Betty White - A 2005 E350

[Sea.Jay]

Hi everybody....


I have an in progress build nearing "completion."

Figured I would share a few details and some pictures to give others some ideas. Some ideas are original, most are rehashed ideas I've seen executed elsewhere, and plenty came about as the build went along.

Backstory:

I am 24, a general do-anything handy man living in Southern California, have a dachshund named Franklin, and live/work/play out of my van. I've had more autos than the years I've had a license. I've been described as a serial modifier. It took me a few years and a couple trips to Colorado for me realize I had spent most of my money on my autos than I had on enjoying them.

With some new perspective, I prioritized my life: I decided I wanted out of SoCal but didn't(read don't) know where I want(ed) to go. Without plans to move somewhere specific and try to make a go at it, I decided on a "mobile home" to provide myself the freedom to visit many places and explore this huge continent and get a "feel" for some place I may be interested in. I am proud of my money managing skills and attribute much of that knowledge to my mother who is a financial advisor. While I do have a decent savings, it is also necessary for me to make money while on the road.

Living and working out of my van for the past year near my parents' homes and in the area I grew up in afforded me the knowledge to figure out what is absolutely necessary for me on this trip. This build may be a bit obscure to some, but keep in mind it is a utilitarian, multi purpose live-in automobile. Some days I will paint, do stucco work, build cabinets, plumb, etc and I have the need to be able to shower, cook, and sleep after a day of work. Welcome to my vansion, named Betty White:

The day I picked her up:



Couple stickers, blunt guards, and a big sibling sighting:



My first attempt at laying stuff out on a roof rack by Defender Racks plus a tool box across the back with a couple scepter cans...




I realized very quickly this wasn't going to work for me so a trip south to visit....



More to come, plus some questions for you van guys in the near future.

Thanks for looking...

 

[philos]

Sounds great so far!

 

[Riverrat139]

Nice! Van lyfe

 

[Sea.Jay]

Roof rack came together nicely...



Picked up new shoes on the way home...took a gamble. My van has bad bj's, and slightly sagged springs up front. I mounted some new BFGs in the 265/75.16 variety and experienced no rubbing on my way home from the alignment. (I have since noticed a slight polishing on the inner fender in a small 2"x1" spot.) Only occurs during full stuff with the wheels turned about 50%. I'm not sure if these fit because my van is not full all the time or what but I'm pretty confident in saying a 265/75 or 235/85 would fit an E350 with no issues.

Rear:


Front:


Started sound deadening and insulating everything below where the windows will be. Floor, Walls, Doors, Ceiling.




While I was at it, I wrapped the steering wheel in leather, made new door panels for the slider and back doors and wrapped them in a high abrasion fabric...




Made a pressurized tank with a thin bladder and some quick disconnects to use as a shower or attach a hose. Not sure if I'll keep it or not...

 

[Sea.Jay]

Skreenz....So I know a few of you have them and have had the exact same issue I'm having right now. I have the extending tow mirrors and emailed Chuck Blethen @ Skreenz to make sure his product would fit since their website does not ask you to choose your mirror style when ordering. Since most of the threads I came across with this issue were dated almost 5 years ago I assumed the issue had been resolved...so when he responded that they would fit any of the three style mirrors offered in 2005 I bought them and hoped for the best.

Once received, it was obvious these were not going to work. I emailed him and he just said send them back and I'll refund you. No interest in helping me get something that will work for my van. I have wanted the smaller single arm mirrors with dual glass since I bought the van and that is probably what I'll end up doing so I can use the Skreenz. My question is: are there any benefits to these huge mirrors?? I'm not very wide and don't tow often. Even in the non extended position they still stick out a lot that I've had to fold them in on the trail on several occasions. Skreenz are sort of a requirement seeing as I have not other ventilation at this time other than my front two windows and fan.

 

[rdcolorado]

So it looks like you got a different roof rack? Is that from Aluminess? or where did you source that if not there. I need a rack like that and the one you have looks perfect!

Nice job!

