As weekends go . . .

Bite the bullet. Just get it done. Make a start!! I hate the thought of starting this part. Not just because it is dirty work but also because the truck will become immobile for the first time. And will remain so until I have it all back together. I don't expect to get it all done at one go so I'm likely to end up having the truck blocking the factory for some of next week - just when I need to get materials in and out!!

Had a sudden brain storm and realised that starting on the off side (ie adding the new tank before replacing the main tank may) be counter-productive. I am better off getting the main tank in place and the truck mobile again as soon as possible.

OK. Out with the old tank.























Take out the fuel lines also as they will be replaced by approved flexible hose later when I connect up the filter.

Position the new brackets for the square tanks to see what's what. Just as I suspected - there are only two holes from the original twelve that I can use with the new brackets. Why is nothing "standard" in this type of work. Not only that but there is a bunch of other brackets for air-brake tanks and other things which is going to interfere with where I need to put holes. It looks like I am going against everything I have learned so far and will have to just put holes where they will fit. There really isn't any decision making required here once committed. It's a bit like scuba diving - don't think about the things that can eat and/or kill you just do it. Drill the holes and bolt everything up tight.


















Having got the tank positioned it is time to look at the final filter and hose placements. The approximate position of the filter is OK, about a metre further forward, in a convenient space between the air tanks and the mudflap just above the connections between chassis and engine.

















But the first attempt at a new bracket yesterday is as ugly as . . . So that has to go and as is often the case the replacement is smaller, neater and nicer.























This also leads me to another bright flash! There is really no need to replace all the fuel lines with flexible and probably good reasons not to. All I need to do is extend the lines to the tank where necessary and cut the inlet side just under the filter and insert a loop to the filter and back to the line. Just leave as much in place as possible. ie If it ain't broke - don't fix it!














Now for the second tank. This means getting the muffler (silencer) off the exhaust pipe and out of the way. Another thing to fix later when the tank has been installed.















And I even managed a social life (dinner with company) in all that.
Not bad as weekends go . . .

The Machine Broke Down . . .

Thursday morning . . .

There's that 1/2 day thing again. My neighbour who owns a plastic extrusion company (called High Precision Profiles) had some dies made in Italy, from where most of his machines come, which attach to his machines by means of a spigot with a 3.5mm pitch thread 120mm in diam. . I made about 8 attachment collars 300mm in diam. and 50mm thick with an internal threaded hole to match the dies.


















For some reason the dies don't seem to have all been threaded the same and there are minute variations which cause them to bind in the collars. Of course this was not discovered until it was time to use the dies - like right NOW!! Emergency. Emergency.
"Can you please true up the threads on the dies so they all match?"
"There goes the morning again. . ." (Sotto voce of course).

Thursday afternoon . . .

While looking at the guards I realised I had suffered a bit of brain fade the other day when I ordered the pipe rolled to match the guards and had specified a size to match the mounting fittings (40nb) which was way larger than needed to act as supports (25nb). Better ring Allbend and get them to use a smaller size pipe.
"No trouble. We haven't started that job yet."
"OK Thanks."

Now let's try and tidy up some details. I ordered some push fittings the other day for the breather hoses from the diff's and transfer case etc. so off to pick them up and a fuel filter to plug into the outlet to keep it all clean. Works beautifully and there is even a convenient little spot to put it out of the way. Nice. (These fittings and pipe are amazing - you can reuse them - and you just use them by pushing the pipe into the fitting. This variety for air can take about 15bar/215psi but you can get hydraulic versions up to about 700bar/10000psi!! All for about $10/fitting and $2/m for hose!)






































The horns were finally located hanging off the lower radiator support but not a really nice place to put the air-trumpets so off with the grill and front trim where I remember some space from fitting the central locking and power windows. Yes - looks like they will go in there very nicely.














Even a spot for the air pump.



















The fitting instructions say to put in a 20amp relay and 30amp fuse but that is going to entail running more power wires from somewhere and there is no convenient spot other than right back to the battery again! It's not like I am going to camp on the horn (or even use it unless necessary) so I think that's a bit of overkill. There is a 15amp fuse in the horn circuit already and there is separate wiring to each of two horns so I will just couple both circuits together and use them for the air pump. A couple of lengths of 8mm air hose to the trumpets and . . . I just love 120db air horns. If you don't pay attention to them you deserve to get 11 tonne of truck tyre tread pattern across your bonnet (hood I guess for our US citizens).
The tilt-cab and height of the chassis off the ground does make life a little easier - you can just climb right in there.























