piratexpress1369a
Explorer
That's awesome
Unimogadventures - Our build and travel thread
- Thread starter Iain_U1250
- Start date
Iain_U1250
Explorer
Almost done, grey water tanks arrived late yesterday, and it is now in, as is the second fuel tank.
I got this tank especially because of it's party trick - makes it real easy to pour in fuel from a Jerry can.
I decided not to go with the new steering wheel, but instead got the old wheel covered with leather.
It turned out pretty good, the stitching is all done by hand, and makes the old wheel look like new again. I just need to get a new ( or better ) centre badge.
Whilst I was waiting for the grey water tank, I fitted the rear shower and drinking water tap. I also fitted the brackets for out stainless steel side table we have used on the Land Rover for the past few years.
Now just a few more finishing touches, and it will be ready for the road. I also got my "CTP" Insurance today, so I can take it going to the weighbridge on Monday. Then just need the Safety Certificate, and a whole bunch of forms from the HVRAS man, and all going well, on Monday or Tuesday it will be one the road.
I got this tank especially because of it's party trick - makes it real easy to pour in fuel from a Jerry can.
I decided not to go with the new steering wheel, but instead got the old wheel covered with leather.
It turned out pretty good, the stitching is all done by hand, and makes the old wheel look like new again. I just need to get a new ( or better ) centre badge.
Whilst I was waiting for the grey water tank, I fitted the rear shower and drinking water tap. I also fitted the brackets for out stainless steel side table we have used on the Land Rover for the past few years.
Now just a few more finishing touches, and it will be ready for the road. I also got my "CTP" Insurance today, so I can take it going to the weighbridge on Monday. Then just need the Safety Certificate, and a whole bunch of forms from the HVRAS man, and all going well, on Monday or Tuesday it will be one the road.
piratexpress1369a
Explorer
How far does the Fuel tank filler neck stick out from the body...it's not going to get hit by a tree branch ..
Iain_U1250
Explorer
It is under the body by about 50-100mm, just looks like it's outside of the body line in the photo. The filler neck s also very substantial, the tank is all steel, and weighs more than the bigger one on the other side.
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piratexpress1369a
Explorer
Ok was just wondering good luck on Monday
Iain_U1250
Explorer
At long last, my truck is now registered.
For all other looking at looking at registering a truck as a motorhome you need the following:
Safety Certificate
Weighbridge Certificate
Vehicle Details Inspection Sheet:
Motorhome/Caravan Inspection Sheet:
CTP Insurance ( You need to pre-pay this so you can take it to the weighbridge)
Vehicle Registration Application Form
and if you have personalised number plate like us, you need the Remove/Attach personalise number plate form
You also need a smoke alarm, a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket if you have a stove inside ( which you need to have to register as a motor home). If you have a gas stove, you need a "Gas Certificate" from a licensed "Gas Fitter"
If you have make any modifications to the seats, exhaust, engine, brakes, body, so just about anything, you will need a "Modification Plate" with all the various codes on it. They want a copy of the "Green Form" from the modification engineer before they will register it.
There is a mountain of paper work, and even more if your vehicle is imported ( i.e. = never been registered in Australia before) which lucky for us was not the case.
In the end, it turned out a bit heavier than expected, full of fuel, people and water, we are 7.12 tons, so we don't have that much spare weight to play with. Going to look at ways of doing a GVM upgrade, even a couple of hundred kg will make it better. We can live with the current GVM, just won't be able to carry too much stuff which might not be a bad thing.
It is great to drive, quite happy at 90kph around 2000rpm. I've set the boost to 10psi, and it gets there around 1500rpm. It can hold speed up the hills on the highway, not game to push it too hard as I've only got 60km on the new engine, so trying to be gentle in the beginning. I've read loads of websites and heard lots of advice on how to run in an old style diesel, and the one thing everyone seems to agree with is not to be too gentle on it, try not to idle it if at all possible, and keep it loaded up. Some say don't rev it, other says not to rev it hard under load, but you need to let it rev a bit now and again, and most say charge the oil filter around 500km to ensure the oil filter is not blocked with all the engine assembly lube and bits of silcone/RTV/gaskets. Portals and transmission are running around 50-60 Deg C after a trip down the highway at 90kph
The ceramic coating in the exhaust manifold and turbo housing works well, 10 minutes after our trip down the highway, I was able to hold my hand on the turbo housing, laser temp read 60 Deg C whilst the EGT gauge still said 110 C.
My speedo is about 16% under-reading, so will head off down to the place for a new speedo correction gearbox, they are only about 20km away, so will use the trip to compare the odometer to the GPS route distance and work out the closest ratio box to correct the speedo. I have a small water leak on the camper water system (seems I crossed threaded a brass elbow somehow), and I need to get the a/c system gassed up, as it was pretty hot driving around without a/c - been about 16 years since I last drove any car without a/c. All going well I will have all these things fixed by tomorrow evening, then we will drive around some more to get up the 500km by the weekend. If the weather says good, we will be down on the beach early next week, and hopefully spend out first night in the camper.
For all other looking at looking at registering a truck as a motorhome you need the following:
Safety Certificate
Weighbridge Certificate
Vehicle Details Inspection Sheet:
Motorhome/Caravan Inspection Sheet:
CTP Insurance ( You need to pre-pay this so you can take it to the weighbridge)
Vehicle Registration Application Form
and if you have personalised number plate like us, you need the Remove/Attach personalise number plate form
You also need a smoke alarm, a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket if you have a stove inside ( which you need to have to register as a motor home). If you have a gas stove, you need a "Gas Certificate" from a licensed "Gas Fitter"
If you have make any modifications to the seats, exhaust, engine, brakes, body, so just about anything, you will need a "Modification Plate" with all the various codes on it. They want a copy of the "Green Form" from the modification engineer before they will register it.
