18' Series Toolbox on draw bar
- Thread starter Lozza T
- Start date
What if the front and side walls to the side wings were lower that you could fit the original gas bottle holders into to secure the bottles?
Thanks @bigcol .
@Lozza T , not having to do much with the gas was key for me - i couldn't see too much upside to having the bottles enclosed.
Your assumptions are correct - the extended gas lines will simply run along behind the box and through the holes to the gas bottles (if necessary i will fix the line to the back of the box halfway along, but will wait and see). I have measured from the bottom of the gas bottle so that the hole is at the height of the gas bottle outlet (400mm) and big enough for the gas bottle "nut" to fit through as well for easy fitting.
Regarding the regulator - see the pic below with my explanation following.
I am going to remove the upright stand for the regulator, spin the regulator so that it is facing backwards and fix it to the back of the box through two holes that i will drill when it gets here so that i can ensure it is at the correct height.
@straydingo you make a good point. At this stage they will be loose, although i will put some rubber in the base to reduce vibration/wear and i was thinking that if i can get a length of triangular rubber then i could push that down into the corner of the holder to wedge the bottle in there. (and as i type i realise that i haven't asked them to put a drain hole in the gas bottle holders - better do that or they will double as buckets)
I am interested to hear if anyone thinks more is necessary with regard to securing the gas bottles?
If so i could simply drill some holes (front and back) and fix a bar across the top of the gas bottle which would prevent it from coming out (and would easily make it lockable if it was a long bolt and drilled a hole for a small padlock in one end of it)?
Any other ideas/suggestions welcome.
The other issue that i thought of last night (and remeasured) is that the door when open, will hit the WDH (just), so i may need to put a bar across just behind them with some rubber on the top for the door to sit on when open. I wanted the door to open downwards to make it easier when loading or unloading items into the box.
Then i just need to relocate the tap on the drawbar otherwise it will be unreachable.
I must say, i hope that the end product is as good as their communication as they have been absolutely excellent so far (they just sent me an email confirming that they always put drain holes in their gas bottle holders!).
Cheers, Jemmo
@Lozza T , not having to do much with the gas was key for me - i couldn't see too much upside to having the bottles enclosed.
Your assumptions are correct - the extended gas lines will simply run along behind the box and through the holes to the gas bottles (if necessary i will fix the line to the back of the box halfway along, but will wait and see). I have measured from the bottom of the gas bottle so that the hole is at the height of the gas bottle outlet (400mm) and big enough for the gas bottle "nut" to fit through as well for easy fitting.
Regarding the regulator - see the pic below with my explanation following.
I am going to remove the upright stand for the regulator, spin the regulator so that it is facing backwards and fix it to the back of the box through two holes that i will drill when it gets here so that i can ensure it is at the correct height.
@straydingo you make a good point. At this stage they will be loose, although i will put some rubber in the base to reduce vibration/wear and i was thinking that if i can get a length of triangular rubber then i could push that down into the corner of the holder to wedge the bottle in there. (and as i type i realise that i haven't asked them to put a drain hole in the gas bottle holders - better do that or they will double as buckets)
I am interested to hear if anyone thinks more is necessary with regard to securing the gas bottles?
If so i could simply drill some holes (front and back) and fix a bar across the top of the gas bottle which would prevent it from coming out (and would easily make it lockable if it was a long bolt and drilled a hole for a small padlock in one end of it)?
Any other ideas/suggestions welcome.
The other issue that i thought of last night (and remeasured) is that the door when open, will hit the WDH (just), so i may need to put a bar across just behind them with some rubber on the top for the door to sit on when open. I wanted the door to open downwards to make it easier when loading or unloading items into the box.
Then i just need to relocate the tap on the drawbar otherwise it will be unreachable.
I must say, i hope that the end product is as good as their communication as they have been absolutely excellent so far (they just sent me an email confirming that they always put drain holes in their gas bottle holders!).
