1986 Boler Upgraded

[jbclabaugh]

very nice!

[Markz]

Better pics of cell phone/internet booster.

[Markz]

All clean and ready for a trip out
Attachment 142822

[Markz]

Just got back from another amazing trip! Our Boler performed flawlessly.

[Markz]

Just got to use the new "Driver Control Center." Worked great.

[Maria in MD]

Holy Moses MarkZ! I've never seen anything so impressive. The time and skill PLUS patience has left me gobsmacked. How much time has this taken you? Wow. Just simply: WOW!

[Markz]

Originally Posted by Maria in MD

Holy Moses MarkZ! I've never seen anything so impressive. The time and skill PLUS patience has left me gobsmacked. How much time has this taken you? Wow. Just simply: WOW!

About 12 years and counting. Thank you.

[Markz]

I will be revisiting the "control panel" soon as I am now looking to add another 3 in one switch to the 6 gang plate. The new switches will activate: the water pump, belly band light and cell phone booster.

Pictured here is the master control panel as it presently sits.

From left to right:

Top row:
Epever solar controller panel;
Propex heater controller;
Inverter controller; and
Lithium batteries monitor.

Bottom row:
120v outlet with USB;
Hot water heater switch;
Outside 120v outlet switch;
12v outlets;
12v Switch lights (to be replaced with three switches); and
Three 12v outlets switches (front, upper and lower rear)

[Markz]

I will also be switching out the old blue switch box with a new type of modular 6 gang box and new screwless switch plate.

[Susan in Flagstaff]

Your Boler is outstanding! Well thought out and well done! Love that your door actually fits, love the added shelving, everything electrical, the suitcase, well, everything! Thanks for sharing & for inspiring me to do more!

[Markz]

Originally Posted by Susan in Flagstaff

Your Boler is outstanding! Well thought out and well done! Love that your door actually fits, love the added shelving, everything electrical, the suitcase, well, everything! Thanks for sharing & for inspiring me to do more!

Thank you, I love that you find it inspiring.

[Markz]

Some links to other parts of this project: (Newest to Oldest)

How our Solar Boler electrical was re-imagined and built

Thread on working through Solar issues

Our first thread - how modifications began with video link

[Markz]

Originally Posted by basicfish

you have done a beautiful job on your Boler, I will borrow several of your ideas for my Compact Jr.
could you post more info about the kitchen vent fans? It is a super clean install, I want to copy how you built it.

thanks

Ron

I included some detailed pictures of the vent build in a video I made a while ago.

Click this Link:

1986 Boler Camper Project

[Markz]

I had some time to think about how I was going to move around the camper using its own power.

My first concern was getting it raised and lowered. Solved that by adding an electric tongue jack.

[Markz]

My next concern: How to drive my boler around the driveway without a vehicle...




Maybe someday I'll be able to post a video.

[Markz]

Here are pictures showing the new trailer coupler we welded and bolted to the frame. As far as couplers go, this one has made our towing so much nicer. It solved the bang and racket I would hear when towing with the OEM coupler, while giving be a way to security lock it up while Parked. Very pleased.

[Markz]

Camping Season Begins!!!

[Markz]

Belly band:

I created a jig to bend the 3/4" Home Depot channel. Bent four peices to wrap around the camper and pop rivited every inch or so. All It takes is time, patience and beer.

The jig is made by tracing out the curve of the body onto a peice of MDF, which is them sandwiched between two 2x4s. I used the cut out peice of MDF to squeeze the C-Channel into the jig using large C-clamps. Attachment 146025

[Markz]

Next project is upcoming.
Will be replacing 5000btu air conditioner with 6000btu unit and a softstart kit.

[Markz]

Turns out that the next project was to repair our Dometic RM211 Refrigerator whose heating element had burned out.

Happy to report its up and running; so well I can use it as an ice box if desired.

Unable to find an OEM replacement, I was able to locate a heating element which is similar to the original used in my Dometic.

I used an Astral/Frigiking 38-00426 Heating Element which runs 140w-110/12v with a 5/8" diameter tube.

It posed some difficulty in that the fridge was designed for a slightly smaller heating element. To make room for the larger diameter unit, I used a grinder to slice open the cover and cut the sleeve that retained the original element length-wise. This allowed me to pry open the sleeve and widen it for the larger heating element to fit. I wired it up; re-stuffed the fiberglass insulation; and patched up the sheet metal.

Works better than new.

The original heating element is rated at 95w and this new element is rated at 140w. For now I am limiting the thermostat to 75% power.