Oz Hopper - an Australian build

[Westy]

Internal cladding (3mm ply) and the front storage box

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Bulkhead between sleeping area and galley added

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Frame for front window

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[Westy]

Galley with countertop, IKEA Trofast drawers and sliding door cupboard

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Roof framing. I used 90x45mm CCA treated pine ripped to 45x45mm sections

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I used anything I could lay my hands on to support the ceiling whilst the glue dried

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[Westy]

40mm polystyrene foam insulation in the roof space

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The outer skin being installed. It is 6mm marine ply

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I decided to go the PMF route but a bit more heavy duty. I used hessian (burlap) as the covering, glued with Titebond 2.

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[Westy]

I applied 10 coats of paint but still ended up with a textured surface from the hessian. I decided it didn't look too bad and left it that way.

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Loaded onto a trailer to take to an aluminium fabricator for the trim and mudguards. Note the new door profile. I had trouble making a seal for a curved door and decided to "square" it

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Aluminium trim, mudguards installed. Doors finished and sealed, marker lights as per Australian Regulations installed

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[Westy]

Corner trim is complete and almost ready for licensing

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I hope these photos have been of some use.

Thanks for looking

Westy

[rmclarke]

Very nice job, mate...congratulations!

[pchast]

Looks verrry nice with the trim.

[Truant]

HI Westy,
It is looking really good! How far away are you from taking it out camping?
Cheers!

[HarleyCamper]

Looks great!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Westy]

HI Westy,
It is looking really good! How far away are you from taking it out camping?
Cheers!

I hope to get it licensed within the next 2 weeks, then a week or 2 for final fit out (mainly the electrical system) then off to Hamelin Bay for a few days.
Westy

[Flatworm]

Nice!


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[Westy]

Today I took my hopper into the local Licensing Inspection Centre

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All legal and licensed

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Just a bit of dust sealing and other minor jobs and it is ready to go.

Perhaps a trip to Hamelin Bay in the extreme SW of West Australia might be a good place to start. Find it here if you are interested https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.221 ... a=!3m1!1e3

It is a magical place where, every afternoon, stingrays come in close to shore and are hand fed by a local lady. Have a look here http://www.westernaustralia-travellersg ... -rays.html There is a short video on this site that is worth a look.

Cheers
Westy

[Westy]

The time has come to test the Oz Hopper on the road. Since my last post I have been applying the final touches, building a combined battery/Porta Potti box for the front of the trailer and applying some relevant decals. The "Petch" in PetchRV comes from a combination of my first name (Peter) and the start of my surname Ch........
My wife and I leave on Wednesday to visit our daughter who lives in the Australian Capital City of Canberra. We live in Bunbury, West Australia. It will be a shakedown criuse of 7,656 kilometres or 4,757 miles. That should blow out any cobwebs.

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I'm really looking forward to the trip.

Westy

[pchast]

You should have a good trip!