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New Owner - Aliner Expedition... modifications have begun!

Discussion in 'A-Frame PopUps' started by BostonDad, May 24, 2020.

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  1. May 24, 2020 #1
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Hi guys/gals,

    I just became the proud owner of a (new to me) 2015 Aliner Expedition.

    Quick Facts:
    1. Slightly Neglected (ac does not work, evidence of a minor water leak, sink glass is missing).
    2. Has almost all the options I was looking for including Off Road package, Inside Shower/Toilet Combo, rear couch, etc. (It’s missing hard dormers... we will have to wait til the next one once I can afford it ;))

    We intend to be using this camper on weekends only, BUT it will be packed full of (up to) 4 kids! That’s right, FOUR on top (literally) of my wife and I.

    Most weekends will be one night stays only, with some 2 night exceptions. My kids are super mild mannered so I am staying very optimistic.

    First, the plan is to modify this rig to sleep all of us, so I wasted no time and constructed a platform to do just that.

    I built a bed extension for the front dinette twin, effectively changing its sleeping direction:
     
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  2. May 24, 2020 #2
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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  3. May 24, 2020 #3
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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  4. May 24, 2020 #4
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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  5. May 24, 2020 #5
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    I already have the foam to match the other pillows’ heights, and already have a 3” foam topper on order.

    I will update with pics once I have the foam in. Planning to do many other mods as well. Stay tuned!
     
    Orchid, DiamondGirl and Rik Peery like this.
  6. May 24, 2020 #6
    A-Ranger12

    A-Ranger12 Active Member

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    Welcome, and enjoy!

    If the bubble windows are leaking, resealing them is fairly inexpensive, but time-consuming. Same with the vent fan.
     
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  7. May 24, 2020 #7
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Well-Known Member Gold Supporting Member

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    Welcome aboard from Franklin, MA!
    Atta way to get rolling on the mods.
     
  8. May 24, 2020 #8
    DiamondGirl

    DiamondGirl Aliner adventures in AZ Diamond Supporting Member

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    Welcome to the Aliner family from AZ.

    Nice work on the mods. Can’t wait to see when you’re finished.

    Happy Camping...[ALPU][PUT]
     
  9. May 24, 2020 #9
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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  10. May 24, 2020 #10
    Orchid

    Orchid Sharp Shootin' Grandma

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    Welcome! Looking forward to seeing your mods continue.
     
  11. May 24, 2020 #11
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Thank you!

    I had a bit of extra time this evening so I picked this bad boy up from Home Depot. A good deal for $219. This is the unit that new Aliners are being equipped with. Hopefully the fan is quieter than the older, smaller unit.

    I then took out my trusty cordless drill and drilled through the old unit’s rivets in an attempt to take it out.

    The sun is gone now. More tomorrow...
    A4574177-08B1-42A3-A322-5B1AAFB4C567.jpeg
    F8052CA1-2539-4224-AEAE-2A8DD93762BF.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

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  12. May 25, 2020 #12
    jeicher

    jeicher Member

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    4 kids and 2 adults in an Aliner is a bit cozy. Was camping a couple of years ago and saw a family with 3 kids in a 1993 Alite (much smaller than an Expedition). They had bunks constructed inside and most of the other gear was outside or in their van. I must say they were "happy campers" - Where there is a will there is a way.
    https://www.popupportal.com/media/1993alite.11384/

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. May 25, 2020 #13
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Lol, yeah that Alite may be taking things a tad too far but I guess I’m not that far behind.

    Keep in mind that we’ve been slumming it in tents and air mattresses the last two-three years so the Expedition with “real” beds will be like staying at the Ritz!
     
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  14. May 25, 2020 #14
    Orchid

    Orchid Sharp Shootin' Grandma

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    Money well spent!

    I totally get it about it seeming like the ritz compared to tents. I don't mind being a bit cozy. I like it.

    We have had seven people stay in our camper for a week at the beach and loved it! It was a mess, but such wonderful, happy memories. I gave up on trying to keep things clean. I'll try to find a pic I took of the mess that week.

    I've had people (even here) tell me that we couldn't have been comfortable, but we really were. Not all people are high maintenance. Having a soft place to sleep, off the ground, and with air conditioning is it takes to make me a very happy camper. Well, that and an onboard bathroom so I don't have to walk to the bathhouse in the middle of the night.
     
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  15. May 25, 2020 #15
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Thanks for confirming that I am not crazy, Orchid! :)
     
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  16. May 25, 2020 #16
    Orchid

    Orchid Sharp Shootin' Grandma

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    The dinette is on the left, past the kitchen. We just left it made into a bed all week. As you can see, we had the king bunk split into two twins. It was a mess, but we had fun!

    mess.jpg
     
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  17. May 25, 2020 #17
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Wow, that looks like a lot more room than I am working with, but your point is well taken... it CAN be done!
     
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  18. May 25, 2020 #18
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Well today was a bit of a slow day but I was able to polish one of the Lexan skylights. Here are a couple of pics of before/after.

    It didn’t turn out perfect, but it’s 90% there and a million times better than before. I only spent about 20 minutes on it. Will have to have a second go at it at some point this season.

    6454BC29-0682-4968-A1D7-378E2FD4C6D4.jpeg 402283B7-04E2-4422-8B48-109F2B0F50FD.jpeg CC4757C3-7E92-4629-9140-AA2997BFBC5A.jpeg
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2020
  19. May 26, 2020 #19
    A-Ranger12

    A-Ranger12 Active Member

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    Looks good on the window!

    An hour with the Novus polishes and a dual-action polisher will make them pretty again. Keep the speed slow to not burn the plastic.
     
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  20. May 26, 2020 #20
    BostonDad

    BostonDad Member

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    Another slow day, but I managed to build this space saver from Walmart. Apparently it is very popular with the A-frame crowd. I mean, for 20 bucks you can’t really go wrong.

    After I built it up, I took out my cutting wheel and chopped it down to 36”. I also cut off some of the unnecessary extra stuff up top. E7EB2DE8-0DB6-4178-A8D5-A539FE54D414.jpeg
     
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