tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305486311034968652024-03-16T03:57:04.846-07:00THE INTERSTATE BLOGDIY and Travel Adventures in an Airstream InterstateInterstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-20261355355866600922021-02-18T15:36:00.003-08:002021-02-19T07:05:04.870-08:00PLUMBING AN EXTERNAL PROPANE TANK FOR AN AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE<p> For a number of years, I thought it was not feasible to connect external propane sources to our 2007 <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/interstate-24gt/" target="_blank"><b>Airstream Interstate </b></a>Class B camper van. Several years ago, we dissected this issue in a lengthy and detailed Air Forums thread titled "<b><a href="https://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/carrying-extra-propane-2006-t1n-interstate-parkway-154016.html" target="_blank">Carrying extra propane--2006 T1N Interstate Parkway</a></b>" (the Parkway was a contemporaneous short-lived model produced at the same time as first-gen Interstates). At that time, we concluded that we just didn't have the clearance required to plumb the correct fitting on our tightly-configured vans.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_yqYe2KCoeAupNZttbjMMBY1uEOZjkG6xKDNdaxBMXKY-FHj1M70Cc6G0sfGBlPAq6cMeuc0EUik_jMrb1xzb6NhS1LXIXn5dHMQtM2QcZxwF31Weep3-jF18Q8OTh6TLdwx_ewFuZUf/s1060/r0Ptnfc.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1060" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_yqYe2KCoeAupNZttbjMMBY1uEOZjkG6xKDNdaxBMXKY-FHj1M70Cc6G0sfGBlPAq6cMeuc0EUik_jMrb1xzb6NhS1LXIXn5dHMQtM2QcZxwF31Weep3-jF18Q8OTh6TLdwx_ewFuZUf/w400-h281/r0Ptnfc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the measuring tape at top right? Too tight to do anything useful with that space.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But of course, back in 2016 when that thread was hatched, we were still thinking <b>inside the box</b>, weren't we? It took a full-blown humanitarian crisis and emergency in which <b><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/17/texas-winter-storm-power-outage-ercot/" target="_blank">one-quarter of the Texas population found itself without electricity and without water service in many cases in sub-zero weather</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/town-square/2021/02/15/391520/over-one-million-harris-county-residents-without-power-as-temperatures-plunge-below-freezing/" target="_blank">approx. 1.3 million people in greater Houston alone were left without basic utilities</a></b>, as a polar vortex crippled the Texas power grid,... it took ALL THAT to push us outside of our original box. </p><p>And by "us", I really mean my husband, who invented this approach I describe below. Rather than trying to install a fitting AFTER the freakin' OEM propane regulator, as we had originally aspired to do, he figured out that we could tap into the T-fitting that we abandoned when we removed the original Dometic propane fridge and installed a compressor-driven Vitrifrigo instead (see <b><a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/07/replacing-fridge-in-airstream.html" target="_blank">this other post</a></b>).</p><p>The sequence goes as shown in the scribble images below. I have referenced the corresponding part numbers as those parts were found at Lowes hardware store in February 2021. Note that there are probably more elegant ways to plumb this thing, but in our electrical grid failure emergency, a lot of supplies were sold out, especially items relating to alternate energy that people were trying desperately to cobble together at the scale of their households. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsVeUrgtZcEFSEUQFPm-9pHFf_lMIeMG7BiNwbQQQvQX530XWHxvnEZT12-KlbJPzw1ogP_2fBGBu4uGRF9I89ZcJ85q7e1cljZ7VV8OQS81m8NIp7FPgtKsbpbSBKD99r-xR4wpTA6Jk/s2048/IMG_1066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsVeUrgtZcEFSEUQFPm-9pHFf_lMIeMG7BiNwbQQQvQX530XWHxvnEZT12-KlbJPzw1ogP_2fBGBu4uGRF9I89ZcJ85q7e1cljZ7VV8OQS81m8NIp7FPgtKsbpbSBKD99r-xR4wpTA6Jk/w300-h400/IMG_1066.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view underneath the van, looking up at the chassis. There you see the T-fitting and where the new line is connected to the existing propane distribution system under the van. TAP TO EXPAND EACH PHOTO FOR PROPER RESOLUTION - I'm still using Blogger which is an obsolete platform and embedded photos are downsampled.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE5VWawHk7XZKq8kN6Cw1-edm-HBZG75YQcdJ1PkOiEITYAIzNjawpIS_-XIZX4rtAE3wdE5SV-yzrIc95v38R6AsNhmCaWMnSCl6pnvGfeQl6_7GHYBNlfqcGmuhM5lq1PxMGX21bzEt/s2048/IMG_1069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoE5VWawHk7XZKq8kN6Cw1-edm-HBZG75YQcdJ1PkOiEITYAIzNjawpIS_-XIZX4rtAE3wdE5SV-yzrIc95v38R6AsNhmCaWMnSCl6pnvGfeQl6_7GHYBNlfqcGmuhM5lq1PxMGX21bzEt/w400-h300/IMG_1069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the other end of the line shown in (1), with the protective plug (black) still shown in the quick disconnect fitting. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg183IfDzRkjRdEytBRoyrxdwoKYdIaM8X8Da26F5czYPMlsnvtXuQ2sl1c-bCbtjZhmyJMTr3awVzn2TQTKeRSeUZy0-hIvCpmPNTM65T3Q-c32Tzw6mIOlejtRzwFZMVIO6-pjIm6UbTq/s2048/IMG_1067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg183IfDzRkjRdEytBRoyrxdwoKYdIaM8X8Da26F5czYPMlsnvtXuQ2sl1c-bCbtjZhmyJMTr3awVzn2TQTKeRSeUZy0-hIvCpmPNTM65T3Q-c32Tzw6mIOlejtRzwFZMVIO6-pjIm6UbTq/w300-h400/IMG_1067.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This just shows how that line snakes from the T junction amidships back to the rear end of the van where the terminal quick-connect is located.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg183IfDzRkjRdEytBRoyrxdwoKYdIaM8X8Da26F5czYPMlsnvtXuQ2sl1c-bCbtjZhmyJMTr3awVzn2TQTKeRSeUZy0-hIvCpmPNTM65T3Q-c32Tzw6mIOlejtRzwFZMVIO6-pjIm6UbTq/s2048/IMG_1067.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3cv0MCJYEYQGrMIlJV-8wRImr9QfdpFAW2WxX5Lcttl6d3eFrhwSF15hnccdZzTS1CHVYETbDgjmzgmuaqhi5sfnQpfIPoSP4LRu0V2H18kCH67VW3ybfo74tAR1iOPg347GBxHhvWAH/s2048/IMG_1072.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3cv0MCJYEYQGrMIlJV-8wRImr9QfdpFAW2WxX5Lcttl6d3eFrhwSF15hnccdZzTS1CHVYETbDgjmzgmuaqhi5sfnQpfIPoSP4LRu0V2H18kCH67VW3ybfo74tAR1iOPg347GBxHhvWAH/w400-h300/IMG_1072.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the quick disconnect (QD) hooked to the line that runs to the peripheral propane supply.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzvFIiOVCgI_rz8TOqcM4gDTIkyrwhEzop3v3i6h1E64jMTe61SbJdgAs-7BdqYJMVAIi_RW0dyJBtLH3wVECkSUM53ljAcfTutupdeQO-V4rdxPLm5ekniIBNId3gmzZgEy7JUfXoIet/s2048/IMG_1070.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzvFIiOVCgI_rz8TOqcM4gDTIkyrwhEzop3v3i6h1E64jMTe61SbJdgAs-7BdqYJMVAIi_RW0dyJBtLH3wVECkSUM53ljAcfTutupdeQO-V4rdxPLm5ekniIBNId3gmzZgEy7JUfXoIet/w400-h300/IMG_1070.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line connecting to the 20-pound external propane bottle. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I said, there are probably more elegant ways to achieve this, but this seems to work. For safety, I will be leaving that yellow valve shown in (1) closed except when we need to be operating off an external propane bottle. That means crawling directly under the center of the van to close that valve, but I'm used to that.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the reason why we worked to finally get this achieved, after all these years of van ownership?</div><div><br /></div><div>Because we have an upright freezer filled with hundreds of dollars of home-made organic meals. If we don't find a way to save that during <b><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-winter-storms-2021/2021/02/18/968998341/texas-rolling-blackouts-are-anything-but-mayor-says" target="_blank">the rolling black-outs</a></b> that we were told were going to be 15 - 45 minutes each but which actually lasted, <b><i>OH, ABOUT 52 HOURS!!</i></b> the first time, it would really represent a loss because it's not just the cost of ingredients - it's hours and hours of our time to prepare and freeze all that stuff for future travels. So now we have the option of running an extension cord from our Interstate to our house, and powering our freezer off our Interstate's propane generator. We couldn't do that previously because the onboard propane supply is insufficient to meet that kind of load (the onboard tank is very small). We needed an external source, with propane bottles we could swap in and out at will.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's music to my ears in this demonstration:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZtMTmR_RYo" width="320" youtube-src-id="kZtMTmR_RYo"></iframe></div><br /><div><b>POSTSCRIPT: </b> This post focuses on a project that we frantically undertook in an effort to save some of our food. It doesn't say much about the plight of our 30 million fellow Texans. Here's an image reflecting some of the extent of that, a small ode to a population that has suffered immensely this week:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bmzn3Jw-88lpjjMVOGEbDKtc5iWeW9KX-G91KqJrQ_QzHTvAM8dBFWELYPEoYT55wxV-O18TbmjFgnzkvwCCc77S3LS8o2kmcVkyQi7H0NOGyf4_QzwZp9CSWtPx02_IPLeQ7LaVoekS/s1776/20210219_PWS_DAMAGED_COMPONENTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1776" data-original-width="894" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bmzn3Jw-88lpjjMVOGEbDKtc5iWeW9KX-G91KqJrQ_QzHTvAM8dBFWELYPEoYT55wxV-O18TbmjFgnzkvwCCc77S3LS8o2kmcVkyQi7H0NOGyf4_QzwZp9CSWtPx02_IPLeQ7LaVoekS/w201-h400/20210219_PWS_DAMAGED_COMPONENTS.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-46638827544858846272020-07-19T11:26:00.002-07:002020-07-19T11:26:49.481-07:00MAXIMIZING CABINETRY END CAP STORAGE FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEAlmost a year and no posts, because Blogger is all but a dead platform and I have too many other priorities to convert my content to a more secure space.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this project was enough of a pain in the rear end that I figured some instructions were warranted for anyone who may wish to try something similar.<br />
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I started out with a pair of<b><a href="https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Honey-Can-Do-SmartSpace-Edition-Wall-Mounted-Triple-Cereal-Dispenser-KCH-06139/206131178?mtc=Shopping-BA-F_HDH-G-D29B-29_29_HOUSEWARES-MULTI-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-Food_Storage&cm_mmc=Shopping-BA-F_HDH-G-D29B-29_29_HOUSEWARES-MULTI-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-Food_Storage-71700000053156031-58700005102355542-92700046592912005&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3s_4BRDPARIsAJsyoLPTsU0i55q5K5Ajo4yPTxIZr_AfdA0YTO8PYV-6V7wrD4-TMo-6si4aAqBTEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds"> Zevro dry food dispensers</a></b> in this space, which I installed several years ago, and which looked really cool. But these things were a nightmare of under-engineering. They may be fine for climate-controlled kitchens, but they don't work in an over-the-road scenario.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-qrC5gsPscZtTh_JxLb2oM0efNZG6-dEtbSRDHPyakc3MJRCFrwB-hTiIbZzcAV8BFlq4Yv0S8zhvW3E3IaygaDTws58odS9HKsPQ_bR5Cg4Mtlgirn_kJJYeVGUX4zA3JXjer19Dq8J/s1600/20200702-END-CAP-EXISTING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-qrC5gsPscZtTh_JxLb2oM0efNZG6-dEtbSRDHPyakc3MJRCFrwB-hTiIbZzcAV8BFlq4Yv0S8zhvW3E3IaygaDTws58odS9HKsPQ_bR5Cg4Mtlgirn_kJJYeVGUX4zA3JXjer19Dq8J/s400/20200702-END-CAP-EXISTING.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exquisite design style, but useless, representing thirty bucks I will never see again.</td></tr>
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The bottom caps would fall off with a clatter whenever we hit a good road bump, and then cereal would start dumping all over our galley kitchen. Even in the best of times when we could wrap them with rubber bands to keep them together, the containers were not air tight, and the cereal would get soggy in high-humidity conditions. So, as attractive as the Zevros obviously are, and as well-scaled for the space, they had to get gone.<br />
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I decided I wanted to retain the cabinetry end cap space as a cereal storage area, though, because it is so convenient. On long road trips, my husband and I typically eat a large meal in the middle of the day, then drive until nightfall, park in a Cracker Barrel or Wallyworld, grab a quick bowl of cereal, and get to sleep as fast as possible. It's just so easy to reach up there and grab cereal without having to rummage around under the galley in the dark.<br />
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My construction and installation sequence went like this.<br />
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(1) I ordered two of my favorite storage bottle - the Nalgene 48 ounce silo, directly from <b><a href="https://www.nalgene.com/">Nalgene</a></b>. I did not want any printing or graphics on the bottles - I just wanted a clean, unmarked style.<br />
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(2) Husband and I designed a holding platform to fit the cabinetry end cap. The space is a difficult configuration, with a headknocker abutting it from the sliding door, the curved cabinetry and side of the van, etc. We settled on a simple design with the bracket in the center rather than on the edges as a typical suspended wall shelf might have, because of the geometry of the space. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0wKvrXyl3Os3jwRlmwmL6mP31ZW3hXXzpZA8LknED8EA5ttMCbkpgY7vIU6Mo-HKDScozFpDfW2xgZXwVNWJiP9DOlfFcJsbjRAsQ3uSzGcaqJPeizzna9DmOO9iRs3Ic6Zl4jqNGym/s1600/20200718-BAKING-OVEN-PARTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1280" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0wKvrXyl3Os3jwRlmwmL6mP31ZW3hXXzpZA8LknED8EA5ttMCbkpgY7vIU6Mo-HKDScozFpDfW2xgZXwVNWJiP9DOlfFcJsbjRAsQ3uSzGcaqJPeizzna9DmOO9iRs3Ic6Zl4jqNGym/s400/20200718-BAKING-OVEN-PARTS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore the red thing - that's our rear door prop, which received a second coat of red enamel at the same time. The two pieces of the cereal shelf were painted to match the Interstate's countertop and other gray items.</td></tr>
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(3) I made a stiff paper template in order to position the hole locations on the cabinetry. The geometry of the work area meant that the holes had to be drilled from the front and screwed from the back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYv3qfAG8kNWSEQbB_xHwjdvUUIXF-2JlGHp1gESZLk5FC311DNeZzJClULrcOhLN5iSH0ci_LNIySaBvgVsK4xF11ox4GKRed9zL6hxBMlaRAdzecJe_3yl8wCQTRlODFIrzSdg2_SGq/s1600/1-IMG_0982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYv3qfAG8kNWSEQbB_xHwjdvUUIXF-2JlGHp1gESZLk5FC311DNeZzJClULrcOhLN5iSH0ci_LNIySaBvgVsK4xF11ox4GKRed9zL6hxBMlaRAdzecJe_3yl8wCQTRlODFIrzSdg2_SGq/s400/1-IMG_0982.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Template on the wall-facing part of the shelf. You can see how closely the paint color matches the countertop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOBz8tM1Ff10tlG0r89sd1tWaOJ1t-zL-dNqNcLo-O5LmXbsrd72XnTSvehU_SbfbYUHpnW-DfRquND5OVqjDdzcQqqd3s-UKgkVIEz_lqb18JY2yd4fo4RexwKtgjlQKXp9dIqIHMBU4/s1600/1-IMG_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOBz8tM1Ff10tlG0r89sd1tWaOJ1t-zL-dNqNcLo-O5LmXbsrd72XnTSvehU_SbfbYUHpnW-DfRquND5OVqjDdzcQqqd3s-UKgkVIEz_lqb18JY2yd4fo4RexwKtgjlQKXp9dIqIHMBU4/s400/1-IMG_0979.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Template on the end cap. I had obstructions behind that face on the top and bottom, so I had to choose my screw locations carefully.</td></tr>
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(4) I then screwed the assembled shelf / bracket to the wall and set about figuring about how to make stretchy retaining loops for the two containers. There could be no chance of them falling off the cabinet because this area sits right above our glass-topped sink. One falling bottle would cost us a few hundred dollars for a new sink top.<br />
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(5) In order to make the hold straps, I used fabric elastic and double-cap rivets (<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-750T-Double-Cap-Rivet-Tools/dp/B071VZL86B">here</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012IGG5KW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share">here</a></b>) that my husband got us so that we could replace the stock straps on N95 masks with something more fitted and comfortable (with the coronavirus pandemic and material shortages, single-use N95s are being stretched out for use over several months apiece). I would prefer to use shock cord in this application, but I could not find professional-looking and properly-sized end finishes on short notice.<br />
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The elastic strap was held in place by simple eye-screws that extend into the end cap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx6gTx9aWADxvMq-CCmGi10IxUmnBwH6SqJd1wK9iVI0y3YmWv9InjZEKjo79z8lNLX5oeHdIFRY29DqvM0tcg7Jech2j5LGAdx4CuT1cEgWN9dQYnDF6_t6TTLHf2uCBG9qJtFb0u9fu/s1600/1-IMG_0983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx6gTx9aWADxvMq-CCmGi10IxUmnBwH6SqJd1wK9iVI0y3YmWv9InjZEKjo79z8lNLX5oeHdIFRY29DqvM0tcg7Jech2j5LGAdx4CuT1cEgWN9dQYnDF6_t6TTLHf2uCBG9qJtFb0u9fu/s400/1-IMG_0983.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to get the elastic band into the eye screws once they were screwed into the cabinet, it was necessary to Dremel out a narrow channel where the round terminus of the eye almost touches the shaft. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For a smooth fit, the elastic was sewn together around the middle eye screw. A single large loop would not have worked in this application because each Nalgene silo had to be held securely.<br />
<br />
(5) Once the eye screws were installed and the elastic eased into them, the silos can be added.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6vLi5B-SYODacSxGsMgr2xEqetr8eYueAge8Hlu2q6gaAXopTkWJ4UKV_pkHabGttnOAtyOVkeeHZXBZCdMV_pctCf9aOw9_PfRIV8-h-NP5zfbS4-DZID6OL14wV074rIh6IpymSmsf/s1600/1-IMG_0984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6vLi5B-SYODacSxGsMgr2xEqetr8eYueAge8Hlu2q6gaAXopTkWJ4UKV_pkHabGttnOAtyOVkeeHZXBZCdMV_pctCf9aOw9_PfRIV8-h-NP5zfbS4-DZID6OL14wV074rIh6IpymSmsf/s400/1-IMG_0984.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-eCOKpX4HsKAAhgxmEDZbzh2VPJXnERElVWUS3ilgpty-GA8c3moJj6h9ayAyKsloh5-XLF9mQ2wof3isTB_Kfo8FC3ZTaR7ntK_Ho31HW8vE4o1TkYtwm0Mwh2wuYrdZvvdSIGHbzf8/s1600/1-IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-eCOKpX4HsKAAhgxmEDZbzh2VPJXnERElVWUS3ilgpty-GA8c3moJj6h9ayAyKsloh5-XLF9mQ2wof3isTB_Kfo8FC3ZTaR7ntK_Ho31HW8vE4o1TkYtwm0Mwh2wuYrdZvvdSIGHbzf8/s400/1-IMG_0990.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />
Close-up of the rivet:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRnKpsdiTNZoWgtjUcJdxRtHzoslamts5UhJFzp3S0ju7EXmX9jEET4L2XyL_BfscpPuoi7nN3BiuHV9ooN4aAxt85F4Z6hVCOAXubNyzRv2odEJ4vK1BUX_2k5g4MmhyTGek3hH0CJEK/s1600/1-IMG_0988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRnKpsdiTNZoWgtjUcJdxRtHzoslamts5UhJFzp3S0ju7EXmX9jEET4L2XyL_BfscpPuoi7nN3BiuHV9ooN4aAxt85F4Z6hVCOAXubNyzRv2odEJ4vK1BUX_2k5g4MmhyTGek3hH0CJEK/s400/1-IMG_0988.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And with that little project completed, we'll continue to enjoy Blogger while we can.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrWrjlFPAqZL6RTwHUobqGplVAcBT1lqU9CzazmXcUOwyodbJ7J-x3q2cYmgOa4nXfvL27jZC-wddUIe7TPwDdBSicNTyQu8h56QMKf4bz4FZnODGolXNmeQhsFd-wU9EaIAqCuCzOCNV/s1600/blogger-quote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="866" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrWrjlFPAqZL6RTwHUobqGplVAcBT1lqU9CzazmXcUOwyodbJ7J-x3q2cYmgOa4nXfvL27jZC-wddUIe7TPwDdBSicNTyQu8h56QMKf4bz4FZnODGolXNmeQhsFd-wU9EaIAqCuCzOCNV/s400/blogger-quote.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <b><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/15/blogger-gets-a-spring-cleaning-web20-wants-its-headlines-back/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADL7LyVnU09qyk2CWDHPBe2TFZXp_9cpOtTJCQ-JV0nJC_sBzekrZ6hHJsU7hbhbvLspBsfONQMs-T21U51AB1kNnmZMUhQTmRp_HescsHZr5S0KPeY_jCUioyevpsmwDSa_nth9Qh2fQj1iFtd-Bs1vMnvmv_VxmsAqN1xoFZWP">Techcrunch</a></b>.<br /></td></tr>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-13807218439861397982019-10-06T14:00:00.000-07:002019-10-06T14:09:35.012-07:00VAN PLUS STREET ART EQUALS POTENTIALNot necessarily <b><i>realized </i></b>potential, but potential. I don't want to take yet another set of boring pics of my van simply parked in front of street art, duh. I'm trying to create moments that actually make sense, with the van <b><i>in </i></b>the art. But you have to remember that making a 10-foot-tall, 23-foot-long whale of a vehicle appear like it actually <i><b>belongs </b></i>in any given scene is not an easy thing. Especially when one is surrounded by homeless handout petitioners, relentless street hustlers, other gaping groups of touristy people waiting for their turn to snap a pic, and various and sundry other distractions and impediments.<br />
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Here are a few shots from my first such attempt in Houston's Old Chinatown this morning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2GOXc3Mp2HeJ_GtQ47FlOMlVTgLSWyspMoR8tVUH32gDsXQ10ZhevBl8OwJPR_z5HlRJyUCiKHASXLYa-x3918c-kV9MUf6YvmxJS99uMlpmb5PYDeK320GSPhyphenhyphenZRkpXhswAPQq0uTCl/s1600/1-DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2GOXc3Mp2HeJ_GtQ47FlOMlVTgLSWyspMoR8tVUH32gDsXQ10ZhevBl8OwJPR_z5HlRJyUCiKHASXLYa-x3918c-kV9MUf6YvmxJS99uMlpmb5PYDeK320GSPhyphenhyphenZRkpXhswAPQq0uTCl/s400/1-DSC_0080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's parked right under the concrete awning, like the awning was made to fit the roof.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ImG2AKca-nP_c_rTF4sjXdeCqnwM_HAEgHGzE5I4YAKV-WCFEaaZxnLUcAR5agy6DPwY56czLbBnyA8PSbzEy8Dnkk-XAT3emtqIeGw_rYAxE4qwnfm67suwuLnlb_EoUtWbBuE2s_R4/s1600/1-DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="1024" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ImG2AKca-nP_c_rTF4sjXdeCqnwM_HAEgHGzE5I4YAKV-WCFEaaZxnLUcAR5agy6DPwY56czLbBnyA8PSbzEy8Dnkk-XAT3emtqIeGw_rYAxE4qwnfm67suwuLnlb_EoUtWbBuE2s_R4/s400/1-DSC_0088.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the original Houston murals that started the craze. It's a bit faded by now, and doesn't lend itself to easy composition. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDE9cmApbUZeMupY94L0SBvfjC-onqpnJG0k31PHmQ2phUXNp2UGfhLumwD8nb3w4zhccyiyJDZ7B66ABXir5TPZWp0ZH4jQnurRexg0XcwMZPp50H70L1VoprjLbkEVleLssfd4M39l2/s1600/1-DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDE9cmApbUZeMupY94L0SBvfjC-onqpnJG0k31PHmQ2phUXNp2UGfhLumwD8nb3w4zhccyiyJDZ7B66ABXir5TPZWp0ZH4jQnurRexg0XcwMZPp50H70L1VoprjLbkEVleLssfd4M39l2/s400/1-DSC_0099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shape and color of this building with the inset black echoes the inset black of the van windows, but I haven't figured out how to frame it yet.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0h0aWMc49lIXFK7AJMawaQy0N3PDriq_7W1iVKRpZL9fBPFK5CsD6_YiOFKhAULgQ5eUV_u7jmvbc9tusIDFudoqKaFi5TI-vC25Xc9L7nTLzp_b1wWNJAxDc29AjcyKggbJT6buEQI1/s1600/1-IMG_5628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0h0aWMc49lIXFK7AJMawaQy0N3PDriq_7W1iVKRpZL9fBPFK5CsD6_YiOFKhAULgQ5eUV_u7jmvbc9tusIDFudoqKaFi5TI-vC25Xc9L7nTLzp_b1wWNJAxDc29AjcyKggbJT6buEQI1/s400/1-IMG_5628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite reflection shots. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXWf-V3qCtcdXyDOk0rNnb9Yp_ofF2eCdAe6FwlShM0zoii-YIQ9jCBwNPeRah7Sh6Vu1DxqywVYOQTCsrpRgL32bkuBQTlOfIREIgNfmE_Ow1rUHNxLvypevroZ504pBYWPwjmKSWoCz/s1600/1-IMG_5635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXWf-V3qCtcdXyDOk0rNnb9Yp_ofF2eCdAe6FwlShM0zoii-YIQ9jCBwNPeRah7Sh6Vu1DxqywVYOQTCsrpRgL32bkuBQTlOfIREIgNfmE_Ow1rUHNxLvypevroZ504pBYWPwjmKSWoCz/s400/1-IMG_5635.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another reflection, off the rear windows this time.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP6rs5WCQ1vW_QKFKVVPlwbFh7DrufOA_2e-zd91JHystG8KCZbJfc-3KhWflKvKaLj8CoAs5fnc7Pci2cp4AVGjichyB_m-CGOncL8oX0D3cCnZm2xL0t2XwihVaOruMtPLgVbiqdY3r/s1600/1-DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1024" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP6rs5WCQ1vW_QKFKVVPlwbFh7DrufOA_2e-zd91JHystG8KCZbJfc-3KhWflKvKaLj8CoAs5fnc7Pci2cp4AVGjichyB_m-CGOncL8oX0D3cCnZm2xL0t2XwihVaOruMtPLgVbiqdY3r/s400/1-DSC_0094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much artistry in this one, but OMG - an astronaut cuddling an armadillo with an oil derrick reflected in his visor - who could resist such Houstoniana?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwN9_wAccvGl12K_C9vbk7qJjU5DuL9S2DoDwyybScy1MYW5YXhxlRZjGhRr053KfZEUj1wfTS4pTAXGn3xZTGwq2FpySxO5Tqsef1bUd30ouzJV-rqxt4HvcStSg_pNVlZ_XKIVykg8I/s1600/head-redo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1024" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwN9_wAccvGl12K_C9vbk7qJjU5DuL9S2DoDwyybScy1MYW5YXhxlRZjGhRr053KfZEUj1wfTS4pTAXGn3xZTGwq2FpySxO5Tqsef1bUd30ouzJV-rqxt4HvcStSg_pNVlZ_XKIVykg8I/s400/head-redo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interstate as pillow for that medusa head, perhaps?</td></tr>
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Anyway, more for me to noodle on, the next time I feel like taking an early Sunday morning jaunt downtown.Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-70302280714560348072019-05-14T19:28:00.003-07:002019-05-14T19:48:05.324-07:00TOWING AN UPFIT T1N SPRINTER: YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS STUFFThe story I tell below, I already knew it. And I knew that everyone who has experience with T1N Sprinter towing knows it, if they happen to be upfitted. But here it is in detail for the record, so that it will hopefully save someone else some pain, anguish and expense:<br />
<div>
<ol>
<li>T1N upfits can never, ever, EVER be dragged. They have to be flat-bedded. Whatever they have in their rear ends cannot be subjected to a near-ground experience, be it a generator, water tanks, whatever. If it's a T1N upfit, by definition it's packed with stuff under there. Just forget the whole idea of dragging it. </li>
<li>Every time you call a tow, even if you are successful in getting a flat-bed on first request, you are probably going to get one which is almost unworkably small. The one shown in the pics below can take up to a 22 foot vehicle and 10,000 pounds, and that's typically what they send in scenarios like the one I had today. BUT - and this is the important part - inexperienced tow operators often don't know that they need really, really big shims to accomplish a successful tow of a 22' upfit T1N Sprinter.</li>
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<div>
It's that simple. Shims, or you're screwed - take your pick. </div>
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<div>
By shims, I mean lengths of really heavy lumber, preferably hardwood because we are talking about one ton per tire, which can shallow up the tow bed angle enough to get this kind of job successfully done.</div>
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<div>
Let me walk you step by step through my mishap so that you can understand exactly what I mean.</div>
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So this afternoon, I'm heading east on TX-71 between Bastrop and Smithville when all of a sudden, my engine blows up, basically. By the grace of God, I manage to get safely off the highway.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnl77RhNorRPp4Be3cArzc-8cR5X1EAKMKt-_s8WNjE7gLftZ9biDBq0cGqsKDRUDGyz3opRLGPr1-3WA-SCWMtunoGfiaBqa1WaEgWoMOA8EDVfIjybQLXk_PcqsrrvndSC6CO7lhMHa/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnl77RhNorRPp4Be3cArzc-8cR5X1EAKMKt-_s8WNjE7gLftZ9biDBq0cGqsKDRUDGyz3opRLGPr1-3WA-SCWMtunoGfiaBqa1WaEgWoMOA8EDVfIjybQLXk_PcqsrrvndSC6CO7lhMHa/s400/IMG_3442.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many times have I seen this particular view? Ugh.</td></tr>
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<div>
If your T1N unexpectedly blows up for no apparent reason despite the thousands of dollars of bulletproofing you've done on it, the best thing you could do is get your lead mechanic on the phone ASAP. For me, that is Joel Sell, aka <a href="https://www.millionmilesprinter.com/"><b>Million Mile Sprinter.</b></a></div>
<div>
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<div>
I emailed Joel a 6-second video of the engine plus a description. Clearly it lost turbo, but it didn't feel to me like a normal turbo issue. The van was running rough like I've never seen it do, and I had even less functionality at my disposal than I would during a regular limp home mode (LHM). I've driven a hundred miles in LHM. It's ugly, but it can be done. This thing I was confronted with today... I was never going to make it down the road. </div>
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<div>
OK, so, Joel's recommendation was to flat bed it the hell out of there. I concurred. I got with my roadside assistance (I use Good Sam) and arranged for a tow. </div>
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<div>
It actually showed up as a flat-bed, but not the larger size I was hoping for. Technically, this size can haul a T1N Sprinter as I said. It's just a poor idea to try.</div>
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You can immediately sense a departure angle issue. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd-PrdshWM7brmQaBnXEUsOen1do3LZVpcDgtrMP2nEjLbYHjZkXuyow58wNwtvQojT0Iqiy5-lJbqcacaYmGSc8vYhPGpnh4ZtKf5OOI0lTTt8h-4LxmPaXnCxyrdv7QBuL79Mp1lr2i/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd-PrdshWM7brmQaBnXEUsOen1do3LZVpcDgtrMP2nEjLbYHjZkXuyow58wNwtvQojT0Iqiy5-lJbqcacaYmGSc8vYhPGpnh4ZtKf5OOI0lTTt8h-4LxmPaXnCxyrdv7QBuL79Mp1lr2i/s400/IMG_3445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
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<div>
Incidentally, I'm not revealing the tow operator, because I feel bad for the guy. He was a really nice guy and he tried his best, but he was young and inexperienced, and he didn't have the right materials in his kit. I'll tell you what - he will be a lot more experienced when he wakes up tomorrow vs. waking up this morning.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
OK, so, both the terrain and the substrate were favorable for the load-out despite the departure angle problem. The van's skid plates dug in, but this part of it was do-able without too much drama, as you can see here.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Odt1J63QFb4stcuLAhyphenhyphenL6RIPaygTd9OvosMAnlUbay2jpSq0jujF0Uvk7W_RD8W7CUadJd2BwSXTVCT-Fplu93XZNTX0NkZUDcpRXWGna69c28XTVBJxrJa2DDBlJubzwe-xG0hMKEQ/s1600/IMG_3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Odt1J63QFb4stcuLAhyphenhyphenL6RIPaygTd9OvosMAnlUbay2jpSq0jujF0Uvk7W_RD8W7CUadJd2BwSXTVCT-Fplu93XZNTX0NkZUDcpRXWGna69c28XTVBJxrJa2DDBlJubzwe-xG0hMKEQ/s400/IMG_3457.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh-huh. You see the problem. That angle is just way too unforgiving. </td></tr>
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In this next pic, you see what a T1N looks like on the back of this kind of flatbed. It's really too big even if it's legal.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU13xL1GwwcJCmoZodUyDwH4V0CMNRXxN3bqYoz4SXf-PMerGquCppM4dQWu-secrBvtJ_qxEXheI95X8346pxFIlv9ujojkYbHFg9fFbicXgd_szkzxnDNrnOv_gt1fSbNxv1xINb6ng-/s1600/IMG_3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="935" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU13xL1GwwcJCmoZodUyDwH4V0CMNRXxN3bqYoz4SXf-PMerGquCppM4dQWu-secrBvtJ_qxEXheI95X8346pxFIlv9ujojkYbHFg9fFbicXgd_szkzxnDNrnOv_gt1fSbNxv1xINb6ng-/s400/IMG_3465.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's just too much hanging off the back of that tow truck.</td></tr>
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<div>
Because I was remaining overnight with my van, Freightliner would not allow me within their fenceline. Therefore, the tow operator had to deposit this load on the public street in front of Freightliner. That's where things got ugly, because the off-loading environment was not as forgiving as the on-loading environment had been.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_0t84-oX79uZ7UUTMqJ7dCS8DP2md8Dn8vUshdmZkpxojsWgg6vV6ua2ZXGLoYfhnhfOpDziIphyphenhyphenjjA07yAtdJC7e5pftol9wbsD7gcugYxU_7mSBYtBv11ZyjXZnoGNMdgBAmg5ma5h/s1600/IMG_3470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_0t84-oX79uZ7UUTMqJ7dCS8DP2md8Dn8vUshdmZkpxojsWgg6vV6ua2ZXGLoYfhnhfOpDziIphyphenhyphenjjA07yAtdJC7e5pftol9wbsD7gcugYxU_7mSBYtBv11ZyjXZnoGNMdgBAmg5ma5h/s400/IMG_3470.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh-oh.</td></tr>
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<div>
I say again: I haven't spent the last 4.5 years on internet forums for nothing. <b><i>WE KNOW</i></b> from experience that we need shims for this. I went into the Freightliner business, and scrounged up what wood scraps I could find.</div>
