Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Thin bits of metal and bright blue light. Including glass & trim.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Think I shall get a "Glazing Window Rubber Seal Fitting Tool,"
the rubber is not too hard,
it might come out, clean up, refit, and then seep some sealer in.

Would really love to replace them with some new opening cassettes,
but have you seen the price of them?
Keep that in mind for later if some turn up.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

On closer inspection the rubber window seal would be better replaced altogether,
and as I hope to change the windows for opening ones,
it seemed silly to go to all the trouble, when I could just bleed the Tolleys into the gaps.
So a good as possible deep cleaning with a blunt knife with cloth around it,
wow what a lot of water squeezed out!

Then oh its so satisfying using the Captain Tolleys, the leaks just soak it up.
Therapeutic too, as it was getting me down its a lovely easy thing to do.
The cleaning and prep, even though its a bodge, was much harder..
But if I could only dip the whole van into Captain Tolleys!
Easy to wet wipe clean while its like milk, or if dry with spirits

Only problem (I think) is its cold weather now, no mention on the instructions,
but my guess is it takes much longer to set, and I worked in a gap in the weather..
However a bonus is I can really see the inside clearly at the moment,
so I should be able to check the reality of the situation clearly.

Next step is to get the upstairs baseboards treated and back onto the roof panels.
Its all gutted out up there and now it will start coming back together.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Tolleys had overnight to cure with no rain,
it came this next afternoon, and washed out loads of it!
Milky white puddles under the van.
Water coming in through the seals too.
Try something else next..
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Coming back to the windows later, and moving on anyway,
cleaned up and sanded the bed boards for upstairs,
and fitted them back in while I work on cleaning up the fibreglass insides.
Its hard work scraping off the mess of glue and foam from the rotten carpet.
Making myself as comfortable as possible up there.

It occurs to me that as I am keeping it basically as a clear space,
and yet its an off road vehicle that I want to be able to store stuff up there,
I will be needing some serious lashing points to strap stuff down.
So the boards are going to get a lot better fixings than they did before.

Also its dawning on me that I shouldn't be needing the "bilges" at all really,
and they are going to be cold empty spaces,
so why dont I (when the boards are finally fixed) fill them with expanding foam?
That and a bit of sheet sealed cell foam under the bed board,
The whole cot space should be well snug.

I might as well go all out on the insulation,
and the foaming will also be slightly structural.
Any thoughts?
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Still plodding away at this, its proved really hard to prep the inside,
the carpet glue and various bits of resin, that was glueing stuff to the inside,
has been annoying to remove, scraping, sanding or wire brushing,
and all upside down in a tiny space, gets up the nose..

After avoiding the job as long as possible, its finally done.

In the further interest of saving my respiratory tracts in my old age,
I have decided to order the pre-glued insulation.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Preglued insulation is going in without problems, therapeutic kind of work..

I have also noticed that some of the joins on the difficult curves
can be smartened/smoothed with gaffe tape really nicely!
Not decided on the final covering/lining material,
but I really need to research some glues, and try them with materials.
I do not want to be in that small space with toxic fumes.
Any ideas?

Window wise I got stuck in and ripped out the perspex and seals,
glued somewhat oversize perspex inside and bolted the corners too.
I could have used my go to bog standard silicone,
but I already had the ArboMast windscreen rubber sealant to hand,
so I used it, with mixed feelings, as it isnt really a glue.

Turned out ok though I think as it does at least clean up nicely,
I wrote to the manufacturer/agent and its white spirit.
Its useful to be able to overdo it and cleans up very easily.

This has proved to be an economical and neat solution,
though I would have loved opening windows.

Maybe one day I will cut the whole lot out and replace again.

The hightop is still quite boomy, the insulation is not sound insulation,
its just foil backed PE foam,
but I have just bought some Dodo Mat for the rear end inside,
and its sooo heavy, it would have made the van too top heavy.

Thinking that I will probably carry light soft things up there,
duvets and coats etc so that will quieten it down anyway.
Its a reasonable space for my two kids now.

