Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Topic: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit. (Read 6606 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #75 – March 26, 2015, 07:43:44 am

That is very impressive.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #76 – March 26, 2015, 08:40:24 am

Thanks! It's really down to last bits in the bedroom/bathroom and it's just what we wanted. Whew! It's been a bit nerve-wracking, and we're getting weary, but it's really coming together.

I forgot to get pics of the desk area with the louvered doors UP. We found a clever bit of hardware that holds the doors folded up, horizontally against the ceiling and out of the way for viewing of the (eventual) monitor that will live on the back wall up top. The two pieces to the sides of the louvered doors are repurposed shelves from the prior cabinetry. VERY serendipitously nearly the exact right measurements.

Dave, it was a pleasure meeting YOU and we're sorry we didn't get to meet Dolly. We'll see you again, I'm sure!

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #77 – March 26, 2015, 02:26:25 pm

The quality of the workmanship appears to be absolutely outstanding.

I just don't understand the utility of a carpeted engine doghouse next to the bed, and don't see how engine access from above works out. I like lifting my bed to access the engine.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #78 – March 26, 2015, 03:26:16 pm

Think of the carpeted "doghouse" as a double sided bench with storage (hanging files etc) built into the shared backrest. Engine access will be just as good as ever. All the things on top of the engine access hatch and on the back wall above the engine hatch are designed to be easily removed.

Our original design was actually based on moving the bed to a North/South configuration instead of the East/West it came with. The costs involved with that (reconfiguring the ceiling, building overhead cabinets, nightstands etc) were 3 to 5 times greater than doing it this way, so it really wasn't feasible. We get a LOT more storage and flexibility this way. As an interesting piece of serendipity, we found that the new bed actually CAN be turned sideways and slid onto the engine hatch. So in the end we'll have a bedroom that can be configured either way; two person office with attached East/West bedroom, or North/South bed with a huge open space.

Hope that clarifies things a bit? The bench seats and the center console/shared backrest are almost done and we have the walnut boards for the two flip up desks that will be going on the walls opposite the bench seats. The hinges for the desks probably won't be here till sometime next week though, so the desk photos will take a while longer. Hopefully we'll have the bench seats and console in by the weekend though. :-)

James

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #79 – March 30, 2015, 10:59:11 am

I think we got one of those for a wedding gift ....38 years ago. I think I've still got it around here, somewhere.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #80 – March 30, 2015, 12:10:08 pm

The console for the engine hump is almost done and so the office should be completed very soon. Pics below of the storage inside (hanging file folders on one end, and a shallow tray with storage underneath on the other end. We'll install 12V power outlets here for our computers). This will form the backrest for the two bench seats to be installed on either side of the hump, facing the side walls. Fold-down desks (18"x24" walnut cutting boards!) will be installed on the side walls, hopefully this week to complete the setup for business.

We hustled all of our cold stuff out of the fridge early this morning and they've already taken out the windshield, the old Dometic and put in the new Vitrifrigo marine fridge on board (It's tiny!) AND replaced the windshield. Big progress today, but we might be eating out for a day or two.

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #81 – March 30, 2015, 01:55:09 pm

sorry - mistaken posting!

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #82 – March 31, 2015, 10:50:28 pm

Susan and James, you have an amazing family and will soon have an amazing motor coach!

Thank you for giving me a tour this morning. Your ideas and Larry's execution are exceptional.
Remember what I told you about insurance.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #83 – April 01, 2015, 02:52:52 pm

Mogan David - Thanks so much! We enjoyed meeting you and taking you through the rig. Hope all's going well over at Xtreme and we'll see you again later this week? Take care.

Susan (and James)

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #84 – April 06, 2015, 09:44:08 am

Updates on last week's work. New Vitrifrigo Marine fridge is in and we gained two pullouts behind the tall door to the right, two drawers underneath, and a cubby to boot. The fridge is 8.1 cubic feet vs. the 7.97 usable space inside the OEM Dometic 7832.

The console for the engine hump is mostly done and has space for the files, and for office supplies and stuff. The two benches face out to the sidewalls where we're going to install two flip up desks.

The living room desk is coming along. Pics show the cat tunnel and the slide out keyboard tray that Larry built. He's a wonder!

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #85 – April 06, 2015, 04:55:26 pm

A few updates from today:

The desktops (18"x24" walnut cutting boards!) came in today, so tonight's project will likely be installing them onto the adjustable fold-down brackets.

Cat tunnel in evidence in the living room desk. This is how the cats access the litter box, and the flip down door in front is how we will access it to clean, etc. We'll install a rubber mat on the inside to line it for easy cleaning. The weird space at the end of the desk is for the girl's cat to sit with her (but not on TOP of her) while she's at the desk. And yes, if *she* puts him there, he will sit there. Forever.