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There's a little piece of wood, but that's not going to get this job done. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yhZBjcPj5wvdh2GmCg2kj49uixup0RRfo_fAK6Ox0nV1tWWV_BcyQJPYaAxF_Z3Yi0hINFziiMoZGEusM-e8s0PUh8IRbQhO2pykviW6j9cWgwaAfu9q9PXjF2NpmXwokUjHom9comwU/s1600/IMG_3473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yhZBjcPj5wvdh2GmCg2kj49uixup0RRfo_fAK6Ox0nV1tWWV_BcyQJPYaAxF_Z3Yi0hINFziiMoZGEusM-e8s0PUh8IRbQhO2pykviW6j9cWgwaAfu9q9PXjF2NpmXwokUjHom9comwU/s320/IMG_3473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not this either, although that was a nice piece of hardwood dunnage.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq9RAIn6_4Ckw2XjCPPkPuJ4tYng8R1AFYsQD_3hBTe-T8Q6gtFNDWDKBKq5QZzBmpdbQqT4TRg93Z_a6x_5irBqTCXB_BH9Pq60N8gv0kk8VdxunQynNenORKna7kSyDuVabnmEiz9i0/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq9RAIn6_4Ckw2XjCPPkPuJ4tYng8R1AFYsQD_3hBTe-T8Q6gtFNDWDKBKq5QZzBmpdbQqT4TRg93Z_a6x_5irBqTCXB_BH9Pq60N8gv0kk8VdxunQynNenORKna7kSyDuVabnmEiz9i0/s400/IMG_3474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next! Nope; not this either.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl02kscqqPCHpmRIwtq1RL83O6TK_UHbFk2oyXnpxr_ZV9J2vu3NEtJl9Jab8pyJX0G7IwgintXsrfRLnhg_3Ge9hJmgXcpBreW587oiHH7ZfC1qvlQ_-64oKTh7BAogILWIan7Ku0VzDX/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl02kscqqPCHpmRIwtq1RL83O6TK_UHbFk2oyXnpxr_ZV9J2vu3NEtJl9Jab8pyJX0G7IwgintXsrfRLnhg_3Ge9hJmgXcpBreW587oiHH7ZfC1qvlQ_-64oKTh7BAogILWIan7Ku0VzDX/s400/IMG_3476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a close-up showing the skid plates and how they were carving out their own little trenches in the asphalt. On an ordinary day, I would have gotten down on the ground with my wrench and removed those skid plates. But once the thing is in tow under someone else's control, for liability reasons, I can't touch it. So we were stuck with this status quo. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK1eImLvw6bG3_TFdgxAajn5PeSyo7mEcU73C-9TnBPF6-A_Z2m5zxfLet_LTUCJNsnjIBoUSBdcr7bzBeBsIG-rj2Om-U0FSDYj5I87s3oQ5cfQ4Y_7VSAKsjV3AaoNdfmN_vuWbYjiA/s1600/IMG_3478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK1eImLvw6bG3_TFdgxAajn5PeSyo7mEcU73C-9TnBPF6-A_Z2m5zxfLet_LTUCJNsnjIBoUSBdcr7bzBeBsIG-rj2Om-U0FSDYj5I87s3oQ5cfQ4Y_7VSAKsjV3AaoNdfmN_vuWbYjiA/s400/IMG_3478.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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Then things went from bad to worse, as this picture suggests. Do you see how there is a <b>GAP </b>between the bottom of the flatbed and the top of the pavement? That's because, without proper shims, the operator had no choice but to basically <b><i>roll the tow truck out from under the T1N Sprinter.</i></b> This is highly dangerous, but given the materials at hand, it was difficult to identify an alternative in the moment</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfnJMljxcF3idQgWUS3g45ntjWH0k3IkxzG3ev1IynMzINlSdKNUyWrfe6ZgeFnWc-Pz3JqA4fgBwvd0mLtcjILowNhvuW4VQludVWGhzqp6IVLcczPKe2-ix8ldpF2cwLTziCS7TnWzt/s1600/IMG_3480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfnJMljxcF3idQgWUS3g45ntjWH0k3IkxzG3ev1IynMzINlSdKNUyWrfe6ZgeFnWc-Pz3JqA4fgBwvd0mLtcjILowNhvuW4VQludVWGhzqp6IVLcczPKe2-ix8ldpF2cwLTziCS7TnWzt/s320/IMG_3480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was not going that badly, until he lost control of it. Remember, the Sprinter has to have its transmission in neutral during this process. And it's on this angle. So, without his ability to keep tension on the tow line, that Sprinter is going for a ride under the power of nobody. Which is exactly what it did. It dropped off the flat bed, rolled backwards, and plowed arse-first into a Freightliner that happened to be parked at the curb behind us. It literally bounced off the Freightliner and landed in the position you see here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA4x4mfitfQOfBKZjBsYycdO7dhviWKiQwXcSoH7Tn_EOg5bL3AVxrOjnCWlf9epn18G4tsjUeYJ2zq_XwRy0z5NWgqSPZTOkqijgY9TYzMIDlOSgEPRfU3JG5WkLudyM45PJNtHRUlOi/s1600/IMG_3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA4x4mfitfQOfBKZjBsYycdO7dhviWKiQwXcSoH7Tn_EOg5bL3AVxrOjnCWlf9epn18G4tsjUeYJ2zq_XwRy0z5NWgqSPZTOkqijgY9TYzMIDlOSgEPRfU3JG5WkLudyM45PJNtHRUlOi/s400/IMG_3481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have to have my husband evaluate this further, but at first glance, the score was Sprinter 1, Freightliner 0. The Freightliner's bumper wasn't nearly as robust as the custom hitch carrier that my husband had welded up to be as strong as a proverbial brick shit house (excuse my language, but there's no other way to put it). The bumper cover ended up askew. Do you see how it's gapping at the far left, more so than on the right side under the headlight? Uh-huh. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4r_s64s3vzJ-py6QUPY4Y2tGR0wTdGMkwMer0nuTOK1YxOSE4juz3lproeSD5GJ_mEWNy_FtK3w5Mx4yftzmlZ5gK9Fkm5w3dvoWTr0-Dym-TyjL4klyirdAFtXJvFEyNFQgSnDcHuVe/s1600/IMG_3491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4r_s64s3vzJ-py6QUPY4Y2tGR0wTdGMkwMer0nuTOK1YxOSE4juz3lproeSD5GJ_mEWNy_FtK3w5Mx4yftzmlZ5gK9Fkm5w3dvoWTr0-Dym-TyjL4klyirdAFtXJvFEyNFQgSnDcHuVe/s400/IMG_3491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, frankly I'm glad the Freightliner was there to serve as our collision post, because I'm not sure where my Sprinter would have stopped rolling otherwise. </div>
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My front end (ground effects) was also damaged by the tow cable during this run-away event. It's nothing that can't be fixed, but it's a pain. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_qytiAUnEF7uRJFsGmmsVBtJE4pKJeiw3sfNrB_yBQfi8SUvgYye-C0U-z77uF_EmkEa05unHjD0fdp-YN_KFBK9vLtROKvAQ1KG6Q7RAAM9RPoHUkGVZUBx06whHRJgfbIuD2Hdp9q3/s1600/IMG_3483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1024" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_qytiAUnEF7uRJFsGmmsVBtJE4pKJeiw3sfNrB_yBQfi8SUvgYye-C0U-z77uF_EmkEa05unHjD0fdp-YN_KFBK9vLtROKvAQ1KG6Q7RAAM9RPoHUkGVZUBx06whHRJgfbIuD2Hdp9q3/s400/IMG_3483.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiberglass mess.</td></tr>
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<b><u>MORAL OF THIS STORY</u>: T1N SPRINTER TOWS NEED SHIMS IF THEY LOADED ONTO THE SMALLER FLAT BED TRUCKS. WEIGHT COUNTS FOR ALMOST NOTHING IN THIS ANALYSIS - IT'S ALL ABOUT GEOMETRY.</b></div>
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When roadside assistance is paying the bill, the tow companies are going to want to send the smallest flatbed they can to do this job, and it's a penny-wise pound-foolish decision. Whatever they save in equipment costs, they are highly likely to incur ten-fold in damages. Unless they carry really long heavy wooden shims, stuff like this is always going to happen. </div>
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Of course I knew that years before today, and obviously after today I'm going to consider transporting <b>MY OWN</b> shims, possibly under the chassis. Because my van, you see, keeps breaking down. No matter how hard I try, nor how much money I spend on it, it just keeps happening. So far, at least. Maybe when I finally get to <b><a href="https://www.millionmilesprinter.com/">Million Mile Sprinter</a></b> later this summer, I can finally make some bulletproofing headway.</div>
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Oh, and by the way, I don't know what's wrong with it yet. I'm camped out in front of a Freightliner that is unknown to me, in a city that is not mine, waiting until they open in the morning so that they can look at it. </div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-33655183426581415952019-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:002019-03-15T06:42:15.705-07:00PSA - AT&T MOBLEY CELLULAR DEVICE FRAUDOK, I’m going to describe the facts of our fraud experience as succinctly as I can, in a timeline format (all dates 2019).<br />
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<b>TL;DR</b> – Incredibly strong circumstantial evidence suggests that my husband got frauded during the purchase of an <a href="https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/att-20-month-unlimited-mobley-plan-back-for-a-limited-time-via-uconnect-chrysler-mopar-email-campaign/"><b>AT&T Mobley device which is currently being offered at a promotional price</b></a>. AT&T has voided over $2,000 in scam charges to his account, but we don’t know how much of my husband’s personal information has been compromised in this process. I advise Mobley owners to watch their own AT&T accounts carefully for evidence of this type of fraud. It’s not the Mobley device itself that is the locus of this scam – the scammers are apparently adding unauthorized additional lines to AT&T accounts at the same time as they are adding the legitimate Mobley lines. And then they rack up extreme charges on those additional lines very quickly, knowing that they are going to be detected and shut down soon enough. We have no idea how widespread this fraud is.<br />
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<b><u>DETAILS (all dates are 2019)</u>: </b><br />
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(1) On Thursday <b>January 31</b>, my husband went through the contractual process of ordering a Mobley for inclusion on his AT&T cellular account. This is a popular cellular internet device used by vehicle owners. You can read about the deal on <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56629"><b>this Sprinter Forum post</b></a>, for example (and there are many others).<br />
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(2) Our Mobley device was shipped on Tuesday <b>February 5</b>.<br />
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(3) The Mobley was delivered to our home in Texas on Wednesday <b>February 6</b>. The phone number associated with our Mobley is <b>409-204-9xxx</b> (x’s for our privacy).<br />
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(4) Due to our work schedules, we could not activate our new Mobley right away. We set it aside to deal with it on the coming weekend.<br />
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(5) On the morning of Friday <b>February 8</b> (i.e., today), my husband received two text messages from AT&T (from the <u>real </u>AT&T - not from a scammer) telling him that he owed in excess of $1,000 in international roaming charges on each of two cellular lines on his account. The numbers of those two lines were <b>409-204-9284</b> and <b>409-204-9285</b>. Note that they are almost sequential to the number that was legitimately issued in conjunction with our Mobley.<br />
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(6) Upon contacting AT&T, my husband was told that “someone” working “online” had fraudulently added these additional two lines to his account on <b>February 4</b>, the day before our Mobley shipped (and I bet this unauthorized addition occurred at the exact same time that our Mobley hardware device was configured). AT&T voided those other two lines with the excessive charges, placing the SIM numbers on a global blacklist.<br />
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(7) AT&T revealed no further details about this fraud.<br />
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In my opinion, the circumstantial evidence supports the conclusion that the Mobley sellers frauded my husband - that circumstantial evidence is <b>*overwhelming*</b>. The timeline is to the day, and the cell numbers are almost exactly sequential!!! Duh!!<br />
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(8) My husband now has to monitor his credit rating etc. to ensure that no further breaches occur going forward. It’s not clear how much of his personal data the Mobley sellers have accessed at this point. Clearly, they got hold of enough information to transact thousands of dollars of scam in his name before they were shut down.<br />
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Good luck to you fellow Mobley owners.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbW0JhX6BsgmAuHSGAZi7g4dp-eVPLHLyFJF9zXupmXrglYmCNT4ziyvnCLNGgd-jbbQzNBHpVPQ0eoFTvMcm5_MyU_lE8gs0_v5wR6h24wCnBacDIcANf_s34BLA6RHYtAxXi4hhPeEF/s1600/Cr8K1DNWAAIjSxH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="568" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbW0JhX6BsgmAuHSGAZi7g4dp-eVPLHLyFJF9zXupmXrglYmCNT4ziyvnCLNGgd-jbbQzNBHpVPQ0eoFTvMcm5_MyU_lE8gs0_v5wR6h24wCnBacDIcANf_s34BLA6RHYtAxXi4hhPeEF/s400/Cr8K1DNWAAIjSxH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too late for us, hopefully not for you. </td></tr>
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I love this meme below - good question!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl9RrtbJOzrAygXuTSURKgOMTUm5hCc1v5V1-mfREzoVOmt0KjpelwP12PmA66gmXU48_qE4oxyFZZt4dut1h_6yitmjSrG318vzxgmprGKFMgigV9CHe-DNokTNUL78xjzJ6bDXWih9N/s1600/sanitized-picard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1270" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl9RrtbJOzrAygXuTSURKgOMTUm5hCc1v5V1-mfREzoVOmt0KjpelwP12PmA66gmXU48_qE4oxyFZZt4dut1h_6yitmjSrG318vzxgmprGKFMgigV9CHe-DNokTNUL78xjzJ6bDXWih9N/s400/sanitized-picard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>EDIT 20190211</u></b> - AT&T told my husband on Feb 8, 2019 that the fraud was resolved. But when he logged in and re-checked on Feb 10, the charges were still there. Worse, they would have autodrafted in another 3 days if he hadn't stopped that from happening.<br />
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No more autodraft!! It's too dangerous, obviously! If the autodraft of these frauded charges had gone through, our mortgage payment might have bounded, and then it would have been goodbye credit score.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDNGJwC-0zwg9AlCffKjbDUv3z7QsNbLxVS9KR1to_EvDLM4nIn6_ZL44MSHcSlIccnQSfui6BzdiqHVsglVw5-gMm9kEMbK4NOkORQYxXbvhPq5PgJgb0L4F6jGSKr-cWNo-lH8bP5M2/s1600/20190210_MOBLEY_PSA_AUTOPAY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="661" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDNGJwC-0zwg9AlCffKjbDUv3z7QsNbLxVS9KR1to_EvDLM4nIn6_ZL44MSHcSlIccnQSfui6BzdiqHVsglVw5-gMm9kEMbK4NOkORQYxXbvhPq5PgJgb0L4F6jGSKr-cWNo-lH8bP5M2/s400/20190210_MOBLEY_PSA_AUTOPAY.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
AT&T forum thread on this topic:<br />
https://forums.att.com/t5/Wireless-Account/Mobley-fraud-please-protect-yourself/m-p/5804727<br />
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<b><u>EDIT</u></b>: I'm just going to leave this update here. This says it all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqheQutj1e6ymuMXYvBVE1ChD-GMdF1RuaICpqTrL8uhnz6-xeXagBRu7bXTh2iuzzlrKAzMgJn_PzyilecI7UGCQin_s505p9jaMyZEh_QQRSKJLfLwlMaZ9KEpzcpwWM1metDgrcixg8/s1600/20190315_MOBLEY_FRAUD_ROUND3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqheQutj1e6ymuMXYvBVE1ChD-GMdF1RuaICpqTrL8uhnz6-xeXagBRu7bXTh2iuzzlrKAzMgJn_PzyilecI7UGCQin_s505p9jaMyZEh_QQRSKJLfLwlMaZ9KEpzcpwWM1metDgrcixg8/s400/20190315_MOBLEY_FRAUD_ROUND3.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-6196237311330624232019-01-27T08:00:00.001-08:002019-01-27T08:18:16.192-08:00NEODYM-SUSPENDED MULTI-PURPOSE SIDEBOARD FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEEvery good project starts with an inspiration photo. This cluttered and inefficient image from last summer was mine:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-AtPHOA1azPSqvlDx5QKYcWCW6hnlQwcH_WTXp61eVfZfYyjEf0oKsm3zyERLG9-TwyE5f5cPbDZq-zCm4oaPhJ7zdn0p-GkyeZETkKMX3VgWE34GWY73kPuR3qh-w-Qbza6esa-x1Uq/s1600/MWHJgDK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-AtPHOA1azPSqvlDx5QKYcWCW6hnlQwcH_WTXp61eVfZfYyjEf0oKsm3zyERLG9-TwyE5f5cPbDZq-zCm4oaPhJ7zdn0p-GkyeZETkKMX3VgWE34GWY73kPuR3qh-w-Qbza6esa-x1Uq/s400/MWHJgDK.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog be like, <b><i>"Whut??"</i></b></td></tr>
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That photo shows the laundry drying under the awning by being stuck to the side of the van with individual magnets. And it shows a wilderness-built cooking table (which should be kept next to the fire pit) being used to hold what our little folding aluminum camp table is too small to accommodate.</div>
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You might wonder why, in an infinite sea of trees, I'd choose to stick laundry to the side of the van for drying. Well, in that part of the world, rain showers come frequently and without warning. It is simply more effective to stick it under the awning where I do not have to worry about it getting soaked unexpectedly. </div>
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I decided I would build a sideboard to serve both of the identified needs - to provide more storage for pots, pans, drinks, condiments, etc. during meals, and to double as a drying rack for laundry.</div>
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There was no doubt in my mind about what material would comprise the sideboard - I used the same perforated aluminum out of which I'd constructed our <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/under-cabinet-shelving-for-airstream.html"><b>under-cabinet suspended shelves</b></a>, our <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/search?q=lagun"><b>Lagun table</b></a>, and the <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/lithium-battery-cabinet-mod-on.html"><b>ventilation cover on our lithium battery chamber</b></a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBiCwROQu2bUCXWjoMqIGEsBkV50RpzTudOkO060IP_Khi-UG0FyX6OE0FY-ril8tVjFp28CQ_1juTt78y4tKgPwNate0drOWQZxqlh-afZQAifylnaYlcVtNHxsx2ZKb-yfjOXc0ZDWO/s1600/shelf-before-after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBiCwROQu2bUCXWjoMqIGEsBkV50RpzTudOkO060IP_Khi-UG0FyX6OE0FY-ril8tVjFp28CQ_1juTt78y4tKgPwNate0drOWQZxqlh-afZQAifylnaYlcVtNHxsx2ZKb-yfjOXc0ZDWO/s400/shelf-before-after.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Consistency is NOT the hobgoblin of little minds, thank you. </td></tr>
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Here's a photo tour of this project, including sourcing. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Dr-1iT4KZQMb5huSvi5bSkKjVEdUzBaqs-wqafFaKczum59dXYUPaowcFC4N2GVmfaWywaYBpnq8ZhXzBWhclyEXP2VTTRtKHeXfvExAcvqSjmDbGqqq3PdAiJHtqO0_mV1ABFYALgBc/s1600/PERF-AL.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="719" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Dr-1iT4KZQMb5huSvi5bSkKjVEdUzBaqs-wqafFaKczum59dXYUPaowcFC4N2GVmfaWywaYBpnq8ZhXzBWhclyEXP2VTTRtKHeXfvExAcvqSjmDbGqqq3PdAiJHtqO0_mV1ABFYALgBc/s400/PERF-AL.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the spec on the one-eighth aluminum, which I got in a 1' x 2' sheet from <a href="https://www.onlinemetals.com/"><b>Online Metals</b></a>. </td></tr>
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Given that this device was intended to hang on the exterior side of the van, there were a couple of unusual operational considerations. </div>
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First, the sideboard had to be strong enough to support at least 10 pounds of stuff without either falling off or skidding down the side of the van under the weight. To support the main mass, I used the same "skyhook" magnets as I had found to be effective for <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/diy-awning-screen-for-airstream.html"><b>the awning screen surround that I designed a few years ago</b></a>. These are rubber-backed and, as long as you <b>observe good neodym hygiene</b>, your scratches should be minimal. </div>
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By "hygiene" I mean, do <i><b>NOT </b></i>leave these things lying around. They will pick up every speck of magnetize-able dust and every iron shaving that they can find within about a one-mile radius. It's not really the magnet itself that has the potential to scratch your paint - it's what gets trapped between the magnet and the van. They have to be kept very clean, which is a challenge given the power they exert on their surroundings. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRJx-z9VpvxTfCs88K2La9mKYRraZnfdTF_uo9XbeFf0Hav7rDMRGVqWOYwJx1g5X2KS-lmAMCvjfi6PDcdmT84Uhe-Rig7xR5_W4pm9dSnqKaneEiLVTumFN-QlKT5npvSZjtsSO2XCg/s1600/sky-hook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRJx-z9VpvxTfCs88K2La9mKYRraZnfdTF_uo9XbeFf0Hav7rDMRGVqWOYwJx1g5X2KS-lmAMCvjfi6PDcdmT84Uhe-Rig7xR5_W4pm9dSnqKaneEiLVTumFN-QlKT5npvSZjtsSO2XCg/s400/sky-hook.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pictured object is a Master Magnetics 7580 Magnetic Hook Organizer, which has a 65 pound pull force. The quote is from someone's hacked <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_and_the_Great_Glass_Elevator"><b>Wonka transcription</b></a>. </td></tr>
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The hooks look like this in application - just a simple knotted loop to keep the suspension lines in place.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsx1DrFNNdup3xKAlxPPt_xbc4s6KsY0hzCbwbRdtthS9GujD3XSfUhgtcHKuh6_X5EmWGgwxTPOcFJnKdxgVdBxlCBXBsRVIQRQvpeU3OI8ZAYsmO0svwyz9m_5neImFulSESV4ckXOT/s1600/1-IMG_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="685" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsx1DrFNNdup3xKAlxPPt_xbc4s6KsY0hzCbwbRdtthS9GujD3XSfUhgtcHKuh6_X5EmWGgwxTPOcFJnKdxgVdBxlCBXBsRVIQRQvpeU3OI8ZAYsmO0svwyz9m_5neImFulSESV4ckXOT/s400/1-IMG_2185.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a brother from another mother in the reflection above the hook - an <a href="http://fortune.com/2018/09/07/amazon-delivery-service-vans/"><b>Amazon delivery Sprinter</b></a> with its headlights on. </td></tr>
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Second, obviously I could not have a bare cut aluminum table edge bumping up against the side of the van - that would be a disaster for the paint. The body contact had to be with a soft non-abrasive surface. My husband and I first used a jigsaw to round the corners of this sheet (for visual consistency with the Lagun table) and then I edged in in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-Polyester-Belting-X15yd-Charcoal/dp/B007L95FS0"><b>Dritz 1" charcoal gray polyester belt webbing</b></a>, which is the same treatment I had given to the Lagun top (belt webbing has about a million uses in a van).</div>
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Third, for similar scratch-prevention reasons, I could not allow any suspension hardware to touch the van, so it had to be inset. The beauty of perforated aluminum is that it provides an infinite number of possible configurations without the need for drilling holes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPCBxR64XrWmxWEJWCFQFJoZTrUqXwqVtwPzgNQg1hDzGJhUsk0xW4vJ_ocm21PvO6VMbnVm5NR9xicqt8mquoN4QGVlFqTZaK20ZKeLC7MB_tAezLtikPUQYgVuiTaAZ3F4PpZm5s4ej/s1600/1-IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPCBxR64XrWmxWEJWCFQFJoZTrUqXwqVtwPzgNQg1hDzGJhUsk0xW4vJ_ocm21PvO6VMbnVm5NR9xicqt8mquoN4QGVlFqTZaK20ZKeLC7MB_tAezLtikPUQYgVuiTaAZ3F4PpZm5s4ej/s400/1-IMG_2149.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a close-up of the belt webbing which I bound into place with embroidery floss, and a <b><a href="https://www.strapworks.com/D_Ring_w_Clip_p/ssdrc.htm">Strapworks stainless steel D-ring with clip</a></b> bolted behind it. </td></tr>
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I used one of those D-rings inset into each rounded corner. In order to make for easy assembly, disassembly, and storage, I decided that the suspension lines needed to be detachable, so I used <a href="https://www.strapworks.com/1_2_Miniature_Metal_Bolt_Snaps_p/mbsmini.htm"><b>Strapworks' half-inch miniature bolt snaps</b></a> at the four corners. The tiny bolt snaps will remain connected to the lines at all times, whether in use or in storage. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujayhqHTrO27p0xYVIg5sYi1c8U5qMuFHiO_UmIbI0jp51Tq2Fx3fIhTsuHpr21owohOs9ecQz1EIplW065cJTqebZr78ridgUhUiPexHqeoqV1dmMmmjUYEt_fnjdUUl4ta9YYPm82Ha/s1600/1-IMG_2164-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1024" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujayhqHTrO27p0xYVIg5sYi1c8U5qMuFHiO_UmIbI0jp51Tq2Fx3fIhTsuHpr21owohOs9ecQz1EIplW065cJTqebZr78ridgUhUiPexHqeoqV1dmMmmjUYEt_fnjdUUl4ta9YYPm82Ha/s400/1-IMG_2164-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My suspension lines are made of <a href="https://www.paracordplanet.com/orange-550-paracord/"><b>orange paracord</b></a>. In the realm of artistic design, ordinarily one might not choose to combine orange with the garnet color of our rig's side stripe - those two don't necessarily go together. But the orange design element was already present in the form of reflectors and the signal glasses on the van. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - I ran with safety orange in getting an <a href="https://www.cgear-sandfree.com/collections/hot-picks-of-the-week/products/sand-free-mat?variant=22494670848058"><b>CG Gear sand-free mat </b></a>(I cut an 8' x 8' into two halves and re-edged the cut seams, also with belt webbing) and in using the paracord. I also like the photo ops that this combo provides in cross-referencing camp fires.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflsK6KQnhZOa59CDaePcdyCOHyOWjsralCkH8HhUj-xwKz5EjSAbCw55KvPRDmB4J2Klg9Fl3S_n6WPa_-HT8JQx-_PnTR_t0dl3JvZDtJUyQnh_gaxx5tzqPuVRnb9AugIrHVbx8nhg/s1600/wCWKCkE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNflsK6KQnhZOa59CDaePcdyCOHyOWjsralCkH8HhUj-xwKz5EjSAbCw55KvPRDmB4J2Klg9Fl3S_n6WPa_-HT8JQx-_PnTR_t0dl3JvZDtJUyQnh_gaxx5tzqPuVRnb9AugIrHVbx8nhg/s400/wCWKCkE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best orange ever. Orange accessories would have made for a nice photo with this, if I'd had them at the time it was taken. </td></tr>
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Getting those lines the correct length took a long time and many careful iterations. The van body is curved, plus in my driveway it was parked on a slope, so it was basically impossible to get it level i<i>n situ</i>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYVP38ZZQZL42FteHVvgck-EjpwMvcJekeTQ15RyCTG0OTBebZLvD5p_3QM_82lCykS9Z7d_DfZTPK1x5RlsC9JQPIlnC6-GZlFTEqkAsRBMT3giVIgwVCg8t9zXxT6ZrYO8JOhwjK0Lh/s1600/1-IMG_2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYVP38ZZQZL42FteHVvgck-EjpwMvcJekeTQ15RyCTG0OTBebZLvD5p_3QM_82lCykS9Z7d_DfZTPK1x5RlsC9JQPIlnC6-GZlFTEqkAsRBMT3giVIgwVCg8t9zXxT6ZrYO8JOhwjK0Lh/s400/1-IMG_2152.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice try, but too many variables to be useful. </td></tr>
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I achieved level by hanging it on the side of my upright freezer and working on it there, given that the freezer was more conveniently plumb and level.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-SMvya_iawKKVuRjgOe6UQ6bTVPne6axAA7EM1taxdo4mHoz2zYxPwHggJGzWEiLn-qMaPq5_ro9EiDxfq6ReNS-NwcFe4XykLK0B9s6hyphenhyphenpPwhDv12iFFOmQRWJnJDWAAdT5YPLN7CEa/s1600/1-IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-SMvya_iawKKVuRjgOe6UQ6bTVPne6axAA7EM1taxdo4mHoz2zYxPwHggJGzWEiLn-qMaPq5_ro9EiDxfq6ReNS-NwcFe4XykLK0B9s6hyphenhyphenpPwhDv12iFFOmQRWJnJDWAAdT5YPLN7CEa/s400/1-IMG_2158.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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In order to keep the table from slipping fore and aft when it hangs on the side of the van, I used orthogonally-magnetized neodyms as "keepers" on the edge of the sideboard that fit into the van's lateral body groove. By this I mean, the north and south poles of the magnets were oriented out the sides, not out the top and bottom face as they typically are.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri7hm3LYYgT5QnNsDtIPmyg7O96qVp_s7ruqcvbc3BX32CuYQyWXS-qisI5TLhUS32Z8JkeLRi68s9hyzWpopIPHP0QpxxQQLObtA4vhGbgcGKsMwxlpsk7d3CGcDucXuyKWBoABlCT_2/s1600/kj-countersunk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="327" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri7hm3LYYgT5QnNsDtIPmyg7O96qVp_s7ruqcvbc3BX32CuYQyWXS-qisI5TLhUS32Z8JkeLRi68s9hyzWpopIPHP0QpxxQQLObtA4vhGbgcGKsMwxlpsk7d3CGcDucXuyKWBoABlCT_2/s400/kj-countersunk.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the little red and green cartoon at the upper right corner? That's what I mean.<br />
Image from <a href="https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=BX048CS&cat=19"><b>KJ Magnetics</b></a>. </td></tr>
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I needed two of those 2-hole countersunk block magnets to stabilize the edge that was up against the van body. For better and for worse, each of those blocks has a 17-pound pull force (smaller ones were not available with sideways magnetization). Trust me when I say that this table is not going anywhere. I could probably drive at freeway speed with it in place, having 2 x 64-pound suspension hooks and 2 x 17-pound lateral stabilizing magnets on it! </div>
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Here's what one of those countersunk blocks looks like in place. Note that the edge of the table snugs into the Sprinter's body groove, as I mentioned above. That allows the side-mounted neodym block to get close enough to grab the metal, but the majority of the force is exerted by the web-woven table edge, to minimize scratches.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDRkRd7t4_UWrp_iBRRrx8Em470g0V9oKEQzMeA8x6-RfR03Jqo2KbixFl1gsWXOZqoGDF1UO4cv5Mp0Ywj0m0iY3YAiZh2g67EAMOynD5bX5Zy6ckdGoXp36I5jX8SzWgKOYWU7E3VcR/s1600/1-IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1024" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDRkRd7t4_UWrp_iBRRrx8Em470g0V9oKEQzMeA8x6-RfR03Jqo2KbixFl1gsWXOZqoGDF1UO4cv5Mp0Ywj0m0iY3YAiZh2g67EAMOynD5bX5Zy6ckdGoXp36I5jX8SzWgKOYWU7E3VcR/s400/1-IMG_2157.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun blog post for me, as these materials are so photogenic.</td></tr>
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Here are a couple of money shots of the table in place. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aSyoUKfBEdk5ZUzp-jC9NMP2AkHJ9Nyz9kavydqx3uyuqnc1Kno8iYmKeu20vS_aP1f6g9cmrIOt8eMwaWL265955Nh7eUnB_BiBe2wyFJF7cK9AvD6d0nG1D7Yhlik7SVhu2oM1U1mi/s1600/1-IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aSyoUKfBEdk5ZUzp-jC9NMP2AkHJ9Nyz9kavydqx3uyuqnc1Kno8iYmKeu20vS_aP1f6g9cmrIOt8eMwaWL265955Nh7eUnB_BiBe2wyFJF7cK9AvD6d0nG1D7Yhlik7SVhu2oM1U1mi/s400/1-IMG_2168.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner is not yet served, but it will be. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibQ8hW7vq-VazChyNkz_uSj1NIjg3htI31iz7o7gxTANMgwBU86OsCibj7WRe170PqBmWGWGX-CjAMzCW6JEaZ3ObSb-DZnitPbJZv8p4kdBpXf1314tc08lMaQbTVlrk84aLMg7PdWff/s1600/1-IMG_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibQ8hW7vq-VazChyNkz_uSj1NIjg3htI31iz7o7gxTANMgwBU86OsCibj7WRe170PqBmWGWGX-CjAMzCW6JEaZ3ObSb-DZnitPbJZv8p4kdBpXf1314tc08lMaQbTVlrk84aLMg7PdWff/s400/1-IMG_2181.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I can support all that weight, baby. Bring it!!</td></tr>
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The sideboard is easy to reach from those "butt bucket" REI camp chairs (aka <a href="https://www.rei.com/product/877258/rei-co-op-flexlite-chair?sku=8772580017"><b>Flexlite chairs</b></a>) that we typically carry lashed underneath our under-cabinet suspended shelves:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdml4WbyeEyA3v6FghSvpdNsq9-auG5oBa4RSdN61m_cKpYLqiEJw8fzY6F_GP2j0D0tnd7tx7gbyoEKM9rwhZSoot5qDx9Z36mCzCh6VQA-5fEHHarxPPDa5G4IqH7bFWJTmS9MnKeXd/s1600/1-IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdml4WbyeEyA3v6FghSvpdNsq9-auG5oBa4RSdN61m_cKpYLqiEJw8fzY6F_GP2j0D0tnd7tx7gbyoEKM9rwhZSoot5qDx9Z36mCzCh6VQA-5fEHHarxPPDa5G4IqH7bFWJTmS9MnKeXd/s400/1-IMG_2188.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, I can reach it easily.</td></tr>
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When it's time to dry laundry, I simply raise this sideboard up and suspend it from the top of the van body.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoVjvtkQKdKzH-1kJDURqZYBljq_0rNORdf1BiLky13pvNty-fwK7zD6jzxqTtWHRgeJd2UFsn79pRjHZTtMswMX_qF-QCJlHeAHzWTtgSWMYpQRL9IC-VGVURwGGmFRyxYSjWZShRdp/s1600/1-IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HoVjvtkQKdKzH-1kJDURqZYBljq_0rNORdf1BiLky13pvNty-fwK7zD6jzxqTtWHRgeJd2UFsn79pRjHZTtMswMX_qF-QCJlHeAHzWTtgSWMYpQRL9IC-VGVURwGGmFRyxYSjWZShRdp/s400/1-IMG_2193.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better looking than having individual pieces of clothing strewn all over the side of the van. More effective for drying, too. </td></tr>
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It was windy when that photo was taken; you can see the clothes being blown forward a bit. I'm using <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BR9YDGF/">well-rated folding travel hangers</a></b> for this hanging purpose. The points do not insert into the perforated aluminum holes, but they do catch in the edge of the holes, so in light winds, they won't blow off.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWf2m96E4Xs51iZUbx6SuBSNA1bvSuZYocmGuU8rj0fihOHy7Da8lx2OTa9FwyCRfoOzplF3Ols9v8M_z4HsZwJ1YYBJQxIfcz1uzZUegVmc66JYqe9beJwD73CZ-RXDDMHTwHTbCYdaS/s1600/hangers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1252" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWf2m96E4Xs51iZUbx6SuBSNA1bvSuZYocmGuU8rj0fihOHy7Da8lx2OTa9FwyCRfoOzplF3Ols9v8M_z4HsZwJ1YYBJQxIfcz1uzZUegVmc66JYqe9beJwD73CZ-RXDDMHTwHTbCYdaS/s400/hangers.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How often do you see 5 stars anywhere on Amazon?!</td></tr>
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The sideboard's drying utility is not just limited to hanging. Because the perforated aluminum is 40% open space, socks, gloves, etc. small items can be dried on top of it while the other items hang underneath.<br />
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When I raise the sideboard up high as shown above, the countersunk neodym side magnets will no longer touch the van's steel side body because the windows sit proud of the van. I solved that issue by using a <a href="https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=RC24DCSPC-BLK"><b>KJ Magnetics plastic-coated disc</b></a> as follows, in order to keep the sideboard from swaying in the wind (the clothing could act as sails) and potentially scratching the windows:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWKAZPN3nvO1nRdwbgY4EN-8Phr-yvGLbxjVpbtZXO_S_d0R7rhjrmsH-XCZ9FWQL4SVGofiNxc9cLKt7HTBfippRtk20gYyUJgypAMmH6EIqQAnyLSKtxBnENf5wRUd5SlnZmsDCXPk1/s1600/1-IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1024" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWKAZPN3nvO1nRdwbgY4EN-8Phr-yvGLbxjVpbtZXO_S_d0R7rhjrmsH-XCZ9FWQL4SVGofiNxc9cLKt7HTBfippRtk20gYyUJgypAMmH6EIqQAnyLSKtxBnENf5wRUd5SlnZmsDCXPk1/s400/1-IMG_2190.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neodym black disc attracts to one of the two lateral magnets, which is enough to stop it from moving around. </td></tr>
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We used <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Slide-Co-193674-Spring-Loaded-Mirror/dp/B000UG7C3M">Slide-co spring-loaded mirror clips</a></b> to mount this table for storage. At long last, I have something to break up the monolithic appearance of the butt end of this galley cabinet. I've always found that orange atrocity to be a visual distraction. With its Lagun table big sister hanging nearby (the Lagun top stores on our wet bath door), the sideboard looks like it was intended to be in this space all along. The space finally appears visually coherent and complete.</div>
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Close up:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yOFRLikYDOcwT15VGTWDc9uxRybbglG15lihovB9XF5k_Zt6QQf-KgFkyuAhUKWEb2tIx21s95Z1_HAnHRHxWECQmi7wxTsiY3hLNzG9jk9FrVkq5Qv2iWPwHi0l87MfMGqLz_lnFuA5/s1600/1-IMG_2210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yOFRLikYDOcwT15VGTWDc9uxRybbglG15lihovB9XF5k_Zt6QQf-KgFkyuAhUKWEb2tIx21s95Z1_HAnHRHxWECQmi7wxTsiY3hLNzG9jk9FrVkq5Qv2iWPwHi0l87MfMGqLz_lnFuA5/s320/1-IMG_2210.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost no other object could be stored in this space due to the sliding door clearance issue. But this sideboard fits perfectly.</td></tr>
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You'll notice that I detached the suspension lines and hung them a few inches right of this sideboard for storage. The two neodym suspension hook magnets are right above them. </div>
