Planning, layout and fitout
Following is the interior layout, elec and wet will follow when time is found to do them. Comment is invited, feel free to comment on the page or email or ring Bill with your suggestions. Smart draw is a new program to us, no doubt as we learn to drive it better the images will also become better.
[Gallery not found]Here is the latest layout, as you can see it has changed substantially, For the best we hope.
PLUMBING:
Our tanks have arrived ! We have just tossed them into the bins where they are probably going to go, it is much easier to visualise the best place to fit them once we actually have them in front of us. And of course it is easy to swap and change at this stage, as we have put tank placement at the top of the list, and will fit everything else around them. The limiting factor of staying somewhere you really like (free camping) is usually food or water supplies, and it is more often water than food. So, we have opted for 1,000 ltrs water storage and 380 ltrs of black and grey waste water storage (each). The tanks are all colour coded, grey tank for grey water, black for black water, darker blue for fresh water that may be from uncertain sources (750 ltrs for showering etc) and a light blue tank (250 ltrs) for drinking water. This tank will only be filled from known water quality sources, or from rain water from our own roof (after it has had a good wash). Bin layout is attached. This drawing is not to scale, and while it seems the bins are pretty full, there is ample room over the tanks for whatever else we need to fit in.
[Gallery not found]While the paint in the bin area is drying we have marked up the bathroom and started getting all the pieces together for it. This is just the beginning, more pics will follow later. The fitting of the 2 cavity sliders is now complete and the walls will follow soon after.
The shower is fitted, and the fresh tanks are in for good, welded frame and all. Each tank can be removed if ever necessary. There is a cap on top of each T coming from the top of the tanks, removal of this (which is also the tank breather) allows a controlled dose of any steriliser we choose to use to be administered to each tank, in the event we need to pull water from dubious sources. The shower has had the mixer fitted, as seen, and the head is able to be screwed on whenever we want. No time to clean the shower before the pic unfortunately. We have also taken a couple of pics of the frame of the bathroom, they are in the last frame section gallery of photos. See them there. All tanks are now fitted with the black and grey pics in the last gallery. The four extra low voltage pumps and their voltage convertor can also be seen. Only the fresh tank to go.
[Gallery not found]Another week where not a huge amount got done, same old same old, got the key in the door a couple of days but no further. Alex has been carrying on in the rear while Bill has been doing a bit of farm work. Woolies is pushing us for more production but nothing is growing with this bloody rain, wind and hail every day. However we did get a little done and next week should see the wardrobe door hole constructed and the bedroom indoor aircon unit mounted in the wardrobe. I am told I am having a couple of days off over Xmas so hopefully will have plenty of time to rejig the site.
[Gallery not found]No time to do anything this weekend, got in a few hours on Sunday morning then the bloody rain started again so I decided to give it away for the day. Young Alex will be back assisting next week when we will complete the air locks for bin doors and slide out step, and build the hole for the sliding, mirrored wardrobe doors as we cannot line the wardrobe without doing this first. There hasn’t been much to take photos of at present, so am working on a list to send to members of the buyers group so they can all contact each other.
Have taken a few more pics of where current effort is. Still have not sorted the hosting size thing, may move a lot of stuff to other websites we have, just to stay within their limits.
[Gallery not found]Our Web Hoster is having a whinge about how much disc space we are using. We will have to have a rethink about how we present information here. In the meantime, here is the latest gallery with what we are doing at the moment. Working on securing the doors, connecting the engine heated heat exchanger, yes, the 1/2 gas bottle, and the slide rooms control.
[Gallery not found]The focus has been on setting up the water diversion system inside the rear panels, as you can see from the pics. Got some info and ideas from Gavin Murray from Hobohome (see links), they will be incorporated on the other side when it is done. Drain water from the aircon will also drain into the fresh tanks, after all it is almost distilled water !
[Gallery not found]New Years Eve we continued on cutting the panels for the wardrobe and getting the rear aircon hung. Not being chippies, we are finding some difficulty in fitting up these panels as they have some quite complex shapes. For several we have had to make 3mm MDF templates which are really cheap, before cutting the white, polyester coated ply we are using for walls and ceilings. Our fitout uses this material right through, with stained pine trims to cover the joins and corners. Easiest things we can find to work with, the white increases the perception of size, and the pine mouldings are readily available at the big green shed.
