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

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Bathroom storage completed!

Self closing hinges and magnets to hold it closed. The collapsible toilet, bags,wipes and paper all fit inside the door for rapid access!!

Also some fun stickers with a custom twist!!
7d01b3402dc5bc66ecbeca309fa85447.jpg


660ebfcd403fd57ba39d3888232d1088.jpg

b7cebd0b62d976745475c754af062e97.jpg

fb463f26883005d2cb1a16ddf15cd5df.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
I’m hesitant to post this because we’re still in the middle of dealing with insurance but we had a major devastation on July 2. The hundred plus year old, silver maple tree in my front yard fell directly on the van.

The pop-up reinforcement that was designed into it, actually stop the damage from going any further!

We took 2 1/2 days to get her cut out from under the tree and started to the initial repairs. I’m going to replace everything, the doors, the passenger fender, the hood, the core support, the passenger turn signal and part of the grill plastics we’re all damaged

The top of the roof was touching the steering wheel, but the pop top framework is still perfectly straight and I even ordered some new solar panels even though the ones that are on the van still are working and I have no idea how. Renogyapparently makes a really tough panel.!!


Currently working on purchasing new her front end so I’m gonna upgrade her to the 2014 and newer headlights grill hood give myself room for an intercooler and possibly a hidden winch

I’m surprised State Farm did not total it as of right now, they’ve sent me an initial payment that is more than double the Kelley blue book on a van with that miles that stock

So far the hardest part about it has been the night it fell sitting in the garage, listening to them drop 14 inch thick tree limbs that were small trees themselves onto the top of the van, knowing there was nothing I could do to stop the damage, I was very fortunate that I did not have an electrical fire

ea7933c709ce57c74089f9cd068eff93.jpg




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
eeb5a7b474e0a35b640bbeadd7139c15.jpg

e8920a14575578fde42ad9490ccc9501.jpg

f483313426b3baa907812d783e868267.jpg

f5d30269e5b108057d22fa1cecb05d9c.jpg
 
Last edited:

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Thanks everybody!!

It was definitely heartbreaking and we were not sure what was going to happen. All of us got very emotional. For the last six years, the kids and I have made it a project.. With hundreds of nights camping and tens of thousands of miles worth of adventures it’s become such a member of the family that we knew once we got a good look at it that we were going to be rebuilding it!

I’ve already started sourcing Parts to do a 2014 and newer front end, hood fenders and upgrade to the telescope and mirrors when I get new doors. And surprisingly enough, a winch bumper with headlight protection is cheaper than buying all of the components to put the factory bumper for the newer body style. So we’re gonna call that a win!

A lot of people have asked me about doing a sunroof or a T top conversion and I have concerns with since it’s been deformed once adding any structural weaknesses so when we get to the point where the roof is back in line, I’m looking at building a quarter inch thick aluminum roof rack that will be Bolted and sicca flex to the existing roof as an additional rigidity support and some place to add a small roof basket

We’re thinking about since we are changing the front end and we had the same large 9 inch spotlights on my F150 that looked goofy when we upgraded to the LED projectors and the new spotlights on the truck match the aesthetics much better ( see images below) so in addition to a winch bumper we may be taking all four of the spotlights and putting them on a folding bracket on the roof..

As of right now, State Farm is playing along. The house didn’t suffer too much damage for those. Siding had mostly just scratches but the house needed repainted this year. Anyway, we have developed a couple of roof leak thou….
f41369034af9b46c36ac4ffe73e0d2e3.jpg

89abbbcc20c50d10c10b400d141dbe60.jpg



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Lots of work done and thanks to JWA for the advice on install!!

Raptor liner getting sprayed soon and then all the bits get put back on!!

Bumper materials ordered and hoping to have it road ready in a week or so!! All downhill from here!!

d66da3534fb1537b2f7f05f26d26285c.jpg

103068382b9d034b8804e0b43e3ed947.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

ITTOG

Well-known member
Looking good, except for the chrome. ;)

How did you straighten the roof? It looks like it was never bent!
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Looking good, except for the chrome. ;)

How did you straighten the roof? It looks like it was never bent!

Gotta keep some chrome or my flairs will look odd..

Hydraulic jack.. hi lift to spread it apart.. and hours of using a planishing hammer to get it close!!

It’s not perfect.. but a Lund Visor should hide that ;)



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
BUSY day!!

2 gallons of blue metallic raptor liner and it looks pretty good for a driveway paint job!

Prep took about three hours if I scuffed the whole thing with a nylon abrasive brush wheel. Then I power wash the whole van and then the next morning we wiped everything down with big bath towels, soaked in acetone.

I’ve always wanted to play with leaving a sticker underneath raptor liner and see if it would create an embossing effect……And it kind of does we’ll see how long it lasts.

If I was gonna do the whole van, I probably would’ve bought 3 gallons to have some extra but 2 gallons was enough to shoot the entire lower body from rocker panel shoe roof gutter and then I actually did the same thing I did in 2017 with the roof it is Rust oleum white tractor enamel that I rolled on with a Household paint roller and then touchup stuff with the matching spray can color..

480d6bc7925d7360def8a22a36e7de0f.jpg

2da53233ee665537887d1b8c4fdf3019.jpg

abc76604e94e687dbe90ac2ff28f2de7.jpg

4cc02ee5f1df974e34a0b588755be714.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
Nice lazy day Sunday of bolting things back together and some trim painting..and put n awning on a buddy’s rig Scarlet Jo Vansen… Been a big weekend!!! Lil more outside work and the chrome flairs can go on… interior trim goes back up this week…picking up the bumper materials tomorrow…then that last part begins..(and gotta order a headlight.. broke an led wire… boo!!)
b464c7c5ee793927493cc18b1e9e2324.jpg

6d27d5a03fc1737bd4c6478784a8c2df.jpg

6150a956329cd11bb26e190653b28ec5.jpg

82175b82ecf2ab6e883ee6da76a883ac.jpg

91fef2ad7690d6fd56d0ac0a91b389a1.jpg

523d9fb0cbe993eae6170b5f9b4348ee.jpg

3d48de455d1860f6d06cca0795f2e3e8.jpg

fd1c5b46f74d1a3324627f11f48e11eb.jpg

910503d8a538b956214cebcf9594cd6b.jpg

bfad8a2def0dddf7ad49e99f69c914f0.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

wanderer-rrorc

Explorer
It rained today…Gotta fix roof leak where roof meets poptop.. and last 2 trim panels can go back in.. I’m waiting on parts right now. Bumper material and little things like window tint and window visors before I put the interior door panels on. Aluminum box should go on after it quits raining for 2 days and windshield wiper arms n cowl cover need painted too… getting close!!

Solar goes on roof next week once paint has fully cured..going from 200 watt of solid panels to 380 watt flexible!

Oh and some goodies came for the front bumper.. teaser design…
dc1bc5e001f72c782d49a499f94e9bfa.jpg

27dd7bf7269d51df59ef131c82b03967.jpg

75e20e105f0a8430edc53b51e4507a69.jpg

2a75e3fb3eb9f4cb4d364f12e54b3c60.jpg

705e3c50e5484914cd2b99e3024b8c89.jpg

f1235259f158a82980418c4e243e8698.jpg

609d36df11102b48cecb48a30b25babb.jpg

c99bba426dc88ae8dcc6ee04b868f9ed.jpg

9c2e048df1d58bf8db6adb74d4b3e5ba.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
186,067
Messages
2,881,641
Members
225,825
Latest member
JCCB1998
Top