Building an Adventure Van

[cab591]

Made it to page 116, gotta stop for the night. Impressive build so far!

As for my Sprinter adventure -- not sure if it had stability control or not. It was obviously one of the older gens. The accident happened in New Mexico, on I-10, between Deming and Las Cruces. Locals say they see large vans / semi trucks flipped all the time from strong winds.

The fishtailing isn't what did it in, though. The fishtailing, plus the gust of wind, knocked it into the median. Wheels dipped in, and (trying to get it back on the road), my coworker oversteered, running us off on the other side of the road where there was a bit of an embankment. Coworker then tried steering the other way, aiming to get it back on the road. Too late. Front passenger side wheel dug in, and the van rolled down the embankment. Flipped over once completely, then landed on it's passenger side.

Most of that's from what the police report said (looking at skid marks, and marks in the median). I've got a much more vague recollection of the accident. Woke up when we hit the median, and had a few out the front. Saw the edge of the road in the headlights, bushes past that, and thought to myself, "well, this is going to hurt..."

No idea how I got out of there. The first responders / police couldn't figure it out, either. There was a limo partition between the front and rear, and it was laying on it's passenger side. Glass on the driver side was intact. Only way I could've gotten out is through the small partition, and out the windshield. When responders got on scene, my coworker and I were sitting down on the shoulder.

The van couldn't have done better, though. It maintained most of it's structural integrity (top edge was pushed in a bit from the initial roll), and really held itself together well. The interior was a wreck, but it was done by a 3rd party outfitter. The front driver's area looked almost stock! No collapsed pillars or anything. Believe it or not, the driver's door could actually be opened (though, required some hard pulling).

Can't wait to catch up on the build, Geek!



EDIT: Finally caught up. Sounds like you're having too much fun in that thing! I wish I had the money / patience / OCD for something like this.

[The Dude Himself]

Originally Posted by bmwktmbill

It's a denutted, gutted and slutted Minnie Winnie, 1974 Dodge chassis.
I believe the engine is a 360 but it might be a 318.

Purchased for the price of the tires...$700(tires are new, all 7).

Going out today to bolt up re-gasketed exhaust headers.

Inside is stripped out except for the table/bed combo.

Got a couple of bids on foaming the inside.

Anyone with experience doing that?

bill

www.foamitgreen.com

Mention Mike Wakefield when you order. Should be able to foam the whole thing with a $700 kit.

[jerdog53]

Its been a good read Geek!
My wife and I have been coveting a Sprinter for a few years now, I don’t have the kind of patience or time that you do to build one myself over time or to plan and figure it all out so hats off to you! We will most like go the Outside Van route when the time comes but will have to make some modifications as none of their designs fit the bill exactly

[rebar]

Great Van!

If you needed to pull a 10k# camper.. Which cargo van would you have chosen?

[Trust]

Dear Geek...
Not a van, but awesome: Livin_Tiny_640x360MASTER.m4v (video/mp4 Object)
(Via http://www.outdoorresearch.com/video)
Also, have you ever seen Mickey's camper?

[HellSickle]

Originally Posted by rebar

Great Van!

If you needed to pull a 10k# camper.. Which cargo van would you have chosen?

Tough call. Not many deisel options. My V10 Ford does OK with a 9k # trailer, but more torque would be great.

[Otis the Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by rebar

If you needed to pull a 10k# camper.. Which cargo van would you have chosen?

Pardon my stepping in Geek, but...




http://www.gmfleet.com/chevrolet/exp...cargo-van.html
"SELECT OPTIONAL FEATURES....
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel with 260 hp, 525 lb.-ft. torque and B20-Diesel compatibility"


I drove a new 2013 4500 cutaway w/ box and the same engine/trans combo, but pushing a LOT more air, from Milwaukee to New Orleans. Total weight with the equipment in the back of about 12-13,000 lbs. Pulled strong, nice 6-speed auto, felt like it would handle a trailer also (which it will need to do on occasion) w/ no problem.