Cheers, Jemmo
Thanks @Smergen , just hope the end product is good!
@Lozza T , I didn't really want to modify the existing gas bottle holders - they are connected to the regulator stand and i wanted to be able to remove that in one piece so that if we change/upgrade in the future then i can simply put back to original and put the box on the new van.
@Macca_75 , probably a good idea - this was just the design they came up with and was what they had made before. To be honest, i would be loathe to put other stuff in with the bottles but i assume you could partition it off for other gear if you wanted. Will see how it turns out and maybe if another member likes it they can put some more mods in to improve the next version. Who knows, we could reach a stage where we just ask the manufacturer for the "Expanda Forum" spec!! (not as silly as it sounds!)
Cheers, Jemmo
@Lozza T , I didn't really want to modify the existing gas bottle holders - they are connected to the regulator stand and i wanted to be able to remove that in one piece so that if we change/upgrade in the future then i can simply put back to original and put the box on the new van.
@Macca_75 , probably a good idea - this was just the design they came up with and was what they had made before. To be honest, i would be loathe to put other stuff in with the bottles but i assume you could partition it off for other gear if you wanted. Will see how it turns out and maybe if another member likes it they can put some more mods in to improve the next version. Who knows, we could reach a stage where we just ask the manufacturer for the "Expanda Forum" spec!! (not as silly as it sounds!)
Cheers, Jemmo
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Gas bottle MUST be secured at all time in a moving vehicle.............(not sure of the exact legislation)
I found this on this site
Gas Bottle Holder Requirements
There are specific requirements for gas bottle holders under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 5601.2:2013 Section 3.3.
These all apply if the gas bottle is connected while the vehicle is moving:• It needs to be mounted on the tow bar or the caravan wall that faces the towing vehicle.
• It must be installed upright – with the valve at the top.
• The gas bottle holder or carrier must be rigidly secured and able to withstand a steadily applied load equal to 4x the weight of a full gas bottle.
• The mounting method must be capable of withstanding this applied load from any direction.
Gas Bottle Compartments or Lockers
There are specific requirements for gas bottle storage compartments or lockers under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 5601.2:2013 Section 3.4.
In summary:
- Must only contain the secured cylinders and associated fittings
- No access from inside caravan and must be sealed to prevent gas vapour from entering the caravan
- Must have an unobstructed drain properly positioned to prevent gas from entering the caravan, being exposed to a source of ignition and as per the Standard
- Water and corrosion resistant
- Not contain any electrical equipment, batteries or other source of ignition
- Must have the specified warning sign
Note that this is only a summary. Please be sure to see the Standard for the full requirements
putting a mesh lid on the openings would be good for security, but fail the secured bit of the legislation
see if you can get them to make 2 rings - slightly larger diameter than the base of the gas bottle - to locate the bottle securely at the base
I would also suggest something like the following inside the Gas bottle area......
Strap type.............
strap type inside a box
strap type on a roof rack
hinged carrier - similar to what is fitted already
Thanks @bigcol , great information.
I have had a bit of a read this evening of the standard, and in particular the sections pertaining to securing the gas bottle and specs of the compartment. I am pretty comfortable that they don't specify a particular type of mount, but more that the bottle must be firmly secured, and be able to withstand 4 x its own weight of pressure in any direction (ie 4g). I'm pretty sure i'll have enough room in the gas bottle holder for the strap type fixing, but i think i will still try to put the bar across the top as the main fixing as well.
Cheers, Jemmo
PS, i found the standard here: www.scribd.com/doc/267729821/AS-NZS-5601-2-2013
I have had a bit of a read this evening of the standard, and in particular the sections pertaining to securing the gas bottle and specs of the compartment. I am pretty comfortable that they don't specify a particular type of mount, but more that the bottle must be firmly secured, and be able to withstand 4 x its own weight of pressure in any direction (ie 4g). I'm pretty sure i'll have enough room in the gas bottle holder for the strap type fixing, but i think i will still try to put the bar across the top as the main fixing as well.
