{"id":476,"date":"2017-10-03T23:16:58","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T22:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/?page_id=476"},"modified":"2026-05-12T13:09:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:09:47","slug":"toys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/?page_id=476","title":{"rendered":"Custom kit & equipment."},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview.<\/strong>
Listed below are items we have made from scratch, or bought, then modified or adapted for use with the van. Some are only minor mods, others, if not built from scratch, are totally repurposed<\/span>. Most will also appear in other lists.
We have also included in the list (marked in grey) <\/span>some of the things we hope to make or modify in the future.<\/p>\n

Items in \u201cgrey\u201d<\/span> are still to-do.<\/strong>
Items in \u201cmauve\u201d<\/span> need to be fixed, replaced, or upgraded, or we need more.<\/strong>
Items in \u201cbrown\u201d<\/span> are under construction.<\/strong>
Items in \u201cgreen\u201d<\/span> are almost completed or on order.<\/strong>
Items in \u201cblack\u201d completed.<\/strong>
Items in \u201citalics (any colour)\u201d<\/em><\/span> are listed in another category. (see links).<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

Permanently fitted or Available.<\/span><\/h4>\n

     Mechanical and electrics.<\/span>
Non-return bleed valves on brake & clutch bleed points<\/a>
Cable gear linkage.<\/a> <\/span>(should also allow for a second full-size underslung box).<\/span>
Larger starter battery.<\/a>
Twin leisure batteries.<\/a><\/span> (fitted, not wired in yet).
<\/span>Lithium battery system.<\/span>
LED reversing lights. (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span><\/em>
High-level rear brake lights<\/span>.<\/span> (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span><\/em>
Fully LED rear light clusters<\/span>.<\/span> (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span>
<\/em>Automatic fire suppressant system in the engine bay<\/span>.<\/span> (needs installing, ASAP).
<\/span><\/em>Adjustable height rear spring mounts.
The new dashboard<\/a>.<\/span> (the job list and work in progress).<\/span>
    The new dashboard’s basic construction<\/a>. (the metalwork).<\/span>
    Switch layout<\/a>.<\/span>
    USB & power outlets<\/a>.
<\/em>    Communication & Navigation Systems<\/a>. (CB, Wi-Fi, phone, & radio).<\/span>
    Heating & ventilation control system<\/a>.
<\/em>    Arial connection panel<\/a>.
<\/em>    Vacuum switch system<\/a>. (diflock controls).<\/span><\/span>
    <\/span>Clock binnacle replaced\/upgraded.<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
               
        External.<\/span>
Uprated front winching attachment points.<\/a>
Modified front bash plate.<\/a> (will be replaced with aluminium).
Aluminium<\/span><\/span><\/span> front bash plate.<\/span>
Modified engine Sump guard.<\/a> (to be replaced with aluminium).
<\/span><\/span>Aluminium engine sump guard.<\/span>
Modified swing-out arms.<\/span> (for better light visibility, and to take the attachments).<\/span>
       Wheel carrier mounts.<\/a> (x2 so wheels face the other way).<\/span><\/span>
       Flexible telescopic flagpole<\/a>. (passenger side).
<\/span>       Rigid telescopic pole.<\/span> (for a wind turbine, on the driver’s side + internal flagpole<\/span>).
<\/span>       Rigid telescopic pole.<\/span><\/span> (for a turbine on the passenger’s side. if the first is successful).
              <\/span>Flexible Telescopic flagpoles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> (fitted inside the wind turbine poles).<\/span>
4 bar roof rack<\/a>
       Wind-out awning.<\/a>
       Under-slung ladder rack & ladder.<\/a>
       Under-slung sand ladder racks.<\/span>
       Twin 60W solar panels on the front of the rack. <\/em>(see wild camping<\/a>).
<\/span><\/em>       Solar panels.<\/span><\/span> (possibly the flexible type on the awning). <\/span>
       LED light bar on the front of the roof rack. (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span>
<\/strong>       LED floodlights on each side at the rear. (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span>
       LED high-level hazard lights at the front & rear. (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span><\/em><\/span>
       Pipe storage box.<\/a>
Truck mirrors.<\/a>
       Additional wide-angle wing mirrors.<\/a>
       Anti-mist film on wing mirrors.
       <\/span><\/span>Combined standard & wide-angle mirrors. (<\/span><\/span>still searching).<\/span>
       Nearside forward-facing camera for the head unit. (for continental driving).<\/span><\/span>
       LED Indicator and approach lights in wing mirrors.<\/em><\/span> (if legal, see lighting<\/a>).<\/em>
       LED sidelights in wing mirrors.<\/span> (if legal, see lighting<\/a>).
  <\/em><\/span>     Electric folding truck-style wing mirrors. (planned homemade motorised arms).<\/span><\/span>
Removable blanking plates<\/a>. (for all access holes into chassis and bodywork).
Pop-top roof.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>
 
