On the move

Have finally got the camper in use. First trial run was a short trip to the Beautiful Days music festival at Ottery StMary in Devon. It was my first chance to weigh in the camper and see how it handle on the the road. I knew the springs on the truck were worn as it's had over 160k of builders loads so made the first trip short.

The load was approx. 850kg which is approx. 200kg more than I wanted but this is largely due to compromising on the cost of more expensive light weight materials. The material cost was only approx. two thirds of what I budgeted for. It drove quite well for its height and made the 40 mile round trip ok but the truck does need new springs.

S0 got on to Roughtracks.com and bought a nice set of new springs for the truck and fitted them with the help of a few beers. Its a simple job and took me a leisurely 5 hours

These are a standard replacement spring but the truck stands approx. 50mm higher. You can see by the picture of the new and old springs how worn they were.

With the new springs on time for another test drive. This time the Doon valley, Exmoor. The drive was much improved and copped well with the hills and lanes of Devon.

It still needs a bit of paint and a few trims finishing inside but apart from that this ones done.

Am now designing the MK2. It's going to be at least 200kg lighter, slightly lower and built from scratch. I've a budget of five time the cost of the MK1. I am going to loose the steel frame and use a system of composite glue laminated panels that preferably interlock. Might not be till next year as still on drawing board.

Watch this space!

Flooring and fire

Finally got the floor down and ready to test the gas lines.

We have ignition!



Have also had a bit of a tidy out and knocked up a work top and table.
Also grabed the foam seats from the old caravan to try for size. Will need a bit of chopping about and a recover.

Cuboards, plumbing and cables

With the cladding done have moved on to fit out the insides.

Tried to rob as much of the fittings as possible from the old caravan to cut down cost (even though they are a bit crap). Some of the cabinets fit back where they were in the caravan, others I've chopped about to make new units. The auxiliary battery, consumer units and gas on the left and sink/hob on right with water tank and water heater underneath.





Now working on the gas and electrics. The 12v system on the camper is wired for both 12vs and 12vn plugs as with caravans. Does mean lots of wires!

Internal cladding

Got some 3mm finished ply for the inside. Not exactly the colour I want but it was cheap.

It's starting to look like it should now

Snug n warm

Finished fitting the insulation so should be cosy. Used 30mm rigid polyisocyanurate foam as this gives a very good U value for its thickness.

Fitting out

Have moved the camper out of the workshop now its weather proof. Went for a bit of a drive to see how it handled with the truck and all was good. Still have to finish the legs to get it on and off easily, so dumped it on the pair of ramps I was using at the workshop.

Am begining to fit out the inside now and have started the wiring. Will be using both 12v and 240v and added some extra lights on the back for when driving.

Cladding done, Woooooow!

Finished the cladding this weekend and is looking good.

Ali Cladding

Finally got some Ali to clad the outside of camper. Unfortunately got to go back to work today so weekends only now :(

Manage to insulate and board out the sleeping area and the seats too.

Cladding

Here is the start of the recladding. The lower parts are clad in 3mm plastic fixed with stainless nails. Also loads of silicon sealant. The corners will be covered with Ali angle bead fixed to steel frame with self tapping screws.





To help stiffen the plastic I’m sticking the insulation to it. The ridged 30mm celotex should keep things snug enough.

Back to it.

Have finally got to time and a lush workshop (for a couple of weeks) to do some more work on the camper. Watch this space!!!!!