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Next will come the off-grid road testing of this new asset, but our big trip won't be for a few more months. All of my current projects are in preparation for returning to this little piece of paradise:</div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-31045342288655335072019-01-24T06:23:00.000-08:002019-01-24T06:30:26.895-08:00LITHIUM BATTERY UPGRADE, PART 3: CHARGING / INVERTER SYSTEMFollowing on <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/lithium-battery-upgrade-part-1-general.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Part 1 which described the general configuration</a><b> </b>of our DIY electrical system, and <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/02/lithium-battery-upgrade-part-2-ac-system.html"><b>Part 2 which dealt with the AC system</b></a>, here's the diagram for the charging and inverter portions of our system. <u>Relevant forum cross-references</u>: My husband's original electrical system development Air Forums thread <a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/my-interstate-lithium-battery-adventures-151809.html"><b>here</b></a>, and a Sprinter Forum lithium thread <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72546"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
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As with my first two posts, I'll recap the general operation by describing the components individually. The superscripted component numbers on this diagram correspond to the numbered paragraphs below it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MdKgHaDw-BGhxdk7-xcQk1R4Hhjat0_gWf-2gzJdmGZ48OFbdExA0BYqDp4Nk3M8j0p4Dg81hznrpn04f6bi624UxtYV34pzIOfDqcyPv2RE8MjYsajMt88ugLI2YZUDsVZzaU2_JXR-/s1600/20190124_CHARGING-INVERTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MdKgHaDw-BGhxdk7-xcQk1R4Hhjat0_gWf-2gzJdmGZ48OFbdExA0BYqDp4Nk3M8j0p4Dg81hznrpn04f6bi624UxtYV34pzIOfDqcyPv2RE8MjYsajMt88ugLI2YZUDsVZzaU2_JXR-/s400/20190124_CHARGING-INVERTER.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click or tap image to expand size for clarity. Blogger downsamples embedded images. </td></tr>
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<b>13. Engine alternator</b> - For as long as we retained the original OEM single-AGM <a href="http://lifelinebatteries.com/"><b>Lifeline</b> </a>house battery in our rig, we had no need to change or upgrade the alternator. Shortly after converting to lithium iron phosphate (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery"><b>LiFePO4</b></a>) battery (described below), we installed a <a href="https://www.boschautoparts.com/en/commercial/alternators-and-starters/long-haul-alternators"><b>Bosch 200 A alternator</b></a> which, when used with a battery-to-battery charger (also described below), theoretically should be able to integrate seamlessly and charge the lithium battery when the van's engine is running. However, as is often the case in cutting-edge conversions, there have been complexities, most notably the premature failure of the alternator's clutch pulley, which I describe in <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/psa-alternator-clutch-pulley-failures.html"><b>this post</b></a>. I will have more to say about alternator management in the future.<br />
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<b>14. Chassis battery </b>- Nothing fancy here, just an ordinary EverStart truck battery from Walmart. Chassis batteries don't last in the deep south, and with their climate-limited lifespans, I've never seen fit to buy anything more expensive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzkFZ4-p0lRe509rfX_xFpDoAESXoiGhFyJ5im4pElMx9lw8GZ5wwPuQEWhHlb-Kt1qEVRv7BXhebnH97tNzwkvNjvsIsDdaTNw25gNSsAWCwvt_1FnSnjxCsYPhDenXKst4c1tH-WSCK/s1600/BATTERY-LIFE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1167" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzkFZ4-p0lRe509rfX_xFpDoAESXoiGhFyJ5im4pElMx9lw8GZ5wwPuQEWhHlb-Kt1qEVRv7BXhebnH97tNzwkvNjvsIsDdaTNw25gNSsAWCwvt_1FnSnjxCsYPhDenXKst4c1tH-WSCK/s400/BATTERY-LIFE.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the <b><span style="color: red;">red zone</span></b>. Diagram courtesy of <a href="https://www.tiresplus.com/auto-repair-services/auto-battery-service/"><b>Tiresplus</b> </a>and yes, I've always found it to be accurate. Not changing a battery at 30 months here is to risk being stranded. I often do it at 24 months. </td></tr>
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<b>15. Battery relay</b> - The purpose of this device is to isolate the house system from the chassis system when the engine is not running. This is a Mercedes Benz (MB) component that was already present in the vehicle as OEM equipment. It had been used by Airstream to isolate the original lead-acid single house battery. These types of relays are sometimes called battery isolation modules (BIMs).<br />
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<b>16. Battery-to-battery charger</b> - This <a href="https://sterling-power.com/collections/battery-to-battery-chargers"><b>Sterling</b> </a>limits the load to 60 A and bumps the voltage up to 14.6, which is what the lithium battery prefers to charge at. There is sometimes uncertainty about which of Sterling's products we've used (they don't seem to number their products very clearly), so here is a close-up photo:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAreMc6eJDt1rABmqvFqeTUPw2r0qHzCTenHT_3YHP5sgMohk5yShJSgEe61qRljuSoPNNcGUq_lOEhOVvKD62hB6-W0JF9iaLli0x7DENx6qLGLU1clKVzK7qDz9w1VnzxbIJ8sL70thq/s1600/sterling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1024" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAreMc6eJDt1rABmqvFqeTUPw2r0qHzCTenHT_3YHP5sgMohk5yShJSgEe61qRljuSoPNNcGUq_lOEhOVvKD62hB6-W0JF9iaLli0x7DENx6qLGLU1clKVzK7qDz9w1VnzxbIJ8sL70thq/s400/sterling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>17. Lithium charger </b>- This <a href="https://www.progressivedyn.com/specialty/inteli-power-pd9100l-series/"><b>Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power PD9100L Series</b></a> unit accepts 120V AC and converts it to 14.6V DC with a maximum input current of 60A (again, 14.6V DC is the voltage at which the lithium battery charges most efficiently). We installed this to retain the option of charging the lithium battery from a shore power source. As we have learned again and again, it is essential that off-grid vans incorporate as much systemic redundancy as possible. <b><i>Something</i></b> will fail - it's just a matter of what and when - so you better have a Plan B. In our case, we also have Plans C and D, because our system allows 4-way charging - solar, alternator, generator, and shore. When we originally installed this charger, we never actually intended to connect to shore power - it was just there for emergencies. But, heh heh, we've done it, especially following the alternator clutch pulley failure described above.<br />
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<b>18. Solar Panels - </b>Our <b><a href="https://www.grapesolar.com/docs/GS-S-100-TS.pdf">Grape Solar GS-S-100-TS</a></b> 100 watt monocrystalline panels are wonderful, and I'm very glad we managed to get them before supplies were exhausted. They are no longer manufactured in the size (aspect ratio) that was ideal for installation on our roof.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAB3rOUJCmzKRccbMcEgD50WMkw1FIaJnKroyzhNgD4R_M59hkL4064lj2BjTp2NWYKMH69KYRhyphenhyphenL8kF5KnkRK0dTLhxZ_iKAEdJ41Yr9hJ9zNzX_XZzZLJXmP8Y9R1EGpTSNnpVV-sBY/s1600/panels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAB3rOUJCmzKRccbMcEgD50WMkw1FIaJnKroyzhNgD4R_M59hkL4064lj2BjTp2NWYKMH69KYRhyphenhyphenL8kF5KnkRK0dTLhxZ_iKAEdJ41Yr9hJ9zNzX_XZzZLJXmP8Y9R1EGpTSNnpVV-sBY/s400/panels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They straddled our OEM stainless steel roof rack like they were made for it.</td></tr>
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These monocrystalline panels were also noteworthy in the high efficiency that they offered (18.3%). Knowing that they would be discontinued, we bought two extras and put them in storage for potential future use.<br />
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<b>19. Switches -</b> The <a href="https://www.bluesea.com/products/category/11/Manual_Battery_Switches"><b>Blue Sea manual battery switches</b></a> were inserted so that we would have the option to disable charging on PV1 or PV2 circuits on the BMS described below. We like Blue Sea products, which are ruggedly made for marine applications and are good quality.<br />
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<b>20. Battery Management System (BMS) - </b>This is an <b><a href="https://electrodacus.com/">Electrodacus SBMS-100</a>, </b>currently out of production but its builder still offers comparable models. This particular BMS was chosen because we were able to run every load except the inverter through it, a configuration which allows the BMS to disconnect the DC loads when the battery is in a low state of charge (SOC). In other words, it would cut power to the whole DC circuit array (distribution) once the SOC fell to a predetermined level, or when an individual battery cell voltage becomes critically low to the point where battery damage could occur (lithium batteries are expensive and they cannot be discharged all the way down to 0%). This load-shedding does not disconnect any of the charging circuits, so the SOC can be recovered while the system is in low-charge shut-down mode. Some other commercially-available BMSs disconnect both charging and discharging when the SOC falls to unacceptable levels, triggering a greater demand for human interface. The Electrodacus is programmed to protect the battery from both overcharging and undercharging conditions. There is no need for manual re-set buttons to remedy these conditions.<br />
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There are two charging inputs on the Electrodacus:<br />
<ul>
<li>PV1 which accepts current from the alternator, shore power, and the propane generator</li>
<li>PV2 which accepts current from the 3 x 100 watt solar panel array </li>
</ul>
Each of these routes charging current to the lithium battery (described below). PV1 and PV2 are configured so that all inputs can be handled simultaneously; the BMS can safely handle up to approximately 100 amperes total input (hence the "100" in its model name). In other words, solar charging can (and does) continue while alternator charging is also occurring, and/or shore power, and/or generator charging (!). However, in practice, it is typically not necessary to stack charging sources.<br />
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<b>21. Lithium battery -</b> Three <a href="https://www.electricmotorsport.com/gbs-12v-4-cell-100ah-lifemnpo4.html"><b>GBS 12V (4-Cell) 100Ah LiFeMnPO4</b></a> cells were used deconstructed and reconfigured into a 300 AH battery. The cells were rearranged to fit available space under our closet floor. Here's a pic of how that was done:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJTbYtTUBXJXTASSkbuecoK2i8x5DSDdZ8rKdawDHK6hwlaSofjD-8Teor2D829-GPFV1f-tRKxjJ7OPofdxYqdgmCmEM5KQl3RzfV-rlLWXGbVQ7EyGRJ0Jq_aTbD8_d3ZiMIB9yDHDy/s1600/lb3-lith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1243" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJTbYtTUBXJXTASSkbuecoK2i8x5DSDdZ8rKdawDHK6hwlaSofjD-8Teor2D829-GPFV1f-tRKxjJ7OPofdxYqdgmCmEM5KQl3RzfV-rlLWXGbVQ7EyGRJ0Jq_aTbD8_d3ZiMIB9yDHDy/s400/lb3-lith.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<b>22. Electrical inverter -</b> <a href="https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Xantrex-Freedom-Xi-2000-Inverter-Pure-Sine-Wave-p/xan807-2000.htm"><b>Xantrex Freedom Xi 2000 watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter</b> </a>was chosen for two reasons. First, this model doesn't have a charger, and it was important that we separate our charging and discharging circuits for better battery management. Secondly, this model had a built-in automatic transfer switch (ATS) which saved space in our tight build area. Thirdly, the device's form factor meant that it could be positioned conveniently in an available space between the top of the lithium battery and the underside of the closet floor. This inverter, when coupled with an EasyStart (described in <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/02/lithium-battery-upgrade-part-2-ac-system.html"><b>Part 2</b></a>), also allows us to run our 11,000 BTU Dometic roof air conditioner using the lithium battery alone for up to approximately 2.5 hours at a time (i.e., with neither generator nor shore power) before battery recharge is required.<br />
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<b>23. Positive busbar -</b> The positive busbar allows the connection of multiple high-amperage wires to a single device with multiple terminals. Without this device, the wires would instead need to be crimped in a way that did not reflect optimal design.<br />
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<b>24. Remote battery switch - </b>This is a <a href="https://www.bluesea.com/products/7700/ML-RBS_Remote_Battery_Switch_with_Manual_Control_-_12V_DC_500A"><b>Blue Sea ML-RBS</b></a> switch that isolates the inverter for safety reasons. A short circuit developing in the inverter or in the high-amperage cables feeding it could cause a fire in the van. This switch is connected to a pair of manual buttons on the control panel. When we are done using the inverter, we isolate it by punching the "off" button and creating an open circuit at this point in the system.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1ozqSJ_n0H1oOdLc0tm6eT6RTx676PczubYxDMEF6S7ujpxievNZRKosBMwH15KLd2yb5DeJJ0UkoHKtURaM08l56KowN8WmZu6N_qXE7ITRwpqJ5lh9BNO9lTLzqfcPpFxznIYEBuyt/s1600/control-panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1ozqSJ_n0H1oOdLc0tm6eT6RTx676PczubYxDMEF6S7ujpxievNZRKosBMwH15KLd2yb5DeJJ0UkoHKtURaM08l56KowN8WmZu6N_qXE7ITRwpqJ5lh9BNO9lTLzqfcPpFxznIYEBuyt/s400/control-panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see those red and green punch buttons in the center of this control panel? That's the remote battery switch.</td></tr>
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<b>25. Shunt -</b> The shunt is a 50 milliohm resistor. The BMS reads the voltage drop across this resistor to calculate how much current is being used by the inverter. All other loads go through the BMS itself, so it already "knows" how much current is being consumed for the other van circuits. However, the external load from the inverter does not go through the BMS, so this device is needed.<br />
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<b>26. Negative busbar - </b>This is where the chassis is tied to the negative terminal and return legs of all the major loads. The negative busbar is tied to the chassis in a location behind the black water tank, under the cabinetry.<br />
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<b>27. Chassis ground -</b> My husband describes the chassis ground as "the pool of electrons for all circuits". The alternator, chassis battery, house battery, and all loads directly or indirectly connect to a common ground. A ground is the means by which electricity is able to complete its journey and get back to the current source.<br />
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For those of you who are still on the steepest portion of the electrical learning curve (as I am), I highly recommend this webinar which has been reproduced as an unlisted YouTube video below, especially for understanding issues of grounding (earthing) and electrocution generally (HT <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39578"><b>this Sprinter Forum thread</b></a>). The video describes on-water mobile scenarios (boats), but similar principles hold true with on-land mobile vehicles (vans and RVs). The person who presents the information is a parent who lost a young child to electrocution. He was not a technician, but rather learned electrical engineering after his personal tragedy. He uses clear lay language to describe complex constructs as a result.<br />
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The direct link below has the video continuing from around the 1 hour 13 minute mark, where the presenter is talking about electricity getting back to its source. But IMHO, the entire video is worth your time, so I've embedded the full video below the timed link. There are a lot of valuable lessons in it.<br />
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4396&v=O7-s_mdEPb0<br />
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-69732904502430039202018-12-30T14:42:00.002-08:002018-12-30T15:00:35.780-08:00OPTIMIZING THE CLOSET DOOR OF AN AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEOur 2007 <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/interstate-grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate</b></a> came with a closet door the inside of which held nothing but a small mirror.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRt2qxiElmZlE1UVWVlI9c8sPolt9cx3dTzbFBlJCvmSDFkvUqF132q8vIQhuCtGJyPX7sWUlO49nrz0_gLhNf-Ld6XDYGSWmt_dG8v9D_H7JWQhQNqubCuViORDdG1KYvSfEzWmAcDxV/s1600/1-IMG_1752-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRt2qxiElmZlE1UVWVlI9c8sPolt9cx3dTzbFBlJCvmSDFkvUqF132q8vIQhuCtGJyPX7sWUlO49nrz0_gLhNf-Ld6XDYGSWmt_dG8v9D_H7JWQhQNqubCuViORDdG1KYvSfEzWmAcDxV/s400/1-IMG_1752-002.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice but unremarkable at best, horrendously inefficient at worst.</td></tr>
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My husband tied a piece of monofilament (fishing line) between two wooden dowels and used that to "saw" through the adhesive on the back of the mirror so that it could be removed without breaking.<br />
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I then cut down an <b><a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40375681/">IKEA Stuk shoe organizer</a></b> to fit the available back-of-door space, which made a 3 x 3 pocket grid. I re-hemmed the edges that had to be cut.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVanzU_vU7Gu8log1ocY2CsKW0SUtIYO7ETGVcNuf3IAO53fdPN5LjOROVe2QQNsaqeJ8bZqCYln4FgmeypmgR6lmur10xrwgJlFDLpkUqxG0eTScAN3swtodzyNjCW1ddVAdwkRWFzjr/s1600/1-IMG_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVanzU_vU7Gu8log1ocY2CsKW0SUtIYO7ETGVcNuf3IAO53fdPN5LjOROVe2QQNsaqeJ8bZqCYln4FgmeypmgR6lmur10xrwgJlFDLpkUqxG0eTScAN3swtodzyNjCW1ddVAdwkRWFzjr/s400/1-IMG_1763.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#vansizedsewing</td></tr>
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I mounted the grid using this hardware:<br />
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I dismounted the door to do this work. First I had to scrape off the old mirror adhesive and determine my desired pocket position.<br />
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In order to prevent the screws from pulling on the nylon fabric as they were being inserted, I first tapped holes in the fabric of the Stuk using a nail.<br />
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Then very carefully, I used a soldering iron to melt the edges of the holes, so that the fibers would not get tangled up in the screws.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't get over-zealous with the soldering iron. You'll melt the whole kit and caboodle. </td></tr>
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I did a few test screwings (so to speak) before piloting shallow holes in the back of the closet door. I used an electric drill for that. If you do the same, make sure you don't penetrate through to the front side of the door. That would be bad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDpMkkP8Bv7UFACX6d0HDEOeYMmON5j-3zb_UA_cjNasqCKGzzukjNh2nOg1n3tNGnFxbmhL0Ig7QqvV9udgSfizPQcOfZ6u5pkKi_m9TFB_xMChHdXsL9kQiKxwuqQ8zUjb3Ing2PpIu/s1600/1-IMG_1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDpMkkP8Bv7UFACX6d0HDEOeYMmON5j-3zb_UA_cjNasqCKGzzukjNh2nOg1n3tNGnFxbmhL0Ig7QqvV9udgSfizPQcOfZ6u5pkKi_m9TFB_xMChHdXsL9kQiKxwuqQ8zUjb3Ing2PpIu/s400/1-IMG_1766.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test scrap of the Stuk, so this lower edge is not sewn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This device did not require sixteen anchoring points, but I sort of wanted a riveted style of look, so sixteen it was.<br />
<br />
This design works because the two shelves that I added to the closet are recessed. The closet as built by Airstream only had one shelf up high. That one was flush with the back of the closet door, but it could avoid it by setting the pockets below it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivladZwQytdS2MBY7ju1A8MBEX7CpfT-QgLOjlTCX2lq8o6Rv6xyfof68XayqNPbu80cNCEYWNKKx9EX2Ll7kRLdejEPax8zYG5xOyBJ9FNf7lN-fdrSlUsRvviF4K9X7ojd4ceyKwjLr0/s1600/capture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivladZwQytdS2MBY7ju1A8MBEX7CpfT-QgLOjlTCX2lq8o6Rv6xyfof68XayqNPbu80cNCEYWNKKx9EX2Ll7kRLdejEPax8zYG5xOyBJ9FNf7lN-fdrSlUsRvviF4K9X7ojd4ceyKwjLr0/s400/capture.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
Obviously not a lot of weight or bulk can be added to the door, but these pockets still hold a heck of a lot of stuff, including the following in this example photo:<br />
<ol>
<li>Two large dish towels</li>
<li>Four wash cloths</li>
<li>Six cotton napkins</li>
<li>Sprinter owners manual and pens</li>
<li>Half a dozen plastic laminated National Forest and National Park maps</li>
<li>Trip log book and misc. computer supplies</li>
<li>Luminoodle rope light</li>
<li>Disposable barf bags (never had to use any yet, knock wood)</li>
<li>Nylon grocery tote bags</li>
<li>About 50 feet of paracord</li>
<li>Aluminum foil</li>
<li>Beer can coozies</li>
</ol>
<br />
That's a lot of stuff that was previously occupying other precious space!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBtxCkpN_RgLbtvowx6ws5-QEuvevGX-IWVM9rOBeRettat3Gm33Y6KoAtSSOv-LK4t9BZEhx99zIjbMMzvRB56gDFJZXtieVB5ZnXijdgjol1ilcikS4O1YH1vT45lSSEmHPicsqYzMP/s1600/1-IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="583" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBtxCkpN_RgLbtvowx6ws5-QEuvevGX-IWVM9rOBeRettat3Gm33Y6KoAtSSOv-LK4t9BZEhx99zIjbMMzvRB56gDFJZXtieVB5ZnXijdgjol1ilcikS4O1YH1vT45lSSEmHPicsqYzMP/s400/1-IMG_1769.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
<br />
And here's the hell of it - I actually prefer that original mirror being on the front of the closet, not the back. It bounces light around and breaks up the long narrow aisle of the van.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoRAvx-0wXJpD9f5Ac9obfpo13iJk7yhhaoa5DOef86QgslYSC8fz67KguLzKe6jgvOkWzTf7Hb-btW_EAOC4cup1h355Cw-D1OCpxN9J2HFuB793Gn-IRtNptDQ_ttS-ffYEozvb_-eQ/s1600/1-IMG_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoRAvx-0wXJpD9f5Ac9obfpo13iJk7yhhaoa5DOef86QgslYSC8fz67KguLzKe6jgvOkWzTf7Hb-btW_EAOC4cup1h355Cw-D1OCpxN9J2HFuB793Gn-IRtNptDQ_ttS-ffYEozvb_-eQ/s400/1-IMG_1768.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why didn't I think of this project sooner?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm amazed that, after more than four years, I'm still discovering substantial new space wins like this. Wowser.Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-22332112303151590442018-12-26T07:45:00.002-08:002019-02-03T12:54:19.691-08:00REPLACING A PILOT BUSHING IN A 2006 MERCEDES SPRINTERBy way of explanation for this blog post, I'd first like to reproduce my corresponding animated entry from Instagram:<br />
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<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Rant: Multiple times,
I have challenged both local mechanics and online forums (more than one!) to
HELP ME CREATE A LIST OF EVERY TINY PART THAT WILL DISABLE OUR VAN WHEN IT
INEVITABLY FAILS DUE TO AGE. I would
gladly pay someone to replace ALL such parts preemptively, if only they could
be systematically identified!! But all
my efforts to date have been an absolute failure in this regard. Seriously – I’ve taken this van to an MB shop
and explicitly said, “Please replace EVERYTHING you think might fail, because
one way or another, I will be doing those replacements, and I’d prefer to do
them in one fell swoop right now.” With all the expertise I’ve tapped to date,
every set of suggestions has totally missed the mark, including at MB. Our latest headache is the failure of this
$10 part that nobody called to my attention previously – but it isn’t even a
$10 failure, it’s really a 3-cent failure because it’s the o-rings *ON* the $10
part that are the real problem. This
despite paying MB for a transmission servicing just 16 months ago!! How do I surmount this barrier to efficient
T1N Sprinter ownership? Maybe @millionmilesprinter will be the one who develops
that elusive comprehensive list and offers that preemptive service to those of
us who don’t want to keep repairing, and repairing, and repairing, ugh (fingers
crossed). </b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This replacement has been covered by numerous YouTubers and forum participants (the offending part is sometimes called a nag plug or transmission adapter housing - see <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47142"><b>here</b></a>). I just wanted to throw in my own pics and observations to round out the efforts of those who have come before me.</div>
<div>
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<div>
So what's the very first thing you do when confronted with the fact that your transmission has been leaking for an indeterminate period of time? You check the oil level. But guess what? Mercedes Benz doesn't provide you with a dipstick. Not if you own a T1N Sprinter, that is.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Why on earth would they not include such a basic piece of equipment?!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ0JcEtdGKvr4Eicb5L3ns7ULSWZ10JjHjidn5gZP749rkQYlciZ_ipQYoNnBTbb1KSrX-AHsQ2x4RUF-cH6CZ9vVLlWr0lj7qduiNRD4LIMZ8khUu03BFFfPE7GHUonfNfycTAgNWE6V/s1600/IMG_1539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJ0JcEtdGKvr4Eicb5L3ns7ULSWZ10JjHjidn5gZP749rkQYlciZ_ipQYoNnBTbb1KSrX-AHsQ2x4RUF-cH6CZ9vVLlWr0lj7qduiNRD4LIMZ8khUu03BFFfPE7GHUonfNfycTAgNWE6V/s400/IMG_1539.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why. "MB Workshop Only". Which might not be such a bad idea if they were competent and could be trusted as a result.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It's because they don't want DIYers working on these transmissions. But guess what?? I paid a Mercedes Benz shop several hundred dollars to service this transmission just 16 months ago. Obviously they didn't do it properly if it began leaking fluid so soon. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43ttK-0W_olFHw4-NUrg8clvQslG51iUAvMbEzcCF89n1FU7riA-JYRXWnWRWwe4l2At1HeMIfLu3kvHENImhAqC4FJBZERRbbmgkO1FbJNst-TBsMUcMuQWfQkyz3m9n7wBUfApwx81T/s1600/picard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="500" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43ttK-0W_olFHw4-NUrg8clvQslG51iUAvMbEzcCF89n1FU7riA-JYRXWnWRWwe4l2At1HeMIfLu3kvHENImhAqC4FJBZERRbbmgkO1FbJNst-TBsMUcMuQWfQkyz3m9n7wBUfApwx81T/s400/picard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listen to The Picard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
So then what do you do in a situation like this? Well, having no idea how much oil leaked out of the transmission, you can't risk driving with too little, and you can't get it fixed unless you drive it to a place where it is fixable (I was <i><b>not</b></i> going to pay for a flatbed tow because of this fiasco). So you take an educated guess.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoSmmytjxasjGB9klaBuke1f3ylIKn26CmaHtbh2c-z_aaC5lCTRaMy7Cxnu3kczoHDKw3zLCVZA7zboigxKZwhZhhzTa8L__DyQwjMn1FTNz9VcZb120D_uHt8_B_QZUZXHxX-U2G4gO/s1600/DIPSTICK-ANNOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="882" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoSmmytjxasjGB9klaBuke1f3ylIKn26CmaHtbh2c-z_aaC5lCTRaMy7Cxnu3kczoHDKw3zLCVZA7zboigxKZwhZhhzTa8L__DyQwjMn1FTNz9VcZb120D_uHt8_B_QZUZXHxX-U2G4gO/s400/DIPSTICK-ANNOT.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultimately, our educated guess looked like this, which we found out several days later when an aftermarket dipstick arrived from Amazon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<u>Here's the description of that dipstick as it appeared on Amazon</u>: <i>TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TOOL w/INSTRUCTIONS & FREE LOCKING PIN Mercedes 722.6 Transmissions – Replaces OEM 140589152100</i></div>
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<div>
It takes a while to get the hang of this dipstick. I can see why MB would not want uneducated DIYers trying to mess with it, because it's easy to get an erroneous reading. But with enough iterations on both hot and cold engine states, you can get the "feel" of when you are getting a good reading.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1A-0CFRovRA276NUx5H_LVWeEvAheqx_R3JZJnEcCNp2JcwuYs-vqJoTbyMhzi2ScaeoVOV1K2R3sb7tkMbm6mW3X4p3bz6sDTSoMCLKdGUtleFleGJ5iyarnwsU0zE7eOjhEy7GyWGo/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1A-0CFRovRA276NUx5H_LVWeEvAheqx_R3JZJnEcCNp2JcwuYs-vqJoTbyMhzi2ScaeoVOV1K2R3sb7tkMbm6mW3X4p3bz6sDTSoMCLKdGUtleFleGJ5iyarnwsU0zE7eOjhEy7GyWGo/s400/IMG_1533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It does not insert all the way in like an engine oil dipstick does.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
OK, now on to the leak itself. <b>@MillionMileSprinter</b> told me in an email that there was about a 99% chance that the pilot bushing was the source of the leak (with oil spread everywhere, we could not tell by looking). So we ordered one of those.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pE7305cngSzzsg8T3E0PQU-WImPEPBcFGYrzBe77mFuOZWqfnEcebyen1t4LWHpDK1cc2rBaMXwaVcRyG4lCGVlzQF41ZBQJIKD-XcTilHnt7k1G8SBMSzJNWa-PZpK7KxaPOR9vkxuY/s1600/20181219-BUSHING-ANNOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1134" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pE7305cngSzzsg8T3E0PQU-WImPEPBcFGYrzBe77mFuOZWqfnEcebyen1t4LWHpDK1cc2rBaMXwaVcRyG4lCGVlzQF41ZBQJIKD-XcTilHnt7k1G8SBMSzJNWa-PZpK7KxaPOR9vkxuY/s400/20181219-BUSHING-ANNOT.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another reproduction from Instagram. Why are we having to learn so much of what we know about our vans from a photo sharing site, for crying out loud?! Theory says I should be able to pay one or more mechanics for that knowledge. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
By the way, failure of this $11 part is more serious than a loss of oil. If the leaking oil wicks up into the transmission controller, it can put the Sprinter into permanent limp mode until fixed. And of course, ours had to obey Murphy's Law and begin leaking in earnest shortly before a planned Christmas trip (we noticed it less than a week before).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2f-UBp4oqLffZflNmMQAVCswB-lwMDj7by9iZzDqpcGcS71goycG-5NSyUL2ZxqXUXvNxDmQDOIwoN0qmgOBHKbGnHlHQckCJcwM5yj5TgFcsBxqybnM6r19kxMt6mvL4Lhuuw4_gHy3/s1600/murphy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2f-UBp4oqLffZflNmMQAVCswB-lwMDj7by9iZzDqpcGcS71goycG-5NSyUL2ZxqXUXvNxDmQDOIwoN0qmgOBHKbGnHlHQckCJcwM5yj5TgFcsBxqybnM6r19kxMt6mvL4Lhuuw4_gHy3/s400/murphy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's where that little device mounts on the curb side of the transmission:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBarx8Gqyw1a2Ld36QQJ5siAUaJzApMpGmGaVGtEuFoKbZphQaRBThrEwscpz-6gOP2pFaVr_oPH60_D-zDqfPXjfqthQFsUx1D4OH_c3tepICx8b3Y1ulUFrsXZHEFTUcFaARN2wBOj-G/s1600/IMG_1491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1467" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBarx8Gqyw1a2Ld36QQJ5siAUaJzApMpGmGaVGtEuFoKbZphQaRBThrEwscpz-6gOP2pFaVr_oPH60_D-zDqfPXjfqthQFsUx1D4OH_c3tepICx8b3Y1ulUFrsXZHEFTUcFaARN2wBOj-G/s400/IMG_1491.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
It's a very easy job to swap this thing out. Search for it on YouTube vids for more detail, but basically you rotate that thumb tab downward, pull out the black plug-like object with the wires attached to it, and unscrew the bushing:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oP_ziJWOuCIL3xCOmWTUIEBiqxwj0ysgRz3yt4b3gHAFYuwI80dZ8NIlEuL1IP0CppxxeHZw5oASooVYIRFFYt0o9Q_Wa-mS3zBGRwEazkk8_qTP-gGoot7BAdefEDMnnb4fpArJI3aQ/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oP_ziJWOuCIL3xCOmWTUIEBiqxwj0ysgRz3yt4b3gHAFYuwI80dZ8NIlEuL1IP0CppxxeHZw5oASooVYIRFFYt0o9Q_Wa-mS3zBGRwEazkk8_qTP-gGoot7BAdefEDMnnb4fpArJI3aQ/s320/IMG_1502.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
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<div>
Pop the new one in, re-tighten the screw, re-insert the wired module, and tighten down the thumb tab to seat it properly.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
OK, so did the replacement of this $11 part solve our issue? The proof is in the Christmas pudding:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmdmmmbH22Zd7iggzAzlCcSXQZ_FQIMlazHTA417MLN45cxuaygWRru5rI4qKOWYCvEJG8vhWvAb2OvVMHD58Nuz28dyBvSfWbj1-zawrzCo2yvQynY3RNY2Gwk03_Q5Ip3YFhZhqMUJ6/s1600/20181222_BEFORE-AFTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmdmmmbH22Zd7iggzAzlCcSXQZ_FQIMlazHTA417MLN45cxuaygWRru5rI4qKOWYCvEJG8vhWvAb2OvVMHD58Nuz28dyBvSfWbj1-zawrzCo2yvQynY3RNY2Gwk03_Q5Ip3YFhZhqMUJ6/s400/20181222_BEFORE-AFTER.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explain this crap - why couldn't Mercedes Benz have done this <i><b>simple, simple thing</b></i> 16 months ago when I paid to have the transmission serviced?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<u>Either one of two things has to happen here in order to make the management of this issue professionally defensible</u>: Either Mercedes Benz has to include the replacement of such a common known failing part in their routine transmission servicing, OR, they have to tell customers, <b><i>"By the way, it is not our policy to replace this $11 part on the transmission when we are doing a servicing for you. You should expect that to fail shortly after you leave our shop."</i></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Either one of those needs to happen to do right by customers. But this example is just a symptom of a far wider phenomenon, and that is the paradigm of <i><b>"We'll fix it when it breaks"</b></i>. The paradigm is NOT what it should be, which is <b><i>"We'll do what is logical and common-sense necessary to help you keep your van running reliably given that you are a paying customer."</i></b></div>
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<div>
As I said in my Insta-rant above, we are just not there yet. Here's a screengrab from the resulting comment section, and I think this sums the whole situation up nicely.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV_VPiU56W_v_qpYvUGM07Lr0FRqCqxnX8aHVIA57MXeisx-iVjzemtb7_hnBbgh4OU_vK7lD0U0euAXbcTMn1CfacxcaYVd1WXbDUd6KUuU_4ZxGXWsrKO4KBcNOV1I0ppaymuZB3GBP/s1600/ig-grab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV_VPiU56W_v_qpYvUGM07Lr0FRqCqxnX8aHVIA57MXeisx-iVjzemtb7_hnBbgh4OU_vK7lD0U0euAXbcTMn1CfacxcaYVd1WXbDUd6KUuU_4ZxGXWsrKO4KBcNOV1I0ppaymuZB3GBP/s400/ig-grab.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div>
