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.

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.

more infrastructure improvements - part 4

With the testing I am satisfied adding a wifi AP to the inner gate is a worthwhile improvement to the property. With this I would have internet covering the circa 3 acres of outdoor area around the inner gate. This would give almost complete wifi coverage of the property from end to end along the 1/4 mile driveway. I need to pull one more ethernet cable for the access point.

I wasn't looking forward to pulling another ethernet cable between the tractor garage and the inner gate through the in ground PVC conduit that already has a Romex, a 24Vac wire pair for the gate opener, and an ethernet cable. It is really not about just adding another ethernet cable. To add another cable, one has to pull everything out and pull the bundle with the additional cable though the entire length of the conduit.

more infrastructure improvements - part 3

A person is defined by the tools he has. With the East wall outlets installed and the floor washed, I decided to set up the electronics work station utilizing a good section of the wall that is sheltered from the before noon sun. Since its dismantling for moving from Portland to the ranch it has been sitting disassembled for 3 years now. How it all come back together gets fussy the longer they sits.

more infrastructure improvements - part 2

By planning ahead, I provisioned two loops along this East wall when I dropped a four-plex outlets on the corner of a North wall. The loops provide the 20A service run to the four-plex while allowing me to later add two more four-plex outlets. In all there are actually 16 outlets all are GFCI protected, as required by code in a garage building.

still another mini split installation - part 1

I have long planned to install a mini split heat pump in the three-car garage. There is a full bath as well as the accumulators for the well water inside which rely on resistive electric heat to prevent the water from freezing in winter. I want to be able to use the garage as a closer workshop. It is a no-brainer decision, except finding time to install one. That time is now.

electrician ranch hand

A few weeks ago I ran an Ethernet cable from the barn to the tractor garage, and from the tractor garage to the inner gate for a pan, tilt, zoom security. While feeding the cable through the underground PVC conduit between the tractor garage and the inner gate I discovered there is a Romex cable the previous owner provisioned but not used. What a shame to leave it unused.

another mini split installation

I bought many HVAC tools and quantities of consumables for the multi-zone mini split heat pump that I installed in the barn. It would be such a waste for a one time use. I proposed to my home track owners that I would donate my time and skills to install one for only the cost of the material, with some free ones from my collection. As tokens of my contribution they give me a few free track days. A win-win proposal they couldn't refuse. We are like a family which motorsport is our share passion.

happiness is another light fixture

I have always wanted the Arco floor lamp by the famed Italian architect Achille Castiglioni. Only I had never have enough ceiling height to make it work. Now with the timber frame living room with a vaulted ceiling of 18 feet, would one serve both functional as well as atheistic purposes?

one more network run - part 1

During the early phase of constructing the barn I tried hard to identify all the opportunities to maximize the utilities of the project, including improving the entire property, especially the cabin that is about 1/8 mile away along the private driveway. Now with the barn in the finishing phase of stage I there is nothing I wish that I had provisioned except one. That is running an Ethernet between the barn and what I call the tractor garage adjacent to it separated by the big concrete pad. It would had been so easy to throw in a conduit between the two buildings before the external concrete was poured.

one more network run - part 2

I used the opportunity to pick up the needed conduits when I bought the last 6 sheet of tongue and grove plywood used as wall panels. As the transition of 1" conduit to 3/4" would be done in a tight confine I decided to use heat to slightly enlarge the 1" pipe so the 3/4" pipe can fit inside. I glued the two pipes together so the transition is watertight. I also reamed the end of the 3/4" pipe to facilitate pulling the cable through it.

wall finish for the barn - part 4

 

When I finished all the main wall sections I used up 46 sheets of plywoods. To also cover the small wall sections flanking the garage doors I needed 6 more sheets, making a total of 52. Off to Home Depot I went and return also with enough PVC conduit to do the remaining network run that I didn't do during the construction of the barn.

full-size on demand water boiler for the barn

 

I ordered this Rinnai on-demand hot water boiler right at the beginning of the barn erection. It is the largest one they make. That was about 1 1/2 years ago. I finally got to install it onto the plywood panel. I am pleasantly surprised it is made in Japan. It is the same brand as the mini on-demand water boiler that I set up as a temporary hot water supply source.

wall finish for the barn - part 3

I had spent a few weeks installing the wall panels. It was a grunt work and required diligence and tenacity  to get it done.