The build: 1996 Safari Sahara March 2025

The bad: Needs paint everything is peeling or gone. Updating some of the interior is original from 1996. Engine and frame need a good cleaning with preventive rust paint applied.

The good: It drives and has little rust under the body. No major damage to body. All the cabinets are real wood and well made. Has lots of cables routed throughout which will make pulling new ones easier using the old as fish lines.

First fix. Propane lines are old and need fixing the regulator coming off the on board tank looks like it served its time and was called back to service after retiring 6 times. Dirty, rusty, gunked up bad. Replaced with 2 way regulator with auto switch connected onboard tank and 100 pound rental tank from campground. Used stainless steel braided line with a gauge to connect rental tank will need to replace old lines coming from on board tank and going from regulator to propane pipes with similar down the line both old lines look like they have dry rot in areas. No leaks detected, after monitoring for days tank is still full with normal furnace and hot water usage.

Second fix: Need to get hot water working regularly now we have propane, also need to replace ugly bathroom shower and tub fixture. Previous owner used a claw foot tubs 4ft tall water fixture and mounted it on top his tub not sure why guess personal preference. Previous owner epoxied the fixture down to tub will have to get creative to remove. Installed Deck Mount Tub Faucet with Sprayer, 2 Hole 6.85" Center, Black Vintage Style, with Valve and Diverter, with Handheld Shower looks fantastic cost $240. Will have to use Bondo fiberglass filler to fix holes left from previous faucet.

Second fix part 2: Water heater was in bad shape. Rusting out, had a patched crack, which is extremely odd to me, can tell where previous owner put screws in the water heater frame as they have rusted out from the leak pooling water on them. Replaced with a Fogotti pro shower 9 rated for the elevation in Denver where we are working. Before the new water heater could come in pipe under the sink some old butylamine water pipe came off its fitting spraying hot water everywhere. Placed order with home depo for ½ pex will replace all the water lines. Using ½” pex and crimpers replaced lines going to shower, two sinks, and hot water tank. Putting shut off valves at each fixture eliminating the need for the shut off panel outside will look at removing it and using that space for something else. Learned pex 90s look good but offer 2 additional failure points in the system for each one installed and add the equivalent of 9 inches to waters run with too many decreasing pressure. Better to bend the pex it is very flexible and avoid any unnecessary crimps. Bought 50 ft of pex both red and blue could have easily used two sticks of 10 ft each lesson learned. Water heater isn’t working as well as the one installed in previous camper for some reason it isn’t detecting the flow to the shower very well and only heating water to 86 degrees, running cold water in a sink fixes issue. Will experiment to try and identify why. Decreased water pressure coming in at source seems to have helped. Replaced shower fixtures with high flow versions does not seem to effect anything. Installed 3 stage water filter at the start of where water comes in. flushed lines seems to have helped can get water 114 degrees without running sinks, will try replacing hot water line with ¾ inch and seeing if that fixes issue. Ordered mini splits to replace roof top system.

Third fix: Door latch came in ordered to replace L300 Bargman latch that was honestly still functional but ancient by lock standards replaced with AP Products 013-5311 Bluetooth Electric Motorhome Lock for $240 can lock and unlock from phone and have set to unlock when it detects my phone approaching. Fit in the hole left by the L300 only modification needed in the door frame was cutting a small square out for the dead bolt, the latch it slides into needed more extensive work had to cut out the old one from the frame. After getting new striker plate put in will go over all the cuts and seal in with Bondo sand-able metal filler.

Fourth fix: lighting is weird will start tracing it out and replacing all the stupid wire nuts. As an electrician of 14 years wire nuts in a permanent fixture that has a lot of stress from the entire unit being able to head down a highway irks me at minimum wire nuts should have electrical tape wrapped around them for added security. Replaced front light fixture with dimmable led looks great much brighter. From amazon ASD 8 Inch LED Indoor Wall Sconce - Modern Interior 10W 120V 2700K-5000K Adjustable Dimmable Wall Mounted Light Fixtures. Crimped on spade terminals so if my wife’s interior design is different can easily replace with new ones. Will be an ongoing fix.

Fifth fix: Rooftop system still working being 30 years old is extremely impressive but as my main complaint with these units both old and new is they are loud and only work ok. First mini split ordered from Della, advertises should clean and purify air which may help my wife breath easier, not a lot of information on measurements hopefully its similar dimensions as the Senville installed on previous camper the wolf pup. Received mini splits outside unit too big to use anywhere without major modifications to rig. Unacceptable started return process and after more research ordered Yitahome 18000 btu mini split which if measurements are accurate should fit in basement area easily being more wide than tall. Received new mini split packed up old unused units from Della in boxes new units came in luckily they fit with minor modifications to Styrofoam holding the units. 

Things still needed to be addressed. Washer/Dryer needs new pex run to it for water

Roof needs to be cleaned and resealed

RV outside needs to be sanded and painted will do in sections

Windows need to be resealed

Headlights replaced with better LEDs

Orange and red lights across rig need to be upgraded to LEDs

Possibly install water purifier under sink

Replace dish washer the black and decker is ok at best

Replace bathroom sink and cabinet from corner to wall style

Inspect and upgrade suspension if possible

New 4 burner cook top

Replace step motor seems to be on its last legs

Install sliding pocket door locks making the bathroom and bedroom doors more secure for travels

Upgrade engine for more power. New turbo, bigger exhaust headers, better fuel injection, remap ecu

Stay tuned as we'll be sharing a comprehensive list of all the parts we added to streamline your remodel. We aren't compensated for any of these, but we understand the challenge of finding the best parts.