Painting the frame

I hated painting when I started and still hated it when i was finished.

Nearly there with the paint, another couple of days.

New Hydraulic Tank

To fit the generator where i did required the moving of the hydraulic tank, This tank holds the fluid for the power steering and the winches.

Not only did I have to move it but it was also replaced because the one I had didn't fit in the space I needed it to go.

Lucky only one of the four hoses needed to be replaced, the other three were long enough.

Generator

Fitting the generator was a bit of a pain, i was first going to put it inside the truck (in the rear Garage section) then i decided it would take up too much space in there.

The next plan was on the left-hand side behind the last axel, it was just slightly too big for that space as well.

So plan "C" was to mount it on the righthand side behind the front wheel,  The only problem was there is a Hydraulic tank there.
So the only option was the Hydraulic tank has to move.

I had to make a bracket to hang the generator of (its 160Kg) but i also wanted it to slide out for servicing.

The generator is mounted on rubber feet, it connects to the Aux fuel tank and has its own starter battery. It is wired into the vehicle's electrical system and connected to the alarm as well.

I will be making a cover for the front of it, so it won't look like a generator.

The generator is a Cummins Onan QD5000  5.5Kw diesel unit, very quiet.

Auxiliary Fuel Tank

The truck is fitted with three 200Ltr Tanks,  Two of them are connected together, the other one is separate, but i am able to transfer the fuel from it to the other tanks if needed.

Essentially the third tank operates as a fuel supply for the water heating, cabin heating and to run the generator.  It is also the reserve fuel supply.

All the pipework is now complete and pressure tested.

Spare Wheel Lifts

The idea here is to have two independent lift systems for each of the two spare wheels,  at 400Kg each there not something you want to be trying to lift manually.

i initially thought about using telescopic hydraulic cylinders but they tend to be very large in diameter and wouldn't fit with my framework idea, so now i am looking at electric winches.

So my idea is that there is a frame mounted on the back of the truck that has a sliding frame inside it, this sliding frame is telescopic and is lifted from its lower half by the winch. The upper half of the frame acts as a guide and just follows the lower half (thats the theory anyway)

The electric winch will sit at the top of the frame with a pully on the lower frame when locked for traveling the weight will be held by a solid 20mm locking bar.

The spare wheel will be bolted to the lower half of the frame when it is lowered to the ground, it's just unbolted and rolled away.

Outer Skin

The outer skin on the frame is going to be 3mm GRP,  This is easy to apply hard wearing, easy to repair.
I wanted to do the sheeting of the sides and roof in one piece so there would be no joins

I collected the material from the supplier this week, a 600km round trip but worth it.

So here it is 30m of 3mm GRP sheet.

More Steel Work

i recently got a new lease of life regarding the steelwork, i was a little bit bored with welding and grinding. 

Now however i am really moving along, the sides are finished the roof is finished and the rear is almost finished.

Next job, cladding.