Adventure Van on a Budget - ‘98 Econoline

[GregSplett]

Small world and funny stuff .Just picked my bro in laws 99 Econoline.199.000 miles.He is a fleetmechanic and has taken perfect care of it. Mostly highway from home to work.Exact same except green. Ball joints shot along with the drag bars and Tie rods.Spent two hours with the wife removing rear and front seat brackets and seat belts. Finally gave up.....need somebody stronger than my wife. Just put new factoy size michelin defenders on it .Decided to stick with the fifteens, too many have regretted changing to 17 and or going to an all terain.Gas mileage and performance issues being the reason.mine is not going to be an over lander just a highway logging road cruiser with a bed and awning.looking forward to going through your build!

 

[CLM]

I like the look of your electrical enclosure. I’ve got something similar planned for my build, but plan on using some of the dead space for a subwoofer enclosure.

Can I ask where you got that switch panel with the voltmeter? I really like to look of it.

Thanks!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lots of options on amazon. I wanted something with 5-6 switches, usb charging and volt meter, but not too big.

 

[Raul]

Just put new factoy size michelin defenders on it .Decided to stick with the fifteens, too many have regretted changing to 17 and or going to an all terain.Gas mileage and performance issues being the reason.mine is not going to be an over lander just a highway logging road cruiser with a bed and awning.looking forward to going through your build!

Just to add confusion,.My old E150 was used as you describe, mostly hwy, logging roads and a little paved snowed roads and I was very happy with my 265/70/17 Cooper AT3 with 3.73 gears.

 

[CLM]

Small world and funny stuff .Just picked my bro in laws 99 Econoline.199.000 miles.He is a fleetmechanic and has taken perfect care of it. Mostly highway from home to work.Exact same except green. Ball joints shot along with the drag bars and Tie rods.Spent two hours with the wife removing rear and front seat brackets and seat belts. Finally gave up.....need somebody stronger than my wife. Just put new factoy size michelin defenders on it .Decided to stick with the fifteens, too many have regretted changing to 17 and or going to an all terain.Gas mileage and performance issues being the reason.mine is not going to be an over lander just a highway logging road cruiser with a bed and awning.looking forward to going through your build!

I ended up having to drill out several of the seat bolts because even with the wife running the impact and me holding the wrench, they wouldn’t break loose.

Yeah, mileage and performance is a concern of mine, but I am planning to go a little larger on the tire. Keep hoping to find someone selling an almost new setup in the 31-32” range with the right bolt pattern and backspacing.

 

[CLM]

My lighting options depending on what we are doing.
#1 - orange porch lights at both doors.
#2 - 4 led down lights
#3 - color changing led up lights

 

[CLM]

So far in the build, the two things that I’m not happy with are the ceiling carpet and eternal bond on the roof for the ceiling vent.

If I had it to do again, I would have carpeted the roof in three sections to avoid the wrinkles from doing it out of one. Putting the seams at the front and rear bulk head panels.

As for the eternal bond, first time using it and don’t think it was the right application for it. Should have just used the silex 221 like I used on the solar panel or the Dicor self leveling stuff.

 

[CLM]

This will change the personality a little. Picked up some bronco/f150 wheels today. Moves the lip 3/4 further out. Decided to run some 31x10.50, can’t wait to buy tires and get them on.

 

[CLM]

Testing the bed for size and deciding how I want to build the base and cabinets. IKEA queen bed slats shortened to 75”. Also testing the mood lighting, lol.

 

[CLM]

Btw, anybody in the St Louis area need a power folding bench seat. Makes about a double bed. I’ll make you a really good deal to get it out of my way.

 

[CLM]

Van is insulated and the tires arrived today. Stopping by my buddies shop tomorrow to get them mounted.

 

[CLM]

Glad I didn’t try to stuff anymore than a 31x10.50 under there. Only needed a little trimming on the plastic for the front bumper and clears the fender by about 1/2” while turning.

 

[CLM]

Btw, this is how 7.5” wide bronco/f150 wheels with 31x10.50 tires sits width wise.

 

[CLM]

Coming together.

 

[CLM]

Starting to feel real. Taking her first trip next weekend, so has to be sleepable by then.

 

[WVI]

Where did you get those bed slats?