Friday morning . . .

The order came through for 10 new oil-coolers for the power station "up north" so I had better get my finger out and make all the arrangements.
There goes a couple of hours, ordering all the material in and making sure all the other trades will not be closing up too early around Xmas time so that this job can get finished and delivered.

Better check on my pipe rolling too while I am at it.
"The boss only just gave me the job"
"Will it get done today? I would like it for working over the weekend."
"Shouldn't be a problem. I will phone when it is finished."
"Thanks."

Then the phone rings. Who can that be - nobody rings me anymore - now that I am "retired". Another friend of mine (who is building a bus motorhome - The journey begins when the bus is finished).
"Can you machine that bunch of door lock components I need for my storage lockers?"
I had volunteered this service earlier so I really don't mind.
"Sure. Bring them over. I'll set them up and you can push the green button."

Friday afternoon . .

I need t0 get these fuel tanks in. I have just remembered that the new tanks and filter have different fittings to the old one so I have to strip out the old lines to take them over to Couplers so that they can tell me what fittings to use. There are a bunch of young girls (about 20 something I suppose) over there and it would be a mistake to think they don't know what they are doing. I have seen some severely embarrassed males leaving from there from time to time.

Sure enough -

"Hmm. A JIS end flare with a metric thread. We don't keep them in stock but I can have them here on Monday. If you are in a hurry you can just cut off a short piece of the pipe from the end with the fitting, put a flare on the pipe and use the flexible hose directly onto that."

See what I mean. It's embarrassing!




































I have been a little disappointed in having to change from these JIS fittings to hoses and hose-clamps - seems a little more primitive - a backward step - until I came to this point in the exercise.

Chassis Engineer :
"Tank fitting. Hmm. Better use a JIS fitting there. Make the tank fitting out of copper - solder it in place. That way the steel pipe fitting will tighten up really well and get a good seal."





















"Oh Yes. When you cross from the chassis to the motor you better put in a couple if reinforced flexible hoses for the input and return pipes with JIS fittings both ends to take up engine/chassis flex. The power guys can take it from there."
















Powerplant engineer:
"Hmm. How will we fit the fuel inlet hose to the injector system? Put the hose onto a bit of pipe and use a hose clamp. That ought to do it!"























Makes you wonder at times!!

Back to the real world.
Ring Allbend as it's getting late and I haven't heard from them yet.
"Oh Yeah. I meant to call you. Our machine broke down and we have had to swap the job to another machine. I will have it ready first thing Monday."
"Right!!!"

Better make up that bracket for the new filter in a different position to leave more room for the tank. Trial fit it - needs a few mod's! It's made like this to avoid drilling new holes in the chassis by using existing holes. Everything I read (casually and in the VSB's say don't do it)! Better go and check with the very helpful workshop foreman at Major Motors.
" Hi Achmed. (Name changed to protect the (not so) innocent.) When I fit those new tanks and filter etc. I dont have holes in the right positions in the chassis. I am a bit concerned about drilling a whole bunch of new ones."
" I wouldn't worry. Just drill them. We do it all the time and haven't had a problem yet!"
"Thanks Achmed."
( ?????? Well that helped - I think!)























Whoops. There's another day gone. Time to get ready to go and teach my dance class.

The Devil is in the Details

Tuesday morning . . .

Seems like I'm back to 1/2 day work 1/2 day camper. Finished off another shaft and a couple of sprockets for some customers. Then had to do a quote for some special oil-coolers we have made in the past for a power station in the "North West" (to go on some jet turbine engines - quite interesting really). I actually love these - not a great margin but - I order some laser cutting done (and they bend all the parts to shape as well (really good as they are responsible for making them fit)), order tubing the right size to fit and ring up a contract welder I know who is really good and needs no supervision at all. The only thing I have to do is courier the finished items to the zinc-plating, powdercoating and dispatch office. Oh yes - and send the bill- and they deposit the money in my account at the end of the month. In the past if they ordered more than $20K worth they would even front up with part payment on order - don't you just love customers like that??

Tuesday afternoon . . .

