Cabinets installed
CandyVan conversion journey
- Thread starter drinfinity
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- build thread.
Worktop in and fitted, and a test fitting of the cooker. There is a history to the worktop - when it’s finished and oiled I’ll do the full before and after.
Worktop is sealed with Osmo Oil. The timber used to be the Velodrome track at the National Cycling Centre (daughter riding), and I bought a pile of it when they relaid the surface.
Kitchen fitted and gas connected. There is a Sureflow pump tucked behind the sink. The pump is fed from a relay operated by the tap switch, so it won’t run when drained of water.
The Thetford 165 hob runs to full power from the Cadac dual. Minor issue that there was a damaged wire in the ignition circuit which blew a fuse. Easy fix, and all good now.
Kitchen fitted and gas connected. There is a Sureflow pump tucked behind the sink. The pump is fed from a relay operated by the tap switch, so it won’t run when drained of water.
The Thetford 165 hob runs to full power from the Cadac dual. Minor issue that there was a damaged wire in the ignition circuit which blew a fuse. Easy fix, and all good now.
This looks really cool, looks like a good set up.
Finally got the fridge in. It appears to have grown about 1mm since I last measured it, so it was a festival of fettling and shimming, but it is now in, and just clears the bed. Wiring can wait till the morning!
Fridge done. Wired in to the kitchen fusebox, all working. Quieter than my (very old) Dometic.
Lots of work with the router and the last major components of the kitchen, the drawers, are cut. First one is in, and it works! Push to open, so no catches or handles needed.
Drawers are in, and the table is made, so now it is officially a Motor Caravan. Packed up ready for a bike trip tomorrow. Just had time to put the top on the cubbyhole, and wire in the wireless charger.
I updated the bifold bed struts from 120N each side to 220N. The 120 were fine to lift the bed, and just held the surprisingly heavy inflatable mattress too, but weren’t enough when the van was pointing downhill last weekend. I might have to beef up the front rods too - I’ll see how that goes.
220N per side is enough to firmly hold the mattress, and also store a mattress topper for downstairs.
220N per side is enough to firmly hold the mattress, and also store a mattress topper for downstairs.
The woodblock worktop was pretty, but it warped in the heat. I made a new one from spare 15mm lightweight ply, and a discount piece of Formica laminate from Preston Worktops. I’ll probably use the remaining laminate on the table.
Table laminated, and the little shelf at the back with a charger replaced.
Top tip for laminating is to mask the edge. This means the Formica swarf that comes off doesn’t end up glued to the edge of the ply when trimming the top.
Top tip for laminating is to mask the edge. This means the Formica swarf that comes off doesn’t end up glued to the edge of the ply when trimming the top.
Thule 4200 3m awning arrived this morning, just in time.
Two little mods today. Firstly a switch for the wireless charge pad, to stop the parasitic drain. Then the agreed value insurance additional premium for the full conversion. An easy process through JustKampers. I emailed them the form, photos inside and out, and a stack of receipts. A couple of weeks and it was agreed with no fuss.
Another kitchen mod. Originally we had two drawers under the cutlery drawer, but they only open with the seats in the rearmost position. Turns out we like the seats mostly further forwards, so I replaced drawers with a tambour door from Tambourline (to match the wardrobe door). A slot routed into the base rail gives a flush finger lift. Much easier to build than the drawers they are replacing! Cupboard interior dividers to follow.
Extra tweak with some leftover LED tape, so I can see inside. Switched by a micro switch which is triggered by the tambour door sliding back.
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