Jayco 28BHS Mods

[JLSheldon]

This is great information! Thank you!

[Subaru297]

Glad you found it useful.

Cheers

[Subaru297]

New Maxair Installation/New Hole in my roof!
I finally got around to installing an additional vent fan in our trailer. Before this we had the one exhaust fan in the bathroom that we had upgraded to a Fantastic Fan which was a great upgrade.
This fan could create a good breeze in the trailer but it left the bunkbed area alone and it got pretty stuffy up there so I wanted to install another fan over the bunkbed area.

First step was to get the roof blueprints from Jayco which they sent promptly after I sent them my VIN.



After mulling this over and having a chat with DW we decided on a good location to install the fan. I wanted it near the head of the bed so we could reach the controls without crawling into the bed. She wanted it near the foot of the bed so it wasn't as noisy over our daughters head. "We" decided to put it at the foot of the bed. This also gives better air circulation.

Measured it up and marked the roof with masking tape.



Then after a little pep talk I sliced open our roof



I drilled a few holes to get the jigsaw started and created an exploratory hole. Once I located the roof joist I double checked my measurements and cut out a 14" square butted up against the roof joist.







I got lucky and had a few wires to choose from running accross the hole I just cut. i had planned to pull wire from a nearby light but didn't need to. I did need to cut and lengthen both of these sets of wires though.





Once I rerouted the wires I drilled 4 holes in the remaining luan covering the hole. Then I went into the bunkbed and cut the luan with a box cutter. Very easy to cut. With the hole complete I added a bit of framing around the 3 sides of the hole mostly so the screws from the fan would have something to grip into. Not really for structural reasons.



Stapled down the extra flaps of roof material and test fit the new fan. I had connected the power as well so tested the function too.



All was good so back up to the roof to lift the fan out and install some butyl tape and screw it down!

To be continued......

[Subaru297]

Part II
Here is the butyl tape laid down and the fan screwed down...





Then back into the trailer to measure and cut the trim piece to fit. Attached the trim piece and played with the fan some more to double check everything.



One last trip up to the roof armed with some Dicor......



All done!

This was actually easier than I was expecting. Probably because I had very easy access to power but nothing else unexpected arose and it was pretty straight forward. A bit of cleaning after we were done and we took it back to the storage yard. Hopefully we will get to test the new mod out soon.

Cheers

[SkyBound]

Fantastic work! I don't think I could fathom cutting a hole in my roof like that although I would take a second roof vent in a heart beat. Which model of Fantastic Fan did you use in the bathroom install? Can you send me a link where you bought it from? I'm also in Canada and always looking for a good price on these parts.

[Subaru297]

I think this is the Fantastic Fan we bought...
Create-a-Breeze Fan - Dometic 801200 - Fans - Camping World

Although I would recommend the Maxxair over it. It is worth the extra few bucks.
https://www.campingworld.ca/shopping...rd-4000k/55476

You get 10 speeds, reversible, thermostat control, and ceiling fan mode (operates with the lid closed). The Maxxair is also noticeably quieter.

Shipping is pretty reasonable from campingworld. Vent covers are cheap on Amazon.ca but the fans are pretty expensive. Campingworld has good deals I think.

Cheers

[JLSheldon]

Did you install an inverter to run your AC outlets off solar (battery)? I'm about to install solar and your post was very helpful. Just haven't figured how to run the inverter. Thinking of running from inverter and putting a 30 amp outlet on outside and plugging the trailer into itself basically. Kinda hokey but I think it'd be easier then trying to wire into individual outlets or into the electric panel.

[Subaru297]

Hello,

Sorry for not seeing your question earlier. I thought I had notifications on for this thread but I guess not.

I have installed a 600W inverter and I also installed 2 dedicated outlets attached to the inverter. I did not explore connecting the whole trailer to the inverter at this time and probably won't ever need it. Usually it is just used for charging laptops and cell phones and occasionally the crock pot so we just plug things in in the bedroom. No need for 110volts throughout the trailer for us.

