Isuzu Dmax build - now adding aux battery behind rear seat

[Specky]

Progress has been slower than expected but the carcass is getting there. The heavy duty drawer slides arrived yesterday - man, those things are weighty!

cut the top sheet of 15mm CD ply to size this afternoon, and two 15mm x 30mm ply rails for the wings to sit on top of.

 

[Specky]

All rails test mounted using 8mm t- nuts and some furniture barrel nuts for the central rails.

little trick I learned on the last project to keep wood chips from drilling - leads the chips away from the rails where they can be vacuumed up

 

[Specky]

A few more progress pics

roughed our where I can mount the pump and tank, but need to split the deck to facilitate installing and removing the tank as the gap I allowed is a little snug. Going to cut the deck along the top of the back of the tank

 

[Specky]

Looking at adding an auxiliary battery to either the drawer system or behind the back seat of the dmax - anyone have suggestions on good systems or fitouts to use?

 

[Specky]

More progress

got some holes in the mid panel and behind to slow air movement as the drawers open and close. Pump is mounted through the side to M4 t-nuts. Deck is now split to accomodate installing and removing the water tank, and a couple of extra stays added in to give it a bit more strength.

getting there!

 

[Specky]

Deck painted and fitted - both glued and screwed.

 

[Specky]

Test fitting in the Isuzu.

left drawer partially built and test fitted.

 

[Specky]

snatching a few minutes here and there to progress the storage system - Just need to do the face of the left drawer and add the lock and it’s done. one coat of marine grade clear polyurethane along the sides/ front & back, two coats along the insides of the drawer to help with wear protection

Right drawer started! Got the base plate and sides cut, hopefully get a few more minutes today to progress them.

Waiting on handles/ locks and some water fittings to arrive that seem to have gone missing in the post - not ideal but common living in the Northern Territory!

 

[Specky]

Second drawer carcass finished.

 

[Specky]

Bit more plumbing done for the tank, and the inevitable project injury!

is it even a project if no claret is spilled?!!

 

[Specky]

More progress

 

[Specky]

Not quite sure how a pic of my cat got in there.

some more slow progress on the left drawer.

 

[Specky]

Slowly slowly!

 

[Specky]

Marine grade carpet attached to the deck, and 20x20x2mm ally strip protector across the front screwed in. Starting to look like a drawer system

 

[Specky]

Ordered a slim 12v 170ah battery to drop behind the rear seat - gets some space back in the tub and moves 50kg forward of the rear axle.