Bruza's Touring GQ & DIY's

[Bruza]

Thought I would start off showing the storage system I built, As it is the single biggest project (in time) I've done on the wagon.

I looked at buying an 'off the shelf ' storage, but none were what I really wanted. I could never understand why they put the fridge on top of the draws, for an example. The missus and I are not vertically challenged, and the wagon has only a 2" lift, sitting on 32's, but I wouldn't want the fridge any higher.

I decided to carry a second spare on my last trip, so I built the case with more structural integrity than I would have otherwise. I.e. 36x10mm bolts were used on brackets, including brackets on the sides joining to the steel second skin. These brackets also double as supports for the side pocket lids. The anchor points are rated 500gk.


http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/03/18.jpg


http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/03/19.jpg


More later.
Cheers.

[Bob]

It looks the goods. How is the ventilation around the Fridge if you running whilst travelling ??

[Bigrig]

Looks great mate!! Same goes - ventilation not an issue?

[AB]

Thats a serious drawer system going on there Bruza!

Looks very professional...

[DX grunt]

Nice set up Bruza.

[Bruza]

Thanks for the comments.

The questions regarding the fridge ventilation is a very good one, and one that concerned me, even before the storage system.
I did want to build with close tolerances, so to overcome the problem I installed a 12 volt fan, it is located adjacent to the compressor fan, and sucks the warm air out through the cavity where your jack would be, which I have sealed from the rest of the side pocket. This area also serves nicely as the electrical compartment. From there the hot air runs to the vent, the void is also sealed from the rest of the space.

I found I had to run the fan through a relay, and thought I would be smart and attach it to the compressor fan wire, therefore only coming on when the compressor runs! Unfortunately it runs all the time that it is plugged in :frown: (Any auto sparkies who would like to chime in here, would be welcome.)
It is not a great problem though as the fan only draws milliamps. Other than that it works a treat.
BTW you will see a wire (my attempt at DIY curly cord) coming from the elec. area to a plug into the fridge, in the above photos.

As they say a picture says a million words:


http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/03/20.jpg

Another shot just past the electrical/fan enclosure:


http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2011/03/21.jpg

[Finly Owner]

very clever DIY

[Clunk]

very nicely thought out mate, great job

[nowoolies]

top out fit mate
now when did you say your starting mine hahahahah

[growler2058]

Good job there mate, very neat

[wildgu6]

Nice work buddy, great little set up you got there, ready for some serious touring. Well done mate.

[frenzy]

nice work mate.

[big_fletch]

Nice pictures mate, good looking setup