Back to Tweaking .....
As per my Thread on Motorhomer.com, following my trip away I found a few things I could improve or enhance the Autotrail Motorhome (
https://motorhomer.com/threads/montys-english-invasion.44185/page-3#post-235471).
TV Signal.
As noted in the thread, I fitted an External TV and Sat Connection Box to allow easy connection to site provided services.
I also bought a new Status Aerial Booster. Changed from a VP2 to a VP4 - the VP4 has a built-in signal strength indicator which allows faster initial setup ready to tune in the TV and do fine-tuning.
I also fitted this by the aerial mast so I can both see the light and remember to turn it on (a number of times I totally forgot to turn the old booster on as it is in a different cupboard
).
An annoying feature of the VP4 compared to the VP2 is the use of Type-F Satellite Connectors instead of the more usual Co-Ax Plugs, meaning the swapout needed the cable ends redoing
Overhead Cab Bed
As mentioned on the Motorhomer thread, got the drop-down fleece for quick privacy.
Now I use the Overhead Bed as the main bed and something that I found missing was the easy ability to plug in a phone charger. There is a 12V socket at the foot of the bed for the small TV and I used that with a long lead but was not ideal, so today I fitted a USB by the top end which should be much more handy
External Lights
At Stratford, I noticed that Fijit, a 2004 Autotrail Apache, has apparently the same Awning/Porch light as me, but whereas his provides illumination, mine is doing a poor impersonation of an anemic glowworm
Had to wait until I got home to investigate and found it had been somewhat adapted from original , but subesquently played out due to rubbish LEDs (I have the same G4 LEDs in various fittings and they are all failing!)
So starting position is this ....
Apart from the poor LEDs, the electronics at the top were for the original Floro' tube so not needed and no supports for any bulbs.
Decided to use the same base light fitting but gutting the inside and make up some kind of support setup for a new config...
Using some trunking I made a support for some new G4 disc bulbs; fitted a 12V Regulator to avoid overdriving the new LEDs; and a Remote Wireless Relay for a bit of extra functionality
. This is the device on the left - I also fitted a Wi-Fi Controller (at the bottom) but relocated that (more on that later on
)
Mounted this back on the Van and works nicely. Looks original, and when I hit the "Aux" button on the Sargent Control Panel, the light comes on as you would expect. I also have a remote control that then lets me turn the light off and on as I want. But the key thing is that the light always comes on when power to the light is first applied, so the remote is optional and by default it works as Autotrail intended
(ignore the wires hanging around - they are no longer there)
Now also at Stratford, I was impressed with
@Bouydog 's Awning Strip Light and decided to fit one to Monty. I thought I would use the same kind of system I used on the Overland Camperbus but a more up-to-date strip.
Using a slim Aluminium Channel and diffuser, I fitted the strip right under the Awning and am very pleased with the appearance
And its operation.
It's a multi-colour strip, so any colour you like including white, but all the other RGB combos and at varying brightness of course.
Not a great video, but this shows the installation ...
What I really like about this Striplight setup is it uses the "Magic Home" App, which allows control via a Phone App, but also links into the Amazon Alexa universe. So I can control it via the Amazon Echo in the van ("Alexa, turn the Awning Light on", "Alexa, turn the Awning Red" (or blue, or Cyan, or ... etc.), via Alexa on the phone, either via Voice Command or selecting a routine, or even on any Echo device in the house even though it is on a totally different network. Pretty cool
I think that is about all the changes made? Roadtrip in the van worked very well and very happy with the Motorhome
