jscusmcvet
Adventurist
You are killing it. Well done!
Java's F450 'Rough Road' RV
- Thread starter java230
- Start date
java230
Adventurist
Thank you!
java230
Adventurist
Insulated the back bath wall. Really only because I needed the scrap!
So I could insulate under the water tank!
Tapped the holes for the tail light panel and used my nifty new wing bolts.
Drops off for easy dumping!
Thanks! Its amazing how much time all the little stuff takes now...
Opionion Time!
Thoughts on propane tank right in front of the drive wheels? I found a ASME (permanent mount, DOT approved) tank, Its just slightly longer than I wanted.
It almost fits just right, right here:
A couple options, say fawk it and it sticks into the wheel well a couple inches. Not ideal, especially is bigger tires are involved in the future. And it will get constantly pelted.
Option 2: Hack the box in front of it up. I could cut enough of it out so the tank would tuck forward, so the back is just flush with the wheel opening.
This kills my dry storage though... I could put a divider back in, but it would never seal that well. Plus I cant weld aluminum. The up side is the stairs eat most of that box anyway, and they are often wet/snowy/messy anyway.
Option 3: BBQ style tank, originally I planned to mount it on the rear door, but it would fit in the space as well if I could find a nice way to mount it...
Tank in question.
got it to fit in front of the tire, its REALLY tight.....
So I could insulate under the water tank!
Tapped the holes for the tail light panel and used my nifty new wing bolts.
Drops off for easy dumping!
bigskypylot;2270229 said:
Thanks! Its amazing how much time all the little stuff takes now...
Opionion Time!
Thoughts on propane tank right in front of the drive wheels? I found a ASME (permanent mount, DOT approved) tank, Its just slightly longer than I wanted.
It almost fits just right, right here:
A couple options, say fawk it and it sticks into the wheel well a couple inches. Not ideal, especially is bigger tires are involved in the future. And it will get constantly pelted.
Option 2: Hack the box in front of it up. I could cut enough of it out so the tank would tuck forward, so the back is just flush with the wheel opening.
This kills my dry storage though... I could put a divider back in, but it would never seal that well. Plus I cant weld aluminum. The up side is the stairs eat most of that box anyway, and they are often wet/snowy/messy anyway.
Option 3: BBQ style tank, originally I planned to mount it on the rear door, but it would fit in the space as well if I could find a nice way to mount it...
Tank in question.
got it to fit in front of the tire, its REALLY tight.....
java230
Adventurist
Another weekend in the books. Just a campground this weekend.
Spent some time on Sat getting the poop tank done. Made a custom "long elbow" for the vent.
Runs up the back corner and out the wall.
Added a cleanout for easy tank rinsing. (Does not work..... unless its a tiny trickle, air is trying to occupy the same area to vent. No good. I got a rinse valve that fits on the dump fitting, works great as my valve is right on the tank)
And the clamshell vent over the outlet.
Getting out of the driveway was interesting. Ugh. I need some gravel. (This was before I learned my vacuum system for the 4x4 was not engaging the front axle...)
Spent some time on Sat getting the poop tank done. Made a custom "long elbow" for the vent.
Runs up the back corner and out the wall.
Added a cleanout for easy tank rinsing. (Does not work..... unless its a tiny trickle, air is trying to occupy the same area to vent. No good. I got a rinse valve that fits on the dump fitting, works great as my valve is right on the tank)
And the clamshell vent over the outlet.
Getting out of the driveway was interesting. Ugh. I need some gravel. (This was before I learned my vacuum system for the 4x4 was not engaging the front axle...)
java230
Adventurist
Pickup up the propane tank. Its big. Bigger than I planned. Its 11.9 gallons or 50lbs, and its half full and really heavy to wrestle under the truck, then to to bench press onto the jack...
But it fits, sideways, barely.
Tight on the spring hanger. A little trimming of the gaurd thing and it will slip up a little higher, should have ~1/2" clearance min.
Took some pics of the frame extension while I was down there. Its welded in, then a doubler is bolted across it.
My lighting showed up, they don't match... oh well. Mount is taller, covers are different, colors don't match.
So I started on a light bar. Bend attempt #1, fail.
Attempt #2, works. Floor jack, two pieces of 2x material, one big *** trailer hitch. Kinked the tube a little but it worked and its a light bar, who cares.
Also met up with Ward and Annie for a tour of their truck. Its simply awesome. Thanks for sharing your home with me guys!
