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

[gregs]

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!).