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Post by layback40 on Aug 11, 2015 23:34:08 GMT 10
Hi guys , I've been quiet .. Where does time go- anyway I'm looking for recommendations for a product to paint the roof / all of my consort with- it isn't leaking as such but it's porous I think- what Can I use to seal and freshen up . The canvas on the bed end is wearing thin so I'm thinking of getting the flys, as I have the sail tracks ,what's a good material for this? Has anyone made up their own? And how are curtains attached? - I don't have any tracks in place so wondering what others have done - thanks a million x Hi, I did my roof last year. It had started to have black mold grow on it. First gave it a scrub with sugar soap & rinsed well. Let it dry in the sun for a couple of days. Purchased some exterior solar guard type paint, full gloss UV resistant stuff. got 4 ltrs at Bunnings on special. Took the sail tracks off & used a roller, 2 coats. Put the tracks back on & sealed the pop rivets & tracks well with silicone so water doesnt come under & down. When I get to it will do the sides as well. If you look back through the thread you will see a post of how I restored my bed end canvas. looking back, if i did it again I would probably just get some of those pressure pack cans of paint & spray the canvas. It stiffens it a bit but it makes it very waterproof & much stronger. Got some tarps from Aldi when they had a clear out. they are silver on one side & blue on the other. They have sail ropes sewn in the edges & I have cut them up to make fly ends. Also I have enough to make a section for the side over the door etc as I dont have an annex. My curtains are on that white spring stuff that has hooks screwed in the ends. There are hooks attached to the bolts that mount the upright posts in the top to attach them to. Hope that all helps you.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 16:04:59 GMT 10
Layback your a legend! Thanks a million - I'm sorry I missed out on that Aldi deal I'll keep an eye out. What is the product to spray on the canvas do you know? Thanks again
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Post by layback40 on Aug 12, 2015 22:42:44 GMT 10
Layback your a legend! Thanks a million - I'm sorry I missed out on that Aldi deal I'll keep an eye out. What is the product to spray on the canvas do you know? Thanks again I first tried a can of Repco spray on under body deadener as it was recommended to me. It toughened up the weathered canvas. I then got a tin of brush on Steptone underbody deadener from supercheap & diluted it 50/50 with turps & used it. Was good but I didnt like the black color so I have sprayed it with gloss white export spray can paint. looks better. If I had my time again I would just paint the up facing canvas with the same paint as I have done the roof with, diluting it 50/50 with water as its water based. The tarps were the last 2 left at the store & had been marked way down.
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Post by atefooterz on Aug 22, 2015 22:11:18 GMT 10
This month i almost bought one of these twice! Thankfully it went to a good home & family to enjoy.
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Post by tann on Aug 28, 2015 16:40:42 GMT 10
hmm i have an 1980 act cruiser apparently.. does anyone elses roof go down on an angle towards the middle? is this a fault with the design or how everyone elses are .. from the pics of everyone elses they look straight.. it used to have a kayak rack on top with support bars on the roof, one either side of the middle vent i feel that kept it straight and to me looks like now it has bowed??? havent had chance to post pics of it .. will post before and after when finished... unfortunately mine wasnt in such good condition when brought.. no annexe yay finished camper reno.. took it out in winter ..double yay.. had struts attached to both back and front of arms they were the 500n ones off ebay I can now say I can lift and pull down with one arm...I put more cupboards in for storage and holds heaps.. any quick pack up ideas as from full pack up with kids mind you was over an hr .. bore...the canvas I painted with a product that came in a 1l can or 4 l...tautflex.. took 6l but I used a paintbrush.. I recommend you use a spray gun..which would take less and wouldn't be so thick.. it will do til I get a new canvas.. happy we get to go away in winter\will need to put pics up..also if you attach all the canvas before pulling out the bed ends they pull out straight and not all over the place same as putting away
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Post by layback40 on Sept 16, 2015 0:03:37 GMT 10
yay finished camper reno.. took it out in winter ..double yay.. had struts attached to both back and front of arms they were the 500n ones off ebay I can now say I can lift and pull down with one arm...I put more cupboards in for storage and holds heaps.. any quick pack up ideas as from full pack up with kids mind you was over an hr .. bore...the canvas I painted with a product that came in a 1l can or 4 l...tautflex.. took 6l but I used a paintbrush.. I recommend you use a spray gun..which would take less and wouldn't be so thick.. it will do til I get a new canvas.. happy we get to go away in winter\will need to put pics up..also if you attach all the canvas before pulling out the bed ends they pull out straight and not all over the place same as putting away Good to hear Tan,
I have never heard of tautflex. Will be interested to hear how it goes over time.
