Scoutkid's van is HERE!!!

[Riley]

So, I need to add a plasma and welder to my list of neat stuff to have around the house. I guess a shop would help too.

Fortunately, SWMBO is generally pretty supportive if something is "needed" for an ongoing project. Just a matter of working the timing of letting her know when it's needed......

Some of the best interior ideas I've seen on the site, of which there are hundreds, tend to lead me towards kind of a nautical efficiency.

The fold out or drop down platforms for bedding seem a wise way to go in terms of maximizing and allowing re-purposed space. The pull out kitchens also seem to have a great deal of flexibility and provide compact stowage.

Looking forward to see how you tackle it! I'll say you're doing a bang up job so far!!

[scoutkid]

Nice work. It seems like yesterday you bought that monster. You're not messin' around !!!

Lol, it WAS almost yesterday! I jump to projects pretty quick...

Loving this build. Looks so much better now that the decals are off and the new wheels and tires are on. I don't envy the work you have ahead of you cleaning up the current wiring and adding to it for the future interior. Keep up the great work!

Surprisingly, aside from the 110V lights inside, and the lights in the top out back, everything seems to work!! Now, I think I might make a separate bus bar for the power instead of a giant bolt of the battery... but other than that, I think it may be a lot 'less bad' than it looked originally. So much of the wiring was just integrated into the massive desk, and now thats gone and with it a ton of wiring problems!

Well, that slide-out kitchen from under the bed will work PERFECT with those half-doors.

You know, this thing is REALLY tall, I can't really imagine what I would need the top halfs of the doors open for anyhow!

So, I need to add a plasma and welder to my list of neat stuff to have around the house. I guess a shop would help too.

Fortunately, SWMBO is generally pretty supportive if something is "needed" for an ongoing project. Just a matter of working the timing of letting her know when it's needed......

Some of the best interior ideas I've seen on the site, of which there are hundreds, tend to lead me towards kind of a nautical efficiency.

The fold out or drop down platforms for bedding seem a wise way to go in terms of maximizing and allowing re-purposed space. The pull out kitchens also seem to have a great deal of flexibility and provide compact stowage.

Looking forward to see how you tackle it! I'll say you're doing a bang up job so far!!

Plasma is a MUST. Its rare to find a good deal on a used one (like the one i got for $100) on craigslist, but keep your eyes peeled! Lots of times people are looking to sell their MIG and Plasma together, package deals should be looked at strongly.

I'm with you on the nautical efficiency, I spend HOURS looking through this site and bookmarking page after page with idea that I like. In fact, at what point does bookmarking something become just 'an entire website'?

Thanks for the kind words!!

[arz]

a couple things to look into for compact/multi-space use:
happijac motorized bed lift. we've got a set of queen size beds in the back of our travel trailer. the lower is motorized to raise to the ceiling. when it gets to teh upper bed, the upper bed is also lifted up. heavy, but way convenient.
murphy bed.

[tribeof5]

Consider a hammock bed that hangs from the wall and ceiling. Easy to make out of pipe and a heavy woven fabric like you would find on lawn furniture. Our local fabric stores stocks this material. It could simply roll up and store out of the way when not in use by removing the two end pieces of pipe. Just a thought.

[scoutkid]

GOOD BYE minimal BUMPSTEER!

Got home yesterday to find my track bar mount in the mail, and got my UJOR track bar installed today.





Front end should be all done!



I also took my first stab at setting up my interior. What do you think?

[dsw4x4]

Van is looking sharp and the interior will be rockin for poker night! Just needs a swordfish mounted on the wall!

[lstzephyr]

My inspiration:

Awesome thread! I'm interested in what you do with the interior. A diesel 4wd van seems about perfect as far as I'm concerned.

One thing I found interesting about the picture of the sportsmobile is that all of the external stuff(rack, ladder, awning, bikes, etc) makes it look shorter visually than the blank slate of your van. Although in person they are still massive!

[scoutkid]

Van is looking sharp and the interior will be rockin for poker night! Just needs a swordfish mounted on the wall!

I have a shark, will a shark work?

Awesome thread! I'm interested in what you do with the interior. A diesel 4wd van seems about perfect as far as I'm concerned.

One thing I found interesting about the picture of the sportsmobile is that all of the external stuff(rack, ladder, awning, bikes, etc) makes it look shorter visually than the blank slate of your van. Although in person they are still massive!

You know, what also makes the SMB in the pic look small is the shorter lift and smaller tires! I'm pretty sure once mine gets all that garb it will look pretty ridiculous, lol.


Put about 120 highway miles on today after the track bar install. BE-A-UTIFUL! NO bumpsteer, drives like a dream, 1 finger on the steering wheel. If I let go, it tracks straight as an arrow. I could not be happer with this setup!!

[scoutkid]

Oh, and Vantom got his first taste of dirt... and he liked it...



So what if it is just the dirt driveway at my parents ranch?!

[TangoBlue]

That looks SOOO good! Looks like a FS road in the Sierras - you can tell because its going up hill.

I especially like those stirrup cables you have to climb in the cab; the red and black color really makes a nice contrast.