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Topic: B+ motorhomes

Posted By: burlmart on 02/19/09 03:49am

Mainer Our single batt support is different than yours. But can you see a way to form some X or other type of diagonal braces with steel straps or wires - this is how to stop sway in a structure. 2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy

Posted By: Mainer1 on 02/19/09 04:43pm

I will start my battery tray steel plating and bracing this weekend. I just wondered if others had noticed this design. I didn't want my two new optima batteries falling out going down the highway I'm getting close to putting everything back together for our first camping trip! I'm the type of person that checks everything myself even if its brand new, it keeps me out of trouble most of the time by correcting small problems before they become a break down on the side of the road. Thanks for the ideas 2006 R-Vision Trail-Lite Model 251 Chevrolet 6.0 14,050lb. GVWR

Posted By: cheeze1 on 02/19/09 04:52pm

"I'm the type of person that checks everything myself even if its brand new, it keeps me out of trouble most of the time by correcting small problems before they become a break down on the side of the road." Me too! I want to know how everything works and what I can anticipate if something breaks down. In the case of a coach, it's a natural for me, a wannabe engineer! Chas Morristown, NJ Trail Lite ">

Posted By: Mainer1 on 02/20/09 05:33pm

I really like my GM chassis but was wondering if any other Trail Lite owners B+ owners have a OEM keyless entry FOB? I have power window and door lock options and had had other GM vehicles with the key FOB and would really like to have it on my rig. I bought my rig used and the first thing that that I missed was the keyless entry, did any Trail Lite GM chassis come with this option? Please advise, Thanks

Posted By: cheeze1 on 02/20/09 08:29pm

I think I asked when we ordered ours, but was told to go aftermarket. I was going to attempt it myself, but have not gotten to it either way! We parked next to a nice Foretravel one time who had one. Neat stuff happened when they came home at nite and hit the remote.

Posted By: birdbybird on 02/26/09 09:55am

Thought I would share some pics and the dreams of further revisions thanks to you guys We call this the Short Bus. It is only 22ft long and fits in the driveway. Even better I can actually turn it around in the driveway with careful parking of the other cars. My first MH was 25 ft, had a slide and was wider. I downsized. For me, at this point of RV traveling, I am more interested in traveling and camping. I chose the ability to park in any parking lot and fit into the small campgrounds and smaller roads (not to mention the ease at which I can change directions just in case I might take a wrong turn.....) Since I travel by myself most of the time the slide just took up weight and was something else to worry about. If the pups are under foot, they are asked to move.... The kitchen is on the left as you enter the bus. I made a cover to place over the stove top which I really don't use, but it is there if I want it. The cover gives me counter space and protects the stove top from the crumbs from making sandwiches and/or salads.... I have gotten used to using the blue bowl for washing in the sink. In all I have probably traveled in colder weather more than the summers and and in any season I find using the bowl a good control for how much water I use. I don't usually even try to use the small built in sink in the bathroom. It is too close in there for me. The bathroom is just big enough for my long legs to fit behind the closed door. The shower curtain is usually tucked up. I put the PVC rack together and then found the lovely small wire basket at Goodwill. It is my effort to provide accessible storage of the "pink stuff" I use with the toilet when I travel in the winter and room for carry on water, with a place for the laundry basket on top. It gives me another place to store stuff - depending upon where I am traveling and what time of year. It is light weight and can come out easily if/when I might want to actually use the shower. This is a shot of the where I took the front dinette seat out for dog crate storage. The passenger seat is set up for "Herschel" the navigator. For now I store my chairs and extra stuff behind his chair. The crates can be changed out depending upon which dogs are traveling with me. Herschel is the only pup that travels uncrated. When I was showing I was able to get the grooming table and/or ex-pens in this area. Someday I will probably use the back of the MH but for now it fits here and stays clean and dry. I founds these shelves doing nothing in our upstairs storage room....so, these spots are useful for storing the flip flops and hiking shoes where I can get to then easily. The remaining dinette seat! It is pretty comfortable with the memory foam from the bed rolled up. My dream is to remove this seat also, build a small box around the heater stuff and get a small comfortable chair, maybe one that swivels. it would not have to come out into the aisle as far, thus leave me more aisle space I have a dream for the jack-knife sofa too, thanks to some of you guys. As it is it extends 36 inches. I would like to replace it with a custom built box that would support a twin size mattress and that would provide more accessible storage and also cover the water tank under the couch. I often use the couch to stretch out on to read or watch TV and, hey, where is the room for the dogs? It would also be easier to keep the bed made up, etc. The clothes closet is on the right.... right past the couch/bed. The tan curtains are just held up with a tension rod. I found adding them this winter did cut down on drafts and helped keep us warmer. Hopefully they will help keep some of the heat out in the summer. I have a future vision of replacing the TV with a small 15 inch LCD that I can get to go under the cabinets on the left side above the couch/bed. I think all that space above the front there could be better designed. I'm still thinking. Have not found a 15 in TV that looked or sounded reliable. Have any of you hung a 19 in under a cabinet (with proper reinforcement of course. Okay, one more shot looking towards the back. The "shoe" storage on the left really is an everything useful I want to keep in sight storage. It hangs on the bathroom door. I also had a fantastic fan put in after I bought it along with two improved roof vents, so that I can circulate air and still keep dry. With only the two large windows it wanted a way to get fresh air. Herschel and Remi demonstrate the comforts of home after a long walk in the NC State Park.

