Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion

[tgreening]

Took the van in today to have trailer plugs and a brake controller installed, and learned something. In 1992 Wheeled Coach employed at least one of the lousiest aluminum welders in the business. Lordy lord there are some crap welds under there! Good (and amazing) news is that none of them I saw have actually broken. Probably more a testament to the rigidity of the platform than the strength of the welds, but I'll take it.

 

[patoz]

Apparently, he was still working there in 1993 also, because mine is the same way, especially in the walls.

Wheeled Coach is the largest ambulance manufacturer in the world, and they got that way because they build quantity not quality, and are able to deliver at an under-market price to big customers. Their employees work four ten hour days, and the vehicles are built on an assembly line taking only seven days. Each day a new group or module (paint, electrical, cabinets, etc.) is installed and it moves on to the next station...ready or not! Can't hold up that line, ya know?

I just keep reminding myself that mine is worth more in scrap metal and parts than what I paid for it, so I'm still happy.

 

[patoz]

While researching couch beds, I came across these builds with some great ideas.

This is a 31' Air Stream remodel, and the guy did a fantastic job...

These are just a few pictures, and you need to see the whole thing to really appreciate it.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/blogs/bowmans/couch-bed-and-entertainment-center-progress-868/



This is a Fiat Panel Van DIY motorhome build.

If I do a full couch/bed thing, I may do something like this. Most of the time it will be just me sleeping on it, so this will give me the option of having a single or double bed. Of course, I'll still have the wheel well and outside compartment box underneath. If I remove the top of the existing bench and go down to the lower platform and then install this slat arrangement on top of it, I will be at the right height by the time I add 7" firm foam cushions.







http://deepredmotorhome.com/bed.php

What I like about the meshed slat construction vs. the bi-fold construction is, it can be deployed simply by lifting slightly on the front edge and pulling out each section. With the bi-fold design, you have to lift the entire thing up (and possibly remove the cushions) and then fold out the second section and drop the legs. Plus, the slat design can be pulled out a little or a lot, depending on the width of the single bed I want.

 

[tgreening]

Well, I had a big long post with a bunch of pics, and for some reason it flew off into the Twilight Zone after hitting the submit button, which really grinds my gears so I said the heck with it and decided to do something else. I'll redo it tonight. Anyway...

In the pic below at the top back you can see some grey upholstery trim. On that trim is a little grey button. Underneath is a screw threw what amounts to a snap, and the button just pops onto this snap to hide it. During the windshield de-leakification process one of these buttons fell to the floor and straight through the freakin stargate that must be hiding down there cause that sucker vanished into another universe. If anyone has some of these buttons they won't be using, or knows of where to get the dang things I would be IN-credibly grateful.

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[CLynn85]

Tom, did you look in the box of misc crap? There should be a couple ofvred buttons from when we did the rear that you could vinyl stain gray.

Ps: what did you determine was the source of the windshield leak?

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[tgreening]

Tom, did you look in the box of misc crap? There should be a couple ofvred buttons from when we did the rear that you could vinyl stain gray.

Ps: what did you determine was the source of the windshield leak?

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If I recall there are two spare "buttons" left after all the trim was put back, but I know for sure I'll lose some sooner or later, so I was hoping to source some spare spares.


Windshield leak is just a bad seal on the windshield. Once I pulled the headliner and could twist my head around to look up there I could see the water running through the seal, between the glass and frame. Apparently at some point in its life the windshield was changed ( no surprise) but whoever did it disnt use the right "stuff", at least according to The Guy at the windshield place this morning. I had told them to go ahead and pull it and completely redo it, but apparently because it already has a stone break in it it is almost guaranteed to break big time when they try to pull it, aaaand they forgot to order the replacement when I made the appointment.

Basically. I waited a week for them to do a half-assed rtv type patch job around the inside of the seal. The Guy says it will probably last until a stone chip breaks it for good, but I'm going to order the glass and make them do it the right way. The way I see it the patch job might stop the water from coming all the way through, but its not going to stop it from getting between the glass and frame and I see one of two things happening from there. A thaw / freeze will eventually bust it, or the constant trapped water will rot the frame.

 

[patoz]

Tom,

Eventually, I'll end up with a perfectly good windshield that you can have, but I don't know how I would get it to you with out it getting broken. Probably cheaper to just buy one locally too.

Since I may end up needing some of those snaps myself, I decided to look up a source. Those buttons are recoverable, and you're supposed to use a $150.00 tool to press the two pieces together, but for just a few of them I'll bet people like us could manage without it.

http://www.diyupholsterysupply.com/WCMPS/UPHB.html


Carl,

Didn't you recover the upholstery when you had it, or did you use dye? If it was dye, what did you use?

