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goffoz
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 1486
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 Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
Wait...it looks like there is another flap on that wallet!
There's only two people that matter...the one waking up next to you and the one signing your paycheck. The rest are just opinions.
It's looking GREAT! |
YES absolutely, looking great  , I feel your anxiety 
I sign my own paycheck, and a few others   |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| Steve M. wrote: |
There's only two people that matter...the one waking up next to you and the one signing your paycheck. The rest are just opinions.
It's looking GREAT! |
| goffoz wrote: |
YES absolutely, looking great , I feel your anxiety
I sign my own paycheck, and a few others |
Thanks guys! Its been a blast... Oh and there's the Sweat Equity that you can place a value on but I've loved every minute of it. I enjoy working on the van almost as much as I love driving it. =)
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Abel Longoria
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steewoz
Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2009
Posts: 170
Location: Boston
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:05 am Post subject: |
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I finally pulled the trigger on a Webasto (gasoline) heater for the van and after many weeks of trying to decide where to put it I opted for placing it right behind the passenger seat.
My reasoning?
Well for one... I wanted the hot air outlet vent to remain completely unobstructed. I normally sleep on the lower bunk and having covers/blankets over hang the bench bed and onto the floor obstructs the airflow of the heater if i had placed it under the bench seat. maybe not enough to make a big deal but I just wanted the air flow to be the best t can be. I also wanted the return ambient air intake at least 2' away from the hot air outlet. I'm not a fan of placing the ambient air intake right next to the hot air outlet. They need to be spaced apart.
I currently have a Thetford Marine Toilet for the lady that we keep where the stock fridge was originally located. That thing takes up a ton of storage space for food and such. This design allows us to house the toilet in this base, when its needed there will be a door on the side where the toilet can be slid out of the cabinet and placed on the floor. easy peasy.
Here's a model of the box in AuoCAD. The second vent on the front is just to let that underneath cabinet area beathe a little. not for air out or air in.
I made the openings in the cabinet to fit the stock Westfalia flat cabinet doors that are used next to the galley. GoWesty still sells these as New Old Stock straight from Westfalia so I ordered two doors and some grey hinges. I found a place locally that sells the grey laminate that GoWesty also sells but I can buy it in large 4'x8' sheets instead of smaller sheets via GoWesty.
Webasto heater installed with a short radius outlent elbow added since the area under the cabinet is very tight.
I found a sign place here in Houston that had a CNC Router and I contacted them to cut out my panels. Since I designed the cabinet in AutoCAD I just sent the shop a DXF file of all of the panels laid flat on a 4'x8' outline. I took a sheet of 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood to the shop and a day later my panels were ready to be picked up. sweet! they charged me $40.
Assembly took about a couple of hours. this is a usable mockup. I plan to use this version for a month or two and camp with it and see how I need to change it or tweak it to suite my needs. I already see a few things I want to change and things I need to correct... Final version will get full laminate treatment and edge trimming. I want it to look as stock as possible.
Can't wait to try this out!
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Abel Longoria
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:32 am Post subject: |
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| dobryan wrote: |
Very nice!
Just curious, how do you plan on strapping down the cabinet and the fridge so it doesn't break loose in an accident? |
I have longer tie down rods to attach it to the eye bolts where my seat belts attach to the van. the cabinet will be bolted to the floor.
I am considering install some tie down track to the top of the cabinet in between the fridge ends and the vertical sides. then attach two tie down straps to each end. tracks like these:
Also consider bolting through bolts from to the fridge through the top of the cabinet base.
I am a firm believer in making everything secure and solid while driving so this is an item I will make sure is done right.
something similar to this...
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Abel Longoria
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17124
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:16 am Post subject: |
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Nice build.
I don't get this though. I'd be sick if I f'd up that bad.
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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narendra.vw
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2013
Posts: 440
Location: Bangalore India
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| HoustonPhotog wrote: |
I ended up upgrading from my Bus Depot EZY Awning Plus to a 11'6" Fiamma F45s hard case awning. It was a breeze to install and I can't wait to use it camping soon.
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Fiamma F45S Awning
http://dasmotoclub.com/fiamma-f45s-awning/
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Weather it’s 2013(clean) or 2014(tough), both pic looks stunning.
Is 11'6" length or width?
Regarding wallet, now you can sit comfortably & enjoy the ride.  |
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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HoustonPhotog
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Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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newfisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012
Posts: 1764
Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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Libby is AMAZING!
I love the white outer color. I just scored an 11.5 Fiamma after reading about it in your thread. You have done everything I hope to do to our new-to-us van including emptying my wallet 
When will the auto cad files be available for those of us needing a cool cabinet?  |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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| newfisher wrote: |
Libby is AMAZING!
I love the white outer color. I just scored an 11.5 Fiamma after reading about it in your thread. You have done everything I hope to do to our new-to-us van including emptying my wallet
When will the auto cad files be available for those of us needing a cool cabinet? |
thanks! you'll love the longer awning no doubt. I'm so glad I opted for it versus the 10 footer.
As far as the cabinet, I'm hoping to have my design finalized in January and then I can put the AutoCAD and DXF cut files online for people to download if they wish.
I may offer a few variations to download:
1. One set just like I built mine with the heater area, false bottoms & potty access
2. One without the heater area and false bottoms, with access for potty
3. One without the heater area and false bottoms, without access for potty
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Abel Longoria
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newfisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012
Posts: 1764
Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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Im following your lead with the pass seat mounted webasto  |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| newfisher wrote: |
| Im following your lead with the pass seat mounted webasto |
perfect! what fridge do you have?
the only thing I really have in question is if I want that front lower left cut out or not.
I wanted to put a drawer there or some sort of small westfalia style door but it might be a pain. considered leaving it open so I and put flip flops, or other little items in there while traveling. just not sure yet.
I camped with the box last weekend and loved it.
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Abel Longoria
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newfisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012
Posts: 1764
Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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No fridge yet, most likely an ARB. I am pulling the trigger on the gasoline Webasto heater and like where you have installed it.
Lower left cubby with a drop down hinged matching door. Flips is a great idea! |
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HoustonPhotog
Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2013
Posts: 1514
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:49 am Post subject: |
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It seems like these doors are no longer available at GoWesty... I may have bought the last two available.
I'm still working on the design of the cabinet and it seems these stock westfalia doors may be a bit too big for the space I have allowed so there may be a change of plans and simply design new sized doors along with the cabinet.
building custom doors might be a better option since if anyone downloads these build plans they wont be able to find the OG westfalia flat cabinet doors new and will have to resort to the used market which is not very fruitful.
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Abel Longoria
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Hodakaguy
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Joined: April 25, 2012
Posts: 661
Location: Eastern WA
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