S&P's 2014 16.49-3 OB Mods

[S&P]

Hi All,
Just thought is share a couple of mods I've done recently. Probably nothing new but it's new to me
We found the hanging wardrobe pretty useless, so I added some shelves.
Screwed in a timber rail to each corner of the cupboard with peg holes for height adjustments.
3 shelves made of 9mm ply and few coats of varnish, and a piece of 25x25x3 aluminum angle to stop things falling out and were done!
A massive improvement from original where we had to keep things in boxes/hags.
Longest part of the process was waiting for the varnish to dry between coats
Cheers,
Paul

Edit - I thought the adjustable peg holes would be a good idea, but in reality, we'll probably never move them from the slot they're in now, but I do have the option if I want it. It was a plus that I'd had a bag of those shelf peg things kicking around forever - was good to make use of one of those things in the shed that you can't throw out because "they will come in handy one day"!

 

[cruza driver]

Nice job, I also spotted you last Thursday out near Yellingbo. I was heading towards Cockatoo, I tried to call you on ch40 but I wasnt sure if you had a uhf but gave it a try.

 

[S&P]

Yeah, we were headed off to Gipps for a few days, we're pretty easy to spot on the road, @cruza driver, you however, not so much
And no UHF, despite frequent requests/hints from old man to get one so we can talk to him while travelling together (we do that about once every 2 years!). Plus the Prado ain't really mine to fill with gadgets

 

[DawnMark]

Great use of space

 

[cruza driver]

Yeah, we were headed off to Gipps for a few days, we're pretty easy to spot on the road, @cruza driver, you however, not so much
And no UHF, despite frequent requests/hints from old man to get one so we can talk to him while travelling together (we do that about once every 2 years!). Plus the Prado ain't really mine to fill with gadgets

Hope you had a good trip, I'll flash my headlights next time :thumb:

 

[S&P]

Another mod completed just prior to our last trip was the extra table storage. I had used this space for this purpose when we did our first couple of trips, but farting about with bits of pool noodle foam as packing was doing my head in.
I used a 2m length of 65mm aluminium C-channel which is Sika'd and screwed to the underside of the front bed end base. When folded down, it clears by a few mm, which is enough for me! 2m was perfect to allow me to screw into the aluminium edging at either end, plus a few extras for bite along the way.
To make it a unisex operation, I used a female-friendly tie-down too and was able to use the existing bolt holes for the bed base supports - just needed a slightly longer bolt, same nylock nut though
Initially I didn't have anything to separate the tables except gravity, so once the strap was tightened, they tended to overlap. I overcame this by making a Z type bracket out of 25x3mm stainless steel, again screwed into the aluminium edge at the top. Also holds the bigger table in place when the bed is down nice and snug.

 

[S&P]

This is a mod I competed this week...
Another one I had done before, just made a bit more permanent now.
We bought a pair of these chairs from Ray's Outdoors just after being the van and they fitted really well under the read bed lid.
After a few trips, we found the stitching had come away a bit underneath, so returned them and were on the lookout for something better.
After sitting on a great many very comfortable chair, we were unable to find any that were comfortable, but would still fit under the closed bed lid.
As it turns out, Ray's is out of stock, so for the recent trip, we packed a couple of oldies. On driving through Traralgon on the way to Gippsland, we pass a Ray's Outdoors and decide to give it a crack. A wise move, as they had 4 left, but one was a bit rough, so we bought 2 and off we went. This was good - it meant I could finish the mod!
During the time away, we contemplated the chair dilemma, and on the return, we stopped in at Ray's Traralgon again. They still had the other 2 chairs, and said if we buy the good one, they'll throw in the rough one, so we did!
I'm beginning to sound like a dooms-day prep'r with a spare one of everything.

Anyway, back to the mod - similar process to the table storage on the front with a female-friendly tie-down fixed at both ends of the bed base, again into the aluminium and thicker timber behind for strength. A custom stainless steel 'U' bracket with wings in the middle to stop the 'sag' and stop them from wandering during transit.

