Simple, effective, dry outside storage

[deppstein]

I finally came up with a simple, effective solution to the lack of outside storage that is protected from the elements. I fastened a couple pieces of metal threshold to one of those hanging racks for chairs and bikes that just clamps over the back ladder of our rig using some 3/8" double-screw connector clamps that I found in the electrical section of Home Depot. I shimmed the clamp screw lengths with a couple of washers and used a lock nut so as not to have a sharp end sticking into the bag; also filee the edges of the cut pieces of threshold smooth. I use an NRS Dry Bag that is attached with bungy cords, but container options are varied. I can double capacity by just adding another bag to sit on the first! Pictures attached.

[Blue~Go]

Ooh, good idea! I've been waffling because I would like to put a solar panel in the logical spot for a "gear pod" near the rear of the roof. On the one hand, I didn't really want to "encourage myself" to climb up and down the ladder with stuff in my arms. Not that I'm not nimble but... just why. On the other hand, I was a little bit reluctant to take away my place for a pod.

This is great because it's storage I can reach from the ground, super handily. A better idea for me.

All your mods are so good - don't not tell us about any, okay?

[deppstein]

Yes, I agree...better for me too than shimmying my way up and down the ladder carrying stuff. And I have used these dry bags for years on serious whitewater canoe trips. They are certainly waterproof. The 2.2 cubic foot bag I have mounted in the pic fits nicely and carries a tent and sleeping pads (for company), as well as PFD's for canoe.
I appreciate your comments on my renovations. Don't have anything else in the pipeline at the moment, but will certainly keep you posted if/when I do. Actually thinking that I might take a page from your playbook and get rid of the furnace. More storage would be much more practical for all the reasons you mention.
David

[Blue~Go]

Agreed on the drybags. I've used them too kayaking and etc. and they are tough and work fantastically. One note if anyone else is going to get one: It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking "holy cow, that size is HUGE; I'll get a smaller one" only to then find out that once you fold it down (you have to fold it down to fasten it in weatherproof mode) it's much smaller. Not that I've ever done that

Actually thinking that I might take a page from your playbook and get rid of the furnace. More storage would be much more practical for all the reasons you mention.

And it's fairly easy to put the furnace back if you change your mind (or just want it for "X" trip). Although you will find out why the lowest person on the totem pole must have got the job of putting the seat box in place after the furnace was in. That was brutal! (And I was only removing what was already there, not installing it in the first place.) Once the furnace is out it's all easy to get to, so putting the seat box back sans furnace is easy.

Oh, I just remembered you have the dinette, so it might not be that brutal anyway. I have the club chair setup, and the club-chair base box that sits over the furnace space was *tight* with many long screws that were very hard to get to (fastening the base box to the wall and floor).

I put in a Wave 3 (another "mock up" as I have it on the freestanding legs with a long hose while I assess), and I'd say that if you only camp in "cool" weather, not cold; and/or if you don't like it really warm inside, then it's fine. I'm used to a woodstove and I like it really cozy inside when it's cold out, so I think if I continue on with a Wave, I'll give the Wave 6 a try. (If I don't continue on with the Wave I'll probably go with a P9000.)

On the other hand, the Wave 3 is very small and compact, and I was pretty much fine with it in temps down to 40-ish; but just wished for a little more coziness (which would be another person's excessive heat). If this rig were twice the size (hence lots of extra storage space), I might have kept the stock furnace just to run for a half hour to quickly warm things up, then move to the Wave. But I figure it's basically an overgrown van, and for my uses the storage is a better use of space (and too, there is always the option to find a plug-in and run my electric space heater..... not that I have yet been in temperatures that made me do that). I just had too much of a "10 pounds of flour in a 5 pound sack" feel with the Chinook in stock configuration -- and many of the "extra 5 pounds" were things I would rarely if ever use -- but of course that's an individual thing.

[Skillet]

Interesting you mention the Wave 3, as I'm looking at getting the 6. I wouldn't mind doing some cold weather camping and the reviews pretty much pointed me at the 6.

