Air and Wear!

Tire Valves and Paint Protection Film

The Mercedes Sprinter Van comes with dual wheels and for some reason the rubber tire valves are very difficult to access.  Checking and adjusting air pressure involves removing the chrome decorative wheel liners; using a reverse air pressure gauge and chuck which is inconvenient.  Also of note is reports that the OEM rubber tire valves have a tendency to fail causing blowouts or at least a flat tire to deal with.

The best tire valve replacements for the dually wheel set is reported to be from Chuck The Tire-Man out of California.  So we ordered a set of these metal valve stems had them installed and all 6 wheels balanced by Kal Tire.  This was not a cheap project yet it not only allows easy access to checking the air pressures on all 6 tires but gives piece of mind in regards to valve stem failures.

We had a 3M product on our car for the past three years and it has been excellent in preventing paint chips from rocks and road debris.  The Unity has a lot of front end and body edge surfaces which are impacted by bugs, road debris and rocks.  

So, we installed Pro-Skin Paint Protection Film which was installed on all leading surfaces: the front end, the top fiberglass end cap, front bumper, running board edges, hood, fenders, the "wings" of the motor home, and a 5 inch strip along the entire bottom side edges of the motor home.  The installation was done by IQ Graphics.

LTV Kozad at IQ Graphics

At Kal Tire With The Big Boys!  Commercial Tire Shop Installed Tire Valves

Front Tire Valve

Rear Dually Inner & Outer Tire Valves

Chuck The Tire-Man Valve Stems Upgraded Kit For 2014 18 Hole Sprinter Wheels

First Camping Trip

Fintry Provincial Park, B.C.

June 18 - 20th 

Finally our purchasing "stuff" and "packing" has been done and we escaped the confines of the house.  This was a short trip as Craig's Chemo Treatments are not allowing us to venture too far from home but we have been anxious to get out!

We had a few days and decided to go to Fintry Provincial Camp Ground on the Westside Road, Kelowna, BC.  A beautiful drive on narrow windy roads leads to a historical site which has been turned into a great camping ground.

The hills on the way to Fintry are home to a herd of Big Horn Sheep

Campsite #7 sits adjacent to Okanagan Lake

Fintry Manor built in 1912, granite hewn from the hills behind! Notice the tall poles?

On top of these poles, as well as on large pine tress are bat houses!

This Labyrinth Circle has a diameter of 60' and a 1/2 mile of walking if you follow the pathways!

These are the original historic barns at the Fintry Provincial Park

Beautiful Sky Along the ridge above our campsite!

The park is forested with varieties of large pine trees!

Huge pine cones are not only on the trees but found all along the pathways!

Settled in!

First meal on the Webber Q1200 - worked great!

 Jan having an afternoon rest on the daybed!

Our friends Richard & Gwen on Duckin Out recommended these Tri-levelors.  Great advice!

We had an awesome two day shakedown trip in our Leisure Travel Van....  All systems worked and there were no issues or concerns!  

We have a busy couple of weeks ahead of us, Jan will be flying off to Toronto on a moment's notice for the birth of our first grandchild.  Craig will be staying close to home for his treatment, but no doubt headed out to another Provincial Park for some alone time and solitude!

Nice!

All Shelved Up!

Installed

This was an easy task to install the additional shelf ordered from Triple E (LTV), allowing us to carry the Webber Q1200 BBQ as well as the small Shop Vac, Eliminator Battery Booster Pack c/w air hose.

There was limited storage in this compartment for us!

Ready to install.

Shelf In Place, Compartment Full!

 This is more user friendly for our requirements.  Well worth the effort! 

Loading Stuff!

Not Too Bad!

We have been loading up the Unity with our galley equipment; pots, pans, plates, utensils, etc.  As well we have put additional "stuff" into the motorhome but we were surprised when we went to the weigh scales to see how we were doing!

At The Scales!

Rear Axle Was 3000kg.  Surprisingly Craig Only Weighs 10kg or 22lbs!

We were pleasantly surprised that our total weight only increased by 200lbs. from our "empty" weight.  So in theory, we can add another 450lbs worth of stuff like clothes and provisions!

Storage Space?

Compromise.....

We have been filling up the compartments and spaces on-board and have found one has to be a bit creative with a small motor!  

Inside storage is plentiful with enough compartments to handle all of our "stuff"!

We enjoy photography and were a bit concerned about where we were going to carry our equipment.  

Jan came up with the idea of storing our camera body, three lenses, filters a few accessories in the U-Lounge forward storage drawer.  This allows easy access to the equipment while we are traveling.   The center U-Lounge storage "bin" holds the tripod, bipod and camera back pack; and still has room for additional "stuff".

Two drawer storage and additional storage under the center cushion

Camera Equipment Drawer

When it comes to the exterior compartments compromise comes into effect.

There are only three lower bay compartments on the starboard (passenger) side but only two are for storage as the middle bay is for the generator.  There is the one large/tall compartment at the rear which holds more "stuff"!   The port (driver's) side has only one very small compartment which adjoins the tank valve area.

Starboard Compartments - Bottom Centre Houses Generator

Lower Rear Compartment: Opening Height Only 9.5"

Port Bay With Very Limited Storage

This compartment is only 10" tall at the opening it houses two folding chairs, a 4' to 8' extending wash brush, Coleman Propane Cook Stove, Woods 9' x 12' outdoor patio awning mat, a collapsible bucket  and 6 x 1lb propane bottles

Compartment is 9" tall at opening and has not been filled yet!

The tall compartment is yet to be filled but will have an extra shelf to house the Webber BBQ

The sewer/dump hose is housed under the slide-out; unfortunately it can only accommodate a 10' hose.  We are looking at either extending the 4" PVC pipe or the addition of another 4" PVC pipe to hold a second 10' dump hose.

And then there is the issue of trying to locate our favorite BBQ, a Webber Q1200, into one of the outside storage compartments.  This BBQ is too big for any of the low starboard compartments; it will have to go into the large rear tall compartment.

The second shelf unit we ordered should resolve this situation.  Although we are considering a smaller BBQ which may be an overall easier solution but Craig loves the Webber.

The additional shelf arrived from Triple E/LTV within 10 days of ordering.  Great service....

Package Arrived Within 10 Days From Ordering

Packaged With Large Bubble Protection

Additional Shelf, Support Brackets and Screws!

Will post some photos of the installation once that is completed.

Almost Ready!

Much Shopping Has Been Done!

We have been doing a lot of shopping for the new Unity!  Making the small motor home our own....

Here are some photos taken today.....

All Shined Up: First Wash & Shine!

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Floor Mats

Looking forward, slide extended

Looking forward; Murphy Bed Deployed

Queen Sized Bed.

Looking to rear, slide extended.

Head with large corner shower.

Murphy Bed Deployed.

Slide extended, passenger seat reversed.

Looking forward slide in

Slide In, looking to rear.

Nice Front End!

There are those who do not like a ladder on their LTV!  
I have used it a lot already and do not know how easy it would be to get up top without it!  
Also the U24MB has a rear window, surprisingly it allows a view of traffic in the rear view mirror!

Good Timing!

They Work!

Just 24hrs after installing the Fantastic Fan Ultra Breeze covers the weather took a turn.  We experienced a severe weather storm with thunder, lightning, hail (which luckily missed us) with heavy rain which lasted approximately 45 minutes.  

What an opportune time to test the new fan covers; the vent covers were extended fully in the open position and as claimed no water entered the coach! 

Rain has started!

Both fan covers were fully open under the Ultra Breeze Covers

Wet Outside!

 There were a few very small mist sized water droplets on portions of the fan blades but no water on the floor or inside the coach!