Trailer Lights

Two years ago I built a car hauler. As far as road manners go it's been one of the most well behaved trailers I've ever had. What hasn't worked so well were the tail lights. They were the typical off-the-shelf product just like these.

The problem was: they weren't reliable. The bayonet bulb holders didn't maintain good contact. I had to remove the lens to fuss with one/both bulbs at least once every trip it seemed. So I replaced both with LED versions. Hopefully they will prove more durable. Time will tell. They're brighter, regardless. So it's already a value add.

Maxx Fan

One requirement for lil' yeti's makeover was fresh air. The Scamp originally had a ceiling vent. It was actually pretty neat technology in some ways. I just wasn't satisfied with how it was installed. Roof integrity was compromised by the old vent. The roof had actually sunk enough around the old vent to leak water inside when it rained. Unacceptable.

I removed the old vent in 2015 while summering in the precipitous White Mountains of NH. The roof hole was patched over. During the patch the ceiling was propped up and reinforced with extra fiberglass inside to correct and maintain proper shell geometry. Leak begone, permanently!

Propane System

Lil' yeti already had hardware for securing twin LP tanks on its tongue.

While adequate for its task, I wasn't satisfied. The sheet metal base was just flexible enough. Amplified leverage of the tall center rod let the tanks rock fore-aft in their base. Four sheet metal screws didn't seem durable enough to me. Sometimes rough road vibrations worked loose the clamp bracket on top under the big wing nut. Didn't loosen up a lot. Just enough to bug me.

Hang Ups

Last year I found a nifty tire hanger at an RV surplus place near Elkhart, IN.

It's a winch type piece of hardware like that typically used on pickup trucks (and some SUVs) to stow the spare tire under the rear end between the axle and bumper. A crank mechanism makes it easy to raise and lower.

Stove Tech

Like most RVs lil' yeti has a propane stove. No oven, just two burners that strike a nice balance. Gas burners get my large skillet hot enough to fry! Yet the flame can be turned low to gently simmer. LP cooking works especially well for off-grid boondocking. Built in means always ready for travel. Plus self defense of counter space in such a tiny space. It's a keeper.

That said, it's not perfect. Burning any fuel makes heat of course. In hot weather, I'm sometimes reluctant to cook inside and opt for cold supper instead. Of course proper ventilation is a must. Exhaust fumes are mainly carbon dioxide and water vapor (like we exhale). So long as the flame stays blue it's safe. Still, extra moisture can become a problem in some climates. So there's room for improvement.