(DIY) Builder Burnout

[verdesardog]

Takes time

It took me a couple of years to complete my trailer build. Just did one step at a time and used it in whatever stage of completion it was in when I wanted to go out. http://americanadventurist.com/forum/threads/not-a-tear-drop.1075/

 

[Backcountry Pursuit]

I loved this thread. I'm new to my building project so I'm still pretty motivated. The project has been very trying already with some of the things I have had to overcome. However today, before I found this thread, I made a punch list of stuff that needs to get done to complete the 4x4 conversion and get it road worthy. Boy is it a long list! The front axle is installed and it is sitting on those pretty 35" tires. There's a ton of stuff to wrap up. The back end is on jacks with the leaf springs removed and now it is winter in Boise. Cold and snow this next week with the van outside. Plus I am trying to get a third location open for my business in a city far away and the gf has a major honey do list that includes painting the inside of her 20' tall dome house. Oh yeah, and ski season is coming for which the goal was to have this driveable for said ski season. I wanted to spend some nights in it at ski area parking lots even with almost no buildout done on the inside. Life presses on and I'll find time when I can.

I think my favorite takeaway from this thread is to get out and drive/use the van when I hit a burnout period. I'm gonna file that away for later.

Good luck everybody!

 

[pugslyyy]

I think not having a driveable vehicle is the worst part. I have the dash completely taken apart on my E-350 right now, waiting for a couple of parts to come in before I button it back up. Also have the doghouse off and running wire for the pyrometer, battery protect circuit, etc.

I'll be a lot happier when I have the dash put back together and am working on projects that don't completely disable the vehicle.

 

[Slapmackie]

I hear you. When I was working on my van I stupidly rented a storage unit to have space to work on it in. So I paid 100 bucks a month and said, oh I'll probably get this done real quick cause Im paying every month to have it here. Theres no way I will do my usual, slow, disorganized, distracted, scared of new stuff way of doing things. Naa this time it will be different. Well, 18 months later, 6 of those I was waiting on my buddy to weld some stuff, but still. The only way I could get it finished was force myself to the hard crap, and make it into small segments. Ok this little part is all that I have to do. Then when that parts done, the next and so forth. I feel like im wanting to plug dr leo marvins book from what about bob, great movie. Anyway, I'm trying to say, I feel your pain. But it is doable.

Hah hah....Baby Steps!

 

[Corneilius]

Besides seeking approval from strangers on the internet, my guilty pleasure is to add things to checklists ex post facto. Ive got a big list of updates for my trail rig, spent an hour redoing my battery terminals with nice marine terminals and copper lugs....but it wasn't on the list. I add things to get the satisfaction of checking them off. Another thing I love is finding old checklists from months or years ago in the glove box when everything has been completed.

It took me several years of tinkering on my truck, redoing things, always breaking. But then at one point I realized I hadn't had to fix anything for over a year, it just worked, point and shoot. That was a sublime day.

 

[Jb1rd]

New headlights got ordered today and new studded snow tires and an alignment also got done today. Was not planning on studded snows but after attempting to get to a patient's house with less than stellar results I bit the bullet and got them put on, not quite the sparkle and farkle I wanted to spend the thousand dollars on but necessary all the same, ADULTING SUXS!!!!!*****Edit*******Ok, a little update, these tires are legit, it is snowing so I decided to give them a workout in the big parking lot down the street, massive amount of traction and stopping is excellent, I had to work (in 2wd) to get the rearend to slide out. If anyone is in need of great snow tires these are Studded Artic Claws 285/75/16 Purchased at our llocal Big O for $999.95 out the door with road hazard an alignment that is also warrantied.

 

[Backcountry Pursuit]

Also had another thought to help with this. Some camaraderie is good thing sometimes. Don't be afraid to ask for help and get some buddies over. I've met some great people in Boise that have helped a ton. Huge shout out to Shenrie for the 20 hours he's spent helping me and brian94ht for bringing over the plasma cutter to cut the crossmember. I wouldn't be near this far with out their help. It's also good to vent over a beer to somebody that understands your pain.

 

[ripperj]

I definitely suffer from this at times with my Alaskan rebuild(at this point essentially scratch built) I'm at the 2.5 year of winter 3 day weekends, with the rest of this winter required to finish it.
For me it was important to not force myself on the weekends that I was not feeling it. I would go camping, biking or something else, which reset my build clock. If I made myself go in the shop I would just bang around complaining, and eventually do something half baked, that I would end up redoing anyway. If I took a day or two off I would come back excited to work on it.
Good luck, and plod on!
Keith

Sent from my Passport

 

[shenrie]

Also had another thought to help with this. Some camaraderie is good thing sometimes. Don't be afraid to ask for help and get some buddies over. I've met some great people in Boise that have helped a ton. Huge shout out to Shenrie for the 20 hours he's spent helping me and brian94ht for bringing over the plasma cutter to cut the crossmember. I wouldn't be near this far with out their help. It's also good to vent over a beer to somebody that understands your pain.

