Hi all, I have just finished a minor reno in my new Avan camper, I found in my mini trips (3 now) that I didn't use the small table at front and could have done with a little more bench space SO after a little thought and sitting on the bed at the back looking to the front thinking about it I decided to take out table and cushions but leave the timber seats both sides. I then made a timber cupboard on top of each seat with a bench across the top full width. I used light weight timber so as not to add much weight, I painted the cupboards a colour as close as I could get to the timber work in the camper and the bench top as close to colour of camper bench. Overall I shouldn't have made much difference to overall weight or weight distribution. it all looks good and I will get to try it all out in 2 weeks for 5 days. All has been done so I can remove without any damage and put back to original if needed.
Ma said
09:02 AM Nov 6, 2011
Piccies please D. Sounds like you are a real handyman.
Vic said
01:17 PM Nov 6, 2011
Sounds good Doug, as an ex A'van camper owner (7 years) I would love to see the pics too when you can get around to it, thanks.
Dougwe said
02:35 PM Nov 6, 2011
Hope this works, had trouble uploading. The Big Rig+Before+After.
Dougwe said
02:36 PM Nov 6, 2011
It worked.
Ma said
03:05 PM Nov 6, 2011
Now that IS a top job. Well done D.
Vic said
04:18 PM Nov 6, 2011
Great job Doug, it looks really professional, I like the idea of being able to revert it too if you ever sell it.
I made a smaller table top for mine when I had it as it was hard getting my gut in behind the table, worked out well.
Mind was a 2B, we kept the double made up at the other end all the time and stored our plastic bins (like yours) under that space with our food etc in it. We had some foam around the edge to stop them rubbing on the furniture and a rubber mat at the front (same one we used outside the door when stopped) to stop the bins from sliding out on the move etc.
I really miss our A'Van and have been tempted at times to get another. We had a full annex, but to be honest only ever used it twice in 7 years, preferred to use the awning only.
Dougwe said
05:09 PM Nov 6, 2011
My plan is similar Vic, I intend to put food etc and cloths in the plastic bins, I think it will all work and do what I hope it will all do.
Vic said
05:20 PM Nov 6, 2011
I'm sure it will Doug, they are a great unit to have, we really enjoyed our around Oz trip in ours
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 6th of November 2011 05:21:50 PM
Dougwe said
06:48 PM Nov 6, 2011
Thanks Vic, comments like yours make me feel like I have done the right thing getting the Avan camper and also doing long trips in it, my 6 week trip in April/May 2012 is coming together. What did you tow your Avan camper with Vic.
Sheba said
09:41 PM Nov 6, 2011
Don't know why again, but all I can get is boxes with a red cross in them. They won't open for me.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Vic said
10:52 PM Nov 6, 2011
Dougwe wrote:
Thanks Vic, comments like yours make me feel like I have done the right thing getting the Avan camper and also doing long trips in it, my 6 week trip in April/May 2012 is coming together. What did you tow your Avan camper with Vic.
(Sheba. Crosses. I don't know why Sheba, maybe Wombat can help, he's up on all that.)
Doug,
I pulled mine with a 4 1999 4 Cyl Auto Camry from Perth. Had enough grunt to do it and a good car, but my rear coil springs collapsed when I got to Townsville and Toyota replaced them with Pedders springs (same size but thicker gauge) which solved the problem and no more "sag".
Before I left, I had to add a auto transmission oil cooler, the 6 cyl had one fitted but not the 4 cyl. Otherwise the vehicle was great.
Later I bought a Mitsubishi Triton Club Cab Ute and towed it with that, with a fibreglass canopy on the back, that allowed me more storage, it was good also.
On another trip to SA & return, while at the Gt Australian Bite, my wife notice the rear wind out window lifting even though it was closed and locked, the wind was a strong northerly blowing out to sea. On closer inspection I found that the window hinges at the top of the window were broken, they had worn through the rivets that were holding them (aluminium I think).
The only things stopping the window coming off and blowing out to sea were the flat chain closer and lever locks on either side at the bottom, however if I had turned into the wind to leave (hinge area into the wind) it would have ripped the window right off and out to sea. I used some wire to wire the hinges closed and also tied some rope criss crossed over the window to keep it on.
There was no mechanic at Border Village and the one at Eucla had gone out golfing somewhere and was not expected back, so drove home like that and fixed the window when I got home to Perth. See pic below taken at Gympie caravan park,( the ground slopes downward).
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 6th of November 2011 11:07:32 PM
I'm sure it will give you lots of safe and happy travels.
