Cabinet lights

A mod to the 241.   Interior cabinet lights!!!

The cabinets are kinda dark, so I put in LED strip lighting to brighten things up, as you can find here in this short video.

It was pretty simple, actually, but a lengthy process.   First, some parts.


I used these touch dimmers from Aliexpress:

Click HERE to order these.



Then I bought some flexible LED strip lighting:

Click HERE to buy the stips.   I bought 2  of these in 5meter length.  

NOTICE!   There are a couple of things to consider, mainly the color and the type of LED. These are made with 2835 type LEDs.   They are PLENTY bright.  I think 5050 LEDs would be way too bright, and pull a lot more power.  Also, these strips can be cut.  There are 4 copper dots.  Cut on the black line between the 4 dots as shown.  Once the cut is done, there should be 2 copper dots on either side.  This is where you solder the power wires once you cut.  Use wire cutters to cut the strip, then carefully cut the cover about 1/6th inche with an exacto, and peel off the covering to expose the copper dots for soldering.   The first one is kinda difficult because you are probably going to be too careful, but that's ok!

I got about 20 feet of 22gauge wire (black/red pair) to add power.   Also ordered connectors from Amazon.   They are 2.1mm power connectors and fit perfectly into the touch dimmer.  You can order the female connectors here.

And the male connectors can be purchased from here.

As an alternate, if you want to keep soldering to a minimum, you can order the connectors below from here.   I like soldered connections, but I'm a trained solderer. (For realz!)   

Just make sure you get your polarity correct!

Now to disassemble the 241.   Behind the DVD player is a power source for the cabinets above the table.   There's a ring around the faceplate of the DVD that pulls off.  It's easy to remove, so if you are forcing it, you're probably grabbing the wrong thing.   Once the ring is removed, you'll see 4 screws (mine had 2 screwed in).  Unscrew those, and find the 12v + and - going to the DVD.  You can tap in here with either crimp taps or just clip the wires, strip them all back and use a wirenut to connect them.

I drilled a slightly larger than 1/2 hole to get the plugs up from the corner of the cabinet (see video below), and then wired the power up.  1/2 sounds big, but the touch dimmer will cover the hole completely.

The LED strips are adhesive backed, so run your hand along the top board in the cabinet to brush off any junk or dust.  Use the front board so the LEDs won't be seen.   Hook everything up and bingo!  Done.  Button it all up, used the adhesive pad that came with the touch dimmer and mount it.  PERFECT!!  Looks factory.

On the other side, you'll need to drop the vent hood.  It's four screws you can see underneath.  Pull it slightly forward after removing the screws, as it needs to clear the exhaust vent.  It's very light, so no worries.   I then pulled the microwave (4 screws and pull out), and drilled another hole along the top board in front to move the wires through.  I think I used a 1/4inch bit, but it depends on your wire size.  

Next I had to drill a 1/2"+ hole in the front corner closest to the stove.  This was again to move the touch dimmer connectors through.  And then another 1/2"+hole going horizontal to get the touch dimmer connectors through the cabinet wall going into the microwave space (along the bottom of the cabinet, front board).

In our 241, the wiring was a little different to the hood vent.  I dunno if this is standard, so make sure you check voltages.  I tapped in to the wires going to the fan.  White was neg. and black was positive, so colorcoded more like AC instead of DC.  Anyway.. just check voltages.

Built my power connectors, plugged it in and bingo!  It works.   On the bottom shelf on the left side, I put the LED strip on the BOTTOM, so you can't see it but it still lights.  If you put it on the top, you'll be able to see that short row.

Update:  I did have to go back and add rubber cement to some sections of the light, so I recommend you do that to begin with.  Just apply over the sticky backing and to the wood where it will attach.  Works great!

Here's a video of the finished installation:

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO!

FUSES!!!

So we're on our second trip.  A short overnighter to Caddo National Grasslands near Ladonia, Texas.  Dry camping.   Get ready to pull up stakes the next morning and the stabilizers won't retract.  GAH!!!   Get out the hand cranks and raise them up.  It takes about a minute for each set of jacks.  All good.

Get home and look for blown fuse.  Hmm.. they all look good!  Get out the meter and ohm them all out.  Yep, they're good.  Go online and spend hours Googling the problem.  Nothing definitive. Call the dealer.  Service dept is out till Monday.

