java
Expedition Leader
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97 E350 Winne 4x4- Ski Bum Mobile
- Thread starter java
- Start date
java
Expedition Leader
So we spent 6 nights in it skiing Bachelor. Everything went pretty well. We have put 1k miles on it since we bought it!
Found a few fun things out....
Door needs to be adjusted, must be slammed hard to get it to latch all the way and seal. This has caused the frame to bend at the latch point. Door needs to be pulled and resealed.... I can see light though it.
Generator took a poop. Thought it had 1700 hours on it, turns out that's just when the hour meter stopped working. So who knows. But it was just the starter, its a bendix type and the roll pin at the end of the shaft broke throwing the springs gears etc inside the generator. The other fun part is the generator has to come out of the truck to get at anything. So it got dropped, starter replaced, plugs replaced, couldn't find an air filter locally that was in stock, so unfortunately that stayed, and it cant be changed with out removing it again! Arrg, but I wanted to take advantage of the lack of rain.
Reflectix works awesome on the windows. I could have slept all day. I was also pretty surprised to find the condensation on the inside of the windows frozen in the morning. It was low if ~20 outside, and 60 inside. seems like it works pretty well to me.
Tail lights.... It rides rough enough to vibrate the bulbs off the contacts, so I was often with either turn signals or tail lights. Rarely both. will probably get some LED replacement ones.
Batteries last the night, Solar charges them most of the way, but the controller isn't the best, So I feel its cuts voltage too early. They were at ~12.5v after a day of mild sun.
Gas mileage was right about 7.5... Oh well. At least it was about a 400 mile range.
Light bar put out some LIGHT! But seriously sucks when its foggy.
Lunch stop on the way down. Mt Hood in the background.
Skiing!
Found a few fun things out....
Door needs to be adjusted, must be slammed hard to get it to latch all the way and seal. This has caused the frame to bend at the latch point. Door needs to be pulled and resealed.... I can see light though it.
Generator took a poop. Thought it had 1700 hours on it, turns out that's just when the hour meter stopped working. So who knows. But it was just the starter, its a bendix type and the roll pin at the end of the shaft broke throwing the springs gears etc inside the generator. The other fun part is the generator has to come out of the truck to get at anything. So it got dropped, starter replaced, plugs replaced, couldn't find an air filter locally that was in stock, so unfortunately that stayed, and it cant be changed with out removing it again! Arrg, but I wanted to take advantage of the lack of rain.
Reflectix works awesome on the windows. I could have slept all day. I was also pretty surprised to find the condensation on the inside of the windows frozen in the morning. It was low if ~20 outside, and 60 inside. seems like it works pretty well to me.
Tail lights.... It rides rough enough to vibrate the bulbs off the contacts, so I was often with either turn signals or tail lights. Rarely both. will probably get some LED replacement ones.
Batteries last the night, Solar charges them most of the way, but the controller isn't the best, So I feel its cuts voltage too early. They were at ~12.5v after a day of mild sun.
Gas mileage was right about 7.5... Oh well. At least it was about a 400 mile range.
Light bar put out some LIGHT! But seriously sucks when its foggy.
Lunch stop on the way down. Mt Hood in the background.
Skiing!
flightcancled
Explorer
java
Expedition Leader
Thanks! It was King county's search and rescue communication rig. Base camp full of radios and gear basically.
A wig wag makes for a nice emergency flasher.
PO pulled all the strobe controllers and wig wags out of mine. And my flashers dodon't work :-(. How warm did it stay insideWife and I ran up to Mt Baker, 12" of snow yesterday. Was most excellent. Low was 10 degrees over night, chilly!!
java
Expedition Leader
Had the heat set at 60, it was nice and warm all night. The walls are about 2" of foam, roof is 1.5"
There was a dude in a RTT, a few parking spots down. That's hardcore.
java
Expedition Leader
So on the drive up to mount Baker, it was night. The light bar was literally a life saver.
This is the road. Ski area is at the bottom Left.
Its literally a shear cliff one side for most of that road. With the stock headlights im not sure we would have made it..... night+snow+huge truck would have sucked to not see. Luckily we only ran into a couple people on the way up.
This is the road. Ski area is at the bottom Left.
Its literally a shear cliff one side for most of that road. With the stock headlights im not sure we would have made it..... night+snow+huge truck would have sucked to not see. Luckily we only ran into a couple people on the way up.
walks with ducks
New member
Is your light bar wired to come on with the high beams or a manual switch? I'm debating how to set up aux lights for mine...
java
Expedition Leader
Its on its own switch. I have always had my AUX lights that way. I have the switch within easy reach so its not too hard to flip on and off while driving. But your making me think... Maybe ill wire it so it can be done both ways, with high beams or separate....
do you have a build thread? I love this setup
java
Expedition Leader
a build thread for what? The rig or the wiring?
For the truck, your in it.... I bought it mostly the way it is.
java
Expedition Leader
Thanks! Yeah its awesome. And You can sleep in and get first chair still. It's sweet.
java
Expedition Leader
Got some more done. Pulled the door and re-sealed it. I could see light through on one side.....
Also moved one of the heater vents. It was blowing under the bed. Not a real useful spot for it. So it got moved more towards the center.
Real exciting pics... But the scene lights on the side and awning were pretty nice to work under!
Also moved one of the heater vents. It was blowing under the bed. Not a real useful spot for it. So it got moved more towards the center.
Real exciting pics... But the scene lights on the side and awning were pretty nice to work under!