[christover1]

Thanks.
I'd go for the uniboard or one of the modern composites,
if budget allows, no painting, rot proof and lighter weight.
Was way out of my price range tho.

[christover1]

I counted up all my receipts today, grand total so far is $960.
Keeping in mind I got 4 sheets of the ply for free, and I haven't finished yet.
Didn't include any tools bought in the cost, they will always have uses.
Fortunately was able to borrow most of the tools needed.
All the real costly stuff is done now, fortunately, as my bills season is coming.
Better than I expected, and will do a total cost when done..

[pezz]

christover1 wrote:

Thanks.
I'd go for the uniboard or one of the modern composites,
if budget allows, no painting, rot proof and lighter weight.
Was way out of my price range tho.

i think i will be going a in between option of your old trailer and the new setup..
im currently looking at buying a industrial sewing machine.
think 5x3 box with slide out extension and canvas top to match.
first project will be a canvas canopy for the lwb tho..

it will be built to a tight budget

[christover1]

I look forward to the build thread

[christover1]

Progressing slowly, mainly due to heat wave making 9am till 10am the only working times.
Started flashing and fitted rear window so you can't see me flashing

[christover1]

It cooled down a tad today.
So I got on with some more flashing.
Though not hard work, it is taking longer than I thought, as it is a bit fiddly.
Had to get creative with clampings, as I don't have lots of clamps, and couldn't really use them anyway.
Hopefully get some more cool weather before the next heat wave.

[pezz]

chris's creative clamping service!

[zukenutter]

^^ excellent!

[christover1]

You don't realise how unsquared something is, till you try to bolt thin angle to it.
Bits were bulging everywhere.
One had to have a thin cut to settle it, but most just needed clamps.
Quicker contact glue would be easier,
but I wanted to stick to the glue I had, which is kinder on the wood, and a sealer as well.

[christover1]

Fitted a brake return spring to the door chain, after advice from a few.
In case wind catches it or I open it with too much enthusiasm, so it don't tear a chink out of the door.
Had plenty of drum brake bits left over, as my rears are converted to discs.
Will get something like a fly door opener/closer one day, but it will do for now.

The wooden strap clamps thing worked so well, I decided to do all, rather than just the bulgy bits.
Wish I had done that right from the start, made a neater job.
The polyurethane glue tends to expand, creating a few wobbly bits where it wasn't clamped.
Still sealed and glued well, though, just looks like an amateur made it
Most of the less good bits are to be painted and/or won't be seen.
I tend to leave visible and important bits till later, so I get practice first

[zukenutter]

Really cool

[christover1]

One more sub 35*C day today, before another heat wave.
So I will make an effort to finish the flashing.
Then during the heat wave I will look into travel lock for rear door,
and any little jobs to do in early mornings.

[christover1]

I thought I could count.
I was 3 screws short on the flashing job.
After grumbling a bit, I borrowed 3 from the already glued and dried parts.
But while I was tidying up, at the end of job, I found 3 screws on the floor.
Guess I can count.
Sometimes Ya win

No photos, yet, will take a couple after clampings are removed,
sometime after 24hrs.

[offroadjack]

Looking really good C1

[shakes]

christover1 wrote:

I was 3 screws short

just blame the glue fumes.

[christover1]

Even using neutral curing glues still does my head in, when in enclosed spaces.
Paint fumes don't help much, either.
Going to have to air it out a while before the first sleep.

I'm blaming the heat wave at the moment,
but will have to find something else to blame after that

[christover1]

Was cooler than I expected up till midday, so I got some little stuff done.
Recycled some bathroom carpets I bought on special a while back.
The rubber backing keeps them in place nicely, and should be water / mud resistant.
Fitted temporary travel locks to the door, which could be permanent if my history is anything to go by
Removed all the clampings from the flashing, a few bits have bulged, but nothing major.
Paint will probably hide them, or can hammer the edges flat if needed.

[Mike57]

Looking good Chris. I am almost tempted to pop in and take a look. No mattress yet?

[christover1]

Mike57 wrote:

Looking good Chris. I am almost tempted to pop in and take a look. No mattress yet?

I have still have my self inflating camp mat, which will do for a start.
Not even looked at mattresses yet, but that is getting close.
Next is a bit of exterior painting, then onto the insulation and lining.
Roof lining only for now, walls can wait n see if needed.
You are welcome to pop in for a look, but not too closely, or you will see the oopses

[Built4thrashing]

Mike57 wrote:

Looking good Chris. I am almost tempted to pop in and take a look. No mattress yet?

I got a bad visual when I first read this.....


You were gonna visit chris but changed ya mind when you found out he didn't have a mattress in the camper........

[christover1]

He don't want to graze his elbows and knees

[christover1]

Very happy with the 2nd test run.
Door stayed closed, even over huge bumps.
None of the flashing popped off, that's a bonus.
Really I just needed to get it and myself out of the shed for a run.

[Mike57]

christover1 wrote:

He don't want to graze his elbows and knees

Steady on!

[christover1]

Got started on some internal wiring, for the interior lighting and phone/tablet power.
Have run it through plastic tubing up to the A frame part of draw bar, where a very small battery will sit.
Not intending on huge power usage, so a small battery will be best fir weight saving.
I am not sure if it will be a deep cycle or a starter type.
Does it matter for a solar panel charging system which type is used?

[christover1]

Mike57 wrote:

Looking good Chris. I am almost tempted to pop in and take a look. No mattress yet?

I'll bring it to the next meeting, as it is towable now, and I need practise and testing.
Give people a chance to laugh in person

[Mike57]

christover1 wrote:

Got started on some internal wiring, for the interior lighting and phone/tablet power.
Have run it through plastic tubing up to the A frame part of draw bar, where a very small battery will sit.
Not intending on huge power usage, so a small battery will be best fir weight saving.
I am not sure if it will be a deep cycle or a starter type.
Does it matter for a solar panel charging system which type is used?

I think it is the draining and not the charging which matters. Charging will be slow with solar so think more about the drain. As you won't be using the trailer battery for winching I would say a deep cycle battery would be best.

[alexvitara]

Looks awesome, have you got dual batteries in the vitara? Why not put a anderson plug on the tow bar and run one electrical system instead of 2?
you can still add solar to the trailer later that charges the cars batteries through the anderson plug?

In saying that I have a small battery from jaycar in my trailer used only for the led lights. Its handy to be able to use the lights in the trailer without it attached to the car.

[pezz]

i'd go for a small battery mounted in the trailer,
that way if you disconnect the vit from it you still have power..
maybe just a small sla out of green exit sign

[christover1]

http://www.mandrakessolar.com.au/index.html

Mandrake Solar Power offered to sponsor me a solar panel and regulator,
otherwise I'd be running the power from the car, which was original plan.
Cube batteries are light weight, non spill, and are kind of deep cycle, often used in wheel chairs and stuff.
They come in very small light weight sizes, and I can get a good deal on them.
So at the moment, that's the likely thing I will do. Could change though.
Don't expect to have a huge power use, with just a mobile phone and a future tablet.

Vit is unlikely to get an extra battery, unless I get a winch or fridge, both which are unlikely at the moment.

[christover1]

Found I had some left over wood putty/filler from a little table repair, which is a bonus as no cash till money tree grows back.
Was enough to fill the holes that looked like my mistakes, leaving a few that look like track scratches.
So excellent bush cred
Had enough paint left over to cover the repairs with 2 coats.
Sometimes Ya win.
Whoever suggested I get more paint than I needed, so as to have some for touch ups, cheers