Author Topic: OverLanding Camper Build (Read 75062 times)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1350 on:** April 13, 2020, 07:21:41 PM »

Next, a folding shelf was added below the window so I can grow flowers or stack up M4 mags, whichever comes first

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1351 on:** April 13, 2020, 07:23:36 PM »

And a second shelf was added just aft of that one. I can envision setting a drink or the evening's book on there whilst I drift away to the peaceful battlefield in the sky

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1352 on:** April 13, 2020, 07:24:59 PM »

I hope to get to the rear shelf tomorrow so I can find an excuse to carve up this otherwise good carpet. I think I'll just glue it in place and dare any rug-rat to move it!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1353 on:** April 13, 2020, 07:26:00 PM »

So this is where it all sat at the end of the day

JR · « **Reply #1354 on:** April 13, 2020, 07:31:31 PM »

All that's missing is an electric skylight!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1355 on:** April 13, 2020, 08:23:22 PM »

Quote from: JR on April 13, 2020, 07:31:31 PM

All that's missing is an electric skylight!

Well, that and fabric and a frame and suspension, wheels/tires. and a few other things, but its almost there!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1356 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:20:32 PM »

The kitchen cooking area got a fire extinguisher which required me to relocate the light. Man it's crowded in there, but everything fits!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1357 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:21:26 PM »

Then I added a 5 lb extinguisher to the inside of the camper.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1358 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:25:02 PM »

Now this one was a bit tricky. It is larger and I'm trying to fit into dead space that otherwise would be of no use to me

So I decided to squeeze it in between the actuator and the pantry cabinet. It's kind of heavy so I gave it a strong mounting base:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1359 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:27:58 PM »

And, I wanted the thing to tilt outward and tilt forward to give me a good angle to snatch it quickly. So with the addition of a block of SYP I got the angle that works

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1360 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:29:11 PM »

It fit like a glove and sits at the ready, but out of the way of the door

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1361 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:31:15 PM »

Next I started fitting that piece of carpet to the back shelf after a good cleaning of that area.

I'll trim it in tomorrow after the glue has cured

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1362 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:33:59 PM »

If you recall, I have a cable and a propane gas line exiting the rear frame in the middle. Those will have to make a short run up the exterior of the camper body, so I made up this cover which will enclose and protect everything

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1363 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:38:22 PM »

As you can probably figure out I am doing punch-out list items as I work to finish this thing.

So next up, I needed to add a water tank vent line which I forgot to install when I built it, so I milled a hole in the lid with this forsten bit running a vacuum all the while I drilled. Then it was a simple matter to crank the PEX NPT to nipple fitting into the lid coated with some RTV to create that vent.

I may make up some cover for the vent, haven't decided if its necessary

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1364 on:** April 14, 2020, 09:40:45 PM »

I looked high and low for a one way valve so that I could plumb the city water supply bib into the pressure side of the cold water lines, but came up goose eggs. So I'll just mount this simple valve in a conspicious place to allow me to have that option of hooking my garden hose up to your house!

JR · « **Reply #1365 on:** April 14, 2020, 10:27:40 PM »

Fire ext good, never enough. I still like my halons but they are getting pricey since the EPA says we will destroy the earth with them.

Note; Move you light again, you don't want in shining in your face but light the cooking area.

Note 2; That bog one inside will get hooked and bumped by everything. Good spot but not sticking out.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1366 on:** April 17, 2020, 07:29:12 PM »

Frame wiring today. The junction boxes came in so I installed one in the frame in between the suspension locations

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1367 on:** April 17, 2020, 07:32:24 PM »

I installed two amber marker lights on each side and a required three red set on the back. The wires are in but still "roughed in" with no connectors. I don't want to make the connections permanent until I make sure the wires are hooked up correctly. LED's are backwards and polarity sensitive...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1368 on:** April 17, 2020, 07:33:46 PM »

I think I'll buy a couple spare marker lights. I'll bet they get torn off the first rough outing

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1369 on:** April 17, 2020, 07:35:57 PM »

Buttoned up, and protective covering going on all the wires. I left them a little "Droopy" so I could attach them to the bottom of the camper body to keep them well up and out of the way.

The electric brake cables are the same length as per a suggestion by, who, Ryan? Mike? S? K? WHO?????????

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #1370 on:** April 17, 2020, 09:52:04 PM »

If you build those rock sliders like we talked about. All your lights would be protected

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #1371 on:** April 18, 2020, 10:56:08 AM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on April 17, 2020, 09:52:04 PM

If you build those rock sliders like we talked about. All your lights would be protected

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I for sure want to build sliders, but not on this round. As time compresses toward our possible meet date on the trans america trail. I don't have the time to get them done now. They will be a part of the Block-2 Mods.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1372 on:** April 18, 2020, 07:05:28 PM »

Fished the propane hard line through the frame. This will supply both the kitchen stove and the on demand hot water heater

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1373 on:** April 18, 2020, 07:08:10 PM »

Then covered the wires with the convoluted covering after testing the circuits. All the lights came on so I twisted on shoe water proof wire nuts and called it done. The frame is now ready for the camper body (Minus still needing the tires/wheels bolted on)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1374 on:** April 18, 2020, 07:09:48 PM »

Bolted on the lisence plate holder/light and mounted the junction box where the frame wiring harness will terminate

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1375 on:** April 18, 2020, 07:11:25 PM »

Next up, the street water isolation valve was hooked up and installed. This will allow me to run off of a garden hose or use the internal water tank for boon docking

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1376 on:** April 18, 2020, 07:13:21 PM »

Yea, I know I still have to vent that gas fume generator, I'll get to it!

