| Our new bug out vehicle is a Dolphin Motor Home | | | | my 12 volt coffee pot. |
| which has some 116,000 miles on it and it is still running | | | | As soon as the weather warms up I intend to do a |
| strong. It takes a lot to kill those old 22R Toyota | | | | major inspection on the roof of the RV to ensure it's in |
| engines. We purchased our Dolphin for use as a BOV | | | | good condition. I will be sealing it completely with some |
| in the early part of 2010. It is a model 400 which places | | | | type of mildew resistant coating such as Henry |
| the sofa behind the driver seat and the bathroom in | | | | Solaflex 287. |
| the rear. Like anyone else who owns a motor home | | | | The six tires on the unit are still useable, however I plan |
| we take pride in the modifications that we have | | | | to start saving now for the purchase of new |
| planned for our Dolphin BOV. All modifications listed | | | | Yokohama 356- 185R14- 8ply. |
| here are planned for our own use only and we will not | | | | On our trips around the country we will continue to use |
| be responsible for anyone else's use of these | | | | our cell phone as it only costs us approximately $59.00 |
| modifications. | | | | for unlimited air time. For our internet use we employ a |
| One of the first planned changes will be to replace the | | | | Verizon wireless modem at a rate of $60.00 per |
| standard rear view mirror with one of JC Whitney's | | | | month for 50 gig of bandwidth. Since our laptop and |
| Day Night Rear View Mirrors (Model 18410G). This unit | | | | netbook are internet ready we make use of free WiFi |
| costs only $17.99 but replaces the existing windshield | | | | when we can. |
| mounted mirror easily. It is available in three different | | | | Our GPS system is a Tom-Tom unit. To be honest I |
| widths and is approximately 2 inches high. It comes | | | | don't know how I ever survived without it. It makes |
| with a black housing complimented with distortion-less | | | | trips easier and trouble free. It took me a bit to get to |
| glass. It features an adjustable stem. All you have to | | | | the point where I trusted Tom-Tom instructions, but |
| do is flip a switch in order to change from a normal | | | | now that problem is a thing of the past. |
| day time view to a reduced glare night time view. The | | | | We all use batteries for everything from hand held |
| unit mounts to the original bracket or you can use the | | | | devices to MP-3 players and the best thing you can |
| enclosed mounting bracket. Detailed instructions are | | | | possibly get is a solar powered battery charger. sells |
| included. | | | | an SBC (NiMH) charger ($19.95) which uses the suns |
| We all want to be able to back-up safely in our RV's | | | | energy to recharge batteries so you are never without |
| so the second modification will be to install a back up | | | | power. This high powered solar charger will charge |
| alarm with flashing lights (Model 1JA 141147). This | | | | two rechargeable batteries at a time as long as they |
| particular unit mounts under the rear of the RV at a | | | | are the same type of battery. It charges AA, AAA, C, |
| cost of only $17.99. This is a low cost, dependable | | | | and D cells alike. The chargers output is approximately |
| back up alarm that will help prevent possible injury to | | | | 150mah at 5 volts. The unit comes equipped with its |
| others while backing up the motor home. The unit | | | | own PV array and charge monitor. You simply slide |
| mounts easily over the bottom edge of your rear | | | | the two batteries into the charging bay and position the |
| license plate or you can mount it anywhere on the rear | | | | PV array so that the voltage pegs the meter into the |
| of your RV. It is encased in a durable ABS plastic | | | | red zone and you are on your way to charged |
| housing which is about 9 ½ inches wide by 7/8 | | | | batteries again. If your batteries are totally dead the |
| inches high by 15/16 inches in diameter. The unit emits a | | | | gauge will let you know when they are completely |
| dual 100 dB sound and the lights flash automatically | | | | charged up. My goal is to disassemble the unit and |
| whenever you shift the vehicle into reverse. Detailed | | | | place the panel of the charger on the roof of the RV |
| instructions are included with the kit. Since the RV is still | | | | next to the solar panels of the coach battery. |
| going to be used as a BOV, a simple switch will be | | | | One of our future plans is to replace the kitchen |
| installed so the back up unit can be disabled when the | | | | faucet and install a goose neck type as used in a |
| circumstance constitutes such actions. | | | | regular house possibly an "American Standard" Model |
| It has been suggested that we install several six volt | | | | 6424F purchased from Home Depot. These units run |
| golf cart batteries instead of using the 12 volt unit that | | | | about $64.00 but are great for washing out coffee |
| is currently in the motor home. Unfortunately, when we | | | | pots and cleaning kitchen pans. In conjunction with the |
| purchased the RV we immediately replaced the | | | | new faucet I will install some sort of water filter. At this |
| battery so this suggested mod may have to wait a | | | | point in time we are unsure exactly what filter we will |
| year or two. | | | | employ or even if we will select a complete filter unit |
| If our motor home did not already have a solar panel | | | | or only a local sink installed unit. |
| installed I would have to list this as a necessary | | | | Our music currently consists merely of the front radio |
| modification. Be sure to install a regulator with the panel | | | | of the BOV cab and we will eventually place a stereo |
| as well or you will likely shorten the life of your | | | | of some sort in the back of the RV for use while in |
| batteries. The solar panel will allow you to maintain | | | | the motor home itself. An alternative is to install a car |
| your battery charge when you have your rig parked. If | | | | radio with MP3 capabilities and connect it to the |
| I had to initially install a system in our RV I would select | | | | second battery. The MP3 player comes in handy as I |
| the largest wattage rating panels that I could afford. Be | | | | can also play the "Old Time Radio" programs featured |
| sure you install several 12 Volt outlets with inline fuses | | | | previously on the website. |
| to compliment the installation. I use these direct 12 Volt | | | | These are my initial mods that I plan to accomplish. |
| outlets to power my cell phone charger, laptop | | | | Future ones will include not only functional changes but |
| computers and other small drain applications such as | | | | cosmetic as well. |