17FQ Modifications

[BC.campr]

Agreed on the 15”...more options, great ride and more clearance. We did the flip and 15s on ours. You’ll need a riser or go to the two steps as it’s a along ways down now, but worth it. I slapped a pair of shocks on the trailer as well...really firmed up the ride and helped with any sway there was.

[hoops]

Do you have any pictures of your shocks ?

[BC.campr]

Hey Hoops,
This is how I added the ones on our trailer. I believe it was Ky-n did this awhile back on his trailer, he had some good documentation on his mounts if memory serves me well. I can’t remember the shock numbers, but it was the RV series.
Hope this helps.

[hbidlack]

As per earlier request, here is my 17fq with flipped axle and new 15” tires and wheels, replacing the 13” China bombs it came with

[patfitz]

My power awning pop out on it's own today it looks like the cap on the roll to motor snap has anyone had this happen and can you by just the cap luckly it was just parked at the house

[WNY_Clipper]

Originally Posted by patfitz

My power awning pop out on it's own today it looks like the cap on the roll to motor snap has anyone had this happen and can you by just the cap luckly it was just parked at the houseAttachment 220479

I have not had this problem.

[woodswoman33]

We're thinking of removing the dinette and replacing with two chairs and a small table. My question is what do you do about the wheel well and how it breaks into the space? A small "box" against the wall?

Any ideas?

I've read through the 17FQ mods thread but didn't see anything.
Thanks!

[Fluffywhitedogs]

FWIW on my 17bh, there is a box built over it. I added another box next to it to create an even platform for storage in my bunk area.

[thewheelman]

Originally Posted by woodswoman33

We're thinking of removing the dinette and replacing with two chairs and a small table.

We did just that. I have put a link below that you can see the dinette removed, that I put down a rug and then the 2 glider rockers I put in. We used a small table from Camping World (less than $25) on the rare occasion we eat in! MUCH more comfortable and usable. I carpeted the hump and push the chairs back as far as they go while in transit. When we're in, I scoot the chair nearest the door over towards the door so we have maximum room. The stools did not work out and we stored them.



https://photos.app.goo.gl/PFPniT5poTZcWm397

[thewheelman]

We also made "blackout shades" for all the windows. If you're into sleeping past dawn, there's no getting away from the sunlight in the Clipper! We picked up some cheap blackout curtains from wallyworld, sewed them into a pocket and put a piece of corrugated plastic (old political yard sighs) inside for stiffness. Worked well and we could sleep as late as we wanted!

[focker1977]

Originally Posted by Austintatious

I used this one:

Coleman Mach heat-ready air conditioner cool control kit - Control Module - 9330C755 - 8330-752

I took the control board out of that housing, took the existing control board out of the existing metal housing already in the unit, and installed the new board. I then fish taped thermostat wiring thru the ceiling over to the area above the converter in the kitchen cabinets (I removed the converter for access). I brought the thermostat wiring down from the ceiling there and then went into the wall and fish taped it over to where the heater thermostat is mounted.

I removed the heater thermostat and installed this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I hooked up both the thermostat wiring from the A/C unit and the thermostat wiring from the heater so the thermostat controls both.

One thing I had to do to get it working correctly was run a ground wire from the thermostat to a ground bus on the converter.

Where did you hook the ground wire to the thermostat? The blue wire?

[Bruce5768]

Hi all...I bought a 2015 17FQ a few weeks ago. Totallly love the layout of these things. I will be pulling it with my supercrew F150 with the 3.7 Ecoboost. I live in Michigan and picked it up in Tennessee so the travel home was easy but I did notice more sway than I thought there would be so I ordered a anti-sway bar for it and upgraded the tires to the Carlisle Load D tires.

Besides the anti-sway, so far I have done:
-replaced all lights to LED
-put LED lights in the basement
-currently pulling off all the exterior stickers
-installed new interior speakers and a new bluetooth stereo
-next project is building shelves in the cabinets over the bed
-replaced the mattress with a firm foam mattress
-ordered the twist lock female and male power cord so I will removed the hole where you push in the power cord and just keep my cord in the basement--as others have noticed, it will eliminate the mouse invitation hole
-installed a TV with built in DVD player
-installed a new battery and put a disconnect switch in
-ordered the new window for the door with the shades today
-ordered a new propane grill that will fit in the basement
-made a mount for my Honda 1000W inverter generator when boondocking
-hung knife holders around stove area
-installed a recessed toilet paper holder
-resealed the entire shower panels
-sealed all holes through the floor inside and underneath for mice (used liquid nails and always have on my campers and never had a mouse in any of them)
-installed towel rods in bathroom and a towel ring by the sink
-installed shelves in cabinet over dinette

**So I wanted to get the dirt off the side of the camper and make it look like new, so I tried 4 products (Simple Green, WhitIt, Totally Awesome & Dawn soap) but nothing would make it look like new again. The dirt was just like a black haze and not like new, even though I washed it with a boat deck brush. Then my wife asked me to try Dawns Platinum Powerwash which we use for greasy dishes. Unreal...it takes the grime right off and doesn't take the paint off (but I did rinse it with water when I was done) and it looks like new. The stuff even takes the famous black window streaks right off.

So that's my life for now and we have a few trips planned in northern Michigan soon but then a 10-day trip to the Upper Peninsula in October to Pictured Rocks and to several falls.

I do have a few question's though:

--for those who replaced the shower faucet and also installed a new shower head, how did you do that and what faucet did you use and did you use PEX in the wall to get the shower head mounted up high?
-has anybody had any luck in finding tension rods that are about 6-8 inches for the bathroom vanity opening above and below?
-has anybody replaced the sink? Obviously it's plastic and the previous owners didn't take care of it at all, and it's all scratched up. If so, where did you get a new sink from?
-do you think it's crucial to build better supports under the fresh water tank underneath the camper or anywhere else? Those straps they use are pretty cheap

Thanks everybody!

[rsdata]

do you think it's crucial to build better supports under the fresh water tank underneath the camper or anywhere else? Those straps they use are pretty cheap

Yes... make better or more tank supports
some have reported losing their tanks especially on rough roads...

[Bruce5768]

Will do & thank you. Is the fresh water the only one that really has to be supported better?

[Bruce5768]

Does anybody happen to know where to get touch up paint for a 2015 17FQ?

[Lagman]

It’s been a while since you put the 15’s on. What size and how’d they hold up? I did the same suspension change but new 2500# springs and shocks. Haven’t done the tires and rims.
Thanks

[Lagman]

Call Forest River customer service with the VIN They’re on it when you ask. I was surprised…

[BC.campr]

Originally Posted by Lagman

It’s been a while since you put the 15’s on. What size and how’d they hold up? I did the same suspension change but new 2500# springs and shocks. Haven’t done the tires and rims.
Thanks

Hey Lagman,
Very happy with changing out the 13” to 15’s…no regrets. The ride and extra clearance were worth the effort.
I believe we put on 205/75-15’s, didn’t really need to go any bigger and that size is fairly common if you needed to get one out on the road.
Cheers….