Here you will find videos created to show DIY'ers step by step how I made upgrades to my Leisure Travel Van RV. It includes helpful equipment upgrades to the battery and solar charging system, a rear view camera, starlink satellite dish and many more to come.
I showed 2 kits in the video, one for the always on condition and one for the on while the ignition is on condition. I installed the later as you can see in the video and it was long enough to go from the mirror display down to the fuse box at the passengers feet. This is all shown in the video. I guess it all depends upon which RV you have and where the fuse box is located.
You’re amazing in your thorough review. We appreciated every details you covered. Truly amazing! Thank you for the time and your expertise way of doing us your viewers, a calculated weighing as to which will fit our needs! 😊 Thank you
I have the original Lagun version installed in a 2021 Casita Independence. Of the mods I’ve done. This is an awesome product. We’ve traveled over 15,000 miles and had many meals on our table I would highly recommend the original Lagun table mount..
Thanks for the video. I really like how you mounted the panel brackets using the flat bar. Where did you get the flat screws? Do you mind putting the specs here and where you got them?
I got them at ACE hardware. I don't remember the size but likely 1/4-20 to fit the holes in the brackets for the panels. Just get a length that sticks up enough to easily thread the nut on. Maybe 3/4 - 1" A little on the long side is not a problem. Too short is. Get stainless steel so you don't have to worry about corrosion.
Thanks so much for this! My cabin filter on the 2012 chassis is installed under the hood and much easier to get to! Looking forward to your other videos! The more we can do ourselves, the better! Also have the same ? about resetting the service A & B messages.
Great video thank you! Looking forward to the fuel filter and EGR videos. Is it possible to reset the dash service A or service B timer or does that require Mercedes? I have 2018 chassis.
The reason it may tighten more firmly on the origonal might be due to the profile of the extrusion. The champfering as you described. Then handles on the chinese can be reversed for either side
I was assuming you would show the reinstallation of the gauge onto the tank. I'm having trouble pushing it back on the tank. I'm afraid I will break the plastic tangs if I push too hard or tap it with a solid object..
It is difficult to get a good camera angle down there without the RV on a high lift. I had the same concern as you but I was able to do it more than once. Go slow and push gently but don't give up.
Thank you Curtis, this is excellent information, and I have purchased the genuine Lagun version from a supplier in the UK. I also feel that if and when the plastic bushes do wear, I can easily obtain and replace them with the genuine Lagun versions. The overall finish of the Lagun leg looks better to me from your video, and the fact they use better profiled parts and finish shows that the unit is not just made down to a price. Shame Lagun did not take out a worldwide patent on the leg, but not sure if that would really stop Chinese companies knocking off good designs. It is a shame when companies spend time and effort designing and optimising products and then it is blatantly ripped off and sold for a cheaper price. Oh well I guess that is the world today. Thank you again for this information, the detail and explanations are very good indeed and extremely useful. Nick (All the way from the UK 😊)
The only problem is when you forget it’s up there and drive off onto the freeway. You’ll have the Dishy flying off. I did it once getting up to 65mph before I remembered. In my case I was lucky that it didn’t fly off but I did have it bolted to my roof rack. With tape it would probably have flown off. I have since replaced it with a permanent flat mount. Much safer.
You definitely don't want to forget it and drive off. I doubt the 3M tape wouldn't hold. Solar panels are quite often attached with the same tape and the panels stay put.
It gives a perfect view where it is. I can see someone close to the back of the RV and traffic coming in the distance. Keep in mind that the display is wider than it is tall even though the field of view of the camera is the same in all directions. That is why they provide the capability to aim the view to your liking. Where I have the camera I can see anyone in the blind spot behind the RV and I can see traffic coming in the distance. No matter where you place the camera you will get the same angular field of view. If you are planning to install one, tape it in whatever location you think best and then drive around for a while and make sure you can see everything you want. That is what I did. If anything, I would push it back further on the roof since if I point the field of view down right behind me I get some glow from the red light. Also keep in mind, this camera is meant to be attached without a mounting bracket. So the camera itself points in a fixed direction. Wolfbox sells a model with a mounting bracket which allows the camera angle to be adjusted even after it is mounted.
