What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB?

[pjpvi]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

Of all the rather expensive and involved mods I've made to my van, hands down the #1 best thing I've done to my van is install a Door Talon!

Phil

 

[photographix]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

Of all the rather expensive and involved mods I've made to my van, hands down the #1 best thing I've done to my van is install a Door Talon!

Phil

:a2:

 

[JohnandMandi]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

Just installed a Door Talon yesterday, went super quick as our van obviously had one before. This beats the snot out of using a bungee cord!

-John

 

[berns378]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

without a doubt, Door Talon.

 

[photographix]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

Just over 2 years now that we got the SMB. While not perfect for the way we live, we still love it. The whole unit works fine, though there are still things we would like to add/change. But here's the 10 best additions:

1. Wife. Installation didn't require as many adjustments or adapters as I thought it would initially. Best addition to date.
2. Solar panels.
3. Kenwood head unit.
4. Homebuilt shelf/cabinet behind drivers seat. Keeps a lot of junk off the floor.
5. Carr hoop steps.
6. UltraGauge. Not as good as a ScanGauge, but cheaper and good enough for the moment.
7. Stick-on levels. Makes setting up so much quicker.
8. TREDs. A kind of Mental Insurance.
9. Indoor/Outdoor thermometer.
10. Fixing everything that was sub-optimal or broken by PO.

 

[86Scotty]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

Wow, can't believe I've never added to this. I can't think of 10 that have really made a difference, but a few have made a HUGE difference.

1. On board air. Good for so many things
2. Solar
3. 25 gallon water tank upgraded from 7
4. 45 gallon fuel tank upgraded from 30
5. Fixed ladder
6. Awning, in my case a CVT awning
7. LED bulbs throughout
8. Trasharoo. I wish I could fit two of them.
Good for storing everything you don't want in the van.

:b5:

 

[BeeDub-ClassB]

Re: What are the top 10 best things you've added to your SMB

1. Third captain's chair so my son can come with us!
2. Rear-view camera and Kenwood flat-screen DVD headunit
3. Starcool on/off switch on the dashboard
4. Upgraded speakers
5. Rear step bumper
6. LED bulbs in house fixtures

 

[Black95]

1. 12 volt air compressor with lines to underhood and rear bumper
2. LED lights in house fixtures
3. Backup camera
4. Seat/Door open buzzer switch over-ride
5. Hot wired power windows vs. ignition key operated ones standard
6. Velcro screen door on side doors
7. mp3 player adapter for the FM antenna
8. transmission temperature gauge
9. extra map pockets and cup holders
10. altimeter

 

[86Scotty]

Wow, can't believe I've never added to this. I can't think of 10 that have really made a difference, but a few have made a HUGE difference.

1. On board air. Good for so many things
2. Solar
3. 25 gallon water tank upgraded from 7
4. 45 gallon fuel tank upgraded from 30
5. Fixed ladder
6. Awning, in my case a CVT awning
7. LED bulbs throughout
8. Trasharoo. I wish I could fit two of them.
Good for storing everything you don't want in the van.

:b5:

I have no idea how I only got to 8 the first time. I can easily add 4 more.

9. BIG Truckfridge. Can't say enough.
10. Winch. Not only have I pulled down about 5 trees but it seriously increases your comfort level when exploring with an SMB as intended.
11. Window (bug) screens
theskeeterbeater.com I just noticed today that they even have an SMB on their homepage.
12. RIP suspension upgrade

 

[daveb-SMB]

I understand we all have different views when it comes to what our requirements are and a lot hinges on where you want to go. I couldn't live without my Espar heater or similar. I do wish SMB would have done better with the water system routing for winter conditions. And Eric I take it on board air is your A/C??? Not like it gets hot in your neck of the woods

 

[86Scotty]

Oh no Dave, I meant on-board air as in the compressor and outlets on the front and rear bumpers. My air conditioning setup has only been used once. If it's hot enough to need it I probably ain't going camping!

:b5:

 

[stevovenice]

very helpful thank you

 

[daveb-SMB]

Oh no Dave, I meant on-board air as in the compressor and outlets on the front and rear bumpers. My air conditioning setup has only been used once. If it's hot enough to need it I probably ain't going camping!

:b5:

I wondered considering how hot it gets there are in your area... or is that just humidity. Either or, I avoid both.

 

[Jdkh2001]

Hi Ed do you still have the old Fiamma awning and is it for sale.

 

[adworksdh]

I'm curious about the caster shims. Do they help preventing the van from "wandering"? Or just help keep it aligned. My Van wanders less than before I had Quad Van 4x4 installed, but still more than I like. It is also worse now with Michelin ATs than it was with BFG ATs, but after 2 tread separations on 2 successive sets of BFGs in under 30k, I had to give up on them.

 

[Pete-SMB]

1. Agile RiP kit
2. Projector HID headlights
3. Upgraded head unit with Bluetooth and backup camera
4. Door Talon
5. Scanguage
6. Toyo Open Country M/T’s
7. Viair air compressor
8. New house battery
9. LED interior lights

 

[ctb]

I'm curious about the caster shims. Do they help preventing the van from "wandering"? Or just help keep it aligned. My Van wanders less than before I had Quad Van 4x4 installed, but still more than I like. It is also worse now with Michelin ATs than it was with BFG ATs, but after 2 tread separations on 2 successive sets of BFGs in under 30k, I had to give up on them.

John at Quadvan set me up with Goodyear Wranglers (told him we like driving on beaches [Outerbanks, NC, Texas from Corpus Cristi to just before Galveston, Cali etc...] and he stated that he did too and he chose Wranglers b/c you can easily air down to 15psi for beach driving and his sets always are pretty quiet for off road tires, though he said they were a little softer (rubber) than others and would need to be replaced 10-20k before others...but "Who doesn't love new rubber on their ride?" is what he said lolol, true....we are now on second set...got 50k on last and probably could have driven longer on them. BUT, we have NO WONDERING! They hold their balance well!

 

[dar636]

1. Large rear bumper galley box (Aluminess)
2. Projector HID headlights
3. 9000lb winch
4. Door Talon
5. Scanguage
6. Fridge/Interior thermometer
7. Air compressor in galley box
8. Portable solar panels to house battery via trailer light plug
9. LED interior lights (including former fourescents)
10. Permanently mounted bubble levels

Honorable mention: Composting toilet, hard mounted volt meter, shower curtain assy on rear doors, awning, aluminess bumpers (storage), coolant filter.

 

[doublevan2]

Greetings dar636 -

I'd be interested in the set up of your trailer light plug for portable solar panels - is that a custom plug by "yours truly" - off the shelf, etc. Send details ? I currently have a Zamp plug near my propane vent (far enough so won't melt !). Thanks for any info/photos !

 

[loper]

1. Fiberine high top
2. Interior build (bed/cabinets/counter/fridge)
3. Electrical (batteries/Redarc/solar)
4. Monstaliner paint
5. Aluminess bumper
6. 4X4 conversion
7. Kitchen box
8. Propex heater
9. Side steps
10. 270 awning