List of items to consider to raise the value of the TM

[funpilot]

Here are some ideas I have shared with TM and thought I would share with the fourms:

1. The refrigerator does not cool well for many customers. A compressor based fridge has been recommended on the TM forums. Test a new refrigerator.

2, Hydraulic or electric lifting for the standard TMs. TM forums do not think it will be hard to do and can be light and inexpensive. Solving this challenge could create very interesting growth and value for TM.

3. Factory installed surge protector to protect electronics from badly wired campgrounds.

4. On demand hot water heater. Winnebago now has them standard on several of their product lines with no issues that I could find. (They use Girard with an adjustable thermostat). In talking with Atwood, they recommended adding a Shurflow pre-pressurized accumulator tank.

5. Black water tank solution. Need to come up with someway to have a vent pipe that will meet RVIA requirements. (Should be easy in the RISE). For the RISE, consider using flexible hose like what is used for cleaning swimming pools or how the swimming pool industry uses telescoping poles that can be tightened in place (here would stop smells).

6. Idiot safety issues for the RISE: Sensors that protect damaging the RISE from being lowered if the Murphy bed is still up unless it will automatically go down if it is; Manual over ride to lower RISE if ever needed;

7. You told me you are thinking about adding as much as 4-100 watt solar panels. If you do that, you should consider being able to have 4 6 volt batteries to take advantage of that capability. Thinking through where they should go, the electronics for monitoring them should be part of a study or feedback from these forums.

8. On the RISE, consider having the bathroom self construct when the RISE is raised. To do that, you may need to nest the rising walls inside the stationary walls. In the larger RISES, you need to think of doing a rear-bath (whole back side is the bathroom) so that you only have one nesting wall (like a pocket door but pulling up rather than to the side). That will allow you to construct a first class bathroom. For the classic TMs, would be interesting to see if there is a way to do the same or similar thing. I just feel that once the trailer is up, the bathroom should be done.

9. Better counter tops. I have seen several used TMs and in each one the edges are chipped. I am talking to http://www.polystonecreations.com/ to see if they can come up with an affordable product for the RV industry but it can be any other product. I think it has to be a solid surface of some sort that adds a luxury feel.

10. Rethinking the use of wood. The entire industry is getting very sensitive to rot. You need to consider how you can remove all wood from your framing. One manufacturer experiencing explosive growth is LivinLite for that reason. No wood, all aluminum.

11. One last concern for the RISE. As you make it longer, bowing in the middle could become an engineering challenge. You may need to consider adding "telescoping support columns" for the customer to lock in place when the RISE is up.

12. The murphy bed in the RISE offers a wonderful opportunity to do something special on its bottom when it is now raised up. That could be the perfect place to create more storage opportunities when up (mounting swivel storage that are always up right would allow the customer to not have to remove items), mount an electronic fireplace to it for beauty that can only have power when up, etc.