Vanimal: 4x4 Sprinter build
- Thread starter Kgorman
- Start date
I looked at the Goodyear Duratrac and Nitto Trail Grapplers. But because I have run the Toyos on the F350 I knew they ruled. So I went with them. So far, no regrets.
Nice van! Thats what I am modeling my setup after!
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Here is how I plan to do storage:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/150065-Bosch-Boxx-l-track
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/150065-Bosch-Boxx-l-track
Quick update.
Tomorrow the remainder of the bench components show up. This is the seat back that folds down in order to make the lower bed one complete piece. It should be bolt on. It should look like this:
I picked up some aluminum C channel in order to mount the hammock style upper bed. I went *way* overboard in terms of designing it because I am worried about flex in two directions. Down as well as towards the inside of the van. The C channel is 3" x 1/4" x 105". It's huge and beefy and doesn't flex a bit. I ordered footmans loops that bolt to it and support the straps to the hammock. I will post pics once I get it all setup.
We are about 16 days from leaving for our trip so it's crunch time!
Tomorrow the remainder of the bench components show up. This is the seat back that folds down in order to make the lower bed one complete piece. It should be bolt on. It should look like this:
I picked up some aluminum C channel in order to mount the hammock style upper bed. I went *way* overboard in terms of designing it because I am worried about flex in two directions. Down as well as towards the inside of the van. The C channel is 3" x 1/4" x 105". It's huge and beefy and doesn't flex a bit. I ordered footmans loops that bolt to it and support the straps to the hammock. I will post pics once I get it all setup.
We are about 16 days from leaving for our trip so it's crunch time!
350outrage
Adventurer
Yes, maneuvering a trailer over dicey surfaces is where the 4wd really comes into its own. Heavier the trailer, the more you need the 4wd.
trailsurfer
Explorer
Really enjoying your build. Hope to take delivery of my SMB 4x4 Sprinter in the next couple of weeks.
Accrete
Explorer
As others have noted...great foundation. Best wishes on the build and adventures.
Thom
We've been running the OCs for some time on our AWD van at the Oregon Coast...they've been nice in the wet stuff.
Thom
I have been feverishly working on the van in the evenings trying to get ready for our Thanksgiving trip. We leave Friday. But it's coming together.
I took a major left turn when we rigged up the Van Hammock and the kids and wife wanted a hard bed. So I had to get creative. I already had designed a aluminum beam structure that was mounted on each side of the van that supports the hammock including nice loops for securing the webbing. But once the kiddos boycotted then I needed a new solution. I sat on the new couch in the back and had a beer pondering the situation and realized someone, somewhere, had mentioned Motorcycle ramps from Harbor Freight work nicely. I googled, and just about spit out my beer. These tri-fold ramps fit within 1/2". As much as I hate cheap imported crap I jumped in the truck and headed over to HF. I got two tri-fold ramps for $99 each. They are beyond perfect. They fit near exactly, they fold up, they are strong without any flex. We just use our air-mattress as a pad and inflate it using the Goal Zero 400. I did a test run with the kids in the sleeping bags and they are stoked! Whew. I am going to keep the hammock setup for when we have a 'guys trip' and we perhaps want some more flexibility, as it's a very nicely made unit, and I find it comfy myself.
Another problem came up. When I went to install the center section of the lower bed that RB sent me, it didn't fit. This is the center section that flips into place to join the two benches. I called RB and they told me to use a new set of brackets they included. Sure enough those brackets looked like they would ensure a good fit. But I couldn't use them. I had already laid out the nice brackets for the benches and got everything complete, I wasn't about to start ripping stuff down and drilling more holes. Ultimately the answer was to drill a new hole that ensured proper spacing in the *existing* brackets. The drill press came in handy again! Everything fits like a glove now. I had to modify only one side, and I left the other as-is. Works perfect now.
I added new LED light bulbs, ordered an extension for the Goal Zero car charger (I will hard wire eventually), got the RB components gear bags secured, added more l-track, and started to pretend pack so we can adjust spacing on things as needed.
