Dolly / TOAD Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

SCHRADER_TPMS Being able to monitor the tires of a dolly and Toad are crutial. If something goes wrong, i.e. hung brakes, blowout, bad bearings, etc, the RV will hum right along and won’t even fell the extra drag caused by something wrong with the Toad.

I’ve had a personal experience with this when our old tow dolly suffered from a broken axle. When the wheel departed the dolly, there was no indication that anything was wrong. No thumps, no sound, no feel, nothing.

This same problem is with a 4 down, there is no indication of a blown tire, or hung brake (heat).

Adding a TPMS specifically for the TOAD/Dolly solved this problem. The TPMS unit I use monitors both the pressure and temperature of the rear tires on the TOAD and the two dolly tires. Continue reading “Dolly / TOAD Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)” →

Additional repair to drivers side wall

Sidewall_5_800 IMPORTANT – If you needed to do the floor-to-wall repair that I reported on last year (READ HERE) , then you’ll also need to do the repair I’m reporting on below…..

On our last trip out west in January, the Mirada developed a loud screechy noise coming from the drivers side that sounded like two Styrofoam cups rubbing together. I looked and felt around but couldn’t pinpoint the source. I checked the floor to wall bolts I installed last year and they were tight. Continue reading “Additional repair to drivers side wall” →

Generator Compartment vents

GenVent_3_600 I got this idea from another Mirada owner.

The generator compartment is fairly tight and not good for air circulation. I decided to help a little by adding a couple vents. These should help with airflow if I’m not able to open the compartment door when I run the generator.

The vents are pre-made stainless used on a watercraft, I got them on e-bay, $23 for two of them (CLICK HERE). Continue reading “Generator Compartment vents” →

Exterior entry light replacement

The original entry light was becoming intermittent from a bad bulb socket and the lens was very yellow.

A new fixture was about $7 so I decided to replace it. Instead of using the incandescent bulb, I decided to put an LED panel in it.

I retrofitted all my interior lights to these LED panels and had a few left over.

The new fixture is not a direct replacement. particularly how the screws line up. look carefully at the photo. Continue reading “Exterior entry light replacement” →

Window tint and window covers

WindowTint2_600 — no tint (left) vs tint (right)

When the sun is shining, a lot of heat comes through the windows, both while driving and while parked. The heat is nice during the winter, but during the summer, the heat from the sun keeps the A/C working overtime, especially when we’re traveling out west.

The original windows have a slight tint that blocks a little light, both from outside and inside. Besides letting in a lot of sunlight (and heat) , there is a security issue. When standing outside, you can easily see in the windows. Continue reading “Window tint and window covers” →

Modify Screen Door to a magnetic catch

The original screen door latch on my Coachman Mirada was not user friendly.

On nice days we’d leave the exterior door open and kept the screen door closed. Unfortunately, when we wanted to go in or out, it was a real PITA getting the screen door open and was basically a 5 step process:

Slide the latch cover open.
Release the latch.
Push the door open
Slide the latch cover closed so bugs don’t get in.
Close the door.

ALSO – The cheesy plastic thing to grab the door is easily broken and a real live honest to goodness handle is whats needed.

Continue reading “Modify Screen Door to a magnetic catch” →

Install new Digital furnace thermostat

Thermostat_3 I had a very difficult time seeing and setting the original mechanical thermostat, so the last time I passed through Menards, I looked at thermostats to replace it.

I found a simple, non-programmable digital thermostat for $18. a LUX model DHM 110, non-programmable thermostat. PERFECT. Continue reading “Install new Digital furnace thermostat” →

Adding 12 volt plugs up front

My Coachman Mirada has one 12 volt plug on the drivers instrument panel, not very convenient when running a GPS or charging a cell phone while on the road.

The solution was to add a couple additional plugs that would be convenient while on the road. These can also be used when parked as they are connected directly to the coach batter circuit. Continue reading “Adding 12 volt plugs up front” →

Will a 120 volt TV work on 12 volts DC – MAYBE

I’ve been asked many times how I was able to get my small table top 120 volt TV to work on the motor-homes 12 volts system..

The correct answer is, I didn’t do anything. The TVs I used were designed to run on 12 volts DC, I just did some re-wiring to take advantage of it.

If you want to watch TV without running the generator or connected to shore power, the best option is to find a TV that can operate directly off of 12 volts DC. Many companies advertise and sell 12 volt TVs, but these never seem to be “just what I wanted” and the prices are usually higher than their corresponding 120 volt version.

However, if you know what to look for and what to do, you’ll discover that many “120 volt” TVs are actually designed to run on 12 volts, but aren’t sold or advertised as such. You can find these if you know what to look for. Continue reading “Will a 120 volt TV work on 12 volts DC – MAYBE” →

Relocating entry step and porch light switches

There are three switches located on the wall when you first enter the Mirada. These control the steps (UP/DOWN), the outside porch light, and an inside ceiling light.

The switch location is very convenient if your standing outside, but if you need to operate any of these switches from inside the Mirada, you need to bend way over and darn near fall out the door. Continue reading “Relocating entry step and porch light switches” →