Posted By: cheeze1 on 02/26/09 11:27am

Birdy, thanks for all the pix! You mentioned 36" for the jackknife. Is that open or folded into the 'seat' position? I like your idea for curtains. I assume you already have the pleated shades. Seems that the curtains can help in cold weather. Your BT looks like the 'offroad' or whatever model they had a few years ago, with aggressive tires and an outback kindof style. As for 15" tv's, we have 2 Sharps at home. One has stereo sound and the other 'regular?". They are both reliable. However, the stereo one sounds fine and the other sounds like a 1960's transistor radio. Need to hear them in person. I also think removing the dinette completely will give you lots of reorganization possibilities. I know I made some changes once I had gutted my coach.

Posted By: burlmart on 02/26/09 11:49am

birdbybird, I love the pics...those dogs live the good life, for sure. Our rig looks much like yours, despite a different floorplan and mfgr. We still use the original dinette and sofa/bed (same one Cheese just converted away from). We tend to leave the dinette table down and forming a bed/sofa. When we added the two Katrina dogs that were young, we had two soft/collapsible kennels taking up the dinette/bed space while en-route. We store them under the sofa (via outside storage) in case we may ever need to use a hotel due to RV problem on road. We keep sofa and dinette cushions covered w/ sheets to help wear and tear from the woofers. Your pics show how much room there is in our small rigs, and how flexible the space is.

Posted By: birdbybird on 02/26/09 03:51pm

36 in is the width of the sofa being a sofa...so I know if I put in the twin I won't be giving up any more aisle room. The sofa is fullsized when open but I don't need that much with just me. I don't think the BT was designed for off road...I was however pleased not to have to deal with carpet.....Would love to think it could handle a few of the tamer dirt roads out West. It would make for more interesting Boondocking. I use the crates for the smaller dogs as I travel...I have a fear of one of them in their excitement of camping to make the mistake of forgetting obedience and trying to jump down without a leash at a rest stop or restaurant......I carry a couple of the inexpensive soft crates "just in case" - they are also so easy to carry. The beige cover on the sofa is just a thick bedspread. I have used it long enough for it to have sun fade across the top of the sofa...but it does protect the couch! You guys keep posting and keep inspiring me PS: their are four dogs altogether and my Blondie is expecting a litter in the beginning of April...so the numbers will all depend on if I decide to keep one of her pups for me to show........

Posted By: cheeze1 on 02/26/09 05:12pm

So which breed do you show? That model BT wasn't so much for offroad as to APPEAR like it was for rugged applications. I forget how wide the twin is but remember that the box will likely give you more aisle room.

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