My next new build is about to start - V3 Explorer - Feedback from the group needed

[ski_bike_camp]

Love that cooktop! Going to add that to my list of items I like. I like having multiple options. If you are away from home long enough something is going to fail.

Yes, options are a good thing. I also have a butane hob that I picked up when Sports Authority went out of business, plus my backpacking Jetboil. I will always be able to boil water and make tea or pasta

 

[java]

Nice work! All the little stuff takes SOOOO long and loots like zero progress.

 

[ski_bike_camp]

It drives ...

I was able to figure out the fuel fill and then drive it to Denver. The gang at Auto Trim Specialists did the work inside to glue on the wall covering. I used a Faux Leather (expanded vinyl) material.
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The bench cushions also arrived. I ordered them online and they are sunbrella fabric.
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Once that was done, it was off to the RV mattress store with my daughter to solve the #3 goal of a dedicated bed. Probably the nicest sleeping spot I have had while in the back-country. Have a look.

 

[ski_bike_camp]

Lifting the spare tire onto the rear mount ... ?

I was able to get the mount installed. Which then exposed a different problem....
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After trying to line it up there and line it all up with only two of us, I now realize, I need a better method. Has anyone in the searching seen a crane sort of thing? It would be nice it it could remove. Via my sailing background, I can certainly put together a purchase system to lift it easy enough, but how to attach it???

 

[locrwln]

Have you looked at Gary and Monica Wescott's (turtle expedition) solution? He uses a manual cable winch with a pulley mounted to a piece of box tubing off of the roof.
.
Jack

 

[java]

Very nice! Can I ask where you got the cushions made?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[ski_bike_camp]

Very nice! Can I ask where you got the cushions made?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

www.cushionsource.com

They have a good online ordering website which is very flexible is what you want made. It was easy and generally affordable. Everything fit perfect when it arrived.

 

[ski_bike_camp]

Have you looked at Gary and Monica Wescott's (turtle expedition) solution? He uses a manual cable winch with a pulley mounted to a piece of box tubing off of the roof.
.
Jack

I have seen it. Do you know if the tube removes, or if they just leave it sticking out?

 

[locrwln]

I have seen it. Do you know if the tube removes, or if they just leave it sticking out?

I believe it's removable.
.
Jack

 

[ski_bike_camp]

First trip is in the books

We were able to jump in and test the rig last weekend. Mostly good news and results. But at least one mishap, which I will post in a minute.
We made the trip from Breckenridge north to Steamboat up over Rabbit Ears Pass. The first night was mostly highway driving, but once we got to the top of the pass we headed west on a USFS double track road and climbed to over 10K' and found our first night's campsite at the top of the world looking east at the Rabbit Ears. We arrived at dusk and the sunrise wasn't very good on a cloudy morning, so no pictures. Luckily we found this spot at the top and were able to turn around
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Day two, after roaming around Steamboat we began to explore. Starting to head east on another USFS road and made it most of the way up to Buffalo Pass. A much rougher & steeper jeep road. But to be fair we certainly weren't challenged too much. Mostly just nervous as we got tossed around. The mattress worked its way out of position (no issue) and I shoved that back once we stopped. Gotta figure something to keep it strapped into place. We also had a problem with the gin bottle (but more on that later.
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Dinner cooked over the coals, a spectacular sunset and place to camp. Again over 10K', which is approx 4K above town.

 

[ski_bike_camp]

The first trip and the what broke

As I mentioned most things worked well. But at last one thing was missed or didn't work. We had the gin stored above the galley in a cabinet (that I thought was locking & locked). On a rough section, it seems like the cabinet door opened and the gin came crashing down on the mag induction cook-top. Bummer
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Lessons learned: #1 Nothing heavy up high and over top of breakable things, #2 The glass top on the mag induction unit is indeed fragile. I had one of these in my Sprinter van and never had an issue.
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I was able to cut the 3M 5200 sealant that I glued it in with out with a razor knife, clean it up and install a replacement. Not an expensive repair ($15-for glue, $60-cook-top) but just time. It's back in and the glue is setting up (takes 7 days).
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Some pics below of what it looks like broken. And fixed
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[java]

Very very nice! Did you ever get weighed with the camper on the truck?

At least its a cheap stove to fix!

 

[Petrolburner]

I read the first page and the last page, that's enough to know that I need to read all the pages in between :coffeedrink: The induction cooktop was only $60?!? Was that for a whole new unit or just the glass?

 

[Petrolburner]

Ok, I finished reading it all. Very nice job, I loved the video tour. Have you taken it to the scales yet?

 

[ski_bike_camp]

I read the first page and the last page, that's enough to know that I need to read all the pages in between :coffeedrink: The induction cooktop was only $60?!? Was that for a whole new unit or just the glass?

$60 for the whole unit from Amazon.