MAN LE180C double cab for a long family trip

[Itinerrant]

Seventh visit

Hello,

In only two weeks, things have greatly evolved. We're reaching arrival !

• The kitchen is almost finished :

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• LED lights and window in the kitchen :

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• The control panel is almost complete :

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• Outside shower at the rear of the truck (mixer is on the right, water outlet is below, on the left) :

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• Insect screen and sunshade for the main roof window (by KC Technik) :

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• Outside electrical outlets (IN 220V and OUT 220V) :

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• Rubber to ensure watertightness between cell and truck cabin :

Building credits : Taveirne mobil​

Some more details on this page of our blog (in English). Next time, the cell is going to be placed on the truck chassis ! :victory:

 

[Itinerrant]

Just to celebrate 20.000 views

Great news : the cell will be placed on the truck chassis next week (probably Tuesday 13th September 2011) ! :victory:

Of course, pictures will be posted.

 

[nick disjunkt]

good news! The truck looks fantastic.

Do you know who manufactures the retainers to hold your fridge door closed?

I contacted a local distributor of Sealth Aero Marine 1/4 turn latches but they worked out unfeasibly expensive. I guess anything designed and approved for use in aeroplanes will be too expensive for general use, even by marine standards!

 

[Itinerrant]

Hello,

The truck looks fantastic.

Thank you !

Do you know who manufactures the retainers to hold your fridge door closed?

I think it is this one (less than 10 €).

 

[Itinerrant]

It's on !

Hello all,

Last Tuesday was a great day, as it was time for our new home to be put on the truck's chassis ! :victory:

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Everything went fine ; now we know exactly what it looks like and... we like it ! :Wow1:

Building credits : Taveirne mobil​

There are a lot of videos of the process on our blog (in English). There's a little more work to do, and we should be ready to pick up the truck by the end of the month.

We're very excited ! :wings:

 

[apexcamper]

VERY NICE, I hope mine turns out half that cool.
If you and that gorgious beast ever get down in the Regensberg/Munich area of Bavaria, You have a place to park, I'll even trade you some beer for a tour.

 

[Itinerrant]

Hello,

VERY NICE, I hope mine turns out half that cool.

Thank you !

If you and that gorgious beast ever get down in the Regensberg/Munich area of Bavaria, You have a place to park

In our search for the perfect truck, we went twice around the city of Regensburg, which we found very nice ! We had a great time walking along the Danube and in the old city streets.

I'll even trade you some beer for a tour.

You would be welcome ! :wavey:

 

[Ford Prefect]

Congratulations Itinerrant!

It looks really great! Are you going with any sort of paint on it, or keeping it the color it is right now?

Whatever you do, I am sure it will be perfect.

Congrats, and we all look forward to some action shots out in the middle of someplace we have never been! (personally a big fan of Iceland!)

Regards,
Brian

 

[Itinerrant]

Hello,

Congratulations Itinerrant! It looks really great!

Thank you !

Are you going with any sort of paint on it, or keeping it the color it is right now?

I think we will keep it white. Perhaps with a logo or something like that, we'll see.

And... I'm afraid our three girls already have some ideas for all kinds of decorations :snorkel:

 

[NeverEnough]

And... I'm afraid our three girls already have some ideas for all kinds of decorations :snorkel:

That's the difference between girls and boys! My four sons could care less about the decor. As long as there's a place for their motorcyles and the refrigerator has food, they're happy!

Nice build, hopefully I'll get to see it someday.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Nice build, hopefully I'll get to see it someday.

Ditto

I think we will keep it white. Perhaps with a logo or something like that, we'll see.

And... I'm afraid our three girls already have some ideas for all kinds of decorations :snorkel:

Thanks. It sure looks great. I have seen a lot of overlanders with simply amazing murals on their trucks. Perhaps someday a consideration. Either way...Nice!

 

[Itinerrant]

Some new pictures

Hello,

Here are some of the latest picture we've taken of the truck. It is nearly finished now, and we are very pleased with the result.

• Looking nice in the sun :bike_rider:

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• Cushions and tables are in place

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• Both tables can easily be lowered with one hand using the small lever under the table top (notice the double board which can unfold, see next picture).

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• Both tables lowered with unfolded table top, making for a big additionnal double bed of 140 x 230 cm (the cushions just fit to serve as mattress).

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• Chromed foldable rungs makes a ladder for the kids to access their beds.

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• Control panel is now complete.

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• The shutter for the walk-through in the shower has been placed.

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• Aluminium stairs for the main entrance.

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• The stairs can easily be folded underneath the main door.

Building credits : Taveirne mobil
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There are still some little things to finish and and also quite a lot of paperwork, but everything should be completed around mid-October. First trip planned early November ! :smiley_drive:

 

[SChandler]

Wow, that looks really nice.:drool:

One question for you, how far above the floor did the bottom bunk end up? From the picture it looks pretty close to the floor. Any concerns about keeping the bunks cool/warm?

 

[Itinerrant]

Hello,

Wow, that looks really nice.:drool:

Thank you !

One question for you, how far above the floor did the bottom bunk end up? From the picture it looks pretty close to the floor. Any concerns about keeping the bunks cool/warm?

The bottom bed is a bit more than 1 foot above the ground. Heat / cold might be of concern but :

1. each bed has its own window for ventilation ;
2. walls are 6 cm and floor is 9 cm thick with good insulation ;
3. we have one source of freshness (Dometic air conditioning) ;
4. and three sources of heat : Eberspächer Airtronic, Eberspächer Hydronic, Dometic air conditioning (which is reversible).

So I don't think we could have done much more to keep the right temperature...

 

[SChandler]

I thought the bottom bunk was pretty close to the floor. A problem for an adult, part of the fun for a child.

It sounds like you have a well thought out heating/cooling system. Looking at the bunks, I thought the bottom one might be relatively isolated from heating (due to being mostly walled off and near the floor), but that shouldn't be an issue with the amount of heated air your system is capable of moving.

Looks like your builder has put together a vehicle you and your family will be able to use for years.