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #86 – April 06, 2015, 07:07:01 pm

Looks cool. The only thing I would need is something to prop my feet on.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #87 – April 06, 2015, 07:13:18 pm

Yes! There are plans for a raised floor (with storage underneath) in the future, but for now a footstool will work.

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #88 – April 07, 2015, 08:53:51 am

Quote from: GofD – April 06, 2015, 04:55:26 pm

And yes, if *she* puts him there, he will sit there. Forever.

Eventually. She'll probably have to put him there more than a few times until he "gets it", but honestly he's total putty in her hands. :-)

Didn't get the desks installed last night, but I think we'll see if we can't get it installed this morning. It's almost getting to the point where we can set up the office for, you know, doing WORK! :p

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #89 – April 07, 2015, 10:07:33 am

Quote from: GofD – April 06, 2015, 04:55:26 pm

The desktops (18"x24" walnut cutting boards!) came in today,

Your magnificent project is fascinating to follow - thanks for the great photos and progress reports!

We would like to know the source of the walnut cutting boards, please. We might pick one up to use as, you know, a REAL cutting board.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #90 – April 07, 2015, 11:50:41 am

We got them on Amazon and it's nice because they're 3/4" thick, so not too heavy for this application. Amazon.com: Butcher Block Premium Reversible End Grain Walnut Cutting Board... We accidentally ordered the wrong size the first time and have two that are 16"x20" so we'd be interested in selling if you're interested in buying. Can't seem to get a response from the seller on how to return the items. Might end up with a 'cutting board' or two ourselves!

Anyway, the first one (MINE) is installed. It has a level setting and then two settings that are slightly and less slightly angled which works for the laptops. Eventually, we'll mount secondary monitors on the wall above, but for now, this is the office! ETA: Overview of office with one desk installed and console and benches in place. w00t, w00t!

Pics below, along with (for fun), Larry's latest addition to our daughter's desk: a pencil tray. Who can guess what it was in its former life? lol

Susan

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Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #91 – April 13, 2015, 01:16:17 pm

Tech Update:

So the 6 solar cells are on the roof.

The new 10 KW Lithium Ion battery is installed in it's new home in the front driver's side basement bay. More on this below.

The two 75/50 Victron MPPT solar charge controllers are installed and mounted to the wall in the existing battery bay.

The Aquahot expansion tank has been moved to the forward bulkhead instead of the rear bulkhead next to the legacy inverter to make space for the new inverter to be installed where the expansion tank was.

The Color GX control panel mounting location has been moved from the rear office driver's side wall to the forward refrigerator wall. The installation will be much simpler, and the insulation behind that wall will allow an inset mount instead of building a box for the panel.

Ok. The battery's new location: Originally the battery was going to be in the living space either under the fridge or possibly in the rear. The vendor (Balqon) did not have the sheetmetal to build the 9 KW 12 volt battery we had settled on, but offered to build a 10KW battery that is usually a 24 volt unit as a 12 volt unit for the same price as the 9 KW. We had decided to move the battery back down into the existing battery bay to try and keep things simpler, but when it arrived it was enough longer that it would JUST not fit into the existing battery bay. After discussing options we decided to move the new battery forward into the front driver's side basement bay and put all the rest of the electrical system components in the old battery bay. The plan is to use the existing electrical buses and just run new cables forward to the new battery. The battery monitor shunt will be co-located with the new battery, but the monitor itself will live in the old battery bay with the MPPTs and connect to a usb hub with them. A single usb cable will run from the hub in the old battery bay to the Color GX control panel along with a cat-5 UTP cable from the inverter.

One nice side effect of the new layout is that the entire system can be installed and ready before we disconnect the old batteries/inverter.

We lose some space in the forward bay, but gain a lot back in the old battery bay.

The rear office is essentially complete now that the 12 volt has been run back and installed so the laptops can run directly off the house battery instead going through the inverter.

The refrigerator is completely installed, wired to AC when it's available and switching over to 12 volt when not. We've been very happy with the improved internal layout of the Vitifrigo as well as the extra storage space we've gained (two pullouts and two large drawers).

The flip down bunk and the desk below are complete as well as the flip out desk on the end of the jackknife sofa.

The only remaining interior renovation change is the new kitchen table which should be done shortly.

The front door has been fixed so that the deadbolt works with the remote lock/unlock system again as well as the posilock being replaced and the weather stripping being replaced so it actually seals.

Now the bad new:

We found that the leak that has recently developed in the steering system is actually on the output shaft, not on the input. Long story short, the unit needs to be replaced and doing so is a total PITA. It's going to take three days to remove the genset radiator etc, replace the steering unit and put everything back. It could actually be done in two, but doing it in three means we can have the rig back each night instead of staying in a hotel tonight. No difference in labor costs, so avoiding a hotel stay seems like the way to go.

