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truckasaurus · 01-08-2011, 12:38 PM

It's been Uber slow on the project for the last 4 weeks but I just picked up a whole shwack of 1" square 3/32" wall 6063 anodized tube to build the bathroom framing so it's time to get to work and see if it all works. (It seems overkill and I'm sure 3/4" sq 1/16" wall would be better but this was a good deal).

On another topic I had decided to run a smallish two burner propane cooktop and probably still will but I received a Berghoff Induction cooktop and it's got me thinking. Dangerous I know but I was wondering if many people used such devices on the road. It says its output is 1600W maximum so I was curious whether I could safely use it with a small Honda generator like the eu2000i Companion model? It has a built in fan but it looks like it could be set into the countertop as long as I had some good cool air venting from below to keep it cooled. The info claims that it's a very efficient cooking method and the concept of stacking say three pots and have them all cook evenly is very intriguing. Anyhow, has anyone tried one at all?

Cat included for scale.

Minno · 01-08-2011, 01:56 PM

For purposes of scale, is that a 6 lb cat or an 18 lb cat? Inquiring minds that have owned many cats (or have been owned by them) over the years, want to know...

Chris

truckasaurus · 01-08-2011, 02:18 PM

I'm going to have to say Texas is about 12 lbs, he was 17 lbs then had a stay at the GF's parents this year and it was like a cat fat camp, his brother, Thomas, went from 18 down to a slender 10 ish.

utee94 · 01-09-2011, 08:00 AM

My wife's cats are something like 22 lbs and 18 lbs, I need to send them to your gf's parents' house too.

Personally, I love having the oven and cooktop run off propane. I like boondocking and down here in the summer, the A/C is using all the juice my Honda 3000 can provide. Obviously your climate is different, and your needs will likely be different too.

But even in cooler weather, I've enjoyed boondocking with the gas appliances and not using any AC electricity at all. Just depends on how you want to use it.

-Marcus

mistral blue · 01-09-2011, 09:52 AM

I've checked out portable induction cooktops fairly extensively to complement my gas, but I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger on one of those yet. One thing to consider with induction is your pots/pans. If a magnet is attracted your pot, induction heating will work. Otherwise, not so much.

There are many cool things about induction. Heat control is fast and responsive, both when preheating, adjusting during cooking, and when turning it off. It does not behave at all like electric cooktops with their slow heat up and slow cooldown. The amount of wasted heat to the surrounding air is SO much less than gas, it's a pleasure to cook in the heat of summer.

Faster cooking, cooler, with greater precision, lower airconditioning bills, easier cleaning, safer, etc. Even the pot handles don't become hot the way gas cooktops often transfer heat to the entire cookware. No need to use potholders when picking up the pot!

What I would really like is both gas and induction as an option.

Bauxter · 02-25-2011, 08:38 AM

Truck, It looks like the battery will be under the sofa. Where does your shore power come in, and where are you placing your converter?

Thanks
Mike

truckasaurus · 02-25-2011, 12:32 PM

The main cells will be street side just foreward of the wheels, shore power comes in at the front to the street side. I wanted the battery to panel distance to be minimal

truckasaurus · 04-02-2011, 04:58 PM

An end to analysis paralysis!

I had a big change of plan with the layout and have gone from a side bath to a more traditional rear bath; so far it's looking like a good move. The rear fantastic fan location was causing location problems that I couldn't get around.

I built a dividing wall using the original extrusions and above door wood sandwich but laminated up the wall panels with 1/4" Birch ply around a styrofoam core. I also bonded the panels around a 3/4" aluminum door frame with PRC 870 to give it some solidity. I'll clad the door opening with aluminum channel before hanging the door. The whole caboodle is attached to the floor but not to the extrusions so it should float within them.

I built a frame to support the shower base/ tub too, I used Teklam (composite skins around an aluminum honeycomb core). There's a shot showing the new location for the Vacuflush black tank system which will be under a full width vanity that's just roughed out right now. It won't be particularly heavy even when full so I think I'll get away with having it so far back.

