Big Red Otis Mods and Repairs

Thought I would list all the mods and fixes that we have done to our 2021 Solis 59PX.

The stock Solis is good and well balanced, but once you start researching a little it becomes obvious what cost cutting solutions Winnebago used. Essentially most components in the Solis are reliable components, but are on the low end. It isn’t just one component, it just about everything. These are the kinds of things that if Winnebago would have spent 30% more on each component they would be good if not great. Of course that would mean the overall price would have gone up a little. Much less than the 30% direct cost as the majority of the build cost is labor.

A couple examples of this:

  • The Solar charge controller. The Xantrex Solar Charge Controller 30 retails for $130. For $160 they could have purchased an MPPT controller with bluetooth built in.
  • The One Place control center where the levels of tanks/batteries, etc can be checked. A battery shunt which will show the exact % of battery charge is only $50 retail, but instead we get four lights that don’t mean much.
  • The insulation throughout the van is really cheap, just sort of plain old foam strips. There are a lot of other options out there that are significantly better, that don’t cost much directly, but they would slow down the production a little compared to just slapping in foam strips.

The other thing I think needs to be mentioned is the build quality of the van. Once again it is “fine”, but there are plenty of places where one would question the quality control of the build. There are many accounts of crooked items, screws going into nothing, parts left in cabinets, cracked framing, trim pieces cut too short/long, etc. I thought this was just a low-end class-B RV issue, but with a small amount of research, these issues are industry wide and are on all levels of RVs. Buying an expensive RV doesn’t guarantee these quality issues don’t exist, they are just more likely to be hidden behind some facia. Again, the Solis is “fine”, but don’t expect superior workmanship.

Mods/Updates Completed

CategoryModDescriptionDIY?Do Again/10Approx
Cost
Notes
ExteriorOHV Lift + New Struts and shocksLifted the front and rear to provide clearance for dirt roads, etc.N8$4500
ExteriorBF Goodrich KO2 245/75/r17The lift provided space for the larger tires. Purchased 5 tires.N6$2000
ExteriorLanded Gear spare tire mountDriver side rear door spare tire mount plus license plate moverY5$500
ExteriorGutter Passenger SideAdded a gutter to the passenger side to prevent water from dropping on us every time we opened the slider after a rain.Y9$50
ExteriorJuggernaut Generator PlateInstalled generator protection plate as even with the lift, we still tagged the generator on a large curb.Y9$350
ElectricalVictron MPPT 100/30Upgraded the Xantrex to an MPPT controller to harness more power on cloudy days. Y9$250
ElectricalVictron BMV-712 ShuntInstalled a shunt to be able to monitor the actual SOC of the batteriesY9$300
ElectricalAdded in a usb/12v charge panel and switches above jump seatsAllows for more charging ports (one the kids can’t kick/break) and the switches are hooked to 12v ports in the rear driver side cabinet above bed. Allows us to turn cell booster and router on/off Y7$100
ElectricalAdded additional lights in garage of 59PXAdded some 12v lights to the garage to make it easier to work back there. Since then extended the bed, which makes the lights kind of pointless. Y2$25
ElectricalUpgraded USB outlets to USB-CIn a couple places, replaced the USB outlets with USB-C outlets to charge new devicesY5$50
ElectricalInstalled light strip around under kitchen counterLight strip adds a nice amount of light at night that points downwards and is connected to the Tank Indicator light switchY7$30
ElectricalReplaced main overhead lightInstalled a larger overhead light outside bathroom that has two sections controlled by switch. Gives more light to eating/table areaY7
DashboardRadio upgradeReplaced the stock radio with a Pioneer 4600 and Maestro controller box. Also replaced speakers in doors + installed speakers under driver/passenger seats.Y9$1000
ExteriorSumo Springs on rearRear Sumos help with van bounce and generally provide a nicer driving experience Y10$300
StorageMisc wall netting/storageAdded elastic web netting in a few places to increase handy storage. Y6$50
StorageAdded shelf in driver side under bed cabinet Just makes that storage area more usableY6$20
ComfortExtended bed to almost a full kingAdded brackets and a removable 2×4 + 1×12 surface to garage which allows the bed to be larger and we can sleep with our heads north south instead of east west. Y10$75
ComfortMattress toppersAdded mattress toppers to the Murphy Bed (king size, cut down a little) and pop-top (full size)Y7$250
ComfortMurphy Cushion replacementThe cushions on the Murphy bed are pretty lame/cheap/uncomfortable. We happen to have a very expensive older futon that we were getting rid of. We cut the mattress up and replaced just the insides of the Murphy bed cushionsY?$0
StorageAdded L-Track to rear doorsThe L-track on the rear doors allowed for moving a lot of the wires, hoses, etc that one carries to the doors so that the garage had more space.Y10$100
StorageMade rear floor storage accessible from garageWe removed the rear board from the rear under floor storage to make that store accessible from the garage. Added magnets in so that we can close it up with the original boardY7$25
ComfortMisc insulation upgradesEvery time I opened a panel I replaced the cheap insulation with thinsulate. So far:
Rear doors, driver side behind upper cabinets, water panel and water pump, entire pizza oven, front doors, rear corner pillars.
Y6$300
ElectricalBluetooth Mach 10 ceiling panelReplaced AC ceiling controller with a bluetooth version allowing temp control and fans that only go on when AC compressor is on. Y10$300
ElectricalAdded Heat element to Mach 10 Added heating element to Mach to augment propane heat.Y10$50
PlumbingSOG toilet exhaustInstalled SOG on cassette toilet to help with bathroom smellsY7$250
ComfortRuggable rugs everywhereCut Ruggable rug up to fit floor. Makes floor generally more comfortableY7$300
ElectricalLithium + LiBIMReplaced AGMs w/ LifePO4 100ah x 2Y10$650
ComfortFridge LightAdded an LED strip to top, inside of fridge.Y7$5
ExteriorRear gas tankAdded 8gal gas tank to landed gear spare mountY6$150
ExteriorReplace Marker LightsReplaced all marker lights due to leakingY3$100
ComfortReplaced cooktopDue to recall, just replaced cooktop with Dometic.Y3$250

Mods/Updates Planned

CategoryModDescriptionDIYPriority/10Cost
ComfortReplace tension rods on pop topPop-top tension rods are a little weak, upgrading to 120lb instead of 100lb rodsy8$75
Comfort

Repairs

Issue/RepairDescriptionDIYCostNotes
Slider window shatteredReplaced entire slider window after it shattered for really no reasonY$50Sent pics and video of even to Winnebago and they send a new window for free. Replacement took about 2.5hrs.
Buckling ceilingAbove kitchen the ceiling has bowed a little, prob 0.5″.??Haven’t started process to fix.
AC won’t run on generatorOn generator, when AC compressor kicks in the generator stops with overcurrent error. Y$0Winnebago sent a Hard Start capacitor for the AC and haven’t had the problem since. Took about 30min to install in total
Water in Shorepower outletWhenever it rains and I open the shorepower port, there is always water accumulated insideY?Haven’t dealt with it yet, probably just buy $30 replacement outlet and install with extra sealant.
Rear SeatbeltsSeatbelts locked up, couldn’t pull outY?Removed rear seats, installed new seatbelts, problem solved… removing/reinstalling a bit of work though.
RAM transmission recallRAM transmission recallN$0
Cummins recallCummins recallN$0
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