Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Class C Motorhomes: B+ motorhomes

Print | Close

Topic: B+ motorhomes

Posted By: burlmart on 04/27/15 09:22am

when checking on the steering pittman arm thing, i think our '05 chassis was built november '04. i am pretty sure it is '05 per memory and chevy manual.

2005 Trail Lite 213 B-Plus w/ 6.0 Chevy

Posted By: Teacher's Pet on 04/27/15 01:46pm

Correct Nov '04 would be a '05. Our Intruder chassis was built in early '97 and the "house" completed late 97. Indiana DVM wanted to take the chassis build date. We insisted on the "house" date, or the new Indiana title stating '97 would have cost us a year of depreciation the day it was registered, since we bought it as a '98 motorhome with a Texas Title.

'06 Phaeton 40' QSH
'14 Ford Flex SEL AWD Toad
'04 R-Vision Trail-Lite 213
Scottiemom's Pet or husband to Dale
RV.net Rallies 13, Other Rallies 21, Escapades 7
Fulltimers since 2005, Where are we?
Our Travel Blog

Posted By: burlmart on 05/13/15 03:03am

been applying some basic mods often suggested on this b+ thread.

[image]

took out 24"x38" dinette table and replaced w/ 24"x20" and 24"x18" plywood. added thin foam layers (about 3) beneath 22"x38" dinette seat cushions and upholstered with easy-to-wipe-clean vinyl fabric. used about 7 layers of foam to create two cushions atop two pieces of plywood. used grommets on cushion backsides to allow air to escape when compressing. also covered sofa bottom in vinyl fabric.

routed an extension cord and cable from front right glass-door cabinets to cabinet just above dinette where 19" tv now lays on a foam cushion. i need to be close to see tv, so now we just open cabinet, lift tv down to 24"x18" table top, and turn table to view from any seat in house.

tv laying in cabinet

[image]

tv on table

[image]

* This post was edited 05/13/15 08:02am by burlmart *

Posted By: mstanis on 05/29/15 10:06pm

Time to bump the thread!

Burlmart - Thanks for sharing. Your redecorating looks nice as well as being quite useful.

Update on the 2001...
I changed to synthetic oil and replaced the fuel filter on my 2001 5.7L.
Replaced the twin pull out sofas with 10" memory foam cut to 32" width.

Traveled with my cousin to the Dayton Hamvention, staying at a rest stop one night, then across the street from the Arena where there is parking in a field. The Trail-Lite performed like a champ! My average MPG for the trip was slightly less than 12.

I've been reviewing the previous posts and have been trying to figure out how to SECURELY mount a second battery under the MH. The current configuration has a tray that is showing signs of rust. I can squeeze 2 batteries width-wise into the tray, but have doubts about that tray holding ~120 plus lbs for very long. Wiring and replacing are also issues with that location. I might end up putting one or both batteries inside the unit - but cutting vent holes gives me pause!

Nevertheless, these are puzzles that will be solved.
Still think these units are holding up nicely for their age...

All for now!

2001 Trail-Lite B-Plus 211 w/ 5.7L Chevy

Posted By: Teacher's Pet on 05/30/15 05:08am

Been working this week on setting up the 2011 Miata 6 speed as a toad for the B+. The Roadmaster baseplate & adapter bar is on, wiring all done but brake and tail lights. Left to do is disable steering lock and change transmission lube to Ford MoCo full synthetic. "Healyman's" website is a very good source as are the various Madza Miata racing sites on towing and racing requirements (no steering lock). Yes it is "not tow-able" per Mazda but can be and is, with several modifications. Won't be able to try set up until July. Will be at the FMCA rally in Goshen this week, then going to SD via MS (reunion) for driver's license renewal.

BTW the "three hour" job is now at about 20.

Posted By: ron.dittmer on 05/30/15 06:21am

mstanis wrote:

I've been reviewing the previous posts and have been trying to figure out how to SECURELY mount a second battery under the MH. The current configuration has a tray that is showing signs of rust. I can squeeze 2 batteries width-wise into the tray, but have doubts about that tray holding ~120 plus lbs for very long. Wiring and replacing are also issues with that location. I might end up putting one or both batteries inside the unit - but cutting vent holes gives me pause!

I live 20 minutes north of you in West Dundee. I have a very sturdy used 2-battery tray that a trip with $10 to Menards will resolve the tired ball bearing tracks. The latching tray is very solid with lots of non-threatening surface rust inside the pan from boil-overs that can easily be washed off with Zep, sand, prime, and paint the whole thing and it will be like new. $10 and the tray is yours. I could email you dimensions and pictures if interested.

I used it for a pair of 12V batteries for 8 years until I just switched over to a pair of 6V batteries this season.

Here it was in action.
[image]

2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow

Posted By: Teacher's Pet on 05/30/15 07:47am

Considering the hatch for the battery access on the B+ is about 5" high and 10" wide the above will not work. I talked to Charger Enterprises in Elkhart, IN about the problem in 2012 before our Alaska trip. The unit design did not lend it's self to the above type of alteration. They modified the battery tray to hold two batteries and through bolts under the sofa with weight distribution plates to carry the weight. At the same time I made the change to AGM batteries to solve the watering problem through the small access door.

On edit: typo date

* This post was edited 06/01/15 04:18am by Teacher's Pet *

Posted By: mstanis on 05/31/15 08:36pm

ron

Thanks - your sliding tray is intriguing (as well as the price and shipping charges!), but my mount is an awkward, underneath arrangement. I would have to cut the side wall to properly use it.

I purchased some galvanized right angle brackets (really huge) and hardware, doing something that sounds like what Teacher's Pet had done. It looks promising, but need to get the battery fuses/wiring set before the final install.

If it works, I'll try and and post some pictures.
If it doesn't, I might buy ron's tray and put it in the storage compartment.

All for now...
Happy Trails to all!

Posted By: ron.dittmer on 05/31/15 09:31pm

In my picture above, the battery tray is mounted inside an angle iron frame which is bolted to the floor above using carriage bolts.

If you have room under your floor in a nice area below your current battery, and also have a body skirt, maybe you could make two vertical cuts and use a piano hinge as mine has, then come up with some kind if latching system. This would allow mounting a pair of batteries below floor level, maybe right where the cables are located.

Just throwing out ideas without knowing your particular situation.

Posted By: Gene in NE on 05/31/15 11:10pm

ron.dittmer wrote:

I should knock on wood, but this battery has been in place since August 2004. Here is a picture of how it is held in place to the truck frame about under the passenger seat -
[image]

Here is another snap of the same location (a little different angle) -
[image]

2002 Trail-Lite Model 211-S w/5.7 Chevy (click View Profile)
Gene

Print | Close