[deppstein]

Just got back from our trip out to Montana and Wyoming--terrific. Spent a week camping on The Rock Creek and Galatin Rivers (my wife Deborah was fly fishing. Then another week in and around the Tetons. God's Country to be sure!
Happy to report that the roof rack system I installed is as firm as when we left 9,000 miles ago. The outside rail did fine!
As I contemplate moving into the fall season, my thoughts have turned to catalytic heaters so we can boondock in colder weather. Wave 3 (or 6) seems like the way to go...but where to mount it in our 2004 Premier is the question. I don't want to clutter things up with a portable...and I don't want to put in down below the dinette (we drop it to sleep full king size with the couch and having it underneath with little air circulation does not seem right to me. So I am thinking of mounting it on the bottom wall of the hanging closet. There is at least five inches of clearance before the isle due to fridge jutting out, so I think it would be well out of the way...and I like it close to floor level (heat rises). I would prefer a Wave 6 for the extra juice...but the fit is "iffy" in that space...have to take a closer measurement now that I am home to see if I can squeeze it in or have to settle for a Wave 3.
Has anyone else mounted a heater in their Premier or Concourse? Would love to get some feedback/suggestions.
David

[Concourse]

I know a lot about the Concourse model but not so much about the Premier other than that is was a more economical model with less features. The Concourse has a 16,000 BTU propane fired forced hot air furnace (Suburban NT16S) in the box that makes up the forward dinette seat base. There is a heated air outlet on the cab side of the box, another facing the foot area of the dinette (which covers most of the coach), and a third at the back of the coach near the rear door. The furnace heats up the coach pretty quickly in the 30 degrees temps I've used it in. Pretty efficient on propane too. I've used this furnace with the California king bed down (dinette table down + jack knife sofa down) many times and the coach heats up fine and there is no issues with heat being a problem for the beds or materials. Some models had a heat strip in the overhead A/C unit from what I understand. Another option was heated waste tanks to prevent freezing and also a heated floor (tiled kitchens).

[deppstein]

Thanks for response "Concourse"...I too have used the stock heater and it works fine when plugged-in..but I want something that I can use when not hooked-up. I have been leaning toward the Wave Catalytic, but now am looking at a "Blue Flame" type heater that supposedly heats the air rather than radiant heat. I'm trying to figure out whether I should vent to outside to minimize moisture issue. There is a catalytic unit out there called Platinum Cat (I think) that vents to the outside--I am looking into that. So far, have not seen a "Blue Flame" unit that vents. If you or anyone else knows of such an animal, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
David

[Blue~Go]

The stock furnace is great when plugged in, or for short bursts when boondocking (and for folks who don't mind the noise if using overnight). The heated tanks and/or heat strip require being plugged in or running the generator the whole time they are on, so not practically useful unless you are plugged in (in which case I carry a small, 1500 btu electric heater, which is fabulous and quiet, so I don't/didn't use the furnace then either).

Where the Wave really shines is for boondocking. Silent and no power draw at all, plus very efficient on propane.

I wrote a longish post about my use of the Wave 3, my thoughts on the Wave 6, where I might install, how I use it now, etc...... then looked above in the thread and saw I had already done that but forgot. Sheesh. Backspace!

At any rate, I have not had any condensation issues with the Wave 3. There is a requirement for a small amount of fresh air venting (I think it's 24 square inches, IIRC, which is the roof vent cracked just a bit, plus one window very slightly open), and I think that takes care of the moisture as well as providing oxygen. Because of course it does put moisture into the air, but what I'm saying is that I don't notice it. OTOH, where I am in heating season, it is usually fairly dry (low humidity). I can imagine it might be different heating on a rainy day in a high humidity place, but I have not tried that.

It does seem counterintuitive to open a window when you are heating, but of course you are sort of doing the same thing with something like the stock furnace, but it's done automatically (air intake and exhaust on side of rig - so more indirect for you; but like having a window open a bit, it makes the furnace slightly less efficient).

BTW, the Premier is not really any different structurally or layout wise, in the main. The kitchen counter is straight, not L shaped, the stove sits on top of the counter, the older ones had non-Corian counters, and a one door refrigerator, hubcaps not simulators, vinyl graphics not paint - that sort of thing. The cabinetry is a bit different, fewer "fancy" add-ons, slightly different wall materials, etc. However as they got into the mid-2000's, the Premiers got fancier (or were optioned up), and by the end some of them were very similar to the Concourses, even down to the sloped upper cabinets and the painted graphics -- but I think always with the rectangular windows instead of the parallelogram ones.

[Skillet]

Blue: Based on what you're saying I think the Wave 6 would be for me. Did you have to anything besides running the hose to where you want it? I'm assuming the hose run was an extra purchase and where was it run from? Stove?