Tweets from last night:
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 0326087680
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 8256242689
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 4634867712
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 5491939328
And this morning:
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 9027651584
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 9724084224
And just now, today, 1st Jan 2017, the year of FreeEMS' success:
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 4618618881
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 7076644865
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 9816893440
https://twitter.com/FredCookeNZ/status/ ... 6650269696
And all of the pics, count if you want to know which ones go with which:
Notes on the experience thus far (incomplete):
1) I loaded all my gear into the car, especially heavy stuff into front passenger foot-well, and it towed pretty nicely overall. But it'd be better if it was naturally balanced with less weight in it, for accel and braking equally.
2) The tow car needs new front rotors and pads (did anyway, and seems fine, until you're on a massive steep downhill grade and third isn't holding it back well enough, and you have to hold the brake pedal moderately firmly for a while, then the shaking grows in an unpleasant and almost concerning way.
3) Impromptu rear curtain via towel jammed in seal worked well enough, but has a tendency to fall, and if it were raining would wick water inside, ie, needs proper rear curtain.
4) Foot room in the front needs to be sufficient and surrounded by smooth edges, currently insufficient where the glovebox is and sharp edges here and there. would be nice to have a stereo in there, too, which can work, but some lining is needed to keep the contact smooth/soft. A sheet of light panel material with some carpet or foam or something over it or similar would work.
5) Ventilation! All of the holes underneath are OK given dry driving weather, but would be horrible if towing in the rain for any reason (fairly likely here), however some engineered grill/mesh covered under-side vents would be a winner for sure, and...
6) Wiring up the electric windows to work with only a 12v power feed to some central place would be GREAT! See above photos for why, lol. But also overnight with an inch or two at the top of each window would be great. And if it had monsoon shields, too, that'd be perfect (but it doesn't).
7) Sway bar for driving, fresher shocks for driving (had the rear end impact the road in one section when it got a vertical sway on), and...
8) Some way to jack up and/or pull down the suspension for leveling on uneven ground. I slept poorly last night mostly because of the angle. I'm using a scissor jack tonight to prop up the low side a bit, and...
9) I forgot my duvets/sleeping bag and slept under a large towel last night. Not ideal, but secondary to the slope for sure. So today I bought a new duvet inner and sheet to isolate me from it. Should sleep well enough tonight :-)
10) Gear management! And by that I mean eating and moving things around inside without opening the doors and getting out. I don't have a system worked out for this, however I have a fairly typical amount of gear in there right now and a few observations: 1) Somewhere non-bed to put shoes/jandals when entering/exiting. 2) Somewhere non-bed to put bags and phones and similar stuff for comfortable access from the bed. 3) Being able to reach things in the rear without them being under other things, or too far, etc.
Re points from 10, some thoughts:
1) King single might be a winner longer term even though a queen would fit because: It gives the space down the sides for bags, phones, shoes, etc.
2) Having a proper kitchen in the back might have a negative effect on accessibility if not well thought out. IE, things should be stored in a way that they're easy to reach from outside, or inside!
3) A flat place to put a plate, bowl, bottle, glass etc reachable from the bed, or back, would be great. The only real option for this is a flat platform above the future luggage rack area just behind mattress and in front of future bench space.
4) Chilly bin should be set into the bench (maybe under a removable cover piece) such that it can be accessed from above/in front. Dual chilly bins, or a bigger one than my current one, would be a good idea. A small sink would still fit with flowing tanked water.
Lightening ideas:
1) Composite sandwich floor and firewall (alloy foam or FRP foam)
2) Remove SIPS beams from doors
3) Replace side windows and windscreens with tinted plastic windows
4) Push balance weight fully rearward into the inside of the bumper so it has max effect from min weight
5) Replace balance weight with LPG bottle, cooker, sink, water, pump, batteries, etc.
And I'm out, for now!