<i><b>"Local dealers are merely parts installers."</b></i> Ouch. But I have to wonder what the explanation is here. This part commonly leaks on <i>MANY</i> Mercedes Benz vehicles - not just Sprinters (e.g., see <a href="https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/1962929-what-pilot-bushing.html"><b>here</b></a>). How could any MB shop either not know, or simply not bother, to replace this part as a matter of course?!<br />
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<b><u>20190203 EDIT</u>: </b>We checked the transmission control module to see if any oil might have gotten into it from the previously-leaking bushing described above. Not a trace was seen. This examination has been well-described by other sources, but here's a reference pic anyway:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFddcNs2N7tjEdHmHGJ_iItpN13shtcVEMboPlRJ7PFq3jIzwKoNkxllrBrri131Gz8V2_xniBtTAhmHGFbS0WN00_jDMZCeQFflsFHCRAVZz-0lgdpZJ_pxkLtwh2vHDTCuOdFLrOvmq/s1600/20190203_OIL-WICK-NO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1420" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFddcNs2N7tjEdHmHGJ_iItpN13shtcVEMboPlRJ7PFq3jIzwKoNkxllrBrri131Gz8V2_xniBtTAhmHGFbS0WN00_jDMZCeQFflsFHCRAVZz-0lgdpZJ_pxkLtwh2vHDTCuOdFLrOvmq/s400/20190203_OIL-WICK-NO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-1050622663140628012018-12-15T16:05:00.000-08:002018-12-15T16:37:51.173-08:00ADDITIONAL ROOF STORAGE FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEAfter more than four years of <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/interstate-grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate</b></a> Class B campervan ownership, I am routinely amazed that I can still discover new modifications that result in large efficiency gains. This is one of them - a valuable capture of roof space that has historically been underutilized.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCesIRyF_dcbIn78Vy5lsvH6v1Q9UDuPt9cetF20Pf49qBVI0iuc9hyphenhyphenDNUNirenS7LXHOF-Vj3CVepKsMvmLGiOG7doHuMI9wy6UlZpGnCI7lF1aSPqjelkMrsAcGDUmmvfsL3ZtubNmR/s1600/query.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="851" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCesIRyF_dcbIn78Vy5lsvH6v1Q9UDuPt9cetF20Pf49qBVI0iuc9hyphenhyphenDNUNirenS7LXHOF-Vj3CVepKsMvmLGiOG7doHuMI9wy6UlZpGnCI7lF1aSPqjelkMrsAcGDUmmvfsL3ZtubNmR/s400/query.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I first posed this question to <a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/optimizing-interstate-roof-storage-189527.html"><b>Air Forums Sprinter and B Van Forum</b></a>, I was envisioning perhaps mounting a storage device in the space shown, using the referenced clamps. My solution turned out to be even simpler than that.</td></tr>
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<div>
I found a storage device that fit this space like a glove, but it's not what I had originally envisioned.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BAS3njOMu3SJiuF6DJBO7A9QtP4FA1tSaGJ7APdTwZaulO9CAEadwYJ1uw9Tgg9DKHO9tEU1HcTHS4QFV_1o-wHq6FpKg5HclqhLHTjv6SZpuOUEAI2mDY5uTh-tzscaZKWX2FNEEwzB/s1600/atv-bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="752" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BAS3njOMu3SJiuF6DJBO7A9QtP4FA1tSaGJ7APdTwZaulO9CAEadwYJ1uw9Tgg9DKHO9tEU1HcTHS4QFV_1o-wHq6FpKg5HclqhLHTjv6SZpuOUEAI2mDY5uTh-tzscaZKWX2FNEEwzB/s400/atv-bag.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It just so happened that the <a href="https://atv-tek.com/products/arch-series-expedition-atv-utv-bag-black"><b>ATV Tek ASEBLK Black Hunting and Fishing Expedition Cargo Bag</b></a> fit the space like it was made for it. </td></tr>
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<div>
I used one of my favorite products as the underlayment on the roof, to allow for air circulation and drying, so that the ATV bag would not trap moisture next to the metal.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1rCbGbiBpoH5AJhuwU99-Zt14LZHsFCAAeyp7Cju0LmDKYpZ3h4JKIGEgTOXPi4o8LtrZkEypCJV9q7tcTJP75IppOOhWXV1upzZRbrq4zCEQtkycO81CT3D_Mqj5Brh0kfP-q5R666/s1600/1-IMG_02503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="940" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1rCbGbiBpoH5AJhuwU99-Zt14LZHsFCAAeyp7Cju0LmDKYpZ3h4JKIGEgTOXPi4o8LtrZkEypCJV9q7tcTJP75IppOOhWXV1upzZRbrq4zCEQtkycO81CT3D_Mqj5Brh0kfP-q5R666/s400/1-IMG_02503.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cut a 1' x 3' strip of a Taskmaster rubber restaurant mat, which is the same product I cut down for our <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/wet-bath-floor-mat-for-airstream.html"><b>wet bath floor mat</b></a>. This product is officially known as the <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/A1HC-35-43-in-x-35-43-in-Anti-Fatigue-Rubber-Restaurant-Kitchen-Mat-RG1004/302722583"><b>A1HC 35.43 in. x 35.43 in. Anti Fatigue Rubber Restaurant/Kitchen Mat.</b></a></td></tr>
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<div>
Bonus with the Taskmaster: it could be pulled off the roof and used as a traction assist device if I ever got stuck. I used a third of one of these mats to underlay the ATV bag, and I'll probably find another reason to put the other two thirds up on the roof eventually.</div>
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Here's what the ATV bag looks like positioned to fit:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRnUci6jVimuQNcbCKnILMs5DxBqYXYA9Ry087I4szvAsmEkRD2zV31zubyQDRRcfVbIdc5lRaO0pTwsnQfdaGQNeZejLOW8V1l7URgBwOwR8najWSy1pWDyFIzM7zjgnneMiyghkojSD/s1600/kZEz45X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1293" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRnUci6jVimuQNcbCKnILMs5DxBqYXYA9Ry087I4szvAsmEkRD2zV31zubyQDRRcfVbIdc5lRaO0pTwsnQfdaGQNeZejLOW8V1l7URgBwOwR8najWSy1pWDyFIzM7zjgnneMiyghkojSD/s400/kZEz45X.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It covers the raw open end of the solar panels on the rear end, giving it a more finished look.</td></tr>
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<div>
I mentioned above that I didn't need to use the referenced clamps that I originally thought I would need. Given the way the thing butts up against the 8020 solar panel frame, and given that existing hold-down straps were mounted on the bag in key areas adjacent to the frame, I decided to use screw eyes instead. My husband sourced stainless steel eyes and also bolts that were compatible with the 8020. With those in place, I simply attached the bag using 175 pound zip ties. Here are a few pics.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDta2a98E8s3cKJO_vwXhx8pGPZplh6E251rF2FCzmWca-7i1gVVKZZse4o1fw2enENvlkPsuWK94djKNoFAOimuIebOHxgCXI7YI7urKo9FDqYs3ZoGTm2-_ffkBS7XvAUwVJHNvmbh09/s1600/1-IMG_1331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="878" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDta2a98E8s3cKJO_vwXhx8pGPZplh6E251rF2FCzmWca-7i1gVVKZZse4o1fw2enENvlkPsuWK94djKNoFAOimuIebOHxgCXI7YI7urKo9FDqYs3ZoGTm2-_ffkBS7XvAUwVJHNvmbh09/s400/1-IMG_1331.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye bolted into the underside of the 8020 solar frame, right next to one of the carrier clasps.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub9YHY4l6dkiZLgZ8qR6_rU1s-VxmK9_J8x3tbKzF1cu6h-p_9kBTVIqf1g2Yy0rtCW2aQZ3o941hzI3D-afNTveU2img-lKaHr2hDinotBpV9nt7AZlnCqQATTUlSt9mnb4QQvVmlpUP/s1600/1-IMG_1341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1024" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub9YHY4l6dkiZLgZ8qR6_rU1s-VxmK9_J8x3tbKzF1cu6h-p_9kBTVIqf1g2Yy0rtCW2aQZ3o941hzI3D-afNTveU2img-lKaHr2hDinotBpV9nt7AZlnCqQATTUlSt9mnb4QQvVmlpUP/s400/1-IMG_1341.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View underneath, showing the zip ties connecting the eyes to the existing bag straps.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2AFk8-azD3Em_CzEpdhL3pOe0BFi-ChfPXTyB8p2povuZLTTH243EtNqOUTcv3h7rmjFgAW-sJ2cdUYcxfNkp3pIKkCH-l_Ht2y7ORHzHKr2af4uEBWJakVYJiSXi_BN_h_FVlWIAAB1/s1600/1-IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2AFk8-azD3Em_CzEpdhL3pOe0BFi-ChfPXTyB8p2povuZLTTH243EtNqOUTcv3h7rmjFgAW-sJ2cdUYcxfNkp3pIKkCH-l_Ht2y7ORHzHKr2af4uEBWJakVYJiSXi_BN_h_FVlWIAAB1/s400/1-IMG_1339.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous pic of dog in the process of solar recharging.</td></tr>
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Detail of how this attaches: </div>
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(1) The bag is attached to the Taskmaster rubber underlayment mat using the straps that would typically attach it to the back frame of an ATV. </div>
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(2) The rubber underlayment, in turn, is attached to the roof rack using 175-lb zip ties. This commercial grade rubber mat is extremely strong and it would take tremendous force to rip through it (these mats are so tough that one of my professional clients uses them in a petrochemical plant application). I don't anticipate any issues with it.</div>
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(3) The upper edge of the bag is attached to the solar 8020 frame.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJ4LHMI9o1TKRSDXADbu3F6PUooVw-4-tkDRWt4pDmZVpE09y6ix2nerezicU8XvhOqTSBltJwqYfbSwIv0nMCPfjqkx8LQkPT2wh5wAXjHgQSPSiGAoyWdZjwu-OpK8uagWFEckcGvPe/s1600/20181215_ATV_BAG_ADAPT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJ4LHMI9o1TKRSDXADbu3F6PUooVw-4-tkDRWt4pDmZVpE09y6ix2nerezicU8XvhOqTSBltJwqYfbSwIv0nMCPfjqkx8LQkPT2wh5wAXjHgQSPSiGAoyWdZjwu-OpK8uagWFEckcGvPe/s400/20181215_ATV_BAG_ADAPT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this. </td></tr>
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Now, you may be wondering two things. First, what the heck do I put way up there?</div>
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Answer: Necessary junk that would otherwise consume valuable space inside the van. Nothing expensive that it would hurt to lose if a thief got his nosy self up there (which is unlikely).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_V0Av2LBp-C5QagTVhmhqQeODzd5R9K1BVX2DpBn4ndywNXsrSARze3me4cp0HDX0uuM0sy_QCj7L9yhYBpJUuuLw2hEmkSHtiJ80SBh_XucjlD9FSgz_vF09zutoY0O3D934nfIIhez/s1600/1-IMG_1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_V0Av2LBp-C5QagTVhmhqQeODzd5R9K1BVX2DpBn4ndywNXsrSARze3me4cp0HDX0uuM0sy_QCj7L9yhYBpJUuuLw2hEmkSHtiJ80SBh_XucjlD9FSgz_vF09zutoY0O3D934nfIIhez/s400/1-IMG_1358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like these painting supplies for a renovation project we are working on. I'm transporting the paint itself, 3 gallons worth, inside the Yeti that this is sitting on. I don't want paint inside the van. </td></tr>
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<div>
Secondly, how the heck do I get up there to load and unload the bag?! It's ten feet in the air!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlWeWX_5kGI7uawJjiUShQORi-uop_4eEjuWMbooriCVlJ6hNC8Wb0UB4t5aBJBfmhD7K-_uC2vgJYxqxm4s_ea5ml6ngwuOa3xa-OcKIBPKuc6Rxf28TeFYl2Bdw8eWnyQIp145WFIJg/s1600/1-IMG_1356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="729" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlWeWX_5kGI7uawJjiUShQORi-uop_4eEjuWMbooriCVlJ6hNC8Wb0UB4t5aBJBfmhD7K-_uC2vgJYxqxm4s_ea5ml6ngwuOa3xa-OcKIBPKuc6Rxf28TeFYl2Bdw8eWnyQIp145WFIJg/s400/1-IMG_1356.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using my <b><a href="http://telesteps.net/extension-ladders/1400-style/">Telesteps 1400E</a>,</b> ladder of a thousand uses, which I have secured to the hitch platform.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uj0M5afjAaXsKNcUpJXgjKS_ZPYb8b5c-p7YXFAGO7NLUgGIA9zbZn0U5LNyiE2p4L63EnLmBtuL7CGDQtkysMMV-fCO4GeJgE_eVMQXdQDzYq_38BWaCXWGB42d8HCClBbCEDjD3kpJ/s1600/1-IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6uj0M5afjAaXsKNcUpJXgjKS_ZPYb8b5c-p7YXFAGO7NLUgGIA9zbZn0U5LNyiE2p4L63EnLmBtuL7CGDQtkysMMV-fCO4GeJgE_eVMQXdQDzYq_38BWaCXWGB42d8HCClBbCEDjD3kpJ/s400/1-IMG_1357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a dedicated very-tight bungee so it won't slip. And if I'm really struggling with anything in the bag, I can also bungee the top of the ladder to the roof rack itself for added stability. </td></tr>
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<div>
The hitch platform is covered in non-skid tread, plus the ladder is secure. It's actually safer in this configuration than it is when I'm using it on open pavement.</div>
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Anyway, I'm delighted with this mod. Glad I found an appropriate bag to create this most unlikely combination.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDXqvnJKp7qyIS-6zFRpqTDjniAIwcgJNyOCcktPA1DhM5JptSfbgoK9ZAQ-KiX1W0_OGZEHMm0CaUymPxKKaz_ncgwIwv3l95wYMOxFPii_GMjdHuWh1seewCvusFwfihWkvZdPmB6v8/s1600/unlikely2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDXqvnJKp7qyIS-6zFRpqTDjniAIwcgJNyOCcktPA1DhM5JptSfbgoK9ZAQ-KiX1W0_OGZEHMm0CaUymPxKKaz_ncgwIwv3l95wYMOxFPii_GMjdHuWh1seewCvusFwfihWkvZdPmB6v8/s400/unlikely2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-29667262082920809642018-12-11T12:59:00.000-08:002018-12-11T12:59:11.813-08:00EVEN MORE SHOE STORAGE FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEOn a recent trip, my husband and I each needed five pairs of shoes. Dress shoes, manual labor shoes, shower shoes (flip-flops), hiking boots, and casual every day shoes. <br />
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That means storage for ten pairs, or <b><i>twenty shoes</i></b>. In a van.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oRvm3zH15qQfGi2kat_R7cVTz5qjemZK81_0stDmU4GtE-rUuGgAnpEBdb0hf2ohyphenhyphencLOy7IUErl-PWaqeLKKpcKFs_IoOOajYt-FzVSQeGGjKUUUtyAUd2oadEmgahsFVhvg_sk9fx34/s1600/face-screaming-in-fear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oRvm3zH15qQfGi2kat_R7cVTz5qjemZK81_0stDmU4GtE-rUuGgAnpEBdb0hf2ohyphenhyphencLOy7IUErl-PWaqeLKKpcKFs_IoOOajYt-FzVSQeGGjKUUUtyAUd2oadEmgahsFVhvg_sk9fx34/s400/face-screaming-in-fear.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Back in 2015, I described assigned storage for four pairs of those shoes (<a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/storing-many-shoes-in-airstream.html"><b>here</b></a>). That became my most heavily-viewed blog post of this entire 4-year series. <br />
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Four pairs down, six pairs to go!!<br />
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This became my next shoe conversion target - the recessed space in front of the hot water heater cover. I first converted the panel itself to a neodymium magnetic attachment system (Airstream had screwed it into place, which made winterizing a real pain).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2agb7NULzVay53bplKMk2ou63X439XUo6VyKY4vEcl0Vv-fXfLS-Woyn4AQEyK87dwn0lo8EYliB4bFdGcERvI_ir6pfGqCD3L2AiBokJmR9Ajrnwbqe_lHajCYLJc2inBH75kHby0nM/s1600/iuJNiqH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="814" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2agb7NULzVay53bplKMk2ou63X439XUo6VyKY4vEcl0Vv-fXfLS-Woyn4AQEyK87dwn0lo8EYliB4bFdGcERvI_ir6pfGqCD3L2AiBokJmR9Ajrnwbqe_lHajCYLJc2inBH75kHby0nM/s400/iuJNiqH.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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Obviously, anything else I built into this little space had to be just as easily removable. Furthermore, I had a rule for this project: no purchasing of materials. We have <b><i>SO MUCH MATERIAL </i></b>that we have already accumulated during the course of doing four years of van projects. We need to find creative ways to use up that stuff. Everything I built here, I had to source from our garage. There are many different ways to complete a project like this. Mine involved the use of scraps and residual hardware.<br />
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In order to maximize that void space, I needed a shelf. But in front of that pull-off panel, there's a cabinetry cross-piece, so I couldn't build a simple 3-sided shelf. I had to make the "legs" less wide.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf88CnkCJA3Fk8XtwjJh7EqEm7FjyfcLaefgYEOlI81LjSWUu7XxA7QkApf8kjGF2udRu7pqf3MFhdpLPMfpCg6E1h7dcNISzyh7AxMf9N-QQkw4sGGObNpa3cBoebG13Xf-fKcUxYE9dp/s1600/1-IMG_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf88CnkCJA3Fk8XtwjJh7EqEm7FjyfcLaefgYEOlI81LjSWUu7XxA7QkApf8kjGF2udRu7pqf3MFhdpLPMfpCg6E1h7dcNISzyh7AxMf9N-QQkw4sGGObNpa3cBoebG13Xf-fKcUxYE9dp/s400/1-IMG_1212.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this. This is a piece of scrap plywood left over from our <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/front-seat-dog-platform.html"><b>dog's front seat platform project</b></a>. </td></tr>
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Here you can see what I mean:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrTnaeOJ_vM71R7FBJ_OmpI6Bbsv-EZJ1Au-kyt9V3CzHRYyeXGl5AvQvhFauj8GyY1NyJ4jFyjWdO18eUmPL9PlKu9qqJzjtn3OJHuwHIl1in4TfXWSovUjdC-fUTPHDKzal3AUobuKx/s1600/1-IMG_1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrTnaeOJ_vM71R7FBJ_OmpI6Bbsv-EZJ1Au-kyt9V3CzHRYyeXGl5AvQvhFauj8GyY1NyJ4jFyjWdO18eUmPL9PlKu9qqJzjtn3OJHuwHIl1in4TfXWSovUjdC-fUTPHDKzal3AUobuKx/s400/1-IMG_1216.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the cross-piece in front?</td></tr>
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Now, obviously I could not attach that shelf insert to the cabinetry, because I'd be right back where I started in terms of inconvenience in reaching the hot water heater valves. But there was also the issue of shoes tumbling out of this shallow space when the van is in motion. I know this happens, because we use that space for shoes now, and I'm constantly tripping over them when they fall into the aisle. <br />
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In order to contain both the shoes and the unattached platform that would segregate the pairs of them, I went with a variant on the bungee cord theme.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDp88deIwWLz9cxO5yJzp_rV8CBFaH728TcNnyvEUngozz3XbJlFFBTIqRd8nyh3Y4obgJjUjV-mYMREV6PJB7gE4CqnJu7vodWrCb6qiQfSAHUSCbHt4p3bfPb_3QJQzqoIqepw4R-U-/s1600/1-IMG_1219+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDp88deIwWLz9cxO5yJzp_rV8CBFaH728TcNnyvEUngozz3XbJlFFBTIqRd8nyh3Y4obgJjUjV-mYMREV6PJB7gE4CqnJu7vodWrCb6qiQfSAHUSCbHt4p3bfPb_3QJQzqoIqepw4R-U-/s400/1-IMG_1219+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See those two little neodymiums screwed into the lower cross-piece? Those are key to this simple design.<br /><br />Also, because I had to trim one of <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/11/flor-carpet-tiles-for-airstream_17.html"><b>my Flor tiles in front of the door</b></a>, I friction-fit a remnant from that piece into this slot, to give it a more finished look. That, too, can simply be lifted out - it's not attached. </td></tr>
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I cut pieces of a bungee cord to length so that they would stretch between the top and bottom surfaces. I used four small angle brackets for this attachment job, but rather than permanently attaching them at the bottom, I used more neodymium magnets, so that the cords would be removable. They hold like this:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_99S7eNlLTs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_99S7eNlLTs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Next it was just a matter of sanding, painting, and assembling the shelf for final use. Because we are in the month of December and it's too cold for paint to set up properly, I sprayed and then baked the pieces in my kitchen oven so that they'd dry quickly. I may go back later, when the weather is warmer, and repaint them in the Sherwin Williams color-matched gray shade that I've used elsewhere in the van.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSq0_lqxptDD4_qnMR9FgDQbHIMV2BM6-W-yrQNSG4NDwD8mF9m_UHn5AhWK1Gz4iBVrBOPth90DC33k2ZU0V5rZXBpMEAVxeesrtDz65hSXAidE3dcIZQKWWM-2kVxzPazdz9dk14HWX/s1600/1-IMG_1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1024" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSq0_lqxptDD4_qnMR9FgDQbHIMV2BM6-W-yrQNSG4NDwD8mF9m_UHn5AhWK1Gz4iBVrBOPth90DC33k2ZU0V5rZXBpMEAVxeesrtDz65hSXAidE3dcIZQKWWM-2kVxzPazdz9dk14HWX/s400/1-IMG_1221.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First coat sinks in well. I typically use my kitchen oven about six times a year - once to bake a Thanksgiving turkey, and five times to bake Interstate parts. It's not a bad practice if you don't mind your house smelling like xylene. </td></tr>
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And of course, the money shot:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHNSKzcKoycwwUaobFB5n8kPx62sZRFdzdAzP6tcMX4RDB3V9ney3iNCprt1OjYFxYB5j2UPIYYsKk_7XxgewTn4fCrrzDz6Mk8tBSEnE0lDx2YOtuhes66mWLGMaATElfkOj1phZcQEg/s1600/1-IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1024" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHNSKzcKoycwwUaobFB5n8kPx62sZRFdzdAzP6tcMX4RDB3V9ney3iNCprt1OjYFxYB5j2UPIYYsKk_7XxgewTn4fCrrzDz6Mk8tBSEnE0lDx2YOtuhes66mWLGMaATElfkOj1phZcQEg/s400/1-IMG_1227.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully I will never again find my husband's malodorous Topsiders in the driver's seat. That's where he has been storing them at night, because he had nowhere else to put them.</td></tr>
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I don't know that this is my favorite design that I could have come up with, but it's a danged sight better than what was there to start with (which was nothing). On with the road testing.<br />
<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-41808482779647776492018-11-17T15:41:00.001-08:002018-11-17T15:41:24.057-08:00FLOR CARPET TILES FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE, PART 2: ATTACHINGSee <b><a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/11/flor-carpet-tiles-for-airstream.html">Part 1</a></b> for a description of why I chose Flor carpet tiles for our van.<br />
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Given that I want these tiles to essentially constitute three free-floating mats, I decided to try 2 mm cable ties to lash them together at the corners. That process went like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf0ZLNb64z9xazB8xmPFDCaVVajPwbRSALhFgc32U1l4ge5Dy3_ndilXJtJWD3LyIWuJAVKXi-2JRPlY6-fRVk29pJ4BFUJ5Uij_NB1g220M_FbW13gP1lKa_HbFpb5IIxh0_c14ly5Of/s1600/1-IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf0ZLNb64z9xazB8xmPFDCaVVajPwbRSALhFgc32U1l4ge5Dy3_ndilXJtJWD3LyIWuJAVKXi-2JRPlY6-fRVk29pJ4BFUJ5Uij_NB1g220M_FbW13gP1lKa_HbFpb5IIxh0_c14ly5Of/s400/1-IMG_0776.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrange the visual pattern, flip the tiles over, and mark the drilling locations.</td></tr>
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The carpet backing is so dense that I don't think they will pull apart even if force is put on them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwew0l2UIA_3XQCpsPhVF5TWeQw224bopiprz_lpLPsrcI1e2u8OOcLltbb31xSND-b2Eshi3josE4ysgaW1szgmzCcoA-TbRVjlUmxNncyma16ZGOUFUDJZfcm6IxQ4nRC_oVeA88Pn4/s1600/1-IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="673" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwew0l2UIA_3XQCpsPhVF5TWeQw224bopiprz_lpLPsrcI1e2u8OOcLltbb31xSND-b2Eshi3josE4ysgaW1szgmzCcoA-TbRVjlUmxNncyma16ZGOUFUDJZfcm6IxQ4nRC_oVeA88Pn4/s400/1-IMG_0778.JPG" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I fitted a cable tie to figure out which was the optimal drill bit size, given that I need the ties to lay flat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghN4cIY6CLH2poLy05sSI_GJnEKHIYLMzxUe_4jKL6Z0P-SZp8ixh1OsnLaaM5bb3fY8OQEaGv_MgmmexbNl5PVGXzZIYyCkI2BZ96Kul54QluIm6_Z7RXxUy_3IWrBesn0azCnOZ_syUN/s1600/1-IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="722" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghN4cIY6CLH2poLy05sSI_GJnEKHIYLMzxUe_4jKL6Z0P-SZp8ixh1OsnLaaM5bb3fY8OQEaGv_MgmmexbNl5PVGXzZIYyCkI2BZ96Kul54QluIm6_Z7RXxUy_3IWrBesn0azCnOZ_syUN/s400/1-IMG_0780.JPG" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Drill, baby, drill.</b></td></tr>
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The snippers are pointing directly at one of the cable tie heads inserted and looped through these holes. Can you see it?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKRAUW5B-Sk7RP1vo8O4Myw7nKLE__01t_utP5vs_k4AP9EKGXk81i3XVX4toYK4QKr5F6-y5hjOJvqWJ3sU4Kvw5BvUTCr1rrvdq2-GQ7qLUvQUEwFV6EuhyphenhyphenMosBY7b16m97YQy63Kts/s1600/1-IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKRAUW5B-Sk7RP1vo8O4Myw7nKLE__01t_utP5vs_k4AP9EKGXk81i3XVX4toYK4QKr5F6-y5hjOJvqWJ3sU4Kvw5BvUTCr1rrvdq2-GQ7qLUvQUEwFV6EuhyphenhyphenMosBY7b16m97YQy63Kts/s400/1-IMG_0781.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably not - it's a disruptive carpet pattern with black in it. Plus I can kind of "fluff" some carpet fibers over the cable tie where it emerges on the front side. </td></tr>
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You are probably wondering about the obvious question: if we step on those cable tie heads in bare feet, won't it hurt?<br />
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For the two sets of three Flor tiles bound together down the center of the van, this is not likely to be a problem because the ties are pushed to the absolute edges of the carpet tiles. That leaves the pair in front of the slider door as possible issue in this regard. I stepped on a head in bare feet, and while I could <i>feel</i> the head, the carpet cushioned the experience, and it wasn't like stepping on a pebble or anything.<br />
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I had to trim the fore-most (as opposed to aft-most) pair to size, and Airstream's squaring of the cabinetry opposite the sliding door was atrocious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1Aijsz5t_wb0Y0cwBGwNn4pg-Vj04QM7PYD8RBpPHw0k2vkKj5q2-6YuXCIx2F1GneGxviRNY1eeaTNu1xhjvxuZ3-LN_YNtzB3jjbiFYtNiGCvE4zOaGPYlY8vEdVk6aqTvvikm1VF3/s1600/1-IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1Aijsz5t_wb0Y0cwBGwNn4pg-Vj04QM7PYD8RBpPHw0k2vkKj5q2-6YuXCIx2F1GneGxviRNY1eeaTNu1xhjvxuZ3-LN_YNtzB3jjbiFYtNiGCvE4zOaGPYlY8vEdVk6aqTvvikm1VF3/s400/1-IMG_0783.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was off-square by 1.5 cm over a span of just 19.7". </td></tr>
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But I was able to fit the area by measuring carefully and cutting the carpet tile with a razor blade.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyfaZilV8_lbCzc0Bp7bYcWrc374_qhwMmwSJy5PLg-1t7ImwHyo12SDQrgZlAOeDcd52nzUds5lg677WFiVtb37WLbi98WQDE57gY75Sj8QxIoybry7FqrvI_VRKQVSpM7p3uE7FRmCY/s1600/1-GOPR0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyfaZilV8_lbCzc0Bp7bYcWrc374_qhwMmwSJy5PLg-1t7ImwHyo12SDQrgZlAOeDcd52nzUds5lg677WFiVtb37WLbi98WQDE57gY75Sj8QxIoybry7FqrvI_VRKQVSpM7p3uE7FRmCY/s400/1-GOPR0086.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide angle GoPro shot from above. Freakish.</td></tr>
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It's hard to tell from the wide angle, but the Flor tiles are virtually identical to the width of the wet bath door. The placement was obvious.<br />
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Anyway, these groupings are fairly heavy now that they are cable-tied together - they tend not to slide around. Next I will road test this assemblage and see if they need any additional measures to keep them in place. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_w1enLXrfiBJeOJzOBza1dPyA3bS6lAiZlb_v5EPIycnven4DVLU-9g12gvTdmGX0EWM816WrUUBbmKaW7Mv2tAJixSNuNcKSTs1_mfySZdQQVh7PeqaBHLa7O_u1XErD1Hex5n6dNgy/s1600/1-GOPR0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_w1enLXrfiBJeOJzOBza1dPyA3bS6lAiZlb_v5EPIycnven4DVLU-9g12gvTdmGX0EWM816WrUUBbmKaW7Mv2tAJixSNuNcKSTs1_mfySZdQQVh7PeqaBHLa7O_u1XErD1Hex5n6dNgy/s400/1-GOPR0085.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another wide angle shot.</td></tr>
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<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-67162701987971494552018-11-10T12:40:00.004-08:002018-11-10T12:40:39.353-08:00FLOR CARPET TILES FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE, PART 1: FITTINGI have a feeling this will be a multi-part blog post. Ultimately, I'm not sure how I'll configure these tiles in our <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate</b></a> - that answer will come with trial and error. <div>
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<u>Background</u>: I wanted a mat or carpet solution that would be easy to remove from our rig for cleaning purposes. We almost always boondock, we are often chain-sawing and hacking our way through the wilderness, and I cannot use a vacuum because we don't have shore power for weeks at a time. I have to remove any mats or rugs I use, and get the dirt out of them the old fashioned way - by beating them. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IZrE8D5rswTywAIANi6TT6sPjMMXUWRtYLmp653bJAzSZbRTWtAGkvx-yCPgrVlWKP5Fn9nSziF1mqkn4YzNLw9Tt439UbtYUacOyMeD0gGsvUocuF9vJJ5I6M0KRfaPqQmgj3T60AMp/s1600/les-nessman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1087" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IZrE8D5rswTywAIANi6TT6sPjMMXUWRtYLmp653bJAzSZbRTWtAGkvx-yCPgrVlWKP5Fn9nSziF1mqkn4YzNLw9Tt439UbtYUacOyMeD0gGsvUocuF9vJJ5I6M0KRfaPqQmgj3T60AMp/s400/les-nessman.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not the very last person on earth to remember this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Nessman"><b>Les Nessman</b></a> quote, but I'm really, really close, as evidenced by the fact that I can't find a decent meme of it, or even a complete reference.</td></tr>
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To this end, I did <b>NOT </b>want a conventional fitted rug such as this one:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1Ehsu3y8NNxLZ_z3SpLq1aMDR9NsFPG3VYjlwbs35gq2eVeCSLQgl2PqKm2Qksqt6shpJR75CKv2y6ZILmT1x0Gp2g6Qzvrbvr7oi2lzm3H_BkGFbxhKPvVKhCqaHVmZm679yn9FCK9t/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1Ehsu3y8NNxLZ_z3SpLq1aMDR9NsFPG3VYjlwbs35gq2eVeCSLQgl2PqKm2Qksqt6shpJR75CKv2y6ZILmT1x0Gp2g6Qzvrbvr7oi2lzm3H_BkGFbxhKPvVKhCqaHVmZm679yn9FCK9t/s400/19.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that - it can't even be kept clean long enough to do a quick YouTube video. And what would I do with the likes of this without a vacuum? It's too cumbersome for me to remove and beat.<br /><br />Floor shot of the new Interstate 19, as uploaded by YouTube user John P.</td></tr>
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Whatever I put in there has to be removable in pieces and has to stand up to being beaten, scrubbed, and sprayed off with a garden hose. Conventional carpet cannot be treated that way, but <a href="https://www.flor.com/"><b>Flor carpet tiles</b></a> get pretty good reviews in that regard. They stand up to a lot. </div>
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<u>One caveat on a Flor installation in a van like ours</u>: The tiles are stiff and will not conform to the shape of table receivers if you have them installed in your floor. Ours had two in the rear section, but I stopped needing them when we installed our Lagun table (see <a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/adapting-lagun-table-for-airstream.html"><b>here</b></a>). So I first had to remove those:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PM1MUCzEFH0u8sWzm32brjpoAPaTl7scfjU-wyVoEdO4Y3d6KS_DLZD62i8kCZrD4fnK_SzTaW5gjlScXS_Gpg_SO9j3Ju827Wy8bHvhfzDA6KuhWneyQoZ5ja5FP2MzwuPU4zUn3IJ/s1600/1-DSC_0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7PM1MUCzEFH0u8sWzm32brjpoAPaTl7scfjU-wyVoEdO4Y3d6KS_DLZD62i8kCZrD4fnK_SzTaW5gjlScXS_Gpg_SO9j3Ju827Wy8bHvhfzDA6KuhWneyQoZ5ja5FP2MzwuPU4zUn3IJ/s400/1-DSC_0360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I'm glad I did, because the chassis holes need some remedial attention.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-Re56Ij8Dw3KBV4nN-YUDNNmYX5LREcrtQJSLs9dbpZHckR1VQZlOd2QnAw0ueGuh-IMWmBoe4QxEt0uyL8l7aG3oTSkjmhqZAbDmSgNpoLM16J_i83YlHv5QT3ovnJlTFxKGqu3AS3/s1600/1-DSC_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCO-Re56Ij8Dw3KBV4nN-YUDNNmYX5LREcrtQJSLs9dbpZHckR1VQZlOd2QnAw0ueGuh-IMWmBoe4QxEt0uyL8l7aG3oTSkjmhqZAbDmSgNpoLM16J_i83YlHv5QT3ovnJlTFxKGqu3AS3/s400/1-DSC_0357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, there's the label on the Onan generator which was installed under this section of floor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENvkmEdaUrmAt3S54U2oO9R0W0QqSMvDuOPsv4kpPXHCA1CyE7E_Q2a92Otk3j0Jp1iy3Cpj461O4F_Yr7S4ls55u6gg_A5yw9t9q6U8yuqsAIz23lSEKqlQj4KBoTSKt7DMMeltjuTWG/s1600/1-DSC_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENvkmEdaUrmAt3S54U2oO9R0W0QqSMvDuOPsv4kpPXHCA1CyE7E_Q2a92Otk3j0Jp1iy3Cpj461O4F_Yr7S4ls55u6gg_A5yw9t9q6U8yuqsAIz23lSEKqlQj4KBoTSKt7DMMeltjuTWG/s400/1-DSC_0364.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh... the usual good OEM job on sealing the subfloor and chassis frame itself. Thanks, Airstream. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67kLL5H6xqCqT4wEfFiZzdpFmtmc_L9qgbdFAq-CWgqwlRcaLvv7vJgzox21vtuZnF2dkF_Tga1zw6JWgE22oSsbsl5Xe6AFc-9Mj39_CBbgdSxq9NM3QZW_MLgUUsFGDC4wjg_1xoj04/s1600/1-DSC_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67kLL5H6xqCqT4wEfFiZzdpFmtmc_L9qgbdFAq-CWgqwlRcaLvv7vJgzox21vtuZnF2dkF_Tga1zw6JWgE22oSsbsl5Xe6AFc-9Mj39_CBbgdSxq9NM3QZW_MLgUUsFGDC4wjg_1xoj04/s400/1-DSC_0365.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodents would have a name for these holes - "Stairway to Heaven". I'll have to get thin sheet metal patches while I figure out what to do with them longer term. </td></tr>
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So here's a few shots of my initial configuration. Note that I have two tiles overlapped in front of the slider. I have to cut one of them down to size, but I haven't done that yet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwMdqPtDSFYSBR7LjpOh59iaCgduocc4b2d20Qdn85BcE45BEPGihT_-Ls1EH5d6NIYoxrYeWXsDdZISf1kT5leEyXixHWpoujNOOkAVp83CCVatVIoXEvDdXY3bXa4IzdVXVstVPbacX/s1600/1-DSC_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwMdqPtDSFYSBR7LjpOh59iaCgduocc4b2d20Qdn85BcE45BEPGihT_-Ls1EH5d6NIYoxrYeWXsDdZISf1kT5leEyXixHWpoujNOOkAVp83CCVatVIoXEvDdXY3bXa4IzdVXVstVPbacX/s400/1-DSC_0366.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1RH6P1qjgBGb0Q_US5LXbMJDsdziE8k65Grjn-s9UM989S2ytaMCafOgs-QDBH6iRF1gv9XDmPuXd8SwNJW2bGK9MVwO9a0dkioSCJeXnknsRTMgaAaPIF9uNxxRV-rGZ-vhTnBcE6GA/s1600/1-DSC_0370-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1RH6P1qjgBGb0Q_US5LXbMJDsdziE8k65Grjn-s9UM989S2ytaMCafOgs-QDBH6iRF1gv9XDmPuXd8SwNJW2bGK9MVwO9a0dkioSCJeXnknsRTMgaAaPIF9uNxxRV-rGZ-vhTnBcE6GA/s400/1-DSC_0370-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see that the edges of the cabinetry are not continuous all the way from the front to the back. There's a jog in front of the curbside couch, and another jog aft of the wet bath (photo right). It would be difficult to fit a single unbroken rug in this area even if I wanted to. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXgB5_PsHAqank1w8sQ9VOLdKYD1qlODFzPxHc_L5yXCkEPx7idsDTEy4qFEKzdbPb4PdoaFYXSmkeiYcnT0Cv-fou2H0s6Xk3R_MCuhyphenhyphenP-KtGF24ZeLLkWO6fS9X3A9HxOcpb5XhJF6U/s1600/1-DSC_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXgB5_PsHAqank1w8sQ9VOLdKYD1qlODFzPxHc_L5yXCkEPx7idsDTEy4qFEKzdbPb4PdoaFYXSmkeiYcnT0Cv-fou2H0s6Xk3R_MCuhyphenhyphenP-KtGF24ZeLLkWO6fS9X3A9HxOcpb5XhJF6U/s400/1-DSC_0372.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They coordinate with the existing cab carpet, even while adding a bit of pattern to what is otherwise a design composed of solids. I think they suit the van. </td></tr>
