What’s your best mod / upgrade?

Glas Robin

Glas Robin

Joined
Jun 2, 2018
Posts
448
Likes collected
1,010
Location
Beautiful North Wales border
Funster No
54,207
MH
Carado T449
Exp
Since 2015
Self-fitted lots of mods to our 2018 van already - the usual cameras, USB charging points, GasIT refillable system, external barbecue point, a slide-out bike rack for 4 bikes in the garage, Android head unit, WiFi router, DCDC charging point, etc.

After 10 days away that has involved motorway driving and some pretty high winds, by far and away the best upgrade I’ve fitted has to be the air-assist suspension. The difference in stability and ride is incredible.

What’s your best mod / upgrade?
 
Our first one , after three 1/2 years.
solar panel, and battery master,

followed by the strike back alarm (that drove us to get the solar, and battery master.)

- takes the pressure off us worrying about battery use.and state.
 
Solar is on the list...but requires careful planning. Second leisure battery will prob come first.

What is a strike back alarm? I’ve just got the dealer fitted alarm (blue flashing lights and black box under steering wheel) plus a self-fitted tracked hidden away.
 
Glas Robin said:
Solar is on the list...but requires careful planning. Second leisure battery will prob come first.

What is a strike back alarm? I’ve just got the dealer fitted alarm (blue flashing lights and black box under steering wheel) plus a self-fitted tracked hidden away.
Click to expand...

strikeback is a hard wired alarm system fitted by Vanbitz (, there are others) see their website.

went for that system on the strength of their reputation for after-sales service.

(And so far no one nicked the van!)

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150w Tilting Solar panel and Votronic regulator.
BM2 battery monitor.
Studer 275w PSW inverter with manual changeover.
Meind 1000w PSW inverter (just for straightners).
EHU monitor.
2 x removable ceiling fans 12v & 230v.
2 speed removable toilet extractor fan.
Twin fridge fans with home made electronic thermostat.
Home made rain alarm in kitchen fan housing.
Front mudflaps, fitted by me, properly.
Cupboard LED tape lights, in alloy channel.
Wardrobe LED tape light. In alloy channel.
High quality USB alloy charger in dash.
Drawing pins stuck on top of engine, to keep the Benidorm cats off 🤣
 
AXO66 said:
strikeback is a hard wired alarm system fitted by Vanbitz (, there are others) see their website.

went for that system on the strength of their reputation for after-sales service.

(And so far no one nicked the van!)
Click to expand...

Have you heard the 'Devil's Wail ' siren? There's one in our 'van and we know about it...
 
Got quite a few, but would rate the best one as our MaxxFan. Couldn't be without it.

Others worth a mention are:

Rear Air Assist - obvious benefit
CrossClimate Tyres - more grip on grass (a lot more)
Brembo Discs/Pads - so much smoother braking
LiFePO4, fast chargers, roof full of solar & always on Inverter - almost like house electrics
iMass water heater, 45psi pump, 8 Lt expansion & domestic plumbing/taps - almost house hot/cold water/draining
Memory Foam & Froli - good nights sleep
Electric Awning - no legs, so dog can't ruin it
4G Router & Antenna - Netflix, NowTV and Alexa

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Lenny HB said:
All my mods are useful but the best is the only one I didn't do myself, Goldschmitt Full Air Suspension.
Click to expand...

It sounds expensive though.

I come from a school of thought that there is little you can’t do yourself with some good tools, a bit of pluck and the wisdom of the Internet. The Goldsscmidtt sounds fancy...but is it really much more complicated than the rear air assist I fitted? The hardest thing was deciding where to put the compressor and how to roe the airlines to the control panel in the dash.

The only trade I’ve paid for in the past 20-odd years was a plasterer for some gypsum work. Which is why I now live in a 400 yeard old house because I can lime plaster pretty well, and you get days to fiddle with it before it goes off. I’m not looking forward to paying aN OFTEC boiler engineer to come and certify the new condensing oil boiler I’ve just installed myself at home, but needs must. 😱

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+ air assist suspension. Also the Gaslow, with a back as freaky as mine it’s worth every penny.
 
Glas Robin said:
It sounds expensive though.

I come from a school of thought that there is little you can’t do yourself with some good tools, a bit of pluck and the wisdom of the Internet. The Goldsscmidtt sounds fancy...but is it really much more complicated than the rear air assist I fitted? The hardest thing was deciding where to put the compressor and how to roe the airlines to the control panel in the dash.

The only trade I’ve paid for in the past 20-odd years was a plasterer for some gypsum work. Which is why I now live in a 400 yeard old house because I can lime plaster pretty well, and you get days to fiddle with it before it goes off. I’m not looking forward to paying aN OFTEC boiler engineer to come and certify the new condensing oil boiler I’ve just installed myself at home, but needs must. 😱
Click to expand...

So the post of a future self-builder :roflmto:
 
I’m seriously considering solar and a second leisure battery. What is putting me off solar is I really don’t want to drill holes in the roof. These type of vehicles leak water for fun without drilling holes in them. Is there any way of both, fixing panels on the roof and getting the cables to the control panel without drilling holes?
 
Hmmmmm, not sure really. Self levelling system, underslung gasit tank, 300watts of solar are the main ones I think then Growler, B2B, extra battery.
 
steve 6644 said:
Link please :smiley:
Click to expand...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Lenny's Modding the new Gin Palace

Been at it a couple of weeks now on & off so I thought I would bore you all. First jobs, fitted the AVS30 Voltage protection unit, hardly ever use EHU, fitted this to the last van when we were doing a long ferry crossing as ships generators are not know for their stable outputs. Filtapac...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
 
glenn2926 said:
I’m seriously considering solar and a second leisure battery. What is putting me off solar is I really don’t want to drill holes in the roof. These type of vehicles leak water for fun without drilling holes in them. Is there any way of both, fixing panels on the roof and getting the cables to the control panel without drilling holes?
Click to expand...
No there isn’t but you buy special bit of kit with waterproof glands. Sorry but if you didn’t know that you’ve not done enough homework.

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glenn2926 said:
I’m seriously considering solar and a second leisure battery. What is putting me off solar is I really don’t want to drill holes in the roof. These type of vehicles leak water for fun without drilling holes in them. Is there any way of both, fixing panels on the roof and getting the cables to the control panel without drilling holes?
Click to expand...

maybe use one of the holes that the skylight(s) use??

track the wire under edge of skylight then figure it out inside :giggle:

no idea if can be done though.
 
glenn2926 said:
I’m seriously considering solar and a second leisure battery. What is putting me off solar is I really don’t want to drill holes in the roof. These type of vehicles leak water for fun without drilling holes in them. Is there any way of both, fixing panels on the roof and getting the cables to the control panel without drilling holes?
Click to expand...
We took ours in through the drain hole in the roof light(window) over the table.
 
Dog flap under the bed to use as laundry chute into the garage
 

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AXO66 said:
maybe use one of the holes that the skylight(s) use??

track the wire under edge of skylight then figure it out inside :giggle:

no idea if can be done though.
Click to expand...
Really? :doh:

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