M116A2 that can grill a cow... Build !!

[dirtweazle]

Started first gen of frame and got tent up.

 

[dirtweazle]

Cutting board

Oil on a few hot days till it takes no more. Apparently need to do this every other year.. Thinking about Bees wax vs mineral oil I have been using. Half internet says one way half the other. Other half says if you don't spend $35 on our 2.2oz of magical pixie unicorn juice well just don't eat on it..

 

[dirtweazle]

Propane mount. Nicer ones are out there for $100+..

 

[dirtweazle]

Wish I had CAD at home but no.. Only a tape measure. First ideal location for sink did not work out. Second idea was a tongue and groove on port side. Sink is framed. Very sturdy Quick discos for waterlines. Works fine and not to bad on setup and striking it. 5 gal bucket under for grey water.

 

[dirtweazle]

Grill area done and insta hot water went in.

 

[dirtweazle]

First shake down trip to beach had no problems.

 

[dirtweazle]

First camping trip was awesome. Did break a structural weld front right horizontal to the upright. Lost the solar panel on the freeway because of this. fixed for trip with extra tie downs. Actual use gave lots more ideas and fixes.

 

[dirtweazle]

By solar panel hardly knew ya!!! Top right 90* is where it broke the weld on trip.

 

[dirtweazle]

Lots more gusseting on framework. Also notched the 90* so the upper horizontals port and starboard cradle in and lots more welding area. 2nd 5 day trip no problems.

 

[dirtweazle]

UP to current time i'm ready to skin in aluminum but Covid has my metal shop closed. Found some doors at junkyard that will fit my needs.

 

[dirtweazle]

New tow vehicle so now im finding 6 bolt hubs and swapping metric studs. Only want one spare that fits all.

 

[dirtweazle]

Lots of little things im flying right over. 2.5 years on build countless nights. 10 years of picture watching and saving shots of ideas and trade shows. Seeing one and just asking questions on how to solve this or that. A few hours to resize a few pics and post this thread.. Lots of work for a short thread. Hope this helps someone, ask questions, see something I didn't think of say something PM or here. Somewhere i have all receipts, most of the time logged I worked on this, and all my hand drawn blueprints. I dont really want to look but up to this point probably 600 hours and under $3500 minus all parts sold like axle, tires and such related to this build. Price is a bit of a priority like why buy a $2K ARB tent when the Smittybilt is damn good and I think i got more for half the price. Search search search the internet on price of things. Amazon is not always your friend. Offerup and craigslist type places can be quite helpful and I can't tell you the places I have seen that I would never have gone to except to pick up a part.

Next steps are to skin in aluminum. Tailgate needs to be two piece, may have wood inserts. Doors on sides of drawer area for storage. Also above grill area will be doors on sides. Send all skin with doors for paint in FDE. I will home paint all GREEN on frame probably black POR15. Tambour roll up doors on front (gun locker) and port front side for a pull out ARB, Dometic style fridge. You see these style doors on fire trucks. Second AGM battery and an MPPT charge controller. Also a location to mount the outrigger feet for storage. looking at 80/20 . inc framework for the inside shelving and organizing. Expensive but soooooo modular. Might have done the main frame in aluminum with this stuff hand I known about it. Also linear actuators are still on the idea list for the grill and for lifting the tent an extra 10". As is it fits in the garage but im 6'2" and the tent flips open at around 5'8". Lots of ducking, or not and a headache.

And im done...... HAHAHAhahahahahahHAHahaHa!!!!!!!

 

[dirtweazle]

Finished drawer pull out. After first trip needed a place to eat and basically a horizontal surface. Tired of the white plastic foldy table in camping pic. Found a coffee table made of ash for $40 on offerup (favorite!!!!!!) that fit my size requirements really close. Sanded, stained, 6 coats of polly. Beautiful!! Framed it. Bearings and a sub chassi trussed and mounted to body. Really wish I would have found the 80/20 by this time. Third leg from tripod will help this from any wobble.

 

[dirtweazle]

Removed everything for chassis paint next week. Taking it to a self wash saturday and let dry. Sunday POR15 axle and frame and edging all around.

 

[dirtweazle]

Update kids. Lets start with the undercoating. Prepped it as best as possible. The POR 15 goes on beautifully on bare metal as instructed on label. Not everything is bare. I did scuff and it adheres well but dose streak if not careful. All by brush. The fender wells where done with 3M Pro Grade undercoating. Point,spray, can' be easier. Wear PPE as this stuff smells very toxic and all angles it will get in eyes.