Also replaced the 2 plastic feet on the longer leg of the chairs for rubber ones so they don't scratch the Expanda!

All done - they will happily sit there with the bed down too if we feel like standing up the whole time

Cheers,
Paul

 

[S&P]

One more done just now too... A critical one, that no Expanda should be without

Just inside the door, for easy access when in side or out, but still out of the way so you don't knock your elbows/head/tea-cup on it...

 

[S&P]

And just in the interest of keeping all our mods in the one place, I'll post the other things I've done along the way too...
We got the extended A-Frame as I knew I wanted to put a box on the front. This of course meant relocating the spare wheel, and moving the gas bottles.
After much deliberation, I decided to use a Hilux wheel winder under the rear of the Expanda.
I fab'd up a bracket along with an extension rod permanently fixed to the winder so I don't need to go fishing in the dark each time, complete with a nut the same size and the wind down stabiliser legs - 1 tool, many uses (I did however cut a bit off it of ease of use)

Apologies for the poor quality photos.

 

[S&P]

Once the spare wheel was gone, I could start on the box mounting. This meant removing the existing gas bottle holders. I also welded on a couple of additional support brackets (not shown here) for the front edge of the box as it is pretty deep from front to back.
The box was made by Simon at Dynamic Metal Fabrication in Bayswater Vic. Highly recommended the guy, he did an awesome job, especially since everyone else I went to said it couldn't be done given the size (mainly height) limitation I had to keep it under the bed height.
Vents are punched on both front and rear on one end (box has 2 drawers at the ends, one side holds the Weber Q, the other fuel etc so I didn't want fumes passing between the two sides). I have since sealed up the vents on the front - too much dust/dirt/rock ingress when we did the big trip.
Once the box was mounted up, I re-used the original gas bottle holders in front. The gas line was the perfect length once I had taken the extra loop out of the stock line. and I was able to reuse the regulator mount as well.
I have't checked the ball weight since filling the box but tend to use the front water tank first just in case

 

[S&P]

Prior to the big off-road trip up the Strezlecki, I did a fair bit of under-body protection work on the pipes and cabling. I primarily used 40mm pool hose I had lying around. Very handy stuff for this purpose, just cut it down the middle with tin snips and slip it over the pipe/cable and add a few cable ties and you're done!
After looking at the stone peppered chassis and water tank guards, I'm glad I went to this much trouble. made for hassle free travelling.

 

[S&P]

This one was also done a little while ago. I added a 12v DC socket (cigarette lighter style) and twin USB charger socket. Up out of the way of everything above the front facing seat, (unlike where Jayco seem to put things) and the cables are hidden in the cavity behind the wardrobe down to the battery. A couple of inline fuses and it's done. These are very handy, aside from the very bright blue light they emit when charging, a great mod.

 

[chartrock]

You have been a busy lad @S&P. That van really is something now.

 

[S&P]

Thanks @chartrock, I think it still needs a few things... after enduring the mini cold snap in Gippsland last week, I think some kind of heater for free camping would be a great mod.

 

[dagree]

Looking good @S&P ... Once you start you never stop (So it seems!)

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Well done - lookn good guys

 

[achjimmy]

Great mods

 

[S&P]

Not long after we got the Expanda, I set about making a list of mods (old school style paper & pencil) that I wanted to do. I think I've done most of them, but now can't find my list! Should have gone new school, so I'll start it again here, that way it can't get lost
It will likely be an ever increasing list that gets longer before it gets shorter!

- External hatch on rear bed tunnel boot (drivers side only)
- Reversing camera (thinking IP camera connected to wireless router in van for connectivity to iPad/iPhone from within vehicle)
- Diesel heater (will need to research this one)
- More under body protection on electrics (cables)
- Inline (BEST) water filter under sink
- Reversing light (LED)
- LED light above dinette table

 

[17triton]

Great mods so far @S&P , love the front box. Keep em coming.

 

[DawnMark]

great job