Well I am having trouble envisaging the mounting system for the mudguards. There is just too much going on in that part of the chassis to use the standard system so I am going to have to custom fit them. Is it just me?? It is going to take some cantilevered brackets and extensions to get the attachment points on the guards down where I need them. These guards are only made from ABS and wont carry big loads so the mountings will have to be near the mudflaps or they will just vibrate themselves to pieces in no time.. The only way to make this look neat is to get some pipe rolled into a circle just a little bigger than the guards and then cut it up into sections to match the guard and attach the mountings to that and then across to the chassis at a convenient point. That way the pipe circles carry all the weight etc.. There are some guys called "Allbend" that I have used for this type of thing before and they have always been very good so off to see them and what they can do. "Yes. No problem. Ready on Friday" "Thank You. Here's my card. Please ring when they are ready and I will collect them." Back to the workshop.

Better fill my car on the way.

And there's another story - had a gas over diesel option fitted to my Prado (which is a humongous gas guzzler) to try and make it more powerful/economical. Total disaster - company called "AUTOGAS converters" using a system marketed as "D-GAS Diesel Enhancements" did a completely "bodgie' job which they wanted me to pay for before they would fix it. When finally the installation was reasonably neat the damn thing wouldn't work! Wouldn't put any gas into the system. It was changed twice over the next month and failed each time. Then it started using gas but with no improvement in economy - in fact all it did was add the cost of the gas onto the diesel. At the moment it's a standoff - they don't know why it isn't working properly and they won't remove it and give me my money back - I'm quite annoyed to say the least. However - let's not get the blood pressure up again. Wait a minute - where's my credit card - I need it to pay for the fuel. AAARRGGHHH!!! Hmmmm. Took out my wallet to give the tube rolling guy a card - might have dropped it then - phone him - "No. Not Here." Last time I used it was to pay for the mudguards etc. Phone them - "Yes it's here. But we're closing now. You'll have to pick it up from another address if you want it today or from the shop tomorrow."

Well that was the end of work for Tuesday . . . .

But "Surprise!' a courier arrived just as I was closing up for the day (having rescued the credit card). So what is all this? Never imagined I would get so excited about a toilet system! Dometic VT2501 the all ceramic model. Vacuum flush just like flying. Comes as a complete kit - docking station (permanently plumbed in), piping and fittings etc. Cassette tank for storage and even a locker style access door (you have to supply your own infill).














The ceramic bowl. I think I should have ordered the extra riser - this thing is about ankle height!!





















But you have to order an extra tank if you want additional storage.
















Wednesday . . .

When I was in there looking at how to mount the mudguards yesterday I was really pissed off with the arrangement I had come up with for attaching the airbag system. So - you guessed it - tear it out and make it the way it should have been in the first place.
The Airbag Bracket - neater and stronger (even if out of focus). I promise that's the last about the airbag system. I'm not one to go on and on and on and on . . . . . :)


















That's half the day gone.

Let's try and tidy up some of the small jobs this afternoon. The front mudflaps are just lying there. There is a peculiar anomaly about the mudflaps. I have replaced the left one twice now. It seems the airflow is different from the right to the left (it may be something to do with mounting of the right flap is on the chassis and the left one is on the cab - and lifts up and down with it) such that the left flap keeps getting blown forward and touching the tyre and getting ripped off (not before behaving like Rolf Harris's wobble board for a while). Hopefully the new flaps are more rigid and this wont happen. But then again maybe tomorrow I will go and get some light chain and fix it to hold the flap back so it wont happen again.

Ok. Let's try and make sure these suckers wont come off.

The Right Flap























The Left Flap























Now all I have to do is find the old horn so I can replace it with the new airhorns!! I think I saw it behind the front grill one other time.

Green and Gold and Green

Well I was right! Not a single damn thing done on the truck/camper over the weekend. All my own fault really. As I suspected the draw of the new Honda 230L was too much for my weak willed resolution to work on the truck this weekend.

6am Sat. out the door onto the bike. Nice and gentle as we only have 24km on it so far - so a nice gentle ride up into the the local hills around the town of Mundaring. Nice little bakery there so iced-coffee and croissant for breakfast - life's pretty good. There is an interesting track starting near here - not sure if it's the "pipeline" or "powerline" track (it runs alongside one of them) but it's fairly cut up and is left that way as it makes a good test track for 4WDs. I have been up it once before and some parts I was willing to tackle only because there are about 50 4WD/hr going by equipped with all the best recovery gear. Should be a piece of cake for the bike.

