Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
Part Two: Sleep Platform 2.0 and Onboard Air System
First, some set design considerations had to be respected, essentially the height of the Dometic insert. We’d need at least thirty inches of clearance from the platform to the ceiling of the WRōV for comfort and utility, so the platform had to come in under twelve inches. And then the storage capability of the old insert; the three-tiered pantry seemed indispensable, along with the mess kit drawer.
Losing this cargo space created some challenges and the ICECO JP40 fridge had to go, making room for a smaller capacity drawer fridge. I started dismantling the previous insert, and laid out the footprint fo the new one.
In taking apart the old insert I came across a couple of other issues I’d have to resolve. The cast aluminum junctions didn’t hold up under the strain of a flexing body-on-frame.
That means doubling hardware at the most stressed joints and re-evaluating how the insert will attach to the chassis. As of this writing, I’ve yet to figure out that second part.
I ordered and received the drawer fridge, confirming all its dimensions as listed on the Amazon product page and realized that to keep the height down I’d have to make the fridge a stressed member of the frame, not hard to do with 90 degree angles and the mounting points on the fridge itself.
The second positions of the mounting points on the fridge allowed me to lower it between the T-channel, preserving the low profile.
With this design issue solved, I moved ahead, installing the ninety-degree corners to reinforce each junction, cutting the uprights to height and installing them, installing the drawer slides for the stove/sink combo and then the drawer itself. I then mounted the cargo drawer that will open into the LH side passenger door, as well as the paneling now that I had a frame to measure to. The panels were installed with silicone to keep them from rattling in place. The space behind the cargo drawer was fit with a frame that would hold the two ARB compressors, and the same was done with the space behind the stove/sink drawer for the water pump.
The placement of the appliances created a narrow space at the center of the insert where I hope to stow a collapsable table, easily retrievable to set up for more counter space.
First, some set design considerations had to be respected, essentially the height of the Dometic insert. We’d need at least thirty inches of clearance from the platform to the ceiling of the WRōV for comfort and utility, so the platform had to come in under twelve inches. And then the storage capability of the old insert; the three-tiered pantry seemed indispensable, along with the mess kit drawer.
Losing this cargo space created some challenges and the ICECO JP40 fridge had to go, making room for a smaller capacity drawer fridge. I started dismantling the previous insert, and laid out the footprint fo the new one.
In taking apart the old insert I came across a couple of other issues I’d have to resolve. The cast aluminum junctions didn’t hold up under the strain of a flexing body-on-frame.
That means doubling hardware at the most stressed joints and re-evaluating how the insert will attach to the chassis. As of this writing, I’ve yet to figure out that second part.
I ordered and received the drawer fridge, confirming all its dimensions as listed on the Amazon product page and realized that to keep the height down I’d have to make the fridge a stressed member of the frame, not hard to do with 90 degree angles and the mounting points on the fridge itself.
The second positions of the mounting points on the fridge allowed me to lower it between the T-channel, preserving the low profile.
With this design issue solved, I moved ahead, installing the ninety-degree corners to reinforce each junction, cutting the uprights to height and installing them, installing the drawer slides for the stove/sink combo and then the drawer itself. I then mounted the cargo drawer that will open into the LH side passenger door, as well as the paneling now that I had a frame to measure to. The panels were installed with silicone to keep them from rattling in place. The space behind the cargo drawer was fit with a frame that would hold the two ARB compressors, and the same was done with the space behind the stove/sink drawer for the water pump.
The placement of the appliances created a narrow space at the center of the insert where I hope to stow a collapsable table, easily retrievable to set up for more counter space.
Last edited:
