Flatbed and composite panel build on Dodge 2500
- Thread starter Jeep
- Start date
Interested in the manufacturer on these if its available. Into fabbing my doors currently.
Progress
Fired the cabinet maker, didn't want to become one but no choice. Wet bath is cut and formed, did a dry fit, some minor trimming and adjustments, and off to the powder coating shop. It's one bathroom that won't rot….
I thought the size of the bath would really eat up a lot more of the open feel, it didn't yet but that might change when the roof goes on!
Also got the Espar installed, the finned tip locates the muffler and leaves enough room to slip an elbow in on the outside in case wind is ever an issue, had to do a bit of trimming to get the Wallas diesel tank in, I was originally going to build the tank to fit but the testing to build a tank is pretty extensive, includes drop tests, and fire tests, all supervised, so expensive and time consuming. Will adjust the size of the locker to accommodate in the future.
Fired the cabinet maker, didn't want to become one but no choice. Wet bath is cut and formed, did a dry fit, some minor trimming and adjustments, and off to the powder coating shop. It's one bathroom that won't rot….
I thought the size of the bath would really eat up a lot more of the open feel, it didn't yet but that might change when the roof goes on!
Also got the Espar installed, the finned tip locates the muffler and leaves enough room to slip an elbow in on the outside in case wind is ever an issue, had to do a bit of trimming to get the Wallas diesel tank in, I was originally going to build the tank to fit but the testing to build a tank is pretty extensive, includes drop tests, and fire tests, all supervised, so expensive and time consuming. Will adjust the size of the locker to accommodate in the future.
Healeyjet
Explorer
Great to see progress!! I am sure each stage of completion will change the interior size feel, especially when you put the roof on.
Sorry to hear about the cabinet maker but it's better to deal with the issue now before he starts than to deal with his issues later in the project.
Ward
Sorry to hear about the cabinet maker but it's better to deal with the issue now before he starts than to deal with his issues later in the project.
Ward
Le Toilet
Got the wet bath powder coated and glued in tonite, got all of the main cabinet and galley cabinets cut and formed, putting them together tomorrow and fit all that on the weekend so progressing very quick now that we removed any foreign control from the project. There is a ton of storage opening up on the interior and all of the cabinets, we are using every square inch available. I hope to be dropping the roof on in the next 2 weeks.
Front view
Pics of the rest of the lower cabinets tomorrow!
Got the wet bath powder coated and glued in tonite, got all of the main cabinet and galley cabinets cut and formed, putting them together tomorrow and fit all that on the weekend so progressing very quick now that we removed any foreign control from the project. There is a ton of storage opening up on the interior and all of the cabinets, we are using every square inch available. I hope to be dropping the roof on in the next 2 weeks.
Front view
Pics of the rest of the lower cabinets tomorrow!
Galley cabinet.
Has 5 8" wide drawers 16" deep with full length slides, will get a shelf where the big door opening is and the long slot above it will be for a flip out, something similar to a home set up. Just a good place to keep little stuff. Counter top is 1.5" HC composite panel to keep it light and a formed skin done in 18 ga. #4 brushed stainless will finish it off, all of the holes for the Wallas cook top, Ambassador sink, and Ambassador faucet are being cut into both
Nice fit, the benefit of CAD design makes a lot of fitting very easy, and precise.
Main cabinet, this will house on the left side from top down, storage cabinet, clothing cabinet with 3 hanger rods and possibly a nice multi level shelf insert one one side, and in the bottom, house batteries, inverter, and water pump. The batteries will be on a set of slides and I'm thinking the inverter might get the same treatment, this keeps the battery cables to the inverter nice and short, for anybody wondering why, battery cables are usually the short fall of an inverter installation, we repair many systems by installing the right size of battery cables. On the right side the top will have all of the Blue Sea panels on a side hinged door so easy to get in and add to the electrical later, no real need to consider service access because it is being done right the first time! but will be easy to service if required. The Nova Kool refrigerator sits below that, and that is the reason for the tube frame that is riveted in, the cabinet shell could have supported the weight but for the extra 6 pounds of tubing it was simply peace of mind. Underneath that is a 22" x 6" x 22" deep drawer on full extension 200 lb slides, and below that is the 35 gallon water tank.
Views from the top, once the main cabinet is finished and powder coated it will be bonded to the floor and wall, at that point a bead of 252 will go on top of the wet bath and the main cabinet and the roof will be lowered in place. There is a batch of overhead cabinets to go in over the galley and right to the main cabinet. I'm quite happy with the layout, there is ample room for 4 people inside if we have to stay inside, and the master in the overhead has a lot of privacy, there will be a nice accordion door closing the access. The wet bath door will swing backwards and there will be a latch on the refrigerator cabinet to hold it in that position, free private bath space gained by separating the entire front half of the camper from the rear, girls request and a great idea for getting dressed after a shower.
Back to work, trying to get this done for a monday night install!
