c.traveler2 wrote:
Jfet wrote:
Ordered a Norcold N641.3R 3 way 6.3cuft fridge, Atwood Everest Star 7920 II furnace, Atwood 6 gallon gas/electric/DSI water heater, stainless steel range hood, and some hatches and vent covers for those. Will need this stuff to figure out how to frame the walls. Will need other stuff too obviously, but searching for good deals takes time.
Have you thought about using a 12Vdc refrigerator instead of a 3-way?
Since all your stuff is on it's way, it's probably too late, but if you are really setting this up for Boondocking, Propane may be a limiting factor. I have been re-building/modifying my 1966 Avion to suit our families need. We bought it completely empty with a newly rebuilt heavy duty floor. Since we had the opposite problem, (trying to keep weight forward due to a 10ft TC on a 6 3/4 ft truck bed), we focused on moving weight forward, and going to as much 12Vdc as possible to allow Alternator and later solar to keep up the battery(ies).
We went a little different direction in that we moved battery(ies) up to the front wall, mounted a 40 gallon water tank against the front wall. went to a chest style Engle 12Vdc compressor style refrigerator/freezer mounted in the counter. With the touch of a button you can go from refrigerator to full freezer, even flash freeze, and only draw 2.6 amps! This is mounted as far forward as we could. The previous owner has built up the floor on 2x4 floor joists, so We hav so far welded up 1 grey water tank 3"x22"x48". It has a 14 gallon capacity, and is aluminum. We hope to add a second soon. The toilet is an Electra-Magic by Thetford. It has a 3 gallon flushing capacity that is recirculating, and an overall 7 gallon capacity. It will last our family of 6 almost a week, if we are in the boonies. Additionally we can use it in the winter by filling it with windshield washer fluid instead of water. For anyone thinking of using the Electra-Magic, ensure you utilize a formaldehyde based toilet chemical, or you will regret it...
If you have not done your walls yet, and have access to a tubing bender, you might reconsider your shape from a wind and fuel economy stand point. With my 2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 triton gas V-8 and 6 spd manual trans 4x4 with Avion Camper, 6 people and all the gear for us camping (ranging between 10,500 to 11,500 lbs) averaged 14 mpg around the terrain of Alaska, with a low of 9 and a high of 16. All hand calculated and filled to the same point every time. additionally in sever cross and head-winds ( the 9mpg) the truck and camper handled beautifully with minimal counter steering effort, while several other TC owners on the same trip were white-knuckling the wind due to a flatter profile that seemed to catch the wind vice allow the wind to slip-over. I know the the Isuzu's boxy front you won;t get alot of help for mileage, but with so much side surface area, you might want to consider a rounded side transition to the top similar to the one in your picture of the front, but on the side as well, like Avions and Airstreams.
Just a few thoughts... I congratulate you for stepping outside the "norm's". I did it with the Avion, and have recieved great reviews. Just wish I could "finish" it so it is more presentable. But the great thing for now is that it is very functional, not very "pretty" but works great with all the kids and my wife. The whole still laughs about using trash-bags for curtains, and the awful smell we got from the toilet, till we found the correct chems to use.:R
Good Luck, and be open to change. I learned alot as I worked on the Avion from these guys here, and have incorporated many of their ideas into my "work in-progress" Avion.
Good Luck!
Garry in Kodiak, AK
