thanks for the update - been following you on Instagram and appreciate the updates!
4x4 Sunrader Build Out
- Thread starter BoundForNowhere
- Start date
BoundForNowhere
Member
Okay so back to it. I'll pick up with work on the upper cabinets. We decided to model these after the original design but opted to have them open upwards and have hydraulic arms hold them in place so we wouldn't be forced to hold them up with one hand. We also changed the design a bit because on the driver side we extended them all the way to the bed. We were able to do this because we eliminated the bathroom. That's right. No bathroom. We're young-ish and have been living on the road without a bathroom for a while now so we decided the storage was more important to us. Inside the cabinets we wired in LED light strips to illuminate the interior of the cabinets.
Next up was the back wall. We started by adding in some "studs" and then insulating with thinsulate. Then we cut out a piece of plywood, painted it (several coats), and finally installed.
Next up was the back wall. We started by adding in some "studs" and then insulating with thinsulate. Then we cut out a piece of plywood, painted it (several coats), and finally installed.
BoundForNowhere
Member
As we breezed right through making everything look easy (completely the opposite) we moved on to the back seats. We drew up a plan and then started construction.
Back to the top cabinets! We moved into installing the doors and button latches. The doors are attached to the cabinet frame with piano hinges. The button latches ensure that they don't open up while we're driving.
Once everything was put together it was time to install them!
Back to the top cabinets! We moved into installing the doors and button latches. The doors are attached to the cabinet frame with piano hinges. The button latches ensure that they don't open up while we're driving.
Once everything was put together it was time to install them!
BoundForNowhere
Member
For the back seats we also used piano hinges and hydraulic arms to hold them up. This made it way easier to access the storage underneath them. We added finger holes so that they could be easily lifted and painted them white. We also took this time to drill pilot holes for some of electrical pieces that would be mounted on the inside of them.
Then we switched our attention to our outdoor kitchen setup. The plan was for one of the exterior boxes to have a camp stove on some heavy duty sliders and somehow it all worked out as we planned (woohoo!).
Then we switched our attention to our outdoor kitchen setup. The plan was for one of the exterior boxes to have a camp stove on some heavy duty sliders and somehow it all worked out as we planned (woohoo!).
BoundForNowhere
Member
First up in this installment is insulating the floors and adding in our new cork floors.
After the floors were in, we went to work on the rest of the walls in the back half of the camper. This was done in the same way as the back wall, so we added studs, insulation, cut the wall piece out, painted, and then installed.
After the floors were in, we went to work on the rest of the walls in the back half of the camper. This was done in the same way as the back wall, so we added studs, insulation, cut the wall piece out, painted, and then installed.
BoundForNowhere
Member
Next up: Working on the propane system. This began with installing a new regulator since we dropped down to one propane tank. When we installed the new regulator the old propane tank wouldn't fit (doh!). We decided it was about time to upgrade the tank anyway. Initially we went to West Marine and bought a tank that would fit but soon realized that it wasn't meant to lay on it's side so we returned that one and ended up ordering one online that was specifically for laying horizontally ($$$). Unfortunately, we don't have pictures of the new tank until the whole thing is done so you'll have to wait on those for now. Once all that was figured out we were able to install the box that would house the propane.
Moving back inside, work commenced on the passenger side lower cabinets. This would be home to our stove top, sink, trash, and more storage.
Moving back inside, work commenced on the passenger side lower cabinets. This would be home to our stove top, sink, trash, and more storage.
BoundForNowhere
Member
Also inside, I began some work on the electrical system. A little bit of planning goes a long way with this stuff and I did a LOT of planning. I also used this time to wire some lights that would illuminate the counter tops.
MAK sewed up some insulated covers for the insides of the upper cabinets. She used a thick quilted fabric as well as more thinsulate. It was then adhered to the wall with velcro so that we could remove them to access wiring if we ever needed to.
MAK sewed up some insulated covers for the insides of the upper cabinets. She used a thick quilted fabric as well as more thinsulate. It was then adhered to the wall with velcro so that we could remove them to access wiring if we ever needed to.
BoundForNowhere
Member
Starting this one off with some work not done by us. Since we created a permanent bed structure we had some exposed plywood hanging out right over our heads. That wasn't going to cut it so we took the car to a professional upholsterer to take care of that and the wall at the front windows. Added bonus was that inside the cab the new fabric would allow us to stick our patch collection to it. We also installed the front wall panels on either side of the bed.
BoundForNowhere
Member
Back to the kitchen. MAK finished the countertop with some poly and it looked fantastic. We installed the frame into the camper and started the final assembly.
BoundForNowhere
Member
I continued to work on the electrical system by installing the components inside the back seat and doing some of the connecting. I also replaced both starter battery terminals as they were badly corroded and I suspected it was the cause of some weak starting.
BoundForNowhere
Member
With our slightly altered design of the back seats we also needed some new cushions. We got some foam from Amazon and then cut them to the right size. Then we sent them off to an upholsterer to get a fresh new look.
BoundForNowhere
Member
Yeah it would. We have a friend who did a WAY better job than we did who has an Xtra Cab.
Yotahome4x4