But it fits, sideways, barely.
Tight on the spring hanger. A little trimming of the gaurd thing and it will slip up a little higher, should have ~1/2" clearance min.
Took some pics of the frame extension while I was down there. Its welded in, then a doubler is bolted across it.
My lighting showed up, they don't match... oh well. Mount is taller, covers are different, colors don't match.
So I started on a light bar. Bend attempt #1, fail.
Attempt #2, works. Floor jack, two pieces of 2x material, one big *** trailer hitch. Kinked the tube a little but it worked and its a light bar, who cares.
Also met up with Ward and Annie for a tour of their truck. Its simply awesome. Thanks for sharing your home with me guys!
Your build is looking great. I like the departure angle on you buddy's truck. If you are doing any more bending, these are cheap. I see them for $89 at tool sales. I bought one 20 years ago. I have probably used it less than 20 bends, but it is very useful when i do need it.
java230
Adventurist
Thanks, yes his truck is amazing. The entire thing is welded aluminum inside too, cabinets everything.
I plan to cut an angle on the back of mine eventually, I can loose about 8" in height at the back edge. I have a lot less rear overhang though.
That bender would have been handy! I will have to keep an eye out for one eventually.
java230
Adventurist
Welding day yesterday. Made brackets to hold the kerosene tank for the heater. Blue was the first can on the spray paint shelf.... You wont see it.
Then started on the light bar.
Then got distracted for a couple hours.... It got dark. Turns out you can fit a headlamp over a welding hood
Tacked up in the driveway.
Welded up. Im going to have a long date with the grinder. I left the mounting tabs a little big as the bar was kinda sloppy in my 'jig'
May have to add some tabs to support the lights, we will see
Then started on the light bar.
Then got distracted for a couple hours.... It got dark. Turns out you can fit a headlamp over a welding hood
Tacked up in the driveway.
Welded up. Im going to have a long date with the grinder. I left the mounting tabs a little big as the bar was kinda sloppy in my 'jig'
May have to add some tabs to support the lights, we will see
java230
Adventurist
Propane tank is in! My god that was not fun, its tight, like really really tight, cant lift the tank up, it has to be tilted and wiggled into place.... Apologize in advance for crappy pics, its tight.
The front side of the tank got through bolted through the floor, its under the fridge, which meant fridge had to come back out. Back side I couldn't do that as it would have been right inside the door. So I made some brackets, they go under the flange on the tank, pickup both bolts, and then bolt sideways through the floor member. Getting all that lined up with the tank in place was interesting.
Brackets with the lovely blue paint
And in place.
Remember it was tight? Its touching the spring hanger.....
A little sawzall action and more better. Hopefully that not enough to cause structural issues in the hanger.
Tucked up nicely, you cant even see it if your not looking. It will get a healthy coat of bed liner next.
Nothing real exciting, but a little more progress. Made up the first battery cable, big thanks to Cascadian for letting me borrow his crimpers! They are sweet. Self adhesive shrink tube is awesome.
New cable let me install the shunt for the Victron battery meter. While I like the RJ45 connections for the meter, damn getting those heads fished through holes sucks!
Gotta install this end still... But it works!
Its a jungle behind the fridge...
But the stove works!! (and my phone sucks at pics...)
The front side of the tank got through bolted through the floor, its under the fridge, which meant fridge had to come back out. Back side I couldn't do that as it would have been right inside the door. So I made some brackets, they go under the flange on the tank, pickup both bolts, and then bolt sideways through the floor member. Getting all that lined up with the tank in place was interesting.
Brackets with the lovely blue paint
And in place.
Remember it was tight? Its touching the spring hanger.....
A little sawzall action and more better. Hopefully that not enough to cause structural issues in the hanger.
Tucked up nicely, you cant even see it if your not looking. It will get a healthy coat of bed liner next.
Nothing real exciting, but a little more progress. Made up the first battery cable, big thanks to Cascadian for letting me borrow his crimpers! They are sweet. Self adhesive shrink tube is awesome.
New cable let me install the shunt for the Victron battery meter. While I like the RJ45 connections for the meter, damn getting those heads fished through holes sucks!
Gotta install this end still... But it works!
Its a jungle behind the fridge...
But the stove works!! (and my phone sucks at pics...)
java230
Adventurist
We look a little large on the ferry
Worked on the propane tank some more.
A load of undercoating on it. Thats some nasty ****.
