OK

Ok been a little bit slack updating this blog, however alot has changed on the truck. Here are some pictures and comments.

Aluminium finished

Framing, middle section to be cut out for window.

All primered

The back end looks much better than before

Start of colour, was exciting seeing it at this stage

 

 

Dan is quite good at painting.

Adding more paint

Painted!!!

At home again, all painted, windows in and weather proof.

Major Surgery

The work has begun. Truck went into the workshop just after christmas and has been in there since. We have almost finished the exterior, with just the panneling, painting and windows to go.

Removing the old luton.

Same walls as above but in the process of being shortened. Note the lack of support in the centre.

Roof cut back to start of new luton.

New bathroom and bedroom windows.

The cab now tilts, it was not able to before but it will be possible with our new design.

How the original windows were installed, no framing what so ever, cut a hole and glue it in.

New framing around crawl -through opening.

Rust

Rust

Removing the rust tok a while

Corner of windscreen with first thin bog.

Fixed

Alot of steel and work went into this.

Dan welding the floor frame of new luton

Bottom half of frame in place.

Bottom frame

Frame almost done.

Frame done, cab filler primed

Cab with primer

Aluminium going on.

Roof

More aluminium

Rear of roof, thinking of putting a solar panel on the slope.

I have also been doing alot of other things that I dont have photos of. I made a fiberglass panel from a mold I made for the top of the crawlthrough. Removed the old rusty roof vents from the cab and fibreglassed closed. Mounted water tank and finished locker frames. Alot more to do so more photos to come.

The Countdown begins

The Christmas holidays are coming up, and Dan and I both have it off. We are going to have a working spree on the truck. I have arranged the use of Jaco's workshop, tools and possible some much apreciated advise. We are aming to complete the exterior. That is alot of work. We need to build the new luton and paint the exterior. To get it ready for painting we first need to finish the lockers, move the windows and build the new luton.

I have had to work out all the materials I require as most of the suppliers are closed over the holiday period. Today I signed the order for the new windows. This is a new window for the bedroom/luton and one for the bathroom. I found Fairview Aluminium very helpful and well priced.

The Countdown begins, I'll keep you posted.

End of an era

Today I sold the van. Goodbye Fred! It has been fun. We have been a fair few places, never had any major issues and had heaps of fun. However it had to go to make way for the truck project. It is money to be used on the truck and if we have time to go away in the van we have time to work on the truck.

I bought the van of a backpacker and refitted it and cleaned it up.
Here are a few pics of how I bought it followed buy how it is now.

Good-bye Fred.

Update

Finally made some more progress, drove the truck to town on Monday to get the towbar installation certified by the engineer. The good news is that he is happy and all is approved.

In the weekend I started reconstructing the rear lockers. I have the frame of the LH one finished but the RH one was getting a bit rushed and is a bit crooked. I intend on cutting off the wonky bits and doing it again but straight this time.

I have also repaied the rust on the cab steps. I went to get in one day and the driver one collapsed on me. All fixed now and stronger than ever.