Brad & Donna's 18.57.6 OB

[blacky]

I remember my dad and i caught the barge from Karumba to Weipa when we moved from darwin to weipa. Stayed a couple of nights in a motel in Karumba, had to feed the aircon $2 coins all night! Caught some good fish though, but the best part was cruising on the barge.

We were catching spanish mackeral with the crew on the way, the bloody fish were up around 1.5m and bigger! Its funny, obviously the barge doesnt slow down or stop, and mackeral are bloody good fighters at the best of times, let alone when they're caught by trawling mackeral jigs of the back of a barge that wont stop for you. The barge seems sloooooow until youre trying to pull a fsh up to it. What a fight! Awesome trip.

 

[achjimmy]

Hi all,
Been on the forum for a while but haven't got around to posting our rig yet. Just in the process of finishing of my latest project of an A frame tool box so thought this would be a good place to start.

A frame tool box - looked at many different styles and types but settled on going for my own design. Main purpose for me was to carry Yamaha genny, jerry cans and room for other items. I have standard length drawbar.

Custom built boxes aren't cheap, most going for between a grand to fifteen hundred and still not exactly what I wanted. I have gone down the path of buying a " bog standard" box for $250 and then spending $350 getting it modified - custom box for under $750, happy days

Box I bought is 3 mm checker plate, 1200 x 500 x 500 welded seams, dust seal and gas struts, I then had the 2 end sections added. I doubled up on the end walls as part of the mod to add additional strength. Also the local guys who did the welding for me pretty much insisted I put a sheet of 10 mm marine ply under the whole box and bolt it together to provide a really good base to mount on. He told me he has repaired " dozens" of A frame boxes before that crack due to the constant vibrations, better being safe than sorry I suppose.
View attachment 18614 View attachment 18615 View attachment 18616 View attachment 18617
I mounted the gas regulator on the back of the box out of the way, it can still be reached for the top easily.
Shouted my self a new regulator at the same time to be safe.
View attachment 18618 View attachment 18619
Mounted the gas bottles using existing bottle holders and doing some modifications to make them suit.
View attachment 18620 View attachment 18621 View attachment 18622

Spent about 14 hours so far and all is mounted and complete. I have done some work on the inside as we'll to enable the jerry cans and genny to be mounted. Lining it with boat carpet tomorrow to finish it off, will post the last of the pic's then with it all loaded up ready for Xmas.

Caio

Brad this is a great box and a well thought out use of a std box, just check up on your regulator. When I did mine I was told by a few that the regulator must not be below the gas bottles, something to do with the liquid in the bottles I think? Anyway I didn't research it much just kept it up there.

Cheers

 

[Brad & Donna]

Brad this is a great box and a well thought out use of a std box, just check up on your regulator. When I did mine I was told by a few that the regulator must not be below the gas bottles, something to do with the liquid in the bottles I think? Anyway I didn't research it much just kept it up there.

Cheers

Jim,

Did plenty of investigating on this issue before I mounted where I did. From what I can tell there is 3 main issues with regulators blocking up. First is using cheap flexible hoses which internally deteoriate and casue blockages as the flow of gas pushes through. Secondly a build up of wax in the regulator from the gas. On this point it was a common problem a few years back and from what I can work out is mainly attribuited to the LP gas at the time which was "dirty" and there were no real standard on quality, I am now lead to believe there is standards and the quality of gas is greatly improved. I can not find anyone who has been having these issues for the last 3 years or so.
Third issue is lack of use - nothing to do with gas, condensentation builds up in lines and regulator casuing rust/corrosion which is not known until you go to use it, see this most when you store the van outside.

We have done about 6 trips since I moved the regulator and no issues to date, talked to bloke at a CP at easter who has similar regulator setup and he has had no issues in 2 years.

There maybe the odd case still around but I think this is the exception now not the norm,

Cheers

 

[Brad & Donna]

Hi All,

Another weekend, another couple of mods and prep off the list.

Did a service on all wheel bearing, all good, re grease and reset preload - ready for trip to cairns.
Also knocked off a couple of mod's,
First was to relocate water inlet, moved from standard position to outside ( seen a couple of others do this one)

Next one was for Donna, lights in cupboard we use for pantry, fitted a cheap brake switch and mounted so light automatically goes on and off when door is opened. Works well I must say. Used a couple of LED side lights from a trailer for the lights.

Next I mounted some baskets for storage. One in shower for shampoo's etc to make them easily accessible, they can stay there even when we travel. Also " hung" a couple of stackable baskets under the cupboard near microwave for general items to keep them off the bench. Phones, wallets, keys, biro's etc etc can go here now keeping the bench free.