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I don't mind the discontinuous appearance - it does break up the long linear hallway.</div>
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The remaining question is -- how am I going to attach these, either to each other in three groups, and/or to the floor? How will I NEED to attach them?</div>
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I'm not sure yet. The carpet backing is very dense and they are not very slippery, even as loose individual tiles. Watch as I try to scoot this one around:</div>
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If I can figure out an unobtrusive way to bind them to each other (in groups of 3, 3, and 1.5, the last being in front of the slider), I may not need to attach them to the floor at all. They might stay put by themselves without assistance. </div>
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Anyway, that's a recap of stage one of this process. I'll figure out what to do next by using these carpet tiles in practice and seeing how they perform. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqcgjMKz-kLLPlncYj6CADN1GA0ij_c8G5o82nqZfPTB5FOgz3bDs1WjZ4tBOBki5lTszK2Ywy22ZYuN5j8j379U6buq7ck1T7NrRumP5Yn0cIS5Rv32AgoNipkbXiZhrMBeXnqwW8ab0/s1600/les-is-more.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="685" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqcgjMKz-kLLPlncYj6CADN1GA0ij_c8G5o82nqZfPTB5FOgz3bDs1WjZ4tBOBki5lTszK2Ywy22ZYuN5j8j379U6buq7ck1T7NrRumP5Yn0cIS5Rv32AgoNipkbXiZhrMBeXnqwW8ab0/s400/les-is-more.JPG" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WKRP is so old that it hasn't been meme'd decently at all.</td></tr>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-9583950433196542172018-10-26T08:21:00.000-07:002018-10-26T08:21:17.466-07:00LITHIUM LOAD TESTING A 200 A BOSCH ALTERNATORThis blog post is a placeholder containing two video clips of our 200 A Bosch alternator. We took these as we were trying to ascertain why our previous alternator's clutch pulley failed at 17 months of age (original blog post <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/psa-alternator-clutch-pulley-failures.html"><b>here</b></a>; Sprinter Forum discussion commences at post #110 on this page <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70317&page=11"><b>here</b></a>). Was it caused by the dynamics of the lithium charging? Or was it an unrelated failure?<br /><br />It's very difficult to tell. These two tests do not represent actual vehicle operating conditions, which would include high engine RPMs, cab a/c cranking and placing its own load on the alternator, other vehicle systems engaged, road roughness contributing to vibrations, etc. <br />
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The results are utterly inconclusive. There is evidence of pitch changes when the lithium charging loads are applied and removed, but no obvious thrashing of the belts, or visible vibrations, or anything like that. <br />
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I'll have more on what we plan to do about this failure in future posts, but in the meantime, here are the views from below and above.<br />
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<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-20907107190138965592018-10-12T05:26:00.002-07:002019-03-26T05:34:27.308-07:00FRONT SEAT DOG PLATFORMFor the life of me, I'm constantly losing track of where I place my content - is it on this dinosaur of a blog, on Instagram (@Interstate.blog), on the forums (@Interblog), or some combination of these? Usually the answer is the last. It's all over the place, like a dog's breakfast. <br />
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Anyway, just a quick recap of how I improved our dog's front seat accommodations. First, a description of the need:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQjvy9iIfQHpq_0HGLRkMFgutaxtQXChVq4TwUnTSnEy5duyWUJT5X0HtTsbdgz6sK0m1UbhNEf35xU0LqLon8bfcgO6Ljs60irMLN6QdmBfyrbi5L_tCFWtRAcYUifP9cJ4TguM86B4b/s1600/dYJP4lC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1474" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQjvy9iIfQHpq_0HGLRkMFgutaxtQXChVq4TwUnTSnEy5duyWUJT5X0HtTsbdgz6sK0m1UbhNEf35xU0LqLon8bfcgO6Ljs60irMLN6QdmBfyrbi5L_tCFWtRAcYUifP9cJ4TguM86B4b/s400/dYJP4lC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I started by considering the potential utility of existing devices on the market:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqaD4Dag5VHFr6JDcrkzbMkJE3rxEoJxd_Gji8im0fpuf8X6BavGcrQj4puTBFPwuJp9SYakwQ6PNgqKF2f7iZQLfhsWGKEjTNRDRkPgZzIykcRkuXGmMnRz7mvPdwIi-WjWe1HwU5zMV/s1600/yNbgg3p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="615" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqaD4Dag5VHFr6JDcrkzbMkJE3rxEoJxd_Gji8im0fpuf8X6BavGcrQj4puTBFPwuJp9SYakwQ6PNgqKF2f7iZQLfhsWGKEjTNRDRkPgZzIykcRkuXGmMnRz7mvPdwIi-WjWe1HwU5zMV/s400/yNbgg3p.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope - these are only available to span the entire seat width.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_2vOm8VevLZSSKE6beiih4tHraNadmS5JTg15kJGAuoQ0Y1as7ybiC8LFZrmCXsktmnODkE8pZK9lK9e2B5SnLpzbTuxGgbbyPobDkUCKHb9lEupEp1j9D69GqyntBg9JdDpxOwyaote/s1600/D6LbK8S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="756" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_2vOm8VevLZSSKE6beiih4tHraNadmS5JTg15kJGAuoQ0Y1as7ybiC8LFZrmCXsktmnODkE8pZK9lK9e2B5SnLpzbTuxGgbbyPobDkUCKHb9lEupEp1j9D69GqyntBg9JdDpxOwyaote/s400/D6LbK8S.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope - I ordered this exact item, and then found it too flimsy to support a dog platform. Fine for preschoolers on airplanes, perhaps. </td></tr>
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I hit pay dirt with a 55 cm exercise ball. They are cheap (less than 20 bucks), very durable, and can conform very well to the space (partially inflate it, place in the seat foot well, and then continue inflating). </div>
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I coupled the exercise ball with a quarter-inch plywood platform which has a tang at the back. The tank inserts into the crease where the seat and seat back meet. I painted it with three coats of oil-based enamel so that it will stand up in high humidity environments. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruGsOlh-ii02p-uwISeI4m7CiMlnx8buFiXY9XdwdID7TXWWO3ow2aaJtHxK0DVGTyAmQN0HXqifK4fkVkFMNiIePcz0SeximFJhUpqbWIhpMt_v53-rrkalJySZtJprWy8f339pNmHn3/s1600/RDSt6d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1092" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruGsOlh-ii02p-uwISeI4m7CiMlnx8buFiXY9XdwdID7TXWWO3ow2aaJtHxK0DVGTyAmQN0HXqifK4fkVkFMNiIePcz0SeximFJhUpqbWIhpMt_v53-rrkalJySZtJprWy8f339pNmHn3/s400/RDSt6d7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This configuration makes use of an off-the-shelf 2' x 3' crate pad (although I did make a nylon liner for the memory foam so that the outer gray cover can slip off and on easily for washing... it's a bear to keep clean without this improvement, because the memory foam results in such high friction with the fabric of its cover). The leading edge of the crate pad gets folded over the plywood so that it won't scratch the dash. </div>
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When the dog and I are traveling solo, her seat will look like this (below). When my husband flies out to join us, I can:</div>
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<li>Place the crate pad on the floor.</li>
<li>Deflate and stow the exercise ball.</li>
<li>Store the plywood behind the driver's seat.</li>
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Well, that's assuming that the dog will actually give up her seat, because she vastly prefers this to life on the floor of the van.</div>
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Money shot:</div>
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<a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/front-seat-dog-options-187156-3.html"><b>Here</b> </a>is a link to an Air Forums thread describing other options and products along these same lines. But not as cool, I don't think. The exercise ball was really the breakthrough on this project. Without that, I couldn't keep the plywood stable enough for a 53 pound dog. <br />
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<b><u>EDIT 20190326:</u></b> Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS principle). I found that, by swiveling the passenger seat (which I want to do anyway to use my <b><a href="https://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/adapting-lagun-table-for-airstream.html">front Lagun table mount</a></b>), I could lower the dog platform closer to the floor and create a larger, more secure area away from the air bag. Not only does that eliminate the need for the exercise ball, it also captures storage space beneath the platform. I'll post back when I get the newly-cut platform finished - the one shown here was a trial version:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better.</td></tr>
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The swiveled seat raises the feet too high off the ground for comfortable sitting on the time frame of hours. We found that our cheap <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Capacity-Foldable-Anodized-Haul-Master/dp/B0141MMVI6/ref=asc_df_B0141MMVI6/"><b>Harbor Freight aluminum step stool</b></a> does good double duty as a foot rest, and stores under the leading edge of the seat when not in use.<br />
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-53580950344072882942018-09-23T06:11:00.001-07:002018-09-23T06:11:17.515-07:00PSA: ALTERNATOR CLUTCH PULLEY FAILURES ON LITHIUM SYSTEMSI put this information on Instagram (<b>@<a href="https://www.instagram.com/interstate.blog/">interstate.blog</a></b>), but not everyone is on IG, so here is a regurg, starting with what I posted, upon which I will then expound in this blog post, because <u>this is super-important</u>. For you guys who have a lithium system charged by a single engine alternator (plus or minus other charging options such as generator, shore power, or solar), if your alternator behaves as mine did, the outcome could be life-threatening. <b>DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU ARE SAFE FROM THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IF YOU HAD A PROFESSIONAL INSTALL YOUR LITHIUM SYSTEM. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My IG tile. </td></tr>
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<u>Text</u>: <br />
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<i>Our 17-month-old 200 A Bosch alternator began failing last month when I was on the road between Houston and Nova Scotia. This was a particularly pernicious problem because my first sign of trouble had nothing to do with our camper van’s lithium system - instead what happened is that I started losing the chassis electrical system, which would have developed into a middle-of-the-freeway potentially catastrophic breakdown if I hadn’t caught it in time. There’s a #vanlife myth floating around out there that if you have a Sterling battery-to-battery charger in your system, it will protect against engine alternator damage. This is not true - it will protect against SOME types of alternator damage, but it will NOT prevent your alternator’s clutch from wearing out grossly prematurely, which is what happened to ours (we had it diagnosed by a repair shop today; I estimate that this alternator did perhaps 20 hours of heavy-load lithium recharging spread across the 17 short months of its life before failing). Those of you who have single-alternator lithium rigs might be sitting ducks if you haven’t hardened your electrical system against this kind of weak-link-in-the-chain breakdown scenario. See vids by YouTuber Alternatorman for more detail on alternator clutches. Thanks once again to @million_mile_sprinter for helping me out last month.</i><br />
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OK, now the expound. When I said <b><i>"I started losing the chassis electrical system"</i></b>, what I meant was that I began noticing that I could no longer crank my air conditioner fan up to its highest setting. I was driving through Mississippi in August - trust me, under those conditions, it's noticeable if the a/c starts to wane. I literally had a panic attack when I realized that there's basically only one thing that could bring about that result - a failed or failing alternator. I opened up <a href="https://www.obdsoftware.net/software/obdfusion"><b>the OBD Fusion app</b></a> on my iPhone which bluetooths to a reader that we have permanently mounted in the van's OBD socket. Sure enough, the chassis battery was reading 12.8 V, which is <i><b>way </b></i>below what it should have been. The alternator was not charging the chassis battery. The van was about to stop dead in the middle of IH-59 between Hattiesburg and Meridian (i.e., middle of nowhere). <br />
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I pulled off the road and sprang to the back of the van to look at the lithium charging status. I had done my usual thing that day by driving from Houston to Laf Louisiana, stopping for lunch, and running our roof air conditioner off our 300 AH lithium battery for about an hour while I took a nap. I then got back on the road with the alternator engaged to bring the lithium battery back up to full charge (a heavy-load scenario for the alternator because I'd run it down to about 50% state of charge (SOC)).<br />
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Cue additional horror when I got to the back of the van, which is where our electrical control system is located: my lithium was reading about 90%, which means that the alternator had been, and perhaps still was, <u>charging the house battery at the expense of the chassis battery</u>. That should never, ever, <b><i>EVER </i></b>happen, and I didn't understand how it was even physically possible given the way we had configured our system. <br />
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Immediately I de-loaded the alternator by isolating the lithium charging circuit. (Yes, we'd had the foresight to install a kill switch for that when we DIY'd our electrical system). <br />
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I then got back on the road, praying that whatever was remaining of the alternator functionality could then put its full contribution into the chassis battery, which was dangerously low at that point. I had planned to stop for the night in Toomsuba MS, but I kept driving straight through to Tuscaloosa AL to give the battery time to recover. That's a 615 mile run on the day, more than I prefer to do when driving solo, but it was necessary.<br />
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I got to Tuscaloosa (excellent boondocking Cracker Barrel there BTW), pulled out my voltmeter and measured the chassis battery directly, terminal to terminal (we don't rely on the OBD exclusively because it seems to not have foolproof accuracy; story omitted for brevity). It was reading not ideal but reasonable. I knew I'd have enough juice to get the van running properly in the morning. <br />
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No more deep lithium discharges from that point forward. No more alternator charging, period. I was in a rare pocket of cooler summer air (a cool front had passed through) such that I could live without a/c, and rather than bailing on the trip and returning to Houston, I continued heading north, hoping to intercept Joel Sell (<a href="https://www.millionmilesprinter.com/"><b>Million Mile Sprinter</b></a>) in Philadelphia. I had my husband (who was still back in Houston) make contact with him to see if he could replace the alternator while I was en route, and he said yes. A Philly detour would add only an hour or two to my total route.<br />
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Here's the maddening part: Through no fault of his own, Joel couldn't determine conclusively on the spot what was wrong with the alternator. Of course he could take it off site and get it diagnosed, but that takes time. I arrived at his place around 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and I didn't necessarily want to hang around until Monday morning. So we made the decision to just go ahead and replace the existing alternator, which clearly had <b><i>something </i></b>wrong with it, so that I could get back on the road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO9udp5G2gsXfyP2QlpccF6srKdNdfOVbGU0MvY6QsoJO09MYgnDZtYNUXVi1TiszmxrBA4z2YDGMl52Vu-xEit3SPaU2NMD50XKvfawx4-lWdf8f2EsIidOAbToX7JONN8A8lpNqreAb/s1600/joel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO9udp5G2gsXfyP2QlpccF6srKdNdfOVbGU0MvY6QsoJO09MYgnDZtYNUXVi1TiszmxrBA4z2YDGMl52Vu-xEit3SPaU2NMD50XKvfawx4-lWdf8f2EsIidOAbToX7JONN8A8lpNqreAb/s400/joel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The replacement deed in progress.</td></tr>
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As for what was wrong with the alternator, that would have to be determined later. Joel and I did some preliminary testing just so that my engineer husband could have data to noodle on. It looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcHgvdHR2xnZlnko3SvNWUbTSUfVK4qM-xlVqQ-WH5jkZJJMJwsgRB-rQVoBGaiZnRl2guxIfAV9OU0GxeQLillKTwxmIx3gpGbjnn4ORMNyEwtqaxKgseknjfLTBNagSmAoufls-lrCu/s1600/table-compare-alternator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="873" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcHgvdHR2xnZlnko3SvNWUbTSUfVK4qM-xlVqQ-WH5jkZJJMJwsgRB-rQVoBGaiZnRl2guxIfAV9OU0GxeQLillKTwxmIx3gpGbjnn4ORMNyEwtqaxKgseknjfLTBNagSmAoufls-lrCu/s400/table-compare-alternator.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap to expand for clarity. If you are a less-technical person, know that higher voltages indicate a better-performing alternator. </td></tr>
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I continued to Nova Scotia without further incident, carrying the half-dead alternator with me. A 200 A alternator is big and heavy and a pain to tote around in a small van. After I off-loaded my meal-encapsulating solid ice blocks at my father's place, I used our hitch-mounted Yeti to carry it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUH-PVQYvzb_kdddBOPScOS7JJl5NZQZWJbLSOsmGmbRn0prIkEBosyNc5bTxzOZw_V9jaz6pWRwrw0okNlwsrrwkn6ytDRnLGulkmRUzbL3A8JZrYe9B9bckOKimpy8bsMVxbw4SicS9/s1600/iceblocks2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1024" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUH-PVQYvzb_kdddBOPScOS7JJl5NZQZWJbLSOsmGmbRn0prIkEBosyNc5bTxzOZw_V9jaz6pWRwrw0okNlwsrrwkn6ytDRnLGulkmRUzbL3A8JZrYe9B9bckOKimpy8bsMVxbw4SicS9/s400/iceblocks2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were my 2018 ice blocks, 35 pounds apiece with vacuum-packed home cooking embedded in them. Many good meals were had by at least seven adults courtesy of these, which I prepared in Houston and took with me. </td></tr>
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Five weeks after I set out, my husband and I returned to Houston, never having resumed alternator charging. We had the old alternator diagnosed yesterday. The clutch was worn out and was slipping under high-load usage scenarios. It's being repaired as I speak, and I'll follow up with a separate blog post on that process. And BTW, who even knew that alternators have clutches?!?! They did not used to have this failure-prone add-on. I'll also discuss that subsequently. <br />
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<u><b>First moral of this story</b></u>: <b>NO MORE SINGLE ALTERNATOR OFF-GRIDDING</b>. We are going to reconfig our van for a second isolated alternator which will be dedicated to just the house lithium battery. That way, even if we have another such failure, it won't kill the chassis battery and disable the Sprinter's native electrical system to boot. More on that later.<br />
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<b><u>Second moral of this story</u></b>: This whole failure episode of mine is exactly why off-grid vans need as many redundant systems as they can support within their space limitations. Many have asked why we'd go to all the trouble and expense to put solar on the roof when the alternator is going to outperform solar's recharging ability by a factor of somewhere between 3 to 4. The answer is that <b><i>STUFF BREAKS</i></b>. Sometimes it breaks in ways that nobody can predict. Never before this had I heard about alternator clutches failing, and I've been following all of the vanning and off-gridding forums for four years now!! Neither had my husband ever heard of this phenomenon, and he had done months of research on mobile lithium systems.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9TnXx7Dy8Y69ziEd1gbAfJxhlmt70_ZP7FnjyXQ8Ijz1BOk8eWcl-vQnXsRTSoHsLe-0sFU3wmAHuri9GkBIFBPcPpFvjMGaS0fFoyXj-qNhlY-qHtIp7IhQlB7wXTPC7qzNhpPHtBQx/s1600/my-property-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9TnXx7Dy8Y69ziEd1gbAfJxhlmt70_ZP7FnjyXQ8Ijz1BOk8eWcl-vQnXsRTSoHsLe-0sFU3wmAHuri9GkBIFBPcPpFvjMGaS0fFoyXj-qNhlY-qHtIp7IhQlB7wXTPC7qzNhpPHtBQx/s400/my-property-2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boondocking property in Canada, where there was no crimp in our style. We completed a 5-week off-grid trip even with this limitation of not being able to use our new alternator, because our solar alone took care of our lithium battery. We had to be careful with our usage, because my property is surrounded by these high trees, limiting sun exposure. But we spent 2 of our 5 weeks here without any recharging problems, running on solar alone. </td></tr>
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I'll close this post with this 3-minute video that describes alternator clutches. Read it and weep. Watch it and weep. The manufacturers took a pretty good device (alternators have been around for a long, long time) and screwed it up by adding this failure-prone clutch part. More on that later, too.<br />
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<u><b>Link</b></u>: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUs4Y5ZMiTU<br />
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<b><u>Embed</u></b>:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QUs4Y5ZMiTU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QUs4Y5ZMiTU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-84912171054435767452018-06-23T16:57:00.000-07:002018-06-23T16:57:10.413-07:00SIZING A CGEAR SANDFREE MAT FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEJust a wee blog post here to let you know that one <i><b>CAN</b></i> successfully resize a <a href="https://www.cgear-sandfree.com/"><b>CGear Sandfree mat</b></a> for a Class B RV. <br />
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<i><b>I don't know what in the hell I was thinking </b></i>when I bought an 8 foot by 8 foot mat of this brand name. I used it once and realized that it was <u>way</u> too large for our needs. Furthermore, it doesn't pack down very small size as the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) of which it is constructed is rather unruly. Furthermore, it is only sold in square sizes, and I wanted a rectangle to fit beneath our awning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOgmSdNwyOzI1w3_L61XbzXARAwnCb7TYEkooob1SbZDit2EmhWKQ9i-RCzrUccckN5fEZY-_Brl-h3b5Dl1Jfl3J9x-gOqzBK3MNMkedTfr2EzIRIgBUHNse93ybPlaOCZ_q8gbs3AUC/s1600/sizes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOgmSdNwyOzI1w3_L61XbzXARAwnCb7TYEkooob1SbZDit2EmhWKQ9i-RCzrUccckN5fEZY-_Brl-h3b5Dl1Jfl3J9x-gOqzBK3MNMkedTfr2EzIRIgBUHNse93ybPlaOCZ_q8gbs3AUC/s400/sizes.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>NNNNNOOOOOOO!!! I want RECTANGULAR!!!</i></b></td></tr>
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Here are a few <b><i>#vansizedsewing</i></b> tips for working with this product.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC8p2F0EVSl9OIFWLmYWg_kXXy3cptKB8FAamPBTV7hQf5hjPQa47cxKZl5mmw9yZbvNDL4dzqP7DCe84aNsUZpmihAHyF3njcsixBsC3sexiwXE-z2xKbn-PPg6_QDyFYbpifxoL4R0s/s1600/strapworks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1369" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwC8p2F0EVSl9OIFWLmYWg_kXXy3cptKB8FAamPBTV7hQf5hjPQa47cxKZl5mmw9yZbvNDL4dzqP7DCe84aNsUZpmihAHyF3njcsixBsC3sexiwXE-z2xKbn-PPg6_QDyFYbpifxoL4R0s/s400/strapworks.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used this binder for my cut edges, which bought via Amazon. <a href="https://www.strapworks.com/default.asp"><b>Strapworks</b> </a>rules. I've bought stock from them before, usually directly because their entire inventory is not on Amazon. Color is silver gray. </td></tr>
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So I chopped my 8'x8' mat in half, but may I say, this mat is truly aggravating to sew. It's made of two independent layers of HDPE fabric, both of which float free except at the bound edges.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnaGy-Ul8TcWEuziyeplu9OLC0xYYW0P_gJk7_TLSwyDc6qGXCIysxVW4Q-qlX5U_g98Brpwqx_s83jtZVXH67ikVrDnsUaV027t-mWPVvLqZV7tmnQgDbufyuRlCGtxA96HHs8KWNvkt/s1600/1-IMG_7525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="995" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnaGy-Ul8TcWEuziyeplu9OLC0xYYW0P_gJk7_TLSwyDc6qGXCIysxVW4Q-qlX5U_g98Brpwqx_s83jtZVXH67ikVrDnsUaV027t-mWPVvLqZV7tmnQgDbufyuRlCGtxA96HHs8KWNvkt/s400/1-IMG_7525.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's quite springy and it became a bit of a chore to wrangle both halves into the new bound edge. </td></tr>
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<u>Important</u>: As you are feeding it through your sewing machine, keep it under tension. Left hand pulls away from you, right hand pulls toward you. This will prevent rumples and wrinkles. And for goodness sake, bind up your excess so that it's not running away from you. I used binder clips to keep it under control.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeivCbWNdItcaU4IyUnKybbLPvi3Z8FunJOgU5aXX6gBTs4WwS9Gn8gh7-oFqjQpW4qQpbvsXiDQCQtSqOPfQxzHkdlV8x3015cOe-hCFHtBUWUgjKAbI-amp-CQYT_-osTPFf7PMCYJE/s1600/1-IMG_7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeivCbWNdItcaU4IyUnKybbLPvi3Z8FunJOgU5aXX6gBTs4WwS9Gn8gh7-oFqjQpW4qQpbvsXiDQCQtSqOPfQxzHkdlV8x3015cOe-hCFHtBUWUgjKAbI-amp-CQYT_-osTPFf7PMCYJE/s400/1-IMG_7527.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Push-me-pull-you. </td></tr>
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Can you tell which part of it is my bound edge, vs. CGear's OEM work?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD5geIVh9OHy-lWHrD2sUwceC6hzIC32UbXtfiwll_gWQkhyAI8Jjt0UeJnKADTlPhSSqEYfGL2uUUeXzIW7kaZahZfhissMtzro7CqaOBwfeQSxcbgVXOcKtzxGPVpA-F-83WT7dnLli/s1600/1-IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD5geIVh9OHy-lWHrD2sUwceC6hzIC32UbXtfiwll_gWQkhyAI8Jjt0UeJnKADTlPhSSqEYfGL2uUUeXzIW7kaZahZfhissMtzro7CqaOBwfeQSxcbgVXOcKtzxGPVpA-F-83WT7dnLli/s400/1-IMG_7531.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait until it gets a bit dirty. Then this slight difference won't be visible at all. </td></tr>
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Of course, I had to sew new binding on both of my chopped halves, because if I had left the other half just sitting there, I'm afraid it would have started to curl and perhaps unravel. But I'm satisfied with the finished product, and if the first half gets worn out from use, then I've got another half to fall back on. Two of the right rectangular size, for the price of one square.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr2BkFBW_CdP-FcaAQ2PQ3XWaDJ1izD9RpU1Z0HYk9DASxFxyAjUdrPBe3zmzScLrIFWMcFkNbcuyj7lz2PjXEQzNczJAYo0t49r-CzMdeoyHK05XZpF8igswg9EoTwKZEPI8Wt_OOlmX/s1600/1-IMG_7550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxr2BkFBW_CdP-FcaAQ2PQ3XWaDJ1izD9RpU1Z0HYk9DASxFxyAjUdrPBe3zmzScLrIFWMcFkNbcuyj7lz2PjXEQzNczJAYo0t49r-CzMdeoyHK05XZpF8igswg9EoTwKZEPI8Wt_OOlmX/s400/1-IMG_7550.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half the size and half the bulk. <br />And yes, I know my grass needs to be cut. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNxu1_WWLBKD6DrVGYznv21EhWGxeU9ErF65tY6EHJhk7M27zMmVyFdJ7IZMtcCpLZ7TdMLD2X23_aUSQiZ-roSC9SqO7rV3mzHhCw0I5erbE0ajdfBmGluS9uyU8vc_LwC-gxqlh6ZnC/s1600/99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNxu1_WWLBKD6DrVGYznv21EhWGxeU9ErF65tY6EHJhk7M27zMmVyFdJ7IZMtcCpLZ7TdMLD2X23_aUSQiZ-roSC9SqO7rV3mzHhCw0I5erbE0ajdfBmGluS9uyU8vc_LwC-gxqlh6ZnC/s400/99.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fair warning - if you Google "push me pull you", you'll get a few pics like this, plus a large number of pics of animals copulating. </td></tr>
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<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-32940155986817260092018-06-23T16:19:00.002-07:002018-06-23T16:19:35.738-07:00TRASH CANS FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEOur 2007 <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate </b></a>came without a dedicated trash can or even an obvious area in which to place a can, and I've been struggling for a couple of years now to figure out the best arrangement for this function. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpTnnOcfJ937VBRvFgObyKScInhVVoLvkUQKq3pRRYQb39yDianDY2M7JCXwBYHbHAIezKg4InlOfYX6_2bve41js6i9O9Z6Kg76vrUmRtti388DAObx4b21oZSiLceuZNO1pPzfaXxLB/s1600/IMG_7499+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1111" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpTnnOcfJ937VBRvFgObyKScInhVVoLvkUQKq3pRRYQb39yDianDY2M7JCXwBYHbHAIezKg4InlOfYX6_2bve41js6i9O9Z6Kg76vrUmRtti388DAObx4b21oZSiLceuZNO1pPzfaXxLB/s400/IMG_7499+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these, and I don't care which term is used. </td></tr>
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Here is one of my earlier less-than-ideal early solutions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4MNCMxLr_mJLj3d4ZHLtYenogWrPXAeSRytZoWOfcsNBUUPhPVdLARjqWjO3Zd_utiOLVQcOh2Me2-e86HEIDjo4ww-Vw1_zxiLuQgmbkNLxkUEavEiddcVBd2V_VIhJD5-_cQVnR6wm/s1600/TOnnAKV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="876" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4MNCMxLr_mJLj3d4ZHLtYenogWrPXAeSRytZoWOfcsNBUUPhPVdLARjqWjO3Zd_utiOLVQcOh2Me2-e86HEIDjo4ww-Vw1_zxiLuQgmbkNLxkUEavEiddcVBd2V_VIhJD5-_cQVnR6wm/s400/TOnnAKV.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Container Store usually has good stuff, and this was useful, but it had its drawbacks. Even after I moved it to the wet bath and kept the door shut, flies still got into it.</td></tr>
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I moved on to an attempt to adapt this triangular beauty to the space. We need a lot of trash storage volume because we boondock, and if we go through a rainy period, we can't burn anything. The trash can pile up in the van for a few days, ugh. So that's why I began looking at adapting this as a possible addition to the wet bath.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKiMkP5A5yMBvNjcd6_u5P6rib41ekZv0LskPV-PL-5njlWBr8_KZXep8mSZtbF-17-2YrN-pwrii29t2ectq0tWcdN0Yoe_GJlG5XRPKFK4-4eLR5ed8Lo9HSgwyI7jbA2AXo8y0QxuM/s1600/20180615_TRASH_MELANGE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="624" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKiMkP5A5yMBvNjcd6_u5P6rib41ekZv0LskPV-PL-5njlWBr8_KZXep8mSZtbF-17-2YrN-pwrii29t2ectq0tWcdN0Yoe_GJlG5XRPKFK4-4eLR5ed8Lo9HSgwyI7jbA2AXo8y0QxuM/s400/20180615_TRASH_MELANGE.JPG" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a plastic insert for a stick-and-brick recycling center. It's rather large, yes it is.</td></tr>
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But then I got Shanghai'd by a different idea that I had several years ago but never developed. I had purchased this Oscar the Grouch Sesame Street soft-sided (collapsible but stiff enough to stand up on its own) trash can which was round with a heavy wire rim. I bent the rim into the triangular shape that I really wanted to see here. And then I fitted a triangular lid that I cut out of coroplast and edged in nylon belt webbing (tough to sew, but do-able). I used tabs of waist elastic band to make "hinges" on the far edge of the can.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtMZ_Lx8nw7HE-AjTD-h3HiMyM_cRpqU1D2uehL8WXtt7Er2yqEcBTLai2n4doNl3u9zNpUMwqr_qoMd-niD1pmZW_aD14g328XGRilHgGbYO1tTjJ49DZe65AvJsyWShyphenhyphenDXVt01dWrY7/s1600/20180616_OSCAR-GROUCH-CAN.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtMZ_Lx8nw7HE-AjTD-h3HiMyM_cRpqU1D2uehL8WXtt7Er2yqEcBTLai2n4doNl3u9zNpUMwqr_qoMd-niD1pmZW_aD14g328XGRilHgGbYO1tTjJ49DZe65AvJsyWShyphenhyphenDXVt01dWrY7/s400/20180616_OSCAR-GROUCH-CAN.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's cute - admit it.</td></tr>
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Video of the operation:<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mz5f3LuBEwM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mz5f3LuBEwM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Well, that was smaller than I wished for a trash can to be, but it did have that all-important fly-deterring lid, and the cuteness factor got to me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXNNZVvZ4ioOtWbxerucZYFZPcAzUn2DDqSW5sXcS8vNQm2lJHODzNxhrQyeHxCsiDqXNySdLAodprwTtCYHKG3wqOGGjKhfNkPUyBKCZkAeEvWZ6lF_0YF70HEkbSnKXLTFIefaDHCm_/s1600/1-IMG_7541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="947" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXNNZVvZ4ioOtWbxerucZYFZPcAzUn2DDqSW5sXcS8vNQm2lJHODzNxhrQyeHxCsiDqXNySdLAodprwTtCYHKG3wqOGGjKhfNkPUyBKCZkAeEvWZ6lF_0YF70HEkbSnKXLTFIefaDHCm_/s400/1-IMG_7541.JPG" width="368" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Meet your new bus mate!" </b>That's an Oscar bean bag toy.</td></tr>
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Simultaneously, for more trash storage space, I added this product behind the commode:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZgV6ZVPYIs4eYGt0u7SuOZWwOnbkCzHbJKq3E6zwcoWwz3FqEVffxxjBv9E-K8NWqWIT0JGzpVhwfOnct17xARZAn7dQcXcZy0k17DplU-rygeaS_cQ1Y0HaWG96GgmdkM1STfNtXqkK/s1600/1-IMG_7546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZgV6ZVPYIs4eYGt0u7SuOZWwOnbkCzHbJKq3E6zwcoWwz3FqEVffxxjBv9E-K8NWqWIT0JGzpVhwfOnct17xARZAn7dQcXcZy0k17DplU-rygeaS_cQ1Y0HaWG96GgmdkM1STfNtXqkK/s400/1-IMG_7546.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got it at West Marine. </td></tr>
