JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

Passenger Window Sun Cover

A sun cover for my passenger side window/door was the final item on the ‘windshield sun cover’ list (for the time being). Note from JD: The windshield cover portion of this project is here. All of my front windows have quarter turn fasteners installed but I elected to only use the ones on the passenger window/door…. [Read More]

Never Enough 12V or 5V USB sockets

The bedroom of my Newmar Dutch Star (JBAM) is completely devoid of 12 volt sockets and/or 5 volt USB charging sockets.  Perhaps that was acceptable back in 2005.  These days, it is a royal nuisance. So, I started looking for a place to install some sockets.  The trick is finding a spot with 12V positive… [Read More]

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are one of those odd things on a motorhome that don’t seem all that special but sure cost a lot of money! I guess it’s the size. JBAM had 31″ wipers originally.  Pricing these at all the common online locations (cause they are not available locally) net’s a price somewhere between forty and… [Read More]

Windshield Sun Cover

I previously mentioned (here) purchasing material to construct my own windshield sun cover.  In review, I purchased black Phifertex material, described as: “It is a Similar to PhiferTex® but has a tighter weave, which gives it a 95% shade factor.  These fabrics are specially designed and engineered for a wide variety of applications that demand… [Read More]

Stereo Install

JBAM had the original Ford/Mercury six-CD car stereo when we met.  The CD changer did not work and the radio station reception was unbelievably bad.  The sound wasn’t the worst, nor was it the best. I’m not one of those fella’s that’s gotta have loud thumping music blasting all the time.  Nearly the opposite –… [Read More]

Wiper Failure

I departed Minnesota Saturday morning and had a very enjoyable drive down highway 23 to Sioux Falls and then onto I-90. I arrived in Mitchel, South Dakota mid-afternoon on Saturday.  I targeted this spot because a great big Cabela’s store is there! The Cabela’s store was easy to find and they had reserved the entire… [Read More]

Chilly and Wet

This week I am boondocking on my sister’s farm near Kimball, MN (about 80 miles west of the Twin Cities).  I am quite happy to be out of the Twin Cities – I forgot what a rat race those people live!  It is a beautiful place and most of the people are very friendly but… [Read More]

RV Windshield Sun Shade

Last week in north Texas was HOT!  Several days were near ninety degrees and the inside of the motorhome was warmer than that – this boy ain’t used to that kinda heat!  It was obvious to me that I need a windshield sun shade – more than just the curtains on the inside. So, I… [Read More]

Solar Charging System – Take Two

Note from JD: I’ve now (May, 2017) moved onto another motorhome and have installed 1.7Kw (1,700 watts) of solar panels on it – details here. I documented the installation of 650 watts of solar (Morningstar TriStar MPPT 45 charge controller and two SunPower E20 327 watts panels) on my last motorhome here.  When I traded… [Read More]

Newmar Dutch Star

I am super pleased to report that I have done a bit of upgrading over the last few weeks.  I am now the proud owner of a 2005 Newmar Dutch Star (DSDP 4023)!  Shaneeda was great old girl and I had a lot of fun with her. She taught me a tremendous amount and kept… [Read More]