Have you modified or renovated your caravan or motorhome?

Have you made some changes that you're really proud of?

Why not show off your handiwork in Caravan & Motorhome magazine?

We want more readers upgrades to feature in our Reader's Van Upgrades section - reply to this thread and let us and others know about your good ideas!

We'd like to know what modifications you've made to your van and the best ideas you've seen done on other vans.

You can also email [email protected]

we have just fitted 16 inch wheels to how jayco hacendia 15 ft poptop & fitted a porta potty inside the cuppard for stormy nights next will be a shower and hot water system to be a inside outside system will make a place for it with the removeable table photos to follow when i can work out how to post them

Hi,
We have made quite a few mod's since getting our van in '09.

A lot of minor things, like swapping fluoros over to LEDs, fitting a 1000w sine wave inverter and generally making things more comfortable, but there are several more substantial mod's as well.

These include fitting removable solar panels to the roof and replacing the original battery charger with a Redarc BMS system including a solar MPPT controller and adding further provision for portable solar input. I also replaced the coupling with a 3.5 ton Hyland Hitch to give better articulation on dirt roads.

Originally, the two water tanks were connected together with a common filler and outlet. I modified this so that I now have two completely separated tank supplies with an easy changeover system inside the van. I also fitted an outside tap on the rear bumper which works on both the pump as well as mains supply.

Probably the most major alteration I had done was to remove completely the suspension, extend the 6 inch draw bar all the way to the rear of the rear of the van, thereby effectively adding a second, full length chassis and then replace the wheels and suspension under the new chassis as well as moving them rearwards by 400mm. This effectively raised the van by 6 inches, increased the chasis strength, distributed the ball weight to around the 10% it should have been in the first place and reduced an excessive rear overhang. This work also included moving the wheel arches back and all of the associated interior work involved inside the van to accomodate them. While this was a major job, the van is now very well balanced, tows heaps better, is much more stable and all of the chassis flexing I had before (which used to jam the toilet door!!) is now gone.

There are other minor and cosmetic mod's and I reckon that, between the van and the tug, I'll always find something that needs to be done, modified or repaired.

Cheers
Gerry

Good morning Gerry,
Thats not a modification, thats a rebuild. Good on you for having the skills and knowledge to undertake such a job.
Regards Dave n Jen.

Leanne
Check out my modifications on .....

http://lotuscaravanownersgroup.freeforu ... p?f=5&t=75

Joseph van Woerkom emailed me a few days ago about this.
Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I had a ead through your modifications and have got a few good ideas.

Just one thing though I would check with a suspension specialist as to spraying the springs with anything.

As far as my feeble memory goes, it is the friction in the leaf springs that assists them work. Spraying any sticky lubricates would negate this and encourage the build up of dust & dirt causing further wear.

As an amateur mechanic, I was always told to brush any rust off the leaves, but this is usually more trouble than it is worth.