Has 5 8" wide drawers 16" deep with full length slides, will get a shelf where the big door opening is and the long slot above it will be for a flip out, something similar to a home set up. Just a good place to keep little stuff. Counter top is 1.5" HC composite panel to keep it light and a formed skin done in 18 ga. #4 brushed stainless will finish it off, all of the holes for the Wallas cook top, Ambassador sink, and Ambassador faucet are being cut into both
Nice fit, the benefit of CAD design makes a lot of fitting very easy, and precise.
Main cabinet, this will house on the left side from top down, storage cabinet, clothing cabinet with 3 hanger rods and possibly a nice multi level shelf insert one one side, and in the bottom, house batteries, inverter, and water pump. The batteries will be on a set of slides and I'm thinking the inverter might get the same treatment, this keeps the battery cables to the inverter nice and short, for anybody wondering why, battery cables are usually the short fall of an inverter installation, we repair many systems by installing the right size of battery cables. On the right side the top will have all of the Blue Sea panels on a side hinged door so easy to get in and add to the electrical later, no real need to consider service access because it is being done right the first time! but will be easy to service if required. The Nova Kool refrigerator sits below that, and that is the reason for the tube frame that is riveted in, the cabinet shell could have supported the weight but for the extra 6 pounds of tubing it was simply peace of mind. Underneath that is a 22" x 6" x 22" deep drawer on full extension 200 lb slides, and below that is the 35 gallon water tank.
Views from the top, once the main cabinet is finished and powder coated it will be bonded to the floor and wall, at that point a bead of 252 will go on top of the wet bath and the main cabinet and the roof will be lowered in place. There is a batch of overhead cabinets to go in over the galley and right to the main cabinet. I'm quite happy with the layout, there is ample room for 4 people inside if we have to stay inside, and the master in the overhead has a lot of privacy, there will be a nice accordion door closing the access. The wet bath door will swing backwards and there will be a latch on the refrigerator cabinet to hold it in that position, free private bath space gained by separating the entire front half of the camper from the rear, girls request and a great idea for getting dressed after a shower.
Back to work, trying to get this done for a monday night install!
Tools of the trade
Thanks guys, and yes Victorian I could use you skills a little closer!
I spent the weekend finishing up the "main" cabinet. It's kind of the heart of the systems, so lots to play around with and incorporate as much function and storage as possible. Just a couple pics of the tools and components that make difficult things easier...and better! It turned out really good, will be white tomorrow and hopefully in tomorrow night.
Overhead gantry, this with a couple suction cups will come in handy when the roof goes on later this week.
7 x 14 CNC plasma, in use. CNC router is coming, just debating the size...the small option is 10 x 20, looking at a 10 x 40 now....decisions...
Huck bolts, this one is 1/4" diameter, clamp perfectly every time, distribute load very nicely, aluminum friendly coating.
Huck bolts installed.
Thanks guys, and yes Victorian I could use you skills a little closer!
I spent the weekend finishing up the "main" cabinet. It's kind of the heart of the systems, so lots to play around with and incorporate as much function and storage as possible. Just a couple pics of the tools and components that make difficult things easier...and better! It turned out really good, will be white tomorrow and hopefully in tomorrow night.
Overhead gantry, this with a couple suction cups will come in handy when the roof goes on later this week.
7 x 14 CNC plasma, in use. CNC router is coming, just debating the size...the small option is 10 x 20, looking at a 10 x 40 now....decisions...
Huck bolts, this one is 1/4" diameter, clamp perfectly every time, distribute load very nicely, aluminum friendly coating.
Huck bolts installed.
Off Topic but seriously cool
About a year ago I bought a few super low mileage mint M932A2 5 ton 6x6 trucks, I also bought a couple of new in the crate HEMTT cabs, I love the way a HEMTT looks, and thought with some creative redesign that I could get 4 Recaro air ride buckets across the front so the whole family could get into the cab. There were far too many challenges with the redesign of the cab to accommodate 4 people, and a brand new 5500 was cheaper (but no where near as cool), so I basically put the pieces together and sold it to a good friend who liked the idea for him and his wife, he finished up with the steering conversion and some of the final mechanical connections, he has a very proficient CNC machine shop so some of the stuff is pretty sexy. It is back in our hands to rewire and replumb everything correctly, air, hydraulics, etc. I'm trying hard to sell him on an expedition camper designed for this chassis, I hope he goes for it, cuz if not, this rig will never look this good again!
About a year ago I bought a few super low mileage mint M932A2 5 ton 6x6 trucks, I also bought a couple of new in the crate HEMTT cabs, I love the way a HEMTT looks, and thought with some creative redesign that I could get 4 Recaro air ride buckets across the front so the whole family could get into the cab. There were far too many challenges with the redesign of the cab to accommodate 4 people, and a brand new 5500 was cheaper (but no where near as cool), so I basically put the pieces together and sold it to a good friend who liked the idea for him and his wife, he finished up with the steering conversion and some of the final mechanical connections, he has a very proficient CNC machine shop so some of the stuff is pretty sexy. It is back in our hands to rewire and replumb everything correctly, air, hydraulics, etc. I'm trying hard to sell him on an expedition camper designed for this chassis, I hope he goes for it, cuz if not, this rig will never look this good again!