So not got much done on the 80 since I have been back from hols. Having a clear out of some old stuff, need to make some room as I can't actually take the kitchen and fridge out of the truck as I don't have any dry storage space it's all full of stuff (crap).
Camping kitchen very handy on Satarday mornings at work when the apprentice Chef Linguini cooks hot dogs.
Some pictures of how the fridge is held down.
Fits in front of the camping kitchen and you can get in it by moving the drivers seat forward.
I made a bracket that bolts in the seat mounts, then two thumb screws lock the bottom of the fridge to stop it sliding forward or tipping side to side.
I need to make a lock for the drawer but it's a bungee cord at the moment.
I have fitted hooks from an old racing harness so I can disconnect the rear seatbelts to avoid them getting dirty or damaged, they also clip onto the top of the fridge to stop it tipping forward in heavy braking etc.
I fitted two more power sockets and a usb, one power is permanent live, which is the tap, the other is on a switch in the centre console, which I use for the 12v for the fridge when under way.
The 12v element in the fridge draws 120w so it would drain the battery fairly quickly if you left it on, it drained a deep cycle lorry battery over night when I tested it. If I was going off grid I want to rig up the gas on the fridge so the flue goes out of the sliding window.
Not sure what I will do on the truck next, I need to change the oil again and fix the level gauge for the LPG as I wired it up wrong. May also try again to fix the A/C. I want to finish off the adjustments to the roof rack, and also need to fix the viscous fan.
Next big project is to do something with the suspension, to improve the ride quality, especially when running empty or light.
-replace all failed and worn bushings
-replace shock absorbers (Not sure on O E or aftermarket)
-replace springs, don't know whether to fit new oe springs (was the ride ever any good on a new 80 I don't know?)
Or fit oe front springs and lighter duty rear springs (perhaps the 80 without rear seats had lighter rear springs?), then fit helper air bags.
Or if I am fitting helper airbags, by the time I have fitted a compressor etc I may as well fit air springs all round instead of coils, I suspect that would be cheaper than new oe springs and helper springs anyway.
Not sure how the brake bias valve would work if I had helper springs or airbags, as you level the truck you would never get increased rear brake effort. As my brake bias valve is rotten anyway perhaps I should change it for a manual type in the cabin.
Any advice appreciated!