We are almost to what I envisioned version 1.0 of Vanimal being, just a few more things. We leave in 2 days so I have to get the rest of these little things done. I will post more pics as I get them done.
I took a major left turn when we rigged up the Van Hammock and the kids and wife wanted a hard bed. So I had to get creative. I already had designed a aluminum beam structure that was mounted on each side of the van that supports the hammock including nice loops for securing the webbing. But once the kiddos boycotted then I needed a new solution. I sat on the new couch in the back and had a beer pondering the situation and realized someone, somewhere, had mentioned Motorcycle ramps from Harbor Freight work nicely. I googled, and just about spit out my beer. These tri-fold ramps fit within 1/2". As much as I hate cheap imported crap I jumped in the truck and headed over to HF. I got two tri-fold ramps for $99 each. They are beyond perfect. They fit near exactly, they fold up, they are strong without any flex. We just use our air-mattress as a pad and inflate it using the Goal Zero 400. I did a test run with the kids in the sleeping bags and they are stoked! Whew. I am going to keep the hammock setup for when we have a 'guys trip' and we perhaps want some more flexibility, as it's a very nicely made unit, and I find it comfy myself.
Another problem came up. When I went to install the center section of the lower bed that RB sent me, it didn't fit. This is the center section that flips into place to join the two benches. I called RB and they told me to use a new set of brackets they included. Sure enough those brackets looked like they would ensure a good fit. But I couldn't use them. I had already laid out the nice brackets for the benches and got everything complete, I wasn't about to start ripping stuff down and drilling more holes. Ultimately the answer was to drill a new hole that ensured proper spacing in the *existing* brackets. The drill press came in handy again! Everything fits like a glove now. I had to modify only one side, and I left the other as-is. Works perfect now.
I added new LED light bulbs, ordered an extension for the Goal Zero car charger (I will hard wire eventually), got the RB components gear bags secured, added more l-track, and started to pretend pack so we can adjust spacing on things as needed.
We are almost to what I envisioned version 1.0 of Vanimal being, just a few more things. We leave in 2 days so I have to get the rest of these little things done. I will post more pics as I get them done.
A couple more notes...
The aluminum channel holding up the ramps is a 'C' channel from our local metals place. It's 1-1/2" x 3" channel. It's shape is like 1/2 of an I beam. I will try to get a close up pic. The purpose of this massive beam was to have strength in 2 directions. I secured it using 6mm riv-nuts x 6 for each beam into the vertical pillars in the van. It's beyond solid. I did have a problem with me doing a bad job on one riv-nut. ;-(. The channel works nicely for side loads as well as putting something on top like the platform. When I was designing it, I was thinking about making sure I could put something on top of it as well as suspended sideways from it. I am a nerd for flexible systems and I didn't know how this would work out exactly, so I over-designed it.
We also put up the insulation. I had a couple friends over and we added the Thinsulate everywhere. It took 4 of us about 3 hours to get the entire van done sans ceiling. You can see in this picture the riv-nuts for the beam as well.
The aluminum channel holding up the ramps is a 'C' channel from our local metals place. It's 1-1/2" x 3" channel. It's shape is like 1/2 of an I beam. I will try to get a close up pic. The purpose of this massive beam was to have strength in 2 directions. I secured it using 6mm riv-nuts x 6 for each beam into the vertical pillars in the van. It's beyond solid. I did have a problem with me doing a bad job on one riv-nut. ;-(. The channel works nicely for side loads as well as putting something on top like the platform. When I was designing it, I was thinking about making sure I could put something on top of it as well as suspended sideways from it. I am a nerd for flexible systems and I didn't know how this would work out exactly, so I over-designed it.
We also put up the insulation. I had a couple friends over and we added the Thinsulate everywhere. It took 4 of us about 3 hours to get the entire van done sans ceiling. You can see in this picture the riv-nuts for the beam as well.