I think a 3500 with that drivetrain would be a sweet toy hauler.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by Otis the Sasquatch

Pardon my stepping in Geek, but...




http://www.gmfleet.com/chevrolet/exp...cargo-van.html
"SELECT OPTIONAL FEATURES....
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel with 260 hp, 525 lb.-ft. torque and B20-Diesel compatibility"


I drove a new 2013 4500 cutaway w/ box and the same engine/trans combo, but pushing a LOT more air, from Milwaukee to New Orleans. Total weight with the equipment in the back of about 12-13,000 lbs. Pulled strong, nice 6-speed auto, felt like it would handle a trailer also (which it will need to do on occasion) w/ no problem.

I think a 3500 with that drivetrain would be a sweet toy hauler.

What was your fuel mileage like?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Otis the Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

What was your fuel mileage like?

I think the readout said 14.5 mpg. I run on their fuel card , so the only reason I pay attention is to gauge my range for fuel stops. It had a 50-sumthin' gallon tank.

Disclaimer;
My job is to move the equipment around the lower 48 and Canada as needed, I drive a different truck or multiple trucks interstate every week. But this is what I remember.
Details;
This was a new 4500 w/ 7xx miles on it when I picked it up, 17xx when I dropped it off. Mileage might improve w/ break-in.
It had a wide box on the back, but did have the "aero roof" above the cab.
Don't remember the axle ratio, but I think it was the "lower" one. That's what they usually buy.
Highway speeds, 65-70 all the way, but since I was running down the Mississippi Valley on I-55 it was mostly flatlands.
But I do remember it pulling well through the southern Missouri hills before I dropped down into Arkansas.
The 6-speed auto was sweet. Shifted well and at the right time. Didn't hunt, hold too long, or hesitate.

My guess the 3/4-ton w/ the same drivetrain would do 20 mpg. Might be some reviews out there with actual mileage seen on the 3500 standard body diesel van.

Otis

[ArcticaMT6]

Geek, I think between your thead and haydukes, you guys have made me want a van instead of a trailer. I've already been buttering up the wife to the idea. Keep it coming.

[rebar]

Originally Posted by ArcticaMT6

Geek, I think between your thread and haydukes, you guys have made me want a van instead of a trailer. I've already been buttering up the wife to the idea. Keep it coming.

You'll want both.. Base camp with the amenities. And the van to take you further..

Originally Posted by Otis the Sasquatch

Pardon my stepping in Geek, but...

http://www.gmfleet.com/chevrolet/exp...cargo-van.html
"SELECT OPTIONAL FEATURES....
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel with 260 hp, 525 lb.-ft. torque and B20-Diesel compatibility"


I drove a new 2013 4500 cutaway w/ box and the same engine/trans combo, but pushing a LOT more air, from Milwaukee to New Orleans. Total weight with the equipment in the back of about 12-13,000 lbs. Pulled strong, nice 6-speed auto, felt like it would handle a trailer also (which it will need to do on occasion) w/ no problem.

I think a 3500 with that drivetrain would be a sweet toy hauler.

That would be sweet but my budget is around 20K and a 4x4 van with a duramax would be around 30K

[CrustyD3mon]

sick van geek...well done!!! you could do that type of assemblys for living...;)

enjoy your trips....live the life!!

[BigEasy]

Originally Posted by TooFast

And he just figured out FIAT = Fix It Again Tomorrow

I always heard " Fix It Again Tony!"

[Geek]

Sorry.. I've been too busy to update this thread in forever. The van is approaching 40k miles.

Nothing mechanically to report... a headlight went out.. replaced simple H7.. 4 days later other headlight went out
I'll replace them as a set from now on


Here's one cool thing:

The fridge in the van has a plastic latch top and bottom. I broke one of them.
I was going to take a file and band saw and waste the hours away trying to make a good enough copy....

A client of mine recently got a 3d scanner and a 3d printer.

Voila! More fridge latches than I'm ever going to need




As spring starts to spring.. I'm going to be making a push to take the van to the next level so there will be updates to this thread hopefully soon - but not this weekend - I'm headed to Moab again with the 500 in tow
I'm really looking forward to sleeping in the van in the 75 degree desert for the next 3 nights.

Current priorities:
Overhead cabinet on passenger side
Counter tops and drawers
Awning

[jjustj]

EH? have fun