Curtis, thanks for this great information. Did you wire the red wire on the rear camera to anything? My understanding is that it can be wired to the reverse light wiring so that the Wolfbox switches to the reverse view automatically when you reverse the vehicle. I haven't seen anyone mention it in any install videos, though.
I do mention it at 5:35 into the video. If you hook this to your reversing lights it will overlay a grid onto the video display to help you guide while backing up. But since I am not using the camera as a reversing camera (I already have one as standard on my RV) I did not hook up the red wire.
Thanks for the video Curtis. I’m planning on putting one or two in my 2023 UTB. I think I’ll get the original and not give my money to Daluobo, a Chinese company.
I will order another of the Lagun tables and return the Amazon version. It is not that I object to a Chinese company, although I do prefer to support our own companies when possible. I just think that in the long run the Original Lagun continue to work long after the knock off does not. You can see the attention to small details in the Original that aren't carried over to the knock off.
Could I also set it to empty if I know for a fact my tank is empty? I was using it with my camp stove and yes it ran out of fuel halfway through cooking my dinner lol.
What type of ladder are you using inside of your rig to enable roof access via your skylight? Could you provide manufacturer and model number? Where do you store the ladder when you travel? What model LTV do you have?
I have the Unity TB model and store the ladder in the shower when driving and up in the cab when parked. I got it at Lowes and here is a link to it www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-Step-250-lb-Capacity-Aluminum-Foldable-Step-Stool/5000211407?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-bdm-_-ggl-_-LIA_BDM_102_Insulation-And-Ladders-_-5000211407-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT70uWFH3hVP21Zt5SFmJDULM0DKcRju4y59V0bpj84XTW5gS567edChoCl6oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
When you connect the battery sense to the victron network and everything is setup and communicating, what happens when you go to an area with your RV where there is no internet access, does the battery sense still send data to the solar MPPT?
The tank does not have to be empty to replace the sensor. But to calibrate the sensor you need to know how full it is. So I suggest calibrating right after you fill it so you know it is full and set it at 85% since it is never 100% full as it needs space to expand with temperature.
I have 2 12 volt Lifepro4 100Ah batteries for my 24V trolling motor. I need to be able to check how much charge the batteries have left while I'm out on the water. I currently have 2 standard 12v gauges mounted in the front of my boat that I had for my lead acid batteries. I have read that using the voltage only does not accurantly indicate how much power the battery has left. I would like some guidance as I am new to the Lithium batteries world.
Does the table rotate so you can use it with the front seats? How would your table top adjustment on the bracket be different if you were going to sit in the front seats rotated backwards. It seems like the front seats are way more comfortable?
Yes, the longer cable simply replaced the shorter cable that came with the camera. If you watch the segment in the video I show that the connectors on either end of the cable are different so they cannot be connected together for even more extension.
No, I left them under the cushion so they are easy to reach if needed. Having said that, I would not let a passenger ride on a long trip in one of these seats as I do not think it is safe.
Thanks. As I said in the video I wanted to try out the Original Lagun table first and then, maybe, try one of the cheaper ones on Amazon for the other side. I will probably get one in the next few weeks and do a side by side comparison video of the more expensive Original Lagun table and one of the knock-offs for ~65% of the price.
Hi, thanks for your great video. So u cut the original cable and put the rj45 connectors on the 2 ends?? it s right? I m going to do the same work to my RV. Thanks in advance.
That is correct. And then I used a water tight feedthrough to reconnect the two when I want to use the Starlink. I used a simple 1/2" sprinkler cap to cap the end left on the roof when not in use. You can find links to all of these parts down below the video.