^^^ all that is great advice! ive found getting another person involved is a great motivator, especially if they are as ambitious as you are about projects of this nature. people that can get excited about one off stuff and can share your vision help immensely to motivate and reassure you that your time is being well spent.

and thanks man! glad to assist! might need some help myself here soon...

my current struggle is burnout from chasing info and parts to dequiglify a few things on my van. its getting to the point of where im just going to pay whatever parts cost rather than looking for deals...and I hate doing that as I am a full on cheapskate. working 13 hours a day doesn't leave much time for running out to the pick and pulls.

 

[pugslyyy]

my current struggle is burnout from chasing info and parts to dequiglify a few things on my van. its getting to the point of where im just going to pay whatever parts cost rather than looking for deals...and I hate doing that as I am a full on cheapskate. working 13 hours a day doesn't leave much time for running out to the pick and pulls.

Yeah I tend to be working on 3 things at once. Work on one item until I need parts/materials - research and order them. Start working on something else until I need parts/materials for it. Start working on another something else until I need parts. By then the parts for the first item arrive and so I go back to working on it.

It's often a surprise when I open the box, because by now I've been working on a couple of other things.

Right now I'm working on
- battery charge protect circuit - found the wire in the harness just forward of the firewall, need to run it through the firewall, figuring out best way to do that.
- vehicle speed signal (can't find engine output speed) - think it is in the DS footwell. Need vehicle speed for the navigation system, would like to have tach for the remote start.
- repairing the remote start system - waiting on replacement parts (only came with one remote and it is inop)
- pyrometer install - soaking bolt heads to get the turbo exhaust inlet off, already broke one bolt. Don't want to tap the exhaust manifold without being able to clean it out afterwards.
- maestro idatalink install - waiting on parts.
- power wiring for subwoofer (wiring into the factory amp circuit at the SJB) - connector terminals on order.

Part of the problem is I hate to half-*** stuff. A lot of this stuff would be done already if I was content to just bodge it.

 

[Lunchbox2]

Also had another thought to help with this. Some camaraderie is good thing sometimes. Don't be afraid to ask for help and get some buddies over. I've met some great people in Boise that have helped a ton. Huge shout out to Shenrie for the 20 hours he's spent helping me and brian94ht for bringing over the plasma cutter to cut the crossmember. I wouldn't be near this far with out their help. It's also good to vent over a beer to somebody that understands your pain.

THIS^^^^^ Soooo much this..... If it wasn't for the few people that have been helping me throughout my build, it never would have been possible. My buddy lets me take stuff from his junkyard ALL OF THE TIME, and he provided the space for me to work, along with a welder and some other necessary tools that were needed. My other buddy that doesn't know crap about mechanics, that just hung out and talked, or held something when I needed an extra hand steadying something heavy. My 82 year old grandfather that would make runs all the way out to the shop to bring me a blade for the band saw, or cut off wheels... You really find out who your friends are when it's time to get grimy and build a 4x4 van!

 

[Jb1rd]

Tis a New Year and my resolution is to get da BEAST in great condition for the new owner! Have a couple interior projects to polish and then get her in the hands of someone who will love it as much as I do. Bittersweet to be sure but in the immortal words of FG "Life is like a box of chocolates..."

 

[Bikersmurf]

THIS^^^^^ Soooo much this..... If it wasn't for the few people that have been helping me throughout my build, it never would have been possible. My buddy lets me take stuff from his junkyard ALL OF THE TIME, and he provided the space for me to work, along with a welder and some other necessary tools that were needed. My other buddy that doesn't know crap about mechanics, that just hung out and talked, or held something when I needed an extra hand steadying something heavy. My 82 year old grandfather that would make runs all the way out to the shop to bring me a blade for the band saw, or cut off wheels... You really find out who your friends are when it's time to get grimy and build a 4x4 van!

So true... glad to see you've got such good people around you. Happy New Year !




Unfortunately I've only had fair weather friends around... they've been quick to ask for my help, but when things get mucky they're no where in sight. I've got a few things to do that could use a good helper. Ah well... some of them have been waiting since before my daughter was born... and soon she'll be old enough to help out.

 

[villageidiot327]

i don't think i get burnout as much as i get analysis paralysis.

I've had an unopened roll of reflectix, a adrian steel poly liner kit etc, for over a year!!

i am ready to start tackling the interior, but where to start? insulate the walls? cut the hole in the roof for the fan? start with the floors? what flooring? etc etc.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Tis a New Year and my resolution is to get da BEAST in great condition for the new owner! Have a couple interior projects to polish and then get her in the hands of someone who will love it as much as I do. Bittersweet to be sure but in the immortal words of FG "Life is like a box of chocolates..."

Sad news... not very motivating for you at all. Usually we finish these things just in time to sell.

My goal this year is to finish projects and enjoy the fruits of my labor... not sell right after finishing. I know some of these things are never finished... but at least the pieces I've already bit off. Projects tend to evolve, but I'd like to be able to use things as designed