Thank you! I put a lot of thought in to the layout and how best to make the space work for how I anticipated us using it, with the focus being 2-People and 4-Seasons. Spent many months using the Troopy without the interior build out, playing around with the space to see how we would use it in real world use.
The U-Shape works very well for us. The Lagun table is taken only when we want to bring it along, otherwise can be removed and left at home. Most of the warmer months, it is left at home and we do most everything outside of the Troopy. Colder months we move indoors and the U-shape and the Lagun table allows for additional space and the ability to swing a table between two people for meals or games, etc. It also allows for additional prep space for meal prep and swings out of the way with ease.
The U-Shape also allows us to use the 'downstairs' for sleeping space. Not shown in the earlier photos is the additional cousins and folding out bed platform. My 16yr old son and I regularly take trips and he sleeps 'downstairs' and I sleep 'upstairs' - it's amazing use of such a small overall space. My wife and I have slept downstairs as well, in one particular high wind event. Closed up the top and slept below - was far a better sleep than getting battered all night in the wind.
I never had the intention to leave the isle open to the front cabin area. Storage is at such a premium for two people, that I wanted to capture and utilize every bit I could. 2x 100Ah LifePO4 batteries sit on the LH side floor behind the seat (with space to add a 3rd battery - if needed) and the wiring crosses over to behind the RH seat to the Redarc components and inverter. Photo show before with batteries installed and wired up - after is all inclosed with paneling.
As you will notice, I kept the cabinet high to a minimum, with the RH side being higher, but topping out below the height of the sliding window latches. I wanted the light, unobstructed view out of all windows (no blind spots) and airflow for the warmer months.
I also elected to have all the drawers open to the isle. This again was intentional for 4-season use. If it's cold or wet outside and we're inside, drawers open in and is completely accessible. They are also 100% accessible from the outside, without having to climb in. Drawer height was all optimized for certain common dimension for induction burner width, cutting board storage, canned goods, etc.
I hand built the drawers out of aluminum. I am an aircraft mechanic by trade and hate wood! Therefore, there is only three pieces of wood in the whole build - Plywood for the subfloor, a wood cutting board that is supplied in the Front Runner barn door drop down table and a teak cutting board we mounted on top the Lagun table. The cabinets are 100% aluminum and are wrapped in 3m vinyl. Counter tops are Stainless Steel.
I have a 10 liter DC hot water heater, indoor faucet and outdoor shower tap. Water is filtered through a Guzzle H20 system. I elected to bypass having a built in (fixed) sink to save the wasted space a sink takes up, but rather use collapsable sinks when necessary. The faucet swivels over the back of the cabinet with the back door open to fill larger items or water bladders, etc. I also connect a silicone hose to the faucet and wash dishes on the drop down table on the barn door.
We went single fuel (diesel) and all electrical for hot water, DC oven and induction cooking, etc - no propane. Multiple A/C outlets for induction cooking inside, back barn door or MaxTrax table.
I would highly recommend buying a chop saw for cutting your extruded aluminum with. I found it cheaper to buy the extrusion from Tnutz.com and shipping was cheapest in shorter lengths. Therefore I tried to have the dimensions I needed already cut from Tnutz, but inevitably you will likely tweak parts of the build our add things as you go. Having the chop saw with a blade for aluminum made a huge difference in doing it right. Linked below is the saw and blade I used. Cuts are clean and no filing/de-burring is needed.
Evolution EVOSAW380: Metal Cutting Chop Saw With 14 in. Mild Steel Blade
The Evolution EVOSAW380—Metal Cutting Chop Saw With 14 in. Mild Steel Blade is ideal for cutting steel plates, angle iron, metal roofing and more. Order now!
store.evolutionpowertools.com
Evolution 14BLADEAL | 14 in. | 80T | 1 in. Arbor | Aluminum and Non-Ferrous Metal TCT Blade
Try the 14BLADEAL Evolution's 14 in. 80T, 1 in. Arbor, Tungsten Carbide Tipped Aluminum and Non-Ferrous Metal Cutting Blade—designed to cut aluminum. Order it at Evolution!
store.evolutionpowertools.com
Anyway, one of these days when life slows down, I will do a build thread and do my best to lay out my build. As I stated in the last post, 18 months in to the completed build and I can say there is nothing I would change.
Feel free to DM and I can run you through some ideas on a phone call or video call.
