Finatic Angler
Adventurer
Wow RB components is an awesome site! They solve a lot of problems with their products and all in one place too!
Great find
Great find
Vanimal: 4x4 Sprinter build
- Thread starter Kgorman
- Start date
Great day! The kids caught Lots of fish, we all got dirty on the UTV, and lots of great memories were made. This is why we bought this thing and we are getting tons of use out if it already.
I am glad I got 4x4, there was one spot today where I needed 4 low and it turned out great. It got the rig and trailer through the tricky spots.
Finatic Angler
Adventurer
Please close your thread immediately.
My awesome JK is on the endangered list :sombrero:
My awesome JK is on the endangered list :sombrero:
Finished up the mountain bike mount. Yes this idea is stolen from outside van and others. I had to have one so I fabbed one up.
I used a 15mm/20mm axle bike mount off amazon prime. 6x1mm SS socket head cap screws threaded into aluminum plate. The studs for the l-track are from Macs tie downs.
I used a 15mm/20mm axle bike mount off amazon prime. 6x1mm SS socket head cap screws threaded into aluminum plate. The studs for the l-track are from Macs tie downs.
Sportsmobile is Austin installed the Fantastic Fan 3000. They did it in just a couple hours and for a very reasonable price. They wired it up such that it's not connected to the ignition so we can run it as we need it. Eventually I will route it to house batteries, but for now it works great. I had them install it in the forward position.
Last night I got in the last bits of the bulk of the interior build:
- RBComponents flip down benches/beds (x2) http://www.rbcomponents.com/components/furniture/wall-mount-folding-bench-seat.html
- RBComponents panel kits for the 170wb http://www.rbcomponents.com/van-pro...-van-interior-wall-liner-kit-144-wb-2494.html
- RBComponents 24"x8" gear sacks: https://instagram.com/p/6F0XvkJqNj/?taken-by=rbcomponents
- 3M thinsulate roll 50' from impact3d. http://www.impact3d.com/thinsulate.htm
- Coles Van Hammock: http://shop.cavevan.com/collections/sprinter-promaster-transit/products/van-hammock
This weekend is going to be a hoot. I have to figure out how to support both the bench mount points as well as a line of l-track at the 45" above floor mark. I am considering using 1/8" 7075 Aluminum strapping secured with nutserts or through bolted where I can. Horizontal for the l-track, and vertical for the bench supports. I realize aluminum deflects more than steel given the same width, but I think Al should be ok for this application. At least I hope so, because it's so much easier to work with for me.
Anyone have experiences using aluminum for securing beds and such?
- RBComponents flip down benches/beds (x2) http://www.rbcomponents.com/components/furniture/wall-mount-folding-bench-seat.html
- RBComponents panel kits for the 170wb http://www.rbcomponents.com/van-pro...-van-interior-wall-liner-kit-144-wb-2494.html
- RBComponents 24"x8" gear sacks: https://instagram.com/p/6F0XvkJqNj/?taken-by=rbcomponents
- 3M thinsulate roll 50' from impact3d. http://www.impact3d.com/thinsulate.htm
- Coles Van Hammock: http://shop.cavevan.com/collections/sprinter-promaster-transit/products/van-hammock
This weekend is going to be a hoot. I have to figure out how to support both the bench mount points as well as a line of l-track at the 45" above floor mark. I am considering using 1/8" 7075 Aluminum strapping secured with nutserts or through bolted where I can. Horizontal for the l-track, and vertical for the bench supports. I realize aluminum deflects more than steel given the same width, but I think Al should be ok for this application. At least I hope so, because it's so much easier to work with for me.
Anyone have experiences using aluminum for securing beds and such?
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mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Can't wait to see this progress.
Fantastic idea on the caveman "trampoline" hammock. With that above your/wife's heads, at least you'll hit a softer surface in the middle of the night.
Thanks for the RB site--hadn't seen them yet. Appears like ultra sano builds, even more favorable in some ways to OutsideVan.
Plastidip'd wheels look terrific. Good choice on the Audi(Q7?) as well.
Fantastic idea on the caveman "trampoline" hammock. With that above your/wife's heads, at least you'll hit a softer surface in the middle of the night.
Thanks for the RB site--hadn't seen them yet. Appears like ultra sano builds, even more favorable in some ways to OutsideVan.
Plastidip'd wheels look terrific. Good choice on the Audi(Q7?) as well.
tookstar154
Observer
RB components makes some great quality stuff. A family that we go camping/race with has quite a few of their motorcycle-specific products in their trailer, and they are very sturdy, well-built. Reasonable pricing as well for what you get.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Great to know, thx Tucker!
Their van builds look incredibly well-built, I'm very impressed.
Finatic Angler
Adventurer
Be sure to put some pics up when you are done
Plastidip'd wheels look terrific. Good choice on the Audi(Q7?) as well.
Thx! your builds are amazing btw. Yeah Audi Q7, wife's DD. its awesome, love it. But the kids only want to drive in the van now. Lol.
