F250 CANOPY & VAN LAYOUT

Thanks Stewart,
Sounds like your vehicle is set up like we want ours. Roller drawers with mattress on top. We were thinking of putting an extra 230 ltr diesel tank in the gap between drawer & end of tub, with the floor extending over the top to seal off.
We have to put more thought into how we drain this into the existing tank. You may have some thoughts on this. Does the Carryboy have any odour ? Do you have any problem with sealing off dust ?

One email response we received mentioned you have a layout with the bathroom in centre & wrap around lounge - how do you like it ? Is the bathroom "all in one".

We'll be financial members by next week so will look forward to even more info being available. We'll only be doing this once so want to get it right.

Cheers, David & Denice

David if you look at my pics in the pictures tab you will see some of a fuel tank similar to the one you are cosidering.

Pumping the fuel from the auxillary is the better way, controlled fuel flow, no smells.
Fuel pump goes under tub.
Excess fuel returns to top tank if you forget to turn off pump.
Fit a shut off solenoid in the system immediatly after tank.
Solenoid wired to open when power goes to pump.
That way you have extra protection in the event of any leaks from broken hoses, joints etc.

Regards
Bob

David, can't help with the fuel tank as I had a 270ltr replacement tank fitted underneath. The Carryboy does not have any odour but if fitted new I can assume that it might have a fibreglass smell for a while.

Now as for dust can't really comment as most of the time the truck is in storage as I work overseas and the only big trip it did was when we picked up our 21' BT 4 weeks ago. I am going to seal the tailgate at per a previous post even though it is already done, just to renew it and I have a vent fitted into the roof.

Yes we have the bathroom in the middle and like you when we first started looking at a BT I asked about separate toilet shower as i liked the idea of the bathroom across the rear of the van with the shower to one side and the toilet to the other with a basin in the middle.

But due to the design of the BT this is not possible, I think the separate toilet shower is not needed to save space and we had the vacuum flush toilet fitted which worked a treat and look very nice also.

Our design has the full wrap around lounge at the back and what I liked about it is the division of the layout, you have the lounge/kitchen area in one then the fridge on one side and centre ensuite on the other and this provides divide between the bedroom, so gives a separate room affect.

We have the Lemair washing machine installed next to the fridge behind a door.

On our return trip we both commented that the design worked well with Marlene saying the way the kitchen area is it works well for her and she's the cook.

You have the same outlook as I did "I will only be doing it once so do it right the first time"

When you become a financial member get in touch with me on the owner forum and I can send you a layout plan for you to look at.

Cheers
Stewart & Marlene

David
It would seem that we have a van layout almost the same as Stewart. There are some photos in the pictures section under Pannatrackers if you are interested
Trevor & Lyndal

Thanks for the laugh Helen,

Yes the space round the bed is a consideration - starting to wonder if space economy of a combined bathroom would be better so we'd gain more bench space - considering % of time spent in the bathroom - perhaps a bit extravagant - maybe space could be used for a washing machine ??? Will keep an open mind on these options.

From the photo looks like a good canopy set up on the F250.

Cheers David & Denice

Your welcome David & Denice,

Our back on the F250 was a full custom job from Rambler Bodies at Flemington Victoria - tub taken off and an over chassis build... designed by a Builder (domestic/commercial construction) so has custom shelving; air compressor and security in-out holds for air hoses etc. There are two ladders built into left (kerb) side for access to where a very large roof rack used to sit.... nowadays they are used for tying the boat on the boat loader.... or getting onto the BT roof!

It is great for us as my husband takes his workshop everywhere and although not custom designed for sleeping in you could easy put a mattress in there and be high and dry if we wanted to leave the comforts of the BT for awhile.

My other half disputes the size of the van we saw at BT .. he reckons it was 23fter and I say it was a 21.6fter and they did have a full washing machine inside a long bench on the entry (passenger) side of their layout. We thought it was the sort of layout that would be nice if you were living in it permanently.

Cheers,
Helen

Thanks Rob & Shayne,

Isn't it a good feeling to finally make the decision, and set the ball rolling.
Ours will be ready in November - so exciting.
Currently pondering over the options list and considering pros & cons of layouts.
Black Cobra, seems to have the design we're after - would be good to see it - but we're in Brisbane - they're in WA.

David has noted the details you posted for the canopy builder, and will contact him for more details - Thankyou. Do you have any photos you could put on the BOG site. Did you have slide or lift up windows installed ?

Cheers, David & Denice

Pics better size for viewing now thanks to excellent help from fellow Boggers. Hope these are of use Quicksilver. Good luck with your planning.

Regards,

Mark & Yvonne

Hi Quicksilver,

Have also managed to successfully download an image of our floorplan. Apart from some minor changes (eg no diagonal cupboard at foot of bed) this is our plan. In particular it shows how we utilized space at the shower/toilet end.

Regards,

Mark & Yvonne

Thanks Mark & Yvonne for your reply and the effort you went to in posting the photos. We originally wanted separate toilet & Shower but due to the space the wrap around lounge takes up it would have further reduced the bench space, so have opted for a combination shower/toilet.

We have done a preliminary plan and are still fine tuning the design.

Stewart (Black Cobra) has been very helpful indeed - especially as he has a plan almost identical. Pana Trackers were also kind enough to send photos.
It is amazing how many different ideas can be squeezed into such a small space.

When we take delivery in Nov - will post some photos.

Thanks again.

David & Denice

Hi Angie,

Yes we still have the ducktail. It certainly means some compromises and diffuculties with floorplans but I think hanging on to it is worthwhile. Yes the separate shower and toilet do waste some potential storage BUT I think BTs have lots of storage space and I'm sure you have found like us that you will fill whatever space is available, sometimes with stuff you have "just in case". I look at it differently now. I see the shower not as a loss of storage space but rather as a considerable weight saving as this space fulled with things "just in case" would weigh a ton!

Regards,

Mark & Yvonne

Hi, Mark, Yvonne & also Angie,

Ducktail ? I assume you mean the steeply angled off rear end.
I didn't know there was an option. Isn't that a standard feature of all BT's ?

I'll probably get shot down in flames - but I have wondered if it is necessary to be quite so steep. (I certainly wouldn't be interested in taking our BT to the extremes shown in the Kedron video !!!)

After reading about a Bogger who recently wrecked the steps - is it possible to have the steps made removable at the time of build ?

Cheers, Denice