Isuzu npr 4wd

SkiFreak

Crazy Person
Who is an expert on composite panels?

How do I attach items to interior walls?
Again, this is a very open ended question.
The answer will vary based on the type of composite panel, amount of attachment points, the weight that has to be supported and the direction of the forces.

For the specific item you have given as an example... this would likely not be holding a lot of weight and the forces would primarily be in shear.
Tapping plates behind the panel would be the optimal solution, but this would have required forward thinking in the planning stage. Adding these afterwards is possible, but only if you have decent fibreglassing skills.
As others have mentioned already, gluing a plate to the wall and then attaching to that is a very viable option, especially if the load is higher, as the stresses would be distributed over a greater surface area.
That said, if I were installing the item specified, and hadn't planned ahead, I would simply use 4 plus nuts (Google it), as they would easily do the job and their installation is very simple.

Edit:
I failed to mention that another very viable option would be to use VHB tape.
 
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mog

Kodiak Buckaroo
I failed to mention that another very viable option would be to use VHB tape.
What is you anticipated load?

2 rolls of TP
tpp.png

A ratpack of candy
cnd.png
Or perhaps some soda and water
ssw.png



VHB (3M brand not Chinese knockoff) will hold just fine. If the net had existing 2 sided tape installed, remove that cheap stuff. Once removed (or if it did not have any) wipe down the plastic with some lacquer thinner or MEK (notice I did not say alcohol) and installed the tape. Prep the panel (if unpainted) with lacquer thinner, (hot installer tip, put in place BEFORE peeling the VHB tape and mark with some painter's tape for location AND level as you will not be able to 'adjusted' if you install it non-level), peel the backing on the VHB and install. Give it a hour before adding soda/water bottles (TP and candy can be installed right away). The plastic and/or netting will give way before the VHB or panel give out (well...as long as it is uber-quality Total Composite paneling ;) ).
 

Darwin

Explorer
What is the name of the builder for the habitat? Edit: noticed it was ridgerock
 
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gator70

Active member
I need a ladder. I found this one, minimum purchase 10.

Does anyone want to share the purchase or buy one?

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gator70

Active member
More progress

Most expensive high end builders have interior surface wall treatments. This habitat is mostly composite panel interior surfaces. Some may call this a hospital feel.

Bathroom may have come out a bit large. Forcing the hall to be offset center. Bathroom window could have been smaller. Yet, getting rid of moisture was the main goal. The bathroom has a side exhaust fan, yet no roof exhaust fan.

Due to the complete roof is covered with solar panels, except room for the Dometic RTX 2000 A/C

These build's are hard work, yet fun and rewarding. A DIY build is a resale problem. Everything I did comes with one or two year warranties'. So professional.

Cabover trucks come with very high cabs. This is a challenge to keep the total rig height lower. The advantage is the total length is 5ft shorter than a Ford F550 build.

I did all the engineering on this build.

If anyone wants a habitat, they should contact me. Build time 120 days, and custom requests are possible.

(build time shorter due to all CAD drawings done)

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gator70

Active member
Just a list

Composite habitat (Brand New – One year warranty)



  • 5720 mm X 2100mm x 2200mm
  • 3700 mm on frame length
  • Composite thickness 55mm
  • Fully steel frame connected to composite floor/ subfloor
  • Truma stye water heater, space heater
  • Dometic RTX 2000 air conditioner
  • 600 amp hr battery bank
  • 1200 watt solar panels on roof
  • 3000 watt AC inverter
  • Two solar disconnect switches
  • One main battery disconnect
  • Two fuse boxes
  • LCD battery monitor
  • Two water tank gauges
  • Switch panel with 12 switches, various controls
  • 30 amp shore power outlet, with "superior automatic transfer switch"
  • Huge skylight over bed (with bug screen and retractable shade)
  • Seven opening windows with dual pane (with integrated shades and bug screens)
  • Two large wall mounted exhaust fans, one in dinette area, one in bathroom
  • Two wall mounted small interior circulating fans
  • Cassette toilet, model, bench seat (extra cassette incl - 2 in total)
  • Window in shower, sink in shower
  • Large shower with 6ft 7inch height
  • External outside wall shower
  • Large three bench dinette, retractable dining table, sleeps two
  • Large queen bed, sleeps two
  • High end two gas burner stove
  • Large kitchen sink
  • Exhaust fan over gas burners
  • Seven 110vac outlets (one external), 12, 12volt outlets (two external)
  • Twelve overhead interior lights
  • One entrance door exterior light
  • One exterior door safety handle
  • One smoke alarm
  • One Carbon Monoxide Detector
  • One fire extinguisher
  • Full bug screen exterior door
  • Superiors secure exterior door lock
  • 12 volt 75 cubic feet refrigerator, freezer
  • 12 volt microwave
  • 12 interior storage cabinets
  • 2 exterior storage compartments
  • 110 ltr grey water tank
  • 150 ltr freshwater tank
  • 12volt water pump with accumulator
  • One extremely large rear storage box in aluminum with fold down cooking table. (1600mm wide , 880mm tall, 460mm deep)
  • One full width side retractable awning
  • One full width rear retractable awning
  • 12 external running lights
  • Two full tail lamps
  • Full four camera, four lcd monitor security system
  • Compete perimeter of roof with steel brush guards
  • One professional cab side pass through door
Four season habitat
 
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gator70

Active member
Subframe

(5 inch c-channel)

This mirrors frame on composite floor

What do others pay for subframes on their rigs?

Somehow a aluminum flatbed at 14 feet, was not the right choice.

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gator70

Active member
Earlier I discussed features in a habitat that may be excessive. Features that drive UP the price, and may not be necessary.

Real hardwood cabinets are beautiful - Do I need them on a camper/habitat ?? I guess not

Shown is a "example" how my habitat is equipped to install nice cabinets without the extra expense of real hardwood. (mine is not fake woodgrain, rather solid colors - with nice color scheme)

Also I looked at cabinets in hardwood from rigs built in the 1980's and 1990's, and the style and colors are all outdated. I guess this style I show will not be outdated as easily.

Building an expedition rig, by first listing every part and cost in a spreadsheet, the list will be a mile long.

Somewhere there must be some compromise to reduces these crazy prices.

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gator70

Active member
Planning solar and batteries is hard. And when the weather is raining too much, all that expense is moot.
Yet for me the 12v air conditioner in hot climates drives the technical choices.

Arizona, Utah, Baha sur, camping requires air conditioning

Somehow I believe composite habitats helps with hot weather in calculating air conditioner demands. Possibly you can spend less with that composite insulation.

Unlike Sprinter vans which are a metal can.
 
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Planning solar and batteries is hard. And when the weather is raining too much, all that expense is moot.
Yet for me the 12v air conditioner in hot climates drives the technical choices.

Arizona, Utah, Baha sur, camping requires air conditioning

Somehow I believe composite habitats helps with hot weather in calculating air conditioner demands. Possibly you can spend less with that composite insulation.

Unlike Sprinter vans which are a metal can.
This is one of the most efficient and least expensive to use batteries, even so you have to spend a lot on the electrical system to support an air conditioner.
 

gator70

Active member
This is one of the most efficient and least expensive to use batteries, even so you have to spend a lot on the electrical system to support an air conditioner.

Have you noticed how lithium batteries have dropped 80% in price in the last 24 months?

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