[Gallery not found]Xmas eve was spent doing the initial work to set up the bedroom aircon inside unit, the outside unit is already located in a rear bin. We also started setting up the wardrobe door “hole” so we can get a size for the mirrored sliders to be made for this area. And yes, the rear aircon is located inside the wardrobe ! However the rain, heat and humidity plus a bit of family pressure saw an early end to this days work.
[Gallery not found]In the few days between Xmas and New Year we have been trying to get the rear aircon in place which means lining some sections of the wardrobe first. Put in a lot for not much photo opps !!
[Gallery not found]Ok have a new gallery for you to look at, the mirrored wardrobe doors are fitted, exhaust fans in the bathroom, aircons are working, bedroom ceiling is in. Enjoy !
There have been a few updates moved to the fitout section over the last couple of days, and progress has been made in the budget section as well, check there for an update.
I have been walking past the stainless barbque sitting in the front bin (where steps were) for a few weeks now and it was giving me the tom tits. So I decided to do a bit with it, as I was sick of fighting with timber and plywood inside anyway. I did the mods seen here, need some different bolts, couple of plugs for the end of the 40 x 40 to neaten it up, and make the slide hole gaskets. But it is in there, not annoying me any more, and the break from the inside has worked wonders, ripped into it again after the bbq was out of the way.
I think there is a lesson here, somethimes you seem to get bogged down in something taking too long (maybe because it is not one of your best skills, certainly true of me and woodworking). Maybe it is best to just go and do something else for a bit (you can usually find something if you are doing a conversion) till you get your mojo back ?
This Saturday was mucked up a bit with frequent rain and the farm requiring my input so didn’t manage to achieve too much. Got the outside shower in, readied a strainer for the otherside water collection, and also did that side taps and hoses. We also managed to get the last panel on the drivers side in the wardrobe, so just needs trimming on that side. fingers crossed, out of there on Monday.
[Gallery not found]Ok have a new gallery for you to look at, the mirrored wardrobe doors are fitted, exhaust fans in the bathroom, aircons are working, bedroom ceiling is in. Enjoy !
There have been a few updates moved to the fitout section over the last couple of days, and progress has been made in the budget section as well, check there for an update.
I have been walking past the stainless barbque sitting in the front bin (where steps were) for a few weeks now and it was giving me the tom tits. So I decided to do a bit with it, as I was sick of fighting with timber and plywood inside anyway. I did the mods seen here, need some different bolts, couple of plugs for the end of the 40 x 40 to neaten it up, and make the slide hole gaskets. But it is in there, not annoying me any more, and the break from the inside has worked wonders, ripped into it again after the bbq was out of the way.
I think there is a lesson here, somethimes you seem to get bogged down in something taking too long (maybe because it is not one of your best skills, certainly true of me and woodworking). Maybe it is best to just go and do something else for a bit (you can usually find something if you are doing a conversion) till you get your mojo back ?
This Saturday was mucked up a bit with frequent rain and the farm requiring my input so didn’t manage to achieve too much. Got the outside shower in, readied a strainer for the otherside water collection, and also did that side taps and hoses. We also managed to get the last panel on the drivers side in the wardrobe, so just needs trimming on that side. fingers crossed, out of there on Monday.
[Gallery not found]Got bugger all done today but managed to take some pics around the hallway. Have run out of gloss ply, more arrives tomorrow so can forge ahead then. Supposed to get the 20mm closed cell foam for roof insulation tomorrow as well so ceiling panels can go in for good, once we add the bolts for the solar panel profiles.
[Gallery not found]Did a bit more today, but being Sunday was not too stressed about it, so didn’t even start till after 9:00 am and finished at 4:00 pm. Makes a change from my usual 10-12 hour days. Still seem to be able to work these younger guys to a standstill before I get my second wind. The ceiling panels all have to come out again, I want to paint the rear of the bathroom ones, plus we have not received the closed cell foam for roof insulation as yet. So, at this stage it is just getting all sheets cut and fitted temporarily.
