Aluminum Camper Forum

Quote from: tskyyc on September 21, 2024, 03:39:06 PMGrateful to have found this forum. I've gone down the LL rabbit hole and I've just about talked myself into a 2014 21BHS. Build date appears to be 6/2013. Confident my LX470 will tow it with ease. It has the aluminum roof and floor.
The unit is a 10 hour drive from me so I want to do my due diligence. The seller has provided lots of pics and videos but today thanks to this forum I've become aware of the potential for cracks in the frame welds.
Anything else I should be on the lookout for?

What are some popular upgrades or mods?

Most of my camping will probably be boondocking so I plan on picking up a generator and maybe a solar setup.

Check that the Slide Out is aligned and closes up square. Mine had a broken bushing in the track, didn't notice it at first, and was a major affair to fix.

You are already aware of the frame welds, so that is good.

Also, hello from a fellow Calgarian who has a 2014 21RBS (purchased new back then). Upgrades include a new fresh tank (old one split), and a Electricity Management System to monitor the shore power and shut down if something is not up to snuff. I am also making plans for a full Solar / Lithium / 3KW Power systems in the future, currently I have a 2KW power system with RV plug power box I built for experimentation, used it for a couple of dry weekends and it works well to run everything except the AC and fully recharges each day from the panels.

We may have to get together and swap notes, the solar power is one of my next upgrade, the power box was a good first project.

Well, just spent the weekend putting in the new water tank, and I am happy to report it is fixed.

After much searching late last year, finding a few options, and getting no reply's from any of them I was able to get my local RV service center to source a part, put the appropriate filler and pickup attachments on it, I was able to get one.

The new one is bigger (37 gallon vs 32 gallon) a bit longer (takes up the entire with under the trailer) but it fit. I even had 3 additional support brackets made to support it (6 total). Low point pick up, larger capacity and no sagging.

Glad that issue is fixed, now to service the wheels, and flush and sanitize the water system, all ready for the May long weekend.

Let the season begin!

Hey Powder Hounds.

Don't think any heater would have held up to what we just went through this past week (Jan 13-15, 2024), -36C.

For our American friends, at these temps, you don't really need to convert to Fahrenheit, it is just about the same.

Well, looks like my fresh water tank for my 2014 21RBS has finally failed. Been patching it this year a few times to what I thought were rock hits, but this past weekend I got a massive 12 inch crack in it (guess it wasn't the rocks).

My suspicion is that it has become brittle and failed due to old age.

Now, my question, anyone got any ideas as to where to source a replacement?

I have seen some mods for supports and rock protection that I will add as I progress through this repair.

Any thoughts / comments would help in the search. At least it is end of season and I have all winter (which are quite long up here in Canada) to get this sorted out.

I am not adverse to doing this myself, first thought is to get the old tank out, then specific measurements etc. would be easier.

I put Westlake Radials on my 21RBS back several years ago, and to this day the are still in great shape and run very well.

Okay, this has a "Cool"  factor of 9.5.

Be sure to post some "Done" pictures.

OMG, this is the fix I find myself needing right now. Took another hit, and now need a patch. Was trying to figure out if there was a way to help prevent this.

The 21RBS is a bit like looking for a Unicorn, they do show up, but not very often.

Oh, I should have added.

Starlink Satellites for Internet = Nice.

Starlink Satellites and Amateur Astrophotography = Bad (can't shoot a 5 min exposure without one of those damm things showing up as a streak in the image)

Guess I better pick which hobby is more appropriate, quite often I am doing both at the same time!

Okay, you have peaked my interest. Going to have to check this out for up here in Canada.

Yup, same thing I saw on my 21RBS, it's seems to be common.

Like mentioned, just get a good frame shop that can do aluminum and get them to touch it up.

$62K Price Tag

Ouch.

Can you tow with a Tesla?

Sure, why would you want too?

I use an F150 for that!

I don't know the brand (it was 2 years ago) but I know I got it at out Canadian Tire, it came with epoxy resin and fiberglass mesh. it was about $25 cdn.

Mine was a star as well, but about 6" in size. The kit covered it no problem.

There are many kits available from many places, and given the other option is to replace the tank, start with the repair option, if it doesn't work, you are not out much.

PS, take a visit to YouTube, lots of videos on tank repair, they should give you an idea.

Chris

I had the same issue that you did. I just got a repair kit designed for just this purpose from the local RV shop, and patched it myself. 15 min job and it was about $20 for the kit.