Clifforrd: 1998 Ford E350 7.3

[bemerritt]

Well, I figured I had been spending more and more time reading all of the different build threads that it is finally time to introduce my van, ask some questions, and plan for the future!

Purchased the van June 2015, had 127k on the clock

First order of business was gutting it and flooring

Then welded the bed frame

Mounted 200 watts solar to the roof

With the bed in the back

And that's pretty much how it was for about a year.

 

[bemerritt]

Then in September we decided to take the van onto the next stage of life and had Agile work it's magic

Put some Aluminess bumpers on

Switchpro to control everything

Then decided to start focusing on the interior. Moved the fridge to behind the driver and installed swivel seats

and start planning the interior. Based off of the nice 80/20 builds in this forum, that is the plan for now.

And that brings us up to present day.

Currently the Van is getting a fuel tank upgrade and the fuel tank mods done to hopefully bring the van back up to full power. While the tank is dropped, a pickup for an Espar is being installed.

About to put a deposit in on a Fiberine 24" bubble top and that leaves me to the last big piece, the roof rack.

Any early reviews on the Ujoint rack? I am waiting to hear back from Chris (I know he is swamped) about availability and how custom it would need to be in order to fit onto the bubble top. Looks like a couple recent bubble top vans he converted are sporting the rack.

Anyways, hopefully past and future pics can inspire/give some ideas to people in the same way those posted here gave me ideas. And I am sure to ask plenty of questions along the way.

- Brian

 

[4x4pair]

That looks great man!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[Abitibi]

I bet you really enjoy how your van handles now! Looks sharp!

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[villageidiot327]

what are the bed plans for that setup?

I like how you did the modeling.... I'm too computer dumb to do that kind of stuff, but I could sketch it out on paper.

 

[bemerritt]

what are the bed plans for that setup?

I like how you did the modeling.... I'm too computer dumb to do that kind of stuff, but I could sketch it out on paper.

The plan is a shop4seats duchess seat. But I will probably hold off a little on it. I Like how MGMetalworks did his SEMA bed, but heard it needs some tweaking to make it right. Ideally I would like a rock n roll setup like a lot of the VW's, but it doesn't seem like there are a lot of good diy options. One of the biggest future design requirements is for future children. So at some point that will become a priority.f But for now I think the plan is to get the top on and see how we like the space and what we want out of it. But I always revert back to some sort of RB50 layout.

Part of the reason I want to go the 80/20 route is that I can switch setups if something isn't working at a relatively low cost on the raw materials front.

 

[Travelin _man]

Very nice, cant wait to see more!

 

[B^2]

Well, I figured I had been spending more and more time reading all of the different build threads that it is finally time to introduce my van, ask some questions, and plan for the future!

Purchased the van June 2015, had 127k on the clock

First order of business was gutting it and flooring

Then welded the bed frame

Mounted 200 watts solar to the roof

With the bed in the back

And that's pretty much how it was for about a year.

What's the width of the interior space in the back? I've always preferred the look and utility of people who do their beds that way but I'm curious to see if I would fit at 5'11. Is that a full size mattress?

 

[Backcountry Pursuit]

Van looks great!

How do you like your Whytner fridge? How long have you had it and how is it holding up?

I'll second the question about how it is sleeping sideways like that.

 

[bemerritt]

So funny to see this pop up. Before I post an update, ill answer those two questions:

1. Pretty sure it is a full and it is just 6' long side to side. A good setup in an unfinished van, but that room quickly goes away with panels and/or insulation. Also, it sucked for the person on the inside that had to crawl over hte other person to get in and out of bed with the other person there.

2. The whytner fridge/freezer is arguably the best $600 ive spent on the van. Can esasily hold enough food for two for a week, and who doesn't like ice cream while camping?!?! I think the chest style is much better than the traditional for the amount of stuff you can pack in and you dont let out all of the cold when you open it.

 

[bemerritt]

So I finished hte next round of the interior jsut before our Christmas camping trip last year. Came out pretty good. Also added an Espar D2 to help in the cold.

Made for nice cozy trips in the winter

I then added cubbies to the sides, cup holders, usb outlets and some bungee storage

Ad thats pretty much what the inside looked like until I found someone local who sold me a smb top off of a totalled smb. SO then this happened:

Raptor lined the grill, added vantage headligts and PIAA fog lights

And then added a side window

I still have to trim out the inside of the pop top, which is making me rethink some of my interior. Also have a massive samelex solar 2000 watt inverter/charger to install as well as som rear popouts, 20 gallon tank where hte spare goes and another crl for behind the driver. Oh, and a ujoint roof rack. Fun imes ahead!

 

[temporarydweller]

Awesome stuff going on here. Looks great!!! What are the circular things on the sides 3/4 of the way up? Some sort of vent? I'm still looking at adding some sort of fresh air vent/fan to mine somewhere.

 

[Corneilius]

Solid rig. Those plywood "windows" really seem to brighten it up. Make it less cargo-y

 

[225]

Solid rig. Those plywood "windows" really seem to brighten it up. Make it less cargo-y

+1

Very slick setup.

 

[semihippie]

This looks amazing. I am curious though, what are the deck plates on either side of the van for?