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  1. #1
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    Default New shelf for the Aliner

    A new shelf for the Aliner some may find handy, particularly for those who are reluctant to drill holes in the wall to mount a permanent one. The shelf is 1.5m long and 184mm wide so it can take a quite a few saucepans, kettles, etc. I opted for a take down shelf rather than fixing it permanently and when traveling it resides on the bed. The shelf is set lower than the usual as the wife is quite short, that of course also allows for a longer shelf.. There are also a couple of spigots with rubber stoppers set in to the back of the shelf to hold it clear of the curtains Made from a simple piece of shellacked pine from Bunnings, a couple of brackets made from 25 x 3mm steel strapping and a piece of 40mm RHS (the wall hook) welded together and painted silver. Alternative brackets can be made quite easily by simply bending and then twisting the steel to the required shape. It takes about two seconds to put up or pull down. As it turned out the shellacked pine isn't a bad match for the internal veneer. Last picture is of our new traveling companion, Alice. What a face!
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  3. #2
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Looks good.

    We finally got the van back on Sunday but SWMBO is completely out of action with a bung back so I am full on domestic duties and only seeing your post reminded me I would take some photos of the shelf/rack I installed in our van.

    Like yours it's not permanent and sits on the bed so the A frame can come down for towing.
    Frameonbed.jpg
    Here you can also see the frame for the shelves consists of two 25mm diameter aluminium tubes and 4 pieces of 19 x 40 mm pine.

    Below shows how the frame straddles the inside of the van with the 4 ends of the Al tub sitting in the recess between the sides and the roof.
    (sorry its not that good a photo)
    Frane.jpg

    A question you might well ask is how do the Al tubes sneak into the gaps on BOTH sides.
    Well the frame is about 100 mm narrower than the space and into one of the ends of each tube slides a 300 mm long 19 mm diameter Al tube.
    The frame is lifted into place and then these inner tubes are slid out into the gap, and the black handled locking screws hold the inner tube in place.
    Frne2.jpg

    The spacings between the pine battens is such that they hold wire baskets between them.
    The between the pairs of baskets are two narrower wooden shelves.
    The amount of stuff we store up there for easy access never ceases to amaze me

    The wire baskets are useful because one can then see what is in each one.
    The fine wire baskets are used to hold food canister and kitchen stuff.
    The coarse wire baskets hold clothing, coats, fire alarm etc

    The narrow wooden shelves hold keys, cameras, torches, books phones etc.
    Not shown are the ~14 hooks that SQMBO hangs off these racks to hang all manner of crappola!
    baskets.jpg

    Here is another shot.
    The shelves are quite high up and out of the way.
    I can reach things OK, even things that are are over the back.
    SWMBO can reach the things on the narrow wooden shelves and the front of the wire baskets but uses a small collapsible plastic stool to reach things at the back of the wire baskets.
    baskets2.jpg

  4. #3
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    Feb 2015
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    Default Very innovative.

    Very innovative, the things you have to do when you own an Avan camper. I personally don't like them that much but they do tow well and are easy to erect I suppose. I wanted a CambrigeBreeze but the wife doesn't like them, guess that's were SWMBO came from.

  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    Very innovative, the things you have to do when you own an Avan camper. I personally don't like them that much but they do tow well and are easy to erect I suppose. I wanted a CambrigeBreeze but the wife doesn't like them, guess that's were SWMBO came from.
    If it was up to me I probably wouldn't even have a van as I'm more of a stay at home type. I only agreed to the Avan because otherwise we'd be in a tent for the annual holiday which I detest even more. The Avan was one of the lower cost Vans that SWMBO is happy enough with and it's small enough to tow safely with our Vehicle. The other issue we have is we're on a small block where storage is a problem so the Avan would at least fit under the carport in in the remaining space we had left for a vehicle. I'm a bit off that I have to keep my tailer, which I use dozens of times a year, at my sons place 10 km away. SWMBO also has a horse float but that is parked at the riding school and all gets marginal use.

    We have had the van for 3 years now and we have used it only once a year for the annual holiday. SWMBO has used it a few times at long weekend Equestrian events. I drive it to the event and set it up for here but then I go home. Then 3 days later I drive back and help pack it up and drive it home. I get anxious at the cost of the rego/insurance/maintenance etc every time I walk past it in the driveway. I keep thinking of the tools or machinery I could purchase with half that money.

    While SWMBO was still working part time she suggested several times we go for short trips but so far I have managed to find excuses not to go, but now she has also retired the pressure will be on to go for more/longer trips. Two things are currently saving me, one is that she recently acquired a new young horse that needs regular attention, and during our recent trip she did her back in so were not going any where for probably 3-4 months!

    Having a van is definitely better than a tent and has shortened the time required to get ready to go away and then unpack when we come back, but I still resent this as lost time from activities that interest me. While we are away I find myself sometimes counting down the days before we go home. SWMBO can sometimes tell I'm not happy and has a special Grumpy Old Man T-shirt for me when I get in this mood.

