Modifications to Eggscape

[cpaharley2008]

Nice work, as always and granddog will give you a lick of thanks.....

[MyronL]

Speaking from experience with Ben, ....very wise move.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, I learned my lesson with the 2014 E21 step and Hershey. She still jumps over the step when exiting and leaving, even with the pad covering the holes

[emers382]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, I learned my lesson with the 2014 E21 step and Hershey. She still jumps over the step when exiting and leaving, even with the pad covering the holes

Patches in her older age (12-1/2) has had some difficulty with the stairs so recently have lifted her in and out, but no more. Unfortunately she went into congestive heart failure and we had to let her go yesterday, sad day for us both, especially Beth. I thought of you Jim and how difficult it was to lose Franklin.

[Eggscape]

Always so sad when you loose a family member...best wishes from all I am sure.

[emers382]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Always so sad when you loose a family member...best wishes from all I am sure.

Thanks Ed

[Greg A]

Great step mod and explanation. Love it.....

[Allan Bornestig]

Hi Emerson.
Sorry to hear about Patches.We lost Lola Feb 1st.She sleeps in the back yard.Planted a rododendron and a solar light that is on all night.We have pictures of her around the house.It seems to help, but it is still hard .Throughout our lives we had nine dogs. it just gets harder everytime they leave us.Now we are to old to get another one, would not be fair to the dog.Take care and think of the good times.

[emers382]

Thanks Allan

Patches will be back next week and we'll place her under the tree we planted three years ago in memory of Beth's mom. She said that her mom always liked Patches. We don't want reminders around like you have of Lola so have gotten rid or at least put out of sight all her stuff.

on Edit: sorry Ed for highjacking your thread on your great mods. The steps look very nice by the way.

[Eggscape]

Not a problem...we can all take time out and reflect on real life with friends anytime.

[Eggscape]

The short story...I installed two solar lights on the front of the propane tank cover.

The details...It is open season on the propane tank cover. I don’t like drilling holes in the trailer but the replaceable propane tank cover is fair game. So get out your drill gun...

I could not resist these $3 solar lights meant to be mounted on a post or wall. The housings were black but a little masking tape and some spray paint made for plastic solved that. I found them at the Jysk store in Canada.

I changed how it was to be mounted by drilling my own holes through the light and the tank cover. I then used very thin screws and mini wing nuts to make it easily removed to get at the off switch and battery. This way I can remove and store them for the off season. To keep the screw from turning while using the wing nut, a second nut and lock washer secures the screw to the reflector. The wing nuts do not touch the tanks and have little holes in one wing should I need to wire them together to stop rotation.

At night they come on automatically of course and have a neat light pattern that lights the area so you don’t crash your shin into the hitch.

They are unproven as yet as we have not used the trailer since the install. If they don’t work out I will find a pair that will.

There will be more installs happening to the tank cover in future posts.

[Greg A]

Do these have an off switch to shut off at night in the campground?

[dfandrews]

Ed, looks like another idea that I'll have to borrow (having accumulated shin scars in the past). My variation will be to use red LED's in whatever housing I use, (1)so as to not adversely affect night vision, and (2) when I forget to turn them off or disconnect them while under tow, I don't show a white light behind the tow.


Thanks.

[gbaglo]

I use a flashlight.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I use a flashlight.

I should, but there's this stubborn streak to deal with.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Do these have an off switch to shut off at night in the campground?

They do on the back that could be accessed if you drilled a finger size hole in the tank cover. However each light only has two LEDs so it is not very objectionable. It would only disturb someone if they were in a tent a few feet from the lights.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Ed, looks like another idea that I'll have to borrow (having accumulated shin scars in the past). My variation will be to use red LED's in whatever housing I use, (1)so as to not adversely affect night vision, and (2) when I forget to turn them off or disconnect them while under tow, I don't show a white light behind the tow.
Thanks.

We seldom tow at night unless our plans have gone trembly wrong, so this is not something that I considered. When I remove them for the winter I will replace the LEDs with Amber ones.
Interesting point of discussion however...As the trailer is a licensed vehicle is there anything stating it can not have a white light on the front? Of course these lights are not approved by anybody so you would loose on that point...however a bike requires a light on the front and many of them are not approved. Way to many possible comments on the white light topic for this thread.
I guess do what your comfortable with but an easy accessible switch is a good idea as well.

[Donna D.]

I like the LED solar lights, but I don't have a front box. Maybe instead of an amber lens, add red theater parchment paper (Jon's suggestion) because of dark sky? It should still provide enough light to prevent the shin crash...

[Eggscape]

Maybe Donna you have some metal frame area under the bed that you can stick on lights with magnets. This would allow you to move them around...maybe into the sun for charging and have access to the rear switch and batteries. Great for if you are outside and need to grab a quick light in the dark.
I thought about doing this on our 19 but was afraid they would get wiped out with rocks on the lower frame.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

This would allow you to move them around...

Kinda like a flashlight.
I have a tiny one on my key chain and a AA Maglite in a holster on my belt. Maglite has accessory lenses in red. ( see https://www.cloudynights.com/article...-red-led-r1664 )