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Post by layback40 on Sept 28, 2015 12:42:57 GMT 10
Just a quick update. Back at Easter while on 4wd tracks in the high country, mine developed cracks in the frame just behind where the ends of the A frame join to the front to back rails. there is a short section that appears to be a weak point. To overcome this I have reinforced the frame with angle running from in front of where the A frame attaches to the frame back to near the spring mounts. Just got back from another trip including plenty of hard 4wd tracks & all is good.
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Post by Lyn and Ken on Sept 29, 2015 11:45:12 GMT 10
We have a 1978 act camper and have been also restoring it. How do we become part of this group.
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Post by layback40 on Sept 29, 2015 12:44:54 GMT 10
We have a 1978 act camper and have been also restoring it. How do we become part of this group. Just register. Click on the register icon up the top of the page. We are a friendly lot.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2015 22:37:39 GMT 10
Thanks so much layback.I found this page last year when I was trying to find out what our camper was called, and found the stories very interesting. We also had trouble with the lifting, so we made a winch, takes a bit longer but saves our backs. We are in the middle of doing a new canvas ourselves, fingers crossed it fit's.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2016 22:05:59 GMT 10
Hi all, just joined the forum as we have just purchased an ACT camper. I have very little info on it and the old girl needs some TLC. So far the only downside is the previous owner(s) have cut the canvas thereby removing front and rear bed sections and removed the fridge, stove and gas lines. That's fine with me as I prefer to cook outside. Anyway I plan on getting started ASAP probably with gas struts to help lift the heavy 12' roof.
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Post by Tara on Feb 1, 2016 16:44:03 GMT 10
Hi All, I was reading your posts about upgrades and trying to figure out a winch system to make it easier to lift. Well I found one (yay) but before we could install it some lovely person stole our camper. If anyone is interested in this winch system feel free to touch base. I paid $1600 for it but happy to talk about a lower price...because what am I going to do a winch system and no camper lol
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Post by layback40 on Mar 30, 2016 9:33:15 GMT 10
Hi All, I was reading your posts about upgrades and trying to figure out a winch system to make it easier to lift. Well I found one (yay) but before we could install it some lovely person stole our camper. If anyone is interested in this winch system feel free to touch base. I paid $1600 for it but happy to talk about a lower price...because what am I going to do a winch system and no camper lol Buy another ACT camper ! They are cheap enough.
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Post by layback40 on Mar 30, 2016 9:44:26 GMT 10
Well the next stage of modification has started. I got myself a roof top tinny. 3.1m lightweight. Have roof bars on my camper & it fits nicely. Took it away over Easter to a river. Had a great time. Over winter will be making a mount on the A frame for the outboard. Already have 2 bins on the front, they were great for the fuel tank, life jackets & other gear. Will be adding an extra pair of 75 X 30 rhs frames so I can move the bins out to near the bed stay mounts. This will give room for the outboard between them. I have braced the A frame previously.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 22:49:07 GMT 10
Hi All I am a new ACT owner and I am so glad to have come across this forum, very grateful for all the info that I have been able to gain from reading all of the posts. A few questions: - I am very independent and like the idea of being able to set this up on my own, will gas struts achieve this? - How easy are they to fit? I am handy but a total newbie to both the ACT and gas struts. Would I be better off getting them fitted by someone or should I have a go? - The ACT has 240v. Down the track If we do enough free camping would like to add solar, any tips? Approx cost? Would like to run a 40L fridge and lights. We are doing our first trip in a few weeks.....if I can wait that long Thank you lisa
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 22:13:52 GMT 10
Hey! Luckily for me my brother has agreed to take on the job of the gas struts and support beam for the beds.
Does anyone else have to tie down the hatch thingy on top of the roof? Ours will apparently flap around if not secured by ratchet straps which is fine but I think it makes an otherwise tidy looking camper look a little daggy. What have others done?
Thanks
Lisa
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2016 20:10:49 GMT 10
Hi everyone hubby and I just brought an Act and having trouble working out if we are setting it up right. how does everyone push the top up is there any videos that can help at all. thank you
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Post by bambang on May 6, 2016 21:57:22 GMT 10
1- Leave front hinge-pins in 2- release locking catches from the back 3- take pins out of the 4 side lifting arms 4- lift rear of roof while straightening the side arms until they sit home in their holders on side-wall ( once the arms are straight then insert their pins to hold them straight ) 5- now release the front hinge-pins holding the roof onto the front of the camper body, while holding roof firmly to stop it moving forward ( so make sure the rear arms stay pressed home rearward in their holders ) 6- push front of roof upwards as the folding arms straighten and find their home / holders on the side of the body...then insert the pins to lock them straight 7- at this point it may all still seem a bit wobbly...until you go around the body and lock in all the canvas wall anchors, pull the bed ends out & lock home with the under-bed supports ( then it will feel much more solid ). HINT: I swapped the pins in the hinges of the folding arms for long bolts with wing-nuts....giving a nice tight hold when the arms are vertical. AND on the kitchen side...I used a telescopic tent pole ( the type with a flat and a hole at each end...forget their actual name now!! ) acting as a spreader bar locked onto those bolts holding the arms up - so spreading and locking that pole forces the folding arms to stay firmly in place front and back. This seems to give more rigidity to the whole setup. Obviously we can't do the same thing on the other side as the spreader-bar would go across the door !! Anyway hopefully this is clear enough and I haven't forgotten anything ( sold my ACT a few years ago )....maybe others could chime in with their versions or further info. Of course by fitting gas-struts some of this stuff may be different, so guys with struts fitted might also give their versions. Good luck and enjoy ....the ACT's are great units. Cheers - Steve.
