DIY

Thanks to YouTube and other web-based resources, we made some updates and fixed some problems that have occurred. Below is a description of some of the DIY work we have accomplished:

• Coffee mug shelves: We installed small shelves in the back sitting area so we have additional space to rest our mugs when eating meals.

• Adjusting the refrigerator temperature: Our refrigerator does not have an obvious thermostat adjustment and was freezing our fruits and vegetables. We read the manual and searched online for a fix. There turned out to be a simple solution: All we had to do was move the thermistor from the left side of the fridge to the right. Now our fridge keeps everything cold but not frozen.

• Hammocks: We attached a gear hammock to the top of bulkhead of the cab to hold bedding. It’s not the most elegant addition, but it is very practical and gives us some well-needed additional storage space.

• Baskets: We installed three baskets that have really helped us organize: One behind the driver’s seat to hold books and to hang jackets from (fantastic!), one near the galley to hold fruit (great but a bit small), and one in the back above the TV to hold electronics (great!). We also installed an Everything Keeper in the back which now serves as our “junk drawer”.

• Mesh screening installation: We attached a mesh screen around the back door of the van which is excellent so we can open the back doors and get fresh air in the van without the bugs.

• Leaking toilet: On our trip to the Finger Lakes, we realized that the toilet was leaking from the top so that clean (thank goodness!) water was dripping out of the back. After consulting YouTube, we found the part we needed and installed it when we got home.

• Velcro for the freezer door: The latch on our freezer door broke so we attached Velcro to keep it closed.

• Fantastic Fan cover that broke: After replacing the original Fantastic Fan, we must not have properly closed the cover of the new fan. Driving down to Michigan, we realized that the cover on the new fan was broken. We called our RV maintenance person and he nicely suggested that this was not a manufacturer’s defect so must be user error (we agree). After calling around to several Camping World stores in the area, we found the cover we needed in the Birch Run store. As we were visiting friends, we borrowed their ladder and replaced the cover. We are very careful to close the fan properly now!

• Fixed peeling clear coat: Because our van is a bit older, some of the clear coat was cracking and peeling. We purchased some car paint and clear coat, scraped off the old, and put on new. We are very happy with how the new coat looks.

• Changed the generator oil: We were pretty sure that no one had changed the oil in our van’s generator in a long time, if ever. So we watched a YouTube video, read information on the Interstate Blog and changed the oil.