While driving our coach, we refer to maps on our iPhones, in addition to the built-in one.

To position the phones conveniently, we use phone holders from Amazon.

Jenn’s phone usually shows Apple Maps directions, in a holder suction-cupped onto the panel to the right of the AC controls:

My phone is usually showing either the RV Life GPS or Google Maps, while my Mac shows the Google Maps route. My phone holder is suctioned to a plate that is stuck on the edge of the pull-out passenger workstation:

It is easy to adjust them to the desired angle, or rotate them out of the way when not driving.

Last week I wrote about my lap desk. This week, Jenn’s solution.

When we first bought our coach, our first signficant modification was to remove the existing couches. And not long after, we added a desk for Jenn, along with adjustable arms for a laptop and monitor.

She used that for several months, but ultimately decided she didn’t need the big second screen, and didn’t like the desk situation (in particular the slope of the slide-out carpet with the chair), so we replaced the desk with some storage cabinets.

Nowadays, she works at the dining table, using an adjustable standing desk riser, which lets her either stand or sit on a stool. And as with my setup, she also has a SideTrak Swivel 12.5” display that can be attached magnetically, giving her more screen space.

Here’s her setup in sitting position; with her laptop on a riser stand on top of the adjustable desk, in turn on the dining table, with a stool:

And with a quick toggle, the desk can be raised up to standing height, with a standing mat:

A closer look at siting height:

And standing height:

A peek underneath, showing the simple spring-based raising mechanism:

There is room behind the desk for us to eat lunch at the table, and at the end of the day, she can easily move the desk off the dining table to give more room for dinner.

This setup isn’t perfect, but it works well enough for her at present. Who knows, we might make further adjustments in the future.

Our motorhome was produced in 2017, during a time when Tiffin was slowly updating the technology. So it has a mixture of analog switches for some things (like cockpit shades), smart network-based controls using the Spyder multiplex wiring system, and non-integrated controls like the power management and heating/cooling.

Our coach has three rooftop AC units, plus AquaHot hydronic heating. More modern coaches integrate these into the Spyder touch panels, but in this vintage they are independently controlled via three thermostats like this one in the bedroom:

(Note that that Spyder touch panel at the bottom isn’t original; I upgraded it from a much inferior panel that came with the coach.)

While these thermostats were fine, they weren’t as convenient as they could be. (Shock, having to get off our butts to adjust them!)

I’ve been wanting to upgrade them, like I did with the Spyder panel, and I recently got around to that. I purchased one Micro-Air EasyTouchRV thermostat panel, the model compatible with our ACs (352C):

Here’s the old thermostat:

I pulled off the cover to unmount it via the two screws:

Pulling it away from the wall, I reached the three connectors for the wires:

The new panel comes with mount points that are screwed into the wall:

Hooking up the new unit was simply a matter of unplugging the old one and plugging in the new one (being careful to not let the wires drop inside the wall; there wasn’t a lot of slack).

Here’s the new unit mounted:

Much nicer:

Not only does it have a nicer display, it can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth via an app:

When using both cool and heat, one can set it to Away mode to have upper and lower limits, to keep the temperature within that range:

The upper and lower limits on the display:

I was satisfied with that experience, so I ordered two more units for the other thermostats:

The front and middle AC units are controlled by thermostats in a cupboard above the passenger chair (they have remote room sensors towards the front and middle on the ceiling, so being enclosed in a cupboard doesn’t affect their performance):

A closer look at the old front and middle thermostats:

With the covers removed:

Like with the bedroom one, easy enough to swap the plugs:

The new unit:

Here’s a look at the mount points for the new unit; they come with a spacer that is broken off once screwed into place:

The mount points before breaking the connector:

The wood is thick enough to hold the screw, but I still used the cap on the other side, to avoid wires rubbing on the protruding screw:

The new units installed:

So much nicer! Highly recommended.