PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Junkyard would be the place to go. Your not gonna want to pay msrp for a new one...
The CUCV Build-1986 M1031 Mobile Field Maintenance Assault Vehicle
- Thread starter PlethoraOfGuns
- Start date
Junkyard would be the place to go. Your not gonna want to pay msrp for a new one...
KE7JFF
Adventurer
No doubt...I just looked it up....yikes...$3,095.00
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Got some mods to the kitchen pantry. Some drawers!
Some simple aluminum c-channel, drilled and riveted, will be grooves for these tubs to slide into.
Two tubs is a good amount. the tubs can slide out, contents removed, and now we have two wash tubs for cleaning dishes!
In the meantime, they make great places to throw all kinds of odds and ends.
Some simple aluminum c-channel, drilled and riveted, will be grooves for these tubs to slide into.
Two tubs is a good amount. the tubs can slide out, contents removed, and now we have two wash tubs for cleaning dishes!
In the meantime, they make great places to throw all kinds of odds and ends.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
The kitchen pantry is good to go, got running water to wash dishes, stove to cook on, microwave for when we're lazy, and a cooler to keep things that need to stay cold, cold.
For years, this cooler has done the job. It's an old military mermite cooler. It's all aluminum and keeps ice for days. It's also waterproof and floats. But it's still a cooler. Now I've been hearing all this talk about 12vdc refrigerators that people put in their rigs. That's awesome! But that price tag, I'm not sure I can justify one at that price with ice being so cheap. We're gonna try a more economical solution.
So I had this mini fridge from my college days. Well, it's been hiding in the attic just wasting away, time to make use out of it. It was about 3/8" too tall to fit in the back under the bunk platform, so I had to rip off the hinge from the top and weld up one from the side.
Wedges in there just perfect. The tight fit under the bunk platform will hopefully keep it in place during transport. Ran the power cord out the back and into the electrical cabinet and plugged it into the inverter. Now I know what everyone is gonna say, that it's gonna draw too much and kill the battery, efficiency loss from the inverter, refrigerant in compressor becoming agitated during transport, yada yada yada... Hopefully with all the batteries, dual alternators, and solar panels, the refrigerator will run ok. The fridge was free, if it doesn't work, I wasted 2 hours of fab time to make it fit in truck. Now we can be completely out and about for weeks at a time and keep the drinks cold. Still might carry the cooler as a backup. Could store stuff in either when they are not in use.
For years, this cooler has done the job. It's an old military mermite cooler. It's all aluminum and keeps ice for days. It's also waterproof and floats. But it's still a cooler. Now I've been hearing all this talk about 12vdc refrigerators that people put in their rigs. That's awesome! But that price tag, I'm not sure I can justify one at that price with ice being so cheap. We're gonna try a more economical solution.
So I had this mini fridge from my college days. Well, it's been hiding in the attic just wasting away, time to make use out of it. It was about 3/8" too tall to fit in the back under the bunk platform, so I had to rip off the hinge from the top and weld up one from the side.
Wedges in there just perfect. The tight fit under the bunk platform will hopefully keep it in place during transport. Ran the power cord out the back and into the electrical cabinet and plugged it into the inverter. Now I know what everyone is gonna say, that it's gonna draw too much and kill the battery, efficiency loss from the inverter, refrigerant in compressor becoming agitated during transport, yada yada yada... Hopefully with all the batteries, dual alternators, and solar panels, the refrigerator will run ok. The fridge was free, if it doesn't work, I wasted 2 hours of fab time to make it fit in truck. Now we can be completely out and about for weeks at a time and keep the drinks cold. Still might carry the cooler as a backup. Could store stuff in either when they are not in use.
rayra
Expedition Leader
Great build, lots of nice features. I'd seen your shower setup in a different topic but not the build thread until now. Great work all around. What else have you done with the other storage compartments? needs a skylight.
The steps will work well enough with a larger backer plate on the inside. A ladder can be modified with some length straps attached to teh ladder uprights and lapped over the edge and across the roof, anchored to the roof skin, to take the ladder load.
The steps will work well enough with a larger backer plate on the inside. A ladder can be modified with some length straps attached to teh ladder uprights and lapped over the edge and across the roof, anchored to the roof skin, to take the ladder load.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Gee willy that's a lot of money for a cooler. I think I'd stick with rice and oatmeal...
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Off the one deep cycle battery on a 1000watt inverter, the fridge and solar combo, without running the truck, lasts a couple days, which is perfect for our needs. And can't beat free, so we're gonna run it until something either fails or blows up.
PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Oh the shower is best luxury item on the rig. Skylight? One of those camper roof vents would have been perfect. I put a lot of thought into it, but as we used the truck camping here and there, found out that we really didn't need it. The insulation keeps the heat from the sun out of the truck, and the led lights inside do a great job reflecting off the foil insulation and is maybe too bright in there. Besides, I looked on the roof, and have no room to cut something in. Oh well.
The folding ladder steps to the roof work great. They are bolted in the corner of the box and you can jump and pull on them and don't deflect at all, the whole truck moves!
What's in the other compartments? Well lets have a look...
Electrical cabinet. Contains the generator control panel, solar controller, air compressor controls, aux fuse panel, inverter, fire extinguisher, two way radios charge dock, streamlight litebox charge dock, microwave, and of course the diesel fuel tank filler.
This is kind of like the adventure cabinet. Climbing gear, rope, helmets, tent, caving gear, binoculars, head lamps, toilet paper, and other misc stuff.
Kitchen pantry. Anything and everything food, cooking, and cleaning. It's a little low on food stock right now. But there is cans of food, soap, sponges, can opener, matches, lighter, utensils, collapsable colander, cast iron dutch oven, a cast iron skillet, and a bunch of other stuff. Tried to fit fit the cast iron griddle/grill in there, but it fit better in front of the fridge.
I guess we can call this one the kitchen counter cabinet. One of the two compartments that the door folds down and can be used as counter space. In here there is the dual burner camp stove, steel handle/hook for the dutch oven, and a folding camp table.
Some general storage for whatever can fit. Pintle hook hitch attachment, chain and things, MRE's, garbage bags, and even some card games.
This is primarily a tool cabinet. special automotive tools, torque wrench, grinder, hammers, hacksaw, sockets, wrenches, torx, allen, multimeter, auto stethoscope, pipe wrench, repair books, safety glasses, and much more. Also up top is the air hose reeler, magazine rack, and first aid kit.
Sort of another tool cabinet. Air tools, strap wrenches, pry bars, screwdrivers, pliers, fuses, wire brushes, tap and dies, drill, drill bits, files, punches, chisels, markers, pencils, zipties, cable clamps, sandpaper, oxyacetylene torch, extra starter relay, tarp, awning walls, shower curtain, and a bunch of other ridiculous stuff.
More tools and fluids cabinets. Fluids for everything on the rig, engine oil, gear oil, transmission fluid, etc. Chainsaw, 2 cycle fuel, spare filters, spare engine belts, WD40, locktite, brake cleaner, bug spray, adhesives, white gas, axle hub socket set, bearing pullers, bearing grease, funnels, hydraulic jack, and various vehicle system testers.
The other fold down counter cabinet. More oriented towards vehicle emergencies. Jumper cables, tow strap, shackles, wheel chocks, extension cords, ammo can, and when all else fails and your stranded, a frisbee.
Water pump cabinet. Pump, various hoses, attachments, duct tape, water purification system, road flares, and rocket flares.
There is a lot of stuff in there, I can't list everything, but that's how the cabinets are setup for the time being. Other big items like the gas lantern, chairs, scuba gear, and inflatable zodiak boat goes underneath the sleeping bunk and behind the fridge. Aside from filling up the pantry with food, packing clothes, and whatever else we need for a journey to nowhere and everywhere, the rig's ready to go! Maybe we'll start the trip in the next few weeks. Need to do a small weekend trip, beat the truck up, use all the systems, setup and take down everything, and make sure everything works and in good order. As you can see by the cabinet pictures, the truck has enough tools to pretty much repair anything right from the truck, anywhere. Only other thing I really want to pick up and carry is a spare starter since it is not manual and therefor cannot really push start the engine...
toyotech
Expedition Leader
It's not a cooler. It's a 12v refrigerator/freezer.
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PlethoraOfGuns
Adventurer
Oh look at that. I stand corrected. Didn't think they came so inexpensive, good deal! I know those Yeti and Pelican coolers go into the hundreds. But this fridge looks like feasible option if the old college minifridge poops out.
toyotech
Expedition Leader
Haha. That is why I don't understand why people buy a yeti 60qt for $500 and fill half of it with ice when you can get a smaller real Fridge for less
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XJSuperman
OhIOWAn
Only reasoning I have seen to get a Yeti or something equivalent is living in a warmer environment and taking the cooler out to places with no power or long hunting trips in the backcountry packing out a lot of fresh meat. Some just have too much money to burn IMO. Beach, poolside, backcountry trips, etc I guess.