What I did today in my Perentie

[sydneymver]

Trip out to Abercrombie River National Park, The Sink
Great time playing in the Landy

Bruce

[Outlaw]

 Out for a club run a couple weeks back and came across a new rfsv owner from Toowoomba. He'd only bought it a couple weeks earlier at a  Minto auction and was loving it. Picked up at a great price, nice bit of  kit.

[juddy]

I notice the huge gap in the rear canvas.

Did he remove the side bins?

[BadCo.]

I notice the huge gap in the rear canvas.

Did he remove the side bins?

It sort of looks like its just not on properly?

[FFRMAN]

I notice the huge gap in the rear canvas.

Did he remove the side bins?

It sort of looks like its just not on properly?

It's just shrunk, most likely due to being a RFSV and the sides always rolled up and the back rolled forward to the cam rack.

[juddy]

Amazing they shrink that much, its not just a bit...

[FFRMAN]

Amazing they shrink that much, its not just a bit...

yes they actually never stop shrinking but the initial shrink when new can be up to 5% (if uncontrolled) so on 3m which is up - across - done the other side would be 15cm or 6 inches, similar along the length of the vehicle.

[juddy]

So why not wet soak for a week or 2, then cut to size, allowing for this?

[FFRMAN]

So why not wet soak for a week or 2, then cut to size, allowing for this?

Yeah alright for a one off home job (get it wet but don't soak for 2 weeks you'll wash out the water proofing)  but at a commercial level not practical.

the correct way is make make canopy with approx 3% allowance for shrinkage (cut cloths 3% bigger than required finished size - actually make it oversized, if you buy new ones you will find they fit loose - that is the allowance not yet taken up)) make item (with extra seam allowances on top of the shrinkage allowance) fit item securely, let it take up when secured to vehicle (wet and dry it - ie force it to shrink but control shrinkage by tieing it down tight), it will then sit skin tight - that is the correct way, but now I am giving away trade secrets!

if you leave a canvas canopy unsecured (ie not tied down tight) let it go wet dry wet dry it will shrink smaller than what it is meant to be - therefore you see what you see in that photo of the RFSV

cheers

[juddy]

I know the secret, I am  its not put into practice..

[Carzee]

Had a day off and spent money.

I decided to make a start on installing the Red Arc Isolater SBI1 that I got last month for $109 and fit in a dual battery setup. This use of my day off was because I have a new battery sitting in the kitchen for a week now and somebody wants the space. I am going to use the FFR battery tray behind the passenger door. The underseat cavity will be for the Red Arc and other things. I will seal the cavity gaps that let in tyre splash/road muck to a degree. I may stash a tool roll in there.

I pulled out the battery out of the underseat cavity, its ok but old, and the earth terminal is well fatigued. I removed it too. I removed the cable set that joins the aux sets. It was held onto the east-west chassis member with plastic cable ties.

I went to a good auto elec and got four 900mm leads made up to fit the picture. I also got two 80amp circuitbreakers (the ones that have a reset). In the morning I'll get the second battery at WesTrac.

[mvfrancis]

I really enjoyed making the dual battery setup, probably my favourite job so far. Not sure why as it took me about 3 days, but I think ill put a similar setup into the county just for the fun of it one day. Enjoy!

I on the other hand spent the majority of the day high on contact adhesive fumes.
My canvas is very sad, and as much as I'd like a new one it's a bit out of the question at the minute. Originally we were going to just patch up the bits that needed it, but by the time we marked it all out we decided it would be easier to just cover the whole roof section. Heres the rear section done, Ill do the same to the front, then will coat the exterior in a diluted pva mix later in the week. Total cost should be about $150 and about 10 hours labour. If it's not waterproof after that, then i give up!

[Scary]

I fitted a square tow bar receiver on the back of my 6x6. Do you think I should fabricate the locking pins for the pintle before I get it galvanized?

[BEARMAN]

Looks good scary, did you make it yourself or get someone to fabricate it. I am still toying with making one up to fit mine.

[aussiegregmac]

Probably won't need locking but it's up to you.
But what a nice piece of kit.
Did you make it yourself ??