  6. #5
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    Well that made me laugh. We are the exact opposite, we love heading off in the camper. I'm a compulsive maker of stuff, whether it be shelves for the camper, building recumbents, converting canoes for sailing or just making tools the camper gives me another platform on which to indulge my passion. At the moment though the pain and the small window of opportunity I have prevents me from doing much at all, it took a week to make that shelf.

  7. #6
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    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge SA
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    Bob do you do any wood turning? If so, why not look at getting a small lathe and mount it on a work platform or similar for a bench. This could be stored possibly on the floor of the Avan and used to make a few small bowls, pens, tops etc. Then ask her to buy you a Happy Old Man T shirt. Failing that, why not try to make your destination, where there is a Men's shed, to visit or do stuff. That way you both get something different out of the holiday.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    Well that made me laugh. We are the exact opposite, we love heading off in the camper. I'm a compulsive maker of stuff, whether it be shelves for the camper, building recumbents, converting canoes for sailing or just making tools the camper gives me another platform on which to indulge my passion.
    I too like making lots of stuff and was hoping the van would provide avenues to the same interests but it has not worked out and I now just see the van as yet another vehicle which always need something else fixed on it. I have made a few things for camping like a SS camping fireplace and oven, but camping related stuff doesn't give me anywhere near the same satisfaction as the machinery, tools and woody related stuff I does.

    SWMBO likes sitting around the campfire in the evenings drinking and playing games with her mates but 1/2 nights of that and I'm over it. I don't drink, and play games under sufferance so I usually sit away from the fire (or retire to the van) and via a broadband dongle I fart about on the Forum. I'm not that excited about getting all stinked up by campfire smoke and constantly getting filthy. After a few days everything in the van is grubby and smells of smoke. That's usually when it rains and things get even grubbier. When we bring all the stuff home the house smells of smoke for weeks afterwards. One thing I like about the campfire is cutting the wood for it. We drive about 30 minutes away to a friends place who has a farm and pick up some wood from them

    Kryn, I did bring along 6 cooking spatulas pre-shaped in my shed out of Olive wood and I hand sanded these into final finish at the camp ground and gave the away as gifts to the ladies of the other families we were camping with. Have done similar things before, wood carving etc

    There's no chance of fitting anything else in the van or the station wagon. The van floor is chokka with dog stuff, kitchen gear, the camping fireplace and oven and chimney. SQMBO insists on bring 3 chairs (lounge, upright and a beach chair) I bring one, then theres the beach tent, the marquee/gazebo on the roof rack, the Jumbo food processor and the coffee grinder. I drew the line at the espresso machine even though I am addicted to it.. SWMNO has talked about some time in the future upgrading to a bigger vehicle so she can tow a bigger van - fortunately our finances are keeping that one at bay.

    We have gone camping in two vehicles a number of times just so SWMBO can bring all her kitchen and hobby paraphernalia with her. One time SWMBO drove a hired camper van and I drove my van with the timber milling gear in it. While camping I was able to shape and sharpen new sets of long chains for the 60" and 42" bars in the campground - I must have looked like a real red neck but I didn't care at least I was doing some productive. Having the chainsaw gear visible certainly kept the riff-raff away. After the camping SWMBO went home and I went on to visit some other friends on a farm about 45 minutes away and stayed there for a week and did maintenance on their chainsaws and tools and milled timber for them. After I retired I spent 10 days helping them set up a woodworking workshop. Now that's my idea of a holiday! Yeah I know I'm not normal.

    As for going to a place with a mens shed I can barely tolerate the one I go to now and am glad to have 5 weeks away from it over Xmas and New year so the last thing I'd want to do is go to one on holidays.

    Part of my problem is we have two dogs and I don't like leaving them for too long so we geared up to be able to bring them camping (you would not believe the paraphernalia involved) and the Caravan Park at Walpole is very good in that it allows dogs . However, at the camp ground the dogs have to be kept on leashes all the time (understandable) so they constantly get tangled up amongst guy ropes etc. Some kids in the camp ground tease the dogs. People complain about the dogs barking etc which I then get all stressed out about so for all that and my other dislikes I'd rather stay home.

  9. #8
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    One of my pet hates is campfires: no need for them and the smoke! Think outside the box, when younger we always took a canadian, I loathe paddling so used that dislike to design, build and modify canoes for use with sails and outboards, that led to an interest in sailing but I never lost my interest in modifying and testing. I think we must have motored the entire length of the Blackwood in the SW. We also sailed and motored all through the Peel Estuary, around Penguin Island and Pt Peron, the Swan and so on. Canadians sail and motor very well BTW, albeit a little wet. I was trialing an 8' SOT sailing rig I constructed just recently, but that's now on the backburner. A good useful hobby when camping is to walk around and extinguish all the stoooopid campfires, some campers may take exception but it's the service you'be providing me that's important!

