Ill ask the other people in that other camp where secret site #9 is ... Ill bet they tell me
20' Series Macca_75's 20.64.1 OB
- Thread starter Macca_75
- Start date
So I've been doing a few jobs here and there and not keeping this updated. Following on from https://www.expandasdownunder.com/t...ing-ritar-dg12-100-battery.12163/#post-199774 I ended up just dropping the spare battery I have lying around into the van. I took the van to Pirhana 4x4 (they do all the electrical work on my car) so the could wire it in AND tidy up Jayco's mess (wiring it in wasn't hard, but I didn't have time to fix the birdnest of wires). The car was there anyway as I kept melting the pins running the fridge on the 12pin plug. I had Pirhana pull the feed wires out to a second anderson on the car and the the asme on the van. The fridge now runs from an anderson (on the same wires as previous) without issue.
Battery work - (Mostly) Jayco factory
After
The shunt was moved and fixed (top left of the photo). There are a couple of loads bypassing the shunt and connected directly to 1 battery so they cannot be isolated.
I've also moved the spare from the A-Frame and relocated underneath the rear of the van. I bought the holder and winch from Jayco Bayswater. The holder bolted straight into the subframe (the holes are provisioned for water tanks) - I used HIgh Tensile bolts (I still need to put lock nuts on). I also had a friend come and weld it on the be sure. We ended up just welding a plate to the chassis and bolting the winch to it. Overall I didn't loose to much clearance underneath. Using a set of towball scales (as as best I could tell) it made about 25-30Kgs difference in reducing the ball weight (I am going to put a strap of some sort around it to make sure it doesn't drop off the side)
With the A Frame empty I also made a new bracket to hold the gas regulator. This means there is enough room to fit a 100mm pole holder between the gas bottles and the body.
I'm going to move the tap to the inside of the A Frame to protect it from stone damage and make it more accessible.
I'll try and get a quick basket out of mesh fitting into the a frame for holding *stuff* (firewood/buckets/whatever).
And we still do get out and about as much as often - shot taken at Montana Campgrounds Xmas/NYE this year.
Battery work - (Mostly) Jayco factory
After
The shunt was moved and fixed (top left of the photo). There are a couple of loads bypassing the shunt and connected directly to 1 battery so they cannot be isolated.
I've also moved the spare from the A-Frame and relocated underneath the rear of the van. I bought the holder and winch from Jayco Bayswater. The holder bolted straight into the subframe (the holes are provisioned for water tanks) - I used HIgh Tensile bolts (I still need to put lock nuts on). I also had a friend come and weld it on the be sure. We ended up just welding a plate to the chassis and bolting the winch to it. Overall I didn't loose to much clearance underneath. Using a set of towball scales (as as best I could tell) it made about 25-30Kgs difference in reducing the ball weight (I am going to put a strap of some sort around it to make sure it doesn't drop off the side)
With the A Frame empty I also made a new bracket to hold the gas regulator. This means there is enough room to fit a 100mm pole holder between the gas bottles and the body.
I'm going to move the tap to the inside of the A Frame to protect it from stone damage and make it more accessible.
I'll try and get a quick basket out of mesh fitting into the a frame for holding *stuff* (firewood/buckets/whatever).
And we still do get out and about as much as often - shot taken at Montana Campgrounds Xmas/NYE this year.
Now thats a tidy battery, looking good for sure, that pic of your new tyre rack I ran a ruler from road wheel to bottom of bumper bar and not much chance of that getting hung up on anything, unless you fall in a big hole then spare tyre is least of problem.
If you get some weldmesh you could knock up a nice cage to mount between the draw bar, makes a great place for the mucky hose and wood blocks and still have your pole tube across the top.
Nice Gypsie camp too @Macca_75
If you get some weldmesh you could knock up a nice cage to mount between the draw bar, makes a great place for the mucky hose and wood blocks and still have your pole tube across the top.
Nice Gypsie camp too @Macca_75
That last pic with the odd mismatched van and table angles looks a little like its Photoshopped into the local park ... as you positive thats your van and you were actually there ???
As we further prepare the van for our trip round AUS it occurred to us we will be camping a lot without power and the Microwave wouldn't add a lot of value. We decided to remove it and reuse the space.
One thing that always bugs us is having a bag of rubbish always lying around (mostly on the bench) so I decided to make a slide out bin. To make it out of "Jayco wood" to match the other cabinetry I would of had to purchase a full sheet - instead we decided to try and make this either a whiteboard (so we can keep notes as we travel around AUS) or a map of AUS we can stick photo's on, etc.