Dougwe said
06:06 AM Nov 7, 2011
Thanks Vic, sounds like a great and fairly eventful trip and a bit of luck on your side as well, hope to see you in our travels somewhere sometime till then keep safe. DOUG
Vic said
08:07 AM Nov 7, 2011
Dougwe wrote:
Thanks Vic, sounds like a great and fairly eventful trip and a bit of luck on your side as well, hope to see you in our travels somewhere sometime till then keep safe. DOUG
Thanks Doug, I know you are going to enjoy yours, my best travel memories were with the A'Van.......
Sheba said
07:14 PM Nov 7, 2011
Vic wrote:
(Sheba. Crosses. I don't know why Sheba, maybe Wombat can help, he's up on all that.)
No trouble seeing your Pic today Vic. but still can't get the others. It has to be from the Posters' end.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Vic said
11:14 PM Nov 7, 2011
I can see his ok Sheba, sorry about mine although you can see them, very poor quality and can't enlarge.....Hope you get the problem sorted out, Vic
Hi all, I have just finished a minor reno in my new Avan camper, I found in my mini trips (3 now) that I didn't use the small table at front and could have done with a little more bench space SO after a little thought and sitting on the bed at the back looking to the front thinking about it I decided to take out table and cushions but leave the timber seats both sides. I then made a timber cupboard on top of each seat with a bench across the top full width. I used light weight timber so as not to add much weight, I painted the cupboards a colour as close as I could get to the timber work in the camper and the bench top as close to colour of camper bench. Overall I shouldn't have made much difference to overall weight or weight distribution. it all looks good and I will get to try it all out in 2 weeks for 5 days. All has been done so I can remove without any damage and put back to original if needed.
Piccies please D. Sounds like you are a real handyman.
Hope this works, had trouble uploading. The Big Rig+Before+After.
It worked.
Now that IS a top job. Well done D.
I made a smaller table top for mine when I had it as it was hard getting my gut in behind the table, worked out well.
Mind was a 2B, we kept the double made up at the other end all the time and stored our plastic bins (like yours) under that space with our food etc in it. We had some foam around the edge to stop them rubbing on the furniture and a rubber mat at the front (same one we used outside the door when stopped) to stop the bins from sliding out on the move etc.
I really miss our A'Van and have been tempted at times to get another. We had a full annex, but to be honest only ever used it twice in 7 years, preferred to use the awning only.
My plan is similar Vic, I intend to put food etc and cloths in the plastic bins, I think it will all work and do what I hope it will all do.
I'm sure it will Doug, they are a great unit to have, we really enjoyed our around Oz trip in ours
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 6th of November 2011 05:21:50 PM
Thanks Vic, comments like yours make me feel like I have done the right thing getting the Avan camper and also doing long trips in it, my 6 week trip in April/May 2012 is coming together. What did you tow your Avan camper with Vic.
Don't know why again, but all I can get is boxes with a red cross in them. They won't open for me.
Cheers,
Sheba.
(Sheba. Crosses. I don't know why Sheba, maybe Wombat can help, he's up on all that.)
Doug,
I pulled mine with a 4 1999 4 Cyl Auto Camry from Perth. Had enough grunt to do it and a good car, but my rear coil springs collapsed when I got to Townsville and Toyota replaced them with Pedders springs (same size but thicker gauge) which solved the problem and no more "sag".
Before I left, I had to add a auto transmission oil cooler, the 6 cyl had one fitted but not the 4 cyl. Otherwise the vehicle was great.
Later I bought a Mitsubishi Triton Club Cab Ute and towed it with that, with a fibreglass canopy on the back, that allowed me more storage, it was good also.
On another trip to SA & return, while at the Gt Australian Bite, my wife notice the rear wind out window lifting even though it was closed and locked, the wind was a strong northerly blowing out to sea. On closer inspection I found that the window hinges at the top of the window were broken, they had worn through the rivets that were holding them (aluminium I think).
The only things stopping the window coming off and blowing out to sea were the flat chain closer and lever locks on either side at the bottom, however if I had turned into the wind to leave (hinge area into the wind) it would have ripped the window right off and out to sea. I used some wire to wire the hinges closed and also tied some rope criss crossed over the window to keep it on.
There was no mechanic at Border Village and the one at Eucla had gone out golfing somewhere and was not expected back, so drove home like that and fixed the window when I got home to Perth. See pic below taken at Gympie caravan park,( the ground slopes downward).
-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 6th of November 2011 11:07:32 PM
Looks great Doug.
I'm sure it will give you lots of safe and happy travels.
Thanks Vic, sounds like a great and fairly eventful trip and a bit of luck on your side as well, hope to see you in our travels somewhere sometime till then keep safe. DOUG
Thanks Doug, I know you are going to enjoy yours, my best travel memories were with the A'Van.......
Vic