Grand Design Imagine 2950 RV Kit

[Najataagihe]

As I was explaining to friends of ours who were purchasing their very first RV (they are preparing for retirement), you have to view the purchase of a new RV as an RV KIT, not a finished product.

RVs are just like cars and trucks in that they are optimized to be useful for the largest number of customers.

But to meet YOUR specific needs, they are going to have to be modified.


When pressed to explain myself (as they were convinced I was a bit crazy) I compiled a list of the modifications we had made to ours to make it fit us better.

The durned list has now reached three pages!


After freaking out at the length of the list, I explained that not all of it has to be done at once.

Most folks upgrade parts as they wear out or break.

They add "goodies" as they go along and realize something would make life a little more convenient.


So, the moral of the story is:


When shopping for a new RV, remember to allow room in the budget for making it yours.


The following list is merely a "F'r instance" - the list of mods to the 2950 that make it reliable and livable for us.


BATHROOM
Installed Fantastic vent fan
Replaced Shower Head
Reinforced Shower Floor

BEDROOM
Carpet on mattress platform
Installed Sleep Number P6 Mattress
Hole cut and trimmed for Sleep Number mattress and CPAP hoses
Towel hooks on back of bathroom door
Removed Curbside Closet and Drawer

DINING
Replaced cushion foam with firmer foam
Replaced Rear bench with two chairs

ELECTRICAL
Replaced Dining Area electrical outlet with surface-mount box and blanking plate

ENTRANCE
Installed Key Hooks above control Panel
Installed Push Bar on Screen Door
Installed MorRyde StepAbove entry steps

EXTERIOR
Installed Longer Hand Rail
Replaced Stabilizer Jacks

KITCHEN
Installed Fantastic vent fan
Installed Hook for potholders

LIVING ROOM
Replaced overhead speakers
Shortened sofa bed supports to level mattress

PLUMBING
Replaced Pull Handles on Dump Valves

ROOF
Installed Vent Covers
Installed Vent Stack Venturi

STORAGE
Redesigned water pump access panels
Installed LevelMate Pro sensor on front wall
Replaced rear rubber bumper end caps with magnetic ones (sewer hose storage)

SUSPENSION
Replaced spring hanger brackets with ½” longer ones
Replaced stock spring equalizers with MorRyde CRE3000 equalizers
Added three MorRyde X-Brace Stabilizers
Replaced spring bolts with MorRyde Wet Bolts and Bushings
Replaced spring shackles with MorRyde Heavy-Duty Shackles
Added four Sumo Springs

TIRES
Replaced tires with Goodyear Endurance Load Range E
Installed EezTire Tire Monitoring System



Up until I sat down and wrote the list for them, I had had no idea just how much work I had put into this thing to get it "right".

BUT, now we can hook up and go across the country, again, any time we want without worrying about breaking the suspension and know we are going to be comfortable.


Have YOU sat down and inventoried the modifications you have made to your rig?

Share! (I might get some new ideas!)


Be safe!

[ExNihilo]

I fully agree its a starter kit when you buy it:

(Disclosure in truth the shocks for the Slipper system are on backorder- will be installed next week....hopefully)

2022 Imagine 2970RL

BATHROOM

Installed three LED light strips under and over the medicine cabinet & cabinet above the commode.
Replaced Shower Head


BEDROOM
Installed Wilderness RV Residential mattress
Upgraded support springs for under bed storage
Hooks on walls for hanging clothing
Added lighting to cubby’s


DINING
Replaced cushion foam with firmer foam
Sealed Table with Varathane

PANTRY
Added 5 LED light strips (one per shelve)
Door activated LED light switch
Door mounted stainless spice racks

Cabinets
Clear corner mold to wear sided surface’s

ELECTRICAL
Replaced both Living room electrical outlets with USB/110 outlets
USB- C Power port under dining table

ENTRANCE
Installed Key Hooks across from control Panel
Installed Push Bar on Screen Door
Keyless RV lock
Added magnetic Solar entry light(removable for travel)
Entry door window cover

EXTERIOR
Steadyfast Stabilizers
Fabricated 4 inch rear bumper welded to frame
Paired dual Basement Keyless RV locks
RV Generator Box Boondocker package
Hutch Mountain trifle converted dual Honda 2200iu
Second power supply wired to generators
Furrion Back up camera

KITCHEN
Installed Fantastic vent fan


LIVING ROOM
Replaced overhead speakers
Added Sound bar for TV
King WiFi Booster

PLUMBING
Installed Dual stage water filtration

ROOF
Installed Vent Covers


STORAGE

Installed LevelMate Pro sensor on front wall
Under carriage BAL Spare tire rack
Under carriage “Stinky Slinky” holder (6 inch PVC with aluminum cap and door)
fabricated BBQ box storage to lift chairs and contain BBQ leakage
Organization maintenance stuff on the water side.