The photo below is a picture stolen from the internet to show what the Microwave looked like before I removed it (I forgot to take a before shot of our actual van)
Most of the materials below was scraps I had lying around. Total cost of project was around $40 ~($18 for the handle, $5 for the Melamine trim, $8 for the whiteboard contact and $10 for the rails)
I had to add some internal supports for the rails as the flimsy board used by Jayco wouldn't cut it (Supports are just bits of pine ripped down to the right depth). Then screw rails onto the supports.
Add a face to it (was a piece of Melamine I found lying around). Just trim the edges with the iron on stuff from Bunnings and fitted a handle.
I have covered the Melamine with whiteboard contact from Officeworks. Might be handy for jotting down notes as we travel (and with notes on it/being a whiteboard it will stick out less I hope)
Between the rails was an old piece of 12mm ply with a hole cut out to suit a 27L tub I found in the garage. Rubbish in the bag on the right, recycle squashed and in the tub on the left.
I did use the self-closing hinges first, but it was too hard to open (well not hard but was placing more pressure on the shitty door catches than I like) so I swapped them out for normal rails.
One thing that always bugs us is having a bag of rubbish always lying around (mostly on the bench) so I decided to make a slide out bin. To make it out of "Jayco wood" to match the other cabinetry I would of had to purchase a full sheet - instead we decided to try and make this either a whiteboard (so we can keep notes as we travel around AUS) or a map of AUS we can stick photo's on, etc.
The photo below is a picture stolen from the internet to show what the Microwave looked like before I removed it (I forgot to take a before shot of our actual van)
Most of the materials below was scraps I had lying around. Total cost of project was around $40 ~($18 for the handle, $5 for the Melamine trim, $8 for the whiteboard contact and $10 for the rails)
I had to add some internal supports for the rails as the flimsy board used by Jayco wouldn't cut it (Supports are just bits of pine ripped down to the right depth). Then screw rails onto the supports.
Add a face to it (was a piece of Melamine I found lying around). Just trim the edges with the iron on stuff from Bunnings and fitted a handle.
I have covered the Melamine with whiteboard contact from Officeworks. Might be handy for jotting down notes as we travel (and with notes on it/being a whiteboard it will stick out less I hope)
Between the rails was an old piece of 12mm ply with a hole cut out to suit a 27L tub I found in the garage. Rubbish in the bag on the right, recycle squashed and in the tub on the left.
I did use the self-closing hinges first, but it was too hard to open (well not hard but was placing more pressure on the shitty door catches than I like) so I swapped them out for normal rails.
None are the same size (or bigger) or else I would have looked to buy one as a spare partJust thinking Macca what about a shelf from a cupboard or under a seat are they the same pattern, do a swappy job....
Another job done and dusted - fitted a 50L grey water. I was running out of room below the van - it end up being at the rear beside the spare tyre. I am not to concerned about towball weight even when it is full - I am over 300Kgs so a 50L tank full (and the water it potentially removed from the front tanks) won't cause to much of an issue.
I forgot to take pics at every step, but here are the sensors fitted to wire up to the Drifter panel
here is the frame I made painted in black Enamel (pre-drilled and had a trial fit to under the van)
Running the wire from the drifter, through the top cupboards was easy. Getting it around the corner (top of the cupboard) was the hardest part of the whole job. I think the box on the top shelf is assembled from behind and I couldn't pull it apart. I looked at removing the external speaker and working from in there but didn't want to break the silicon seal so I remove all the brackets holding the top shelf and managed to wrangle it enough I could move it a few mm's away from the back wall, enough to use a coat hanger and draw the wire through - all 10 meters of it. From there it was just a matter of following existing paths and cable tying to the current wires.
Ground wire spliced onto the other tank sensor ground wires
and with some heat shrink to neaten it and the 4the tank sender wired in
With the spare tyre removed you can see I don't really loose any ground clearance. You can see where I miscalculated the stone guard. This has since been "straightened" to lay more flat.
Final fitting (with a finger over the camera in the corner) shows I didn't loose to much ground clearance as the tyre sits lower. Not a perfect job on the stone guard but functional enough and not worth undoing everything.
Best part of all, tested it. No leaks and the Drifter panel works perfect.
Now we can camp "self contained" if needed. 50L isn't a lot when we have 3 x freshwater tanks, but it's ticks the "self contained" box and will give us a few nights at least.
I forgot to take pics at every step, but here are the sensors fitted to wire up to the Drifter panel
here is the frame I made painted in black Enamel (pre-drilled and had a trial fit to under the van)
Running the wire from the drifter, through the top cupboards was easy. Getting it around the corner (top of the cupboard) was the hardest part of the whole job. I think the box on the top shelf is assembled from behind and I couldn't pull it apart. I looked at removing the external speaker and working from in there but didn't want to break the silicon seal so I remove all the brackets holding the top shelf and managed to wrangle it enough I could move it a few mm's away from the back wall, enough to use a coat hanger and draw the wire through - all 10 meters of it. From there it was just a matter of following existing paths and cable tying to the current wires.
