fiatslug87 Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 We have running water!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 careful. you're going to get spoiled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 Too late for that! I think it happened the day I picked up the Comansion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 I finished the drawer a week ago but just now had time to open up the WilderNest for pictures. The carcass is approximately 81” long, 25” wide and 16” high, the drawer is 75” long, 15 1/2” wide and 13” high; I made it large enough to hold three of our camping storage boxes with space to spare. The drawer slides on 3/16” thick UHMWPE strips to maximize space. The top, left side, drawer front and rear are 1 1/8” plywood the rest is 3/4” ply assembled with pocket screws (about 200 of them!!) and glue. Everything was given three coats of exterior paint (color matched to the paint I used for the shell interior) to minimize mold/mildew, the top and left side were then covered with tan vinyl diamond plate and edged with stainless steel corner guard since it also serves as the step to the sleeping platform. It’s bolted to the bed using stainless bolts from underneath into t-nuts in the base. The space on the right with the wheel well is perfect for storing the long support poles and stabilizing legs while the space on the left still accommodates the large boxes which were initially intended for the FJ Cruiser’s roof rack, they will even stack with the Nest closed. It was a fun little project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Mistress Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Looking good, can't wait to see it camping out in CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Filling the water tank was a pain in the a$$, since it has no vent the fill tube would fill with water and air couldn’t escape. My simple fix was to place a fill hose within the outer hose allowing air to escape through the space between the two, it also allowed attaching a garden hose for filling. I also added an air filter on the small vent tube of the fuel filler neck to allow air in as the faucet is used since the cap will be in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 Added a tailgate strut to soften its opening. opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 My marvelous wife just finished sewing a rear panel to keep out the bugs. The whole thing can be unzipped and rolled up or just the center portion leaving the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 that. is. epic. do the reverse lights work at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 They do not, it’s just a regular 4 pin trailer connector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 seems like an opportunity for an AUX switch for some LED camp lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 25, 2023 Author Share Posted July 25, 2023 Its maiden voyage, in CA at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 It works. looks like a great get away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 26, 2023 Author Share Posted July 26, 2023 First night’s dinner was hot dogs on the gas grill, not very fancy . and the morning’s breakfast on our 30 year old Coleman white gas stove converted to propane. the dogs were dead tired by the last day. and a final night shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 life goals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 A little paint and a new lift gate handle for which I have a key. Before: After: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 My wife just can’t stop sewing! Now she made a set of curtains for the sleeping platform; heavy mesh screen on the upper portion for ventilation and customized fabric on the lower for privacy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gjeep Posted August 7, 2023 Share Posted August 7, 2023 Coming along great! Where did you guys camp? Don't recognize it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 7, 2023 Author Share Posted August 7, 2023 Thanks, it’s been fun. That was Anthony Chabot Campgrounds in the Oakland hills, technically Castro Valley, only 48 miles away. Wanted something near civilization for the first outing. This Thursday we’re headed to Wench Creek in Kyburz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 7, 2023 Share Posted August 7, 2023 and next month they're crossing the Sahara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 A place for everything and everything in its place. Made from leftover drawer scraps, didn’t feel like staining or painting so I took a torch to it and gave it a little mineral oil wipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Outing #2 at Wench Creek campground in the Eldorado National Forest. Had a bear come through the first night and attack a cooler of someone in our group that was right behind the WilderNest. We got out to look and saw a good size brown bear, it glanced back at us and strolled off. Some don’t take bear safety seriously even when bear boxes are provided. Yes, I need new struts for the lift gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 19, 2023 Author Share Posted August 19, 2023 Rescreened the shell windows and added screen to the front slider. Used heavy weight pet screen, now it should be 99.9% insect proof! Before: After: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 20, 2023 Author Share Posted August 20, 2023 Epic fail! Trying to fix the lift gate hinge, I guess one too many taps to dislodge a rivet remnant. I’ll be heading to Tap Plastics on Monday for a piece of smoked polycarbonate. On the bright side, it made fixing the hinge a lot easier. @Pete M, you got any large CC window decals? PM me, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 Ouch. Shame it’s not the bigger glass version as I have a spare big glass from my old camper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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