MikeH
18-05-2008, 10:42 AM
Thanks to GQShaz for the motivation to get on with this dormant project.
I did the base plates a while ago and left it for months. Yesterday I went out and bought some more ply to make a shelf.
Base is 18mm ply, the rest is 11mm which is a bit light but as you can see the spans are narrow.
The gas tank fits nicely in between the fridge and the cargo barrier on some custom brackets. The shelf is the same height as the top of the gas tank.
I had to put the fridge on the floor because the 60l Waecos are rather tall. As it is we carry a step so the Mrs can see in. Carrying a ladder around to get at the food is getting a tad ridiculous. The fridge slide I made a while ago out of 50mm angle iron, some runners from an old Metalux filing cabinet and some bits of lightweight chain and turnbuckles. The waeco didn't fit in the old Terrano with the handles on so I made some ali plates for anchoring it down with some bits of seatbelt webbing for handles. Will take a pic when the fridge is in... The commercial slides are about 10mm narrower so if my filing cabinet runners break I don't have to rebuild the storage system.
One stuff up here, the door of the fridge hits the open door so it can't open past vertical and it keeps flopping closed on your arms as you reach in.
Because the fridge is at floor level I had 2 choices with the draws, one huge one, two really wide flat ones or two tall skinny ones. I chose the latter for 2 reasons, I can open one draw with one door open, and I can maximise the space because that draw is longer, it goes past the side of the gas tank all the way to the cargo screen. It's about 980mm long. I need to find some long runners for that one, I want it to open at least 800mm.
You might notice the base is in two sections, This is so I can take the smaller section out to make it easier for the dogs to get in and out. That section is secured with three bolts through child seat restraint threads. It doesn't really need them, it takes some force to pop it into place. I had to carve out a crater with the router for the end of the gas tank to fit into.
The larger section is secured with two child seat restraint threads. it doesn't move at all with the other section in place but I'm worried about it toppling if the fridge and the draw are opened. I'll use more filing cabinet runners for that draw, they have 600mm extension, they are much bigger than the typical fridge slide runners and they're free.
There is plenty of space for stuffing things around the base of the fridge but I don't want to obstruct it's cooling.
I'll make a fill panel to drop into the fridge cutout when the fridge is not loaded. Also one for the left hand side. You can still get at the factory jack position.
Today I'll make a couple of rails to protect the windows. there are some factory threads in just the right spot, you can see the little black dots halfway up the C pillars.
I'm not sure how I'll make the draws. To maximise space I was thinking of chopping up some sheetmetal Z purlins for the sides and using ply for the base and ends. To get the same strength with all wood will be thick and heavy. I don't like my chances of finding 300mm Z purlins for free.
Oh yeah, materials.... Half a sheet of 18mm ply, 1 sheet of 11mm ply, a box of 100 44mm self countersinking chipboard screws (fine in the end grain if you pre-drill) and some Selleys Durabond which is truly awesome gap filling polyeurathane wood glue. Dry assemble it, then take it apart and wet assemble with a tiny bead of durabond. Wear gloves.
Yes, the panel near the gas tank is on the pi$$, so was I at the time.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk148/OzMikeH/storage.jpg
I did the base plates a while ago and left it for months. Yesterday I went out and bought some more ply to make a shelf.
Base is 18mm ply, the rest is 11mm which is a bit light but as you can see the spans are narrow.
The gas tank fits nicely in between the fridge and the cargo barrier on some custom brackets. The shelf is the same height as the top of the gas tank.
I had to put the fridge on the floor because the 60l Waecos are rather tall. As it is we carry a step so the Mrs can see in. Carrying a ladder around to get at the food is getting a tad ridiculous. The fridge slide I made a while ago out of 50mm angle iron, some runners from an old Metalux filing cabinet and some bits of lightweight chain and turnbuckles. The waeco didn't fit in the old Terrano with the handles on so I made some ali plates for anchoring it down with some bits of seatbelt webbing for handles. Will take a pic when the fridge is in... The commercial slides are about 10mm narrower so if my filing cabinet runners break I don't have to rebuild the storage system.
One stuff up here, the door of the fridge hits the open door so it can't open past vertical and it keeps flopping closed on your arms as you reach in.
Because the fridge is at floor level I had 2 choices with the draws, one huge one, two really wide flat ones or two tall skinny ones. I chose the latter for 2 reasons, I can open one draw with one door open, and I can maximise the space because that draw is longer, it goes past the side of the gas tank all the way to the cargo screen. It's about 980mm long. I need to find some long runners for that one, I want it to open at least 800mm.
You might notice the base is in two sections, This is so I can take the smaller section out to make it easier for the dogs to get in and out. That section is secured with three bolts through child seat restraint threads. It doesn't really need them, it takes some force to pop it into place. I had to carve out a crater with the router for the end of the gas tank to fit into.
The larger section is secured with two child seat restraint threads. it doesn't move at all with the other section in place but I'm worried about it toppling if the fridge and the draw are opened. I'll use more filing cabinet runners for that draw, they have 600mm extension, they are much bigger than the typical fridge slide runners and they're free.
There is plenty of space for stuffing things around the base of the fridge but I don't want to obstruct it's cooling.
I'll make a fill panel to drop into the fridge cutout when the fridge is not loaded. Also one for the left hand side. You can still get at the factory jack position.
Today I'll make a couple of rails to protect the windows. there are some factory threads in just the right spot, you can see the little black dots halfway up the C pillars.
I'm not sure how I'll make the draws. To maximise space I was thinking of chopping up some sheetmetal Z purlins for the sides and using ply for the base and ends. To get the same strength with all wood will be thick and heavy. I don't like my chances of finding 300mm Z purlins for free.
Oh yeah, materials.... Half a sheet of 18mm ply, 1 sheet of 11mm ply, a box of 100 44mm self countersinking chipboard screws (fine in the end grain if you pre-drill) and some Selleys Durabond which is truly awesome gap filling polyeurathane wood glue. Dry assemble it, then take it apart and wet assemble with a tiny bead of durabond. Wear gloves.
Yes, the panel near the gas tank is on the pi$$, so was I at the time.
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk148/OzMikeH/storage.jpg