Also I had an MK2 16v GLI and *loved it*
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Thanks very much! I'm anxious to watch yours.
Hehe, the vans get the applause every time.
You have good taste, it's obvious.
Good progress! I am done with the lower portion, and I put up the upper portion panels for now, just to make sure everything fit. Start to end was about 10 hours of work.
I am glad I picked up a drill press, it would have been impossible without one. After debating and reading some reviews, I picked up a Craftsman 10" drill press for ~$100 locally. If you read Garage Journal (I do) they will tell you to never buy one of these drill presses. Whatever, I got one, and it worked very very nicely for this project. I ended up following my plan of using 3" x 1/8" 6061 Aluminum and used the same self tapping screws that came on the van to attach my brackets. Then I attached the seat brackets by drilling and tapping holes and using 6x1.0mm SS hex head bolts. I was very meticulous about where the aluminum would be secured to ensure no flexing. The front pair differed from the rear only slightly. Here is what the fronts looked like:
At that point I tested the benches for strength and operation then removed them. One might be inclined to ask if I thought 1/8" of threads (x3 bolts) is enough to hold each bracket. I don't know for sure, but it's stout as hell. If I ever have a problem with those bolts I will simply re-do them with a nutsert. For now, they seem great. The only worry really is the bracket bending away from the van wall, and with the position and number of screws I have in there there was zero flex (there is also one right next to the bracket and one down below you can't see in the picture.
Now came the tricky part, or at least I thought. I needed to translate the *exact* position on the bracket to the panel. I needed that position to be on the inside of the panel so I could drill from the back to forward. After a bit of head scratching and brainstorming with my wife, I simply re-threaded the bolts back into the bracket, then used a paint pen to paint the bolt heads, then put the panel up pushing it against the paint. This left 3 perfectly aligned paint marks on the back side of the panel. Then I wiped the paint clean. Bingo:
From there it was as simple as bolting up the bench brackets, and self tapping the wall panels in.
Here are some pics:
I will be putting l-track on the seam horizontally between the two panels, so that line will 'disappear', and another line of l-track at the 45" mark for the upper bed.
I am really happy with the results. The RBComponents stuff is really nicely made. There where a couple of fitment issues, but very very minor, like 1/16" off kind of thing. I racked it up to subtle differences in vans.
I am glad I picked up a drill press, it would have been impossible without one. After debating and reading some reviews, I picked up a Craftsman 10" drill press for ~$100 locally. If you read Garage Journal (I do) they will tell you to never buy one of these drill presses. Whatever, I got one, and it worked very very nicely for this project. I ended up following my plan of using 3" x 1/8" 6061 Aluminum and used the same self tapping screws that came on the van to attach my brackets. Then I attached the seat brackets by drilling and tapping holes and using 6x1.0mm SS hex head bolts. I was very meticulous about where the aluminum would be secured to ensure no flexing. The front pair differed from the rear only slightly. Here is what the fronts looked like:
At that point I tested the benches for strength and operation then removed them. One might be inclined to ask if I thought 1/8" of threads (x3 bolts) is enough to hold each bracket. I don't know for sure, but it's stout as hell. If I ever have a problem with those bolts I will simply re-do them with a nutsert. For now, they seem great. The only worry really is the bracket bending away from the van wall, and with the position and number of screws I have in there there was zero flex (there is also one right next to the bracket and one down below you can't see in the picture.
Now came the tricky part, or at least I thought. I needed to translate the *exact* position on the bracket to the panel. I needed that position to be on the inside of the panel so I could drill from the back to forward. After a bit of head scratching and brainstorming with my wife, I simply re-threaded the bolts back into the bracket, then used a paint pen to paint the bolt heads, then put the panel up pushing it against the paint. This left 3 perfectly aligned paint marks on the back side of the panel. Then I wiped the paint clean. Bingo:
From there it was as simple as bolting up the bench brackets, and self tapping the wall panels in.
Here are some pics:
I will be putting l-track on the seam horizontally between the two panels, so that line will 'disappear', and another line of l-track at the 45" mark for the upper bed.
I am really happy with the results. The RBComponents stuff is really nicely made. There where a couple of fitment issues, but very very minor, like 1/16" off kind of thing. I racked it up to subtle differences in vans.
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tookstar154
Observer
Really nice work in the back. Love how it turned out. Really clean
srqsup
Observer
Hi
I have a Outsidevan Sprinter and I am deciding on new tires. MY Kumho's are great on the road but get damaged easily on dirt roads. I noticed that you chose Toyo Open Country did you look at GoodYearSilent Armor? I am trying to decide between the two. BTW Great job on the interior!
thanks
I have a Outsidevan Sprinter and I am deciding on new tires. MY Kumho's are great on the road but get damaged easily on dirt roads. I noticed that you chose Toyo Open Country did you look at GoodYearSilent Armor? I am trying to decide between the two. BTW Great job on the interior!
thanks