[Gallery not found]Lights have arrived, or at least samples of the ones I am going with so now can complete the ceilings. Have a look and see what you think. There is a new LED site for stuff already here, we have trade pricing on it for the buyers group so if interested drop me a mail.
[Gallery not found]The bathroom is all but finished, just the transition panel to do, and that may be done with the rest of them, unless I get a bright idea. Really feels great to get a room out of the way. Best way to tackle it I think, one job at a time until it’s done. Niell was here over the weekend and it is something we agree on, finish one task at a time, don’t get diverted !
[Gallery not found]The bathroom is all but finished, just the transition panel to do, and that may be done with the rest of them, unless I get a bright idea. Really feels great to get a room out of the way. Best way to tackle it I think, one job at a time until it’s done. Niell was here over the weekend and it is something we agree on, finish one task at a time, don’t get diverted !
[Gallery not found]Nearing the end of the kitchen, I think !
[Gallery not found]Been quiet for a bit on here, but I’ve been flat out with bloody kitchen cupboards, read on.
[Gallery not found]No posting for quite some time so here is a big one. Can’t use the Easter break to push ahead as Woolies QA team has changed everything around and we have spent the time redoing our whole system. Thats the trouble with Quality Assurance, once it is in place the industry shrinks, unless it continually reinvents itself and you can guess who wears that.
[Gallery not found]Have had to start on the kitchen in order to be able to sort out the electrical switchboards as they will be hanging off a kitchen cupboard. More pics to follow in next few days
[Gallery not found]Been working on the bedroom to try and finish it, not too far away now
[Gallery not found]Decided to take advantage of all the rain and do some work on the roof. It can get very hot under the plastic roof of the shed we are building this project in, so rain and clouds meant it was the time to start up there. Lots of cutting and drilling for the anchors for the profile system, have at least the backbone in place so far will update this area in the next few days.
[Gallery not found]Did a bit this Saturday, but having injured a shoulder during the subdiv stuff it was not conducive to working overhead so went home when all the farm workers did at 2:30. Have been preparing the rof vent. Once the decision was made to keep the original front roof vent/escape hatch we started to innovate a couple of screens to keep out insects and heat/light as desired. This will make the front hatch more user friendly. We will be continuing the profile system around the front hatch and the solar hot water can reside up here. There is still room for 10 x 175 watt solar panels behind the hatch, doing it as we have done with the profile system. The profile system also allows you some room under the panels, this will cool them and keep them at maximum possible efficiency, but also allows you to fit things under them such as vents etc. We are making our own brackets to allow the panels to fit in between the “arms” of the profile system, this gives a smoother roof line for less drag (more about that down the track) but also means they are protected from branches. the profile system will have a “rail” of 3mm aluminium plate along the side to both lift any branches above the panels and also to stop that massive updraft under the panels from a road train or similar hurtling past at 100 kph plus from the opposite direction. Can’t afford to have to keep stopping to pick up solar panels !
Been working on a few areas at once as you will see, ah the weekends with no interuptions ! Really can steam ahead then.
[Gallery not found]We have been working on the doors around the outside of the motorhome as well, and have managed to get a bit more done, now, apart from a few catches and struts, the only doors left to do are the main entry and the bin doors, which we should achieve over the next couple of weeks.
[Gallery not found]Finally finished all the control on the bedroom slide, only part to go now is fit the T shaped extrusions to the outside and the outer seal. Makes a huge difference being able to just press a button and walk away, 3 mins later slide is out and stopped at the right spot.
[Gallery not found]We have been doing some work on the outside as I need to give some work to some of the farm workforce as lettuce sales and growth are so slow at the moment. We have also removed and replaced one of the Liftco slide out rooms to refit wiper seals as we were given dodgy instructions on where they should be fitted. If you are fitting one of these excellent products, talk to someone who has done it, you may save yourself weeks of work. It is very unfortunate that they have such an excellent product, and such poor instructions on fitting that product.
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