I've had some mixed results with the Maslow 4, although it was almost a year ago and I know they're busy with the firmware. I've got some very solid anchors into a concrete slab. It was stretching things in X one way, and in Y the other. Circles were not round, squares were rectangles. But it...
Thanks so much @luthj and @Victorian for your insight and ideas. Really helpful to have other perspectives as I rattle around in my own head so much it's quite a mess in there.
Acoustics is really something that is so often overlooked, and being inside one camper that did have metal upper...
That's not quite accurate in this case, you need to look at the habitat as a closed system over a longer time period.
The fridge coils may be pumping out 30-45w on average, but the fridge is also absorbing heat since it's cold. The average power consumption from the battery/inverter is the...
Really interesting ideas, thank you for the motivation and inspiration.
I was thinking about using more metal for interior stuff, especially as I have a good deal on laser cut, cnc formed and powder coated metals. And I actually was wondering about old aeroplane stuff for the "garage" area...
Plodding along.
With the subframe painted, and bolted back down, it was time to get the box coming together. I summoned up as many friends as I could and we wrestled the floor panel into place. The way it was stacked on the rack, which I cut away, we just had to lower it down onto the side of...
Another month goes by!
The truck has been back on the road for the first proper run since it was sliced in half. Seemed to drive nicely enough, although some heavy vibrations at one specific speed. I suspect that's due to being completely unloaded. Will keep an eye on that.
I took it to...
The panels arrived! It's a 5500x2400x2160ish Total Composites box. I'm grateful that Andreas was willing to supply a DIY kit, I always had that in mind and spoke with him before they moved away from DIY kits. It's been a great experience so far.
The size of the panels meant they turned up on...
Small update but a big amount of work. I built a slide out mini deck for the stairs to hide under. I don't want the style of stairs that stick straight out but instead the steps will run along side the truck towards the back wheel. They will deploy from under this deck.
Using unistrut and some...
Time for the cliché photos of the "subframe test", which is no way an actual test since there is no load on anything. Anyway, it looks cool so I'm posting it.
It's also occurred to me that the stiffness of the box will far exceed any kind of steel subframe. So in real life, I feel like the box...
I visited the factory and chatted with their sales manager before going for total composites instead. They were very helpful but for the panels I needed for a larger habitat it wasn't the right fit.
For what it's worth, just my option...
I'm not convinced by the foam they're using, expanded...
Good question. Mercedes provides a guide, which can be found on their website through the "Builders Portal", on how to extend/shorten the chassis and that includes adding reinforcing profiles inside the frame.
It also gives pointers like if you extend beyond the longest standard wheelbase...
And for completeness, this is the bracket I designed for holding the rear of the subframe to the chassis. This connects close to some diagonal braces that connect to the rear cross member. The factory cross member is welded to the chassis as well.
This is part of the winch extra structure so it...
Sort of, bolted to the frame but same idea. Taller than the maximum travel, adjustable height to set them snug to the frame. And with a UMHW slippery plastic plate to save the paint. 5/16 steel, formed and welded, silly strong.
I'm going for rail on rail for highway manners and robustness for the chassis. I've got a variety of die springs so I can tune the hold down tension and preload along the length. As well as limit the travel if required. Starting point is 6" of travel at the front.
You can see the hold downs...
One of those big days where things come together instead of just staring and scratching my head. The subframe is tacked together and came out very close to flat. Although I've come to realise that flat is just a concept to be aimed at, but never achieved. According to the laser, I'm within a...
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