2003 Mitsubushi FG Overland Camper Renovation

[westyss]

Those shower panels look awesome!

Paul, how do you trim the ends of those panels to size? What equipment and technique do you use to get no splintering?

The way I do it is to scribe a line with a sharp knife then run it through a saw with the blade on the proper side, whats your method?

 

[PaulJensen]

Those shower panels look awesome!

Paul, how do you trim the ends of those panels to size? What equipment and technique do you use to get no splintering?

The way I do it is to scribe a line with a sharp knife then run it through a saw with the blade on the proper side, whats your method?

Festool Rail Guide Saw...

 

[PaulJensen]

18

(above) The kitchen countertop base is 1/2" plywood...The sink will be recess mount...Two faucets, one is conventional hot & cold with a hose sprayer in the spout, and a dedicated near-boiling-water faucet... The stove will have a removable cover that expands the useable countertop space most of the time...

(above) The countertop and stove zone will all be stainless steel... The stove cover will be wood, intended to be a cutting board...

(above) With the lifted countertop it was easy to fit a pullout cutting board next to the sink...A Styrofoam mock-up is puled out... I think this feature will get used a lot...

Progress was also made on the shower sink...Pictures tomorrow...

 

[KMG]

Hello, I'm newer to this forum and don't want to criticize anyone's efforts, but I'd be concerned about the water tank mounting. From the images, it appears that the ability of the straps to hold the tank secure is reliant on the ability of four screws to hold the load. I would cut away small sections of the wood frame base and install 2 D ring style anchor points at the base of the tank on each side then use the strap to secure the tank without going under the tank with the straps. Race cars use this type of system. Just my thoughts, Kevin

 

[PaulJensen]

Hi Kevin...

The previous tank was secured only by gravity and pressure fit Styrofoam...I was surprised to see that's how it was done and not shifted or loosened the seat that was over it... It made it through 60 countries and twelve years of hard service including two years as a full time residence...

This install is an improvement on that...There is a wood curb all around the tank that is a tight fit to the tank...Five screws are in each curb board that go through to the subfloor...Fifty gallons of water shouldn't bounce too much and the straps put further downward pressure on the tank... There is also pressure fit Styrofoam to the outside wall and shower wall...With an empty tank and the straps tight, it is a SOLID installation...Fill it with water, more so...

It might not survive a 200MPH crash off a banked wall, but it will probably be alright bumping along backboards...

 

[nick disjunkt]

Hi Paul,

Whenever I designed mounts for items in my truck, I always tried to imagine whether the item would remain in place if I managed to roll the truck onto its roof. Ruining my truck would be enough to put a downer on my day, but if I killed my dog when 400kg of water fell on him I would never forgive myself.

 

[SkiFreak]

Obviously, the rules for mounting things in an RV in the US are very different from here.
Things mounted in a moving vehicle here should be able to withstand a force of 20G, meaning that the mounts need to withstand 20 times the static weight of the item being mounted.
Mind you... I have seen many commercial installation that obviously do not comply with this.

 

[dlh62c]

...There is a wood curb all around the tank that is a tight fit to the tank...

The wood curb is a good ideal.

There needs to be as little stress as possible on the tank plumbing fittings. If a lower fitting cracks, you'll have 50 gallons of water leaking across the camper floor.

 

[GR8ADV]

Good thoughts and comments. As Paul mentioned the previous tank was held in only by the structure of the seat above. By some miracle it survived 40 countries and 150,000 miles without flying around and killing any animals in the process. This version not only has the restraint of the seat bolted down around it , but a wood lip frame and nylon tie downs. Regarding flex and fittings there is likely several inches of movement available in the connecting lines so 'flex' should not be an issue at the fittings. I am more than comfortable.

 

[GR8ADV]

but if I killed my dog when 400kg of water fell on him I would never forgive myself.

Just for the record I would think that if you had an accident that dislodged this 400# water tank, and then tossed it around the cabin, your dog would have likely bounced off a few walls anyway. Just sayin.

 

[PaulJensen]

Just for the record I would think that if you had an accident that dislodged this 400# water tank, and then tossed it around the cabin, your dog would have likely bounced off a few walls anyway. Just sayin.

What dog doesn't love water anyway...???...

 

[GR8ADV]

What dog doesn't love water anyway...???...

I can see PETA outside you house any minute.

 

[Curtis in Texas]

If the dog was worth anything it would be holding the water tank in place while the truck tumbled!

Just saying!

DO you really want a dog that doesn't earn it's keep?:elkgrin:

 

[k9lestat]

lol if peta came to my house id throw a bbq for them.

 

[PaulJensen]

19

(above) The cabinet cases are fitted with 1/2" plywood shelving...The extra tall wood shelf edging is slotted and fits over the ply edge...The height of the edging is to prevent things in the cabinet from falling out after traveling, then opening the cabinets...

(above) The underside of the cases have a lip under them to conceal the LED light that fit under there...Still need to put a facing on them...

(above) Kitchen wall cabinet... The sides and bottom are veneered, and the face frame will go on next...

(above) The shower sink base is two layers of 1/8" bending plywood, yellow glued and stapled to the curved frame...After the glue set hard, it was sanded and two layers of VGDF veneer were contact cemented on...The second layer is to reduce 'telegraphing" of any imperfections between the plywood and the first veneer layer...