Adding a screen to the vehicle passenger window

Trekking in my view is to be living a life of moderation. This is consistent with other aspects of my life.  To that end, using nature's breezes and ambience is far superior to air conditioning, etc. That's my opinion and my quest.

Our Roadtrek came with optional screens for the rear and side entry door. These are a good thing. The screen in the rear entry work well, because we don't enter or exit from those doors. I only need to unzip the screens for access to the storage below the rear king-sized bed/sofa.

However, the screen for the side entry is another issue. We enter and exit frequently via this door. I'd say it's obvious that a plastic screen with zipper won't survive long in that location. So we haven't used it.

However, to get good cross-ventilation we need a goodly sized front entry or exit point for those breezes. The side entry window includes a screen and the window pivots on a vertical hinge, and opens about 1/2 inch. This area isn't sufficient for the air movement we need. It is also a problem if the weather turns inclement.

The front of the vehicle also gets a lot of sun (infrared) load if it's pointed that way. In other words, the front of the vehicle gets hot. We really like the heat pump/air conditioner in the rear, but the front of the vehicle remains warm.

So I decided to improve the airflow. To that end I fabricated and installed a screen on the exterior of the passenger side window. With such an arrangement, we can open one of the rear doors with the screens attached and we'll get the cool breezes we love, sans insects.

This was easier than might be imagined. In fact, I'd suggest that Roadtrek offer this as an option for buyers. The screen rolls and is easily attached to the exterior with magnets. The thick black edging in the photos is not used to adhere the screen to the vehicle. Magnets at 8 points will be used.

To construct this I used aluminum screen, but it would be easy to do the same with a plastic screen. I purchased the aluminum to bug-proof the refrigerator and hot water heater ventilation.  I may post on that in the future.

This is a photo of the screen, temporarily held in place with 8 pieces of electrician's tape. Magnets will be used to do this in the future. The 2 inch black edging is "duct tape" which provides a thin surface for magnetic attraction and also seals the edge of the aluminum screening. I installed the black duct tape in two layers "back to back" with the aluminum screen sandwiched between.  However, about only 1 inch of the screen is sandwiched between the tape. The electric window can open and close while the screen is in place.

When not in use (when the vehicle is travelling, etc.) the screen is rolled for storage:

If I were wanting to get "fancy" I'd purchase tape which more closely matches the exterior color of the Roadtrek. I leave that for Roadtrek to offer!

Here's a photo of the screen while being constructed. If one wanted ultra-precision, I'd suggest the old trick of taping newspaper together to fit the area and then using that as a template. My parents did that to purchase a pre-cut linoleum floor back in 1955 or so. It worked then and it will work now.

After installing this, I asked G what she thought about it. She said it was a real improvement. Mission accomplished!

Add an external 120V receptacle

Every motor home or camper van may seem to be deficient a feature or two. I purchased a Roadtrek 210P and I've made a few improvements to tailor it to my personal "tiny home on wheels" lifestyle.

One thing the 210P does not have is an exterior 120VAC receptacle. This may not be a problem if the site one rents has a meter with both 30A RV power connector and 120VAC ground fault receptacle. In such a case, all that is required is an outdoor rated extension cord and we can power up lighting, an induction heat plate or even a boom box. However, if the campsite has only a 30A RV power receptacle then we face a dilemma. The only way to get power to an exterior device or extension cord is to leave a door open and use one of the ground fault protected 120VAC receptacles.

That solution was not acceptable to me, and so I decided to add an exterior 120VAC receptacle. The following video shows how this was done without violating the integrity of the RT body and fiberglass shell.

Alaska Trek - bald eagles

On our Alaska trek we took the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour. I've provided a previous post about that tour.

This post includes a video of the bald eagles we encountered, while on the tour.

Alaska Trek - Crab Fisherman's Tour

On our Alaska trek we spent a short time in Ketchikan and we took a trek on the Aleutian Ballad. The Aleutian Ballad was featured, and became famous on the Discovery Channel’s Emmy Award winning television series, Deadliest Catch. "On season two of that program, viewers watched in amazement as a crab boat was hit by a massive rogue wave, rolling it onto its side during a treacherous storm. That boat was the Fishing Vessel Aleutian Ballad, "

When we visited Ketchikan, Alaska, we took the opportunity to step on board and into the amazing world of Alaskan crab fishing via the "Deadliest Catch Crab Fishermen's Tour."

It was wonderful and we experienced a lot of nature, including swooping bald eagles!

On our Alaska trek, this was one of several highlights. Yes, it was overcast, and yes, it did begin to drizzle. But we were under a steel canopy, the seas in the inland passage were calm, the temperatures were mild at 55F. So we had a really enjoyable time on this 3-1/2 hour "adventure."

I've made a brief video of only a small portion of this wonderful, guided tour on a fishing boat which has been voted "Best Alaska Tour."

I may prepare and post a second video, including the eagles and other scenes not included in the first video. A link to the website for the "Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour" is included in the post.

Here's the link to the official website:

http://alaskacrabtour.com/

Alaska - Tracy Arm Fjord

Sawyer Glacier - Our Destination

This is a continuation of treks and things we've done which took us away from our normal lives. I've expanded this in recent years as time and $$$$ permits. We have taken some treks with relatives who are getting older and had expressed a desire to do things they had not yet done. It's good to do these things while we are physically able and with family or friends.

One small group was an Alaska trek which included a cruise up the Tracy Arm fjord to the Sawyer Glacier. This was the second glacier I've seen in my life. I was able to walk on the first one with mountain goats. The trek up the Tracy Arm was a leisurely one on a cruise ship. No hiking required or possible. 

I'll post a video in a few days, but for now here are a few photos. .Update: The video is at the end of this post.

Maneuvering in the Fjord

Early in the morning we continued up the Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier. Sunrise was about 4:00am and I was outside by 5:00 to watch our progress.

As we proceeded slowly into the fjord, we passed waterfalls, floating ice and seals. The scenery gradually changed and we encountered more floating ice as we grew closer to the glacier.

First View - Sawyer Glacier

Seals in the Distance

Here's the video link, uploaded May 31:

Alaska Trek - Whale Watching

During our Alaska trek, we did some whale watching. I was amazed at how 'lush' and vibrant the waters were.

We were not disappointed, and the sea lions cavorted for us. The naturalist laughed at their behavior and said they were like large dogs and love to show off.

Stretching Our Legs - Hummingbird Hawk Moth

While trekking we like to stop from time to time and simply stretch our legs.

State Parks and forest preserves are great places to do this and discover nature. We both like the smell and feel  of the forest.

On one such walk we came upon the Hawk-Moth, which many confuse to be a hummingbird. The video slows down the beating wings so they can be seen. In fact, to the naked eye the wings are a blur.