Oh I have also bought expanding foam to seal around the edges,
between the bed boards and the inside of the gutters,
still anxious about this move but cant see why not.
Stronger and more insulation, just not easy to dig out if I need to.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

Da dan
Registered user
Posts: 612
Joined: 16 Sep 2015, 06:00
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by Da dan »

Go careful with the foam idea. Depending which foam you have will depend on how much it expands thus could push out the lining. The foam does not have much Insulation and sound property but will keep it firmer. It’s a bugger to scrape off if you do it wrong! Leave to dry before you start playing with it or it goes everywhere. You can always ad more once it’s dried. Use a sharp carving knife to trim. One of the best stick and hold and longevity of product is ct1. It is expensive but does the job well. I think we’ll worth the money


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Thanks for that, I do understand the problems with expanding foam,
and it is a type I havent tried before, so I should test it where it doesnt matter first.
Theres a lot of space under the bed boards for it to expand without pushing out the sides.
However worst may be it lifts the bed while glueing it down!

The glue/adhesive I am looking for is to stick material, the lining, a big area..
to the newly stuck insulation, so its primarily the plastic foil surface,
also some gaffe tape areas now.

The usual glue is the high temp spray glue which works well,
if I could find something non toxic like that it would be great.
Last edited by rollercoaster on 23 Apr 2020, 07:20, edited 1 time in total.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

Da dan
Registered user
Posts: 612
Joined: 16 Sep 2015, 06:00
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by Da dan »

Apologies. Have no idea if it it would work in a van but could be worth a try ‘mod podge’. Paint on though? Google it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Hmmm Mod Podge, wasnt sure, although its an interesting thought,
it says not sticking well to plastic,
and the surface is now mostly plastic foil.
I cant even get my gaffe tape to stick well.
Harris Trim has eco high temp glue, but not in stock
I ordered some 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Contact Adhesive 30.
Will report back later..
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Oh what a saga this thread is, and mostly writing to myself.
Anyhow good news everyone! No more leaks!
A good downpour, the first one since I finished the windows..
dry everywhere.

The glue has arrived and I am trying it out now on test patches.
Its thin and runny and I am painting glue on a ceiling..
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
sarran1955
Registered user
Posts: 1440
Joined: 11 Mar 2009, 18:51
80-90 Mem No: 6754
Location: 6, les Hauts de Sarran 19800, Sarran ,Limousin ,FRANCE

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by sarran1955 »

Hello

rollercoaster wrote: The glue has arrived and I am trying it out now on test patches.
Its thin and runny and I am painting glue on a ceiling..

My job for tomorrow... :roll:

Cordialement,

:ok
Image

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

Reporting back on the 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Contact Adhesive 30.

Its not fantastic at sticking to the foil side of the foam insulation,
it would do the job if the kids dont pick it off.

I do have a load of this felt, that was theatre drape blackout.
Just got to use it for something, its a great insulant, fire and rot proof,
and it sticks great to metal, even with bits of previous spray glue on,
like that the Scotch-Weld is water based, non toxic, and not sprayed.

Supposedly, if the material is porous, it can go on wet,
allowing it to slide a bit into place.
So its paint the metal, then paint material, and put it together.

Tried some upholstery material too but it didnt stick to that at all,
so you cant be sure without testing a bit.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

User avatar
rollercoaster
Registered user
Posts: 896
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 20:30
80-90 Mem No: 6231
Location: Carmarthenshire Ceridigion border

Re: Sheldon Hightop Interior Refurb

Post by rollercoaster »

rollercoaster wrote: 01 Feb 2020, 13:33
After sleeping on the "bilge" issue I have come to terms with it,
and for the future I will build that into the design,
leaving access to checking and cleaning, and so on, seems important.
Dont think I could ever be sure that condensation or leaks didnt arrive there.

So on the water ingress, I am certain that the majority is leaking in from outside,
mostly from the side windows in the roof, around the rubber seals.
I can watch it coming in on a rainy day and running down.

After a bit of a refit and some time away camping in the van..
there was some water buildup that had to be mopped out.
Glad I left suitable access to "the bilges" up there.

It could only be condensation, mostly from cooking,
worth bearing in mind and planning for.

I am working on a decent extractor fan system somehow.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever

Syncro Danbury 2.0 petrol AGG
 

Post Reply