I had my GPS mounted on the bars (as it's not hard to get disoriented out in this part of the world and there are a multitude of criss-crossing tracks to lead you astray until you finally run out of fuel - I believe it would be possible to perish no more than 500m from a perfectly good restaurant if you didn't have any "bushcraft"). Anyway - it still happened to be loaded with about 500 not-found Geocaches (What you haven't looked it up yet!?) so I was distracted and took a wrong turning somewhere while looking at them and ended up off the road I intended. There was absolutely no point to the ride other than to "get out there" so I decided to hunt up a few caches in the area. Generally I would do a little research to determine what I was looking for as there are many types of cache and the clues help but this was impromptu so I would take my chances.

After about 30 mins searching for the first cache I gave up in disgust and assumed it was a type that wasn't meant to be found without the preliminary research. Off to the second one - about 20 mins for this one and "Voila!" It's interesting that a lot of these caches are in black containers or black plastic bags etc. and unless you get your mind around a "solid black object" you can look right at it and not see it. Off to number three - another fruitless 30 mins and I abandoned this one too. Off to number four . . . and then it all went pear-shaped. . . . This one was in a place called "Chinaman's Gully" and a real gully it was. The track became fainter and fainter until I was riding cross-country. Normally in "flat-ish " country this can be bad enough - Oz bush is sometimes just tangled impenetrable bushes (hence the name) and can be as bad as jungle to try and get through - but when this is on 45deg. slopes it's close to suicide (when it's not a complete "blast" :) ) And then it poured with rain!! At this time of the year!! By now it was around 3pm and I had managed about 100km cross-country so it was time to go home - that's when the GPS comes into its own - choose - "Home - Onroad - Shortest Distance" and follow the "yellow brick road" (well purple line actually) - home in 30 mins.

Then the old codger had to have a lie down for the rest of the day!
And Sunday seemed a pretty good day to read a book . . .
(But I did look up the Geocache site to log my one find only to notice that the two caches I didn't find had been closed down some time ago - I felt a little better after that).

Monday . . . Damn I forgot (or actually remembered I suppose) that I had to make a shaft I promised for a customer - adn some body was coming to pick up a machine I had sold - so there goes the first half of the day. . .

OK! So now can I work on the truck???

Off to the truck accessories shop. Mudguards. ABS fully moulded $67 inc. GST. Chinese crap again I suppose. WAIT! What's this ??









If there is one thing I like to do it's to support Oz industry ("without cutting my nose off to spite my face") and if its "green" to boot - so much the better - and it looks the "bees knees"!!


















So let's mock it up on the wheel and see what it looks like.
















You'll notice that there are mudflaps made to suit as well - same company - $11 for the little one for the back and $14 for the bigger one for the front. Bonus!!





















And it all comes with mounting kits (for a modest $18 ea.) and it's all "Green and Gold" and "Green".


















So now there is only one problem!! You may remember the whole purpose of taking this route with mudguards and lights etc. was to get the exhaust changed so I could fit the new tanks. Well these mudguards can't be fitted with the exhaust as it is !!!!!! I think I will just have to cut the end off (I will still have the muffler), fit the mudguard and lights and then take it to get the exhaust modified. Not quite like I envisaged but close enough.























Oh. And one last little item I couldn't resist (the current horn is SOOOO WEEAAAK!).

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

My poor old Mum said (at 94) that time just seems to get faster every day. She wasn't kidding! You blink and your kids are 25yrs old!! And everything takes longer and costs more!!

Yes I know. . . . Things are actually cheaper these days (as a % of annual income) but it's a great saying. Like the one about the Golden Rule . . . You know "He who has the gold makes the rules".

However I digress . . .

Not much done today for reasons which will become obvious - surprisingly the metal in the compressor was of a better standard than I expected so I was able to cut, drill and thread it without trouble. You win one every now and then. So a quick mock up to make sure it all works - you can't put any real pressure in these airbags without restraining them or they will tear themselves apart - so I will have to wait to load them up with weight to see if there are any system leaks and how long it takes to pump them up - they expand immediately without any load.



















