Lurker with a Dodge

[Cruiz]

Hey Everyone,
Picked up this 98 Dodge Van Mark III in June for camping trips, Got it as a retainer from a local dealer who needed help doing locates on hard to fine repo's. So the money I saved went to the exterior of the vehicle. Wasn't planning on doing all this but then I made friends with a local Welder and wallah! Still needs work, wife cut me off after the electrical upgrade.
All of your guy's posting and comments have given me a lot of great Do's & Don't material I promise to stop being a lurker and put in my two cents when needed.

 

[dsw4x4]

Very cool it looks like you have a grip on the interior and exterior now its time for 4x4!!

 

[Cruiz]

Very cool it looks like you have a grip on the interior and exterior now its time for 4x4!!

Not the interior!!, need fridge, stove, shelves, microwave installed, have the spot, hole and outlet, just getting a microwave thats 14x12 into a 13x13 hole is harder than I thought.


Could also use some tables etc etc..But I'm almost done with the daughters front seat hammock bed set-up.:wings:

 

[spencyg]

Love the vision. Doing a mild lift, losing the running boards, and getting some A/T tires will allow you to go 90% of the places a 4x4 conversion would. For the simplicity of it all, I think I'd only take it that far personally. Maybe a rear air locker if you really felt the need, but that is it. Great job so far.

 

[1leglance]

I would reallllllllly think hard on the micro.
I have talked to plenty of Sportmobile owners who never use their micro's.

I like that you are taking this on a different track than normal, very nice.
Now get out there and post up some outings

 

[ujoint]

What a difference!!!!

 

[Gunracer1]

Nice but, I would ditch the running boards asap

 

[spencyg]

How sturdy is that rack with your mounting arrangement? I am planning something similar on mine but was planning on a lot more "beef"...is it rigid if you're standing up there? How much weight have you loaded it with? Are the stand-off straps through-bolted into some structure in the van, or are you relying on sheetmetal?

Thanks

 

[Cruiz]

How sturdy is that rack with your mounting arrangement? I am planning something similar on mine but was planning on a lot more "beef"...is it rigid if you're standing up there? How much weight have you loaded it with? Are the stand-off straps through-bolted into some structure in the van, or are you relying on sheetmetal?

Thanks

Rack is very sturdy, It held 2 adults and my daughter when we were loading it and it never budged . We added the center catwalk to make it easy to walk around. The straps sit in the gutter and then are bolted together if that helps.

We had it fully loaded on a trip to Lake Casitas 400 mile round trip.
5 big wood pallets (one way)
2 12x12 canopies (Heavy Suckers)
two tents
2 tables
4 camping chairs
misc stuff

Didn't budge

 

[Cruiz]

Nice but, I would ditch the running boards asap

There gone this weekend.

 

[spencyg]

Do you have any close up pics of the gutter mounts?

Thanks!

 

[Cruiz]

Love the vision. Doing a mild lift, losing the running boards, and getting some A/T tires will allow you to go 90% of the places a 4x4 conversion would. For the simplicity of it all, I think I'd only take it that far personally. Maybe a rear air locker if you really felt the need, but that is it. Great job so far.

I added a leaf in the rear and looking into some more clearance in the front, I have some LT235/75r15 Yoko Geolanders now and they rub a little. I've read DODGE is a not a easy set-up when it comes to a front end lift.

 

[Cruiz]

Do you have any close up pics of the gutter mounts?

Thanks!

I'll will shoot some tonight when I get home.

 

[Cruiz]

I would reallllllllly think hard on the micro.
I have talked to plenty of Sportmobile owners who never use their micro's.

I like that you are taking this on a different track than normal, very nice.
Now get out there and post up some outings

Trust me I have, Wife's request. (She even found the Micro on eBay) Already ran the outlet to the spot so can't turn back now.

 

[Cruiz]

I'll will shoot some tonight when I get home.

Here you go...sorry it took so long, was out of the country.