Mods to 377 RLBH?

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

That is a very wise placement Tom. Now the bunk will get its much deserved air, much more so than the anemic factory ceiling register.

So the 2016s didn’t get the cabinet space above the closet like the 2017s?
My edition:
Attachment 42300

If this was yours to start how would you have done it differently?

No cabinets in the 2016. No shoe rack or cubbies either.

If I had the cabinets like you do, I would have to use one of the cubbies (top one) for the extra vent and close it off with a piece of thin plywood.

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by Stevek10

Has anyone come up with an idea to span the awnings or somehow keep the stairs dry. This is the rainiest camping season I've ever been in, just over 4" in the past 10 hours, and it kills me that the door is at the edge of the awning. Any suggestions would be awesome.

Don’t think there’s anything you can do. They didn’t think about that when they designed the trailer.

[Magnolia Tom]

Update on 3rd AC install:

Got my parts today. Unit is up and running! I replaced the 15/15 breaker for the fireplace/washer with a 15/20. My WD unit is plugged into the dryer outlet so no issue deleting the washer circuit. Installed t-stat (temporary one in white as the black didn’t get delivered)

I can only run 2 ACs at a time on my 30 amp outlet at home but I made some interesting discoveries. Running the loft AC alone gets decent air at all vents except for bunk. Main AC and bedroom AC gets excellent airflow to the bunkhouse and all vents. Bedroom AC and bunk AC makes the bedroom vents feel like your car AC on high (serious air flow!) but bunk feels less than when running LR and BR ACs. I’ll be excited to see how all three running at once works.

It is 96 today with 107 heat index. Trailer started at 95. I have some shade and trailer is not baking in full sun. Within 30 minutes, it was at 88 and at 78 in an hour. Have to attribute the quick cool down to the added chill grill in the loft and the additional vent in the bunk house. I believe that adding extra vents to the 377 (without a third AC) would really help the ACs performance. Kind of like removing the flow restrictor from a shower head.

Wednesday will be the true test as I’ll be taking it camping at a nearby park that has limited shade and I’ll test all three at the same time.

[Dskyward]

Nice report Tom. Glad things are looking positive on the 3rd ac. Anxious to hear the report from a 50a hookup.

So you are able to run 2 ac’s on a 30 amp hookup? I didn’t think that was possible, and I’ve not ever tried it. Was the refer running and outdoor fridge on during your testing?

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

Nice report Tom. Glad things are looking positive on the 3rd ac. Anxious to hear the report from a 50a hookup.

So you are able to run 2 ac’s on a 30 amp hookup? I didn’t think that was possible, and I’ve not ever tried it. Was the refer running and outdoor fridge on during your testing?

Yes, I can run 2 units on 30 amps. I do not have the outdoor fridge...took it out to use the space for storage. I did have the refer running but I turned it off because my EMS was showing 28-29 amps with the two units running on the same leg. I left it on when I had 2 units on different legs running.

[Dskyward]

Legs...that gets technical for me, a simple carpenter. So now with 3 ac’s, each is on its own leg, and three legs total is how it’s wired? I apologize for asking too many questions. I know I’ll have trouble following this even when I can add and subtract well.

[Magnolia Tom]

The 50 amp service has 2 “legs” or circuits if you will, powering the trailer. You have a total of 100 amps at 120V (instead of 50 amps at 240V).

On one leg, I have 2 ACs, the other leg has one. You couldn’t really have all 3 on the same leg without risk of tripping the breaker.

If you look at your breaker box labels, it shows what items are (or should be) on each leg. Just have to make sure one side isn’t overloaded.

So on mine, I put the third AC with the leg that has the fireplace, living room AC, refer/inverter...2 high amp appliances but I won’t use fireplace and AC at the same time.

The other leg had 3 high amp draw appliances like the micro, electric water heater and BR AC.

[Dskyward]

I wasn’t aware that 50 amp hookups had 240 volts. Thanks for the explanation, this helps in beginning to understand the complexity involved with these rigs. So, curious, does your dryer pull 240 volts?

[Magnolia Tom]

No, the dryer is 120V.
That’s why it takes so long to dry, lol! We actually don’t use the WD that much. Only if we are on long trips or need to wash sandy swimsuits/towels when camping at the beach

[Dskyward]

I wondered about the dryers used in RVs and followed your nice install, but never learned if they were 240 or 120. I’ve heard the dry times are quite long and capacities of RV washers and dryers are quite small compared to what homeowners are used to.

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by Dskyward

I wondered about the dryers used in RVs and followed your nice install, but never learned if they were 240 or 120. I’ve heard the dry times are quite long and capacities of RV washers and dryers are quite small compared to what homeowners are used to.

Yep, the capacity is pretty small. I think the DW can only wash 2-3 towels at a time. Shirts, underwear, shorts, and socks can be washed about 2-3 of each in a load.

[aggie camper]

Tom, if you can share any pictures of the AC install, I would appreciate it. Am I understanding correctly that you added the 3rd ac to the duct system?


I have a 16 377 and want to put a direct dump with a switch in the kitchen vent port.


I want to thank you all as well. Have been slowly working on some of the mods. Bunk ladder, hatch magnets, removed the storage tray, sealed ducts and put the Valterra stinky slinky under the rear of trailer.