Less bad news:

Got the final fiberglass and paint estimate and it's actually a bit less than we initially expected. One of the wonderful members here (Mogan David) gave us some great advice about submitting the costs for the fiberglass repair to the PO who was driving when the crazed pitbull decided to chase after a crossing cyclist and committed suicide by bus. I love dogs, but this was NOT a sweet family pet, it was chained in the yard with two others and made a habit of slipping his chain and trying to attack cyclists.

It sounds like they can get us into fiberglass/paint once the steering gear is fixed, and that will give the battery monitor time to get here for the final electrical completion and switch over.

Will post pictures later, but that's the current SOTR (state of the remodel/rig). :-)

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #92 – April 13, 2015, 03:57:37 pm

Out of the shop early today, so I've got some pictures to go with the above. Susan likely has some more specific ones as well.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #93 – April 13, 2015, 06:23:06 pm

WOW that is a huge update you have done.

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #94 – April 13, 2015, 07:48:56 pm

L:ooks good and makes all our updates pale by comparison!!
Nice to see cabinet on right side of new fridge as I did 2 yrs ago when installing Res one. I made mine a slide out though and it is easy to access things.
JohnH
John Haygarth's fridge and pantry upgrade (What did you do to your coach today) added link for my cabinet

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #95 – April 13, 2015, 09:53:58 pm

Nah, no comparisons. It's not a competition...besides, DIY gets the high points in our book.

Next to the fridge are two pullouts behind that one door. It was a tradeoff, but it works. Oils and spices and everything nices for the cooking tasks.

A couple more views are attached.

Susan

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #96 – April 14, 2015, 11:47:00 pm

Man that bunk is cool! I love that. Also you might be doing yourself a service by putting the battery pack in the forward bay because Technomadia is finding their pack degrading more quickly than expected and they expect it is heat related. I would actually consider installing a pack like that in the living area somewhere. Which EMS did you choose for the Lithium pack?

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #97 – April 15, 2015, 11:01:42 am

As for the steering gear, here is the link for the place James Stallings said you should consult:
PSC Motorsports Online

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #98 – April 21, 2015, 11:30:39 am

Quote from: piku – April 14, 2015, 11:47:00 pm

Man that bunk is cool! I love that. Also you might be doing yourself a service by putting the battery pack in the forward bay because Technomadia is finding their pack degrading more quickly than expected and they expect it is heat related. I would actually consider installing a pack like that in the living area somewhere. Which EMS did you choose for the Lithium pack?

Sorry for the delayed response, things have been hectic here for various reasons. :-)

The battery is from Balqon, and has their HIQAP ESS as the BMS. We're hoping to get it all installed tomorrow :: crosses fingers :: so we'll see how it all works out. The Color GX Control panel is installed in the wall of the fridge cabinet above the cooktop area lighting control panel. I would have preferred putting it back in the office above my desk, but it was a LOT easier mounting it where we did. In the future we'll have to run additional wires so the Victron inverter can charge the chassis batteries as well as so the control panel can monitor them.

Re the temperature of the Lithium Ion battery:
In the near future we'll add a new wire to monitor the temperature of the Lithium Ion battery (which the battery monitor we bought can easily do). The particular battery chemistry of this battery uses Yttrium instead of Manganese as the Technomadia battery pack. The Yttrium chemistry is supposed (from what I understand) to be the most heat tolerant and the battery engineer @ Balqon indicated that warm temperatures won't bother them at all, in fact he said they like to run a bit warm. We'll monitor the temperatures and see how it goes!

More later...

Re: Heading to FOT for Shadow Beast's major renovation and service visit.

Reply #99 – April 21, 2015, 03:14:30 pm

Thanks for the info and comments! We're nearing the end, with just a few bits and pieces to put together to make all the electrical stuff work (yes, that's my technical explanation). Reno is complete, and we're finishing up our own odds and ends - cut a piece of carpet for the closet floor, put up the shower supply pump thing, lined the catbox area with a plastic matting and carpeted the tunnel, and Tigger is turning the former refrigerator panel into our new headboard (old headboard became the desk - haha!).

We got all of our stuff out of storage over the weekend, and did the big shuffle -- I"m sure many of you have done it -- everything out from down below and then reorg! The Airstream folks who were here over the weekend were taking bets on whether we'd get it all restowed before the torrential hailstorm that let loose (we did). So that was fun.

Enjoyed meeting many new and old Foretravel friends here over the last few days and weeks. Such nice peeps you are! Thanks as always for letting us share. We love our rig and are so glad to have found a community of like-minded folks!

Susan

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