Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Topic: Putting the Utility compartment back together... (Read 1967 times) previous topic - next topic

Putting the Utility compartment back together...

June 17, 2013, 02:14:06 pm

More work in progress... This part is particularly exciting as it makes the finish line seem that much closer! I've made a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks, just not much time to post about it. But this part is so cool, I just had to put a few pictures up. More detail when I have more time in the future. It's is not quite as finished as it looks in the last picture because I still have to take it out and drill holes for screws and glue the third valve on etc.
Don

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #1 – June 17, 2013, 02:33:01 pm

Hi Don,
The panel that you are installing to hold everything in the wet bay is made of what material? It looks like a piece of aluminum on the outer surface. Is it? Where the dump valve passes through, what will you use to make this area water tight? Your work is impressive! You have a lot to smile about.
Thanks,
Raymond

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #2 – June 17, 2013, 02:45:02 pm

I laminated a 22 gauge piece of brushed stainless to the old fiberglass panel, so that I could move the electrical over and make room for the third valve. There is a sleeve (I think from an old subwoofer vent port) that goes through the large hole where the sewer pipe exits the stainless panel. That sleeve is in turn sleeved with a 3 inch rubber sewer pipe cap which I cut the end out of so it would slide over the pipe. It makes for a very nice snug fit. I could use some silicone between the rubber and the pipe, but the hard plastic sleeve has a slight taper in it which makes the rubber cap with the end cut out fit very snugly between the sleeve and the pipe. Of course I will caulk all around the panel after I'm done installing the screws.
Don

Quote from: Raymond Jordan – June 17, 2013, 02:33:01 pm

Hi Don,
The panel that you are installing to hold everything in the wet bay is made of what material? It looks like a piece of aluminum on the outer surface. Is it? Where the dump valve passes through, what will you use to make this area water tight? Your work is impressive! You have a lot to smile about.
Thanks,
Raymond

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #3 – June 17, 2013, 05:10:31 pm

Nice job indeed Don. I have been thinking about doing the stainless steel route myself since I bought the coach. Don't know if I will ever get around to doing it. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Mark

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #4 – June 17, 2013, 05:39:56 pm

Outstanding, Don.
The end must be getting closer!
Richard B.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #5 – June 17, 2013, 06:48:37 pm

Thanks guys! The end is in sight... I should add that the top trim piece is a corner protector that is pre-formed 16 gauge brushed stainless steel that I bought the same place I got all of the metal stock that I have used throughout the project. I bought a 4 x 4 sheet of 22 gauge which I had them (Industrial Metal Supply) cut in to various sizes to fit the places I want to use it. I ended up with extra pieces that I'm sure I'll figure out a use for.

I actually cut down the original panel by 2 inches because I'm going to put a drop in shelf over the top of the waste piping in order to have easy access to the valves etc. in the future, as well as gain a bit of extra storage. I plan on covering the black and gray tanks and having a meter panel that extends from the basement ceiling for a sea level gauge, AC power outlet, and possibly some other stuff as well. It is hard to explain in words, but it will become clear after I finish it and post pictures.
Don

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #6 – June 24, 2013, 03:00:51 pm

Panel is installed and caulked... just waiting for the caulking to cure enough before checking for leaks. My earlier tests with city water pressure cured me of overconfidence! The location and manner of fasteners and the removable shelf proved to be a challenge, but I am happy with the results. My stainless steel utility panel took a bit of a beating with all my manhandling and numerous test fittings and modifications, but no matter... it would happen in use anyway so I won't lose any sleep over it. Bottom line is, all of the waste piping, freshwater supply, shore power, outside faucet, etc. can be quickly accessed by removing ~~five~~ six screws. In fact, although I'm not going to try it just to prove it, I believe the whole waste pipe assembly can be taken out intact through the shelf area without removing the utility panel. The shelf is made out of 1/2" Starboard. The shore power cable is covered where it comes down from above with some 22 gauge stainless scrap that I bent to fit over some inch and a half aluminum "C' Channel. The fact that my bender can't make crisp bends in 22 gauge stainless actually worked to for me in this case... I rather like the rounded corners. I still have to make the meter panel for the A/C power, heater vent, Seelevel, EMS display, and whatever else will go there, but first I am going to finish the plumbing.
My initial tests with water revealed that the kitchen faucet puked out water around the handle and the laundry hose bibs were seeping... fixing that and putting the water heater in should have coach livable...

By the way, all of the fasteners are Stainless Steel except for the quarter-twenty clip nuts that I got from an auto body supply store, and the aluminum rivets (I want them easily removable... just in case

. I ended up making the shelf into two pieces because the shore power cable made it impossible to get a one-piece shelf in and out. For most things, the front half of the shelf (the larger of the two) is all that needs to be removed to get at the plumbing, but if necessary just two more screws and the rest of it will come out as well.
Don

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #7 – June 24, 2013, 04:42:08 pm

Beautiful job. It doesn't get any better than this. I have followed your progress. You do great work.
Jerry

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #8 – June 24, 2013, 05:10:19 pm

Great job.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #9 – June 24, 2013, 05:13:18 pm

Don, have you considered offering your designs to FT? It would look great in one of the new high $$$$ coaches. Your quality never ceases to amaze and inspire myself and others here on the forum.

