January Issue of ‘RV Enthusiast’ Looks at Renovating Old RVs

The January issue of RV Enthusiast magazine is now available. The highlight of the issue is a special section on “RenoVations: Transforming Old RVs into Custom Cruisers.” Also in this issue: 

Fads Fade — But Style is Forever – Alice Zealy channeled her sense of aesthetics and design into a growing RV renovation business. We took a look at a few of her recent transformations — from stock RVs to custom cruisers — and convinced her to offer up a number of tips she’s learned along the way for the do-it-yourselfer considering adding more personal touches than can be purchased on the Internet.

Throne Room Remodel: Curtain Call – Garden-type showers really spiff up any bathroom, so removing the curved glass shower enclosure may seem like a step backward to some. We were tired of endless water spots and stuck tracks, though, and found a designer shower curtain not only makes cleanup a snap but improved spaciousness. It was also a great time to deal with cracks in the shower pan.

Throne Room Remodel: Royal Flush – We first installed a Dometic 320 toilet within days of taking delivery of our fifth wheel, replacing a smaller and less-comfortable model. Full-time use pushed its limits, though, especially when it came to valve seal integrity. In its place, we recently opted for a Thetford Aria Deluxe II for its forceful flushing cycles. And because we like to push buttons.

Throne Room Remodel: Close En-Counters – Living in an RV full-time with a small bathroom sink and little counter space takes a good sense of humor. Still, it was tough to laugh off the way we had to route power cords (also known as dirt magnets) when using things like hairdryers and electric toothbrushes. Fortunately, concealing them wasn’t a big job, though it makes a vastly improved appearance.

Parts House – Anyone who’s ever suffered through an earthquake knows full well what happens: things break. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, when a component finally fails on an RV. The only problem lies in tracking down a replacement — or, better still, an upgraded replacement. Want to know what’s available? Here’s a look at nearly three dozen of the top new products you’ll want this year for your RV.

A Lightweight Powerhouse – Most fifth-wheel hitches are heavy and bulky, which makes removal impractical between trips unless you have a forklift, hoist or neighbor willing to help. Pullrite’s 50-pound SuperLite hitch not only streamlines the process but also makes hooking up a breeze. Did we tell you it allows for hitch height to be set at three levels — or that it has a whopping 20,000-pound weight rating?

Painless Propane – If you use propane to fuel your grill and fire pit, you’re probably tired of lugging around those disposable cannisters. In fact, you probably longed for an exterior propane connection that allows you to use gas from the RV’s main supply. Well, stop wishing. If your RV didn’t come so equipped from the factory, you can install an exterior connection yourself in a few minutes with the right parts and a few simple hand tools.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/january-issue-of-rv-enthusiast-looks-at-renovating-old-rvs/