The TARDIS - A Four Wheel Camper Build

[1tonpaulie]

I leave my sleeping bag and an extra blanket up there on my 2010 Grandby

[Overland Hadley]

I leave my sleeping bag and an extra blanket up there on my 2010 Grandby

Thanks.

[Overland Hadley]

Okay, after a couple days of thinking about not much more than propane and camper heaters I have come to a conclusion. I do need a really good heater in the camper, not a cheap little piece, but a solid built in heater.

Thanks for all the advice, here is what I have come up with.

Olympian Wave 3 Heater.
Link
(From Amazon)

Paired with the Ragasco fiberglass propane tank. (Featured in the Summer 2009 Overland Journal)
lpgastanks.com Link (OJ readers get 10% off, as of 2009)

The heater weighs 6 pounds and will be mounted to the back wall of the camper. The tank weighs 7.5 pounds empty and will be stored at the bottom front of the camper, keeping the weight of the fuel low and forward on the rig.


Note: I did have a hard time deciding between the Ragasco tank and an aluminum propane tank. So if anybody has a reason why aluminum would be better please let me know.

Heater decision has been finalized.

Found a sale on the Olympian Wave 3 heater for $99. It turned out to be a typo, but they honored the price.

I am really impressed with the Wave 3. Looks well built, and is more or less lightweight at 6 lbs.

(I will be using a second Wave 3 that I bought as a space heater in my studio. Should get a good feel for its heating capabilities during the 7-8 months of cold weather we have.)

[Hill, Bill E.]

Should get a good feel for its heating capabilities during the 7-8 months of cold weather we have.)

And I think it started today!

[Overland Hadley]

Propane tank question.

Is it a major no-no to have the propane tank stored inside the camper, in the open, e.g. not in a sealed box?

I know it is a big problem in a boat, where the propane will settle in the bilge. And it can be very hard to clear propane from a bilge.

But in the camper, if there was a leak it would drift along the floor and out a couple of small vents I have planned. And the bed is a few feet above the floor.

I am thinking campers and rv's have the sealed propane compartments because of legal issues. Makes sense to me, just do not know if I need to do that in my camper.

I carried a dozen 1 pound tanks under the sleeping platform with out much of a thought. But I do not want to shock people with a propane tank under the sink.

Thoughts on this?

[Overland Hadley]

I was having a hard time sleeping the other night, so I got out the graph paper and put down my ideas for the interior build of the Finch.

I welcome any thoughts, ideas, or questions.


One square = approx. 3"

[Northern Explorer]

Your design looks good. I would find a way to vent the propane to the outside. Also, if you go with a two burner stove you will have a little extra countertop space.

[tnt]

I notice your stove is mostly covered when the bed is extended. We have a 2003 FWC and you can not use the stove while the bed is extended. This bothers some people because an early riser can't get coffee or breakfast going until the second person gets up. No problem if you are traveling solo, though. FWC has since changed their design and switched the locations of the sink and stove.
What is the dotted line labeled "A"?

[Overland Hadley]

Your design looks good. I would find a way to vent the propane to the outside. Also, if you go with a two burner stove you will have a little extra countertop space.

Thanks!

As you know, an outside vented propane tank is an uninsulated space in the camper. It would take up a lot of room to have an insulated and vented area for the tank. I think I am more worried about propane leaks coming from all the fittings on the hob or heater. And while not in use I will turn off the propane at the tank. But it is still something I am mulling over.

I decided to compromise counter top space to have the third burner. Currently, I often wish I had a third burner.

With the SMWV glass top sink and hob there will really not be any countertop space with this design. I am okay with that as the stacked plastic totes will provide an area to put things on, and I am used to working that way. But I might want to redesign. (When the glass tops are closed there will be a large "chart table" like space to work on.)

[Overland Hadley]

I notice your stove is mostly covered when the bed is extended. We have a 2003 FWC and you can not use the stove while the bed is extended. This bothers some people because an early riser can't get coffee or breakfast going until the second person gets up. No problem if you are traveling solo, though. FWC has since changed their design and switched the locations of the sink and stove.
What is the dotted line labeled "A"?

I am trying to keep the weight as far forward in the camper as possible. The major downside is that when the bed is open it will cover the sink and hob. But this design will keep the space in the back of the camper more open, so it will be easier to move around when the bed is open.

I am designing the camper as a one person plus design. The space is so small that it is hard to come up with a design that would be best for two people, yet work good for the solo traveler. All I can figure is a space that works okay for two and is just okay for one. So I am going for a space that is good for one, and okay for two.

The dotted box in the back left is the area for stacking plastic storage totes. The totes will fill the floor space while traveling. Giving storage that will be large in volume, while keeping the COG nice and low.

The unmarked line from A- -B is where a retracting clothes line will be. In addition to being used for drying clothes, it can be used to divide the back section of the camper if the PETT toilet must be used inside the camper.