design and construction of an expedition camper - part 6

I install a seat cover for the driver side, after vacuum the cab really well.

design and construction of an expedition camper - part 5

I have been procuring the hard to find components for the expedition camper. I want to secure them even though I am only conducting high level design at this point, and I have yet to even commit to a sketch. However I have been designing in my head.

design and construction of an expedition camper - part 4

There are two gas struts supporting the big roof window when open. The hinge bracket on one had delaminated at the glue interface to the glass pane, evidently due to excessive heat build up with the window and blackout blind fully closed. To repair it involving finding an adhesive that will work well with two perfectly flat surfaces, will cure hard, and will not creep, as well as standing up to extreme temperature range. I reckon it would be characteristics of a modern structure adhesive.

design and construction of an expedition camper - part 3

When I took possession of the Fuso Canter at the Porsche dealership I didn't expect to see the insect screen and black out blind for every window and skylight were messed up. I knew there was no point trying to straighten them there. I said to the person doing the sales paperwork that these are not designed for Americans. I would investigate when I get home. I wasn't optimistic I could repair them as they look like they had been abused or sabotaged. 

design and construction of an expedition camper - part 2

I like to tell my friend and family I have 10 years worth of projects lined up. I have no disillusion the design and construction of the expedition camper will take about 2 years working with the time I have among other projects and maintenance. I have spent countless hours watching the best of German expedition campers/motorhomes to see the latest technology, architecture, industrial design, functional design, and material. Still, my best point of reference is Brunnhilde by Westfalia that was done over 20 years ago.

design and construction of an expedition camper - part 1

 

I decided to start a new series with a more appropriate title for the design and construction of my expedition camper, so here it begins. I am breaking from my normal photo-rich posts for this one post as I begun with a top down design by first enumerated a wish list of things I want in the camper.

The list is not compiled with wistful thinking alone but with iterations of brainstorming comprehending the many constraints. As such the items are realistic and realizable given my rough estimated budget of $100k for taking the rig to completion. I would be doing most of the work except the specialized fabrication work that I cannot do without the needed equipment and tools.

more lighting for the ranch - part 1

There are much more than what first meets the eyes with this inner gate. It has 120Vac power, gate opener, an outdoor wifi access point, and a 4k 20x pan/tilt/zoom network security camera. I found these wifi controlled outdoor power receptacles made by Feit from Costco. I use one for the LED string lights on this gate.

fancying for an overlander - part 4

One thing that I didn't rush to do was attempting to tilt the cab. Before getting onto the road in Colorado Springs I would had like to check the vital fluid levels but that would require tilting the cab, and I decided not to take the risk. I was right.

fancying for an overlander - part 3

In preparation for investigating the cause of the limp mode and red check engine light I did some research to see which low cost diagnostic code reader to buy. I selected FCAR F506 Heavy Duty Truck Scanner. The same scanner is sold at huge range of prices from $120 to $495 at FCAR USA's online store.

brunnhilde's broken sway bar bracket - part 2

The parts I ordered to repair the broken right side RSB arrived. I order a spare side in case I need another one down the road. I thought install them would be a cakewalk, with 30 minute max. I could not be more wrong.

happiness is a close by faucet - part 1

While I had the foresight to sink 3 hydrants around the concrete patio of the barn I wasn't able to plan one right adjacent to the concrete pad. I have to walk across the native soil to get to the hydrant to connect a hose, or to open or shut the hydrant. I planned eventually to install a hot/cold mixer outside faucet on the barn wall down the road.

fancying for an overlander - part 2

After about 1200 miles driving the truck back from Colorado Springs through early winter snow storm in Wyoming it needs a good wash badly. I want to wash off any deicing chemical they might had put on the road.

steak au poivre - part 4

For the last club members weekend at the track I signed up to prepare the dinner. There were going to be around committed seats of 30, I was told 3 days in advance so I could shop for the right quantity of ingredients. I wanted a dish with widest appeal so steak au poivre it is. By now I have made this dish a few times for myself and feel confident that I could scale it 30x without the need to measure or weigh.

brunnhilde's broken sway bar bracket

I was at the track camping out. I noticed a small area of wetness under the camper though I was sure it was just condensation from the overnight dew. I crawled down under the van and check just to be sure. All was good.

fancying for an overlander

It was one of those impulse purchase that I made. Impulse purchase can be very good if you had done the research beforehand and act on it when the opportunity presents itself by chance. I had made numerous big impulse purchases including the two most recent properties. I had looked into the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter 4x4 diesel truck a few years ago, casually and I learnt of their rarity in North America. It is now even more so as Daimler Truck cease to import all Mitsubishi Fuso trucks about 5 years ago a few years after stop selling the diesel and 4x4 models.

happiness is another small engine - part 5

 

This one is not so small engine, really. Having endure some big snow storms last winter I decided life is too short to not spending money to get a good snowblower. I have a 1/4 mile long private driveway that is all gravel road.

steak au poivre - part 3

I still have a lot of the brined green pepper corns as well as the heavy whipping cream left for making steak au poivre. I bought more steaks when I was grocery shopping in town. Ideally the steak to use for this dish is filet mignon. I didn't want to spurge so I chose New York strip steak instead.

home made oyster sauce

I have always been very dissatisfied with store bought oyster sauce. The best ones I've ever tasted was during my youth and only in Cantonese wonton soup noodle shops. They are specialty oyster sauce not sold to the public except the trade. I had put up with store bought subpar oyster sauce for decades, and finally I decided the only way to get good ones is to make my own.

I don't need any recipe as it is very intuitive for me. It is all about using real ingredients, reduction and concentrate.

installing window tint film

I have been donating my time and skills to improve my home track at Oregon Raceway Park. This is only the simplest of project. I install window tint film for the small office. The two windows face East and West which is the worst directions. The office suffers from solar gain and glare through out the day making working in there miserable. I would fix that besides the LG mini split that I'd already installed.

LG multi-zone mini split heat pump - part 3

Winter seems so far away when you are in the mid of summer. I dislike working in the sun and I know I would regret for not getting more done before the winter comes. The nasty old man will soon at the gate of the ranch threaten to destroy a lot of stuff that I worked hard for. It is time to plan ahead as a rancher worths his salt.