|
|
New User
Posts: 1
| Looking for tips or guides on how to update our 1997 Sundowner weekender. It already has a sink and countertop, but considering ripping it all out and starting fresh. We want to install electrical hookup for camping, water tank, sink, fridge, cowboy shower, lights. Any guidance on where to start? |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 175
 
Location: Florida | Yes it is very doable to complete your own LQ conversion. Obviously the degree of finishing is entirely dependent on your capabilities.
I did ours about 7 years ago. It took about 5 months of spare time to get it completed, but it is serving us well.
I highly recommend you spend considerable up front time designing, sketching, and doing full scale layout and cardboard/2x2 mockup inside the trailer. You need to take into account everything from material thickness' to actual appliance dimensions. Try to keep weight in mind when designing and selecting components.
As far as electrical is concerned, I suggest you make everything possible 12 volt. You are stuck with 120v for AC, and a microwave, but everything else can be 12v or LP if you want. I did use a 120v/LP hot water heater, a 12v OR 120v refrigerator/freezer, and a rooftop AC.
All lights, exhaust fan, and water pump are 12v. This allows us to run everything from battery/solar except when needing the AC or the uwave.
Plumbing is also interesting in a confined space, but using PEX water lines and using dead space for drains makes it possible. I did manage to get small 2 sinks, small shower, and a toilet in ours.
Components used:
Dometic Sunchaser 8500 19' awning
Norcold DE0061 AC or D.C. ref/frz
Camco LP valve
Dometic 13.5 rooftop AC
Honeywell T812D thermostat
Atwood LP/Co monitor
Suburban SW6DE AC/LP Water heater
40 gal High Country water tank
Advent P90D23AL microwave
Paragon Neo Angle shower base
Fantastic Endless breeze auto temp roof vent
Progressive dynamics power panel
165w ecoawareness solar panel
Thetford toilet
I have a hundred+ photos taken during the process of how ‘I’ did it - and there are many other ways, depending on who is doing it.
I’ll try to attach a couple.
Attachments
----------------
 4F5032CB-178D-4494-A164-223390D92E0D.jpeg (44KB - 49 downloads)
ED7864FB-DC22-4574-B3DE-D5879D832828.jpeg (48KB - 38 downloads)
FBAD347B-AA3B-4B9D-BA92-A203B7EDDC45.jpeg (40KB - 39 downloads)
E02A3CEF-67DD-4071-AD53-9A0336E8C71C.jpeg (44KB - 38 downloads)
4DD0C584-A568-4109-B407-5DA1BF03CCCC.jpeg (40KB - 35 downloads)
88CC2952-E75D-4F8C-9943-030BDE53C559.jpeg (35KB - 36 downloads)
CA904F08-058C-46F3-A269-C44D46EA75D7.jpeg (44KB - 40 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 175
Location: Florida | Yes it is very doable to complete your own LQ conversion. Obviously the degree of finishing is entirely dependent on your capabilities.
I did ours about 7 years ago. It took about 5 months of spare time to get it completed, but it is serving us well.
I highly recommend you spend considerable up front time designing, sketching, and doing full scale layout and cardboard/2x2 mockup inside the trailer. You need to take into account everything from material thickness' to actual appliance dimensions. Try to keep weight in mind when designing and selecting components.
As far as electrical is concerned, I suggest you make everything possible 12 volt. You are stuck with 120v for AC, and a microwave, but everything else can be 12v or LP if you want. I did use a 120v/LP hot water heater, a 12v OR 120v refrigerator/freezer, and a rooftop AC.
All lights, exhaust fan, and water pump are 12v. This allows us to run everything from battery/solar except when needing the AC or the uwave.
Plumbing is also interesting in a confined space, but using PEX water lines and using dead space for drains makes it possible. I did manage to get small 2 sinks, small shower, and a toilet in ours.
Components used:
Dometic Sunchaser 8500 19' awning
Norcold DE0061 AC or D.C. ref/frz
Camco LP valve
Dometic 13.5 rooftop AC
Honeywell T812D thermostat
Atwood LP/Co monitor
Suburban SW6DE AC/LP Water heater
40 gal High Country water tank
Advent P90D23AL microwave
Paragon Neo Angle shower base
Fantastic Endless breeze auto temp roof vent
Progressive dynamics power panel
165w ecoawareness solar panel
Thetford toilet
I have a hundred+ photos taken during the process of how ‘I’ did it - and there are many other ways, depending on who is doing it.
I’ll try to attach a couple.
Attachments
----------------
4F5032CB-178D-4494-A164-223390D92E0D.jpeg (44KB - 49 downloads)
ED7864FB-DC22-4574-B3DE-D5879D832828.jpeg (48KB - 38 downloads)
FBAD347B-AA3B-4B9D-BA92-A203B7EDDC45.jpeg (40KB - 39 downloads)
E02A3CEF-67DD-4071-AD53-9A0336E8C71C.jpeg (44KB - 38 downloads)
4DD0C584-A568-4109-B407-5DA1BF03CCCC.jpeg (40KB - 35 downloads)
88CC2952-E75D-4F8C-9943-030BDE53C559.jpeg (35KB - 36 downloads)
CA904F08-058C-46F3-A269-C44D46EA75D7.jpeg (44KB - 40 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 657
Location: Rayne, LA | PGDx. Looks like you did a good job with your trailer. I am sure that you saved a lot of money are enjoying the rewards that come with having done it yourself |
|
| |
|
New User
Posts: 3
| I’m new to the forum and it’s been of great help so far!
I’m thinking about converting my trailers dressing room into a simple living quarters. My question is, what kind of screw/nail do I use to attach the wood strips to the trailer aluminum frame? I would appreciate some help! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 175
Location: Florida | I used a stainless steel self tapping flathead screw to prevent any corrosion. I did have to predrill a few that were double thickness. |
|
| |
|
New User
Posts: 3
| PDGx - 2019-07-07 10:51 AM
I used a stainless steel self tapping flathead screw to prevent any corrosion. I did have to predrill a few that were double thickness.
Did you screwed from the inside of the trailer or outside? Just newbie questions. Thanks so much! |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 175
Location: Florida | Yes from the inside, through the horizontal wood strip into the aluminum trailer verticals.
Zoom in on pic3.
Don’t puncture the trailer skin any more than you absolutely have to. Then make sure you have a way to seal it when you do.
Edited by PDGx 2019-07-07 12:47 PM
|
|
| |