 

[Sea.Jay]

Hopefully the next pictures will be appropriately sized...

After sound deadening and insulation, I took a while to decide on what I wanted to do with the floor. Was I going to beat it up? Did I want some cushion? Did I need non slip? carpet, wood, ???

Leaving the original black plastic/rubber flooring with its padding, I decided on some 9ply baltic birch, 3/8" thick. Placed some nutserts in the floor and bolted it down. At the same time, built a fold down bed. I shouldve gone lower so it would've folded up to a 90 degree angle but then when it was folded down it wouldve only been 7 or 8 inches off the floor. It is placed here because for somebody 6'8 there are not many other ways to fit a bed that will comfortably fit me. EDM foam pad measures 88x34x3 and is so ridiculously comfortable to sleep on.

Placed the truck fridge on a few drawer slides I had removed during somebody's kitchen demolition and made custom tie downs to quickly remove the fridge from the van if need be.




If you notice, there are swiveling, height adjustable feet on the bed legs. This allowed me to park with the passenger van tires well into the gutter and still have a level sleeping surface. Sleeper.

Found some adrian steel work van stuff on craigslist. Went to the guys shop and left with a few items to fit in the van and build off of. All for $50.

 

[Sea.Jay]

So it looks like you got a different roof rack? Is that from Aluminess? or where did you source that if not there. I need a rack like that and the one you have looks perfect!

Nice job!

Yes, went with an aluminess rack with full diamond plate flooring and a slightly custom layout. I have enjoyed throwing a pad and bag down on the roof rack and sleeping comfortably when the weather is right.

 

[Sea.Jay]

I only had a bed and fridge plus a box of cook gear and clothes in the van with bare insulation on the sides for over a year while I worked and saved money to spend on this project. Tools and supplies took up the majority of the room a majority of the time. After slowing down work when fall started and devoting my time to the van, the first thing that had to be done was a new bed set up. I found many ideas on the internet and decided on a slats and rails sliding set up with a hinged seat to gain access to the under bed storage. I stole this idea and simply put my own twist on it: http://deepredmotorhome.com/bed.php

my rough drawing and sizing...



Getting to it...



And between the end of the bed and back door....



Toilet, stove, dog food plus emergency supplies/jack/tools

That's about where I'm at. I'll get the interior all finished up in the next week or so and have some completed pictures.

Have a few goodies that should go together quickly tomorrow that have been sitting in storage long enough...

 

[rdcolorado]

Yes, went with an aluminess rack with full diamond plate flooring and a slightly custom layout. I have enjoyed throwing a pad and bag down on the roof rack and sleeping comfortably when the weather is right.

Absolutely!! Love that and I will hopefully have a similar set up soon.

rdcolorado

 

[Sea.Jay]

Also, I'm sitting pretty stink bug and plan on doing wheel bearings, ball joints, drag link, tie rod ends, bushings and shocks all around. I am debating between Weldtec Designs leveling kit with springs, modified radius arms, alignment cams, and shocks or just getting some moog lift coils and alignment cams. Can anyone recommend a Moog part number for a coil that will give me a little lift and is still align-able with some different cams? And what kind of cams would I need to be buying? Would I be able to use standard replacement Bilsteins or would I need something longer?

And is it advisable to remove the original rear over load spring to gain a bit of a softer ride?

Thanks for any help!

 

[philos]

I'm doing my front end on Tuesday this week. I bought Moog CC880S
I have the 7.3
If you've got a small engine, get Moog CC880.
You can contact Moog via Twitter I think and they'll get right back to you.
I bought Ingalls 59400 bushings and they're adjustable.
I dunno on the shocks, but I'm going with some stock height replacements.
Still dunno on the rear over leaf, but I've been thinking along those lines myself.

Oh yeah, I got the aforementioned parts via Amazon prime...

Sent via flux capacitor

 

[martell06]

Great van Jay. I was in the same boat, living in SoCal and itching to get out. I moved to Montana this summer and couldn't be happier. Be sure to swing though in your travels.