Then the heater was hooked up and the propane supply line secured out of the way. I'll still need to seal up the holes I created...

JR · « **Reply #1377 on:** April 19, 2020, 02:37:25 PM »

Looks like space X up there^^^^^

Why do the wire and hose come out the back of the frame, does it overhang?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1378 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:36:46 PM »

Quote from: JR on April 19, 2020, 02:37:25 PM

Looks like space X up there^^^^^

Why do the wire and hose come out the back of the frame, does it overhang?

It sticks out a tiny bit past the frame but inside the steel sleeve that lies beneath. I wasn't going to run the main propane line inside the camper during the build for fear I would run a screw or brad through it and do to myself what haji failed a few times to do.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1379 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:38:45 PM »

Starting with the wheels, today was paint day. Started off in the usual way with a bath in muriatic acid (nasty stuff)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1380 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:40:19 PM »

Followed that with drying time, then acid etch primer, then paint

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1381 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:41:40 PM »

Then we installed them onto the trailer

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1382 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:43:18 PM »

Downstairs I created a hand hold to screw in above the door so you can grab and swing out for a not so graceful exit

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1383 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:44:54 PM »

That bare lower shelf kept annoying me, so I glued down some of the flooring and trimmed it with wormy chestnut

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1384 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:46:01 PM »

I did something up here, somewhere, for some reason...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1385 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:48:00 PM »

I got my mini-helpers to check out the carpeted shelf area. By golly, I do believe the shorter one can fit while the other one can grab the open floor in front of the bed. We'll fit em in there!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1386 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:49:44 PM »

I think I finished the plumbing, but I also think I need a port to directly pressure fill the main tank from a hose connection.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #1387 on:** April 20, 2020, 09:02:52 PM »

I’ll have to go back and find my original weight estimate. May have to increase it. We are going to need a certified scale ticket.

Looking good chief. I’d like video of the extrication of the body from the shop.

Now...where is my popcorn emoji while I wait on my pink slip

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Sammconn · « **Reply #1388 on:** April 20, 2020, 09:57:17 PM »

JR · « **Reply #1389 on:** April 20, 2020, 10:37:23 PM »

Can't wait to see it married up. Wondering what the tongue weight will be.

dave945 · « **Reply #1390 on:** April 20, 2020, 11:38:21 PM »

He can adjust the tongue weight by filling up the water tank at the rear of the trailer. And if worse comes to worst, he can put extra air in the spare tire to weigh the back down more. ;)

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #1391 on:** April 21, 2020, 12:25:30 PM »

Quote from: dave945 on April 20, 2020, 11:38:21 PM

He can adjust the tongue weight by filling up the water tank at the rear of the trailer. And if worse comes to worst, he can put extra air in the spare tire to weigh the back down more. ;)

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Helium...I'm usin' helium! ;-)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1392 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:25:03 PM »

Installed battery powered smoke and CO monitor/alarms as the first order of business today

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1393 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:30:08 PM »

Then I got after the electrical system. I set a goal of having it completely done and feeding off shore power by nightfall, but like always I ended with still needing some parts.

I had the wiring all ganked up, because I misunderstood what the central control unit actually does. Once I figured that all out, I rewired it and finalized that part. I now have everything working save for a pesky water pump.

This time I installed the proper connectors which now hold the wires entering the panel box securely

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1394 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:32:35 PM »

With this proper setup, the AC will require I run the generator since its amp draw is immense and the battery could not maintain voltage very long at all. I will, however still have 115VAC on all the outlets without shore power (or with) or the gen set running.

Finally, that is all buttoned up and complete

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1395 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:35:34 PM »

I had some strange (old) 30 amp plug which I could not find a mate for, so I swapped that out for the standard 30 amp plug. Now, here's the thing, I never plan to plug in a 30 amp cable, but only use a 15 or 20 amp rated standard extension cord to provide all my electrical needs. This thing doesn't require a bunch of power...I think...

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1396 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:36:49 PM »

While I was doing my electrical study, it became obvious to me I would not do well on just one battery, so I did something about that

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1397 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:38:53 PM »

And this cable will attach to the Bat hot wire in the camper to vehicle cable which will allow for the Suburban's 160 amp alternator to also charge these batteries while we are motoring down America's highways and byways

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1398 on:** April 21, 2020, 08:41:14 PM »

This thing has been one massive effort, and its still not complete. It has gotten very busy inside and out where I strived to use every square inch for some useful purpose.

That grab rail from yesterday found its new home and works well thank you berry much!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #1399 on:** April 21, 2020, 10:03:27 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on April 21, 2020, 08:32:35 PM

With this proper setup, the AC will require I run the generator since its amp draw is immense and the battery could not maintain voltage very long at all. I will, however still have 115VAC on all the outlets without shore power (or with) or the gen set running.

Finally, that is all buttoned up and complete

I am in the debate of this step with my trailer. I’ll have to get a phone call in to you for some info. My electric needs are much the same as yours just a larger box

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