We’ve made a lot of camper progress this week, although the progress hasn’t provided a lot of photo ops.
Water:
Tom has spent a lot of time getting the water system pulled together. He pulled the tanks out of the camper last week and made sure the fittings didn’t leak, and this week he hooked up all the pipes and valves into and out of the pump. It looks more complicated than it is because of the number of valves. On the supply side of the pump it’s just the fill tubes to each tank with shutoffs for each tank, tubes from the bottom of each of the two tanks, either of which can be shut off, and a drain tube with a valve so we can empty either or both tanks if necessary. On the pressurized side of the pump we have a T for “city water” and a backflow valve so if we hook up to city water the pump can be bypassed without running water through it backwards.
The disappointment of the week was that after he put it all together and pulled a battery out of the camper to test the pump, he found that the pump didn’t work. He contacted the manufacturer, but because we imported it over six months ago, it’s well out of warranty and probably not worth shipping back to the US anyway. So, he ordered another pump, which should be here in a few weeks, and we will test that one as soon as it arrives. In the meantime, since the pump we have isn’t worth anything, he took it apart and messed with it, and it now sort of works, although it doesn’t produce the pressure it should, randomly shuts off due to a faulty connection in the motor housing, and doesn’t shut off when the water supply is interrupted. At least it will work to test the system.
Water:
Tom has spent a lot of time getting the water system pulled together. He pulled the tanks out of the camper last week and made sure the fittings didn’t leak, and this week he hooked up all the pipes and valves into and out of the pump. It looks more complicated than it is because of the number of valves. On the supply side of the pump it’s just the fill tubes to each tank with shutoffs for each tank, tubes from the bottom of each of the two tanks, either of which can be shut off, and a drain tube with a valve so we can empty either or both tanks if necessary. On the pressurized side of the pump we have a T for “city water” and a backflow valve so if we hook up to city water the pump can be bypassed without running water through it backwards.
The disappointment of the week was that after he put it all together and pulled a battery out of the camper to test the pump, he found that the pump didn’t work. He contacted the manufacturer, but because we imported it over six months ago, it’s well out of warranty and probably not worth shipping back to the US anyway. So, he ordered another pump, which should be here in a few weeks, and we will test that one as soon as it arrives. In the meantime, since the pump we have isn’t worth anything, he took it apart and messed with it, and it now sort of works, although it doesn’t produce the pressure it should, randomly shuts off due to a faulty connection in the motor housing, and doesn’t shut off when the water supply is interrupted. At least it will work to test the system.
All the components, before being put in order.
Everything laid out, approximately how it will fit in the camper. 
Tom’s hands, putting pieces together. The tanks are back in the camper.
Cabinets:
We took the camper back to Angel on Monday, both so they could start installing the cabinets, and so it would be there to make sure a couple of special shelves would fit. One of the special shelves is actually the floor of the cabinet over the sink, and it is being designed so it will serve both as a drying rack for dishes, and as secure storage so the dishes won’t bounce and break as we move. It will also store and dry silverware, cooking utensils, and our Yeti cups. The other is the floor of the cabinet over the stove, where we are installing a shelf with holes drilled in it for storage of jars and bottles so they can rest on the floor, but be seated in what are basically cup holders. We have room for six large Mason jars, and three wine bottles…which should do us, since the white wine will ride in the fridge anyway. We also asked that the upper shelves be just high enough to slide Rubbermaid containers in and out, and Angel added the feature of a lip on the front of the shelf. We didn’t get photos of all of this, but we’re pretty excited about how it’s going to work. They also installed the cabinet for the electrical system, and the cabinets under the sink and stove, and those are done and in there for good!
We took the camper back to Angel on Monday, both so they could start installing the cabinets, and so it would be there to make sure a couple of special shelves would fit. One of the special shelves is actually the floor of the cabinet over the sink, and it is being designed so it will serve both as a drying rack for dishes, and as secure storage so the dishes won’t bounce and break as we move. It will also store and dry silverware, cooking utensils, and our Yeti cups. The other is the floor of the cabinet over the stove, where we are installing a shelf with holes drilled in it for storage of jars and bottles so they can rest on the floor, but be seated in what are basically cup holders. We have room for six large Mason jars, and three wine bottles…which should do us, since the white wine will ride in the fridge anyway. We also asked that the upper shelves be just high enough to slide Rubbermaid containers in and out, and Angel added the feature of a lip on the front of the shelf. We didn’t get photos of all of this, but we’re pretty excited about how it’s going to work. They also installed the cabinet for the electrical system, and the cabinets under the sink and stove, and those are done and in there for good!
Making sure the containers fit. I’ll use these for storing flour, sugar, and other dry goods.
The electrical cabinet, with doors on two sides for easy access.
Cabinets and drawers under the sink and refrigerator. These are finished!
Lights:
When Jeff and Kathy were here and Jeff went over the truck with Tom, he mentioned that the small red running lights we had put in the rail would get us in trouble in the US, since red can only be at the very back of the vehicle. So, Tom put in all the amber lights we have, and ordered more small amber lights from the US. They should be here in a few weeks, so then he’ll pop out the red ones and put in the amber. In the meantime, none of those are hooked up anyway, so we’ll just wait until we get the amber lights to do the final hookup.
When Jeff and Kathy were here and Jeff went over the truck with Tom, he mentioned that the small red running lights we had put in the rail would get us in trouble in the US, since red can only be at the very back of the vehicle. So, Tom put in all the amber lights we have, and ordered more small amber lights from the US. They should be here in a few weeks, so then he’ll pop out the red ones and put in the amber. In the meantime, none of those are hooked up anyway, so we’ll just wait until we get the amber lights to do the final hookup.
Air Ride:
We mentioned a few weeks ago that the air ride system wasn’t working properly. Since that time, it’s been off and on. The problem is with the computer, rather than with the actual parts that are doing the work, so Tom talked to a local company that services those systems for the big trucks. They determined that they could put in non-computerized controls, which should be fine for our purposes, and will be easily repaired if they malfunction. One of our guiding principles for this build has been to go simple and not high tech whenever possible, so we are taking the truck to Rig Parts to get that done tomorrow.
We mentioned a few weeks ago that the air ride system wasn’t working properly. Since that time, it’s been off and on. The problem is with the computer, rather than with the actual parts that are doing the work, so Tom talked to a local company that services those systems for the big trucks. They determined that they could put in non-computerized controls, which should be fine for our purposes, and will be easily repaired if they malfunction. One of our guiding principles for this build has been to go simple and not high tech whenever possible, so we are taking the truck to Rig Parts to get that done tomorrow.
Floor:
And, while we are in Spanish Lookout getting the air ride fixed, we will pick up our hardwood flooring, which we ordered last week. We picked out cabbage bark, also known as manchich, and it’s going to be beautiful as well as very durable. We thought about using mahogany to match the cabinets, but while mahogany is considered a hardwood in most of the world, we have access to much harder woods which will hold up much better as flooring, especially when there’s a very small floor space which will be getting a lot of traffic between us and the dogs. Photos to follow.
And, while we are in Spanish Lookout getting the air ride fixed, we will pick up our hardwood flooring, which we ordered last week. We picked out cabbage bark, also known as manchich, and it’s going to be beautiful as well as very durable. We thought about using mahogany to match the cabinets, but while mahogany is considered a hardwood in most of the world, we have access to much harder woods which will hold up much better as flooring, especially when there’s a very small floor space which will be getting a lot of traffic between us and the dogs. Photos to follow.