Stevo Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 If you were starting over with the gutted interior of a 1982 Sunrader 18' what would you do with it? What would you put in it? What would your layout be like? (Existing layout is house door forward with rear dinette) What materials would you use to make everything? And how would you do everything so it is AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE? Here are my parameters... -Full time living and traveling for one human. -BATHROOM: I'm going to build a simple cheap "compost" toilet and I'll have a small sink. The entire bathroom must be waterproof so I can take showers and probably in the same location (behind the drivers seat) since the tank is there. I will install a small opening window with screen to air out the bathroom. -HOT WATER: I'm considering one of these two options: Install an instant on-demand propane hot water heater...or use a garden sprayer with a metal tank and a modified shower head that I can place directly on the stove top to heat the water and paint it with Rustoleum High Heat paint so I can heat it in the sun on hot days. I'll have a spot on the corner wall of the bathroom I can mount the garden sprayer for showering. -COOKING: Counter space to prepare stuff, Storage for eating/cooking utensils, large sink with manual foot pump, BIG fridge (7 cubic ft), 2 burner stove (probably a Coleman camp stove if I can figure out how to make cookies and pizza on a stove top). Drinking water will be in 1 gallon jugs. -WORKING: I need desk space to work and space for my 17" Macbook Pro with a 25" external monitor. -SLEEPING: I'll probably use the overhead for sleeping with a twin and put some light storage forward of that in plastic bins. -HEATING: I'll use one of those little portable propane heaters. (I think its called "Mr Buddy" or "Mr Heater") -BOONDOCKING: I will be stealth city camping as needed but plan on boondocking for extended periods of time so energy efficiency is key and preferably renewable. -FLOORING: If I can make the sub-floor smooth enough I'll probably install vinyl. If not, then probably laminate flooring. -WALLS & CEILING: Thin plywood panels painted with semi-gloss white that can be easily removed to access stuff behind (although I plan on having as little of the hard-to-access stuff as possible!). -INSULATION: Probably some closed-cell foam stuff from Home Depot. -CEILING FAN: Maybe a Fantastic Fan or equivalent?? -LIGHTING: LED and probably individually self-contained with their own little batteries so I don't have to run wires. -INTERNET: I'll use my cellphone as a hot spot when I can and install a multi-directional WIFI signal booster to sponge off of open networks. -MOVIES: I'll get one of those external hard drives with the built in wireless network and load it with a terrabyte of movies so I can watch movies with my iPad. -TV: I might have a UHF antenna to pick up local stations and watch that stuff on my computers external monitor. -FRONT CAB: I want to change out my front seats for something more comfortable that I can buy used on Craigslist. Does anyone know what other seats fit an 82 Toyota with minimal modifications required? -EXTERIOR: I'll probably use reflectors instead of the existing DC wired clearance lights. On the top I'll probably build a low profile aerodynamic lockable box to store surfboards in in with solar panels mounted on top of it. I'm going to spray the entire vehicle with almond Rustoleum paint (i.e. "The $50 paint job"). I've done countless camping trips all over and surf safari's into deep baja so I know how to poop in a hole and live animal style, but for full-time living thats not how I choose to live. So my plan is to have the creature comforts required for full-time living but make their systems as simple and as energy efficient as possible. Anywhooo, a lot of you have used your Toyota motorhomes a lot and have learned a few things along the way so I will greatly appreciate any of your ideas and input. Seriously - anything! :-) Thank you. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Think of how you want your layout to look. Get cardboard and chalk and set up your inside. Its a lot easier to redo a piece of cardboard or erase a chalk line than redo a cabnet that took 4 hours to make. Water, Water, Water. Gas is everywhere, water isn't. If the inside is striped then use wired LED both inside and outside, batteries are a PIA and not very "green" Composting toilets are complacted to make work right and in there is the problem of liquid waste. These folks seem to have a "handle" on them. http://www.natureshead.net/land.html As far as the rebuilding part go here for some ideas...http://toyotamotorhome.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5648 A flash water heater will need a lot of propane. So get a 2 burner propane stove top and a Colman camping oven. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suburban-RV-Camper-Black-Cooktop-LP-Propane-Stove-2-Burner-2937ABK-Propane-NEW-/400514215243?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4081ed4b&vxp=mtr Hook your MR buddy to the main propane tank too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totem Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 portable toilet like those used on boats; the waste tank is in your heated area and impervious to the outside temps and holding tank detaches and can be carried like a brief case on the model i have; thus you can walk your dump to the rest stop bathroom. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/Dometic-Portable-RV-Marine-Toilet-2-6-Gallon-Tan/56072/&?&affiliateid=3274&cvsfa=2734&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3536303732&gclid=CKn9jYXHh7gCFchDMgodLhEAvQ security; bulletproof paneling made from new NIJ IIIA woven fiberglass panels can be had cheaply; i would create a safe area in at least one corner and affix paneling to offer protection in case of a SHTF situation or a safe retreat if attacked outside at a truck stop. maybe a couple on the door too. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ballistic-plate-panel-level-3-10-x12-insert-raw-/121062127126?