Also got a big rig mud flap, I think it should work well. Gotta do some hacking, but it looks like I can anchor across the top, and at the bottom outside corner to the body.
Then added a deck plate to the back side of the tool box on the passenger side so I can get to the gas valve.
Tried to get to one of our regular spots. Ran into 8-10" of wet sloppy snow that was more than we wanted to try to get through solo.
Oh well. There is a nice quite CG close by
Snow wasn't far off.
Worked on the propane tank some more.
A load of undercoating on it. Thats some nasty ****.
Also got a big rig mud flap, I think it should work well. Gotta do some hacking, but it looks like I can anchor across the top, and at the bottom outside corner to the body.
Then added a deck plate to the back side of the tool box on the passenger side so I can get to the gas valve.
Tried to get to one of our regular spots. Ran into 8-10" of wet sloppy snow that was more than we wanted to try to get through solo.
Oh well. There is a nice quite CG close by
Snow wasn't far off.
java230
Adventurist
Found a few hours yesterday between soccer practice, dinner and homework with the kid....
Propane tank mud flap is done, man are those things hard to cut!
Bolted to the body on the outside
and a piece of cable on the inside. Hopefully this keeps it off the tire. Handy slot/hole was already in the spring hanger, I think it will stay put.
Finished up the last big wall panel, still lots of trim work, and skinning the door. But this piece keeps the insulation in place and give it a much more complete feel.
Caulked in the back side, this is kinda a "wet room" skis, ez up sleds etc. That should keep the water from running under the floor into the living space. There is a fair bit of storage back there, but I wish I had made it 1" deeper....
Got the inverter mounted, and the hot side cable done. Man everything takes FOREVER! Climb under bed, forget some little piece/tool, climb out, walk to garage, climb back under bed. Repeat ad nauseum.
Propane tank mud flap is done, man are those things hard to cut!
Bolted to the body on the outside
and a piece of cable on the inside. Hopefully this keeps it off the tire. Handy slot/hole was already in the spring hanger, I think it will stay put.
Finished up the last big wall panel, still lots of trim work, and skinning the door. But this piece keeps the insulation in place and give it a much more complete feel.
Caulked in the back side, this is kinda a "wet room" skis, ez up sleds etc. That should keep the water from running under the floor into the living space. There is a fair bit of storage back there, but I wish I had made it 1" deeper....
Got the inverter mounted, and the hot side cable done. Man everything takes FOREVER! Climb under bed, forget some little piece/tool, climb out, walk to garage, climb back under bed. Repeat ad nauseum.
java230
Adventurist
100W folding panel, looks like they took one of the "flexible" panels and cut it in half. Its very small when folded. It will be paired with a Victron MPPT controller.
Charger is wired. Ran a piece of flextite conduit between the tool box on the drivers side and the battery area. This is so I can run my incoming power cable from there. Also ran a pair of 8 gauge wires for the solar hook up. The solar controller will likely be mounted next to the batteries though. The other two glands re for my 2/0 DC power wires.
And in the box I have about 20' of 20 amp cord, and the two solar wires. Tools and fluids live there too.
And wires up to the inverter charger.
Also started on my 120V breaker box.
Then it was time for more holes..... Water heater intake/exhaust.
I even managed to get the hole from the inside and outside to line up
Its a concentric vent, intake around the outside, exhaust down the middle. All stainless which is nice.
And all done.
And since It was almost 90 yesterday we thought we should give sticker peeling a go! Man it came off so much better than when it was cold out! No more sponsor names, just the number either side now. There was even a second layer of blue on the front!
Charger is wired. Ran a piece of flextite conduit between the tool box on the drivers side and the battery area. This is so I can run my incoming power cable from there. Also ran a pair of 8 gauge wires for the solar hook up. The solar controller will likely be mounted next to the batteries though. The other two glands re for my 2/0 DC power wires.
And in the box I have about 20' of 20 amp cord, and the two solar wires. Tools and fluids live there too.
And wires up to the inverter charger.
Also started on my 120V breaker box.
Then it was time for more holes..... Water heater intake/exhaust.
I even managed to get the hole from the inside and outside to line up
Its a concentric vent, intake around the outside, exhaust down the middle. All stainless which is nice.
And all done.