Monday morning.  Call the service dept (Fun Town RV Cleburne, Texas).   Service guy was very friendly and gave me some things to look for.   Crawled under the RV.  Nothing.   Not upset, cuz they have so many different RVs to tend to they can't remember everything.

Go online and get Forest River phone number.  Call and leave a message for their service department.  Spend a couple of days Googling the problem.   I wish I could remember where I got the information from (this was back in December 2016), but is was just a simple posting that described where the fuse was located.  BEHIND the fusebox below the oven.  Say whut????

So I pull out pull out the bottom drawer:

Need to push the latch up on both sides to disengage.

Pull the drawer out completely:

There's the rascal, just like the guy said!

Ordered a 20 amp auto resetting fuse.  This fuse won't blow like a regular fuse.  It will just open up, and when it cools off it will close again.  Perfect solution for this problem!!!   Ordered it from Amazon.  It's a Bussman fuse.   Was a LITTLE difficult installing it, but it works perfectly!!!

So if you looking for ANYTHING that deals with the Lippert remote systems, you'll find the fuses in your 241 underneath the oven, accessible from the bottom drawer next to the oven.

And oh yeah... if the switches won't work on the outside, try the Lippert Remote control.  I didn't realize till later that they are on different fuses than the outside switches.  Sigh...

The Forest River Wildwood 241QBXL

So, we buy a Forest River Wildwood 241 QBXL and they say it's going to be a couple of weeks before it's ready.  Just so happened, the front end of my truck got taken off by some kid in traffic a week before.   So we took it to the body shop and they took off the damaged parts.  Wouldn't you know, Fun Town RV called and said "Hey!  Can you pick up your RV in a couple of days?"

Soooo.. off to the body shop to get what is left of the truck on the road.  Had headlights, but no turn signals.  But heck, it's Texas.  Just makes driving in traffic a little more interesting.    The RV dealership got a huge laugh out of it.

So finally the truck is fixed and we're off to Lake of the Pines for our first trip!!!  Excitement is running deep!  We get to Gilmer Texas, about 11 miles from our destination and....

Yep, someone decides the RV is a brake assist device.   I mean... I MEANNNNN... our first trip.  Our very first trip, out into the wild.  Risking life and limb from attacks by dangerous wild animals like.. squirrels and deer and mosquitoes and ...  DANGEROUS STUFF.. 

Sitting at a redlight and BUMP!  "Are you KIDDING ME!?!?!"   

Beth just looks at me and shakes her head.

So out of the truck I climb and back to the back I walk.   There's a young man, visibly shaken but ok.  No one was hurt. 

Talking to him, I find out he just got the car after saving for a while.  And he is on his way to a wedding.   Traded insurance and went on our way.

But man, that bumper did it's job!!   Decided not to file insurance claim because the replacement bumper (7'7" 16ga 4" square tube) will cost me $25 from McKinney Pipe & Steel, and I can weld it up myself.   No sense making this kids insurance go up for that little amount.  Plus, after talking with the frame manufacturer of the Wildwood, I'm going to add a cross member to the back and build a rack for the generator.   Just have to install breakaway bolts so it won't damage the frame in case of another impact.

So we get to Lake O' The Pines and find that Beth has selected a lovely spot for us.  Right next to the lake with great views!  Didn't take long to unhook the anti-sway/load distribution hitch.  I gotta tell you, I've never had one of those before, but the impact of installing one is quite noticeable!  Without it, the rear bumper of the truck (4x4 w/factory towing option - 8900lbs towing limit) would drop 4 inches.   With the load distribution hitch, it dropped about 3/4 of an inch.  And in high crosswinds, it barely caused any drift/sway!!  Forgot who it's made by, but it was around $500 installed.   Worth the extra to have it installed (about $100 installation).

So we get setup and have a great time.  A/C running most of the day, but nights cool enough to have the windows open.   Here is the lovely Beth relaxing and enjoying a glass of wine.  Me?   Workin' and BEER!!!

So we spent a couple of days there and had a glorious time.

This section of the blog will be about all the fun, trials and tribulations of owning a Forest River Wildwood 241QBXL.  Like.. where are the fuses that control the stablizer jack switchs on the outside!?!?!

Ah.. see next post!