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2fdd7616 I would use metal foil bubble insulation instead of closed foam for improved water resistance and ER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aptruncata Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 If i had a chance at completely redoing the interior, i'd go with a simple design of trilium interiors. i like the ability to wipe down everything with a damp cloth and be done with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 WME: INTERIOR LAYOUT: Thats a great idea to make full-size cardboard mockups for the interior. Thanks! LED'S: For all self-contained electrical stuff (like LED's) I would use rechargeable batteries instead of throw-away batteries. COMPOST TOILET: I'm not going to buy one of those expensive compost toilets. Instead, I'm going to build a super cheap one for about $30 like this: http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php/topic,2936.0.html. That guy separated the pee from the poop but the guy that wrote the book "Humanure" which I have read says its not necessary. HOT WATER: But instant water heaters use a fraction of the propane that conventional water heaters use because they only run when you want hot water, right? STOVE TOP OVEN: Coleman stove top camp oven: http://tinyurl.com/q4lfxkq Its simple and cheap and if it works then it might be perfect for the rare times I need an oven. Has anyone on this forum used the Coleman stove top oven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 Totem: PORTABLE TOILET: What is the stink factor like with those portable toilets? http://tinyurl.com/q2wwr8h INSULATION: I did a search at Home Depot for "metal foil bubble insulation" and got this: http://tinyurl.com/nmusmjw Is that what you're suggesting or this stuff: http://tinyurl.com/nmusmjw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 You mean the kind of interior thats in a Trillium trailer? If i had a chance at completely redoing the interior, i'd go with a simple design of trilium interiors. i like the ability to wipe down everything with a damp cloth and be done with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totem Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Totem: PORTABLE TOILET: What is the stink factor like with those portable toilets? http://tinyurl.com/q2wwr8h INSULATION: I did a search at Home Depot for "metal foil bubble insulation" and got this: http://tinyurl.com/nmusmjw Is that what you're suggesting or this stuff: http://tinyurl.com/nmusmjw stink factor is non existant; better in fact than a stock toilet from a toy home. the pooh is sealed in a separate tank that has suitcase handle and can be walked and dumped quite easy; i use one of these on my pontoon boat for #2 emergencies , power outages at my well water powered home, cabin up north. GREAT item. comes with blue stuff too that breaks turds down and smells better. insulation, no more like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/1127445/12288467/0/1269843821/Bubble_Foil_Insulation_with_PE_bubble_and_aluminum_foil.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/6610738/Bubble_Foil_Insulation_with_PE_bubble_and_aluminum_foil.html&h=524&w=786&sz=49&tbnid=0uw4bB2uxOoyxM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&zoom=1&usg=__wBNsBfps9BPVolvJvEGcbeBl7Ko=&docid=Kdpny3UajJy2lM&sa=X&ei=KPPNUcXbGuaNyAGIqoHoDw&ved=0CFYQ9QEwAw&dur=278 which they have at home depot sometimes but always at menards yowzer the stink factor on a compost toilet will be off the charts; my compost gags me to projectile bile when i do my garden every year and that aint even pooh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aptruncata Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 You mean the kind of interior thats in a Trillium trailer? yes, white, plasticky and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 There were some 18 foot Sunrader without the rear dinette. They had a longer window on the rear passenger side and there was a sofa bed there. All the appliances were along the rear drivers side. I think it seemed roomier inside with that floor plan. Sorry but very rare and I have never saved any pics of the ones I have seen. Nice to have a sofa to relax on. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 Karen - I'm going to build a larger bathroom than the tiny one in my 18' because I can hardly move around in the existing one for a shower. According to the guy in the link I provided previously with the home built compost toilet in his boat and the guy that wrote the book on poop (Humanure), as long as you cover the stuff with saw dust, etc., no fan is needed because there is no smell and the Humanure guy says you don't need to separate the stuff. I will be installing a small opening window in the bathroom though. Did you choose a diesel stove because its less flammable than gas or propane? I'm thinking of going with a simple two burner Coleman camp stove so I can take it outside for cooking when its too hot. I read tons of positive reviews on Amazon about the Coleman camp oven too so I'm pretty sure I'll go with that. Thats a good idea to make the back seat deep so you can use it as a guest bed. I'll probably do something like that too. Does the cushion on the back of the vinyl flooring make it more forgiving of discrepancies in the subfloor? I will probably use plastic laminate for my countertop too since its easy to install and easy to keep clean. Great drawing! Did you use Google Sketchup for that? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 That layout must be rare as it is one I've never seen before. I'll have to do some digging around to see if I can find an image. Thank you. There were some 18 foot Sunrader without the rear dinette. They had a longer window on the rear passenger side and there was a sofa bed there. All the appliances were along the rear drivers side. I think it seemed roomier inside with that floor plan. Sorry but very rare and I have never saved any pics of the ones I have seen. Nice to have a sofa to relax on. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totem Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 That's another advantage of hardwood flooring; all I had to do where the bolt heads were was mill them down with a dremmel and grinding bit creating a round cavity recess for the bolt head to set in; no leveling of the floor needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Karen - Have you planned the design of your solar water heater yet? If so, can you describe it please? Totem - Depending on the condition of the subfloor! that is why I might do a laminate floor. - Has anyone figured out a cheap durable way to do an awning that is as quick to set up and de-set up as a conventional RV awning? - Due to the space my solar panels and surfboard carrier will need on the roof I'm thinking of eliminating the vent in the middle of the roof and just have the one vent in the bathroom that will be a Fantastic Fan. I figure that since the RV is such a small space that one Fantastic Fan with the bath door open a little should do the job, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Roy emailed me some really good pics of the Sunrader 18ft camper with the side sofa. Trouble is my email is messed up and I can't copy and paste to here. I asked him to post them on my minitruckcampers site. I think you belong to that Steve if not go here http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/minitruckcampers/ When he gets them on there I will post explaination and link to pics. Linda S Yes I see you just joined recently. I will get those pics up there as quick as I can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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