SUSPENSION
Road Master Slipper Springs and Shocks

TIRES
Upgraded tires with Goodyear Endurance
Tire Lync TPMS

TOWING
Hensley Arrow Hitch

Always looking for ideas

[huntr70]

As I was explaining to friends of ours who were purchasing their very first RV (they are preparing for retirement), you have to view the purchase of a new RV as an RV KIT, not a finished product.

RVs are just like cars and trucks in that they are optimized to be useful for the largest number of customers.

But to meet YOUR specific needs, they are going to have to be modified.


When pressed to explain myself (as they were convinced I was a bit crazy) I compiled a list of the modifications we had made to ours to make it fit us better.

The durned list has now reached three pages!


After freaking out at the length of the list, I explained that not all of it has to be done at once.

Most folks upgrade parts as they wear out or break.

They add "goodies" as they go along and realize something would make life a little more convenient.


So, the moral of the story is:


When shopping for a new RV, remember to allow room in the budget for making it yours.


The following list is merely a "F'r instance" - the list of mods to the 2950 that make it reliable and livable for us.


BATHROOM
Installed Fantastic vent fan
Replaced Shower Head
Reinforced Shower Floor

BEDROOM
Carpet on mattress platform
Installed Sleep Number P6 Mattress
Hole cut and trimmed for Sleep Number mattress and CPAP hoses
Towel hooks on back of bathroom door
Removed Curbside Closet and Drawer

DINING
Replaced cushion foam with firmer foam
Replaced Rear bench with two chairs

ELECTRICAL
Replaced Dining Area electrical outlet with surface-mount box and blanking plate

ENTRANCE
Installed Key Hooks above control Panel
Installed Push Bar on Screen Door
Installed MorRyde StepAbove entry steps

EXTERIOR
Installed Longer Hand Rail
Replaced Stabilizer Jacks

KITCHEN
Installed Fantastic vent fan
Installed Hook for potholders

LIVING ROOM
Replaced overhead speakers
Shortened sofa bed supports to level mattress

PLUMBING
Replaced Pull Handles on Dump Valves

ROOF
Installed Vent Covers
Installed Vent Stack Venturi

STORAGE
Redesigned water pump access panels
Installed LevelMate Pro sensor on front wall
Replaced rear rubber bumper end caps with magnetic ones (sewer hose storage)

SUSPENSION
Replaced spring hanger brackets with ½” longer ones
Replaced stock spring equalizers with MorRyde CRE3000 equalizers
Added three MorRyde X-Brace Stabilizers
Replaced spring bolts with MorRyde Wet Bolts and Bushings
Replaced spring shackles with MorRyde Heavy-Duty Shackles
Added four Sumo Springs

TIRES
Replaced tires with Goodyear Endurance Load Range E
Installed EezTire Tire Monitoring System



Up until I sat down and wrote the list for them, I had had no idea just how much work I had put into this thing to get it "right".

BUT, now we can hook up and go across the country, again, any time we want without worrying about breaking the suspension and know we are going to be comfortable.


Have YOU sat down and inventoried the modifications you have made to your rig?

Share! (I might get some new ideas!)


Be safe!

Right for you......not the general masses like GD has to do.

[rootusrootus]

If you took everyone's list and overlapped them, 90% of it would be the same. GD isn't just building for the masses, they're building for price-sensitive consumers. If you don't want to DIY all the mods, there are more expensive options out there which start out with good tires, heavy duty axles, high quality stabilizers, steps, fans, etc.

[ExNihilo]

If you took everyone's list and overlapped them, 90% of it would be the same. GD isn't just building for the masses, they're building for price-sensitive consumers. If you don't want to DIY all the mods, there are more expensive options out there which start out with good tires, heavy duty axles, high quality stabilizers, steps, fans, etc.

You are 100 percent correct! I do not see this MOD post as a knock on Grand Design. They have a market to compete in and I still think they lead that market. Some folks are just tinkers- we can’t help ourselves and it sure beats other bad habits!

[Najataagihe]

If you took everyone's list and overlapped them, 90% of it would be the same. GD isn't just building for the masses, they're building for price-sensitive consumers. If you don't want to DIY all the mods, there are more expensive options out there which start out with good tires, heavy duty axles, high quality stabilizers, steps, fans, etc.

It's in that 10% that we learn from each other.

[grizz413]

Any pics/descriptions of your DIY projects?
Redesigned water pump access
BBQ storage box

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