Next I noticed the top bunk was a little loose at the fridge end. It is only held in with screws so I decided to put something with a bit more strength in. I cut a piece of 19 mm dowel to length between top and bottom bunk, this puts all load back down to the floor, much stronger than screws. Looks like it was meant to be there from factory.

Last was to shift bunk curtain rails. Was sick of them gathering up right at the fridge door and getting in the way. Re bent the rails and shifted mounts to allow curtain to go all the way around to the head of the bed, getting everything totally out of the way, makes access easier also.


Good busy day, few more item off the list. Heading of to cairns for 2 weeks next weekend so for a change we are ready ahead of time, ready to load up and get outta here,

Cheers

 

[Burnsy]

Nice mods @Brad & Donna, I know what you mean about the top bunk being a bit loose, I've been meaning to do something like that myself, and the curtain near the fridge....might steal these ides!
Cheers.

 

[17triton]

Great stuff guys! Enjoy that holiday too.

 

[Jordy and Kim]

Hi all,
Been on the forum for a while but haven't got around to posting our rig yet. Just in the process of finishing of my latest project of an A frame tool box so thought this would be a good place to start.

A frame tool box - looked at many different styles and types but settled on going for my own design. Main purpose for me was to carry Yamaha genny, jerry cans and room for other items. I have standard length drawbar.

Custom built boxes aren't cheap, most going for between a grand to fifteen hundred and still not exactly what I wanted. I have gone down the path of buying a " bog standard" box for $250 and then spending $350 getting it modified - custom box for under $750, happy days

Box I bought is 3 mm checker plate, 1200 x 500 x 500 welded seams, dust seal and gas struts, I then had the 2 end sections added. I doubled up on the end walls as part of the mod to add additional strength. Also the local guys who did the welding for me pretty much insisted I put a sheet of 10 mm marine ply under the whole box and bolt it together to provide a really good base to mount on. He told me he has repaired " dozens" of A frame boxes before that crack due to the constant vibrations, better being safe than sorry I suppose.
View attachment 18614 View attachment 18615 View attachment 18616 View attachment 18617
I mounted the gas regulator on the back of the box out of the way, it can still be reached for the top easily.
Shouted my self a new regulator at the same time to be safe.
View attachment 18618 View attachment 18619
Mounted the gas bottles using existing bottle holders and doing some modifications to make them suit.
View attachment 18620 View attachment 18621 View attachment 18622

Spent about 14 hours so far and all is mounted and complete. I have done some work on the inside as we'll to enable the jerry cans and genny to be mounted. Lining it with boat carpet tomorrow to finish it off, will post the last of the pic's then with it all loaded up ready for Xmas.

Caio

Hi Guys,

My first post on here so hope I am doing it the right way. Just wondering how the toolbox mod you did has held up over time? I am thinking of doing the same for a trip we are taking in June this year up the savannah way over to Darwin then into Broome. I love what you have done with your set up bloody awesome. Cheers Jordy

 

[Brad & Donna]

Hi Guys,

My first post on here so hope I am doing it the right way. Just wondering how the toolbox mod you did has held up over time? I am thinking of doing the same for a trip we are taking in June this year up the savannah way over to Darwin then into Broome. I love what you have done with your set up bloody awesome. Cheers Jordy

Jordan & Kim

Glad you like my design, took ages to come up with something that worked the bottles and toolbox in together, a few others have also copied this now and they seem to like it also.
The actual box and design have held up excellent, I have done many many trips over the last couple of years with no issues. I think the key is the marine ply base sheet, it takes all the vibration out of the metal on metal and provides a strong base for the box to sit on.
I wouldn't change anything.
The only tip I would would offer is check you gas bottle sizes before getting the box made. There are 2 different size 8.5kg bottles you can get, one being slightly larger than the other. I was not aware of this when I had it made and mine are built to suit the smaller size, this means I can't fit the larger size - not a biggy but if you have the choice built it to suit both.

Look forward to seeing some pics once your done

Cheers Brad

 

[Jordy and Kim]

Jordan & Kim

Glad you like my design, took ages to come up with something that worked the bottles and toolbox in together, a few others have also copied this now and they seem to like it also.
The actual box and design have held up excellent, I have done many many trips over the last couple of years with no issues. I think the key is the marine ply base sheet, it takes all the vibration out of the metal on metal and provides a strong base for the box to sit on.
I wouldn't change anything.
The only tip I would would offer is check you gas bottle sizes before getting the box made. There are 2 different size 8.5kg bottles you can get, one being slightly larger than the other. I was not aware of this when I had it made and mine are built to suit the smaller size, this means I can't fit the larger size - not a biggy but if you have the choice built it to suit both.

Look forward to seeing some pics once your done

Cheers Brad

Thanks heaps for all the info Brad. Cheers mate