Now where to locate the pump etc.. I don't really want the pump in the cab but it has no filters (I said it was a piece of crap) to keep out road dust etc. so it's add them on or (lightbulb!) put it in a box. If it all goes well I should only need to alter it for major changes in load eg fill up the water tanks/drain the grey water tank etc. so it's not like it will be used every day. I remember I have an old (new condition) ammunition box which was spare from a number of Geocaches (look it up - it's an interesting hobby) I was making. Now where to put it? There is a bracket on the chassis between the cab and the batteries which had something mounted on it at some time but whatever it was has been removed - but you can't get the bolts out without taking the bracket off. I have been meaning to tidy it up for some time. Maybe I can put it there? What a nice convenient option - drill a few holes in the box - paint it black - music!! I will even be able to monitor it every time I walk past.






















What next - put the roo-bar in front of the truck to see what it looks and fits like. It is definitely a bit more beaten up than I would like - but have you ever noticed that the things that bother you RIGHT NOW generally get forgotten within a fairly short time. There are just too many other things to get pissed off with :) I can see I am going to have to figure out how to deal with the lights - the rest of it should be fairly easy.























OK now for the fuel tanks - let's start fitting them. The trolley is fantastic - will lift 500kg! And really useful! Roll the tank into position to see how it fits - beautiful - leaves about the same clearance underneath as the transfer case so the rollover angle is not compromised. The exhaust however is in the way so it will have to be moved. That means the truck needs to be driven to the exhaust guys so it will have to have mudguards and lights fitted appropriately. There is always something else before you get to the part you want to do. Never mind it's probably easier to do it all now than when the body is sitting in the way. Have to arrange lights, guards and exhaust first thing next week and then I can fit the tanks.


















Hey there's the phone - my new bike is ready!!! I have a lift arranged so it's off to the dealer. Not forgetting the helmet bag.

These guys must be on drugs . . . first they keep me waiting 20 minutes - they already have my signature - it's the next guy they are after. Then the salesman can't even remember which bike I'm here for. When he finally finds it - he just sort of says "There it is." and wanders off! Maybe I should just ride it away and keep the bank cheque in my pocket? But I want the manuals so I suggest a trade. He can't seem to find any manuals - call the mechanics - look in other books - they're under the seat. OK where does the key go to get the seat off - that's how all my other bikes have worked. "You have to what? Take off both the side guards - three bolts each - and then undo a seat retaining bolt to get at the manual???" You've got to be kidding! I'll do it later at home.
OK Let's start it up see how it runs - only 0.6km on the clock - I guess that's the pre-delivery mechanics run around the block. Wait a minute I ordered a bike not a sewing machine - where's the "rorty" exhaust etc. Are you sure it's running? It's on reserve - is there enough fuel to get me to a service station?
Actually I love it being quiet!! Some of the trails I know are spoiled by being noisy - I just want to tick along looking at the scenery these days - not wondering if I am going to come out of the next corner alive.
Off to the servo - it took exactly $2.00 (that is not a misprint) - I hope it was more than half full or is extremely economical or I am not going far with that tank! I would like at least 200km on a tank or it can be a bit of a nuisance. Now should I take the freeway home (I don't want to punish it too much at this point until it has a few km run up)? It's really a road/trail bike so there is no tacho to tell by - so just run it at what seems comfortable. Up to 85kph without too much fuss and bother but it's so hard to tell at the lights if the engine is still running.

Guess how much truck work will get done over the weekend??

Does it Get any Better Than This ???

Well for my cat "The Count Boris LE,SWB,FT" 12 hours and counting in the in-tray (with minor positional changes just for comfort) is about as good as it gets . . . (I wish my bladder was that good!)


















For me on the other hand : remember the dentistry of the other day? Well yesterday about morning tea time (how very English!) I suddenly realised my temporary crown had vanished. Only one place it could be - only two options to recovery - neither very tasteful! Back to the dentist. Fortunately this time - immediate service - 30 mins. and it's replaced - no charge! He really is a very nice guy - it's just that I had very bad experiences when I was younger and they are hard to let go.

Back to the truck: air bag brackets finished, primed painted and installed.




















