Drovers new Rig - "Big Mal"

[bigcol]

SWMBO just said "Smarty poo pants Goanna legs"................good Job..........

 

[dagree]

Brilliantly done @Drover ... Just like a bought one

 

[Drover]

Oh, it was pointed out " Why, when the table has all it's legs ?" well it's okay on concrete but anything else other than sand the table is a wonky beast, thats why it was relegated to back of ute with beach gear, great on the sand under the awning.................

 

[DRW]

cleva flocker you are

 

[Marv_mart]

Since the demise of my Coleman table I suddenly realized we had nothing to hold the chips off the ground or Mrs D's wine bottle, the Scots blood came to the fore and with a looook around the shed I spied a $12 BCF camping table which we use at the beach and a short length of sail rail and an brilliant idea evolved, need to buy some more rivets..............................
So a picture says it all but for the obtuse, cut sail rail so end of table slots into it, drop one set of legs down on table, line up table to side of van ( on even ground) mark bottom of table edge with pencil onside of van, line up rail on mark, double sided tape to rail to hold it and check levels with table in possy, when satisfied rivet the rail to van, fit table add chair and beer.............................this could work on glass walled rigs as well, just have to sikaflex and plaster screws...

Unsuspecting $12 table......
............................................View attachment 47902................
$5 rail........View attachment 47903




and Tah Daa the wine, beer and chip support.............View attachment 47904 testing will take place later..............

The more observant will notice no mention of removal of other legs, they are tucked away so table can still be used for away trips..........................and under $20.....

Great idea but how does the table fix to the rail??

 

[Drover]

The edge of the table just drops into the slot of the sail track, if I come across a bit of alloy track that will slide in it will get attached to the side of the table but ATM it just sits there and it's more stable than it was with all legs on ground.

 

[Drover]

Got my act together and went into the bearing shop, numbers all in hand for a set of bearings for Big Mals spare's box, had looked online at the van shops, double checked the catalogues, even pulled the wheels off and made sure I was correct..........................expecting $50 to $70, he had the bits, 2x bearings, 2x cups, 1x seal make it $20, I flashed my card with a big grin....Online prices were $50 odd.

Will shop at Gympie Bearing Company always, NTN Japanese bearings, all good. Now to grease the buggers up, vac seal them so all is good for the time I sell them when I sell Big Mal as I don't ever want to use them...........................think I have a new set for a 14.44.3 single axle here also.

 

[bigcol]

good idea with the Vacc sealing

 

[Drover]

Do it for most of my spare parts that need to be dry and dirt free. Air filter gets glad wrapped.

 

[Drover]

Bearings packed and wrapped, while I was packing the bearings the damn el cheapo latex gloves split, yuck grease all over the place..

..but all nice and clean now...


Big Mal is looking flash with a good polish, fridge running and freezer down to 3.2 deg in about 2 hrs, so all running nicely...Lock and load over the weekend....

..............................

 

[Dobbie]

Aaaahhhh....he's a lovely beast.

Beautifully clean as well.

Safe travels @Drover

 

[bigcol]

Beautifully clean as well.

just head west mate, and I have a 16' expanda that needs your "loving attention"

 

[Drover]

I'm really tempted to just head over the west, so many folks to visit but really need some coin in the bikky tin before we do, just in case.

 

[dagree]

just head west mate, and I have a 16' expanda that needs your "loving attention"

And there's a 17'er waiting in line afterwards

I'm really tempted to just head over the west

As the Nike Add says...... "Do It!!"

 

[Drover]

Big Mal is a bit dirty, found a water truck on the road works, only got one side at the front which makes a change but early days...............I must say the $20 table mod is working very well, uneven ground it doesn't wobble to spill precious drinks... Nothing has fell off and the Sat Dish Mount I made works quite good also, saves buggering around with the tri-pod and makes it a bit harder for any thieving mongrels. I like the Sat free to air TV but hate the set up, Foxtel would give me a bigger selection of rubbish to watch but I'm not coughing up money for it.

 

[Crusty181]

The resemblance in uncanny. I think I may have been in a movie with you ??? Your taller in person ... i think

 

[Bellbirdweb]

Big Mal is a bit dirty, found a water truck on the road works, only got one side at the front which makes a change but early days...............I must say the $20 table mod is working very well, uneven ground it doesn't wobble to spill precious drinks... Nothing has fell off and the Sat Dish Mount I made works quite good also, saves buggering around with the tri-pod and makes it a bit harder for any thieving mongrels. I like the Sat free to air TV but hate the set up, Foxtel would give me a bigger selection of rubbish to watch but I'm not coughing up money for it.

Have you got a photo of your sat dish mount @Drover ?

I put a pole on my draw bar for this purpose, but I've only been able to use it once as I'm always pointing the wrong way

 

[Drover]

@Bellbirdweb here's one of the back set up,not a great pic though and the other is of the pipe I had bent up to fit the dish to, it's just balancing off the rear mount, ( 46mm exhaust 400mm x 400mm x 600mm ) I use the jockey wheel clamp at the front to hold it but needs a bit of packing, needs a mod, and at the back I just welded a couple of U bolts onto a bit of flat which in turn got welded to the rear bar on one side so far they have it covered , U bolts were actually from an old dish mount and welded to the flat at an angle with some plastic tube fitted on end of bolts so I don't rip my knee off, was going to find a jockey wheel clamp to use on the rear but was in a hurry and the U bolts work well so will stay, the bent post allows to clear a few obstacles and get clear of van, gas bottles etc.
I store the dish on a straight post off the rear bar.

I can do a better pic of the set up if you need it...

The post can be reversed to suit needs.

 

[Drover]

View attachment 49359 The resemblance in uncanny. I think I may have been in a movie with you ??? Your taller in person ... i think

Not much taller but the nose, it's a dead giveaway.....................................................

 

[Bellbirdweb]

@Bellbirdweb here's one of the back set up,not a great pic though and the other is of the pipe I had bent up to fit the dish to, it's just balancing off the rear mount, ( 46mm exhaust 400mm x 400mm x 600mm ) I use the jockey wheel clamp at the front to hold it but needs a bit of packing, needs a mod, and at the back I just welded a couple of U bolts onto a bit of flat which in turn got welded to the rear bar on one side so far they have it covered , U bolts were actually from an old dish mount and welded to the flat at an angle with some plastic tube fitted on end of bolts so I don't rip my knee off, was going to find a jockey wheel clamp to use on the rear but was in a hurry and the U bolts work well so will stay, the bent post allows to clear a few obstacles and get clear of van, gas bottles etc.
I store the dish on a straight post off the rear bar.

I can do a better pic of the set up if you need it...


View attachment 49362





The post can be reversed to suit needs.
View attachment 49361

Thanks @Drover, The bent post would probably give me a bit more flexibility, but then I need to find somewhere to store it.

Mine is simple but a bit limited as to direction, with just a straight pole on the A frame that lives thee all the time