Lastly I've made the cabinet frames for the passenger side, it'll be a run of just under 10' the same as the other side but with a different mix of drawer sizes. I'm using anodized 1"x1"x3/32" tube with Ikea drawers and custom drawer fronts. Most of the 10" high drawers will be 36" wide with some 24's, Ikea offers neat drawer dividers that I'll use instead of a bazillion little drawers.

Anyhow I'm feeling back on track, even though 10" of snow fell this morning

nmbosa · 04-02-2011, 05:24 PM

Well this should be fun to watch. Looking forward to seeing your progress this year.
Norm

Aage · 04-02-2011, 05:34 PM

As ever, terrific work,truck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

An end to analysis paralysis!

I had a big change of plan with the layout and have gone from a side bath to a more traditional rear bath; so far it's looking like a good move. The rear fantastic fan location was causing location problems that I couldn't get around.

And here's a big switcheroo: most people moving the bathroom go from back to mid. I think what you're doing is a first.

truckasaurus · 04-10-2011, 06:29 PM

It was a nice warm weekend, almost all the snow has gone, so naturally I spent most of Saturday driving around picking up parts! We got a smoking hot deal on some cork tile and bought a 154 sq ft, just in case. I'm not convinced about the water based contact cement so I might do a little investigating there before I get to work.

We then snagged a brushed stainless 1 1/2 bowl sink with wooden chopping board insert which is quite petite, about 27" by 17" roughly. Then we chose a very minimalist looking kitchen faucet and a matching Roman tub set up for the bathroom. I'm hoping this works but my plan is to mount the tub faucet (maybe with a 2" spacer) over a vessel basin and the hand shower head thing above the tub, the divert lever which is at the base of the faucet will be accessible from the shower and whilst standing in front of the vessel. A little difficult to describe but saves buying a separate shower control.

We did make some construction progress and have applied a couple of coats more of primer so it looks really nice and uniform in the trailer now.

Best of all I'm getting the cabinet frames in and lined up ready for making brackets to secure everything. It's very satisfying to see 3 years of changing my mind slowly getting cast in stone. I secured the street side common floor rail down and this will provide the base mount for the dinette set up too.

Credit for the quality prime job goes to the patient GF who will be in charge of all upcoming color selections; (I quite like the white primer look but apparently that's not OK).

marzboy · 04-11-2011, 10:45 PM

lookin good! Thank God for spring!

truckasaurus · 04-16-2011, 06:29 PM

I got the street side cabinet frames in today and couldn't resist trying the sink location out ..... slowly but surely it's coming along... Tomorrow will be bathroom vanity framing and installing a platform for the refrigerator.

I've been looking into foams for the lounge/ dinette bed unit and it's a bit confusing also I thought I'd get it all upholstered in leather but suspect that might blow the budget out of the water. If I go with a regular fabric I'll probably save a bundle and I can probably ask the upholstery lady at work to stitch it all up.

3Ms75Argosy · 04-16-2011, 08:16 PM

Hey Truck, do you mind showing some close ups of how you're joining the aluminum tubes together... especially at the complex unions of the uprights, tops and sides? Are you riveting it somehow with some kind of splice? And what size are those tubes? How are you finishing it off?

I like it! Looks light and strong.
Marc

truckasaurus · 04-17-2011, 04:42 PM

Hey Marc

I'm using a technique that's so simple it's almost barbaric. I cut the tube on a chop saw and make 7/8" wide slices on 1 1/2" angle to create 90 degree brackets (also on the saw (clamping it down each time!)). I drill #30 holes into the right angle brackets align them on the tube and drill off. When I've had it all clecoed up and I'm happy with the fit I disassemble, de-burr and reassemble with adhesive similar to PL800 and just pop rivet together. I've used bent T3 2024 .040" for the attach points to the walls again just riveted in place. I'm hoping to get some flexibility along with substantial strength where it's needed. Soon I'll just drill holes in the horizontal tubes and screw in the drawer slides and mount them, the frames will remain "open plan" inside except where I want heat restrictive walls such as around the water heater. Hope that didn't make it more confusing but here are some pictures.