Now I have to configure the pumping system. I have a 12V tyre pump in my 4WD Prado which I have never used. I think it's one of "Asian" variety but is reported to pump to 700kPa (~100PSI) albeit very slowly however there is a very small amount of air in this system so it will probably do nicely. 700kPA gives me approx. 1000kg/2200lb per bag using 165cc/10cu In. at the design height which sounds just about right. Now I want to be able to monitor this from the cab so I need to mount the pressure gauge, and while I'm at it, the switching for the pump as it's 12V and will need to go through a 15amp fuse from the voltage reducer which as you may remember is under the passenger seat. And of course it's impossible to match any of the threads in the pump system anywhere so now what to do??? I know - let's dismantle the pump and see what can be done!! (You can hear Murphy knocking on the door now can't you?)

Surprise! Surprise! It's a piece of crap!


















Never mind it's extremely simple in design - I'm going to test my luck first and cut off the weird square spigot on the side of the head (which seems to be made of what we used to call "pot metal" or "muck metal" (I'll give you one guess why)) and see if I can drill and tap it with a usable thread. Failing which I will just machine a new head from some decent aluminium and put in whatever thread I feel like. Once I have this bit done I use these fittings which are just "so good"!


















So off to the local "Couplers" store. These people just seem to have everything at ridiculous prices. See that "rear mount" gauge in the photo with the compressor - $18 !! While I'm there I might as well pick up the last couple of fittings for the diff. breathers . . . and on the way there I will call past Major Motors (the local Isuzu dealer) and ask about a new better fuel filter system he said I could replace my clunky one with and then I can get whatever adapters I need from Couplers while I'm there. I try to minimize my running around whenever I can so . . . off I go.

"No sorry we don't have one in stock in this branch - can have it here by 3pm if you'd like. In the mean time come out into the workshop and I will show you one on a truck out there."

"Sounds good to me."

"This is the one."

"Very neat and compact - I'd like one like that. And how much is that big square fuel tank alongside to replace my small round one too (tongue in cheek)."

"They're about $1200 with all the brackets and fittings. Actually we have a couple of square tanks outside which we took off a truck we're dismantling for somebody - he may be interested in selling them."

"Lets go have a look." . . . . " They are perfect! 200l each! How much does he want for them?" (Crossing fingers and toes !!)

"Hang on a second I'll ring him and ask him." . . . . "He wants $150 each including all the fittings."

"YES!! Let's load them up now!!"

"OK let's move them over here. Oh look there's one of those filters I was talking about. You may as well just chuck that in the trailer too - it's no good to us now."

"Whoohoo! That's great. Now all I need for the truck is a roo-bar."

"Oh. You mean like that FSS Smart Bar over there with some scratches on it?"

"Oh - Yes! They are fantastic. Made out of heavy duty memory 'plastic' - very light - bend a bit to absorb impact and then spring back into place. I priced one for my Prado once - about $2000. I dread to think what they'd be for a truck!"

"Well it's pretty second hand now it's scratched - we can't sell it new. Give us a couple of cartons and its yours!"

. . . . .

Thank goodness for drive in bottle shops - I'm not to sure they're happy about the skid marks in the driveway though.

So - the big square fuel tanks I wanted -













The "bull-bar" I didn't think I would buy as they are very expensive - (upside down in the trailer) -










A better simpler fuel filter like this -























To replace the clunky old system like this -




















Which then gives me space to put in the extra fuel tank for 400l instead of 140l - and all for $300 plus a couple of cold cartons.

Does it get any better than that ????

Sometimes the plan works . . .

Apologies to Sun Tzu - but sometimes the plan works.

Yesterday I went to the 4WD and camping show like I planned and spent lots of money and organised to spend even more. Useful information was even obtained !!

I plan to have the bed above the dining area (just like in some Winnebago(s)). So I managed to look in the appropriate model and lo-and-behold there was the manufacturer's name on the bed lift. Same people who make slide-out systems. ( I would dearly like to have liftable wall and roof panels (like in some UNICATs) but I can't figure out how to do it economically - I guess that's why UNICATs (etc) cost upwards of EU 250,000!) I looked up their website and they have diagrams of how it all works (about the way I expected) and now I have both options - import a system or make a similar one . . . mind you I remember someone else who built a similar camper saying "if you can buy it or make it - buy it!" Pity I didn't know this when the dollar was US$0.98!!

