put up the shepherd's hook, we slip the handle of a bag over each hook and slide them toward the window ends.  We use them for books, eyeglasses, earplugs, flashlights, chapstick, etc.  Sort of like hanging bedside tables.  They work just great, and are easy to store when popping down.