$28,130 renovation finished and van back home.

Submitted: Friday, Mar 13, 2015 at 17:49
ThreadID: 129701 Views:3792 Replies:10 FollowUps:17
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Hi Boggers,

Arrived home last night. I inspected the van at the factory and went over all the new gadgets with Wayne. At first glance, the work appears to be first rate.

This morning I will go out and have a good poke around, turn everything on to see if it works and see what fits in where in the new drawers.

Very exciting !

Willie.

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Reply By: The Hob - Friday, Mar 13, 2015 at 18:04

Friday, Mar 13, 2015 at 18:04
Great news Willie enjoy your renovations

Alan
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Reply By: Sawtybt - Saturday, Mar 14, 2015 at 01:48

Saturday, Mar 14, 2015 at 01:48
When you get around to it I'd be interested in seeing some photos.
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Follow Up By: Uncle Dodgy - Saturday, Mar 14, 2015 at 22:22

Saturday, Mar 14, 2015 at 22:22
Me too
John & Sharyn
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Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:49

Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:49
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All new windows and door, new draw bar box and stone deflector. New stickers and stripes.
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Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:54

Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:54
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New mudflaps and a pole/fishing rod tube.
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Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:57

Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 21:57
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New 240v / gas HWS, new flickmixer, new cushions with leather covers, addition of a little sink in the shower toilet.
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Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 22:11

Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 22:11
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New 220 litre Isotherm fridge. New drawers replaced old shelf system. Counter top re-used.
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Follow Up By: Uncle Dodgy - Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 22:58

Sunday, Mar 15, 2015 at 22:58
Wow Willie
What an excellent looking upgrade.
In short, a new van :-)
You and BTI should be feeling quite proud.
Enjoy.
Cheers
John
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Reply By: NIK `N` OFF - Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 00:59

Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 00:59
Willy, the photo of the pole carrier tube, was that a before or after pic?

Looks like the start of corrosion above the rubber strip, did you have the lower sheets replaced ? Or didn't bother with that ?

That's a job I would have had done by BT ;-)
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Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 03:46

Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 03:46
Didn't bother.
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Reply By: Sawtybt - Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 01:23

Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 01:23
The renovations look great...you must be pleased with the result
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Reply By: Willie - Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 03:57

Monday, Mar 16, 2015 at 03:57
My wife went into the van, took one look at the reno and immediately noticed that BT had removed the double outlet inverter power point when they installed the new fridge (and moved the microwave from above it to below the new cooktop).

So she cannot charge her computer or run her coffee machine etc off the inverter now.

So instead of heading north to Lightning Ridge and then to Carnarvon Gorge, I now do the Pacific Highway to BT for the 5th time in a month to get the power point put back in.
AnswerID: 588450

Reply By: Just Wandering - Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 at 02:35

Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 at 02:35
Very nice Willie - well done. Like the new fridge locks. Just had them fitted at the factory. Also like the way the stone guard is now attached to generator box.
Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: Willie - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 03:21

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 03:21
The fridge locks are not too good. They told me at the factory, not to do them up too tight.

Well everything ended up on the floor this afternoon. I reckon there is too much flex in the flat metal arm that comes out from the door.
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Reply By: Willie - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 03:23

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 03:23
The electric/gas hot water system does not work on 240v, only on gas. Another little disaster.
AnswerID: 588452

Follow Up By: Just Wandering - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 05:36

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 05:36
Hi Willie,

Good to know about the fridge locks. I am now glad that my better half insisted on keeping the old plastic ones on as well. So we have double security.
We have the electric/gas hot water system as well. There is an electric power supply switch in the outer cabinet as well. Where the anode is located. Maybe this is not switched on. Just a thought.

Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: Willie - Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 07:12

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2015 at 07:12
Thanks for the reply Tony. I will check the outer cabinet tomorrow morning.

After we cleaned up, mopped the floor etc, my wife noticed there is a small piece of metal missing from the lip of the flat piece coming from the door. This has definitely contributed to the disaster. We will get it replaced tomorrow when we visit BT.

When I get home, I will make a set that does not flex.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Willie - Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 06:50

Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 06:50
Tony, re : Isotherm fridge door lock.

We got the factory to replace the part, but the door came open again, on the first dirt road we hit. The mess was pretty bad and my wife will not trust it again.

We are back to taping the fridge every time we hit the road.

A lot of money for a badly designed piece of equipment.

Willie
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Follow Up By: NIK `N` OFF - Monday, Apr 13, 2015 at 20:05

Monday, Apr 13, 2015 at 20:05
Photos of our original Dometic RPD 190lt fridge that had the doors come off due to the middle hinge coming apart on route to the Alice Muster 2013

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Have you had to tape up the fridge like this? :-)

If your fridge has a middle hinge that is just a press fit, I'd advise having it brazed, when the hinge does come apart it can ruin your trip.

Replacement fridge is larger, and no cabinet change to fit. We're very happy with its performance, it does require defrosting the freezer every 4-6 weeks, an easy job.
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Follow Up By: Willie - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:58

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:58
That's a real bummer Mick. What brand is the new fridge ?
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Follow Up By: NIK `N` OFF - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 06:27

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 06:27
It's a Vitrifrigo 230lt, stainless steel. It has what is called Nautical catches, spring loaded door catch that's default is to lock, pull up against the spring pressure to open. Time will tell if does its job.
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Reply By: Just Wandering - Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 21:53

Saturday, Apr 11, 2015 at 21:53
Hi Willie - Thanks. It's so frustrating when something does not work properly. Won't trust ours either. Would not take much to make another set to do job correctly. Hope you have given feedback to BT.
Cheers Tony
AnswerID: 588453

Follow Up By: Tracks n About - Monday, Apr 13, 2015 at 18:57

Monday, Apr 13, 2015 at 18:57
G'day, We too have had the problem with the fridge door coming open. We have a type of bolt catch that BTi fitted many years ago after having heaps of grief with the original catch from new. Works great until the thing eventually wears and breaks. I also began taping the door when going off road. Made the big mistake of using gaffa tape. When we got home from one trip I carefully removed it and some of the laminate came off from the wall with it. Only about the size of a 5 cent piece,but does it stand out !
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Follow Up By: Willie - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 04:35

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 04:35
Here are photos of the lock that does not lock :

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I believe that the plate coming out from the fridge door flexes and releases the door. At the factory, after they replaced it, they told me not to do it up too tight - maybe because it would bend it in.

Anyway, it is useless the way it is now.
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FollowupID: 856438

Reply By: Condinup - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:20

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:20
If you had a step machined into the alloy locator so that fitted into the hole of the door tag it would fix the problem. That would stop it from sliding off the tag. If you look at the tag you can see it has a countersink for the original locking nut to locate in.
Simple fix I would think.

re
mg
AnswerID: 588454

Follow Up By: Willie - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:56

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 05:56
MG,

Yes, I agree that would fix it.

The other thing that would need to be done, would be to get a stiffer fitting which should be riveted in at least three places.

I think if it did not flex now, it would tear itself off the fridge door.

Good idea,

Thanks.
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FollowupID: 856439

Reply By: Tracks n About - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 08:01

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 08:01
G'day again, Willie the photos you've posted are of the catch that we have that I mentioned yesterday. We've had one on the fridge and the freezer for 10 years now, and the only time we've had a problem is when the bolt breaks where the little pin goes through near the fitting on the fridge. Has happened three times in the ten years. Considering where we've been I guess it's not too bad. But we now tape the door when we go off road. But not with gaffa tape !!!
AnswerID: 588455

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