Sleepin Around, New Zealand. The Build

[Sheddie]

13 Oct. 2012.

It had rained most of the night and by the next morning the camp site we were on, which was a bit of a hollow, had left us with about two inches of water over the floor in the gazebo. Time for action, as Dale stormed off down to the office and demanded that we move to the original site we had booked a couple of months ago. They decided in the end to let us move. There was a long term resident on the next site and the office said that they may want to spread out. We spoke to them and they were only too happy for us to camp there.

We had camped on that site a few years ago, and knew it would be dry. Then it was all hands and move down the lane. An easy job with a TD as you just push them.

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[Sheddie]

For the continuing story and of the travels with our Teardrop go to http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=61399Trips, Pics and Hiway Tales.

[Sheddie]

Having arrived home from our first trip it is now time to finish off the galley and the headboard cupboards, put the inner liner in the hatch and a few other odds and sods.
I had given up on the idea of trying to fit the BBQ complete with its folding stand attached, in under the galley bench, as it was just going to interfere with the rest of the layout.

So I took it off the frame and it stows against the wall.

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There is usually some sort of table at the camps that we can use.

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We had some more of the metal drawer sides with the runners and rollers, that we got from a local Emporium, only $5.00 per set, elsewhere they are about $20.00 These make it a really easy job as you only need to cut a ply bottom and back the width you want, fit a nice front, put the runners on the walls. For the fronts I used offcuts from the ACL exterior cladding with NZ Kauri timber surround, and fitted magnetic catches to keep them shut.

Dale found these wire baskets in a storage supplies shop and they are ideal to screw up around the walls in the pantry cupboard instead of making shelves. Quick easy and they don't weigh much.

[Sheddie]

Inside I still had the cupboards to do in the top of the headboard. I wanted to put bottom hinged doors on them, but the problem was going to be getting things things caught in the jam. So the way I got around this was to make them up like car glove boxes. They are ideal places for keeping small items, socks, undies, etc.

[Heifer Boy]

Inside I still had the cupboards to do in the top of the headboard. I wanted to put bottom hinged doors on them, but the problem was going to be getting things things caught in the jam. So the way I got around this was to make them up like car glove boxes. They are ideal places for keeping small items, socks, undies, etc.

I like this idea

I've got a few cupboards to build in my Tvan that will be quite shallow and have been wondering how to maximise their usability. This will be a perfect solution. Thanks.

HB

[Sheddie]

Hi HB.
Good to think that this may be of help.
My wife didn't think that they would work, as all she could see was that I was making a small space even smaller.
Now she thinks they are "bloody marvelous" as although the area inside them is slightly smaller it is all usable space.
Frank

[Vedette]

Hi Frank
Great story! Looks like all of your hard work has paid off.
SB Chev might be in the Capri's future???
Hope you enjoy future camping trips with your new toy.
Good roads
Brian & Sandi

[Shadow Catcher]

Thanks for sharing, I am looking forward to more camping trips and pictures of you country.

[capnTelescope]

"Bloody Marvelous," indeed. Great idea on the glove box storage, Frank.

Your travelogue makes me want to travel down there to Middle Earth. Can't wait to see what you did with the Capri.

[Strop]

Like it Frank. Saw the photo before I read the post. Yep - glovebox was exactly what I thought.

[Sheddie]

Hi Frank
Great story! Looks like all of your hard work has paid off.
SB Chev might be in the Capri's future???
Hope you enjoy future camping trips with your new toy.
Good roads
Brian & Sandi

Hi Brian & Sandi, thank you. Yes the work was worth it, and we have really been enjoying using it. It is now just over two years since our first trip, and I did a bit of adding up to find that the TD has now done over 10,000kms.
Re the Chevy in the Capri, I have a 350 in my boat that may come out one day to get replaced by a diesel, but I doubt very much that I would put it in the Capri. This would come under one the category that I mentioned in your Kermit thread. But if you read the thread I have listed under Shadow Catchers quote, below, you will see that the Capri is fighting fit again.

Thanks for sharing, I am looking forward to more camping trips and pictures of you country.

Have a look here.http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=61399 I am slowly working on catching up on our travels.

"Bloody Marvelous," indeed. Great idea on the glove box storage, Frank.

Your travelogue makes me want to travel down there to Middle Earth. Can't wait to see what you did with the Capri.

Thanks Brad, yours is looking pretty good too. Re the Capri, see above.
Thanks Laurie they work well.
Frank

[aggie79]

"Bloody Marvelous," indeed. Great idea on the glove box storage, Frank.

Your travelogue makes me want to travel down there to Middle Earth. Can't wait to see what you did with the Capri.

+1 on both points - first and foremost about the cupboard design and construction and second on the visit to Middle Earth.

[Sheddie]

"Bloody Marvelous," indeed. Great idea on the glove box storage, Frank.

Your travelogue makes me want to travel down there to Middle Earth. Can't wait to see what you did with the Capri.

+1 on both points - first and foremost about the cupboard design and construction and second on the visit to Middle Earth.

May be you could all come and bring your Teardrops. We could have a gathering.
Frank

[Vedette]

Miss Piggy might be able to float across, but the TV might sink!
We do plan to make the trip over within the next two years? (scheduled to go last winter )
But will have to leave the TDs at home and rent one there if we can.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Sheddie]

Miss Piggy might be able to float across, but the TV might sink!
We do plan to make the trip over within the next two years? (scheduled to go last winter )
But will have to leave the TDs at home and rent one there if we can.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

I would have thought that Miss Piggy would fly over, or don't pigs do that in Canada?
As far as the TV is concerned. If Ben Carlin was capable of sailing his old Jeep "Half Safe" across the Atlantic and the Pacific, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carlin I am sure with your skills you could get your Pickup down here no trouble.
Renting a TD in NZ may be a bit of a problem. Two years ago, when we first thought about the TD idea, we looked into the possibility of buying or hiring one, but couldn't find anything. That is why we decided to build our own. There are not many TDs in NZ, and with our small population, commercial production is not very viable. The main option for rental, mobile accommodation is the camper van, ranging from the likes of Toyota Hi Ace, to the Mercedes or Transit etc.
Frank.