Great West: The Rest of the Story (long) - Page 3

avanti · 01-01-2017, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshetl

Those are all nice and look great. Did they install the larger bed then, once the space was made available? If so I don't think I'll be able to do that of course.

No, same bed. The carpeted ledge provides the extra length for me. Works fine.

You would have to do some carpentry on the cabinets. Probably easiest to just build a new one. Our large drawers are bigger than the standard ones. The counter top is unchanged, though. I have found that even significant modifications are usually not as big a deal as they seem, once you get into them.

cshetl · 01-01-2017, 02:08 AM

Ah I see. Thanks. Well, I am going to visit with these folks here about making the unit all electric -- Conversion Specialists | Custom Vehicles | Creative Mobile Interiors -- I was already considering changing the countertop to corian as well, so this will probably now be on the list too

Davydd · 01-01-2017, 03:40 PM

Why would you want to change the countertop to Corian? GWVan used Avonite which is a solid surface acrylic resin same as Corian but generally better looking as a stone substitute. Avonite may be a tad lighter than Corian as well which is a major plus.

avanti · 01-01-2017, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshetl

I am going to visit with these folks here about making the unit all electric

We essentially did the same thing: Added a second engine alternator and doubled our battery capacity to 440Ah. Already had a big inverter, compressor fridge and, of course, the Espar. We didn't actually pull the propane genset, but we may do so eventually, since we almost never use it. That leaves only the propane cooktop. We like that, so we will probably never actually remove the propane tank. Probably will have to fill it once a decade.

BTW: If you are adding more batteries, you may be tempted to add them to the rear storage compartment. That is what we did:
IMG_7509.jpeg

Still lots of storage space:
IMG_7512.jpeg

HOWEVER, it turns out the that big compartment wasn't designed for this purpose, and can't quite bear the weight. It looks just like the battery compartments, but the lip of the box is mounted under the deck via many sheet-metal screws (the battery boxes have the lip resting above the deck). Ours started to pull away, so I fabricated a steel bracket which fixed the problem:
IMG_6375.jpg

IMG_6587.jpg

booster · 01-01-2017, 04:37 PM

We have done similar to Avanti, but with a Chevy 190 gasser. 440ah of batteries, 530 amps of alternators, 2000watt/100amp inverter charger, 300 watts solar. We did remove the generator, and have not missed it a bit, but we don't have pets, and rarely use air conditioning at all.

We have propane hot water and heat, as well as cooktop, but even if we didn't, we would keep the onboard propane, as we do nearly 100% of our cooking outside on a gas grill, or sometimes a propane stove, off a hose to the van. No way we could go all electric as we wouldn't want to deal with all the little, wasteful, bottles.

Everybody has different things that the can easily give up, and things they really want/need to have, so there really isn't a right or wrong to how things are equipped.

Squarepeg · 01-05-2019, 02:59 PM

It's been a while since anyone posted in this thread. We've been looking at Class B vans for a while. I came across a used 2008 Great West Titan and am impressed with the layout, the size of the bathroom and all the storage. Apparently the 2008 was made years before the company was sold to Sterling, so my hope would be that it was a quality build. It has a weird Cool Cat heat pump that I've never seen before. I'd consider installing a different heater and A/C since I've read that the heat pump is only functional for A/C if plugged in to shore power. And we boondock most of the time.

Is anyone familiar with the Titan? Thoughts to share?

mumkin · 01-05-2019, 04:26 PM

Yes, this small Class C came out when Marty (the original owner) was still running the company. I considered the Titan and had talked to them about making it with their traditional side sofa floor plan. Their builds were always quality...

Personally I love the little cool cat heat pump. I had it in my Roadtrek 170 and it does a great job of heating and cooling. Is there no propane furnace for back-up? Does it not have a generator to run the Cool Cat when boondocking? I assume that it was an option.

Personally I would not consider this a boondock vehicle, but considered it because I almost never do so.

jjustj · 02-06-2019, 05:40 AM

whats this? and uses?

mumkin · 02-06-2019, 06:01 AM

I have actually added these to my rigs. It is for hanging clothes. For instance I had a bar in my shower to hang clothes in my Libero. If one wanted to use the shower, I had three of these over the bed that I could transfer the hangers onto.

gregmchugh · 02-06-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mumkin

I have actually added these to my rigs. It is for hanging clothes. For instance I had a bar in my shower to hang clothes in my Libero. If one wanted to use the shower, I had three of these over the bed that I could transfer the hangers onto.

Never seen those, any info on the brand or a link? My wife will want some...

@Michael · 02-06-2019, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregmchugh

Never seen those, any info on the brand or a link? My wife will want some...

https://www.organizedobie.com/Clothes-Hangers

gregmchugh · 02-06-2019, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by @Michael

https://www.organizedobie.com/Clothes-Hangers

Thanks, they only show it in black but hopefully it is still available in white...

DUTCH in Atlanta · 02-06-2019, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregmchugh

Never seen those, any info on the brand or a link? My wife will want some...

They are standard equipment over the convertible sofa in the Coachmen Galleria.

mumkin · 02-06-2019, 04:50 PM

Took me some googling, and it is probably available elsewhere too, but here is the one that I found first... I have 3 of them...

https://www.hannarv.com/P/24063/Clot...ownClothesRack

gregmchugh · 02-06-2019, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mumkin

Took me some googling, and it is probably available elsewhere too, but here is the one that I found first... I have 3 of them...

https://www.hannarv.com/P/24063/Clot...ownClothesRack

Thanks, I did find that one which is the same idea but is thicker than the one shown in the pictures above. I found the one in pictures in black at a couple places and white at one place.

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