Today I built up additional framing for the refrigerator and used some aluminum honeycomb board for the shelf it sits on, it turned out quite nice but can't be secured down until the face skin is on the cabinet.

I also secured the first part of the shower back wall frame in. All the curves on the coach make somethings very tricky so I decided to add another compound curve to my advantage. I'm creating a false wall behind the tub to bring the wall down and over the lip of the tub.

truckasaurus · 04-17-2011, 06:25 PM

Wow, just got a Canadian battery quote, gulp!

"In am agm battery the most in a 6 v is 180amp and the price is 399.00 each"

For comparison GPL-4CT 6 Volt, 220 Ampere Hour Deep Cycle $285 from Bestconverter

If I can't find a good deal here in Canada in might be time for a little cross border shopping; maybe two batteries and an eu3000 Honda generator.

3Ms75Argosy · 04-18-2011, 02:08 PM

Thanks Truck! Again, I like the look of those frames! I think I remember some cool furnature that you deal in... what's the plan for the seating?

What kind of fridge is that? Doesn't look like the normal RV fridge... is that a 12volt one? And the sink.. SMEV?

How many gallons is the boat vac black tank? Will you gravity empty it or will you use a pump with macerator? Is the toilet a hand pump or electric one? If it is electric, does it chop up the.. uh.. waste so that it fits in the smaller diameter pipes to the tank?

Marc

truckasaurus · 04-18-2011, 05:35 PM

I'm kind of avoiding using wood as a decorative material on this project; I will be using some Baltic birch ply for drawer fronts etc but the seating will be predominantly aluminum frame with hopefully an aramid honeycomb skin/ web on top. There'll be some ply facings around the base of the seating to compliment the kitchen. It will be a J shaped lounge/ dinette about 8' long on the longest leg and will convert to a queen size bed.

The fridge is a Stainless Steel Isotherm marine unit, 12DC and 120V AC, it apparently uses 0.6 A on average and so far on mains AC it's quick to cool and very quiet. It's small by most standards but has a little freezer so I should be OK. The sink is a Wessen I think, just a big box store item but it seems scaled down for a house so I thought it would be better; it included a wooden fitted cutting board too :-) ).

The black tank is tiny at 10 Gallons but each flush requires about a 1/4 of the water that a regular system uses so it should balance out. It uses a built up vacuum to suck for want of a better term the bowl contents into the 10 Gal tank, if you've seen this happen; well it won't include anything solid at that point! If your of a curious nature try this link (I won't be using clear tube).

YouTube - A380 : 130mph toilet flush

, it's the A380 130mph toilet flush

I'll use a transfer pump to empty the black then grey tank or maybe both simultaneously again through a nice small diameter tube. If I can squeak a remote control into the budget I'll do it to help, erm, keep my distance...

Zeppelinium · 04-18-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

... it's the A380 130mph toilet flush

I'll use a transfer pump to empty the black then grey tank or maybe both simultaneously again through a nice small diameter tube. If I can squeak a remote control into the budget I'll do it to help, erm, keep my distance...

You are more of a nutcase than I am, which is saying a lot...

I am wowed, of course.

Zep

Wabbiteer · 04-19-2011, 05:31 PM

Just make sure any seat you choose has a goodly air gap between it and the bowl else the whole experience could be a nightmare that really sucked. I heard of some that almost require a safety harness for small children!

I have a SS Isotherm too - but mine was a scratch and dent that will never look new again but is mechanically perfect.

One tip on it is keeping the voltage inverter unit as cool and clean as possible, keep a fresh air flow directed toward that area if possible and passively exhaust the residual heat ASAP. Since it does get warm the smokestack effect draws road dust, pollen, lint and cook top fumes etc. over it and warm'n fuzzy is not the desired effect!!!