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In order to add this in a way that was responsive to the fact that I change my mind every five minutes regarding where I want items to be placed, I had to build a bracket for it, so that I could mount it without piercing the wet bath wall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPzkuR-z6cB5ofJNgIAZ27Uts-9B736M0hvq8PeUkf0GuNWIdyTchZZ4Qt6PUZbuSLPklXBSsXfv__Sgvpe7dFJ7j46pUEKVL9Nskuwq2Ti_tJBeIMIjISaSdHxw0JYIsM1qogznQ7bmZ/s1600/1-IMG_7539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPzkuR-z6cB5ofJNgIAZ27Uts-9B736M0hvq8PeUkf0GuNWIdyTchZZ4Qt6PUZbuSLPklXBSsXfv__Sgvpe7dFJ7j46pUEKVL9Nskuwq2Ti_tJBeIMIjISaSdHxw0JYIsM1qogznQ7bmZ/s400/1-IMG_7539.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It came with this white mounting piece, but I wanted to attach it with outdoor Velcro and so I had to expand the surface area. I made this out of thin plywood...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweRTb47r0Jox6aUdTJwZD5DWLmrDeARHi0fL6LApZgGGZI-MmSJSf0gkmGetbFe_reyZc1ZQS5nq-4a5_axiQss8KH4aGzO3sWSnpw543ARHmBG2Tq-GqhOmGZqKt2pEDmnhbyZqf85PC/s1600/1-IMG_7538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="751" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweRTb47r0Jox6aUdTJwZD5DWLmrDeARHi0fL6LApZgGGZI-MmSJSf0gkmGetbFe_reyZc1ZQS5nq-4a5_axiQss8KH4aGzO3sWSnpw543ARHmBG2Tq-GqhOmGZqKt2pEDmnhbyZqf85PC/s400/1-IMG_7538.JPG" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and countersunk the mini-bolts that hold on the OEM bracket, love it. I was reaping the rewards of having reorganized much of our hardware over the past few weeks. I actually found this stainless hardware without having to scrounge. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHdjBCzNdMGuBXxRSbNwO0khRvdUmkytO_rHKDLBEndDbB3mhaR3ANcTISN1HhOJ_yMl61FAkWaG2_xbKkaFzXAkXQb2fhkyDiEK2UqqmlftPqhUIDMJY50hSCEwb4zf-b5RJtvKQ1mFg/s1600/1-IMG_7540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHdjBCzNdMGuBXxRSbNwO0khRvdUmkytO_rHKDLBEndDbB3mhaR3ANcTISN1HhOJ_yMl61FAkWaG2_xbKkaFzXAkXQb2fhkyDiEK2UqqmlftPqhUIDMJY50hSCEwb4zf-b5RJtvKQ1mFg/s400/1-IMG_7540.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, the lip of the top cover extends over the body of the can, so I could not simply Velcro the can body to the wet bath wall. I had to build this out. </td></tr>
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Here's the result of this little satellite trash can.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-3lhOl5iBgbVoSegkaOXJYow7GjlZnlPqD975LUuHhgNVTtPXj_rlUO4oYuu2UVE1wKiPATod0u1sy9f6M8r9RjZORHcQRauutP7mfOJFTdAmR2fMNjiSHHYf7ufJ2x5v7gkB-wlnpVW/s1600/1-IMG_7545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-3lhOl5iBgbVoSegkaOXJYow7GjlZnlPqD975LUuHhgNVTtPXj_rlUO4oYuu2UVE1wKiPATod0u1sy9f6M8r9RjZORHcQRauutP7mfOJFTdAmR2fMNjiSHHYf7ufJ2x5v7gkB-wlnpVW/s400/1-IMG_7545.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We plan to travel with a young lady who is a dear friend of the family this summer, so this familiar women's restroom type of stall receptacle might be appreciated. </td></tr>
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So there's Trash v. 2.0 and we'll see how it goes with these improvements. I still don't know if this is enough storage space for our needs, but it's better than what I had rigged previously. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrnZpzXHmaIf1dV1akn11l3mMQiEjlKJrs60xdOI-ujk8S8dQFxyLkQWieo8AHj0B4xd0xNxI-DLLcDG_lW7U4UryrbI8AQHU52QJFjldX55LsRpTbVNUbe__SMamKRdS-ULBvO_Ojb1G/s1600/oscar-meme.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="684" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrnZpzXHmaIf1dV1akn11l3mMQiEjlKJrs60xdOI-ujk8S8dQFxyLkQWieo8AHj0B4xd0xNxI-DLLcDG_lW7U4UryrbI8AQHU52QJFjldX55LsRpTbVNUbe__SMamKRdS-ULBvO_Ojb1G/s400/oscar-meme.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tugging at the heart strings of DIYers everywhere. </td></tr>
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<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-37626200203579321922018-06-11T04:55:00.002-07:002018-06-11T05:08:49.885-07:00REPLACING THE FRONT STRUTS ON AN AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEEvery time I fail to blog post something that we have done to our van, there's usually a reason I regret it later. This is a short one designed to capture information pertaining to a simple replacement that has been well-covered elsewhere by others. But here goes anyway.<br />
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This is the replacement gear - <a href="http://raceconsultingagency.com/koni/koni-shock-heavy-track-series/87-2638/i-229260.aspx"><b>87 2638 - Koni Shock - Heavy Track Series</b></a>, is what they are called. We had to wait several months because they were back-ordered. The manufacturer apparently creates them on an as-needed basis when existing supply runs out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ccXfsM4Y5Rf2GXkA-2BPv_C6xpnMHE8kwY9lJgRVcPs60Jk_-3DySkQJSUD6zyKguFmUSlS5OH763Ap4__Ki4uk44N49_AIFujIzc_7-kUsXFpkLuO2IxT-vyS55O0uWxYWn4x5g7HNt/s1600/1-IMG_7256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ccXfsM4Y5Rf2GXkA-2BPv_C6xpnMHE8kwY9lJgRVcPs60Jk_-3DySkQJSUD6zyKguFmUSlS5OH763Ap4__Ki4uk44N49_AIFujIzc_7-kUsXFpkLuO2IxT-vyS55O0uWxYWn4x5g7HNt/s400/1-IMG_7256.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Here's what the interior mounting points look like under the floor.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBryh0HACy21G5ThDnNaPUA1PKlmEQEmSjRl8B8kuRDKcXJGwVbRUHHlrEMWH2AkG0V7NVUheCu7kB6Tzl_r2DiEwjLq4wZT2ic8uD0MogQddq1dibHUFK9-913GX_0b9vF6qV8bbITITD/s1600/1-IMG_9617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBryh0HACy21G5ThDnNaPUA1PKlmEQEmSjRl8B8kuRDKcXJGwVbRUHHlrEMWH2AkG0V7NVUheCu7kB6Tzl_r2DiEwjLq4wZT2ic8uD0MogQddq1dibHUFK9-913GX_0b9vF6qV8bbITITD/s400/1-IMG_9617.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curb side, by the right hand portion of the OEM bottle jack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBjPsenMpSXV6idPnRSpWOQSJH5FYZ40GWnLpyO0CbOzhhUKvvPdovsCNtW9wc6a12TrevpxW2R3wHVoRZrlea92OXJzhyphenhyphent2FHStQhKccj7eYrqyCxW2CkYYc_CGrbu-YUgASbXF6-HJ/s1600/1-IMG_7395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hBjPsenMpSXV6idPnRSpWOQSJH5FYZ40GWnLpyO0CbOzhhUKvvPdovsCNtW9wc6a12TrevpxW2R3wHVoRZrlea92OXJzhyphenhyphent2FHStQhKccj7eYrqyCxW2CkYYc_CGrbu-YUgASbXF6-HJ/s400/1-IMG_7395.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street side. The weight is holding back the floor covering and the rubber bushing has been moved a few inches below the location where the strut pierces the floor of the cab.</td></tr>
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Here's an action shot showing work in progress on the street side. The central vertical piece is the old strut.</div>
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Old strut in hand on curb side:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFXPxNCF9XHV0t65rIRn05J6pFMIICaxT3EIuwND3ftVrqACCB7V7-WDApWV0PF-xu9qrJNQzXhwxx6-n7Klnaey_A88kClqQV8G-8Ph5lXOS5pd66BCIfj3c2sBWxVgFKWaHGhhoMbBk/s1600/1-strut2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFXPxNCF9XHV0t65rIRn05J6pFMIICaxT3EIuwND3ftVrqACCB7V7-WDApWV0PF-xu9qrJNQzXhwxx6-n7Klnaey_A88kClqQV8G-8Ph5lXOS5pd66BCIfj3c2sBWxVgFKWaHGhhoMbBk/s400/1-strut2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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As for the rest of the instructions, this YouTube video below covers that fairly well. Low video quality, but the author does present information in an organized way. The only difference we found is that, with this newer pair of struts, Koni seems to have changed the tensioning mechanism such that it takes fewer turning motions to set it. And my husband adds <a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/interstate-maintenance-and-upkeep-110840-22.html#post2113316"><b>these</b> </a>elaborations to the videographer's instructions. </div>
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We tested this new installation by driving to Galveston and back, given that it's too hot to go anywhere else at this time of year, and given that Galveston offers a good test drive because of the reliable onshore breeze. The Koni struts did help to dampen certain large-scale oscillations, especially vertical bounces. However, there's still more sway in the front end than I would like, and I'm not sure if anything can be done about that. Maybe I'll research Sprinter Forum.</div>
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<b><u>Direct link</u>:</b> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0tRBrgOUQ</div>
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<b><u>Embed</u>: </b></div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-51378218179216005762018-05-13T14:45:00.000-07:002018-09-26T05:13:09.640-07:00LAGUN TABLE, PART 2: REAR MOUNTI don't think I mentioned this in <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/adapting-lagun-table-for-airstream.html"><b>Part 1</b></a>, but when I ordered that Lagun table from Merry Ol' England, I bought an extra receiver. Today with some help from DH, the second mount got installed in the rear of our <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate</b></a>. I've covered some of these installation ideas in Part 1, so this post is mainly a photo tour.<br />
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There is one place in the rear of our van, a cabinetry bulkhead, that was fit to receive this second mount. It looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG197EpPtctnFiZBYRijwAebgyCulBbrJ9q4SQIGneFU-2YFSC7PUpSNEze82N1doQWDeSyc_5z4xPNzQAv0NealSaZP6jOo1nWiGwCprLs0EM_f2tBfFe6oPYFMkbhEM5Yah8YfjyP4rw/s1600/1-IMG_6734-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG197EpPtctnFiZBYRijwAebgyCulBbrJ9q4SQIGneFU-2YFSC7PUpSNEze82N1doQWDeSyc_5z4xPNzQAv0NealSaZP6jOo1nWiGwCprLs0EM_f2tBfFe6oPYFMkbhEM5Yah8YfjyP4rw/s400/1-IMG_6734-001.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's mostly a void space the frame of which doubles as a jack-knife couch support. </td></tr>
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As with the front mount, the under-blocking had to be as non-hooking as possible (no busted shins on sharp corners), and it had to conform to the available space, which in this case was narrower than what had been available at the front. Therefore, rather than cutting a standard 45 degree angle on the block, I had to compute the angle instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2weewPTdjbtJFvM6_PUNFyXBPGfnLyMlhFHVjTmYFajXcObXVN2BU_I8Bqh7blfC6vD7r-Kk0sSXRWabNxXUJKa8nhsivQRCCq8ZyOI7n9EpDgTliuEshflhHkzzjG4zn1LGgHjvysFX/s1600/1-IMG_6799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2weewPTdjbtJFvM6_PUNFyXBPGfnLyMlhFHVjTmYFajXcObXVN2BU_I8Bqh7blfC6vD7r-Kk0sSXRWabNxXUJKa8nhsivQRCCq8ZyOI7n9EpDgTliuEshflhHkzzjG4zn1LGgHjvysFX/s400/1-IMG_6799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig! I got to do trig! I haven't been this excited since I had to solve two equations with two unknowns on one of my client's waste disposal cost matrices. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-G3Sr66ttN5Df0ZAgbXqzZMH5GqXy57guQyBxX7c7qIjM5AGN7WNAuCt0v94vBEUHND24BZXeq7JD1BS2Dm7eS3pUtRDL1ag4zp7AghfPwsqGQksjpu4EkpQWFUcb8SHkYNXZcj_EWvs/s1600/1-IMG_6736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-G3Sr66ttN5Df0ZAgbXqzZMH5GqXy57guQyBxX7c7qIjM5AGN7WNAuCt0v94vBEUHND24BZXeq7JD1BS2Dm7eS3pUtRDL1ag4zp7AghfPwsqGQksjpu4EkpQWFUcb8SHkYNXZcj_EWvs/s400/1-IMG_6736.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the view from above down into that space. My bad for not vacuuming out the dog hair prior to taking the pic.</td></tr>
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You can see that there's a structural cross-member spanning the space (the little shelf with the most dog hair on it). That means that my rear blocking plate had to be cut in half for this one, vs. a solid plate in the front of the van. Plus we decided to install a sheet metal top plate to strengthen the area further. As usual, all my prototypes were first cut out of cardboard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62j748c_dIR05ZwoCHm2_QYVT8aDPRfiqRqZvQhYBBx8dMMEBBSl6p7R81LFddsRwD-Mh6dlqiUmA3qCtmIqehvai30yrXCIA0Ht92atAbpXY5sEOhltA5KR7pW8E5MOvWJEP-XBDD3s-/s1600/1-IMG_6740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62j748c_dIR05ZwoCHm2_QYVT8aDPRfiqRqZvQhYBBx8dMMEBBSl6p7R81LFddsRwD-Mh6dlqiUmA3qCtmIqehvai30yrXCIA0Ht92atAbpXY5sEOhltA5KR7pW8E5MOvWJEP-XBDD3s-/s400/1-IMG_6740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA3QZWXK7U4LVkB6r0tH0OsZFTVAupqbxPzNpkSu5rca-kSLN9lMPrC8BKjTD90DZ5MS7_9M61TC_fWk9R_Lf_cPFguwpzkgzt-Hz9ERqfCEmZjkLv0p8-4Sc04R3TDSCdNhhwMNb8jOb/s1600/1-IMG_6741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgA3QZWXK7U4LVkB6r0tH0OsZFTVAupqbxPzNpkSu5rca-kSLN9lMPrC8BKjTD90DZ5MS7_9M61TC_fWk9R_Lf_cPFguwpzkgzt-Hz9ERqfCEmZjkLv0p8-4Sc04R3TDSCdNhhwMNb8jOb/s400/1-IMG_6741.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this. It's a tight space behind there, so I fit the cardboard first, then chopped up the plywood backing plate that came with the extra receiver. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikojnpuSGdryFYteELYH7LssDukuoo4LBcK7bknrunqXYJJL4pzgnWBqfKOLHi0-PhHXFfalDJgMfA9MALor_jK1gaE61jG-Wl9IfMHByEWqQZbeZsaFEKRL68ex4RtuJh0Ky_wyn0FKvI/s1600/1-IMG_6760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikojnpuSGdryFYteELYH7LssDukuoo4LBcK7bknrunqXYJJL4pzgnWBqfKOLHi0-PhHXFfalDJgMfA9MALor_jK1gaE61jG-Wl9IfMHByEWqQZbeZsaFEKRL68ex4RtuJh0Ky_wyn0FKvI/s400/1-IMG_6760.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot - screw holes being drilled in the upper metal plate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn80arxSNsnCibHjx6qsPxyrPydiKs1159EhVbhcGCW_xZlHLn_H7cMG-mCcXYriyxhgdR26rnkka2zbJx4dmVr4LU5DUVW0v3a8muk8TaRFFoBxecwItyDTtn9V1yxC5U6tTYxSMTWur/s1600/1-IMG_6762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn80arxSNsnCibHjx6qsPxyrPydiKs1159EhVbhcGCW_xZlHLn_H7cMG-mCcXYriyxhgdR26rnkka2zbJx4dmVr4LU5DUVW0v3a8muk8TaRFFoBxecwItyDTtn9V1yxC5U6tTYxSMTWur/s400/1-IMG_6762.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post cutting and drilling, pre-painting. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMADhbGcSrlWSX9qb061BMBPU-K7J-qweodTMFX2hMpwZz8mB52wQg0KF1qQTUC3sy9IVs7vr-wqBp1rYu0fyQQyCI7tpNsu6Kr_3HcNywuEjbnNYu1Y9ALDh02WuGyHqq4d75AH5U2XlW/s1600/1-IMG_6764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMADhbGcSrlWSX9qb061BMBPU-K7J-qweodTMFX2hMpwZz8mB52wQg0KF1qQTUC3sy9IVs7vr-wqBp1rYu0fyQQyCI7tpNsu6Kr_3HcNywuEjbnNYu1Y9ALDh02WuGyHqq4d75AH5U2XlW/s400/1-IMG_6764.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three pieces coated and drying in the subtropical sun.</td></tr>
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I didn't take pics of how I fashioned the block, because that process was much the same as in Part 1. Attaching the block was simple - we clamped it on, and drilled holes all the way through.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuMaUlFWokqeH7K-WiSjH8XZd45C-awvF5lHP1cDz00yE7KKgY0hJNrhyJdyVvItmXWfz45LSE1Rlc2cgevBqwWik7Q-gMkPaTXFfGHzn__htTCagUbwlE_w_V9M4vsTgC1FVpnQyv4LR/s1600/1-IMG_6743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuMaUlFWokqeH7K-WiSjH8XZd45C-awvF5lHP1cDz00yE7KKgY0hJNrhyJdyVvItmXWfz45LSE1Rlc2cgevBqwWik7Q-gMkPaTXFfGHzn__htTCagUbwlE_w_V9M4vsTgC1FVpnQyv4LR/s400/1-IMG_6743.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this. </td></tr>
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Getting those plates on the rear side of the bulkhead was not as tough as you might think.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRrZhpFTeGZnlMVYrtuA9MYtTJvQEtNXMgg7Ykc6-5BiROXEUDIs69gLB1G2Bout9byHj0pRaUH4v1F-eoDP_PHU_LgCQB6UVUSgFggwt90nx4WAqlm_CX_8S2Jalok1tlNpG5BhOPzLJ/s1600/1-IMG_6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRrZhpFTeGZnlMVYrtuA9MYtTJvQEtNXMgg7Ykc6-5BiROXEUDIs69gLB1G2Bout9byHj0pRaUH4v1F-eoDP_PHU_LgCQB6UVUSgFggwt90nx4WAqlm_CX_8S2Jalok1tlNpG5BhOPzLJ/s400/1-IMG_6781.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from above. We used L-brackets for redundant strengthening. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR5RwQy6AP59wnH8Rd66ELJneiq5OlBYfQzDinB9De1qSMsJ1JhJ7qwv0pCFoh7un__YRp8aQY_z0DEldU1qChukLcmJAc2H4OtYm6wcOpnbzt_1q5On0ksnlOiPpBsnw45Hs71DeU1S1/s1600/1-IMG_6783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR5RwQy6AP59wnH8Rd66ELJneiq5OlBYfQzDinB9De1qSMsJ1JhJ7qwv0pCFoh7un__YRp8aQY_z0DEldU1qChukLcmJAc2H4OtYm6wcOpnbzt_1q5On0ksnlOiPpBsnw45Hs71DeU1S1/s400/1-IMG_6783.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the top plate. It's black like the frame of the Atwood jack-knife couch. We did have to remove the bottom half of the couch to make installation of this plate easier, but that's pretty easy - just four bolts. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IIrJOqgVhrCelRawSdtMuBNinRJrGXho2QBKR9px3kOW06AGhM90qJR48WcZ3029WBdC1xxYbYujKn9pIqJ6_aruZKleeIydLkk_N1jHyzUdbFNrgNfuODX-HsB8JgspVW9yxe-z24_X/s1600/1-IMG_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IIrJOqgVhrCelRawSdtMuBNinRJrGXho2QBKR9px3kOW06AGhM90qJR48WcZ3029WBdC1xxYbYujKn9pIqJ6_aruZKleeIydLkk_N1jHyzUdbFNrgNfuODX-HsB8JgspVW9yxe-z24_X/s400/1-IMG_6784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from above with the couch down. There's little risk of hitting the block because it does not protrude beyond the couch edge. It sticks out just enough for the vertical support to clear the edge of the couch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBiu_2KZPG70ZjYz1Q3YE1DPRTlAtujVWISzlyjnoMgmkR6jWrYvAXlcUilPVLa2YGWTf7J38dZbeHU4M4BzMu9xiXLiLzu_25LtCnzukuBh_NyawlNQuuJSQh45AF7ZvvnwdbL-9L9nw/s1600/1-IMG_6786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBiu_2KZPG70ZjYz1Q3YE1DPRTlAtujVWISzlyjnoMgmkR6jWrYvAXlcUilPVLa2YGWTf7J38dZbeHU4M4BzMu9xiXLiLzu_25LtCnzukuBh_NyawlNQuuJSQh45AF7ZvvnwdbL-9L9nw/s400/1-IMG_6786.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the vertical member, sans table top. </td></tr>
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Guess what this means?? I get to delete both the receiving cups and the old table legs from the van inventory. Removing the receiving cups from the underside of the table made it considerably lighter, which is very helpful given that we are hanging it for storage on the outside of the wet bath door. It also gives it a cleaner look.<br />
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Now you have to endure a bunch of money shots showing the range of motion with the table in this location.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ypK-8xBXN3gIJF6rMsxAvBwurYRhZ2kfB0Yv8JfmK1pKpnSOsZA538vPCyMTBHi-GK3Q1Lz5McCapXGSL5p1LJ6dRUlJq7OfOxWDjEiVOY8_1WVcMJTdEmBNJ43qla9cvu7zQrz7i6h_/s1600/1-IMG_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ypK-8xBXN3gIJF6rMsxAvBwurYRhZ2kfB0Yv8JfmK1pKpnSOsZA538vPCyMTBHi-GK3Q1Lz5McCapXGSL5p1LJ6dRUlJq7OfOxWDjEiVOY8_1WVcMJTdEmBNJ43qla9cvu7zQrz7i6h_/s400/1-IMG_6788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's really convenient to have a one-piece table that swivels completely out of the aisle when needed. Initially I wasn't sure if I was going to use that second receiver, but I'm glad I ordered it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprOw5YZe3ot6t1i_ed4PZwj8Gp96JPouqy1yMmMA2MmgrNTwuG9LuIvAWSNafZh4MuH0p-NG4x8yFJ0jeWwZbzI_iF3y6Pk-gx_c0Hr_s3EgiCtbv-lOzzyBG3dFEzb_UcWJvL1F4c36q/s1600/vert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprOw5YZe3ot6t1i_ed4PZwj8Gp96JPouqy1yMmMA2MmgrNTwuG9LuIvAWSNafZh4MuH0p-NG4x8yFJ0jeWwZbzI_iF3y6Pk-gx_c0Hr_s3EgiCtbv-lOzzyBG3dFEzb_UcWJvL1F4c36q/s400/vert.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footloose and cup-free. Fancy, too. </td></tr>
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<b><i><u>20180926 EDIT</u></i></b>: Pic of the new rear mount in action. I enjoyed it immensely during my recent 5-week trip through the United States and Canada. I got a lot of important work done on it.</div>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-35533272840620623542018-05-06T05:29:00.000-07:002018-05-06T05:29:44.139-07:00INSUL-BRIGHT IN THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATE, PART 2: GALLEY WINDOWThis post follows on <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/insul-bright-in-airstream-interstate.html"><b>Part 1</b></a> where I described the creation of a window covering for the <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/"><b>Airstream Interstate</b></a>'s sliding door. That was a different project because that covering basically hangs by Velcro tabs on the outside of the window frame. This covering was made for what I call the "Airstream signature" window - the un-openable galley window that Airstream installed to maintain stylistic conformance with its historic product line.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQpQS3_kNXPU-kU-FRnkm7INSi-WFVFuXO61CTBgvKZkD0ALjedxhM6Pz3L5efEquG7gTLqVUFbKyNQos7PAmRKTOWT_Jl3kgLbdDRYjH_1lv_4JXPMfe8lDkZ9DVbZt-nKqoRsIdRTBT/s1600/google-as-window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="1227" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQpQS3_kNXPU-kU-FRnkm7INSi-WFVFuXO61CTBgvKZkD0ALjedxhM6Pz3L5efEquG7gTLqVUFbKyNQos7PAmRKTOWT_Jl3kgLbdDRYjH_1lv_4JXPMfe8lDkZ9DVbZt-nKqoRsIdRTBT/s400/google-as-window.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you Google "Airstream window", you'll get something like this collection of rounded-corner windows that tend to be wider than they are tall. </td></tr>
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That window has an inset frame with a wide rubber gasket on the inside. The visually-cleanest way to make a thermal covering for that window is to inset it. And the easiest way to inset it is to give it some stiffness so that it will stay in place largely without assistance.<br />
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I decided to try building on the existing <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflectix-24-in-x-10-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-BP24010/100318552?cm_mmc=SEM%7CG%7CBase%7CD22%7C22-4_INSULATION%7CGeneric%7CDSA%7c71700000032188128%7c58700003833914236%7c39700030625345900&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7rXBRD9ARIsABfBl805LscCluTxhiHjDt1GgKdTdUc4Y-gJC3aRcHSohM4tuxZXqq-qqa0aAqTnEALw_wcB&dclid=CO7i9qKH8doCFQ_dwAodzfQB1g"><b>Reflectix</b> </a>covering that I made for that window. It already serves as a template.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xvSq2MXFBarjysLL-BfzX2-wrIp_f1u9AvZdKzqCY8IJAV6QeoGjXM7Bi9aFA8hEO49cUmFXWdshNehXMigxaAneM3RGN9cGAs-dhpVun-lMmaBj2zK3D6__8fhKhr3v97qSS2Zuq7SI/s1600/1-IMG_6581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xvSq2MXFBarjysLL-BfzX2-wrIp_f1u9AvZdKzqCY8IJAV6QeoGjXM7Bi9aFA8hEO49cUmFXWdshNehXMigxaAneM3RGN9cGAs-dhpVun-lMmaBj2zK3D6__8fhKhr3v97qSS2Zuq7SI/s400/1-IMG_6581.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I could sandwich the Reflectix and the <a href="https://www.joann.com/insul-bright/7145857.html"><b>Insul-bright</b> </a>between an outer and inner cover, that would build on what I'd already done without having to re-invent the wheel. I started by cutting a piece of Insul-bright to match the size and shape of the Reflectix I had cut a long time ago. </td></tr>
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The obvious question is, how does one sew Reflectix? Generally I find that anything I can cram beneath the foot of my sewing machine, I can sew.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFqsSowy3mFjpfE5rp7JGjHfUannaXGj7ezGwEiKHafUngwiD2tSNRyJExjMRDqc8bnJvq9hwe8tXO2eqfnfuuiuvUFlIGmAO7A7vt4l7iXuQQK2M5fwmvfukUcdQ9aT9OmmADjXPwztD/s1600/1-IMG_6585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFqsSowy3mFjpfE5rp7JGjHfUannaXGj7ezGwEiKHafUngwiD2tSNRyJExjMRDqc8bnJvq9hwe8tXO2eqfnfuuiuvUFlIGmAO7A7vt4l7iXuQQK2M5fwmvfukUcdQ9aT9OmmADjXPwztD/s400/1-IMG_6585.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started the construction much as in Part 1. First the back portion went on, and the sandwich was sewn shut by applying a deeper seam. </td></tr>
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It's quite comical sewing Reflectix. It goes <i><b>pop-pop-pop-pop </b></i>just like you are popping regular bubble wrap. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOatffZuBt8cfLGx3k2d16FZMDyfmPl_BPeR2MFptWrEPWg-GP11L8GW6IMttlnuA30gyGBv1TZYW4BBcoIyQzVa29fkTCXwdR1DyvuDQuTqSpkW39d5fkhlIY1gl9rC5Dg7ktqkvjUaWx/s1600/1-IMG_6587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOatffZuBt8cfLGx3k2d16FZMDyfmPl_BPeR2MFptWrEPWg-GP11L8GW6IMttlnuA30gyGBv1TZYW4BBcoIyQzVa29fkTCXwdR1DyvuDQuTqSpkW39d5fkhlIY1gl9rC5Dg7ktqkvjUaWx/s400/1-IMG_6587.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I placed the workpiece and templated out the top metallic fabric cover. This shows the wrong side of the metallic fabric.</td></tr>
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It has been my intention all along to maintain a metallic fabric covering on the surface of these window coverings for conformance with Airstream's aluminum interior wall coverings, but I haven't yet found a metallic fabric that I like. This is a different one which I am hoping will prove to be less fragile than the stock I used in Part 1.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSimTejKFANhYbHXbgj2ro644cjtt5qkquVzV-ZOlATgCYhJzBL8OLzPUGFBSA2xisVFETdja2RtVfw_XwwC3GmjV6G_b4NmA0FAMWn_ABfK78Xo9_QpNRrcifUTqDWHzZOXyZc4J4cQm/s1600/1-IMG_6588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSimTejKFANhYbHXbgj2ro644cjtt5qkquVzV-ZOlATgCYhJzBL8OLzPUGFBSA2xisVFETdja2RtVfw_XwwC3GmjV6G_b4NmA0FAMWn_ABfK78Xo9_QpNRrcifUTqDWHzZOXyZc4J4cQm/s400/1-IMG_6588.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easing the corners was a bit of a pain.</td></tr>
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You can see that I basically just top-stitched this fabric in place. I like to have double rows of stitching on these window coverings coverings whether they hang or inset. It seems to give a good finished look and some body to the outer edges.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-zFHMJnVYy86Yu0JlvaVtuSuhGW1sqbkMZpwYhq-psPwfdEtyiFky7IfyiUl8vzvKxuEgnM6AdgUWeqJLMv3tyOsgHKB9Hhfch43EBZZE3n-1NVSc5D0uYlOPschXZHz38GF8NEIFaUU/s1600/1-IMG_6594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-zFHMJnVYy86Yu0JlvaVtuSuhGW1sqbkMZpwYhq-psPwfdEtyiFky7IfyiUl8vzvKxuEgnM6AdgUWeqJLMv3tyOsgHKB9Hhfch43EBZZE3n-1NVSc5D0uYlOPschXZHz38GF8NEIFaUU/s400/1-IMG_6594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the back side. The stitching is a bit wavy because it is a challenge to feed that Reflectix sandwich through the sewing machine.</td></tr>
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Money shots:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImn7UAaS8ggoNKXqrUkD7rWFXkEW8435OTpkSqIXUKxfhVJpoM-0fT5FXTpWpo8WeSPOApE-zwAlvTqN4v7fkoQDBgFxN0979qUON30_TRP1mS6xSzdw30QFsRO96IMHB6ZRnqW1IfT8u/s1600/1-IMG_6593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImn7UAaS8ggoNKXqrUkD7rWFXkEW8435OTpkSqIXUKxfhVJpoM-0fT5FXTpWpo8WeSPOApE-zwAlvTqN4v7fkoQDBgFxN0979qUON30_TRP1mS6xSzdw30QFsRO96IMHB6ZRnqW1IfT8u/s400/1-IMG_6593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is in place, friction-fit. I'll probably add a Velcro dot at the top just to be sure it stays well. </td></tr>
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Here's the part that perhaps appealed to me the most:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IP0o8t0i-1mCR7t41WShuX_q0Z-rlG29tA9royl1IeoLysu8kASRXBHMpfS6qihr3YB8XApVnPVOV9xjWIQc3aF6nO8jJOLI1EWK9LICFTUTnOIYOT9bWnTaPVWduJjBOQZWiVrx4j1U/s1600/1-IMG_6595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IP0o8t0i-1mCR7t41WShuX_q0Z-rlG29tA9royl1IeoLysu8kASRXBHMpfS6qihr3YB8XApVnPVOV9xjWIQc3aF6nO8jJOLI1EWK9LICFTUTnOIYOT9bWnTaPVWduJjBOQZWiVrx4j1U/s400/1-IMG_6595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got a bigger burrito now. This is the new one (right) stored next to one of the Reflectix old ones (left). </td></tr>
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It now looks like I have an actual professional automotive product on the wall instead of a cut sheet of Reflectix insulation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8N9DmkXFp8l3EBjHWCXZLdwM4OIgPEkF_6qYApxq7n06m4qOqLZPb4GJblmpBGbh2w11iGnNpFE8MsBoTgcNznfWOa-8TAcJ48v5zJHW7YQ0aUD_1lNJwpHJ8uBnlk3rCQ1ZqIJJYsna/s1600/1-IMG_6596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8N9DmkXFp8l3EBjHWCXZLdwM4OIgPEkF_6qYApxq7n06m4qOqLZPb4GJblmpBGbh2w11iGnNpFE8MsBoTgcNznfWOa-8TAcJ48v5zJHW7YQ0aUD_1lNJwpHJ8uBnlk3rCQ1ZqIJJYsna/s400/1-IMG_6596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better effect visually, I think. A finished product which looks like it belongs there. It makes the Reflectix look a bit trashy in comparison. </td></tr>
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So there's another prototype executed, and I'll report back on how it performs, insulation-wise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGgE8MQeffQuKox1UhofPz4GgxIgUYuwxTDBpp3KR3PiUs7RBiKvb1OZsTBREoHpBuuHqFACwzvENU3tw-stvh7uI7AeJZkpXkg2wzbPhx6FeF0MBk0j6V2nqTWKN6pOIOp4FALGJYDeL/s1600/hotcardog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="898" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGgE8MQeffQuKox1UhofPz4GgxIgUYuwxTDBpp3KR3PiUs7RBiKvb1OZsTBREoHpBuuHqFACwzvENU3tw-stvh7uI7AeJZkpXkg2wzbPhx6FeF0MBk0j6V2nqTWKN6pOIOp4FALGJYDeL/s400/hotcardog.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tryin' to make our ride cooler and cooler, in every sense of the word.</td></tr>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-8172149815147177382018-04-21T17:48:00.002-07:002018-05-10T07:50:16.625-07:00ADAPTING A LAGUN TABLE FOR THE AIRSTREAM INTERSTATEReading that post title, many of my readers (maybe even all five of them at once) would wonder, <i><b>"Why does she need a <a href="https://www.marineteak.co.uk/lagun-adjustable-swivelling-cockpit-table-mounting-system-331">Lagun table</a>? She already made herself a <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/custom-computer-table-for-airstream.html">custom computer table</a>."</b></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xmK7b789GzezC_TzMgEWpwZ8k3iEYCZewdAW81EnLJcr0YDtji7jO8jtwMQpEf-BGWQGRW1qkpQsbDIeTLCBxKUWftCj8h28nn7fa2QxgccowJKXorOmogPmWgYWimuQE_STZ5l8cXRb/s1600/computer-table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1024" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xmK7b789GzezC_TzMgEWpwZ8k3iEYCZewdAW81EnLJcr0YDtji7jO8jtwMQpEf-BGWQGRW1qkpQsbDIeTLCBxKUWftCj8h28nn7fa2QxgccowJKXorOmogPmWgYWimuQE_STZ5l8cXRb/s400/computer-table.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And what a beauty she is. The blog post linked above describes how I repurposed all of Airstream's original hardware for this improved design. </td></tr>
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<div>
<div>
More accurately, I made a custom computer table <b><u>top</u></b>. Which I am now free to deploy elsewhere in the van should it prove to suit my purpose.</div>
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And it might, because there is the infernal issue of the dismal ride quality in the rear of the Sprinter where this tricked-out table typically functions (for a tri-forum collection of ride-quality grousing, see discussion threads <a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/4x4-and-air-ride-options-177620.html"><b>here</b> </a>and <a href="http://www.classbforum.com/forums/f5/shocks-help-7544.html#post70730"><b>here</b></a> and <a href="https://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10779&highlight=rough"><b>here</b></a>, and I could go on with many more). Try as I might, I have not been able to gain any "sea legs" to help me deal with the constant fish-tailing and pounding roughness of life on the road in our aft section. Sitting back there usually makes me acutely ill inside of 30 minutes unless I spend my entire time staring out the window at the horizon to minimize inner-ear disruptions. That approach, of course, would not be compatible with working on a computer. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Ergo, if I want to be able to work when we are under way, and as a small business owner I very much want to do that, then I have exactly two choices: Either find a way to retrofit rear air suspension to the van, or find another less-punishing place to work.</div>
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Air suspension is a pricey option - between $5,000 and $10,000, with the added complexity that out-of-the-box systems are no longer sold for the T1N Sprinter, which is now more than 10 years post-production. Newer systems are not compatible because of chassis changes. The one older system that has the potential to work is the <a href="http://www.glide-rite.com/"><b>Glide-Rite</b> </a>package sold out of the UK. The problem there is that we would have to fabricate some of our own mounting hardware, as they no longer sell it. That introduces a lot of work, and far more importantly, it introduces technical unknowns into the purchase decision. What if we spent all that money and the installation proved to be more trouble than it was worth? (For instance, we never did confirm whether that system was retrofittable with our propane tank being located where it is). </div>
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It dawned on me recently that there may be a workaround. If I could find a way to work at the front of the van instead of at the back of the van, the issue of rear sway and roughness largely becomes moot. </div>
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So I set about the process of experimenting with options in this regard. My early efforts tended toward the conventional, and they proved to be unworkable.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFBsToaNImGYuaiklSK6OANA2iFRRc_Wuf1ld29UOhE3bPjBe_Z0ba6v4hz9Kuc_wl8FaAAwyiH2nfYEmBtXoYRTGcPO2vR3CAs14oMQOXIqVjDu715Px0OWWlXLuYvZUp08aqP1LTStj/s1600/1-IMG_5858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFBsToaNImGYuaiklSK6OANA2iFRRc_Wuf1ld29UOhE3bPjBe_Z0ba6v4hz9Kuc_wl8FaAAwyiH2nfYEmBtXoYRTGcPO2vR3CAs14oMQOXIqVjDu715Px0OWWlXLuYvZUp08aqP1LTStj/s400/1-IMG_5858.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For instance, I tried shrouding myself with a tent of light-gauge fabric in the passenger seat in order to cut the window glare well enough to see the computer screen, but this blocked the driver's line of sight to the curbside mirror. That was plainly unacceptable.</td></tr>
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<div>
And then I remembered -- <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/installing-seat-swivel-in-airstream.html"><b>we installed a seat swivel</b></a> that we proceeded to hardly ever use. What if I could work up front, but facing the rear insead? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5nVvcW1KynIQaCGs9pkFuBkGmuJf3SGCkfK-5Z75_Rgn5ZEB93RWJe16qQ1nvBWi78RgBGwe2xVc8DIf4_MV3BSjkMyoFDF4DLxSR2QVwKJwV95pvLWwISyOIzKdVcNhpZrEDTz05uGI/s1600/swa-lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1020" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5nVvcW1KynIQaCGs9pkFuBkGmuJf3SGCkfK-5Z75_Rgn5ZEB93RWJe16qQ1nvBWi78RgBGwe2xVc8DIf4_MV3BSjkMyoFDF4DLxSR2QVwKJwV95pvLWwISyOIzKdVcNhpZrEDTz05uGI/s400/swa-lounge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember Southwest Airlines' old lounge seating areas? They were discontinued probably because they were unpopular - many people did not like the idea of flying backwards. I was often the passenger who volunteered to sit in that row, because I did not give a flip which way my seat faced.<br />