Larry

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #10 – June 25, 2013, 09:49:19 am

Nice job Larry.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #11 – June 25, 2013, 04:56:22 pm

Two thoughts...1st, I saw a chair in one of the photos. When do you get the time to sit down? 2nd, whenever I need to do work behind the panel in my wet bay I probably won't be putting a panel back in. The aluminum "stringers' are past putting new holes in, the fiberglass panels are weakened from removals. I'll just have a big open bay that I can get to all the stuff easily. This will be the antithesis or your wonderful project. Maybe we can park next to each other and show the high and low of wet bays.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #12 – June 25, 2013, 05:09:34 pm

Don You have put so much time and energy and "money" into this unit. It should be in good shape when you are finish. I hope you drive it far enough to appreciate its value. DAN

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #13 – June 26, 2013, 10:38:29 am

I love seeing individual owner work that matches or exceeds OEM...

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #14 – June 26, 2013, 12:51:56 pm

Don, if you could or would put a cost on your work, labor and material, what is a close estimate. If I ever have to take on such a project a high cliff may be my only option (not me, the coach well second thought maybe both. thanks jc

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #15 – June 26, 2013, 12:54:50 pm

Too funny Larry! Actually, the chair I use to stand on to turn on a work light that I had clipped to one of the awning supports

I have some other step stool type things that I have spent plenty of time camped on in front of the compartments. The open wet bay actually sounds like a practical idea, but you could get some Tinnerman nuts and use the same mounting holes in the aluminum stringers.
Don

Quote from: lgshoup – June 25, 2013, 04:56:22 pm

Two thoughts...1st, I saw a chair in one of the photos. When do you get the time to sit down? 2nd, whenever I need to do work behind the panel in my wet bay I probably won't be putting a panel back in. The aluminum "stringers' are past putting new holes in, the fiberglass panels are weakened from removals. I'll just have a big open bay that I can get to all the stuff easily. This will be the antithesis or your wonderful project. Maybe we can park next to each other and show the high and low of wet bays.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #16 – June 26, 2013, 01:07:26 pm

JC, I really wouldn't know where to start on the labor part of it! Also, keep in mind that this was all taken apart for the basement framing/bulkhead repair project so it was not like I just tore it apart just to modify it. I just new I wanted easier access to the waste plumbing. That said, figuring out how to put it back to the original would have been time consuming as well. As far as the materials go, I think there's about $300 in the stainless steel sheet metal, aluminum angle, fasteners, the Valterra valve, various plumbing fittings, and the StarBoard shelving, etc.
Don

Quote from: hotonthetrail – June 26, 2013, 12:51:56 pm

Don, if you could or would put a cost on your work, labor and material, what is a close estimate. If I ever have to take on such a project a high cliff may be my only option (not me, the coach well second thought maybe both. thanks jc

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #17 – June 26, 2013, 04:36:24 pm

I'm eager to see what Don does when he gets to the rest of the coach....gold leaf on the outside, twin turbos with additional intercooler, fly by wire controls

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #18 – June 26, 2013, 04:55:26 pm

I know what he will do, place a Google antenna camera on the roof and down load all the places he went.

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #19 – June 26, 2013, 05:34:35 pm

With Don's talent, he may have the first FT which will drive itself, avoid low overhangs,silence noisy neighbors and have the perfect view every time.

Larry

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #20 – June 26, 2013, 09:38:53 pm

"Don, if you could or would put a cost on your work, labor and material, what is a close estimate. If I ever have to take on such a project a high cliff may be my only option (not me, the coach well second thought maybe both. thanks jc"

If you could see Dons "backyard" you would know how close that is to the truth !!!

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #21 – June 26, 2013, 10:07:28 pm

As I've said, the next time will be leaving all the stuff out. The Tinnerman nuts is a good idea and I'd considered it but with fat legs cramping and back screaming, I just didn't have the energy to go get them. I'd replaced the valves and found I had a leak in the black valve. Of course everything was back together so it all had to come out. Got the leak fixed and all back in. Next time...

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #22 – June 26, 2013, 11:05:53 pm

Bill,
My fantasy is grow up one day and have a shop just like yours to work in! Unfortunately, my current reality is to have a tarp covered dirt lot to work on... a situation which everything has to be put away every single night. So sometimes my backyard makes me want to jump off a cliff...

On the bright side, at least we have a Foretravel for me to work on and I do at least have the space to work on it

Don

Quote from: Bill Chaplin – June 26, 2013, 09:38:53 pm

If you could see Dons "backyard" you would know how close that is to the truth !!!

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #23 – June 27, 2013, 08:57:56 am

What a Team !

My humble shop.

Don's skills and mind

Re: Putting the Utility compartment back together...

Reply #24 – July 19, 2013, 11:58:55 am

I have almost finished phase 2 of the utility compartment project. At least, I am done enough to be sure that it's probably going to work out okay. I still have to put in electrical outlet which has its own challenges, and add the progressive industries EMS display to the panel... Once I figure out how to make it more of a flush installation. Here are a couple of pictures of what I am going to call the meter panel for lack of a better term. Working with 22 gauge stainless steel sheet is a pain, but I like the results.
Don

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