Fast Forward: Camper Remodel 2021

    

     I do want to keep talking about how we got to where we are now, but there is a lot happening with the camper that I do not want to miss. 

<Sparks First Makeover>

    At this time we are in the beginning stages of remodeling Spark (our Casita Spirit Deluxe). After a little bit of winter camping this year we found a few problems and some upgrades we would like to do to Spark. I had already started this before I started this blog. Here is a list of stuff we would like to do:

• Replace the floor 
• Solar 
• Build closet
• Add USB and 12 volt jacks to charge phones, laptops and other devices
• Add new fuse panel 
• Expand battery bank
• Add Safe
• LED light for walking area and hookup area
• Build shelf under table for shoes and gear 
• projector and screen
• adding a few coats of polyglow to the outside 

     Spark's floor started to get crunchy this winter letting us know that there was water trapped in the wood floor between the fiberglass. There is a lot on this list we want to do but don't know how much we will get done.

<No Carpet>

    As of now we have removed the carpet and placed tar paper down and are about to add the plywood on top. We will be adding supports to the frame where the seems of the boards are to support it. The solar is in and I have been testing it and like what I have seen so far. We went with two 200 watt units, four panels in all with two charge controllers. I do understand that is a bit over kill but backups are good, that is why we all carry a spare tire, right? Or in my case a spare tire, air pump and patches. We plan on just plugging in the panels when we need them and storing them in the truck when not in use.

<just testing the solar system>

    We are trying to not have to use the inverter when boondocking so we are adding USB and 12 volt jacks all over the camper. Most of our devices are USB like our phones, cameras and flashlights, even my laptop can be charged with the right 12 volt power supply. We had to talk a long time on if we wanted solar or a generator. With how we live we don't use the AC that much at home and that is the only 110 device that we would need, we are just happy with the USB fans that we have been using. Watch us change our minds this fall when we go to the Grand Canyon. That and when we are boondocking we like the quiet, so solar. 

    Storage is always a problem in a camper. After talking to a few people on some different forums, remodeling the closet to add shelfs seems like a good idea. We will still have a little hanging room but there is a lot of dead space in there and dead space is wasted space. Also as we were tearing up the floor we saw that under the table could use a little shelf to store shoes under and a laptop, gopro and games on top. Last of all under the bed will also be having storage added as well. The far back is where we will be adding the battery bank. A long safe and maybe a pull out shelf will be added to make the most of the area.

     We will add updates as we get stuff done and tell you about any problems or changes we do and why.

    Griffin