Cheers, Jemmo
PS, i found the standard here: www.scribd.com/doc/267729821/AS-NZS-5601-2-2013
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from the aust std
3.3 CYLINDER ATTACHMENT
3.3.1 Restraints
Cylinders shall be restrained by attachments designed, constructed and secured in place so they shall withstand a load equal to 4 times the weight of the full cylinder and fittings in all directions. The method of attachment shall not cause undue stresses to the cylinder.
NOTE: A typical installation is shown in Figure 3.3.
Other methods of installation are acceptable provided they comply with the intent of this Clause.
Key words are "restraints" "secured" and "all direction" (includes upwards). Figure 3.3 shows them with a bracket fitted.
The last line is where it becomes ambiguous - what exactly is the "intent of the clause" and who determines if the intend was not complied with?
For what its worth, when travelling on the Spirit of Tassie, a number of campers and vans (me included on one trip) had to hand gas bottles in for storage as they were not considered secured in that sort of arrangement.
3.3 CYLINDER ATTACHMENT
3.3.1 Restraints
Cylinders shall be restrained by attachments designed, constructed and secured in place so they shall withstand a load equal to 4 times the weight of the full cylinder and fittings in all directions. The method of attachment shall not cause undue stresses to the cylinder.
NOTE: A typical installation is shown in Figure 3.3.
Other methods of installation are acceptable provided they comply with the intent of this Clause.
Key words are "restraints" "secured" and "all direction" (includes upwards). Figure 3.3 shows them with a bracket fitted.
The last line is where it becomes ambiguous - what exactly is the "intent of the clause" and who determines if the intend was not complied with?
For what its worth, when travelling on the Spirit of Tassie, a number of campers and vans (me included on one trip) had to hand gas bottles in for storage as they were not considered secured in that sort of arrangement.
When we did the Tassie run our gas bottles were secured in the boot and were OK but a spare we had for the BBQ had to be handed in for pickup when we landed.
Thanks @straydingo - the point about the "intent of the clause" is the one i was looking at as well. This says to me that as long as the securing is done well/professionally it will be fine.
Having said that, any ideas who you would approach to confirm that? Do your standard gasfitter certify installations?
Also, does anyone know where i can source the longer copper gas lines i'll need or am i restricted to going to a gasfitter there also? It would be great to be able to send someone the dimensions and then go and pick up the two lines already pre-made/bent with the fittings on them.
Cheers, Jemmo
Doesn't it need the little loop though as it goes from the regulator to the gas bottle?
Could i just get a SS wire braided hose extension from the existing copper pipe to the newly located bottle (not sure how i would go getting a joiner at the gasbottle end of the original copper pipe though)?
Cheers, Jemmo
I remove my bottles and relocated them in front of the box with the original bottle brackets, get full use of the box and the wasted space in front of it
Don't rush him!
Front of Panda looks amazingly clean ....and unmarked..stone stomper must be effective.
@Crusty181, again out of curiousity, what's the ball weight with all that necessary gear on the draw bar?
Front of Panda looks amazingly clean ....and unmarked..stone stomper must be effective.
@Crusty181, again out of curiousity, what's the ball weight with all that necessary gear on the draw bar?
Oi ... i only washed a week agoYou have some cleaning to do when you finally get home
I did wash it a week ago, but it still does look good, aside from a few 'off the blacktop' scratches. The Stonestomper is the single most disgusting, filthy thing you can own ... but its worth its weight in gold. We have a couple of chips, but considering where its been its faired amazingly well thanks to the Stonestomper. I think the ball weight from memory was around the 270kg mark. We started with 140kg ex-factory because we deleted the slide out and Jayco did nothing about that missing weight. That worked in our favour regarding the box
Its a Jayco , they all look like thatAnd it still looks like that