Thread: Sitec's Truck......

Originally Posted by oka374

It would be better to paint it a light colour to reflect heat rather than absorb it, painting the roof with thermo paint will also stop heat absorption even if most of it is covered in solar panels.

Yeah, we thought about white originally, but want something a little different to white or sand coloured... I've been warned of the 'bright' colours like red's, oranges etc as they attract attention... This was the second choice... a lighter grey... We are still a few months off getting the paint roller out though...

Grey MAN 3.jpg

Originally Posted by Sitec

Yeah, we thought about white originally, but want something a little different to white or sand coloured... I've been warned of the 'bright' colours like red's, oranges etc as they attract attention... This was the second choice... a lighter grey... We are still a few months off getting the paint roller out though...

Grey MAN 3.jpg

Red is a bastard of a Colour for the Australian climate.

Think of all the faded & buggered red paint jobs you have seen on the roads around the place.


Also think of my Front Verandah if you will.
Being a traditional Oz Bungalow (Circa 1900) the verandahs were always painted red with Paving Paint. Each year or two they need doing again. Ok, not traditional but at least if it faded who is going to notice or care. So was thinking of Grey & still yet to do it when the weather improves.

Maybe keep the Orange for the roof or part thereof for S A R reasons or have Orange tie down canvas/vinyl panels that you can string up in an Emergency, & paint your roof with reflective


Just sayin'.

Originally Posted by 4bee

Red is a bastard of a Colour for the Australian climate.

Think of all the faded & buggered red paint jobs you have seen on the roads around the place.


Also think of my Front Verandah if you will.
Being a traditional Oz Bungalow (Circa 1900) the verandahs were always painted red with Paving Paint. Each year or two they need doing again. Ok, not traditional but at least if it faded who is going to notice or care. So was thinking of Grey & still yet to do it when the weather improves.

Maybe keep the Orange for the roof or part thereof for S A R reasons or have Orange tie down canvas/vinyl panels that you can string up in an Emergency, & paint your roof with reflective


Just sayin'.

I tend to agree... Our house is Colourbond Woodland Grey, and the roof Colourbond Dune. It's well insulated and doesn't seem to get too warm. The truck roof is going to be covered in solar panels with an air gap, so a bit like a Safari Roof on a 109! The grey is very neutral, and always looks good with silver and black... That's where I'm at.

So, a late decision to add a large opening to the rear of the truck saw me busy for another weekend. We planned to have two opening windows at the rear, but have now added a large door, so we can sit in bed of a morning with the rear of the truck open and watch the world go by. It will also be pretty safe to have the door open of a night to allow the breeze through. First up was to make the frame and door.

Body mods 65.jpg

Next up was to cut a large hole in the rear of the Hab Box... and lift the door and frame into place.

Body mods 67.jpg

and then weld it in!

Body mods 68.jpg

With the door now in place, we decided to sit up there and admire the view! Parked in the middle of the outback with the door open should be pretty good.

Body mods 69.jpg

With everything fabricated around the chassis, and the major structural work done on the hab box, the time has come to strip it all again ready for a chassis service and paint. First to come off is the roof rack. Unlike the last time, I decided to make use of the step in the workshop! It bought me 1.2m of reach with the little tractor. First i had to remove the lights and roof rack panelwork.

Progress 9.jpg

And then the roof rack...

Stripdown 1.jpg

With the roof rack removed, I could set about removing the rest of the side skirts.

Stripdown 2.jpg

Originally Posted by Sitec

So, a late decision to add a large opening to the rear of the truck saw me busy for another weekend. We planned to have two opening windows at the rear, but have now added a large door, so we can sit in bed of a morning with the rear of the truck open and watch the world go by. It will also be pretty safe to have the door open of a night to allow the breeze through. First up was to make the frame and door.

Body mods 65.jpg

Next up was to cut a large hole in the rear of the Hab Box... and lift the door and frame into place.

Body mods 67.jpg

and then weld it in!

Body mods 68.jpg

With the door now in place, we decided to sit up there and admire the view! Parked in the middle of the outback with the door open should be pretty good.

Body mods 69.jpg

Just ensure you don't park in the dark & wake up in a Public Car Park on a main Drag when you have your first fart & outdoor ****.

Originally Posted by Sitec

So, a late decision to add a large opening to the rear of the truck saw me busy for another weekend. We planned to have two opening windows at the rear, but have now added a large door, so we can sit in bed of a morning with the rear of the truck open and watch the world go by. It will also be pretty safe to have the door open of a night to allow the breeze through. First up was to make the frame and door.

Body mods 65.jpg

Next up was to cut a large hole in the rear of the Hab Box... and lift the door and frame into place.

Body mods 67.jpg

and then weld it in!

Body mods 68.jpg

With the door now in place, we decided to sit up there and admire the view! Parked in the middle of the outback with the door open should be pretty good.

Body mods 69.jpg

The main downside I could see is a potential loss of torsional rigidity with a large penetration in a transverse bulkhead? Don't know what other bulkheads there are internally though.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

The main downside I could see is a potential loss of torsional rigidity with a large penetration in a transverse bulkhead? Don't know what other bulkheads there are internally though.

Yup, you are right. There are two braced partitions about 2 meters back, and the rear wall is stepped with spare wheels below in the recess. The lower part of this wall is also braced, and in theory if I have my torsion free subframe right, there should be no twist load on the body. However, I have also incorporated 13mm pin locks instead of normal latches, and also have a pair of bus style dove tail locators which will be fitted once the alli sheet is bonded on. Hopefully it shouldn't move too much.