        Internal.<\/span>
Dashboard modifications & construction.<\/a><\/span><\/em>
    Upgraded the dash clocks and binnacle<\/a>. (still have more to add).<\/span><\/em>
    Compass and clino. <\/span>(see Communication & Navigation systems<\/a>).<\/span><\/em>
Stirring column cowl<\/a>. (see switch connections<\/a> for more info).<\/span><\/span>
Overhead switch panel<\/a>. (see switch connections<\/a> for more info).
<\/span>Rear switch panels<\/a>.<\/span> (see switch connections<\/a> for more info).<\/span>
Reposition the gear stick.<\/span> (see <\/span><\/em>cable gear linkage<\/a>).<\/em><\/span>
<\/span>Cabin floor storage and battery boxes.<\/a> (second still to be installed).<\/span>
Batteries, moved to the cabin floor storage box.<\/a>
Plywood floor with hatches to access the storage \/battery boxes.<\/a>
12v underfloor heating. (mains fed, see long-term protection<\/a>).<\/span><\/span>
Cupboard units.<\/span>
Reduce engine hatch size<\/a>. (to clear intended cupboards).<\/span><\/span>
Fully waterproof\/air-tight engine hatch.<\/a><\/span>
<\/em>Raised beeds on door surround for river fording panels. (for deep water fording).<\/span><\/span>
Tilt and slide, bed support over the engine.<\/span><\/h4>\n

General use & Camping<\/span><\/h4>\n

         For use with the van. <\/span>
<\/a>Storage box for the swing-out arms<\/a>.
Second storage box for the swing-out arms. (<\/span><\/span>under consideration).<\/span>
Storage containers to fit inside the spare wheel hub recess.<\/span>
Flat-pack Fire Pit\/Stove, <\/a>(Mk1).<\/span>
Flat-pack Fire Pit\/Stove<\/a>, (Mk2).<\/span><\/span>
Flat-pack fire pit\/stove<\/span> (MK 3 titanium, under consideration).<\/span>
Wind turbine.<\/span> (to mount the telescopic pole).<\/span>
Waterproofing panels for all door openings.<\/span> (needs channels on door surround).<\/span>
Short flag poles for the CB aerial sockets at the <\/a>front. (with internal CB aerials).<\/span>
Flags with the bat logo for the fixed poles.<\/a>
Drive-away awning connection for the winter tent<\/a>. (under construction).<\/span><\/span>
Cat-claw Protection for air-frame tent \u201cpole\u201d bases.<\/a>
Freezer box.<\/a><\/h4>\n

        <\/span>Lightweight camping kit.<\/span><\/h4>\n

        <\/span>Safety equipment.
<\/span>High-level rear brake lights.<\/span> (see lighting<\/a>).
High-level rear indicator lights. <\/strong><\/span><\/span>(see lighting<\/a>).<\/span><\/span>
<\/em>High-level LED hazard lights front & back.<\/span> (see lighting<\/a>).<\/span>
Spacers for rear light clusters. <\/span><\/em>(see bodywork<\/a>).<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Maintenance, spares & recovery.<\/span>
see also Custom (home-made) tools<\/a>.<\/span><\/h4>\n

        <\/span>Tools for the van. (<\/span><\/span>Basic toolkit, longer trips & maintenance).<\/span>
Brake bleed kit.<\/span> (Non-return bleed valves fitted on all brakes).<\/span>
Coil Spring Compressor.<\/span>
<\/em>Engine cooling system drain and fill kit.<\/span><\/span>
Engine oil system drain and fill kit.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

                 
        Recovery kit.<\/span>
Ground anchor plate fabrication.<\/span><\/a> (need a second set).
<\/span>Lightweight ground anchor pin.<\/span>
Ground anchor pin extractor.<\/a> (Mk 1, too heavy)<\/span>.
<\/span>Portable LED floodlight.
<\/span>Tyre bead breaker.<\/span> (attaches to the 3\/4\u2033 breaker bar).<\/span>
Manual tyre bar head for alloy wheels<\/span>.<\/span> (attaches to 3\/4\u2033 breaker bar).
<\/span>Jack & axle stand footprints<\/a>. <\/strong>( jack footprint, normally stored in the van).<\/span><\/h4>\n

Toys, follies & 2nd van.<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

        Toys,<\/span>
<\/em>Static lights<\/a>.<\/span> (for filming & still photography).
<\/em><\/span>Crab & Shrimp nets. (removable nets).<\/span>
<\/em><\/h4>\n

Categorie link pages:-
<\/strong>    Running the Beast<\/a>.
              Custom kit & workshop tools<\/a>
                          Custom kit & Equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading.
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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Overview.Listed below are items we have made from scratch, or bought, then modified or adapted for use with the van. Some are only minor mods, others, if not built from scratch, are totally repurposed. Most will also appear in other lists. We have also included in the list (marked in grey) some of the things … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Custom kit & equipment.”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":453,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-476","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=476"}],"version-history":[{"count":134,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23116,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/476\/revisions\/23116"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebeast.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}