The forum and an entire section devoted to successful upgrades and modifications. I think the idea is that in times past we may have considered upgrading to new Beavers. Times changed and that doesn't work now.
We have had our Monterey for about 9 years. I estimate we've slept in it about 1900 times and driven 96,000 miles. It's been fun!
Between us and a couple dogs, the interior was getting run down. Carpets were worn, wrinkled and dirty. Beaver's idea of decoration was Palm Trees everywhere which guaranteed planned obsolesence!
We once were invited into a vintage bus conversion that was decorated to give the feel of a mountain cabin or western lodge. We thought we would like that. So, out when the Palm Trees.
We did the following:
- Replaced the plastic entry step treads with tile
- Replaced the first few feet of worn out carpet with tile.
- Replaced the rest of the remaining carpet with new "commercial grade" carpet
- Replaced all the Palm Tree valance fabric with an "Indian Blanket" fabric from Pendleton Woolen Mills
- Kept the existing kitchen/bath tile and replaced the broken one
- Replaced the Palm Tree fabric on the dinning chairs with a rich brown ultra-leather
- Replaced the standard definition TV with a Samsung high definition TV
- Replaced the WalMart DVD player with a "smart" Samsung BD Player that will stream Netflix
- Bought a lamp that is a sculpture of a bear catching a salmon with a copper shade
- Put small Native American hand made baskets on display shelves
As we travel this year we will enjoy looking for more themed "decorations". (Anybody have an old bamboo fly rod they don't want?)
Jim Sizemore, the owner of RV Outfitters in Bend, OR did the work. (He is one of the BAC's regular advertisers.) As others have said, his work is excellent.
I put together a two and half minute YouTube of his work. If it looks a little like an ad promoting Jim and his work, I planned it that way. Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-wxx65Gtk