"garage inventions"

[markopolo]

On the RVT.com Blog I read a post Re: Outlook 2010: Let the Sun Shine In - the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's 47th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY. The blog post by RVPro is titled "RVers Convening in Kentucky"

Link: http://www.rvt.com/blog/rv-news/rvers-c ... -kentucky/

The sentence that caught my eye was: "Many of these “garage inventions” are now being applied to mainstream RV manufacture." One of the primary goals of ClassBForum.com is to find and bring to the forefront these "garage inventions" and to make them easier for others to find. Browse through our
Tweaks, Mods & Projects section and you will find many brilliant ideas.

I think it is fantastic when these ideas make it to production RV's. The manufacturers refine them and make these conveniences available to those that can't or prefer not to do it themselves. I suspect some of the following ideas were first "garage inventions" and then made it into production.

Macerators:

Wilton's permanent macerator - Link: http://windsurf.mediaforte.com/roadtrek ... _Pump.html - was well though out and implemented.

Reclining lounge:

Benny's reclining lounge is a great idea for a Class B RV. Link: http://www.waskomtexas.com/RV/couch-bed/index.html



Leisure Travel Van's Chevy based Free Flight has something similar:



Solar:

I bet individual RV'ers started adding solar panels before the manufacturers.

Rear slide-out:

When forum member lightspeed posted about a Class B Van with a rear slide-out I was amazed at the ingenuity and effort that must have gone into that “garage invention”.



Roadtrek's new SS Ideal is similar:



As mentioned above, I think it is fantastic when these ideas make it to production RV's. Sharing ideas for the benefit of others is another reason why RV forums are here.

Can you think of any other ideas that have made it into production RV's?

[dadsfolk]

Great topic, marcopolo. When I saw the picture of the home-made slide-out, it triggered a memory of something in Roadtrek's description of the SS-Ideal - namely the following quote:

Inside the brand new SS-Ideal you’ll find the industry’s first and only slide room out the rear doors of a class B (patent pending).

The picture you reference may be a key demonstration of prior art in some future lawsuit...

[visionquest]

Great thread! I love checking out everyones various clever ideas! I am sure that the factory designers have read every potential source when trying to come up with innovative ideas for the new rigs, this forum probably supplies them a ton of great ideas! Of course they will all be claimed as original probably

It doesn't ever matter to me where a particular idea comes from. I am just happy to see the lifestyle we love so much getting more and more comfortable and new great options being created!

-Mike
97 Roadtrek 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
http://vantramps.blogspot.com

[visionquest]

I emailed Roadtrek this morning and sent them a link to my shower re-engineering blog. I don't know if they will think it is a good idea or not, but they quickly responded and the person on the other end of the net "Dawn" was very positive and kind and liked what we had done. She sent all the info on to engineering. Who knows? Maybe they will like it and my effort will benefit more than just the wife and I. That would be very cool!

I can't say enough about that company though! Good stuff!

-Mike & Heidi
97 Roadtrek 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
http://www.vantramps.com