05 Tequila Safari (slow build)

[tequilasunset]

2005 GMC Safari... Well I am finally making a move on my project, RL gets in the way... plus I am balancing this with some work on my vanagon before I sell it this summer (maybe)

Got plenty of sheets of plastic cardboard to mock up the interior, GCP1 plug port arrived today, and used some of my Cabela's points for a portable sink, heater buddy, pocket shower, 4 sizes of silver dry lite towels, therma-rest pillow, and a couple of dry sacks.

Tonight I need to try to tighten up my various designs before I make any cuts tomorrow. The hardest part is where I want to park my ARB 50 inside, other than that annoyance I am pretty excited to get started finally on doing ANYTHING to the van... after the mock up I plan on cutting the floor and replace the fuel pump and filter before my big trip to Colorado for my CCV top (plan on hitting Moab, Great Basin and a few other spots up and back from Nor Cal) I am pretty excited about my trip and the new top.

Pic of my van... (Yes running boards are coming off!!!) Lift will happen sometime AFTER the interior is finished and I see how everything balances out.




Sample pic of the CCV top...

 

[nobodyhome]

Looks like you are off to a good start! I do love those CCV tops, but MAAAN they are EXPENSIVE! I was quoted somewhere near the $8K range, which is 4x my purchase price, so I passed on it.
A friend and I may someday devise our own "pop-top on a dime", if we do I'll post a full set of plans and bill of materials.

 

[tequilasunset]

Looks like you are off to a good start! I do love those CCV tops, but MAAAN they are EXPENSIVE! I was quoted somewhere near the $8K range, which is 4x my purchase price, so I passed on it.
A friend and I may someday devise our own "pop-top on a dime", if we do I'll post a full set of plans and bill of materials.

Thanks... in regard to the top... I'm not spending 8k... nor 7k... I'm getting the basic install and Yakima rails, along with the standard bells and whistles...

 

[tequilasunset]

Well I got in only a couple of hours, but it felt sooooooooo good!

Much pondering and removing crap, finally finalized my direction on the build. Today only got as far as duct tape layout. Measure and layout a ******** load of times, cut plastic cardboard once! I need to figure out what type of bit for them damn window pop out screws... Need to remove that plastic. Still debating on removing my rear heater... I really should and not be lazy, lots of nice room to use and it won't get any use being hidden in a cabinet.

This might hurt the eyes a bit... but here is the basic idea of where I am heading with this... basically... and yeah I can't spell clearance :/

 

[tequilasunset]

Plastic cardboard used to do a down a dirty mock up...

Well I did a quick and easy mock up and lucky me only one thing really will have to change from my semi final ideas. There will not be a 5" platform for the ARB... when opening the lid sitting on the floor, the lid just fits inside the roof line like it was made for it. I will lose a little bit of storage I had plans for but it's all good. Also the rear heater must go, it won't work within my cabinet guidelines.

I won't go into all my details for shelves, nooks and crannies and cool ideas I have... there has to be some suspense

I'm pretty happy hows things went and what the future holds for my design. Here are some pics... like i said, not fancy just a rough guideline

I will have lots of space under the bed/bench, porta potty will just clear




Portable sink space




ARB and Rear cabinet, upper 12" will be for clothes with access from inside.




ARB lid fits like a glove




This will be my kitchen storage and prep area... lots of storage





I have ideas how I will finish this around the step and utilize the step space (fire extinguisher and...)




Rear storage, bottom 12" will be for camp stove, utensils, propane bottles etc...

 

[nobodyhome]

OUTSTANDING. Lots of good ideas here, I like.

Question... Is the rear heater worth keeping since it works off the motor? If so, you might be able to run ducting to a remote vent?

 

[tequilasunset]

OUTSTANDING. Lots of good ideas here, I like.

Question... Is the rear heater worth keeping since it works off the motor? If so, you might be able to run ducting to a remote vent?

Yeah the motor has to be running and I have a Mr Buddy heater to do the job when parked... that and lots of clothes and stuff

 

[nobodyhome]

Say goodbye to my lil friend!

CL that bad boy, more money for VAN PARTS WOOOOO!

 

[tequilasunset]

******** finally getting real...

Mocked up framework with pad, and plywood headboard that will be part of a cabinet with inside/outside access. Upper half the counter top will be a lift-off to access clothes, bottom half outside 2 burner grill.

My measurements came out sooooooooo close in tolerances. One photo shows the rear support rail I will be adding underneath, and it just rests on the wheel well, and my porta potty just clears. Sitting on this in my natural position my head just clears. If I go for proper etiquette and sit totally straight I hit the headliner. I'm not sure how much clearance I will have with the poptop and bed pads in place... I am assuming the same or slightly better. The pic from the swivel passenger seat shows the passenger side cabinet area... the outside of the blue tape will be the edge of the side cabinet that will rise level with the bottom of the window and will house batteries and food/pans/butane single grill for hot water and non smelly foods, collapsible bucket and sink etc.

Bed pad folds up with a headrest, tiny sofa... just under a twin size so sheets and comforter will be no prob. Platform will flip up to access storage, and I have some nice looking paneling to cover the front of the base.





Pad is snug against seat, no prob... I'm 5-8 1/2" and my bed is 73"... tested it out and plenty of width and length.



The top of the cabinet will be just under the window, with an attachable small table top extension to function as a dinner table/desk/workbench



Lots of side room... I will get some of that Styrofoam insulation for the inserts, then I'm looking at some sort of cargo netting for various stash points for a laptop, additional bedding, towels or... ?



I am having fun with this...........

 

[jdharrin]

Looking good! I'm curious about the bed padding, especially the way it props up in lounge formation. Did you make that yourself?

 

[tequilasunset]

Looking good! I'm curious about the bed padding, especially the way it props up in lounge formation. Did you make that yourself?

Thanks

Wish I could take credit for the pad, but I picked it up at Overstock (measures slightly under a twin even though they claim it's a twin... no real biggie to me, I accounted for it in the build)

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...fa-with-Removable-Cover/10878911/product.html

 

[Corneilius]

Build is looking good. Cant wait to see more progress. Is that mattress usable folded up into "couch mode"?

Edit: love your use of coroplast for mockup. Any other cool uses you have found? I think its an underutilized material.

 

[tequilasunset]

Build is looking good. Cant wait to see more progress. Is that mattress usable folded up into "couch mode"?

Edit: love your use of coroplast for mockup. Any other cool uses you have found? I think its an underutilized material.

Thank you

Not sure about your question... I can fold up part of into a head rest, or the whole thing into what they say is a small couch (for a kid) but more like a lounge chair (check the link)

Coroplast... so far just for mocks ups. It's way better then just tape on the floor, it actually takes up that vertical space to give you a better feel... good stuff!

====================


Was able to do a bit more today, got the lid hinged up and found some spalted finished plywood at HD (the bad side is the side that has the character )

 

[tequilasunset]

Got the wood oiled and the grain is just a poppin fresh!





I then hammered and ridge textured some copper, followed up with some heat patina... the corners came out as planned :Wow1: I am in shock... I love the way the light plays off of them.

 

[tequilasunset]

Some more mock up work on the side cabinet... plans keep changing on the fly with adjustments being made to the shape of the van and obstructions and me simply changing my mind... slowing me down, but that's the way poop happens sometimes. I'm not a carpenter so that is a prob too