VANdiana Jones sequel: The Legacy Continues

[mk216v]

I have a fairly decent tutorial book for sketchup. Let me know if you want it and I can send it your way, I have graduated to the next level of software.

PM sent. Thank you!!!

 

[mk216v]

Finally was able to meet up with Taylor(hoodzy) locally and swap some van ideas. Without actually measuring, we figured my 6"/35's/17's UJOR sits about 2" higher than his Quigley/33's/16's.
What's interesting is that Jcoombs(another 6.0L owner, silver and Voyager top, Quigley, etc) stopped by as well; his Quigley/31-32's sits lower than hoodzy's, and RF tire rubs on the factory bumper, whereas hoodzy's doesn't.

Really looking forward to hitting the trails with this crew. (Quick/dirty cell phone pic);


1st round of final Sketchup's for interior cubby design done. Will post them in the next few days, then marinate on them further.

Current layout of three '15 Sienna recliners is working well(fourth can be installed if needed within minutes). Ingress/egress is easy without the fourth seat in the RR position. When taking a trip for two, one can recline in the LR seat, the other can swivel the RF seat and recline in it. Really really glad I went forward with the L-track. It offers incredible flexibility for tie-down points and such.

 

[mk216v]

Ok, here are the current sketches for the interior cubby setup; brown are wheelwells, dark grey is the rear a/c unit, black are the 2 FrontRunner camp chairs in their cases, silver diamond plate is the Nat'l Luna 50L fridge/freezer, yellow is for diesel, teal blue is the fresh water tank, brownish marble is the grey water tank, pink is simply showing a cubby enclosure, grey cylinder under fridge is our GSI camp kitchen, white are all storage based containers(largest about 1.54cuft, smallest at 0.32cuft, the tallest 3 in the RR are actually 1gallon auto fluids containers).

Looking from LF(left front) corner;


Looking from upper LR corner;


Looking from LR corner;


On top of the 2nd row of containers is a flat "countertop" surface. So if 2 need to stealth camp inside, or 2 need to camp in this lower bunk area(there would be a horizontal bunk "board" between RR cubby unit and fridge in LR) while 2 others camp in the upper poptop, this design allows for that flexibility. This lower bed would be a cozy 46"W x 64.5"L, headroom of ~30"(not great, but this is a low roof van with containers underneath).

The 3rd layer of containers in the RR would be easily removable(probably would only be needed for long excursions), would have some sort of solid surface tops to create a flat "countertop" on this 3rd level, and these containers would have to be placed on top of the LR/fridge area for sleeping deployment.

Above the grey water tank would be a small sink(not seen in these design pics).

Anyway, this is where I'm at so far. It's definitely a process trying to maximize the space while also satisficing where I can.

 

[bknudtsen]

Jeremy,

What will your interior cubby framework consist of in regards to construction? Ply, metal tubing, aluminum extrusion... etc? Are all of the white "containers" removable or do some represent fixed storage such as drawers or cabinets? One of the things that gave me fits when trying to settle on a layout, was trying to predict where I would be when accessing a certain storage space. What item would I most commonly be accessing, and should that be in the most convenient and accessible spot?

Pull out drawers commonly seen in SUV's are great, but at the height that they would come out of the back of the van, they would be less convenient. There are just certain items that are more easily accessed from the rear doors while standing outside though. A galley setup like you have drawn up makes sense, so long as there is room to be in the isle and open a cabinet door or pull a drawer out. Lifting some heavy bag of tools out from a cubby while twisted sideways in a galley isle could spell doom for your back.

Just some additional food for thought... Keep it up!

 

[mk216v]

Jeremy,

What will your interior cubby framework consist of in regards to construction? Ply, metal tubing, aluminum extrusion... etc? Are all of the white "containers" removable or do some represent fixed storage such as drawers or cabinets? One of the things that gave me fits when trying to settle on a layout, was trying to predict where I would be when accessing a certain storage space. What item would I most commonly be accessing, and should that be in the most convenient and accessible spot?

Pull out drawers commonly seen in SUV's are great, but at the height that they would come out of the back of the van, they would be less convenient. There are just certain items that are more easily accessed from the rear doors while standing outside though. A galley setup like you have drawn up makes sense, so long as there is room to be in the isle and open a cabinet door or pull a drawer out. Lifting some heavy bag of tools out from a cubby while twisted sideways in a galley isle could spell doom for your back.

Just some additional food for thought... Keep it up!

Hey Brad,

Definitely aluminum. You'll have to talk to my lead engineer for what we end up with. :agree:

All white containers on each vertical "layer"/level(1, 2, 3) are removable from that layer, so that if I had larger/longer items to store, I could store them on that "shelf." Maybe I'm crazy, but I believe the extra flexibility is a big bonus, vs strict cubby holes like such;


For the time being, I think I've shyed away from drawers. I realize they're more effective as far as capacity, but then I don't have the flexibility mentioned above. Plus, I tracked down German containers(same ones Unicat use) which have a myriad of sizes, and are seemingly affordable--more than I presume high quality drawers/slides/handles/etc would total out to being. Also, since we'll try to still be outside as much as possible, the containers can travel outside a lot easier than an actual drawer/sliders could.