Thanks for these instructions, they were very helpful. One challenge I had is that Wolf had sent me two different hardwire kits but both had too short a wire to come from the rear view mirror to the floor. I ended up with the little converter box just below the side vent near the passenger door. I installed the GPS unit inside the windshield overhead unit since there was room. I also had trouble getting the ground to work in the fuse box. I had too big a washer so it was not lying against the body area where the paint was scraped off. Once I changed to a smaller washer, everything worked fine. The easier way to get the middle mirror cover to release is an auto pick. I used one and it helped it to popoff very cleanly. The pick also helped tremendously with getting the wire into the area where it crosses the A pillar.
Thanks for the great video! I have the 2022 Sprinter LTV and used your instructions to install the rearview camera. Instead of installing on the roof, I mounted the camera onto the plate that holds the original rear view camera and routed the wire through it's black plate. This allowed me to avoid creating any new holes in the camper and worked great. I also found that I could not put the camera wire through the same hole you did in the floor of the cab. I spent several hours with a wire fishing tool and could never get through to open space. In my sprinter, there is a superstructure and the muffler in that area that block that hole. I ended up running over to the driver's side and into the cab from the hole near the peddles that you showed. that one was really easy. I installed the G900 Wolfbox.
Sir, thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this brilliant video. You spoke to us and not over us like so many do. I’ve entertained the idea of doing this upgrade myself but I see now, after watching you, I had no idea what I would be getting into! Thank you so much, great video!
David - Thanks for your comments. Even if you do not do this yourself, you now know what is involved and can make a more informed decision when it comes to hiring someone to do it for you
Thanks for a very helpful video. Really built my confidence I could do this myself. 2 quick things. First, I ordered the aluminum plates using your link to Midwest Steel Supply and noticed you listed them as 3/4" thickness instead of 1/4". Second, I didn't see info in your supplies list for the size (length, diameter) and thread of the screws you used. Thanks.
The VHB tape is doing fine. I take the dish down when I drive but I think I saw that someone leaves theirs up. It is so easy to take it down and reinstall it that I don't want to worry about having it up there while I drive.
I have a 2023 Unity 24MB and I have just installed a Wolfbox G900 rear view mirror camera. I used the replacement piece that Wolfbox sells to make the rearview mirror look more like factory in stead of the strap system. This did not work because the front view camera is obstructed by the plastic shroud around the electronics. How many inches did you place the Wolfbox rto the left with the straps placed over the factory mirror? Does the mirror hold well on the factory mirror using the straps?
I used the standard installation kit and it looks like factory to me. The issue of blockage of the front camera comes up from time to time. I have the display shifted toward the driver with ~ 1" to spare in terms of the straps on the actual rear view mirror. You can adjust the tilt of the mirror and also the tilt of the forward camera. I find that the obstruction is minimal and confined to a small portion of the upper right corner of the display with the camera pointed at what it should see looking forward. Hope this helps.
There should not be any obstruction. I have tried to use the kit that makes the mirror look like factory and when I do the front view is obstructed by 50%. Also I can't replace the smaller beauty cover because the new arm obstructs the opening from whichb it comes out of.@@rvtipsequipmentwithcurtis9087
Those water-tight RJ-45 connectors are something I've never seen (very cool). Also, it is awesome you also have solar panels on the roof. You've got it together man! The world need more like you.
Curtis, this is awesome, thanks for sharing! I am expecting the arrival of my 2024 LTV Unity MBL this November. Unfortunately, the 2023 MB chassis on my unit will not come with the new digital rear view factory mirror (ugh). One additional question, when you use the camera at night, do you get any "light noise" from the red lights at the top of the Unity? They look to be in the field of rear view and wanted to understand if you are still pleased with the rear camera placement?
No. If I adjust the image so I can see directly below the back of the RV I can see the red light. But then, that is a useless view since the point is not to look down but to see the cars behind you. So don't worry about that.
It is tight before you crimp it as the pins that get pushed into the wire when you crimp are protruding and making it tight. It is common thatRJ45 is hard to insert and remove if the end isn't crimped to push the pins down