[bdreinv]

Finally new clear glass for camper door only took me 3 years! Will wait until Saturday to install 115 in Phoenix today! Uggh

[UpstateNYer]

Originally Posted by Stevek10

Has anyone come up with an idea to span the awnings or somehow keep the stairs dry. This is the rainiest camping season I've ever been in, just over 4" in the past 10 hours, and it kills me that the door is at the edge of the awning. Any suggestions would be awesome.

My idea has been to get a tension rod similar to what they use for screen rooms like a patty o room.. And get a side panel as well.. Put the panel onto the tension rod and run the it from the top of the awning at the camper to the tube just as installing the screen room... It kills me that I threw away a damaged screen room from our last camper. I had 1 good tension rod and 1 good end panel... grrrrrr. Haven't had luck finding a used one on ebay etc.... If I do I will post here..

would only use the rear side panel and attach bottom of panel to my deck..

[Magnolia Tom]

Originally Posted by aggie camper

Tom, if you can share any pictures of the AC install, I would appreciate it. Am I understanding correctly that you added the 3rd ac to the duct system?


I have a 16 377 and want to put a direct dump with a switch in the kitchen vent port.


I want to thank you all as well. Have been slowly working on some of the mods. Bunk ladder, hatch magnets, removed the storage tray, sealed ducts and put the Valterra stinky slinky under the rear of trailer.

Aggie

Yes, I installed the third AC in the loft. I have it ducted in with the other 2 units. You have to fabricate the duct connection between the unit and the main ducting. I got mine to match the bedroom AC, so it has a chill grill. If you want to put it in the kitchen to replace the fantastic fan without ducting it, you’d have a simpler install. You could use the chill grill but just have it open all the time.
Here’s a couple more pictures of the install
Also, if you’re having trouble getting air to the bunkhouse, consider adding the extra vent.

First pic you can see the main ducting
Second pic shows that you’ll need some extra blocking around perimeter of the vent opening
Third pic shows the wiring of the t-stat to the control box. The white wire should be grey but my 18/5 wire didn’t come with grey
Fourth pic shows how the AC gets ducted into the main duct run. I used some metal flashing and taped it up with some window tape (kinda like eternabond for home construction)
Final picture is the extra vent I added to the bunkhouse

Good luck and Gig em!

[Magnolia Tom]

Update on 3rd AC....


Got to the campground today around 2:15. Today was cooler than last week but still 96 with heat index of 101. Humidity is 36%.
No shade at my site.

Inside camper was 94. After setting up, turned on all 3 units around 2:45

In 45 minutes, living room thermostat shows 83.
Kids are already complaining it’s cold in the bunk! Lol!!!

I would say it is a worthwhile mod if you camp in hot weather.

Here is my readings off the EMS with all 3 ACs running on high, residential fridge, electric water heater, 2 TVs with 2 Xbox game consoles been played.

Leg 1– 23 amps
Leg 2–36 amps

Showing 116-117 volts

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Update on 3rd AC....


Got to the campground today around 2:15. Today was cooler than last week but still 96 with heat index of 101. Humidity is 36%.
No shade at my site.

Inside camper was 94. After setting up, turned on all 3 units around 2:45

In 45 minutes, living room thermostat shows 83.
Kids are already complaining it’s cold in the bunk! Lol!!!

I would say it is a worthwhile mod if you camp in hot weather.

Here is my readings off the EMS with all 3 ACs running on high, residential fridge, electric water heater, 2 TVs with 2 Xbox game consoles been played.

Leg 1– 23 amps
Leg 2–36 amps

Showing 116-117 volts

You’re killing me Tom! I was saving for the joyrider shocks and now I think I’m gonna have to change to saving for the 3rd low profile Mach!

Although it’s been pretty decent weather here in FL. The RV has been maintaining 70* every day without problem. The DW has been freezing me out of the bedroom at night turning it down to 64! I do have a fair amount of shade, which makes all the difference.

[Magnolia Tom]

Lol Dan!

You’re right, shade makes a world of difference. But think of how nice it would be next time you go to the Grand Canyon or Palo duro and you’ve got 3 ACs keeping you cool. I’m very happy with it.
One minor gripe however. The 3rd AC does add extra noise inside the camper. It’s the same as the bedroom but it’s easier to hear when you’re watching tv in the living room. But I can live with that....I’m now comfy and cool

[aggie camper]

Great info. No reason to not have 4! I like the idea of a direct dump for quick cool and a backup for the main. Thanks

[Dskyward]

Congrats again on the successful ac mod, Tom. You’re now the COOLEST 377 out there! But how is your shock absorbers mod going? Have you done a trip on a roller coaster highway to examine if you have considerably less chucking? Our MI trip back to Ft Wayne last week had my chest bouncing up n down to where we both had to grab hold of our breasts from the extreme oscillations. I don’t have JoyRiders yet and wanting them, but yet I’ve been reading reviews about the https://roadslesstraveled.us/morryde...railer-towing/ upgrade. I’m wondering if it’ll raise the height from the CRE 3000 EQ?

This is what I had to do yesterday concerning repairing the forward skirting on the passenger side:

All but one screw (at the landing gear) was holding to the aluminum trim rail. All we’re missing back to the mid stabilizer. I’ve rescrewed these and added a couple screws late last year and now they’re gone. So we take the coach to Jayco on Monday for our last warranty service, and this is my best fix to date:

3” Gorilla tape.