  10. #9
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    Perth
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    I quite like the outdoor fire but not sure it's worth the smoke. The main reason I like the fire is that it powers the outdoor oven and SWMBO and her mates whip up some good stuff with the campfire oven like Pizza, slow cooked roasts, bread, scones etc, although this is less exciting than it used to be as I for the last year I have been on a low carb diet.

    We also have an well used heavy Canadian, purchased by SWMBO from the school she worked at about 10 years ago. I spent some time fixing it up and rigging a pulley system to hang it up inside ether roof of the carport but it's only been in the water once. I'm not much of an "on the water/boatie" type. Normally a couple of the families camping with us bring tinnies to Walpole and most of them are mad about fishing so we get a few fish feeds. This time one of the families brought along a boat that could carry 5 people but I didn't go out on it as the others are far keener than me so I am happy to let them go and bring the fish back!

    I like the bush around the South West but walking with the dogs through it limited because many of the walks are in Parks. I like the weather around Walpole in summer as it's usually a lot cooler than Perth, and I do like visiting the friends we know on farms down there.

    One of our friends (the ones I helped up their workshop) have a 350 Acre farm and as well as their new house and the old fibro house (now a B&B) they have a large shed on it for guests. The shed contains 7 beds (dormitory style) an open kitchen, a large dining table that seats 14 people, a fireplace and cosy seating area, pool table and darts area, and there is a cubical shower/toilet in one corner. The dogs sleep on the floor next to the beds. Its 20 minutes from a dog beach but the dogs get the full run of the farm anyway.

  11. #10
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    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge SA
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    Have you blokes thought about sending photos of your improvements to Avan, for them to consider as options available. You might be surprised that they might like to see them, never know you might get a discount off your next Avan.
    I know what it's like to take a dog away, 3 chairs, 3 lambswool covers, etc, etc. 1 for each of us and one for the dog. We spent a month travelling/living in a camper trailer, when the house was sold and awaiting on our new place.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  12. #11
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    Ahhhh fishing, reminds me of how well I fish and why I don’t bother anymore. In the early 70s I went fishing for whiting at the mouth of the Blackwood down at Augusta. We’d heard the whiting were running on the opposite bank; so, half a dozen family and friends climbed into the tinny and set off for the other side, with no more room left in the tinny my brother and I swam across. We reached the other side and along with the others baited up and cast. After half an hour everyone had caught heaps, all except me that is – nil, zip, zilch, zero. Undeterred, I swapped places a few times using the same bait and same equipment as everyone else and still caught nothing. By the time the others had boated back and I had swum back everybody else had at least a couple dozen whiting but still my bucket was empty, not even a blowie - I think someone must have confided in the fish that I intended on cooking and eating them, thus they avoided my hook like the plague. In my youth I fished quite a bit at Mandurah, Fremantle, behind the Ascot Racecourse, and other places and I can remember actually catching fish on a couple of occasions: two blowies at Freo and one tiny Yellowfin behind the Ascot racecourse, and that is the sum total of my lifetime success in catching fish. I threw away my fishing gear after the Augusta experience and have never thrown a line since! Curiously scooping crabs in the Peel and trapping Gilgies and yabbies in dams and even here in the local wetlands always pays off, I think perhaps crustaceans are deaf and therefore have never heard of my evil intentions for them!

  13. #12
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    Whether this is true or not, but I'm led to believe that some people put out an odour on their skin, that the fish find repulsive. Should you go out ever again, if someone you're with is catching them and your not, try this experiment, get them to bait up for you, and see what happens. If this works get some fish oil and rub it into your hands, I believe this works.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Have you blokes thought about sending photos of your improvements to Avan, for them to consider as options available. You might be surprised that they might like to see them, never know you might get a discount off your next Avan.
    Given my druthers there won't be any more vans

    Half my attitude towards all this at the moment is due to the usual unpacking, cleaning up and fixing, which if I stop and think about it are classic first world problems.

    SWMBO did her back in while camping so she can't do anything towards this. Yesterday I pulled everything out of the storage locker and started to clean/tidy things up and I was reminded that everything had to be put away at the camping ground while it was raining. The big annex tarp had to be hung up and washed as it got covered in dirt and grass. Then the repairs; a stabilising foot to replace; the water tank drain to reattach' a cupboard door to fix the hinges on; dust sealing strips and external handles to be sourced, purchase and replaced; then it needs to be washed and covered. By mid-year all these will have faded to the point where SWMBO is able to convince me to do it all again next year!

  15. #14
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    You are definitely not a caravaner BobL, caravaners love doing that stuff! I try to convince my wife that what's in the camper should stay in the camper so we don't have to continually pack and unpack, not sure I'm winning there though: sheets have to cleaned every trip, coffee will go hard, sugar will attract ants, pasta will go off, shoes will smell, extra pillows will cost more money, the list goes on and on. As for smelling repulsive, I've been told that before - never by a fish though!

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    As for smelling repulsive, I've been told that before - never by a fish though!
    Sorry, I didn't mean it in an offencive way, a smell on the hands, insect repellant, soap, fuel, washing up liquid, anything like that!!!!!!!!!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

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