I pulled the camper out a couple of weeks and put it back in the driveway where it lives thru the week during the on-season. Plan was to clean it up and service wheel beearings, etc. Just get it ready for the camping season. Well I can't leave well enough alone so I made a couple of mods to make life a bit easier.

First mod was to do something about that little 13" TV we've been using. Every week when we set out, we have to unhook my sons 13" in his bedroom and take it out to the camper. We've been wanting a camper dedicted TV for quite a while so we bought a 20" LCD flat screen. The camper had a corner shelf built up against the ceiling in the cabinetry over in the corner above the dinnette. I was able to remove just the TV portion of the cabinet without harming the remaining cabinets, then mounted the flat screen flat on the wall where that shelf used to be. Major improvement and I learned just how thin and flemsy the camper walls really are. Screws over 1" long will poke thru the other side of the wall so you have to be very careful . It's almost as challenging to find a stud in those walls, they are basically hollow but I was able to use a stud where the cabinet used to attach. 2" to the right of where I wanted it to be, but close enough that it works just fine.

The second mod was to add a cargo carrier / hitch hauler cargo tray to the back bumper so we could have a place to haul firewood and other such items without putting the bug infested wood inside the camper. I found a decent cargo carrier at Harbor Freight for $39 so I bought one. Then I sunk a 2" receiver in the center of the factory rear bumper on the camper so the cargo carrier could be easily removed when we don't need it or want to use it on another vehicle. I wondered just how strong the VERY thin walled 4" sqaure bumpers are and soon found out. With the cargo carrier hanging in the receiver tube I could easily cause the sqaure bumper to twist. I could stand on the carrier and it held me just fine, but I still worried about the twist and possible failure. I thought for a few days about the best way to beef it up and make it stronger and finally came to the conclusion it would be easier and cleaner if I just cut the sqaure bumper off and start over with my own HEAVY DUTY bumper. I already had a stick of 4x2x3/16" steel tubing and I could easily make a really good bumper from scratch. So yesterday I got started fabbing up my new bumper. This morning I finished making the mounting brackets that bolt to the camper frame rails and mounted it up. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. Now it it very very solid and I have no fear it will handle the added weight with no probles at all. Also added a large storage box to the cargo carrier. Now we have an easy place to put firewood where I don't have to worry abou it falling off on the road and a little extra room for other stuff to.

I never really liked the sewer hose being inside the bumper anyway. It was always a very tight fit and on occasion would hang up in there and be difficult to put in or get out of the bumper. With my new 4x2 bumper the hose wont fit anyway so I added a sewer hose carrier on top of the new bumper. It's a round PVC pipe looking tube. The hose slides in and out effortlessly. I had planned to do the sewer hose storage mod anyway even before I decided to ditch the factory bumper.

My son has our camera in Orlando right now, but when he gets back I'll post up a few pic's showing off the recent mods.

Sounds like some great mods Brian. Hope to see pics as soon as Cory gets back from Orando.

Sounds like some great additions. On our camper the receiver hitch goes all the way up under the flooring and is bolted into the frame. I was worried about its strength also. When I attached it and put my weight on it (and I'm not a lil feller either _) it done just fine.
One thing I will tell you tho is becareful of how much weight you put back there. It picks the front end weight up off the tongue and shifts it more to the center. If not careful it will cause it to fishtale or wiggle real bad going down the highway.
Liked the idea about the flat screen tho!

Exactly. I've had some utility trailers sway on me because they were loaded too far back. I am very aware of what weight behind the axles does for you. It will be kept reasonable for sure.

The flat screen seems like a super idea!!

Ken

Sounds like you've been busy, Brian! I'm sure Doug would be interested in seeing your new hose storage, he's always looking for good ideas like that!

I took a few pics tonight. As soon as I find the cord, I'll download them.

The finished bumper and carrier set-up.





Bumper details. It's fully welded construction and bolted to the camper frame rails. The extra tubes sticking out are to support the carrier and keep it straight and level. I always hated seeing these carriers on the back of campers flopping side to side or sitting crooked. These insure it always sits flat and level as it should.





And the Sewer hose carrier. It's the same cap on both ends so the hose can be removed from either end.





TV pics will be up tomorrow. My oldest thinks the new TV is his to use therfore it never stays in the camper where it is supposed to be.

Now if you can post pics on here then show your wife how to post those pictures of Cory's prom. I am waiting to see them.

The pics look great, wish we could do that to our popup

I really like the endcaps of you pvc pipe with the little strap to help keep up with the caps. It looks really good!

Ken

Thanks for the pics, Brian, I'll be sure and show Doug!

Thanks all. On the hose carrier, that is a purchased unit that comes just like you see it ready to bolt on for about $30. It is actually ABS plastic. I first went to Lowe's and bought PVC pipe with threaded caps and found that the sewer hose ends will not fit in a 4" PVC pipe, at least not thru the threaded end fittings. The next available size is 6" and HUGE, so I looked at the camping places and found these carriers already made for about the same price I had spent on the too small 4" PVC. 6" would have been way more expensive. For $30 this was a bargin and solved the issue the right way. Should have looked first.

This pic isn't exatly our camper, but it is very very similar and almost identical. This "before" shot shows how the TV shelf used to be in the way.



Now the flat panel is wall mounted more or less where that shelf used to be (pic to come today)

Looks great, good detail work.
I would like to have the new bumper- carrier setup on mine. very good mod.

And finally a pic of the new TV mod

Before...


After...

ok so we know where we will be watching the game next time..lol