Sometimes it's better not to rely on a Dealer for your "Modification"

Dealers in general are pretty good at spicing up a travel trailer sale. They might just throw some enhancements into your travel trailer. Maybe it’s a new shower head, some bug screens, or even some power vents, but sometimes it’s hard to get everything you want; and sometimes it’s better not to rely on your dealership for a modification. Such was the case on our newest Travel Trailer.

All I wanted was the dealership to run an LP gas line from the existing quick connect port by the front door to the rear of the trailer; so I could use my bumper grill. From their reaction, you would think I asked for a hot tub to be installed. I was willing to pay for this modification. Sadly I just could not find a dealership interested in doing this; and I still can’t figure out why. After all, it was as simple as getting 20 feet of hose and quick connecting it by the door. Next it would be then secured to the frame just as the manufacturer did for all the other gas appliances. Lastly it would be mounted to the rear bumper. Even Tammy wondered “hasn’t anyone every asked for this before…it can’t be their first Rodeo?!!!

After several weeks of getting nowhere with Dealers and independent RV repair places; we decided to just do it ourselves. Getting the hose and quick connect backing plate were the hardest parts of the job. Once I found a distributor that could make a custom length of hose, I knew the rest of this modification would fall into place.

LP Line and Fasteners

I bought all the tube clamps at Fastenal, which is a national fastener chain store. It has been my experience that they carry just about every type of fastener and self tapping screw you would need, and the quality is excellent. Don’t bother with getting your self tapping screws at the major hardware chains…they are junk.

The hardest part to get was the mounting bracket for under the rear bumper. I finally gave up and had an RV store find the part they had used on my last trailer at the RV manufacturer. It is currently on order…a whopping $1.81 part, but you’ll never find it on the Internet. Until that part comes in I have just zip tied the quick connect into place. Once I mount the quick connect plate I will add that picture to this blog.

This entire mod cost us about $125.00 USD and it took all of twenty minutes to install. Plug into the line by the front door then use tube clamps to hold the hose in place all the way to the back bumper. Everything we had to do under the trailer was easily accessible, and done with a portable drill.

Quick Connect Up Front

Fastened LP Hose

Temporary Quick Connect Rear Bumper

Oddly I’m sure the dealer could have charged us at least $200.00 and I wouldn’t have batted an eye. It would have been really easy money for them, and I continue to wonder why no one could get excited about doing this job. I think even more surprising is why this mod isn’t a factory installed option. Many people like to avoid grilling at the front door. Grilling at the front door resuts in smoke coming into the trailer. Also,many owners don’t want to drill into the sidewall of their travel trailer in order to mount a grill bracket. There is only upside to having another quick connect at the rear of the trailer.

We have already gone camping and I have to say the grill works great. I am so glad we decided to do this mod ourselves. Had we relied on a Dealer it would probably be the end of the season before we would be grilling.