AmboVan Restarted

[hobietony]

Sure, I got an update!
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I think you saw where I went to Expo, 4 days later I headed down to San Carlos for 10 days.
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Raced our little sailboat...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSG7_dLOuYg
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Drove around the desert like an idiot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsT-f4xNvNU
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Played with my dog on the beach...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnvQIwCqfzs
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Sailed over to the beach bar...

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and generally chilled.
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Now that I'm home, and stuff is put away, I heading over to my Mother-In-Law's house to fix her roof. Good times! Sadly, no van work yet.

 

[weissisright]

Thank you, I'm satiated for a few days:exclaim:

 

[hobietony]

Has it been this long since I updated? I feel like I need to justify my actions to my internet friends, so here we go...
After we got back from San Carlos, it was off to my MIL's to replace her porch roof and rotting fascia - got rid of the POS aluminum can shade structure and replaced it with galvanized steel that she - or I - will never have to paint again. Cheaper too.

Still need to finish the details later this week...
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Built my parents a table to house a chunk of granite left from their kitchen remodel.

Happy Mothers/Fathers day!
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Found what I think is a permanent solution to my jack problem - Took a 4 ton HF floor jack, chopped off the wheels, and welded on a skid. It is now short enough to get under the axle with a flat tire, and has enough throw to clear the wheel when full. Of course, it adds another 100# to the rig.

Between this, a 20 ton bottle jack, and a Hi-lift, I better have everything covered
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Headed off to San Diego for another Hobie regatta over the Fathers day weekend

The rig drove pretty well, but the cumulative effect of the rack/hauling a boat/tough headwinds did a number on my mileage - right about 10 for the trip out, closer to 13 on the way back with a good tailwind (sigh)

 

[hobietony]

And finally, got back to work on the van.
Getting the bench side boxed in

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Support for the kitchen box

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Boxing around the wheel wells

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and getting ready to start spraying in this

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I'm trying to have at least 1.5" of spray foam on every surface (besides the exposed floor). Those wheel wells are just one sheet of aluminum between the interior and the road, this should make a big difference in thermal and noise transfer
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First application

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Framing coming along - The supports along the back are the 'collapsed' bed supports, and the angle pieces welded closer to the front of the rig will support the bed in it's 'expanded' configuration

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Drivers side coming along also

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Getting a little better with the spool gun...

'Course I'm not going to highlight the ugly ones.
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A little delay right now, I got a growth ground off my eyeball yesterday, and have been huddling in the dark, dosed on codeine. Since it is like 110 outside these days, maybe not such a bay way to spend a couple of days

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Looking good man!

 

[TheThom]

I love this build and can't wait to see it get "finished" - we both know it will never be all done

 

[weissisright]

Your thread is my mental "vacation" seeing as I am so poor that this post is made from a library. Just kidding, but still pretty poor! Thanks for sharing your work. You've gotten me through a couple of bad months so far!!!!!

 

[CrabbyMcNab]

Great job. Heal quickly!

 

[hobietony]

It's the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Van!

Next batch of spray foam insulation...

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Getting the next layers of floor in also, 1/2" plywood sleepers where the structure is below, 1/2" foam insulation between the sleepers, 1/2" ply over this. Pretty sure I will seal this layer (Elastomeric paint? Truck bed liner?), caulk the edges, and then let the final flooring (gym/weight room flooring) float without any adhesive. Solid ply at the front of the box to give me the option of installing the ambo jumpseat up there.

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Also seen at the bottom of this photo, I padded out the entry step area 1.5", that whole step area was just one layer of aluminum between the inside and the outside. Gives me just a touch more floor space as well.
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Work continues...

 

[McZippie]

... just so I can make some contingency plans for my life... about how long until the Ambo is finished, you loss interest and want to sell it??? (smiley face winky eye crap)

 

[225]

Where did you find that insulation at?

 

[hobietony]

... just so I can make some contingency plans for my life... about how long until the Ambo is finished, you loss interest and want to sell it??? (smiley face winky eye crap)

Well, If I get hit by a truck, hopefully someone here will give my wife a fair price for the rig, finished or not. Short of that, you are going to have to wait a loooong time

Where did you find that insulation at?

White Cap industrial supply. Other possibilities would be Border products, etc.

 

[rebar]

Where did you find that insulation at?

Ive been thinking about insulation for my aluminum 3/4" wall toyhauler.. I imagine the spray foam is one of the best, but finding a leak would be a ***** because anything mobile with caulked seams eventually leaks.. I'm leaning toward adding another 3/4" aluminum stud for a total of 1.5" and using closed cell fitted neoprene foam.

Off topic.. Id like to know the best materiel for insulating the engine compartment/firewall.dog house..

Well, If I get hit by a truck, hopefully someone here will give my wife a fair price for the rig, finished or not. Short of that, you are going to have to wait a loooong time

:sombrero:I know how you feel Tony..

 

[hobietony]

I'm leaning toward adding another 3/4" aluminum stud for a total of 1.5" and using closed cell fitted neoprene foam.

Off topic.. Id like to know the best materiel for insulating the engine compartment/firewall.dog house..

Regarding the doghouse, post #46 shows the foil-lined cotton-ish fiber material sourced off of a roll at my local RV repair guy, that he insisted was fireproof, and has not caught on fire yet - added it as a layer under the stock lining shield, sorry no product name.

Sounds good if you have a source for the neoprene, but don't rule out the pink/blue rigid foam, pretty good R values, easy to source at Home stores, and removable for your purposes. I have a little of each in the van when I needed to insulate something before covering, and hooking up the foam system was impractical.

 

[CLynn85]

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but what are you using to power your A/C?