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07-07-2023, 01:42 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Arlington
Posts: 27
M.O.C. #23884
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Making parts
When we purchased our 2011 Montana used in 2019 it did not come with a rail bar to the upstairs. At out age this becomes a necessity so I installed one.
One problem was the door to the bedroom would hit the rail. I cut a notch in the door so we could close the door all the way. This left a ragged edge which we covered with tape.
Not the best looking but worked for a while. I thought about a custom made piece to cover the notch but was worried about the cost. I decided to design my own protector to save on cost. I knew it had to be 3d printed because of the custom angle of the notch. I learned have to design in 3d and then checked on the price of printing. I sent the design to a company that just asked for a 3d file and they would quote a price., $220. What if I was just off a little bit on the design and had to print again, $220. I checked on the price of a 3d printer and the one a chose, $180 reconditioned. A few supplies and the total was less that the price of printing twice. I was lucky and the printed part was right. Now we have a solid plastic piece in place to protect the raw edge of the wood on the door. Looks good too.
I am planning to travel with the 3d printer. I am rebuilding to back of the 5th wheel to carry the printer. Lots of nice things you can make with a 3d printer.
__________________
2011 Montana 3580RL 37' Hickory Edition
2012 Ford f-250 King Ranch short bed, 6.7 diesel, SumoSprings, Pullrite slider hitch. Sulastic shackles, 400 amp hour lithium batteries, 500 watts solar, DC to DC charger, 3000 watt full sine wave inverter
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07-07-2023, 01:45 PM
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#2
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Arlington
Posts: 27
M.O.C. #23884
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Toilet room handle bar
I also added a handle in the toilet room.
__________________
2011 Montana 3580RL 37' Hickory Edition
2012 Ford f-250 King Ranch short bed, 6.7 diesel, SumoSprings, Pullrite slider hitch. Sulastic shackles, 400 amp hour lithium batteries, 500 watts solar, DC to DC charger, 3000 watt full sine wave inverter
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07-07-2023, 02:01 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,371
M.O.C. #4831
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Where you able for find studs for the rails, and if yes, what did you use?
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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07-07-2023, 02:33 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,425
M.O.C. #21044
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Carl - I installed a similar handrail that we bought at Lowe’s. I used a $13 stud finder, marked both edges of the stud using painters masking tape. Then I measured up off the steps to locate the distance for grabbing the rail that felt right to DW. Then I marked where my screw holes would go and drilled some pilot holes with a small bit. I located the lower rail starting point first (according to DW's natural reach), then the rail assembly sort of swings into place to meet the in-wall stud. I did not measure up to get the 39"...that is where it naturally fell. Can’t remember what screws I used but they were probably 1” lg. The rail came out great - very sturdy…and with the dark color we chose you would be hard pressed to know it was not OEM.
Edit: the grab bar we chose has "square" wall attachments. The sketch below shows the height dimension to the mid-corner wall attachment from the stair tread. The bottom screen shot is the grab bar we bought - but I don’t remember it being $156…I thought it was just shy of $100. I think when I was all finished - I found a paper template in the box that would have made it a little easier. Look for the template!!
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MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
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07-07-2023, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,554
M.O.C. #2283
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Thesis 3D Printers are amazing. The real value is making prototypes. Where a machine shop will take days a 3D printer will take hours and not tie up hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of machines. I wish I would have had one when making a new product.
Lynwood
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07-07-2023, 03:24 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Arlington
Posts: 27
M.O.C. #23884
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I did not use any studs. For the rail at the stairs I used large metal wall anchors and screws to hold the rail. Very sturdy. For the one in the toilet room I drilled through the wall and used metal backer plates. The metal is hidden by the medicine cabinet.
__________________
2011 Montana 3580RL 37' Hickory Edition
2012 Ford f-250 King Ranch short bed, 6.7 diesel, SumoSprings, Pullrite slider hitch. Sulastic shackles, 400 amp hour lithium batteries, 500 watts solar, DC to DC charger, 3000 watt full sine wave inverter
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07-07-2023, 09:43 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,371
M.O.C. #4831
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Thanks Mikendebbie and rpkittle1 the extra info helps a lot.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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07-08-2023, 07:38 AM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Hillsdale
Posts: 78
M.O.C. #21318
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What 3d design software are you using?
__________________
Wayne & Joyce
2021 Montana 3781RL
2020 Chevy 3500HD
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07-08-2023, 08:47 AM
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#9
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Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Arlington
Posts: 27
M.O.C. #23884
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I use Selfcad for most of the design because it is simpler to use. I also have Blender but it is more complex but will somethings Selfcad won't. I use the free versions so I know I am not useing the latest and greatest.
__________________
2011 Montana 3580RL 37' Hickory Edition
2012 Ford f-250 King Ranch short bed, 6.7 diesel, SumoSprings, Pullrite slider hitch. Sulastic shackles, 400 amp hour lithium batteries, 500 watts solar, DC to DC charger, 3000 watt full sine wave inverter
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07-12-2023, 10:12 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Fargo
Posts: 214
M.O.C. #19032
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Very impressive work! Thanks for sharing.
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