thought i would post some of the upgrades i have been doing to our 04 kz durango,these are the stabilizers i built couple weeks back, have about $80 in them, they work great, very noticable improvement on stabilty, also added another set of jacks mid way on camper frame as well, this thing is rock solid even in a heavy wind like we experienced last night camping! opinions welcome!!
here is the upgrade i did with a progressive dynamics converter, i sold the old converter that came with the camper on e-bay, ran all new 4 gauge wiring from converter too the fuse panel and 4-gauge wire from the converter to the two new interstate deep cycles, also installed a master disconnect and heavy fuses in line to protect against a major meltdown (ya never know)
one of the best upgrade i like is i wired the electric element in the water heater through a switch i mounted by the water pump switch, being so close to water i first came out of fuse panel and went through a gfci outlet i mounted by the converter, couldnt find a gfci breaker locally so figured this was next best route,
* This post was
edited 03/18/12 03:48pm by an administrator/moderator *
Thank You...next thing on the list is a tri-metric battery monitor, we gonna do a little boondocking this season, so thought it would be a good upgrade, and i love my electronic gadgets, just trying to figure out how to get the wiring to where i want to mount it!!
I really like your stabilizer mounting brackets in the job is done well.
I'm going to remount my progressive coverter charger but will stick with the original loc a tion but you did a fine job I will sell mine that came with the trailer as well
Ed So.Calif
1950 Ford F1 street rod
1968 Baha Bug with 2.2 ecotec motor 170 hp, kingcoil
2000 National Sea Breeze 5th wheel trailer
1998.5 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins,4.10 gears,turbo,trans,injectors,oil cooler,lockers,edge EZ, 35" BFG's, air dog lift pump etc.
the pd 60amp unit was too big too mount where the original was, i did mount it close to where original was, but it was a pretty air tight compartment and it got pretty hot under a heavy load, the storage compartment i mounted it in was pretty much right underneith the original location, gives a little more breathing room, fan dont run as much i noticed in this location, the brackets i built for stabilizers are probably a little too heavy duty, but i am happy with the stabilizers, i never priced them on internet, but i know they pretty expensive, have access to a really loaded work shop, which makes these projects pretty easy, thanks for the comments....i have got alot of ideas on this forum, so figured i might be able to return the favor!!
here is the generator mounted on my receiver tube, built a simple bracket that the gen locks too, and then use a locking pin in the tube as well, not gonna get stolen real easily, its champion gen. which i am getting ready to convert to propane, when im done it will be fully insualted and enclosed with an electric fan to cool it, looking for a few less decibals, i know it can be done, so i will give it a shot, not red or blue, but for the price i wont complain, and i dont use it when other campers are around, i respect others quiet! will be a fun little project!
and the spare jacks i had laying around, i mounted midway on the camper, noticable improvement in stability as well, i may build stabilizers for the back ones as well, but gets to be alot of bolt tightening...lol
* This post was
edited 03/18/12 03:48pm by an administrator/moderator *
i used 3/4" cold rolled steel for inner pieces, 1" tubing for outer, they dont fit tight at all but figured it didnt matter with 2 bolts on each one to tighten down, was gonna use some dom tubing for a tighter fit, but figured my luck they would just get rusty and be stuck, the ends are 1/2" rod ends, probably a little over kill, but i had them, about $30 to buy them, and still under $50 for metal, i tapped the 1" solid shaft for the rod ends to screw into, the larger tubes i just welded a 1/2" fine threaded nut to the end of the tubing!, the other brackets i made out of angle iron and 1 1/2" flat iron, 3/16" thick, i can get some more pics if you want me too!
the outer tubes are 24" long and i believe i made the inner either 20" or 22"....i cant remember, if they too long, easy to shorten with a chop saw, i used 1 1/2" angle iron bolted to the i-beam frame to attach them to the frame, to do over i think smaller tubing and 3/8" rod ends would be plenty strong, and again they do not fit real tightly inside one another,which is why i used 2 bolts on each, although one bolt would probably work, i drilled 7/16" holes in the tubes and welded a 3/8" nut over the hole for the 3/8" bolts to lock the stabilizers in place, i just have to remember to un-lock them before raising the jacks up, would probably ruin the gearbox or break (bend) something as these dont give!!
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