If I had a bigger inverter that could power the microwave I would consider that but I think the microwave may be getting removed anyway and making some shelves in that area.

Did you get your solar installed?

[Subaru297]

We were dewinterizing the trailer last weekend and my wife asked how easy it is to remove the microwave to see what we have to work with. A couple hours later and we have some new shelves there and lots of good shelf space!
The microwave is really easy to remove. Four screws in the corners and it slides out. Then it looks like this....


I also dropped the vent hood as it was attached to some boards cobbled together under the microwave.
I then knocked out the panel that was above the microwave and removed the divider. I also added a few supports around the inside of the opening for the new shelf as well as a new piece of plywood for the bottom of the opening as it is just luan on the base.




I also added a small support to the backside of the divider I removed and then screwed it back in slightly lower down.



I actually placed the mid level shelf in first before replacing the middle support bar so I didn't have to put the shelf in in two pieces. It all went back together pretty well and I now have two solid shelves in place of the microwave that we never used. This will help immensely with our counter space! When it was done I stapled some anti slip mats to the bottom shelf. The only thing we need is another little bar to keep stuff from falling out while travelling but I need another piece of wood that matches a bit better. It could also use a false wall at the back to cover up the wires but once the shelf is full I don't think this will bother us at all. The microwave wires are capped and coiled under the bottom shelf as this outlet wasn't needed anymore.



One other addition was to add a cook top cover to add some more counter space as well.



Cheers

[blwright]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

One other addition was to add a cook top cover to add some more counter space as well.

Attachment 31565

Cheers

Where'd you find the cover?

[Subaru297]

It was on Amazon.ca but is available from other stores as well as Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43554-U.../dp/B000EDSSMA
RV Universal Fit Stove Top Cover - Camco
Black Universal Stove Top Cover - Camco 43554 - Counter & Stove Tops - Camping World

And you do have to drill some small holes into the counter along the back to install it. Very easy to install though.

Cheers

[Nukeneck]

Great solar panel mod Subaru. It's obvious you have some serious carpentry skills with that and all your other mods. I'm curious as to how well the panel and components are holding up inside your front pass through storage. In my trailer I keep a lot of items up there and it seems as though the parts might be susceptible to damage although there really isn't any other place to install a panel like that without taking up valuable cabinet storage. Please don't take this as critiquing your work, I'm just genuinely curious as I may tackle something similar in the near future

[Subaru297]

I wouldn't say my carpentry skills are anything to brag about. But thanks for the compliment.
As for my solar equipment I do actually have a cage around it all made from a plastic milk carton. It keeps everything safe. Everything is holding up really well and we are still happy with all the mods. We actually installed another panel on the roof as well last weekend to help out when we get very shaded campsites. Installed at the tail end of the trailer as the other two panels are at the front.

Cheers

[blwright]

Originally Posted by Subaru297

It was on Amazon.ca but is available from other stores as well as Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43554-U.../dp/B000EDSSMA
RV Universal Fit Stove Top Cover - Camco
Black Universal Stove Top Cover - Camco 43554 - Counter & Stove Tops - Camping World

And you do have to drill some small holes into the counter along the back to install it. Very easy to install though.

Cheers

Thanks!

[blakei]

Hi all! This is an older thread, but rather than start a new one, I thought I'd share a couple of 2020 Jayco BHS mods that I've done.


First, the truck & trailer:

[blakei]

First mod that I found helpful - I removed one battery (not shown) and removed one propane tank to help on my quest to manage tongue weight. Built up this bracket based on a photo I saw on another forum:

[blakei]

We really didn't like the overly bright light in from the LED dinette light. So I installed this beautiful quartz shade:



Where did I find it, you ask? The LED light is cool enough that I taped a piece of brown paper grocery bag around it! Not as awesome in the daytime but we don't mind it.

[blakei]

Based on user PaulB12's photos, I made some "PMT" stabilizers -- Poor Man's Trapezoid aka Valterra stabilizers. These are AMAZING and really reduce trailer motion.