Image courtesy of <a href="http://airliners.net/"><b>Airliners.net</b></a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqTpY576GpqYSQQjzlisezC8LfY-JeesSRvpgtrt50pko7_f8Hs982nGrHcWY_EmW7bc9Osk5XWi31au-_qpN_EVYNkrPvUccjRBdJDduCOAc31fctHjHRGOVsGUbGbZ8i_TkOTtt67Ys/s1600/swivel-butt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="841" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqTpY576GpqYSQQjzlisezC8LfY-JeesSRvpgtrt50pko7_f8Hs982nGrHcWY_EmW7bc9Osk5XWi31au-_qpN_EVYNkrPvUccjRBdJDduCOAc31fctHjHRGOVsGUbGbZ8i_TkOTtt67Ys/s400/swivel-butt.JPG" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe that swivel seat could be used for a task more productive than map reading. </td></tr>
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<div>
The question then became -- if I were to use my computer table here, how would it be mounted? </div>
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We really didn't like the idea of sinking two additional leg receivers into the floor at this location, right in the way of traffic. They may be close to being flush with the floor surface, but those holes are a pain the ass, plus I find them unsightly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNJh-G5GGZFe2rNzhaYN7-uGkWiGj0AgRKg3Ax6O1auHjMEEbtjZIDOUMsjVwo71MoCag4-GQugdHMkmJSS9amzly-TK67WM-hkJlzuME6eDV4vgfx9MqOxX1Fi-KIJNPF461s3dih2M5/s1600/flushmount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="500" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNJh-G5GGZFe2rNzhaYN7-uGkWiGj0AgRKg3Ax6O1auHjMEEbtjZIDOUMsjVwo71MoCag4-GQugdHMkmJSS9amzly-TK67WM-hkJlzuME6eDV4vgfx9MqOxX1Fi-KIJNPF461s3dih2M5/s400/flushmount.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope. I think it would require tapping into the chassis, which I absolutely do not want to do.<br />
Image from <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trailer-PRODUCTS-Pedestal-Round-Flush/dp/B01KR7EF74">this site</a>.</b></td></tr>
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<div>
I got the Lagun table idea from the forum poster known as <b>GeorgeRa</b>, whose self-built van is named Voila (see if <a href="https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMWWuV_htjeEryhn2XGhrtuYddBsmPYjlTkN28T-H90rRW89qGYk9tZ0nhyusD4Bg?key=MjN0VHZuZ1ZwbGlxN29rRENtT2pwUFY2dmhaVF93"><b>this link</b></a> to a photo album, and see also <b><a href="http://www.classbforum.com/forums/f8/final-voila-layout-drawings-7520.html">here</a> </b>and<b> <a href="http://www.classbforum.com/forums/f8/lagun-table-7407.html">here</a></b>). The Lagun is sold by a company named Marine Teak.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xcxUOfltirYMQN2El6DgzlnUIEMGvFVetrNKRX2EiIGvLnSWACOeCBaB-9_eBLbt4RVLyfKeKdsxffjqKtzLA8ikMwu9Z7yRpVbJm8araqUgY4o_fFZrqblsrybuvm_suCm6yOGhGjFr/s1600/hq.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1408" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xcxUOfltirYMQN2El6DgzlnUIEMGvFVetrNKRX2EiIGvLnSWACOeCBaB-9_eBLbt4RVLyfKeKdsxffjqKtzLA8ikMwu9Z7yRpVbJm8araqUgY4o_fFZrqblsrybuvm_suCm6yOGhGjFr/s400/hq.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marine Teak's facility in the UK. Notice that solar camper van near lower right. Clearly, its presence was A Sign.</td></tr>
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If you look at the installation pics that are available on those threads linked above, you will notice one regrettable design feature: the Lagun hardware has to be mounted substantially proud of any vertical surfaces that might otherwise interfere with the table's swivel function.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUtXkhr9rxvZGZXCQA0gHx6F-lfHTp5Ias3VoCOV1gqC1XzdmkN8v82sLHFxJQ-ZIHSRululhkMzzHv_-ZowhNPy1sCG-g_YkRYu13VTON2dJrN2PQSodDG0bszRfHeTG5v4n27Gv1p_A/s1600/georgera-installation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUtXkhr9rxvZGZXCQA0gHx6F-lfHTp5Ias3VoCOV1gqC1XzdmkN8v82sLHFxJQ-ZIHSRululhkMzzHv_-ZowhNPy1sCG-g_YkRYu13VTON2dJrN2PQSodDG0bszRfHeTG5v4n27Gv1p_A/s400/georgera-installation.JPG" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>GeorgeRa</b>'s installation, with the table top and arm being in the stowed position. Not too bad, but you can see that he extended his cabinet mount with what looks like a rectangular block of wood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC7px8RGh02WkQ9aTz0raxqs0sLJkjXMNo4lhQ2-UtDf-9MItAbIY-pDFokspgypsxKNACyN9Wb0AtYVMzxYxxOuNYgBixLWLhipcCDEBBj2ewtGXpctJXMBOx6MXFK0zTFhywB5LZvWa/s1600/bruce-installation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="626" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC7px8RGh02WkQ9aTz0raxqs0sLJkjXMNo4lhQ2-UtDf-9MItAbIY-pDFokspgypsxKNACyN9Wb0AtYVMzxYxxOuNYgBixLWLhipcCDEBBj2ewtGXpctJXMBOx6MXFK0zTFhywB5LZvWa/s400/bruce-installation.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another user's installation in a Travato, from the B Van thread linked above. Holy frijoles - what is that huge block sticking out into the aisle of the van?? Both of my shins would get bruised to pieces if we had that in our rig! (Head of the seated person chopped off for privacy, intending no disrespect). </td></tr>
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<div>
The reason why these bump-outs are necessary has to do with this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufnB5eoX0VqAYXBXuY0Xa_keyYFseCAUSjdd7byJv766fDkvyxm7eOXVmzM3y1s3GFETui8VLb9GKRXg6D_B3Z3ZLg0JS6JddGNHzTscegAZclwVQGgB-nfVFPmxgQKxRCdhK7a5AmXXz/s1600/1-IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufnB5eoX0VqAYXBXuY0Xa_keyYFseCAUSjdd7byJv766fDkvyxm7eOXVmzM3y1s3GFETui8VLb9GKRXg6D_B3Z3ZLg0JS6JddGNHzTscegAZclwVQGgB-nfVFPmxgQKxRCdhK7a5AmXXz/s400/1-IMG_6324.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The butt end of the horizontal hardware sticks out beyond the vertical support, especially when it's at a 45 degree angle. Therefore, in order to have clearance to swivel to and fro, the receiver must extend outward, if this is to be mounted on a vertical surface such as the side of a galley cabinet. </td></tr>
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OK, so, this blocking issue is a necessary evil of the design, but lacking superior alternatives, I ordered the Lagun table support anyway. Nothing is perfect.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2M0cRCfnt2ctVTL2TPPqOWhZrUzxwTFgVND3uRbx_1WrQGo2jjxzad3wJTcHV8hneBD2dBPovjTywKfu2SxV5md-RtLfrvddMfqG63VOD_yxWDu9o_VIZh4PO32mqOLOhaQhWMkg2KXh/s1600/package.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2M0cRCfnt2ctVTL2TPPqOWhZrUzxwTFgVND3uRbx_1WrQGo2jjxzad3wJTcHV8hneBD2dBPovjTywKfu2SxV5md-RtLfrvddMfqG63VOD_yxWDu9o_VIZh4PO32mqOLOhaQhWMkg2KXh/s320/package.JPG" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It arrived from Merry Old England as an undisturbed bundle of joy.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HneTqoJzCrG3dL1YsxeXtBvrhz0Lylm2ITNPquFf9MlDBTiNa9ekKZ08ZhyH-lDiBI2jEIpwBHpX-IV0WRzNB01UH4RkNw0AQFMxnL5zrHybZTRCBm1hqyyhun18lMLbTb996Yk15GpD/s1600/1-IMG_6303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HneTqoJzCrG3dL1YsxeXtBvrhz0Lylm2ITNPquFf9MlDBTiNa9ekKZ08ZhyH-lDiBI2jEIpwBHpX-IV0WRzNB01UH4RkNw0AQFMxnL5zrHybZTRCBm1hqyyhun18lMLbTb996Yk15GpD/s400/1-IMG_6303.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However I was not impressed with the unwrapped quality of it. There were dings on both the horizontal structural member and this fastening piece. There was no evidence to suggest that this happened during shipping. It was packed up that way. </td></tr>
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<div>
If I have to concede the use of a mounting adapter, I at least want something a bit more elegant and a bit less bruising than some of the published variants. So I fashioned an alternative with aspects of quality and appearance in mind.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9IQgLXfsuUetusy61aFlqrhGxLZq4dhavDcoJkQ-n3_3luEwbqZ84Rolta0cLEoKKSC-LV0rQSgiKAOPDLQ3dHLO6SlU4wwqXD1qzeqbOL9tS3NSaDdSTCpzWHuhU_noxRUlDZH4NWP4/s1600/1-IMG_6307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9IQgLXfsuUetusy61aFlqrhGxLZq4dhavDcoJkQ-n3_3luEwbqZ84Rolta0cLEoKKSC-LV0rQSgiKAOPDLQ3dHLO6SlU4wwqXD1qzeqbOL9tS3NSaDdSTCpzWHuhU_noxRUlDZH4NWP4/s400/1-IMG_6307.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solid red oak, with a beveled edge.</td></tr>
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<div>
But God forbid I should be able to purchase a single piece of oak thick enough for this job. No - I had to get two and sandwich them as shown above. This was the first of several successive First World miseries associated with this project. I don't mind doing projects - in fact, I really enjoy projects. What I <b><i>do not</i></b> enjoy is not being able to easily buy the basic feedstocks that I need for the projects. </div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypsr-UYij9PjyJcDk4ENfb75glz8PPGaCzioKTeCaJB1RhkeIyyrHVueE9kS1Ai8OgtP6Asxv5ExhcpQ_BksTcm0PlhssiK3y7fpIY32top8P3s4BLzHbqcE4HB9s31oaPZD-DeuBigbO/s1600/1-oven2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1024" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypsr-UYij9PjyJcDk4ENfb75glz8PPGaCzioKTeCaJB1RhkeIyyrHVueE9kS1Ai8OgtP6Asxv5ExhcpQ_BksTcm0PlhssiK3y7fpIY32top8P3s4BLzHbqcE4HB9s31oaPZD-DeuBigbO/s400/1-oven2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There she is, Miss America. A woman's place is in the kitchen - baking parts that she fabricated in the garage. That's the oak sandwich glued, cut, drilled out, and painted with Sherwin Williams oil-based enamel in "Iron Ore" color formulation, which matches our countertop. </td></tr>
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<div>
Here's the next pain in the ass where hardware was concerned.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6L5AKv2PUh8CXKdqOi7CdzKjDAUUkdJ1f3t1dtTPOAYCYOLAv20ICubuMSjY-dehoAnkhY6ccB2ItT9xIM9tSu4SkuudgfnzDexTA4iBJYl1uBklEdA2eBUv_349H7SlnAwT7WSbYF4ls/s1600/1-IMG_6312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6L5AKv2PUh8CXKdqOi7CdzKjDAUUkdJ1f3t1dtTPOAYCYOLAv20ICubuMSjY-dehoAnkhY6ccB2ItT9xIM9tSu4SkuudgfnzDexTA4iBJYl1uBklEdA2eBUv_349H7SlnAwT7WSbYF4ls/s400/1-IMG_6312.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hardware included by Marine Teak was excellent quality stainless steel, but was not large enough to accommodate the adaptive fitting that many installers are obviously going to require for this project.</td></tr>
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<div>
To make matters worse, in ordering this from Merry Old England, of course it came with metric hardware. <i><b>Metric stainless countersunk</b></i> bolts, to be specific. I might as well be seeking to buy a lock of hair that had been taken from Christ Himself. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayT-yULD0OsrITBPO8RUQIvksQ2NZrRl-pVpxrCB9xG5UBSZfC7mUecUI77ehCW5rYH2YqOusNDpl4asgq-cSBFpF3JW7tWNrRpqYku6aHIEvBsh-ehMxx7hJlnNavHV8hWYesx36YIbR/s1600/1-IMG_6320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayT-yULD0OsrITBPO8RUQIvksQ2NZrRl-pVpxrCB9xG5UBSZfC7mUecUI77ehCW5rYH2YqOusNDpl4asgq-cSBFpF3JW7tWNrRpqYku6aHIEvBsh-ehMxx7hJlnNavHV8hWYesx36YIbR/s400/1-IMG_6320.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem with common retail stores that, upon downstepping from the OEM metric to its nearest English equivalent, which is a one-quarter inch bolt, I commensurately had to downstep to a three-inch long bolt. Everything above three inches upstepped from four-sixteenths to five-sixteenths in diameter. And five-sixteenths was too large for the bracket holes. </td></tr>
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<div>
The bolt length matters because of the backing plate that was delivered with the Lagun. It was made of half-inch plywood so it was going to add considerable thickness to the overall fastener design. Of course I could order the optimal hardware for this job off the internet, but if I did that every time I needed a specific item, it would be a month of Sundays before I got anything finished. So typically what happens is that I make do with whatever crap can be located in big box stores.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47D9vHIBeg-m_lQX7Eo9aabSe6xePDE2UkHVC6EXDWcPhYkZ6Z9zAjmBfzsdP70qTgU5_hGFSngnbGhJ4Y2LdCA60tU7xSxpCDisIrjs0mBo7b-w8R0pt6uFuHmlxW78LHaQUvk5uovYz/s1600/1-IMG_6319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47D9vHIBeg-m_lQX7Eo9aabSe6xePDE2UkHVC6EXDWcPhYkZ6Z9zAjmBfzsdP70qTgU5_hGFSngnbGhJ4Y2LdCA60tU7xSxpCDisIrjs0mBo7b-w8R0pt6uFuHmlxW78LHaQUvk5uovYz/s400/1-IMG_6319.JPG" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will show the half-inch OEM backing plate below. Not being sure in the hardware store whether a 3-inch bolt would be long enough to extend through the whole kit and kaboodle, I brought home this piece of metal plate in case I had to use that instead of the plywood. Some van owners, should they try to do this kind of installation, may have to substitute a thin metal plate as a backer, depending on where they are mounting the Lagun. </td></tr>
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But even the damned metal plate could not be sourced properly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUGdhe79oFcSSVJJ0xU8uydLhD_-WhtFZvEh34MyjNlno2Y5v_GEd6iKeNrcrzmu5Rl4EDnqFfecmH0bFcZYrJGrm8kNZRB4NSSFVP2-gF4rtnJ7yaygwmmNKT0eQdaY7B_86ahQppn3L/s1600/1-IMG_6317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUGdhe79oFcSSVJJ0xU8uydLhD_-WhtFZvEh34MyjNlno2Y5v_GEd6iKeNrcrzmu5Rl4EDnqFfecmH0bFcZYrJGrm8kNZRB4NSSFVP2-gF4rtnJ7yaygwmmNKT0eQdaY7B_86ahQppn3L/s400/1-IMG_6317.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what Lowes hardware keeps in stock - quarter inch steel plate, and sixteenth inch steel plate. Nothing in between, absolutely no eighth-inch, which is what I (and every other hobbyist) really need. </td></tr>
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OK, enough howling about product availability. Here are a few installation shots. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8KH_9LZ8CRD4X4K5UsLnGs2V1l5n4Y1fy90x7wZ4PKwZ23dCvAKKWKyfoHovqgZq_tBrqiWzyWBbBpm6VgM_znUBd1ijXsPxZ0csy_6F6J7W3JTE2W4W2Wzs52wpzGhLhdw9CCF7MFvy/s1600/1-IMG_6326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8KH_9LZ8CRD4X4K5UsLnGs2V1l5n4Y1fy90x7wZ4PKwZ23dCvAKKWKyfoHovqgZq_tBrqiWzyWBbBpm6VgM_znUBd1ijXsPxZ0csy_6F6J7W3JTE2W4W2Wzs52wpzGhLhdw9CCF7MFvy/s400/1-IMG_6326.JPG" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the OEM half-inch plywood backer looked like once I painted it and trimmed it sufficiently to fit in our space.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNNkYeQ-uDnrSM5erICUJOlHZPBeyTK4cLSs2BKK5tCCaNDN0V_NjWm4t2Fcd-vhJpTzluPAQgjize3CkR6EbuoeXg_LodAh7wbpskz9CIJMHEDTmbzQPjU90jV-wK3neSAIHhI0hyphenhyphenh-Q/s1600/1-IMG_6328+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="873" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNNkYeQ-uDnrSM5erICUJOlHZPBeyTK4cLSs2BKK5tCCaNDN0V_NjWm4t2Fcd-vhJpTzluPAQgjize3CkR6EbuoeXg_LodAh7wbpskz9CIJMHEDTmbzQPjU90jV-wK3neSAIHhI0hyphenhyphenh-Q/s400/1-IMG_6328+%25281%2529.JPG" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view inside the cabinetry. The installation kit did not come with the fender washers. We added those.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdpCXZuQAAgew2EBj_xfftgQVyVh5hbtomRDJu1ZWIfOujtFksdreDbJUsNH_2mW2cr4x107HVvdUvCo8dSdMz4haPM75Y2DoI1LLhyphenhyphenYLRA53IQXi0-gUlb6ExaEsYKhJUGR0hlKTI4on/s1600/1-IMG_6336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdpCXZuQAAgew2EBj_xfftgQVyVh5hbtomRDJu1ZWIfOujtFksdreDbJUsNH_2mW2cr4x107HVvdUvCo8dSdMz4haPM75Y2DoI1LLhyphenhyphenYLRA53IQXi0-gUlb6ExaEsYKhJUGR0hlKTI4on/s400/1-IMG_6336.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to achieve an optimal height for the bracket mount, we had to bump down the location of the propane detector. Here you see my husband Dremeling out that space. And also you can see the bracket mount which looks like a finished piece that belongs there, I think. I didn't want a squared-off design like the others I showed above because someone coming through the sliding door would hook something on the edge of it, a piece of luggage or whatever. A sloped design like this is better, I think. Any items bumping up against it would tend to slide by rather than hook. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And a few money shots of the installation:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk03bjve5er01s7i4YN1W060uF8if32dWKdj35k0E3MjTCMWEgtalQng6nYmmuSdsQCSwAaCHgqXOpzQNmKPf04aI6X2Oa35k4coIKBmi7OBxMDf5Jdh7vuu4rwkjOcB0RY6VBE_0BRU-F/s1600/1-IMG_6365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk03bjve5er01s7i4YN1W060uF8if32dWKdj35k0E3MjTCMWEgtalQng6nYmmuSdsQCSwAaCHgqXOpzQNmKPf04aI6X2Oa35k4coIKBmi7OBxMDf5Jdh7vuu4rwkjOcB0RY6VBE_0BRU-F/s400/1-IMG_6365.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know a project was successful when you sit in the midst of it and you don't want to get back up again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you look at that pic above you'll notice something curious. I've used one of the OEM pedestal legs as an additional support on the right side. Most of the time, I don't think this will be necessary, but if we are pounding across really rough roads, I will probably slip this leg in there just for extra support, so as not to put too much stress on the Lagun.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd25XTIuCFJVx3fQFNKa8zdm7TBSvNRrm0SoH2qa8PNqEtS3lubkHoaPN33QxCDC9JRbNtp0MQ6johtc24TD4VY-3EOV3-slNRp8VShUmPO53kwWsWg3jjxrSgcYl5qBIcKQlU2YV7mUK/s1600/1-IMG_6413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd25XTIuCFJVx3fQFNKa8zdm7TBSvNRrm0SoH2qa8PNqEtS3lubkHoaPN33QxCDC9JRbNtp0MQ6johtc24TD4VY-3EOV3-slNRp8VShUmPO53kwWsWg3jjxrSgcYl5qBIcKQlU2YV7mUK/s400/1-IMG_6413.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most importantly, the table does not impinge upon the dog's space.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcPFro9GD87WRWX29GSaaqAg2s3QxHAv0oeD-zTRTJ4TwFsoy2z3B6mLYG9vBsK0cBzmzFow2DJSDhpK1JgNitzwVGqB4nHez3eIvchMFMR28Kuf5FnX8QHxc0S_t_ofw1gkvYXR6Gzms/s1600/1-IMG_6388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcPFro9GD87WRWX29GSaaqAg2s3QxHAv0oeD-zTRTJ4TwFsoy2z3B6mLYG9vBsK0cBzmzFow2DJSDhpK1JgNitzwVGqB4nHez3eIvchMFMR28Kuf5FnX8QHxc0S_t_ofw1gkvYXR6Gzms/s400/1-IMG_6388.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the side. Yes, I know I need a foot rest. The swivel mechanism has the effect of raising the seat. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMaYrBns905O1M5Dy75slaJSCiA1Apt_-pfRnjrD-1sG7mhWZIdkWKzcLkiKp6x_WzziJ0RCeGbdXf8n1aSPIUJHdMnYC-nibPFuaoKs3EaNPTKL-B95alUOigRSqULLjyChNXPBgoTAu/s1600/1-IMG_6423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMaYrBns905O1M5Dy75slaJSCiA1Apt_-pfRnjrD-1sG7mhWZIdkWKzcLkiKp6x_WzziJ0RCeGbdXf8n1aSPIUJHdMnYC-nibPFuaoKs3EaNPTKL-B95alUOigRSqULLjyChNXPBgoTAu/s400/1-IMG_6423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order to get up without removing the table, I just push it away, and then swivel it to the side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-FV7CUGXNNY-OiUnpmzhyphenhyphenLxtxwnq6auKqU02d_sR12fDuNdgcRkaNalQqwv_MNX8i_j3cwi4pe6ZBJd4J0XIHsCTN84g2h1zvFv83V_RaYZwmyKRh5UHXENXobHpXlNvPIBaaaHwnb4b/s1600/1-IMG_6419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-FV7CUGXNNY-OiUnpmzhyphenhyphenLxtxwnq6auKqU02d_sR12fDuNdgcRkaNalQqwv_MNX8i_j3cwi4pe6ZBJd4J0XIHsCTN84g2h1zvFv83V_RaYZwmyKRh5UHXENXobHpXlNvPIBaaaHwnb4b/s400/1-IMG_6419.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get a great view from this location, too. And I get my dog's full attention when the dinner hour approaches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C5Iv3stdA6o26tu41xdifzBrvixnJND491qFYN3vywSv0Rog1S1cLRExSUJBDkj67ecOjNnez_SAIS6zCGs5nLE_oRBocjM2QeWPyruF9F4g9r6mAJyxczxZYjlkT_1vh1oThi2XsYIs/s1600/1-IMG_6345-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C5Iv3stdA6o26tu41xdifzBrvixnJND491qFYN3vywSv0Rog1S1cLRExSUJBDkj67ecOjNnez_SAIS6zCGs5nLE_oRBocjM2QeWPyruF9F4g9r6mAJyxczxZYjlkT_1vh1oThi2XsYIs/s400/1-IMG_6345-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ratchet handles will bump the edge of the cabinet, preventing a full 180 degree travel distance. But there is a workaround for that - simply flip the horizontal support over, placing the handle on the other side, and then swivel. By this method, the table can be rotated left instead of right, including part way out the sliding door. I can see this being convenient for BBQing and whatnot. </td></tr>
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And how do I store this lofty apparatus when it is not in use?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9eqmakpd54GrUI6CH1UmCcIYczVAdQv3jZjpz_6ulZZUCNhDM7cYbGNbMxwQulFsHk7m3Wbfo7N4oDA83dOi257txZXnmhcKzNnUZUQk-vepZGKItk0rlvx0eK5UbkwSHmBxtWuWE_2v/s1600/door-hang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9eqmakpd54GrUI6CH1UmCcIYczVAdQv3jZjpz_6ulZZUCNhDM7cYbGNbMxwQulFsHk7m3Wbfo7N4oDA83dOi257txZXnmhcKzNnUZUQk-vepZGKItk0rlvx0eK5UbkwSHmBxtWuWE_2v/s400/door-hang.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same thing I did with the original table top - hang it on the outside of the wet bath door. </td></tr>
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If you look carefully at that image above, you'll notice that the Lagun base does not line up perfectly with the perforated aluminum sheet. That's because the sheet is made to English measurements and the Lagun is, once again, metric. I will need to add about two holes in the table base so that I can better align the tiny nuts and bolts that hold it to the aluminum sheet, but I want to do some road testing before deciding on the exact final position for the base, so for the moment, I'm holding off on that part.<br />
<br />
Like I always say, our van keeps getting bigger and bigger. I just doubled both my working options and my comfort level, because now I can sit in a full captain's chair instead of perching on the couch to do computer work.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for my road testing notes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnIwit3tXYa9k8A5JVSrLx2BAZnMxYs6zP5ZbKQw36RokKA47YCa323SZrpJflURwHyCcvZiQS5Dv2c2V-Nm9UyrZ-807RCtnl8ChkTlwJUcBTxXGhExCiV0Evbk9r17S1TwMKFQXXfTr/s1600/bigger-meme.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="773" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnIwit3tXYa9k8A5JVSrLx2BAZnMxYs6zP5ZbKQw36RokKA47YCa323SZrpJflURwHyCcvZiQS5Dv2c2V-Nm9UyrZ-807RCtnl8ChkTlwJUcBTxXGhExCiV0Evbk9r17S1TwMKFQXXfTr/s400/bigger-meme.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, actually, I don't. The office on wheels that I have is constantly on the improve. </td></tr>
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<b><u>UPDATE 20180427</u>: </b> I'm pleased with the initial road testing I've done, with one caveat. Working at the front of the van means the same thing as working anywhere else - office and computer clutter that needs to be controlled. Here's a photo showing some of the organizational features I've added so far - a Container Store <a href="https://www.containerstore.com/s/office/message-boards-accessories/three-by-three-medium-stainless-steel-magnetic-dry-erase-board/12d?productId=11007470"><b>magnetic bulletin board</b></a> with <a href="https://www.containerstore.com/s/silver-magnetic-mesh-bins/d?productId=10002578&q=magnetic%20mesh%20basket"><b>two magnetic mesh baskets</b></a>, plus a <a href="https://www.containerstore.com/s/three-by-three-stainless-steel-magnetic-wall-pocket-strip/d?productId=10032184&q=wall%20pocket%20magnetic"><b>wall pocket</b></a> cut down to fit the left / front side of the galley cabinetry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7OY2wmPxo1XYP-jAA74ZAG8g5qaa4ZnWxJCcKJ5T5-Vta3qWpaAsTZEEAE36RNjW4CYmOehVfo8yxHb1crbjkZ-aWpaJpkVG-kwEoBd13mH2TcWCoX1n1sAJfJzJ1Og-lPvVihq7jfBx/s1600/1-newoffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7OY2wmPxo1XYP-jAA74ZAG8g5qaa4ZnWxJCcKJ5T5-Vta3qWpaAsTZEEAE36RNjW4CYmOehVfo8yxHb1crbjkZ-aWpaJpkVG-kwEoBd13mH2TcWCoX1n1sAJfJzJ1Og-lPvVihq7jfBx/s400/1-newoffice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>UPDATE 20180510</u></b>: Those sharp corners were proving to be a pain now that the table is mobile and swiveling, so they were trimmed and the edge re-bound as follows, which I expect will furnish a significant ergonomic improvement:<br />
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-70542464634907702092018-04-01T08:23:00.001-07:002018-04-01T10:31:45.856-07:00EVALUATING CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY POTENTIALThis post is a one-off published in the hopes that someone will raise a hand and tell me what I'm doing wrong, resource-wise and procedure-wise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlXET4IpO1m5WfRN1SWYxIC8YkI06DSkmR8nWreczyXTtuOJck9gk-GowWjxl1dJ-cLv-Xi0Tom7yNBEYMhINvNxqd21dCmI4yKdvixHg55xapNLHatitvFhljTP_2fUjfPaX47maN87k/s1600/DJI_0056-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1023" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlXET4IpO1m5WfRN1SWYxIC8YkI06DSkmR8nWreczyXTtuOJck9gk-GowWjxl1dJ-cLv-Xi0Tom7yNBEYMhINvNxqd21dCmI4yKdvixHg55xapNLHatitvFhljTP_2fUjfPaX47maN87k/s400/DJI_0056-001.JPG" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It wasn't working for us:</b><br />
That white object extending upward from the rear of the vehicle is a<b> <a href="https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/wilson-yagi-directional-antenna-wide-band-50ohm-314411/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhoLWBRD9ARIsADIRaxQEeJXQ6GEM4Oy7TW5qClCpjQbbEMcVAci0FVM13cxyMXeuigl3U4EaAsGIEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Wilson Yagi directional antenna</a></b> pointed toward a known (i.e., location-published) cellular source and cabled into the market's best booster which ultimately received <b>absolutely nothing </b>in the way of <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">usable</span> signal from this exercise and investment. </td></tr>
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After re-reading a couple of cellular troubleshooting forum threads, including <a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f451/is-a-directional-cellular-antenna-worth-it-146770.html" target="_blank"><b>this one</b></a> in which the merits of this directional antenna are debated, my husband and I decided to get down to brass tacks and see if we could begin constraining the question with some actual computations, just as a first measure.<br />
<br />
We know that cellular transmission functions largely according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line-of-sight_propagation#Mobile_telephones" target="_blank"><b>line of sight principles</b></a>. There are some diffraction and reflection and other effects incorporated into the mix, but line of sight is the best bet, particularly as distances from the tower increase.<br />
<br />
Tower details are public information and are published in both the United States and Canada. The same is true of topography. Theoretically, then, it should be a simple matter to determine <i>a priori</i> whether line of sight exists at any given location. And here's the endgame: If line of sight does <b>not </b>exist, how tall would a user's antenna mast need to be in order to achieve it? <br />
<br />
I'm primarily interested in determining these facts with precision within the context of a property that we own in rural eastern Canada. However, for various reasons I will omit for brevity, that is a more complex determination, so I thought I would start off with a simple example where I've experienced cellular signal failure - <a href="https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/monahans-sandhills" target="_blank"><b>Monahans Sandhills State Park</b></a> in Texas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ368idW3m2Rhch3FKVdncEHNTTA8sWxYICSI7igPIfJLu4XQ-hlQuYCcu3QXILgNKwtm7FbT9_Fz42tSJRLF-b3R4sWH-xCoCsiW0e7UNb7YXSExC7ullArJQzA-PRjcT1e5PrnvfEVx/s1600/SANDHILLS1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="479" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ368idW3m2Rhch3FKVdncEHNTTA8sWxYICSI7igPIfJLu4XQ-hlQuYCcu3QXILgNKwtm7FbT9_Fz42tSJRLF-b3R4sWH-xCoCsiW0e7UNb7YXSExC7ullArJQzA-PRjcT1e5PrnvfEVx/s400/SANDHILLS1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a unique environment where the unprecedented small-scale topographic features play hell with connectivity. This is an aerial photo of the camping loop where I stayed. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtyP1jhNV0qlPPDRqlHAnbtOQS5_16q4Hk7fr14P7Ny7K8nlRhgFtU9CCqaWR9qMAh0vZS-P5oxwWvWwkrAC_gYXYQQXOAElHEhiTHAHWBR2vbIz92uV3rRWkZNzgZJmVx1TWHA0bA2ed/s1600/1-DSC_1000-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtyP1jhNV0qlPPDRqlHAnbtOQS5_16q4Hk7fr14P7Ny7K8nlRhgFtU9CCqaWR9qMAh0vZS-P5oxwWvWwkrAC_gYXYQQXOAElHEhiTHAHWBR2vbIz92uV3rRWkZNzgZJmVx1TWHA0bA2ed/s400/1-DSC_1000-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand-bogged?! <br />
I'd like to coin a new term: <b>Cell-bogged</b>. </td></tr>
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The Sandhills are particularly frustrating place to to get cell-bogged because we know that so many towers are nearby, both in the <a href="http://www.cityofmonahans.org/"><b>City of Monahans</b></a> to the west and throughout the Midland-Odessa metro area to the east.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeHib7s0wz_sQI8ye-K8fUrSi74nhv9H3c2yHrC5GwctJ-yMaK_Zpl_-sJIhjQveqmVgT5qmks7HKFKXRG3LUXbbTdBWHDxINMA6t5R8kj-gldKhfMakPK5zU-kJhFDJybctV3ijoMtG-/s1600/all-towers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="853" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeHib7s0wz_sQI8ye-K8fUrSi74nhv9H3c2yHrC5GwctJ-yMaK_Zpl_-sJIhjQveqmVgT5qmks7HKFKXRG3LUXbbTdBWHDxINMA6t5R8kj-gldKhfMakPK5zU-kJhFDJybctV3ijoMtG-/s400/all-towers.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good grief. Starving in the midst of plenty.<br />
Screengrabbed from <a href="http://www.antennasearch.com/"><b>Antennasearch.com</b></a> </td></tr>
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So here's the basic procedure for making this determination.<br />
<br />
You can see on the map above that there is one tower north of Monahans that is due west of the state park's campground. I chose that one upon which to base this analysis. Here are the stats on that tower according to Antennasearch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pIcJ2cVnXFxJ8-pNpMFCBzpan2or_9V4Ii0OcxN8ECdmUQyqlyQqTaMb9bU90s-3idBS8HsxaYTwSiCp8jrDuCN0lr33vfLcVkW-XsLvpUonX9gL7RlCoXP73GmdEPcj1t-0inAUeGg/s1600/tower_charact.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="786" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pIcJ2cVnXFxJ8-pNpMFCBzpan2or_9V4Ii0OcxN8ECdmUQyqlyQqTaMb9bU90s-3idBS8HsxaYTwSiCp8jrDuCN0lr33vfLcVkW-XsLvpUonX9gL7RlCoXP73GmdEPcj1t-0inAUeGg/s400/tower_charact.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This is where Hillmap comes in. <a href="http://blog.hillmap.com/2011/11/about-hillmap-and-how-to-use-it.html"><b>This blog post</b></a> by the site's creators describes how to use Hillmap, but I didn't find any reference to the source data, and that's important, as we shall see below.<br />
<br />
Here's a close-up of that tower's location on Antennasearch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRlMFpq5Nyn4uiQmY3gjkTgoHCBdPtGEDpd5aO9Tx8tI04UN3Z9hwD_9fgYLWf1B7_W2GdLIyLyvsbABoSZ4s-jVfhxC1Ws9nAo8_gYvNGbu6fr-o-TRysF-ORkKUIvceS2oMQI0CLsvH/s1600/tower-monahans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="895" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRlMFpq5Nyn4uiQmY3gjkTgoHCBdPtGEDpd5aO9Tx8tI04UN3Z9hwD_9fgYLWf1B7_W2GdLIyLyvsbABoSZ4s-jVfhxC1Ws9nAo8_gYvNGbu6fr-o-TRysF-ORkKUIvceS2oMQI0CLsvH/s400/tower-monahans.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's the same close-up on Hillmap.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrglG-diA_43IA3cW1nwBsBgtUXWjWzArRD9wK7RfcxQKB6GKIvBj2KDqs0iAPcCHa-ClSiIpda-jOBLIHMIUEqbOPxPHIZ68msj1_q4zMX_k9d1_tCLGGRVrh3xvxdlTn2SA1cu4d8hyphenhyphen/s1600/tower-hillmap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="714" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrglG-diA_43IA3cW1nwBsBgtUXWjWzArRD9wK7RfcxQKB6GKIvBj2KDqs0iAPcCHa-ClSiIpda-jOBLIHMIUEqbOPxPHIZ68msj1_q4zMX_k9d1_tCLGGRVrh3xvxdlTn2SA1cu4d8hyphenhyphen/s400/tower-hillmap.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue line is tracing eastward toward the camp site.<br />
For those of you not familiar with Texas, all those squares are drill sites. This area is within the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian_Basin_(North_America)"><b>Permian Basin</b></a>, an incredibly productive oil and gas reservoir. </td></tr>
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You can see from those two images above that I'm clearly assessing the same feature via Hillmap as I'm viewing on Antennasearch.<br />
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Now, here's a summary of the resulting topographic profile between this particular tower and the referenced camp site (map and resulting topographic profile produced by Hillmap, as annotated by me):<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnADngm4rqKAw0pB3qLg2AZeF-ZJIdF76mu-XOsAdisMI5LWqSP2LGEhGsI1aUZxTQltdMx4u4n4VpRuapxCJf2cmGg8FIjKGeJs_vw8q0KOr0Ra7fM8GZD8orCOrmxbP618TcE_pemSDC/s1600/damned_data2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1008" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnADngm4rqKAw0pB3qLg2AZeF-ZJIdF76mu-XOsAdisMI5LWqSP2LGEhGsI1aUZxTQltdMx4u4n4VpRuapxCJf2cmGg8FIjKGeJs_vw8q0KOr0Ra7fM8GZD8orCOrmxbP618TcE_pemSDC/s400/damned_data2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap this image to expand for clarity. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Obviously we have major database problems here. Just for starters, the two websites are in significant disagreement regarding the elevation of the land surface upon which the referenced tower was constructed. That part of it should not be rocket science, but I can't determine the source of the discrepancy from the information that is readily available. I will note that the tower in question was reportedly constructed in 1992. That predated the commercial availability of high-quality GPS services, and maybe the available elevation data were much poorer back then - I don't know.<br />
<br />
Hillmap was designed primarily as a backcountry hiking reference. High degrees of accuracy are not necessarily needed for the fulfillment of their mission. Again, I didn't find a statement regarding the source of their baseline elevation data.<br />
<br />
I do realize that I've predicated this assessment on one tower that I wasn't able to confirm in the field as my actual source tower. There are other factors that can influence line of sight, such as, the position on the tower of the cellular equipment. The higher up a tower, the more expensive the placement. Just because a tower is stated as 2,972 feet tall does not mean that the equipment itself has been placed on or near that height. My carrier is the cellular giant Verizon, though, and I would expect their equipment to be commanding premium spots on towers.<br />
<br />
