Our Expanda- from mild to WILD
- Thread starter Moto Mech
- Start date
Mounted my new rear drop down bar on, 3 bolts per side instead of sliding rhs into rhs.
r
Europe, found a online caravan shop, think they cost $40 delivered for 12. Searched locally but no one had them or wanted way to much.
Finally had a free day to play with the Expanda and make a start on the shower.
Fitted the base, couldnt go centre of shower for drain as there was a cross member under the floor so positioned it where I could join the sink drain to it under the van while all protected by cross members. Used a pop up drain so we can plug the bottom if needed.
I 'peened' the edge of hole in base so drain would sit flush too.
Just gotta work out what to use for shower walls, seen people use 'whiteboard' panels, cheaper than laminex and just as good apparently, will investigate at bunnings sometime.
I also have a small corner sink coming from Europe so cant do any plumbing till thats here and mounted. Planning on using one mixer tap and putting a thread on the end so we can screw a shower hose onto it. Keeps it simple.
And lastly, gotta work out a door, a light one.
Also reused one of the wardrobe door/mirrors on front of shower to keep wifey happy.
Fitted the base, couldnt go centre of shower for drain as there was a cross member under the floor so positioned it where I could join the sink drain to it under the van while all protected by cross members. Used a pop up drain so we can plug the bottom if needed.
I 'peened' the edge of hole in base so drain would sit flush too.
Just gotta work out what to use for shower walls, seen people use 'whiteboard' panels, cheaper than laminex and just as good apparently, will investigate at bunnings sometime.
I also have a small corner sink coming from Europe so cant do any plumbing till thats here and mounted. Planning on using one mixer tap and putting a thread on the end so we can screw a shower hose onto it. Keeps it simple.
And lastly, gotta work out a door, a light one.
Also reused one of the wardrobe door/mirrors on front of shower to keep wifey happy.
Gave it a light cut(G3 cutting compound, by hand and wet surface), polish and wax. Just gotta redo some heavier scratches then buff.
Forgot the before pics but came up ok.
Today being a wet rainy day all day, I decided to do the floor. Wasnt the exact colour I would have chosen but for free, it'll do. Plus anything looks better than the lino they come with.
Looks pretty good I think and have 3/4 of a pack left over for any future mods.
Hey umm.
I'm gonna take a guess by the quality of your workmanship that you may already know this,
But
The spring loaded latch pin your using to lock the spare wheel frame upright has a weak spot where the roll pin is in the pin which preloads the spring to allow it to self close. The main pin tends to bend at this point.
I found this out the hard way 1 day with my CT I had before.
Like the work and effort your putting in, all the best with.
Cheers
Dave
I'm gonna take a guess by the quality of your workmanship that you may already know this,
But
The spring loaded latch pin your using to lock the spare wheel frame upright has a weak spot where the roll pin is in the pin which preloads the spring to allow it to self close. The main pin tends to bend at this point.
I found this out the hard way 1 day with my CT I had before.
Like the work and effort your putting in, all the best with.
Cheers
Dave
Note to self, when finishing up for day make sure the cat is out of van before locking the door.......
Found the stupid cat the following afternoon, all stressed out and we all know what stress does to a cat, luckily it decided the new shower tray was just like a kitty tray........ewwwwww. Nothing half a can of air freshener didnt sort out.
Found the stupid cat the following afternoon, all stressed out and we all know what stress does to a cat, luckily it decided the new shower tray was just like a kitty tray........ewwwwww. Nothing half a can of air freshener didnt sort out.
Dont like the catch, am looking out for a stronger one but thats all I could get at the time.
Oh, well, if that the case, its perfect for the job then. Certified for all uses and conditions....
Van will not have any mains water pipe work, all water will be supplied by water tank and 12v pump.
I replaced std 60lt tank with a 110lt tank, this will be plumbed to a mixer tap over sink, shower, draw bar tap and gas hot water unit. Im also fitting a new water filler neck, going up from 1" to 1 1/2".
Attachments
Last edited:
Previous owner was so proud of the job he done fitting previous tool box and making frame under it, and of coarse he welded ACROSS draw bar too. Im going to add a 'under truss' to draw bar to be on safe side.
Enjoying your write up...................I don't know about putting a buffer on the outside walls, I've had paint polish off with just a hand buff......keep that shiny stuff away from road works or wash down straight away, went thru some roadworks in the rain and it etched the stainless steel panels on Big Mal.
The roads heading to Elim Beach last year must have some hard stuff in them as its was pouring with rain, muddy as and the mud that stuck to the alloy checker plate done some serious 'eating' away at it, never to polish out. I was going to spray it with tray black liner but sold van instead. Think I might clear coat the stuff on this van.