Howdy Boggers,
We have just finished our first big 6 month trip through Vic High Country, Great Ocean Road, Eyre Pen, SE of WA , WA Coast, Pilbarra and Kimberley.
Previously the 16 footer was a well maintained man cave that I used for prospecting. We had never gone away together for a long trip and did not know how happy we would be in the small van.
After 10,000km, we had a bit of experience of the grey nomad life and we started to talk about what we would like to have in a van, to improve our lifestyle.
Thoughts went to a 19 footer with a separate shower and toilet instead of the combined one in the 16 footer. The lure of more, storage, with drawers instead od cupboard shelves also was discussed, as was town water, disc brakes and a few other odds and ends.
Well, a new van might be a possibility in the future, but with the stock market in the doldrums, we have decided to do a "reno" on the 16 footer and save some money. I might add that the 16' lets us sneak down a lot of tracks a 19' would never go, so that was in the back of our minds also.
We have already done a lot of work on the 16', such as :
- New Large chassis replacing the small weak one it was originally made with.
- New 320ah lithium battery set-up
- New super duper smart battery charger
- New 2000w pure sine wave inverter
- Binned the std Aussie Traveller awning and got a roll out Dometic
- Installed a diesel heater
- Replaced all the water hoses from the tanks
- Built a small alloy box for the drawer bar with firewood holder
- Four 135ah solar panels
- Replaced the water heater with a new internal ignition control system
- Had town water put onto the sink only
- Installed a McHitch which we are about to upgrade to the auto coupling model
- Replaced the brake cables
- Replaced the springs
- Replaced the bump stops
If we had sold it, somebody would have got a very sound van, but I doubt if we would have got the price it was worth, because of it's age (2001 model).
So I have booked the van in to the factory for January next year for the following upgrades :
WORK LIST
Replace all seven windows with a newer design (or the same if that is the only option).
Replace the Four Seasons hatch with a single hinged hatch.
A new door and seals.
New curtains and pelmets on all windows (except bathroom).
New cushions and backrests. Prices for leather and material please.
A table set-up that allows conversion to an extra bed.
Replace end cupboards/shelves and stove/griller/oven with drawers plus a cooktop which has 3 gas burners and a 240v hotplate
(no oven or griller) and my small 1000w microwave under the cooktop.
Remove cupboards/shelves under the sink and install large pot drawers.
Build a cupboard with one shelf above the fridge cabinet.
Install a new compressor refrigerator.
Install “Flickmixer” tap.
Install town water, to hot water system, sink and shower.
Replace gas hot water system with a gas/240v hot water system.
If there is room, install a wind up aerial on the roof which has TV and Telstra reception. Cables to TV and Wifi inside the van.
New lino floor.
New
Bushtracker decals on front and back.
The
Bushtracker management said the new type hatch was not possible without major structural changes, so we have canned that idea and may just get a new Four Seasons.
Does anybody have any ideas about other items we might upgrade at the same time ?
Thanks,
Willie.
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