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Post by bambang on May 6, 2016 22:47:48 GMT 10
lc / Lisa....regarding the flapping top vent - it should be held in place by the sliding arms inside (which have knobs that just twist to tighten in any position - open or closed or anywhere inbetween). There should also be little straps attached to the inside of the hatch panel, and they have press-studs on one end to attach onto the lower frame/timber to lock in place when closed....if not there then you should be able to make up some simple straps inside to get rid of the need for ratchet-straps outside. Good luck....Steve.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2016 12:08:24 GMT 10
Thanks for the reply! I'll check out what we have up there, that sounds much nicer than a ratchet
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2016 16:28:51 GMT 10
hmm i have an 1980 act cruiser apparently.. does anyone elses roof go down on an angle towards the middle? is this a fault with the design or how everyone elses are .. from the pics of everyone elses they look straight.. it used to have a kayak rack on top with support bars on the roof, one either side of the middle vent i feel that kept it straight and to me looks like now it has bowed??? havent had chance to post pics of it .. will post before and after when finished... unfortunately mine wasnt in such good condition when brought.. no annexe yay finished camper reno.. took it out in winter ..double yay.. had struts attached to both back and front of arms they were the 500n ones off ebay I can now say I can lift and pull down with one arm...I put more cupboards in for storage and holds heaps.. any quick pack up ideas as from full pack up with kids mind you was over an hr .. bore...the canvas I painted with a product that came in a 1l can or 4 l...tautflex.. took 6l but I used a paintbrush.. I recommend you use a spray gun..which would take less and wouldn't be so thick.. it will do til I get a new canvas.. happy we get to go away in winter\will need to put pics up..also if you attach all the canvas before pulling out the bed ends they pull out straight and not all over the place same as putting away
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Post by family travler 7 on May 10, 2016 17:35:33 GMT 10
Can anyone tell when the specs for the 1977 Consort 80 camper. we cant find any info and want to know how much it weighs and what weight we can put in it thanks all and thank you bambang for your reply has helped a lot
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Post by bambang on May 10, 2016 19:53:35 GMT 10
I think the only present member with a Consort is "holistick" ( last time posted on the forum August 2015...so not sure if they're active now) but you'd have to register on the forum to send them a private message and they may have email alert to incoming messages. So go ahead and join up - it's pretty quick n easy, no dramas, doesn't cost anything except a few minutes of your time. Other than that most people have Cruisers ( Consorts seem to be much rarer ?? so a lot less info around )...but keep an eye out for holistick's next appearance ( they may eventually read this ). Best of luck.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2016 9:02:45 GMT 10
Thanks for your help Bambang! I've checked and the roof hatch does have the straps and the little arm things, these seem to have a bit of movement in them though so wondering if I should change the little wing nut thingys over. I've also got a zip that I want to replace, has anyone tried to remove a zip and hand sew a new one in without removing the canvas? Any other tips for getting around a dodgy corner zip? Thanks
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Post by layback40 on Jul 17, 2016 23:59:00 GMT 10
Well the next stage of modification has started. I got myself a roof top tinny. 3.1m lightweight. Have roof bars on my camper & it fits nicely. Took it away over Easter to a river. Had a great time. Over winter will be making a mount on the A frame for the outboard. Already have 2 bins on the front, they were great for the fuel tank, life jackets & other gear. Will be adding an extra pair of 75 X 30 rhs frames so I can move the bins out to near the bed stay mounts. This will give room for the outboard between them. I have braced the A frame previously. The outboard mount mods went well. Made an extra bin that fits a 22ltr plastic fuel tank. The outboard (9.8 hp Johnson) sits on a mount with the prop just near the power socket. Its over at enough of an angle so that the front bed end could be pulled out over it. The gas bottle had to be moved a bit to the side to make room. Its mount is now attached to one of the extra frames. There is quite a bit extra weight on the draw bar & this more than makes up for the extra weight of the spare tyre carrier on the back. I am happy with how it has turned out. There is not much more modification that I am considering. Once the weather warms a little it will be time to use it much more.
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