Tow Vehicle Maintenance - Trailer Connection Plug

This is my first mobile blog. As for those of us in the snow zone, especially in the Northeast where they use an extensive amount of salt, we know that shit eats everything.

I went to hook up my utility trailer the other day and noticed the plug was bot fitting right.  Corrosion was building up on the terminals, even though I used dielectric grease. Well, time to do the spring trailer connector change.

I had one in stock. I think next year, I may try a new style from EZ Connector. I hope to hear some feexback.

Trailer Mod - Bathroom Light Fan Switch

One thing a seasoned RVer knows, always shut the fan off before you flush.  There is a good chance that you will suck the beautiful smell out of you black tank and into the living area.  Well, with a 7 year old, who is the shortest in her class, that could be an issue.  Especially when the light and fan are on the same switch. 

So, I decided to take the switch apart and take the trim ring down off the fan and see how this is wired.  I was in luck.  the feed went to the fan, then down to the switch, back to the fan, then to the light.  Jiggled a few wires back and forth, and the wires move freely.  Great.  This former alarm tech should have no issues fishing a new wire so I can put the fan on a dedicated switch.

So, I went down to my friendly RV dealer and parts supplier, Rousseau's RV.  I picked up a double switch, which looked black with sunglasses on, but was actually brown.  Close enough.  Here is what I did to get everything all together.

 

Single Switch to control Lights and Fan.  Can you say penny pinching.

 

Pulled the trim ring down, and found out the feed (near the knob) came through the ceiling, then back into the wall, to the switch.  Then it came back out and to the splices.

 

So, I tied a good size #14 primary to the wires.  #14 should handle the 4 amp motor, being capable of handling 15 amps.

 

Pulled the wire through...  Retied it a few feet further down...

 

Then I pulled the factory wires back to the switch location.

 

Made my connections.  The dark blue was factory.  The light blues and yellow are mine.  I always use quality shrink wrap connectors with a 1000 watt heat gun to shrink them.  I feel they look a lot better.

 

Remade the splices, once again, shrink butt connectors.

 

Here is the new switch.  Not exactly the same, but this camper only has 2 switches.  This one, and one for the outside porch light.

 

One more look at the final product.

Trailer Mod - 5lb Propane Tank

I hate those little 1 pound green "disposable" propane containers.  Yes, I know, with some effort, they can be refilled.  But, they are still a pain in the rear.  So, many years ago, I have gotten myself a nice 5lb propane bottle.  It is used everywhere I bring my grill or stove.

My issue, where do I keep it.  I really don't want a 5lb bomb rolling around inside a match stick box.  I look at my tongue, and there it was.  The unused portion of my battery box.

Now, I am not a boondocker...as of yet.  And, if I do boondock, it will probably be for just a night at the beach.  A single battery should do fine, so there is no need at this time for more than one battery.

So here it is.  A simple mod, using aluminum angle, aluminum flat, and 2 rubber bungee cords.

Now, if one of the regulator companies would take my suggestion, then maybe I can do away with this 5 pounder.

Trailer Mod - 12V Insignia TV

Before bringing the camper home, I saw that Best Buy had a sale on a 17" or 19" Insignia TV for just under $100.  The nice thing about this TV is that it operates on 12VDC.  So, knowing that I can just hook it up to the 12 volt system in the RV and not have to worry about 120V power supplies and being able to watch TV without power, I purchased it.

The previous owner already had this piece of wood attached securely in the corner where the TV goes, and it appeared he once had a TV there.  I bought a swinging mount, and attached it there.  I went to radio shack, and bought a wire and the appropriate end that fits the television.  I spliced it into the wire going to the antenna booster.  This is where I needed help from the people at Forest River Forums.

I had no idea how the antenna booster works.  I found out that it is also a switch.  When the antenna booster is on, the signal for the TV comes from the antenna.  When it is off, it comes from the park cable.  Great, I just had to run one coax to the TV.

Now for audio, I ran a 3.5mm connector, similar to headphones, and ran that to the input 2 on my Concertone ZX75 audio system.  I get better sound from the built in speakers in the camper.  I also ran a video wire from the ZX75 to the video input of the TV, so that I can watch DVDs.

The whole thing can be disconnected in seconds to avoid theft if stored away from home.  All in all, I am happy with the installation.

 TV installation looks fairly clean for this "hacker"

 Installation of the wires.  Top Right clockwise, Audio Out, Video In, Antenna, Power.

 Power adapter from Radio Shack.  It was easiest to bring the TV in for them to size up the correct plug.

Another view of the back of the Television.

Trailer Mod - Electric Hot Water Switch

One of my first mods I did to my trailer is install a switch so I can control the electric portion of the hot water heater.  Most of the newer trailers come with a combination propane/electric heater.  Some have both switches located inside the trailer.  Mine, did not.  To turn on or off the electric, you had to either 1) Go outside, open the hot water heater, flip the switch, and head back inside or 2) Open the fuse panel, and flip the circuit breaker for the hot water heater, causing premature wear on the circuit breaker.

So I did some thinking, and after confirming it on Forest River Forums, I wired in a switch with indicator light so that I can switch the electric portion of my hot water on and off when desired.

Here is a few pics of the mod.

The Reason I put the switch where it is, was due to the fact, the previous owner installed an outlet there.  He also never wired it.  So, I had an outlet there that did nothing.  Not only that, he used the wrong kind of box.  But, I did use the cover for the switch, which only came in white at Home Depot.  I then used the outlet to replace one in my garage.