YOLANDA...My Turbine Princess build 03 7.3 E350 pop top 4x4

[wanderer-rrorc]

You're moving right along.
I keep thinking I want/need a b/u camera.

That one is grainy...but the night vision is INCREDIBLE!! So bright!! I may end up putting it on the touch screen....

Had to take yesterday and today working on the wifes VW..(2 days because I ordered the wrong specialty socket)...

But I did get the switch panel installed and ran off the house solar battery so I can keep a close eye on the battery levels...lights and inverter will end up on this panel..

Today most of the day was hanging with friends and kids at the fishing expo..

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Got bored on this rainy Sunday...late start didn't think I had materials.....I was wrong..tomorrow gonna pull the wire from the panels thru a water tight box and the power to the 360 lights...move some of the solar monitor gauges around too...


And mocked the awning location...

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[RVflyfish]

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/ite...Power-Lock-Kit.html?nosto=productpage-nosto-1
View attachment 427760

and poking around looking at things on the Pork chop express build (Ive joked about calling this the Pork chop express as we foster mini-pigs and Im ususaly the transport for Vet and Foster stuff...).....and he mentioned just swaping out the window regulators for power ones...so I go looking...some INTERESTING choices out there for sure!!

this one uses the factory hand cranks and puts a worm gear driven outer ring over the handle....

View attachment 427761

so I start looking at OEM stuff...its not bad...then I get the idea maybe just put power window motors on the exisiting assembly...head to ROCKAUTO.com and start poking around...

OEM power window regulators are $45 each....thats a BIG no brainer!!!

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...erior,window+regulator+&+motor+assembly,15596
View attachment 427762

so about $400 for power windows-doors an alarm, a turbo timer, egress lighting switch and to know if my DAMN VAN IS SITTING BURNING FUEL WHILE IM NOT IN IT...yea...thats a no-brainer...

Any updates on this mod? I really want to do it if it works!

But Motoidiot on the SMB forum (who may be Village Idiot on this forum?) said you might even have to replace the whole harness?

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Any updates on this mod? I really want to do it if it works!

But Motoidiot on the SMB forum (who may be Village Idiot on this forum?) said you might even have to replace the whole harness?

I haven't purchased it yet...im gonna check out that thread!! Thanks!!


More stuff done today pics tomorrow once it's all fit and finished!!

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Spent the day fitting camping gear in Yolanda....I've planned very well and have managed to get a HUGE portion of camp stuff stored away!! I need to get a smaller kitchen box but aside from that once the pop top is finished the mattress will be stored in the top bed..and ordering the lower cushions will finish the functional build out!! SO GLAD I got the long body...

Benches stained sealed and installed,
360* lights in and wired...solar mounted and working too!!

And I've decided to wrap her in green...I'm going PEARL WHITE/BLUE...I like the stealth of a white van....

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[RVflyfish]

What fridge/freezer is that?

 

[Factoid]

Good plan and execution so far!

Anxiously awaiting the design and installation of the lifting mechanism.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

What fridge/freezer is that?

https://www.google.com/search?q=edg...&ved=0ahUKEwj5-6HYhbHZAhVrp1kKHT7tAPsQgTYIlQU

Love it!!!! 62 quart dual zone...Craigslist score

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Good plan and execution so far!

Anxiously awaiting the design and installation of the lifting mechanism.

I'm totally ripping off CCV for lift design.

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[el-cid]

"Good artists copy; great artists steal" - Pablo Picasso

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Did a little recon for next weekend campout with friends...spent yesterday playing with the top lift..some success..some monkey scratch head....

We shall see...

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Quite a bit of stuff done....Deffinitly not happy with top lift that I built as a test...


But I did get the awning on!! Must be springtime!!

Got all the USB sockets installed!! Double at each seat!! 2.1 amp duals.....

We had a fun weekend...Saturday at an off-road show I found out she's taller than a jeep on 35"s!!

Yolanda also got the hoof of approval when we were transporting a foster pig to his forever home..and he decided that the carpet looked more comfortable than his crate and blankets...at 70 mph...on a turnpike with no place to turn off...(crate is now retired)

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Well what a GREAT WEEKEND camping with my crew!!

Stayed nice and warm in the van snuggled under blankets...with the top down the medium sized little buddy on low kept it t shirt comfortable inside when it was 20* and lower at night!!

We did get some backroading in and a nice water crossing on a road I know...about 10 in deep...2wd van laughed at it!!

I even got a chance to smooth out those cupped tires I rotated to the back (childish burn out)

Many things worked FLAWLESS..and even some more were better than planned...the bed is wider than what we were used to in the old truck and being lower (no climbing) it was easier to get in and out and turned around on in the middle of the night..(potty)

The skylight was perfect for stars and letting the brite moonlight in...and not being too brite when the sun came up!! Ill be glad when I get the removable sunroof in its place and I can open it or pop it out on nice nights (with a screen so no bugs get in)

Notes..
Need to put lights in cargo area on main overhead switch..not enough light at night to get ready from just the front light.

Need to get the kitchen stuff in a rear mounted box for easier access...

Need to connect the secondary start battery and the house battery..it was too overcast too many days and the 100ahu battery wasn't up to running the fridge and the inverter all night..(it did get cold inside so I'm sure battery suffered but it was only at 11.7 volts at sundown..need to add capacity and ability to charge from alternator on overcast days..one wire and an isolator switch will fix that!!)

Need to add more clips so I can hang divider curtain across side door and front seats to minimise heat loss thru upper doors direct metal to outside and Windows.

Spin passenger front seat once at camp..adds more room in back and would make it super comfy for 2 or more adults to be inside warning up.

I started the rear door flip down shelves today...might as well add inner door storage for recovery and kitchen stuff..and hung some straps for headlamp bag, waterproof foldable bowl and misc stuff..

Pictures!!

Mohican state park campground B
Abandoned bridge
Abandoned smoke house
Playing submarines
White smoke burn out (7.3)

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[Raul]

Great project. Looking forward the pop top progress. I know you are still working on it, but for what I can see, the triangulation of the lifting mechanism is going to take care of the back and forth movement of the roof, but there is not much on the left right direction.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Great project. Looking forward the pop top progress. I know you are still working on it, but for what I can see, the triangulation of the lifting mechanism is going to take care of the back and forth movement of the roof, but there is not much on the left right direction.

Yeah nobody really addresses that on any of the pop top...its left up to crossbar on the arms to kinda hold it square...I've got ideas of using square tube that's double shear to keep it from shifting left and right..


Working on some things...spent the ENTIRE DAY looking for a factory steering wheel with cruise buttons...I did score some hammocks from caddys for the side storage..(free)...and found some good tires on steelies...shoulda bought them...had a low speed sidewall fail half a mile from the house after boy scout meeting...drove it to the house and surprisingly the spare came right down and is in EXCELLENT shape..

Tomorrow morning...tires...Blarg...

Got some handles made of paracord yesterday...so far they work Well!! Kids can shut the back door without problems now!! (Apparently I forgot pictures..and its dark out now)

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk