RV upgrades-Update

[Liz]

This year's Rv upgrades: Added more photos

I had a new HDTV antenna installed. It doesn’t have to be cranked up and down. Already it’s pulling in more stations.




Had my sewer connections made more accessible. Valve extensions and pipe brought out to edge of RV where I can reach them without getting on my knees and crawling under the RV.


View of new connections: The first two (elbow and 1 straight piece) are permanently attached together.


This photo shows the parts that remain under the RV. It is easy to connect the hose with straight piece to the section under the RV ...no kneeling needed.


The pipes swing up out of the way when traveling.

[brendac]

Very nice indeed. I have been eyeing a King Jack antenna. Please keep us posted about your experiences with it as you travel.
Will you be in Florida in February?

[Liz]

Very nice indeed. I have been eyeing a King Jack antenna. Please keep us posted about your experiences with it as you travel.
Will you be in Florida in February?

My plans are to go west after Thanksgiving...Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

[brendac]

Safe travels, I always enjoy your blog.

[MandysMom]

I've been thnkng about that antennae for my van. Thanks for report.
Velda

[avalen]

Nice upgrades

[MelissaD]

Since I'm "height challenged" I went with the Winegard RAYZAR Air HDTV RV Antenna. Looked at the fixed like you chose, but did not think I had the clearance. Cut the cable at the house. Have those flat panel antennas hung on the wall and the window for TV at home.

Good idea on improving the "dump" operation. I often wonder if the people who design these RVs ever use them.

Looking forward to reading your future blogs.

[gingerK]

So the antenna doesn't fold down? Then how high does it sit? I have also been wondering if I could get my black and grey drains tied together so I only have to open one drain to dump. I'll have to have DH take a look at it.

[BirdbyBird]

Kathy, I think there are usually two pulls for a reason even if you are only seeing one hook up. The thought is you dump the black tank first, then close it and them you dump the second pull, "the gray water", which serves to flush most of the major "yuck" out of the hose leaving you with a more pleasant job of rinsing the hoses and putting them away.

[Liz]

So the antenna doesn't fold down? Then how high does it sit? I have also been wondering if I could get my black and grey drains tied together so I only have to open one drain to dump. I'll have to have DH take a look at it.

It is no higher than my AC, so not an issue.

[MelissaD]

So the antenna doesn't fold down? Then how high does it sit? I have also been wondering if I could get my black and grey drains tied together so I only have to open one drain to dump. I'll have to have DH take a look at it.

The antenna sits a foot high according to the spec's online. About the height of an A/C unit. If your antenna is mounted next to your A/C unit, it may block the signal.

As for the drain lines, it's often a matter of ground clearance and maintaining the proper drainage angle on the drain pipes. I have front and rear drain hose connections and while it would be convenient to have one connection, running the pipe front to rear and over the axles is not practical. The pipe is standard pipe for at Lowes.

[Birdie]

My Winnebago came with the nifty Jack Antenna. It normally does ok. Realize I don't watch much TV. If you are in an iffy location it can get blocked. Mine is located toward the front passenger side and does take limb hits that turn it around in the low limb parks and streets. But is nice to not have to remember to lower the antenna.

Glad you got those extensions on the sewer Liz. Just be sure to remember no shortcuts!

Kathy, the two separate pulls are to prevent contamination of the gray water tank. Possibly for RV Techs more than the user. You, I should say I, really don't want crap from the black tank running into the gray tank. I have my RV guy service mine pull handles once a year. They pull easier if serviced. I know ladies that do their own servicing.

[gingerK]

What I meant was that I have 2 separate drain lines, one for the black and one for the grey. If they were combined in a y joint after their respective valves, then I wouldn't have to move the hose twice. Right now I have to attach the hose, dump the black tank then remove hose and attach to grey tank then dump it. I was just thinking it would be much easier to only have to attach to one drain line. But Melissa may be right in thinking the angle to join both together would hang down too low.

[Birdie]

Sorry, Kathy, I misunderstood what you were saying. But it would certainly be worth getting the tape measure out. Moving the hose twice would certainly be PITA. I would be looking at that mod. I saw that mod on an old travel trailer a long time ago. They used a swivel connection to put the connections up higher when not in use.

[gingerK]

. They used a swivel connection to put the connections up higher when not in use.

Ok, that's something I'm going to look into. It just might work. Thanks Birdie.