There is a mountain of paper work, and even more if your vehicle is imported ( i.e. = never been registered in Australia before) which lucky for us was not the case.
In the end, it turned out a bit heavier than expected, full of fuel, people and water, we are 7.12 tons, so we don't have that much spare weight to play with. Going to look at ways of doing a GVM upgrade, even a couple of hundred kg will make it better. We can live with the current GVM, just won't be able to carry too much stuff which might not be a bad thing.
It is great to drive, quite happy at 90kph around 2000rpm. I've set the boost to 10psi, and it gets there around 1500rpm. It can hold speed up the hills on the highway, not game to push it too hard as I've only got 60km on the new engine, so trying to be gentle in the beginning. I've read loads of websites and heard lots of advice on how to run in an old style diesel, and the one thing everyone seems to agree with is not to be too gentle on it, try not to idle it if at all possible, and keep it loaded up. Some say don't rev it, other says not to rev it hard under load, but you need to let it rev a bit now and again, and most say charge the oil filter around 500km to ensure the oil filter is not blocked with all the engine assembly lube and bits of silcone/RTV/gaskets. Portals and transmission are running around 50-60 Deg C after a trip down the highway at 90kph
The ceramic coating in the exhaust manifold and turbo housing works well, 10 minutes after our trip down the highway, I was able to hold my hand on the turbo housing, laser temp read 60 Deg C whilst the EGT gauge still said 110 C.
My speedo is about 16% under-reading, so will head off down to the place for a new speedo correction gearbox, they are only about 20km away, so will use the trip to compare the odometer to the GPS route distance and work out the closest ratio box to correct the speedo. I have a small water leak on the camper water system (seems I crossed threaded a brass elbow somehow), and I need to get the a/c system gassed up, as it was pretty hot driving around without a/c - been about 16 years since I last drove any car without a/c. All going well I will have all these things fixed by tomorrow evening, then we will drive around some more to get up the 500km by the weekend. If the weather says good, we will be down on the beach early next week, and hopefully spend out first night in the camper.
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nick disjunkt
Adventurer
So pleased for you Iain. The quality of life you can have whilst travelling in a motorhome not dependant on grid connections is amazing. Your hard work has set you up for a lifetime of happiness, now you just need to work out how to turn sikaflex and metalwork into happy memories.
I had all these aspirations about what I wanted to do with my truck whilst I was building it, but it wasn't until we were in the mountains in Utah one evening, sitting in bed with the rear flap open listening to the sound of a roaring stream that I realised I was living those dreams.
I had all these aspirations about what I wanted to do with my truck whilst I was building it, but it wasn't until we were in the mountains in Utah one evening, sitting in bed with the rear flap open listening to the sound of a roaring stream that I realised I was living those dreams.
Having less GVM can be a blessing as it means you'll pack less crap.
It is amazing how it all adds up, after a trip out west a couple of years ago I weighed everything and got to 600kg very quickly. Needless to say the Jeep was at least 300kg over GVM once we were in it and all fueled up.
It is amazing how it all adds up, after a trip out west a couple of years ago I weighed everything and got to 600kg very quickly. Needless to say the Jeep was at least 300kg over GVM once we were in it and all fueled up.
piratexpress1369a
Explorer
Well done getting all your premits
Iain_U1250
Explorer
Thanks everyone, it has been a long project but now the fun starts 
I have a few little teething problems, but sorting them out one by one.
I got the speedo sorted, it is now spot on. I got some new gears for my Kienler Argo ratio box from SGESCO, only cost $87 for the gears. I worked out the ratio I needed by driving from home to the shop and comparing what the GPS trip meter said vs what the odometer read. I needed a 1.263 gearset due to the fast axles and bigger tyres. It would have cost a lot more for them to do all the measurement, and if I did not already have a ratio box.
I hopefully have sorted out all the leaks in the water system. I replace the damaged fitting on the hot water tank this morning, and the water inside it was still very hot. There was another small leak on the cold water line at one of the t-pieces, so I replaced the connection. If the pressure stays up over night, then I think the water system is sorted. One thing I found out this afternoon, the water inside the hot water tank is at engine temperature, so around 80-90 Deg C. I have a thermostatic valve which mixes in cold water, however the first bit of hot water is likely to be a lot hotter, as the valve takes a second or or so to react.
I have a few little teething problems, but sorting them out one by one.
I got the speedo sorted, it is now spot on. I got some new gears for my Kienler Argo ratio box from SGESCO, only cost $87 for the gears. I worked out the ratio I needed by driving from home to the shop and comparing what the GPS trip meter said vs what the odometer read. I needed a 1.263 gearset due to the fast axles and bigger tyres. It would have cost a lot more for them to do all the measurement, and if I did not already have a ratio box.
I hopefully have sorted out all the leaks in the water system. I replace the damaged fitting on the hot water tank this morning, and the water inside it was still very hot. There was another small leak on the cold water line at one of the t-pieces, so I replaced the connection. If the pressure stays up over night, then I think the water system is sorted. One thing I found out this afternoon, the water inside the hot water tank is at engine temperature, so around 80-90 Deg C. I have a thermostatic valve which mixes in cold water, however the first bit of hot water is likely to be a lot hotter, as the valve takes a second or or so to react.