And since It was almost 90 yesterday we thought we should give sticker peeling a go! Man it came off so much better than when it was cold out! No more sponsor names, just the number either side now. There was even a second layer of blue on the front!
java230
Adventurist
Eventually I would like to get it re-wrapped. More grey/black/tree outlines etc, but its $$$$$$$ to do nicely. The cab is black and the box is white, which makes peeling it all off problematic.
Its pretty loud as is, but will probably stay that way awhile, its much better without all the graphics, just the 1926 left.
java230
Adventurist
Water tank is in, strapped in place, and hopefully stays there. Glad I didn't get a bigger tank, no way I would have gotten the fittings on the end. (30gal has been plenty so far! We use the 2.5 gallon jugs for drinking water, so this is just hands/dishes/shower etc.)
Water outlet, drain valve on the right will need to go down though the floor.
And in place, it fit exactly tight against the wall. (and I should have hooked up the drain right then..... I just did it last week finally, had to take everything apart to get my hands back down there.....)
Water heater mounted, the blue can will be the grey tank.
I did get the water ran to the other dinette bench and to the valve before the water pump. But that was it. Man its tight and takes forever! All the rest of my pics are blurry....
Water outlet, drain valve on the right will need to go down though the floor.
And in place, it fit exactly tight against the wall. (and I should have hooked up the drain right then..... I just did it last week finally, had to take everything apart to get my hands back down there.....)
Water heater mounted, the blue can will be the grey tank.
I did get the water ran to the other dinette bench and to the valve before the water pump. But that was it. Man its tight and takes forever! All the rest of my pics are blurry....
java230
Adventurist
Here is a recap on the thrash that was Friday. Whoever decided I needed to get the water done before we left was a little nuts.... Needless to say, the three hours I had planned for it wasn't enough. Oh well, I dragged my *** out of bed at 6:30 and got to work.
I had to connect the tank to the water heater, both of which were installed at this point, then do all the tank fill side of things, install the water pump, wire all that stuff, and do the grey tank. (yeah typing all that out reminds me three hours were not nearly enough, planned to work 7-10, cleanup and pack and leave at 12)
So to start we have to install the faucet. Kids oil based clay works great for making a dam.
Now you hope and prey you don't break the tile.
Breathe again....
And drop the faucet in. One thing checked off the list.
Run water lines.
Hook up water pump, used flex here to try to keep noise and vibrations in the lines down.... Pump is god damn loud. Its a used one I have had in my garage for years now.
Install fill and vent.
Add water. Chase leaks. I hate threaded fittings!!!! PEX is awesome though.
Hot water coming out!
Apparently I took zero pics of the grey tank. Its the blue jug, its a hose barb fitting off the end of the strainer basket, a piece of 1" vinyl tube. Works really well actually.
Also made a drawer latch. Drawer holds a lot of stuff and likes to fly open when you turn! Yeah not good. Ball detent pin, drawer stays closed.
Reinforcement/latch plate on the inside.
Truck drove great all weekend, towed the boat at 70 no problem.
Stopped at the truck stop and got weighed. 3 people, 2 dogs, 1/2 a tank of water, all out stuff for a long weekend.
I had to connect the tank to the water heater, both of which were installed at this point, then do all the tank fill side of things, install the water pump, wire all that stuff, and do the grey tank. (yeah typing all that out reminds me three hours were not nearly enough, planned to work 7-10, cleanup and pack and leave at 12)
So to start we have to install the faucet. Kids oil based clay works great for making a dam.
Now you hope and prey you don't break the tile.
Breathe again....
And drop the faucet in. One thing checked off the list.
Run water lines.
Hook up water pump, used flex here to try to keep noise and vibrations in the lines down.... Pump is god damn loud. Its a used one I have had in my garage for years now.
Install fill and vent.
Add water. Chase leaks. I hate threaded fittings!!!! PEX is awesome though.
Hot water coming out!
Apparently I took zero pics of the grey tank. Its the blue jug, its a hose barb fitting off the end of the strainer basket, a piece of 1" vinyl tube. Works really well actually.
Also made a drawer latch. Drawer holds a lot of stuff and likes to fly open when you turn! Yeah not good. Ball detent pin, drawer stays closed.
Reinforcement/latch plate on the inside.
Truck drove great all weekend, towed the boat at 70 no problem.
Stopped at the truck stop and got weighed. 3 people, 2 dogs, 1/2 a tank of water, all out stuff for a long weekend.
java230
Adventurist
Under registered GVW Legally. But as an RV, there is no number weight wise that is max. Im registered for 14,500 IIRC.