Cable Access panel for new truck?

[Indrestudios]

Hello,
I'm finishing up a new remote truck and I'm hunting for a curb panel I can install for cable access.

I don't need a big 2' x 2' thing, like you see on big trucks, but more like a 12" x 12" weather proof / locking door? I hunted around RV supply sites, but haven't found anything beyond cheap plastic doors. Since we shifted to a digital snake, I no longer have the need for giant patch panels, it's a beautiful thing.

Anybody found anything cool out there?

-Michael




indre remote recording, philadelphia

2 x izRADAR 24
yamaha 02r96
48 channels Presonus digimax
aviom 48 ch digital snake

www.indrestudios.com

[Remoteness]

Michael,

Welcome to “Remote Possibilities.”

What kind of remote truck are you building – small, medium or large? Are you building it yourself or do you have a body shop or coachbuilder building your vehicle?

Maybe you should have your builder (or yourself) build a 19” metal cage that will house the interface panel within the truck body, then have a water proof curbside door installed where the cage is mounted. The connector panel side would get accessed via the panel door. Since you will need access to the panel for repairs or modifications design a removable rear panel for the back of the cage.

I know you were thinking of 12” but 19” may make more sense since there are many off the shelf 19” rack panels available. This will also give you plenty of options for the future. We use “Middle Atlantic” and make our own custom panels for all our stuff.

Another idea would be to install a small curbside belly bin with a mounted inside interface panel. You could use 4” PVC drainpipe mounted at the bottom of the bin for all your cable runs. Then the belly bin can stay closed and opened only when you need access to the panel.

[Remoteness]

Here's what I'm talking about...

Well, sort of -- These dated pictures of Elroy's power panels and such.
I'll try to get some newer pictures taken sometime soon.

I've designed and built five trucks in my day.
This time around I didn't want any access doors opening outward into the street or curbside.
I decided to go with rollup doors. The same kind you would find on emergency vehicles...

All fabrication happened on my premise.

[Remoteness]

Sweet!

[Remoteness]

Here's a look at the curbside power interface area when the door is sealed.

[Indrestudios]

Thanks Steve for the suggestions & nice pictures. I would say ours is a small truck, built around a Dodge / Mercedes Sprinter. I am doing all the fit out & construction myself, with the occasional help of a commerical truck body shop next door.

While I love the idea of the roll-up door, I don't really have the real estate in the back to accomidate the interior box. This is a work-in-progress, but for now I'm really just hunting for a small square access door like the one pictured below your roll up. Any idea of who makes those? or where I could find one?

thanks, Michael

indre remote recording, philadelphia

2 x izRADAR 24
yamaha 02r96
48 channels Presonus digimax
aviom 48 ch digital snake

www.indrestudios.com

[jenkel16]

Steve,
How water tight is that setup?

Graham

[Remoteness]

Great, so there was some value in my posts...

That picture with that small square access door was the key -- Excellent!

I got that specialty door from a company called Thomas. It was bought out by another company from Austin Texas called Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc.

This company is the largest company servicing the truck body manufacturing and emergency & fire truck industries.

That particular door is normally found on fire trucks. A fair amount of the accessories and metal fabrication found on my trucks (if we didn't design and build it ourselves) was sourced out from Fire, Rescue & Emergency Vehicle catalogs.

Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc. has locations in California, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania & of course Texas.

These folks are not cheap but they are a great source when you cannot find that special part anywhere else. I purchased a bunch of those doors over the years from Thomas. The Thomas part number for that exact door is TB3013. Keep in mind that they were still called Thomas when I bought the stuff. If that doesn't get you what you need it's in the Aluminum Castings & Extrusions section in their catalog. Better be sitting down when you ask them for the price -- They are not cheap!

Since I hooked you up big time -- I trust you will name your first truck after ME!

You will never see too many other remotesters letting the cat out of the bag like this on a public forum

Remember -- It's about quality and NOT quantity threads around these parts!
We many be a slow moving forum BUT we surely RAWK the information out there for you!!!

I welcome all friendly advice and enlightenment! All the best to you and yours!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by jenkel16

Steve,
How water tight is that setup?

Graham

It's completely weather proof and nearly water tight. We hit those doors with a powerful hose in every direction and a very small amount of leakage occurred. Under normal conditions it will never leak into the compartment.

Graham, keep in mind that these doors are found on most of the newer fire, rescue and emergency vehicles out there today.

[Indrestudios]

Wow, what a memory! I can't remember my kid's names some days, and you had the part # for that door you bought in 1999.

I called up Austin Hardware, here in PA, and they have that door in-stock for $72.00. Also found it online, but a bit more $$ http://www.pitpal.com/detail.aspx?ID=3276

Thanks for your help, I'll post some more truck pictures as we finish things up.

-Michael


indre remote recording, philadelphia

2 x izRADAR 24
yamaha 02r96
48 channels Presonus digimax
aviom 48 ch digital snake

www.indrestudios.com

[Remoteness]

Michael,

They make a smaller version of that door which is a lot less bread.
I have installed the large and small versions on all three vehicles...

Jethro, Elroy & The Bread Mobile!

So, what are you going to name your first truck again?

All the best my man! Keep us posted.