Ground wire spliced onto the other tank sensor ground wires
and with some heat shrink to neaten it and the 4the tank sender wired in
With the spare tyre removed you can see I don't really loose any ground clearance. You can see where I miscalculated the stone guard. This has since been "straightened" to lay more flat.
Final fitting (with a finger over the camera in the corner
) shows I didn't loose to much ground clearance as the tyre sits lower. Not a perfect job on the stone guard but functional enough and not worth undoing everything.Best part of all, tested it. No leaks and the Drifter panel works perfect.
Now we can camp "self contained" if needed. 50L isn't a lot when we have 3 x freshwater tanks, but it's ticks the "self contained" box and will give us a few nights at least.
That is a flash job for sure, most impressive 50lts just means 50lts at a time, the amount should reset at midnight, earlier on moon less nights Ive found............. ........... my full tank sensor is when I step out the door and theres a puddle on the ground......did you fit a breather ??
........... my full tank sensor is when I step out the door and theres a puddle on the ground......did you fit a breather ??
Good job, what have you mounted it to ???Another job done and dusted - fitted a 50L grey water. I was running out of room below the van - it end up being at the rear beside the spare tyre. I am not to concerned about towball weight even when it is full - I am over 300Kgs so a 50L tank full (and the water it potentially removed from the front tanks) won't cause to much of an issue.
I forgot to take pics at every step, but here are the sensors fitted to wire up to the Drifter panel
View attachment 66377
here is the frame I made painted in black Enamel (pre-drilled and had a trial fit to under the van)
View attachment 66378
Running the wire from the drifter, through the top cupboards was easy. Getting it around the corner (top of the cupboard) was the hardest part of the whole job. I think the box on the top shelf is assembled from behind and I couldn't pull it apart. I looked at removing the external speaker and working from in there but didn't want to break the silicon seal so I remove all the brackets holding the top shelf and managed to wrangle it enough I could move it a few mm's away from the back wall, enough to use a coat hanger and draw the wire through - all 10 meters of it. From there it was just a matter of following existing paths and cable tying to the current wires.
View attachment 66379
Ground wire spliced onto the other tank sensor ground wires
View attachment 66380
and with some heat shrink to neaten it and the 4the tank sender wired in
View attachment 66381
With the spare tyre removed you can see I don't really loose any ground clearance. You can see where I miscalculated the stone guard. This has since been "straightened" to lay more flat.
View attachment 66382
Final fitting (with a finger over the camera in the corner
View attachment 66376
Best part of all, tested it. No leaks and the Drifter panel works perfect.
Now we can camp "self contained" if needed. 50L isn't a lot when we have 3 x freshwater tanks, but it's ticks the "self contained" box and will give us a few nights at least.
No breather (yet) - if needed I can get to the rear of the tank easy enough. I also haven't fitted any anti stink valves - will need to wait and see if I need it. I am hoping to use it (to store water) so infrequently it never stinks. If needed I can always replumb on the road easy enough.That is a flash job for sure, most impressive 50lts just means 50lts at a time, the amount should reset at midnight, earlier on moon less nights Ive found.............
tested the flow and everything goes in and out easy enough. Drains quicker than water comes out of mains.
The bigger flat bar mounts onto the cross bars underneath, then the hangers come of that. The tank faces front <-> back as opposed to how the freshwater tanks are all mounted out of the factory.
I used 4 x 10mm bolts with Nylock nuts - more than strong enough for 50Kg's I would think.
I don't have any S bends or anything, only fitted the breather for easier flow when tank shut off from outside, everything flows thru my tank anyway, if an S bend is need just a dip in a pipe will cover it, mine gets the cap off and flush with a hose every few weeks if I can or I shut the valve to fill it then pop the big cap and its like a dam burst and any goobers are washed out...............
No problems with flow down from the drain into the tank - the sink drains quicker than mains can fill it up.
I have tried to avoid dips in the plumbing - airlocks kill flow (but I guess the trade off is a dip is an s bend stopping stink).
A bit of vinegar or bi carb every now again won't hurt I guess.
The thing is just giving it a flush every now and then does the job, some folk don't go near it so it gets its own eco system.,....
The breather (real name Overflow Valve) also stops it backing up into shower if I forget to open the valve, happens a few times as I drive with it shut, stick drain hose on and forget to open tap, overflow valve operates and a wet patch appears near the steps so I get a wet foot reminder.
The breather (real name Overflow Valve) also stops it backing up into shower if I forget to open the valve, happens a few times as I drive with it shut, stick drain hose on and forget to open tap, overflow valve operates and a wet patch appears near the steps so I get a wet foot reminder.