Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2015 11:09:18 -0600
Reply-To: Abel Longoria <houstonphotog@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Abel Longoria <houstonphotog@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: storage box
In-Reply-To: <E534009A-8163-4BD4-957B-96B2B5690A96@johndillon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I was storing the Thetford where the stock fridge used to be and got tired
of it using up valuable storage space so I began to look at different
options. Not finding any that I liked I decided to build a cabinet myself.
I originally wanted more storage so this is my first mockup i made with
1/2" insulation foam board from the local hardware store. This was just to
a cabinet and base or my Norcold fridge.
https://igcdn-photos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/10802551_1004618506220964_1388766186_n.jpg
Then I began to think, what if I made it taller, so it could house the
Thetford marine toilet and house false floor so my Webasto heater could be
installed behind the passenger seat. I'm a 3d cad designer by day so I
modeled up a cabinet design that can cover those items.
https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/10860169_375827052586431_703602767_n.jpg
After I modeled it I laid out a cutsheet and took it to a local sign maker
and for $40 he CNC'd all of my panels out of 1/2" birch plywood. This is my
"usable mock up" that I assembled. I've camped with this version for a few
times and have decided what I like and don't like about it so I plan to
make some revisions to the design and have it recut.
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/10853060_575272589270874_1875694596_n.jpg
The front main door cut outs are the same size as the Westfalia flat
cabinet doors so I plan to install an extra pair of doors there. I plan to
laminate the entire box with the same shade laminate and edge trim that is
used in the rest of the van so that the final product can look just like
factory. I have a Westy kitchen drawer that I plan to tweak a bit in order
to have it reside on the lower left front of the cabinet for small item
storage.
This is prolly way overkill than what you're thinking of but so far the
usable mockup costs me about $95. $55 for the sheet of plywood and $40 for
the CNC. The final version will run me that PLUS the additional cost of
trim, laminate, hinges, latches etc.
Once I finalize the box I plan to post the DXF file online so others can
download it for free and have the panels cut out by their local sign maker
if they want to replicate this cabinet.
Abel Longoria
On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 9:08 PM, John Dillon <johndillon@johndillon.com>
wrote:
> I’d really like to pick up a storage box/toilet box thing … like gowesty’s
>
>
> http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23278&category_id=&category_parent_id=
> <
> http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23278&category_id=&category_parent_id=
> >
>
> but that seems over priced and shipping to Canada would cost a ton i’m
> sure … what have others been doing?
>