Lastly, it's important to incorporate ground truth into any assessment such as this. The ground truth in this case suggests that there is not necessarily sufficient resolution in the Hillmap database to accurately reflect fine-scale reality. Here's a view to the west with my rig visible at intermediate range - in other words, looking generally in the direction of the referenced tower. The highly-localized topography suggests that the rig may indeed fail where line of sight is concerned - there's a large sand hill to the west of it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvRpEnGsW58L2bTOWvgYqGWEPlLXfeBlwwwkrrwEB5JrPPV2Z9Ne-eiOtCaLQi3LYpqe344GktgKz2_i5p4i0kyB26OsDiHWW4zfJFmnflct0PsDjVQa2p40nGoS9_NT-8JzxyRZEblwn/s1600/1-DSC_0988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvRpEnGsW58L2bTOWvgYqGWEPlLXfeBlwwwkrrwEB5JrPPV2Z9Ne-eiOtCaLQi3LYpqe344GktgKz2_i5p4i0kyB26OsDiHWW4zfJFmnflct0PsDjVQa2p40nGoS9_NT-8JzxyRZEblwn/s400/1-DSC_0988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camp sites are at the bottom of a sandy bowl. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I picked this location for this blog analysis because the distinction between cell-bogged and cell-enabled was so clear. All I needed to do to get good reception was trudge up to the top of the sand dune from which this photo was taken. At that point, I was clearly line-of-sight.<br />
<br />
In sooth, we need better data than what I've shown here if we are to do this type of analysis with accuracy sufficient to justify purchase decisions (which antenna, which mast, etc.). If anyone has any source material suggestions or procedures that are superior to what I've presented here, please email me via interstate.blog -at- gmail. Thanks, and I will update this post in the future if I identify better evaluation methods.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CcBkUjBzu23taqvVY8IcKMFm74qicyJoW-lSrma04Tf3XYJmWvqP2LYE1JK8_M84v9gJqjGzzmcftH9YOEMEeQqblscsSbeSUowTEOI0fc04qAtDGjYugiHsfZX7SnPYj5nCCPsUiIFn/s1600/1-DSC_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1024" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CcBkUjBzu23taqvVY8IcKMFm74qicyJoW-lSrma04Tf3XYJmWvqP2LYE1JK8_M84v9gJqjGzzmcftH9YOEMEeQqblscsSbeSUowTEOI0fc04qAtDGjYugiHsfZX7SnPYj5nCCPsUiIFn/s400/1-DSC_0076.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My non-sand-bogged pooch enjoying the Monahans dunes at sunset. </td></tr>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-26458805545897366642018-02-04T18:12:00.000-08:002018-02-05T13:02:04.139-08:00LITHIUM BATTERY UPGRADE, PART 2: AC SYSTEMI will write these next three posts using the plainest language that I can muster. My purpose here is to introduce readers to the components of our lithium system, and to how they work together, in a manner that non-technical people can understand. Most people who want lithium battery systems in their RV or van are not engineers. They don't necessarily need to learn enough to become system designers, but they should learn the principles behind the systems. After all, lives are depending on proper system design.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDwzwvv76DNIV-QqStYRchoB6N0AVKfB5M5s23HfUKLhr9lUDGOucBmLEgu0jckhDjaC2g1qkwaSxoNKo_GxQ3DKJGngxDy8DUx0wbhXDTbxXenAawQUnSTIGwOls2rLQc9D3QnkWxD5r/s1600/ALBERT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDwzwvv76DNIV-QqStYRchoB6N0AVKfB5M5s23HfUKLhr9lUDGOucBmLEgu0jckhDjaC2g1qkwaSxoNKo_GxQ3DKJGngxDy8DUx0wbhXDTbxXenAawQUnSTIGwOls2rLQc9D3QnkWxD5r/s400/ALBERT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">^^ What HE said.<br />
This quote is attributed to him. The actual owner is uncertain.</td></tr>
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<div>
If you really want to understand any van or RV electrical system, the best way to go about it is to break it down into the smallest possible pieces, and learn each one.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFaWEgu0X7HzPDtKnrhwGByKKS6KM6-FSajKz28rda7wtTLVRkzF_x0eZcnhalQVkjmJCBmLH4USlfOejJn2eRRgVon1bnLAcW36RWWhaKgOo2eVx34PFsNHEarzzr5uO9JLIZnAy0aGT/s1600/FEYNMAN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1200" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFaWEgu0X7HzPDtKnrhwGByKKS6KM6-FSajKz28rda7wtTLVRkzF_x0eZcnhalQVkjmJCBmLH4USlfOejJn2eRRgVon1bnLAcW36RWWhaKgOo2eVx34PFsNHEarzzr5uO9JLIZnAy0aGT/s400/FEYNMAN.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Feynman sorta took the original Einstein-attributed construct and, well, he Feynman-ized it. </td></tr>
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<div>
It's important to note, however, that there are no freebies with this process. If you don't have a background in electrical design but you really want to learn a few things about this stuff anyway, be prepared to study hard. It's time-consuming because it's not enough to simply gaze at this information passively. You have to manipulate it in your head and visualize yourself applying it, or at least watching it in action. You'll have to walk yourself through our design diagrams (I stop short of calling them schematics) repeatedly in order to solidify your understanding of this kind of system. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeV6ajH01G6_-dXEkPGPwFUHhJSpPVIVkQ1vzZVVshBnWb-VGHky_cZXpdcN4NCYORzFoBn-xU5XMuwy64y3jqTBDhGAC9kwtWH8CSUab6p_wM-sy5G-VZiQSHlZ39KOeE0waIDaU9SWv/s1600/perspiration.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="545" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeV6ajH01G6_-dXEkPGPwFUHhJSpPVIVkQ1vzZVVshBnWb-VGHky_cZXpdcN4NCYORzFoBn-xU5XMuwy64y3jqTBDhGAC9kwtWH8CSUab6p_wM-sy5G-VZiQSHlZ39KOeE0waIDaU9SWv/s400/perspiration.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As is genius, so is learning generally. Especially when it comes to challenging content like this. </td></tr>
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<div>
The first thing we need to do is review the meanings of some words that are used to describe electrical systems. This is not necessarily the best place to ask <i><b>"Why?"</b></i> These are definitions that just need to be accepted as-is. I'll try to minimize the extent to which these are needed, but they may come in handy before this post series is through. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc7nRrLywUVic3asebUqJccJzLarXrb-UbqwcYWbhS8KY5bD8PmCi6XLu-Y28LE2iojn_i48zHi50KSefCzOwWoQJiKXyJTC6b659Kn7YVrgkiJI0WsUgUUwKiJ90SSR6P9NUFlELkCx2/s1600/arvw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="854" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc7nRrLywUVic3asebUqJccJzLarXrb-UbqwcYWbhS8KY5bD8PmCi6XLu-Y28LE2iojn_i48zHi50KSefCzOwWoQJiKXyJTC6b659Kn7YVrgkiJI0WsUgUUwKiJ90SSR6P9NUFlELkCx2/s400/arvw.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plumbing analogy can be helpful because electricity cannot generally be "seen" but at the same time, it needs to be visualized. People are generally familiar with how water moves through pipes or hoses, so this serves as a comparison of sorts. </td></tr>
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<div>
Three of those units in that table above relate to each other in a very specific defined way, as this diagram shows: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyTBoJk19yifCqa2k4YBZqQN72jn6mMSAjkmke82XgmpTOivJqKnFqu1Sh0VshpFAmz2JDui-zisNDkIKd55rVJOdeJ1KBP3Qw4wD1uJ-bRl7wLIftKmQRcWHN9Ec1iSYQhSQgMGdJLeJ/s1600/wva_triangle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="419" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyTBoJk19yifCqa2k4YBZqQN72jn6mMSAjkmke82XgmpTOivJqKnFqu1Sh0VshpFAmz2JDui-zisNDkIKd55rVJOdeJ1KBP3Qw4wD1uJ-bRl7wLIftKmQRcWHN9Ec1iSYQhSQgMGdJLeJ/s400/wva_triangle.JPG" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The common instruction is to cover the third of the triangle that you are intending to derive, and then either multiply or divide based on the spatial relationship of the other two thirds. </td></tr>
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<div>
When describing the flow of electricity through a wire or certain devices, this handy diagram is often invoked:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bezwF8ak_6OvPPV1YBvbAmXlEDnsW_j281-9HwhBfhMEJALkDZiPl3dw5cJZxD3g9PWqVeXUC7pG8JlmwJ5YSdG3ADFar_w_vGPFatanPpb_36kDBtWBZ9OPGACcimtsAvYRF_86UICc/s1600/pipe_resistance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="460" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bezwF8ak_6OvPPV1YBvbAmXlEDnsW_j281-9HwhBfhMEJALkDZiPl3dw5cJZxD3g9PWqVeXUC7pG8JlmwJ5YSdG3ADFar_w_vGPFatanPpb_36kDBtWBZ9OPGACcimtsAvYRF_86UICc/s400/pipe_resistance.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Now that the internet has barfed up this wealth of handy electrical references, here's our basic simplified AC diagram below.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4EU4HHJK_4TfJ3GFM6_lnq-YhNeUI-JlAtZhMBKkiQXQ7M2JG7cpoPlmCIlistbDbRHp0jt_FHvY7Ue7-bAhbCxtxcB0nzLe_fr8jqgSk94RfU0WObDn8nBXmB5Jo9Z5LeBp36_ow9dF/s1600/20180204_AC_DIAGRAM7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4EU4HHJK_4TfJ3GFM6_lnq-YhNeUI-JlAtZhMBKkiQXQ7M2JG7cpoPlmCIlistbDbRHp0jt_FHvY7Ue7-bAhbCxtxcB0nzLe_fr8jqgSk94RfU0WObDn8nBXmB5Jo9Z5LeBp36_ow9dF/s400/20180204_AC_DIAGRAM7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap or click to expand for clarity.<br />
Blogger downsamples embedded images.</td></tr>
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I'll generally describe each of the diagram's numerically-superscripted components in terms of:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(a) what the component is (with links, or, where specific models have been discontinued, I linked to the closest-available substitute), </div>
<div>
(b) how it gets the electricity that it receives, </div>
<div>
(c) what it does with that electricity, and </div>
<div>
(d) why. </div>
<div>
<br />
I've also set up this narrative to follow the general electrical flow from points of origin to the points where it is expended by doing work in a specific way. Remember - if this material is unfamiliar to you, then it might help to return repeatedly to the analogy of water flowing through an interconnected series of devices and pipes. </div>
<div>
<br />
<b>1. Shore Power</b> – Our van was wired by<b> <a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/" target="_blank">Airstream </a></b>to receive 30 amp AC electrical service (larger RVs with more extensive electrical loads are usually designed around 50 amp service). This is the electrical supply that is commonly referred to in the vernacular as “shore power”, a phrase borrowed from the boating industry. It is obtained by connecting a heavy power cord from an electrical outlet (often mounted on a low pedestal in campgrounds) to the plug-in connector on the outside of the rig.<br />
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<b>2. Surge Suppressor </b>- Some shore power sources supply voltage that is not held steady at 120V, which is normal household supply. Voltage spikes and brown-outs can occur due to electrical storms, overloaded campgrounds, and problems with the grid where the electricity is originating. Allowing electrical fluctuations into a van or RV can cause serious damage to the internal components and appliances. We installed an integrated surge suppressor (<a href="http://www.adventurerv.net/permanent-surge-guard-120v-hardwire-amp-34520-p-2761.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA-9rTBRBNEiwAt0Znw-EdQWCKLQ21BfQDyiRvt6Xw8KihszGEDrq2T8ag64zKkKvPbCC_TxoCfIwQAvD_BwE&utm_campaign=partsfeed_ppc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Froogle" target="_blank"><b>Surge Guard Model 34520</b></a>) to protect against these events. This device is mounted on an interior wall under the street-side rear couch.<br />
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<b>3. Generator</b> - Our Airstream Interstate camper van was delivered with an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cummins-Onan-2-5HGJBB-1121-Vapor-Generator/dp/B00JVQLX00/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HZA6M39W3DRPK06X9TX1" target="_blank"><b>Onan Microlite 2800</b> </a>series propane generator installed. Much like shore power, this device supplies 120V AC when it is running. We were not the first owners of this vehicle, and we didn’t choose to have this generator. We would not have ordered it given the limited ways in which it can be used - it is too noisy, plus our van's propane tank is not large enough to run it for long periods. But given that it was functioning well and had low run-time hours on it, we decided to keep it as an active component of the electrical system for now.<br />
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<b>4. Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)</b> – This device (a <a href="http://www.parallaxpower.com/ats301-transfer-switch-ats301" target="_blank"><b>Parallax ATS301</b></a> switch) contains a toggle style of mechanical component called a relay that makes the choice to accept AC from either the generator or shore power, with priority given to the generator. If an ATS were not present, then accidentally connecting shore power and turning on the generator at the same time would result in the combining of two out-of-phase AC voltages. Each independent source would contribute 120V and, depending on how they alternated, they could double up to create a 240V difference between the shore source and the generator, and damage to the system would occur from the resulting rush of current.<br />
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Components 5 and 6 are first discussed separately and then in terms of how they share the incoming AC from the switch-selected source (either the generator or shore power).<br />
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<b>5. Lithium Charger</b> – This <b><a href="https://www.progressivedyn.com/specialty/inteli-power-pd9100l-series/" target="_blank">Progressive Dynamics Inteli-Power PD9100L Series</a> </b>unit accepts 120V AC and converts it to 14.6V DC with a maximum output current of 60A (14.6V DC is the voltage at which the lithium battery charges most efficiently). This process will be discussed in the future <b>Charging / Inverter System</b> blog post.<br />
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<b>6. Inverter </b>– The model we chose is the <a href="http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/power-inverters/freedom-xi.aspx" target="_blank"><b>Xantrex Freedom Xi 2000W</b></a> unit. An inverter is an device that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) – in other words, it does the opposite of what an electrical converter or charger does. That being the case, you would be justified in your curiosity if you wondered why a source that was supplying AC to start with (shore or generator) would need to be routed through an inverter before it could ultimately be sent on to do its job in powering certain downstream AC appliances. The answer is that the inverter is essentially serving as a “pass-through” device in this scenario. It contains its own embedded ATS that chooses between issuing AC from one of those two upstream external supplies, versus issuing AC from its own self, via inversion from battery supply. Priority is obviously given to the external supply, because it would make no sense to invert power from the battery if shore or generator current is available. If the Inverter didn’t have an internal ATS built in, an external transfer switch would be needed to safely connect it to the AC supply system.<br />
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If you look at Diagram 2 of 4 above, you can see a bifurcation issuing from component 4, the ATS. So how does the incoming current “know” to split itself between the Lithium Charger and the Inverter? As they are wired in parallel, they both get equal priority, similar to multiple electrical outlets on the same circuit in your home. In our van scenario, there is a maximum of 30A available on the circuit to be shared by the two appliances. In a scenario in which the Lithium Charger draws 9A AC (the maximum it can accept) to convert to 60A DC for battery charging purposes, a remainder of 21A is then available to feed through the Inverter to the appliance(s) that are activated. In some scenarios, charging may need to be disabled in order for higher-consuming appliances to be run. More detail on this process will be given in the post that discusses the <b>Charging / Inverter System</b>.<br />
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<b>7. Circuit Breakers</b> – The 30A and 20A circuit breakers act as safety mechanisms that prevent excess current from accidentally routing to any of the appliances that are either hard-wired or plugged into the AC outlets. Most appliances have their own internal circuit protection, so the circuit breakers are primarily designed to protect the wiring from shorts and overheating. As described above, the Inverter passes through shore power which feeds into the 30A circuit breaker first. That limits maximum downstream loads on all circuits to a total of 30A (if more is added, the breaker will trip). From the 30A breaker, the current proceeds to three 20A circuit breakers across which the appliance loads are distributed.<br />
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A ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) is a device that shuts off an electric power circuit when it detects that current is flowing along an unintended path, such as through water or a person to ground. Some RV configurations, including our Airstream Interstate, had electrical systems designed to include GFCI-enabled circuit breakers, if those breakers delivered electricity to AC outlets in potentially wet areas. In certain circumstances, an electrical inverter could interfere with the operation of GFCI breakers because of issues involving the configuration of ground and neutral wires (some technical detail is omitted here for brevity; this <a href="http://maze.airstreamlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Xantrex-inverter-GFCI-Tech_Note_018.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Xantrex Technical Note</b></a> (PDF) provides discussion). In lieu of maintaining the original GFCI breakers, we opted for individual GFCI outlets as described below.<br />
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<b>8. AC Outlets</b> – Our rig contains five AC outlets that were wired by Airstream (galley kitchen, bottom of the street-side overhead cabinet, refrigerator alcove, microwave cabinet, and curbside exterior van body). When AC is being supplied, these work like regular household electrical outlets, with the caveat being that they are collectively limited to a maximum of 30A, as that limitation is imposed by the 30A circuit breaker. If GFCI circuit breakers are not being used for the reason described above, GFCI outlets are advised.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2R9l9891IHo0k3ZrHGsNtNdoxQjaQFqOJ_pgT5AsKXz6uWXKKRGAE9QBIDQ9acOAw0DoFBFjY_26zIdh5jhhViGZqppTCkHyswvPeho63dCsBKQ-Ya0qRvhFn3OMyJd86jmzLaeqwE1W/s1600/1-gfci.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2R9l9891IHo0k3ZrHGsNtNdoxQjaQFqOJ_pgT5AsKXz6uWXKKRGAE9QBIDQ9acOAw0DoFBFjY_26zIdh5jhhViGZqppTCkHyswvPeho63dCsBKQ-Ya0qRvhFn3OMyJd86jmzLaeqwE1W/s400/1-gfci.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this one, which we added above our galley kitchen. </td></tr>
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<b>9. Priority Switch</b> – An <b><a href="https://www.intellitec.com/index.php/products/Energy_Management/Smart_energy_management_systems/Automatic_energy_select_switch" target="_blank">Intellitec automatic energy select switch</a> </b>is installed because the available current is insufficient to run both the roof A/C and the microwave oven simultaneously. The roof A/C (described below) requires approximately 13A to run, and the microwave needs 8.3A. Both appliances also require start-up surges of greater current, so their total instantaneous demand can be far in excess of the 21.3A that results from simply adding their continuous current values. Out of necessity, it is an either-or scenario when it comes to running them. If we need to run our microwave, we switch off our roof A/C momentarily (the microwave and the A/C share a single 20A circuit breaker). <br />
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<b>10. Microwave</b> – Our van came with a <b><a href="http://67.238.126.140/pdf/OS2215%20CntrTop%20MW_Low[1].pdf" target="_blank">Dometic CDMW07</a> </b>(PDF) series microwave oven which nominally requires 1,000W of power to operate (8.3A). Some people question why anyone would need a microwave in an off-grid van, and our answer is because it reduces propane consumption by the hot water heater, saves fresh water, and conserves gray water tank space, all because of the extra dishes that we don’t have to wash (throw some tamales on a paper plate and pop them in that microwave and voila – no clean-up).<br />
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<b>11. Roof A/C</b> – A <b><a href="https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/products/climate/air-conditioners/air-conditioners-for-rvs" target="_blank">Dometic DuoTherm 11,000 BTU coach A/C unit</a> </b>(no longer manufactured) was installed by Airstream in our van’s roof. The manufacturer represents that this A/C requires 13A of current to operate (3.5A for the fan and 9.5A for the compressor).<br />
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<b>12. Soft Starter</b> – We installed an electronic device called a <a href="https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters/products/easystart-364-3-ton-single-phase-soft-starter-for-air-conditioners?variant=30176048267" target="_blank"><b>MicroAir EasyStart 364</b></a> into the body of the Dometic roof A/C for the purposes of modulating the amperage demands that are imposed on our electrical system. Without a device of this type, starting the high-demand A/C would overwhelm the Inverter, exceeding what it is able to supply while it is drawing from the lithium battery, and shutting down the operation of the A/C as a result. The Inverter is capable of providing power up to 2,000W (16.7A) continuously and up to 3,000W (25A) briefly, but the A/C start-up demands a surge that is greater and for a longer duration than the Inverter can accommodate. The soft starter contains electronic components that essentially start the A/C compressor motor more slowly to prevent this kind of shut-down. With the soft starter integrated into the system, our lithium battery can power our roof A/C for about 2 hours before becoming overly depleted. <br />
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If you have questions on this section, please contact me via interstate.blog at gmail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzaOE4OO7_aWQGVCDRSX_H_WwyaFan_ex-Z6_uqbqTZIlNNW8G4gRyM-3WXjVGSybji23cat4tisBQrPWuG3NO9plmf7I2mFk3sA528tes9k-C7xf4kq2luv_Mh46Cr2RfIgQELClipF_/s1600/watt-meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="512" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzaOE4OO7_aWQGVCDRSX_H_WwyaFan_ex-Z6_uqbqTZIlNNW8G4gRyM-3WXjVGSybji23cat4tisBQrPWuG3NO9plmf7I2mFk3sA528tes9k-C7xf4kq2luv_Mh46Cr2RfIgQELClipF_/s400/watt-meme.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to have at least one dumb meme in here...</td></tr>
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Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-730548631103496865.post-54251731070393095962018-01-28T15:05:00.000-08:002018-02-07T06:49:41.863-08:00LITHIUM BATTERY UPGRADE, PART 1: GENERAL OVERVIEWOver the next four posts, I'm going to present consolidated details regarding the DIY lithium battery system that we installed in our 2007 <b><a href="https://www.airstream.com/touring-coaches/grand-tour-ext/" target="_blank">Airstream Interstate</a> </b>Class B van. I've previously touched on some of the peripheral details in previous posts including the following:<br />
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(1)<b> <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/lithium-battery-cabinet-mod-on.html" target="_blank">This post</a> </b>described some of the required lower cabinetry modification, and<br />
(2) <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/expanding-overhead-cabinet-on-airstream.html" target="_blank"><b>This post</b></a> described upper cabinetry expansion, which was done in part to accommodate the new electrical control panel.<br />
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I've also interspersed anecdotal progress reports through various trip descriptions, but I've never pulled together any comprehensive description of the entire system in terms of either its components or its operation.<br />
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There's a reason for that - it's an enormous job to describe an incredibly intricate, one-of-a-kind long-term project. As of this blog post, the chatter on the project's corresponding Air Forums thread, which my husband named <b>"<a href="http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240/my-interstate-lithium-battery-adventures-151809.html" target="_blank">My Interstate Lithium Battery Adventures</a>" </b>stretches from its inception in June of 2016 though November of 2017 and includes over 450 comments, LOL.<br />
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The enormity of the job raises questions in the minds of people who are less familiar with lithium systems, mainly, why even do it? Why go to all this kind of trouble and expense in the first place?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiInDIhndHVNUhuXanDBa77yM535n81h3jYh_eVsBASNneedMR23tXzMZWISFwHLelAgEZK0sFnkOdpsaKqYMCJVglSiyWh2_YrZrnjEVY2s2UT97nbaIeWIiZn0bNQLXaljQ9piRaS4/s1600/MAP_HOU_CB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1539" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UiInDIhndHVNUhuXanDBa77yM535n81h3jYh_eVsBASNneedMR23tXzMZWISFwHLelAgEZK0sFnkOdpsaKqYMCJVglSiyWh2_YrZrnjEVY2s2UT97nbaIeWIiZn0bNQLXaljQ9piRaS4/s400/MAP_HOU_CB.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Route map from my September 2047 blog post titled "<b><a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/top-ten-lessons-from-off-grid-month-on.html" target="_blank">Top ten lessons from an off-grid month on the road</a>"</b>. We didn't hook up to campground utilities during any of that time because we no longer have a need. </td></tr>
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^^ That's why. Because conventional RVs and camper vans were not designed with a "go anywhere" mentality. They have limited battery capacity and their design assumes that the owners will be staying in full-service campgrounds every night during their travels. That is an out-moded assumption that doesn't fit our chosen lifestyle and in our view, it rather negates the whole purpose of having a camper van in the first place. An upgrade to a lithium-based electrical system can make pretty much every off-grid difficulty disappear, as it has in our case.<br />
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Anyway, first, a few necessary disclaimers. <b> <a href="http://interstateblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/big-fat-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">Our general disclaimer applies</a></b> - if you work on your van or RV without knowing what you are doing, you could get yourself killed -- and that is especially true when working with a dangerous commodity such as lithium battery cells, which can cause electrical fires if not managed safely.<br />
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In terms of a more specific disclaimer, if you imagine that this blog post series will teach you how to engineer a lithium battery system, here's what I have to say to that:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdFZ53pvUK9sK8X_h-wE4Sm0wL16EoLo7vHKwWSnWqiRJ-I7xBQu-ROHZPdlsZJtrodER3k9dfQCWnHWJF3yqehpcSpn9Xc3A6OjDcqTB6YlyM0PIt2O8nj5LKmm3kgDZKudllO6nv8lo/s1600/nope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdFZ53pvUK9sK8X_h-wE4Sm0wL16EoLo7vHKwWSnWqiRJ-I7xBQu-ROHZPdlsZJtrodER3k9dfQCWnHWJF3yqehpcSpn9Xc3A6OjDcqTB6YlyM0PIt2O8nj5LKmm3kgDZKudllO6nv8lo/s400/nope.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In other words, a big fat <b>NO</b>. <br />
Don't even think about it.</td></tr>
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This series is for general information only, in order to give you a qualitative feel for how such a system can be designed and implemented in the context of a van. There are approximately one million technical details that will <u style="font-weight: bold;">not</u> be included in this write-up for reasons of sheer practicality - if I tried to describe every wire and connector specification, for instance, I'd be sitting here writing for the next six years.<br />
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Rather, my point is to tell you <i><b>how </b></i>we did it, moreso than the nitty gritty of <b><i>what </i></b>we did. Vans are tricky - the amount of space available for any given upgrade is extremely limited. I can't tell you how many times I've seen an aftermarket lithium job presented on social media only to think to myself <i><b>"Congratulations owners - you now have extended boondocking capability courtesy of the lithium system which, by the way, happens to have consumed every cubic inch of space that you otherwise would have had for storing your boondocking supplies, duh."</b></i><br />
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But of course there's a good reason why even the best aftermarket installers tend to gobble up available storage space indiscriminately - it happens because the alternative is to have the labor costs mushroom out of control. Every electrical component that has to be custom-fit to a van crevice here or there is going to require re-wiring, extra cabinetry work, etc. So the installers tend to take the path of least resistance, which then causes secondary logistical problems for van owners.<br />
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My husband and I got around that problem by taking our time and meticulously splicing every electrical component into its own hand-picked individual void space, all of which were existing and not otherwise earmarked for other purposes. We probably expended at least five times the average installation labor in the process. But hey, it's DIY, so the only thing we spent was time, and it's a hobby, so we don't consider that to be a loss.<br />
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This first of the four posts presents the consolidated general lay-out that we achieved. The three posts that will follow (and I'll back-link them here after publication) will break down the process to describe the construction of the AC System, the Charging/Inverter System, and the DC System respectively.<br />
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First, a brief review of where we started oh-so long ago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sS6qSGsiqaJVnV3KCWd23zIaVlQvfWT5ZTMISrUeVJ0jSgtkry7zyr4qaHNkno0056IUOzxsvZp5Yu9tAthBRb6adwuJ9-6MANBvvZg7EeN81EmbS1ldWZ_Yx3OPynVk6j9F3Q5M2JMH/s1600/20161009_CLOSET_BEFORE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1155" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sS6qSGsiqaJVnV3KCWd23zIaVlQvfWT5ZTMISrUeVJ0jSgtkry7zyr4qaHNkno0056IUOzxsvZp5Yu9tAthBRb6adwuJ9-6MANBvvZg7EeN81EmbS1ldWZ_Yx3OPynVk6j9F3Q5M2JMH/s400/20161009_CLOSET_BEFORE.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gross.</td></tr>
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That image above shows a view looking down into the van's closet beneath its raised floor, which was removed for the photo. The area essentially began its life as a dog's breakfast of tangled wires and water lines as they were installed by Airstream - ugh, nothing creeps me out quite like mixing live electrical wires and questionably-constructed water lines in close proximity in a confined space.<br />
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Despite the obvious mess, this area proved to be a gold mine of recoverable space, because we realized that the two bulkiest components of a lithium system (the cells themselves and the electrical inverter) could be made to fit here without triggering exterior cabinetry modifications. The battery cells could be regrouped and re-strapped into an assemblage that would conform to this shape, and the inverter plus certain associated components could be installed on a shelf suspended immediately above the lithium cells.<br />
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Furthermore, because we were working under a closet and adjacent to the street-side overhead cabinetry bulkhead, we realized that we could run all wires under the couch, to the top of the closet, and through to the bulkhead beside the closet without needing to add any external cabinetry elements. The spaces were contiguous in other words.<br />
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Here is what the resulting lay-out looked like, after hundreds of hours of research and work:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm6-UyWEz41_LQhq5w8uGUPrOX4r2xowlxc_8haif3aOyuuGcRczUxGnUXTq28Wjgi0A1H2PcsSLXKj_pLUe5y2-QXuwCJ-AJSPtawuopCz8lFw03rERMC2P8SG-T5SDhOAE_jlf-3RMd/s1600/20180204_FIG-1_LAYOUT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm6-UyWEz41_LQhq5w8uGUPrOX4r2xowlxc_8haif3aOyuuGcRczUxGnUXTq28Wjgi0A1H2PcsSLXKj_pLUe5y2-QXuwCJ-AJSPtawuopCz8lFw03rERMC2P8SG-T5SDhOAE_jlf-3RMd/s400/20180204_FIG-1_LAYOUT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap to expand for clarity, as Blogger still downsamples embedded images.<br />Diagram updated 20180207.</td></tr>
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For those of you reading this on small devices, here is an enlargement of just the lower left portion which shows the general view inside the cabinetry and below the couch:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RCuJF818NwPkXDsuouK10TQbvVnOMfeVj3HCw7jqNe7g-h62-HRPz3dT7Ywxo607EHVvLz88LqdfJ0bcumXb3LPwKkgiYdb4YzalFATQXzzY6tKybW1D5NjO1NO9mvwZjiyVnsMG4PyN/s1600/20180204_FIG-1_LAYOUT_CLOSE_v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1519" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RCuJF818NwPkXDsuouK10TQbvVnOMfeVj3HCw7jqNe7g-h62-HRPz3dT7Ywxo607EHVvLz88LqdfJ0bcumXb3LPwKkgiYdb4YzalFATQXzzY6tKybW1D5NjO1NO9mvwZjiyVnsMG4PyN/s400/20180204_FIG-1_LAYOUT_CLOSE_v3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tap image to expand for clarity.<br />Diagram updated 20180207.</td></tr>
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Now that you've put eyeballs on this much, and have hopefully gotten a general feel for the components and the lay-out, the wiring diagrams to follow in the next series of posts should begin to make sense conceptually. Stay tuned, because some of the corresponding narrative is complex, and it is taking me quite a bit of time to translate it into layman's terms, even if I am cutting necessary corners for brevity.<br />
<br />Interstate Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11844343433713474443noreply@blogger.com1