The end is near, which is a Good Thing

With the cab heater on it's way from Walsall (or China, more likely) for a mere £97, I had to get busy finishing the interior so I can focus on fitting the heater and going on a few test trips.

The heater is 400mm long and that means it should fit beautifully between the vents that used to be fitted to the rear heater (double one on the left above, and A/C on the right). I plan to draw the 'cool' air (i.e. the air to be heated) from the AC vent which is under the bed and blow it in to the front vents which feed both floor level behind the driver's seat and the rear overhead vents.

So, on with the interior

If you remember from previous posts I've got the layout pretty much sorted.

• rear drawer will be the kitchen and larder. I have 2 Camping Gaz clip on stoves which are brilliant (and I have a dozen large canisters which last ages).
• Each stove mounts on the canister which will be set into a hole cut into an aluminium plate for stability
• the side of the drawer will be cust away to allow access for controlling the stove but also act as a windbreak
• the back half of the drawer will be storage for cooking utensils, tins etc

the cooking area mocked up

drawer fully extended

Next was to fit the 3rd drawer on top of the 'table' drawer in such a way it cna slide forwards but doesn't impede the kitchen. Answer? Put a lid on 2/3rds of the table drawer and bolt the top box to it, set back to the shelf in the back.

• The finishing piece to square up the sliding door area has also been done, in 12mm ply, and will carry USB charging ports and maybe a 13A socket connected to an inverter.
• the space over the wheel arch will remain open for loose storage of sleeping bags, window blinds, jackets etc
• the table sits perfectly in the gap between the front drawers and the side panel.

the front 1/3rd of the table drawer has a lid to finish it off

I just need some nice hinges

the top box just missed the rear shelf

All I need now is a warm enough day (over 10C) to get the inside varnished and then I can do some test packing and see what other wee jobs are needed.

Job List

• make the kitchen stove area from aluminium sheet
• wire up the split charge system
• fit charging sockets
• fit the night heater
• varnish the interior
• make window blinds
• test load/pack
• get away for a test trip.