I have it in my head but didn't note it on my renderings. Basically in on the pass side would be auto/fluids/pantries(2-3 heavy auto on 2nd level rearward, frontmost 2nd level would be pantries, 3 tall on 3rd level are auto fluid jugs--probably will have a cover/cap built to put over them to hide them and reduce any smells). Driver side would be camping/utensils/etc. I don't have my notes in front of me right now so I forget what else goes where. On pass side, at the end of the fresh water tank, and above the grey water tank, will be fittings where a long hose/squirter will screw into for 2 possible positions for outdoor shower/cooking/cleaning. On driver side where the grey carpet is will go the Nat'l Luna (3rd battery)PowerPack(will sit behind LR Sienna seat). And where you had mounted the amp on the driver side wall behind LF seat, will be electrical wall; amp, inverter, etc. I'll show better pics of these areas as we go along...

I need to put some sort of slide-out(or flip-up) shelf/cutting board somewhere--either at rear of vehicle inboard of fridge, or at front of vehicle inboard of grey water tank.

Agree with you on a 6" lift van and drawers. Plus, one reason I nixed drawers for this build was that we'd like to be able to access everything from inside. With drawers, especially if recovery gear is stored in them, if the azz end of the van is in a ditch and I can't open up the rear ambo doors, I'd have to employ a safety hatch access point in the tops of the drawers. Doable, but I'm liking the cubby/container layout better.

Aisleway is wider than I actually need, but I think we'll learn to appreciate that. So definitely no awkward back twistage necessary. Plus, more importantly, it retains access to the 2 strips of L-track closest to centerline(everything you see in the rendering is outboard of the centermost 2 L-track strips), so even if needed, we could store huge/tall pieces of gear in the center aisleway and easily tie it down.

Once I get closer to nailing down a final design, I'll see if my trusty engineerd design agent would like to post a real(Solidworks) rendering up here to drool over. My Sketchup's will look like stick figures comparatively.

Please keep the food for thought coming, I enjoy and appreciate others out of the box thoughts.

 

[DzlToy]

Zarges cases?

 

[mk216v]

Zarges cases?

One of the ultimate aluminum cases, but you pay for it. They're about 10x the price of these poly containers, and don't come in the smaller sizes that an interior build requires.
AluBox is another alternative for Zarges.

 

[mk216v]

So here's my refined priority list;

#1 Custom modular interior build-out using as much aluminum as possible.
#2 Larger front brakes(tiny 13" rotors are inadequate), custom MG Metalworks E-450 Hydroboost setup.
#3 MG Metalworks poptop (soon-to-be), integrated MG Metalworks aluminum roof rack(kayaks/SUP's, solar, possibly dual Rigid50's--E1 and E2). VERY excited for this poptop of his. I have a feeling it's going to blow SMB and CCV out of the water.
#4 MG Metalworks aluminum front and rear bumpers; Warn 16.5Ti winch up front, more Rigid LED's. Dual swing-outs out back with custom spare lifting mechanisms(?)--ability to carry dual spares most likely, cargo box, outdoor stove and propane provisions, MTB mounts, etc etc.
#5 Custom aux fuel tank using many OEM components.

 

[Jb1rd]

WHAT WHAT AND WHAT!!!! Can not wait to see how this turns out!!!! MG is mad talented for sure, this is going to be awesome!!!

So here's my refined priority list;

#1 Custom modular interior build-out using as much aluminum as possible.
#2 Larger front brakes(tiny 13" rotors are inadequate), custom MG Metalworks E-450 Hydroboost setup.
#3 MG Metalworks poptop (soon-to-be), integrated MG Metalworks aluminum roof rack. VERY excited for this. I have a feeling it's going to blow SMB and CCV out of the water.
#4 MG Metalworks aluminum front and rear bumpers, warn 16.5Ti winch, etc etc.
#5 Custom aux fuel tank using many OEM components.

 

[mgmetalworks]

Looks like a busy winter shaping up here...

 

[mk216v]

WHAT WHAT AND WHAT!!!! Can not wait to see how this turns out!!!! MG is mad talented for sure, this is going to be awesome!!!

That he is for sure--why he's the only one touching VANdiana. :wings:

Looks like a busy winter shaping up here...

Yep, you're going to be shop-bound. Time to set up a cot in the shop.

 

[mk216v]

Picked up one of the last DoorTalon's of John's. Got tired of the bungee cord for the RR cargo door. Will get it installed and post pics.

Working on more hood louvers as well, to keep the engine even cooler(the Medium's I have seem to evacuate quite a bit of heat, but VANdiana can always be cooler!). Looking like I'll add a set of RunCool Short/Wide 19x10's, like was done on this ambo;



Other than that been preoccupied with much higher priorities in life(family) so haven't toyed further with the Sketchup's of the interior configuration.

 

[djbonsu]

I have also added the hood louvers to my list to keep the under hood temps down as well. I saw these on @fab_labs latest UJOINT build as well but I dont know where he got them from plus he is also has a newer style hood. They do look nice tho

 

[mk216v]

I have also added the hood louvers to my list to keep the under hood temps down as well. I saw these on @fab_labs latest UJOINT build as well but I dont know where he got them from plus he is also has a newer style hood. They do look nice tho

View attachment 304343

On BatlBus Ryan has the RunCool Wide Flow; http://hoodlouvers.com/product-category/wideflow-hood-louvers/
But as you say he has the '08+ hood, which I haven't seen the underside of it. Perhaps someone with one can post a pic so we can see what it looks like?

PS-RunCool is the only place to get louvers IMHO. Bob the owner has excellent products and service--think UJOR.

 

[bknudtsen]

For your roof.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...t-Autonomous-quot-F-350?p=1899272#post1899272

Dicor RP-IRC-1 CoolCoat Roof Coating - 1 Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2ATAWQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_d-vawbC9HF5W0