I knew I would have to have a reversing camera at sometime and wasn't actually looking for one at this stage however a very competent salesman (he was so good I didn't even get to look and see if he had white shoes) talked me into a show special. Seven inch screen, dual inputs, two sets of cables, one dual daylight/infrared camera (a second camera can be added later if I put the cable in now), money back guarantee etc.. ( but I seem to have misplaced the steak knives) all for about $400 so I don't think it was too bad. This is the very impressive box it came in.

















Wait a minute . . . it's what brand? There isn't even a brand name on the box . . . no "YingTongTiddliPo Lucky Happy Corporation" in sight . . . don't tell me even the chinese wont own up to making this one! I think I'll have to hook it up real soon to see if I need to try and get my money back. Mind you I once went all the way to Taiwan to get my money back for a DUD machine I bought - but that was $150K so it was worth it.

Oh well on to the next stand . . .

I have been negotiating with the guy who is building the double decker bus for a now redundant (but new) generator which he no longer needs as he has upgraded to a 8.5kva from a 6.5kva. While I was walking through the show there were a couple of stands with "SHOW ONLY SPECIALS" for Honda 6.5kva generators exactly the same as the one for which I had been negotiating. $1000 OFF!! Sorry end of negotiation - I'll take the new one with warranty thanks. I'll pick it up from the local dealer tomorrow (ie today). So now I have a brand new generator (and I wont have to rely on the published sizes) to make the fittings around.






















There's only one thing wrong with going to a Honda dealer to pick up a generator (I discovered this morning) - they are just as likely to sell you a new motorbike also! Well I sold my road bike to (eventually) get an off-roader to take with me so I guess that eventuality has arrived. Photos when I pick it up in a couple of days time.

So not much left of the afternoon again so concentrate on getting the air-suspension bits actually started. It's going to be a little more fiddly than I hoped and I may not be able to carry all the weight I hoped in this configuration but it seems to be the best I can do with all the constraints that seem to be governing this. So mocked up in position to see what it looks like before I finish off the support brackets.























And another day bites the dust . . .

Deja Vu

It seems like I've been here before. Yesterday was a no work day. Not because I wanted it to be - it just turned out that way. I would rather have worked 'til midnight. I had to pay my second visit in two weeks to a dentist. A minor job turned into a major job - you know like -

"I need an annual checkup. Oh - and while I'm here -I keep getting stuff stuck between these two teeth. Can you do anything about that?"

"No problems! (For me that is.) Let me have a look? Oh Dear. We'll need to get an x-ray of that" Kaaa-ching!

"Whaseestoeethehrohrlm?"

"Hmm. Seems to be a bit of a problem under the edge of that perfectly good crown. That will have to come off so we can see what's going on." Kaaa-ching!

"Whasatringingnoiseineynears?"

"Oh yes. Your going to need two fillings replaced and were going to have to make a new crown. That will be two more visits - allow 90 mins each." Kaaa-ching Kaaa-ching Kaaa-ching.

"Oh Dear. The power's gone off. I will have to put in a temporary filling and get you back when the power is on again." Kaaa-ching.

Two hours later . . . power restored . . .

"Hmm. I suppose the anaesthetic has worn off. We better give you another shot." Kaaa-ching.

8-30 to 13-30!! NOT my preferred way to spend the morning.

Don't really feel like working when my face is falling off so over to my mate's place to have a look at his computer for him. Seems to have contracted a virus (and I must confess I messed up his keyboard mapping while reorganising some software for him the other day). He's not a technophobe but it is an area in which he hasn't had a lot of experience so his computer needs a bit of work to tidy up and getting rid of the virus took a while. He also wanted a blog set up so he could promote another of his interests - by the end of all that it was nearly midnight. Time flies when your having fun!! :)

SO today - let's get out there and get something done. (Tomorrow morning is going to be out because there is a 4WD and Camping show on and I want to go and get some show specials while I get the chance - so today is really it.)

Rear mounts painted, primed and finally installed in their correct place.
























Loooverly new front mount finally all welded and put into position. (Won't prime and paint that yet as I will put in a couple of shock absorbers on the front end of the camper and I may need to weld an extension to the front mount for them.)
















Finally start cutting up some tube and assembling it (clamping only at this stage) onto the truck just to make sure it is all going together square before I start to weld it all up. It will probably be best to get as much of the main frames tacked together as well as it can then be welded so that the stresses are contained and acting against each other within the frame to minimise distortion.



































There's no "Deja" to that "view" so we must be making progress at last.