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Thread: Our Sportscruiser caravan aka....The Chinese take-away

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    Our Sportscruiser caravan aka....The Chinese take-away

    Here are some pics and details of our little 16' Sportscruiser caravan. It tows like a dream and trucks passing by don't affect it at all. These used to get assembled in Australia (they came from china as a flat pack and were built by prisoners in Newcastle but now I believe they are shipped over here as a nearly complete unit. They are then fitted out here in Qld (Maroochydore) with all the appliances being certified to Aus standards.


    The mods started the day it got home, I took out the bed bases so I could access the wiring and then went to town on it. It spent 2 months in the driveway getting modded before it got used...the missus was not happy......

    Spec on the van..
    Sportscruiser 1550 (with foxhunt interior)
    Tare 1840kg
    ATM 2400kg
    Ball weight empty 140kg
    Ball weight (fully loaded) approx 220kg
    Cruisermaster airbag suspension with twin heavy duty shocks (compressor and 8L airtank with quick connect outlet for pumping up tyres)
    DO35v2 coupling with handbrake
    12/240v waeco 140L upright fridge/freezer
    Smev 3 burner gas stove and sink combo
    Shower/toilet combo
    Truma 14L hws
    450W of solar (Enerdrive)
    2 x 120ah agm batteries
    40amp Enerdrive 240v charger
    Redarc 1240bcdc charger/ solar reg
    Approx 250-260L water storage capacity


    Mods so far are..

    Inside..

    Replaced original fuse block with Narva (12 fuse) (still might need to add another 6 fuse block!).
    6 switch panel for lights and heavy duty box over back to protect wiring.
    Blue Courtesy lights just above floor (for night time ambience or loo runs.
    Blue Courtesy light at door.
    Move second 120ah battery to other side of van (better weight distribution as most of the weight was down one side) and installed terminal post fuse on each battery pos.
    2 x cig plug and twin usb (1 on each side), put heavy duty plastic boxes over backs to protect wiring.
    Moved 240v charger to make more room, drill holes with holesaw in cabinetry behind charger to allow better ventilation when charging.
    Moved Redarc 1240bcdc charger to make way for more circuit breakers and midi fuses.
    Installed neg and pos bussbars and rewired system.
    Led strip light with inline switch for each external access hatch.
    Installed BM-1 battery monitor.
    Braced up cupboards with 20 x 20 x 1.6 ally angle, sikaflex and screws.
    Changed my mattress to an innerspring from Made to Measure Mattresses

    Outside..

    Reverse/security light-led
    Grey water hose carrier on rear bar.
    Grey water hose outlets changed from 25mm threaded fittings to camlock fittings..much easier to use.
    Installed through bolts into rear bar so it cannot come out.
    Mudflaps.
    Flares, behind wheels to stop mud and rocks from hitting door and water from fridge vents.
    Redesign and build spare wheel carrier.
    Water tank mounting, changed screws to 6mm stainless steel bolts.
    Put split tube over water pipes to protect from stones.
    Stone guard and clearshield (sticker) to protect the front of van.
    Gas regulator guard.
    Moved front box back (to make it easier to open rear doors of patrol).
    Ally checkerplate/rubber guard for front water tank pipes.
    Rubber flaps to protect air tank and drain valve.
    External 50amp Anderson plug direct to batteries via midi fuse for portable solar panels (or running a fridge etc).
    Led strip light in front box.
    Sail track down drivers side for awning/tarp.
    2 x 53L water tanks with separate pump, all mounted underneath.
    Led light down drivers side.
    Changed the original rear water tank as they are not very well baffled and installed an Enmach industries (Poly RV) PRV 85 (76L) water tank.

    Mods for future..
    12v outside point for tv.
    Box on rear bar.

    Have had a couple of teething problems with the van, we had bubbles forming on the sides and one on the front, these were all due to having dark stickers on the outside, these were generating too much heat due to their colour and have now been replaced under warranty and is all sorted for now. We have also had a couple of other issues that have all been fixed under warranty as well. John is a good bloke and reasonably easy to deal with (when you can get a hold of him!).
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    AB (4th August 2015), Clunk (5th August 2015), jack (4th August 2015), Ting (26th September 2016)

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  4. #2
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    A couple more pics of it unadulterated then the mods started....
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    AB (4th August 2015), Clunk (5th August 2015), jack (4th August 2015), Ting (26th September 2016)

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    Spare wheel carrier

    Pics of the spare wheel carrier I built as where they had the spare was bonkers because the tyre was too big to fit properly and took 2 people to remove and refit, now it takes one person and it can be done safely from the passenger side.
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    AB (4th August 2015), Clunk (5th August 2015), jack (4th August 2015), Ting (26th September 2016)

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    electrical stuff..

    Some pics of the 12V stuff I did
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    Clunk (5th August 2015), jack (4th August 2015), Ting (26th September 2016)

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    some extra pics
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    Clunk (5th August 2015), jack (4th August 2015), MudRunnerTD (4th August 2015), Ting (26th September 2016)

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    Looks like a great bit of kit mate.
    Its a Nissan! =====> Its a Keeper!! ....... Got a TD42 in it BONUS!! ....... I'm a lucky bugger! I've got 2 of em!
    Check out my Toy --> MudRunnerTD's GQ From the Ground Up

    Quote Originally Posted by Rogue Dung Beetle View Post
    Wish it was Nissan though, Toyotas just can't keep up with the Pootrol pace.
    The only good thing about an 80 series is..... the front end?? Wrong!!, the Engine?? Wrong!! the Full Time 4WD system?? Wrong!! Its the NissanPatrol.com.au stubby holder fitted over the transfer lever.
    WARNING: Towballs used for recoveries can, and do kill people and damage property.

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    SUCH IS LIFE Maxhead's Avatar
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    Ready for take off mate...lol Enjoy the new toy
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    WARNING: Towballs used for recoveries can, and do kill people and damage property.

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    Cheers guys, yeah she's good bit of kit, a couple of small mods to do to get it where I want it. Done a couple of small trips in it but nothing serious yet, it will take us to where we want to go that's for sure.

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    Perfect size and interior setup for light towing.
    Feed back on the off road performance will be good.
    2012 GU8

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    Quote Originally Posted by rusty00 View Post
    Perfect size and interior setup for light towing.
    Feed back on the off road performance will be good.
    rusty, the interior space in this van is quite surprising and there is more bench space than a lot of vans that are much bigger, that got the missus tick of approval. Haven't actually had it offroad as yet, a little bit of dirt road but that is about it although some of the bitumen roads we have been on you would swear they were offroad!
    I do know that setting up is much easier especially just for a quick overnighter, park up, level the van if it needs it, open the door, close the door, get bourbon/rum out of cupboard and ginger ale out fridge and make drinks, sit down and relax.

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