Here it comes, the penultimate instalment of these three years, Log Book. I didn’t really think it was going to take this long, but to be fair, I didn’t really work 24/7 on this project alone either. If I had, I’m sure it would have only taken about 18 months, but I can also tell you that the end result would have been completely different and not in a positive way..

As mentioned in the previous blog, all it was left to do was to take care of the bin’s area.. While the BBQ and the pushbike rack were completed last month, all I had left for November was the tool rack, the workshop and the washing machine.. Because the washing machine does use a large quantity of water and I still use it twice a week, I decided to keep it for last..

I clearly remember saying that I didn’t want to have to work in summer under the sun, and yet here we are, even today working in a comfortable 40° (NOT)! Looks like summer is already here, and she’s not kidding either.. This huge and unexpected increase in temperature, gave me the chance to also perform some other interior jobs that I had on my never ending list..

I really never liked the white button in the bedroom cabinets, so I managed to replace them with a SS finish that is more in line with the rest of Gigi cabinets.. At the front I added two new grille to facilitate the expulsion of air from the subwoofer (it made a huge difference) and it also allows fresh air to get inside.. (You need fresh air for when you purposely locked your grandkids under the couch) 😂

I finally got to use the Titan slides purchased 2 years ago for my toolbox. I had originally planned to leave the tool box on castors, and to build a ramp so that I could have taken the tools where need it.. Unfortunately 3 problems did arose and because of the timeframe that I’m currently on, I just decided to change the plan altogether and to mount them both on slides instead. First problem was that even with the smaller castor available, if mounted under the toolbox, I didn’t have enough room to fit the toolbox in the bin. Then the other problem is that the toolbox is very heavy and the ramp was going to be about a metre long and very steep, making the job of pushing up the toolbox, a nightmare. The third problem, was to find the way to stop the toolbox on castor, from moving around inside the bin once loaded.

You also have to consider how hard it would be to push a 150kg+ toolbox with very small castor on uneven ground or even gravel.. Simply impossible.. The slides do a good job, making it easy to pull out the required box, and it keeps them from moving around when locked in, while driving..

While in the “mood” 😂 I also mounted above the front door a fly screen curtain made of wooden beads.. I know, I know.. Very woggy.. But it does work pretty well in allowing fresh air in while keeping the bugs out, so I like it.. Or at least I did, until the other day when I drove into town to get more water and upon opening the door, some strings got jammed into the handle and rip the whole thing apart, while having colourful beads showering the entire driveway at the servo. (best 5 minutes of fun for the past 12 months).. Back to the drawing board for a better, and less dangerous to the public, solution. I really don’t want another fly screen door there as that would possibly mean replacing the entire door..

Another little inside job was the addition of the map books holder above the driver seat. I had few of these paper/drink holders left over from the original seats, so it just made sense to utilise them for the intended purpose.. They may not look fancy, but they are very strong and will do the job just fine.. The timber box next is for the heavy big map of Australia Book (thanks Alex, that was a great gift).. I do trust the GPS, but I have learned long time ago, that paper maps are still more accurate and detailed than any GPS map on the market.. Not sure way, but here in Australia, especially dirt roads are not always listed or not displayed in the correct location..

Below that, you can see the “now” tinted window. Normally all coaches have a roller curtain there, but that mean having to lean forward every time you need to look to your right. I wanted to try something different there. Perhaps the sun will be too strong, but so far it has been working. Then again I haven’t yet driven at night..

Building the workshop shelves was going to be the next job. While contemplating using steel at first, I then realised how much timber I still had left, and so, I ended up using it. I even managed to build a little battery charging station, that I had originally planned to install in the garage at the back, but then realise that there was plenty of room left in the front bin, right next to the toolbox.

It just makes more sense to keep them all together, and more importantly, not having to climb the ladder every time a fresh battery is required.. 🤓 One item that I did completely forgot about it, was the large folding table. It was originally located in one of the back bins, but because the washing machine is going in there, I had to move it out, and only then I realised that I had no place for it any longer.. Luckily, once the shelves was finish I saw the opportunity for a new location that doesn’t affect the every day to day use of the bin..

Next month, it will be the turn of the washing machine that will also complete the Log Book.. Sure the list of jobs, like in a real house, it really never ends, but unless some major design fault do arise, the conversion Log Book will come to an end..