 

[flightcancled]

Are those the little cloth covered snaps? I thought I saw them at my local ACE hardware store. Haven't hit the point where I have lost more than I need yet so I haven't had to look too far into it.


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[tgreening]

I know. A bit of repost but bear with me.... See those two round, brown stains on the roof?

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They were caused by this....

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Which is all that's left of Mickey & Minnies midwest summer home. They had themselves quite a nice little retreat on top the headliner. Never fails to amaze me the places you will find those little buggers have set up housekeeping.

I also decided to paint the rims. I ended up doing them with Plasti Dip which seems to be something of a craze these days among the Fast & Furious crowd, but I thought what the hey, I'll give it a shot just out of curiosity. Best thing is if I don't like it I can just peel it off.

The only prep I did was a run through the car wash and air dry for a few hours. I sprayed right over whatever was there. Turns out Plasti Dip is pretty forgiving of those with poor painting skills, unprepared surfaces, and less than stellar painting conditions. The surface came out pretty smooth considering. But, with all that said, I don't really anticipate changing my wheel color all that often (as in never) so if I were to do it over (which I probably will) I would just blast and powder coat. I'm perfectly fine with a matt/gloss black on my wheels. I'm not a big fan of shiny stuff since shiny usually means additional upkeep.

Anyone looking to do it, I'd also advise pulling the wheels. It was kind of a pain in the ******** doing them mounted.

Oh, I also took the worlds worst "after" picture. For some reason the detail is pretty washed out. Might have something to do with the sun being so low in the sky and too much direct sun on the wheels. I should take another one when the sun is higher in the sky and the light is more indirect.

Anyway....Before:

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After:

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I'm getting the itch (since the weather is starting to break) to paint the whole thing. I have a completely ridiculous and totally geek notion to dip it in something like a matt black with this as the main logo....and the one after tossed in somehow as a "Division of...." kind of thing. Yeah, I know.... Hehe.

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I'd really like to find a Photoshop for Retards version that would let me import that before photo and play with the base color. Anybody know of something like that?



@patoz: Those are EXACTLY what I'm looking for, but wouldn't be crazy about shelling out $100 for the tool. Not sure if you could do an adequate job without it or not. You did give me an idea though. Maybe I can find a local auto upholsterer or something that can just whip me out a doz or so without getting all stupid on the cost. I already have the material.


@flight: More or less, though in this case they're that fake leather like stuff. Pleather or some such nonsense?


Headed back to the Pull a Part tomorrow (sigh) to take a look-see at the Caravan seats somebody posted up in here. They don't look as cushy, but they do look quite a bit thinner when folded. Hope to get some progress on that project this week, now that Windshield Niagra has been shut down.

 

[patoz]

Tom, what is that box for that the blue arrow is pointing at? I don't have that, although I do have an oxygen line 'T' in the wall in that area, with a cover plate on the other side. It fits completely inside with no extension to either side.

 

[tgreening]

View attachment 216901

Tom, what is that box for that the blue arrow is pointing at? I don't have that, although I do have an oxygen line 'T' in the wall in that area, with a cover plate on the other side. It fits completely inside with no extension to either side.

The bench that I'm converting to seating and a bed used to house the oxygen tank. What you are pointing to is the vent for that space.

 

[patoz]

OK, I was just wondering.

Mine has a storage space for two small 'D' cylinders (portable) in the end of the bench, and accessible from just inside the side door, but these don't require ventilation. My main large 'M' cylinder is located in the tall compartment (which is where they normally are), immediately behind the driver's seat. This compartment is vented with one of those chrome Perko vents.

It's funny that they are so much alike, yet at the same time so many differences.

 

[Abitibi]

Just to help you visualize how a mat black paint job would look here's one that was done.

And I'll look for those snaps for you. I took all mine out just not sure I saved them. If I did they can all be yours.

Cheers
Mr. D

 

[flightcancled]

Ken's black ambo looks sick in person. If you are going to paint it and aren't worried about the heat factor black is a great choice.


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[patoz]

Tom, I found the seats we both need. These are 2011 Toyota Sienna middle row recliner seats. Apparently, these are very sought after seats for van and camper customization. They don't require any power to operate and notice the seat belts, including shoulder straps, are built in. You would just need good anchor points to mount the seats to.

Now, I wonder if you can get them covered with cloth instead of leather.



You can also get aftermarket mounting brackets for $250.00 a pair (ouch!) to mount them directly to the floor. One place that sells them is UJOR (Ujointoffroad) who is on this forum also.