E350 Gray Vhale Build Thread

[FarmerFrederico]

Future Plans: Pop-top and Color

So we're scheduled to drop off the van with CCV in late March for a mid-height pop-top install. Insulated, Fantastic Fan, and going with the color white as I eventually want to end up with this color scheme and paint/rhino/line-x the rockers black:

 

[FarmerFrederico]

On top of the pop top

I haven't confirmed with Derek but I've heard that about 300#'s on top of his mid-height top might be limit. I want to put a Yakima Skybox 16 up there and 200w of solar.

Yakima box and bars: 65#s
UJOR Roof Rack: 65#s
Solar: 50#s

I should be good, right?

Maybe I don't need a roof rack though and could just go with the load bars - this would limit future apps and force me to go with direct mount solar panels (probably a glue on method). Can anyone talk me in to this route?

 

[Kgorman]

Looking awesome!

Fwiw I did lots of research and I am going with the switch-pros setup

 

[FarmerFrederico]

Interior 2.0

If you recall I have two Sienna seats on MG mounts attached to L-Track. They were pushed absolutely as far forward as they needed to be to get a queen size futon mattress in the back on top of a 20" high platform. The platform had 3 bays underneath, middle bay just a big bigger than side bays. This left enough room for the foot rests to pop up before hitting the front driver and passenger seats but felt cramped. The mattress out back was also immovable (I told you, babe!) so there was no flexibility back there.

In preparation for the new pop-top, I've removed the mattress (it will never go back in) and the entire platform to make a second attempt. I want to go 80/20 this time around instead of 1x, 2x, and 1/2 ply....but I'm still stumped on how I want to lay it out.

I've moved the two Sienna seats back just enough (about 12 more inches) that my 6'2" frame can recline in the seat and use the foot rests without interference with the front seats. With just the front barn door open, looking straight in - the seats are not visible.

The bed platform had all of this underneath it and I would prefer to be able to continue to haul all of this stuff - some of it is seasonal of course:

▪ Medium size dog kennel (19” high)
▪ Action Packer with all kitchen supplies
▪ 10lb propane
▪ 3 folding camp chairs
▪ jack and small tool box
▪ box of ropes and bungees
▪ small telescope and tripod 48”x24”x24” of volume
▪ 5 gallon scepter water jug
▪ tent
▪ sleeping bags/pads
▪ 3 pair skis
▪ 2 pair snowshoes



Decided:

• While the RB50 design is nice, I really like the security and comfort of integrated 3-point belts and recliner/foot rest feature of the Siennas so they are staying.
• I want the Sienna seats to be able to recline and use the front four seats like a living room.
• While this arrangement has been cramped as of late - moving the seats back will make this more comfortable - we’ve really been enjoying it at when grabbing snacks between runs while skiing up at Eldora - we just get there early and can walk right off the slopes up to the van and be eating/snacking in minutes.
• Eventually get at least the front passenger seat on a swivel - anyone swivel the driver seat with a 4x4 shifter in the way?
• Kiddo will sleep up top in bunk area above cabin (driver/passenger)
• Use a cooler as a table top in that area.
• Give Sienna seat passengers cup holders and horizontal surface area to stow things.
• Continue using our 5 gallon Scepter for now but want more water storage in the future.
• Keep all outdoor cooking equipment - Partner 20” stove, Magma stainless 3 piece set.
• Need some sort of sleeping area for 1-2 kids in the back for the future but a tent will be part of the picture too.
• Need additional seating in back for at least at camp -
• Fridge
• Espar gas heater (B1) model.
• 4 bike hitch rack is almost always going to be out back - fairly easy to remove at campsite though.
• Aluminess front bumper with 2” hitch to put bike rack up front when at camp for a few days - this gives free access to back door without bikes in way.

Possible:
▪ A place to heat up water for coffee but no major cooking inside.
▪ can’t decide on whether or not it should walk through or not.
▪ maybe a fold down bench in back with seat belts for three? - no windows for those passengers so wouldn’t be ideal for long trips - just shuttling with bike buddies.

As you can see I’m all over the place and need to prioritize. Any advice?

 

[mk216v]

If you have 4 Sienna's then how about the roll-over couch in the rear, makes into a bed for the kids, parents sleep up top?
Looking forward to how the CCV stuff turns out. Another van friend in CO is going there for top/interior. Fingers crossed.

 

[MorrieSugg]

I'm really psyched to see photos of you van with the white top. Our van goes in in May. I think I've decided on the high top, mostly for the storage capacity.
We're getting the white top, mostly because I'm cheap, but our color scheme will be what you are looking for- our van is silver with black rocker panels already.

I'm hoping it looks as good as you're thinking.

 

[mk216v]

I haven't confirmed with Derek but I've heard that about 300#'s on top of his mid-height top might be limit. I want to put a Yakima Skybox 16 up there and 200w of solar.

Yakima box and bars: 65#s
UJOR Roof Rack: 65#s
Solar: 50#s

I should be good, right?

Maybe I don't need a roof rack though and could just go with the load bars - this would limit future apps and force me to go with direct mount solar panels (probably a glue on method). Can anyone talk me in to this route?

Based on the CCV thread, looks like roof load limit is maybe 100lbs? But no for-sure calculated info I've seen so far (from any of the poptop guys);
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/139290-Anybody-heard-from-Colorado-Camper-Vans/page11

On an alternative note, it appears that MG Metalworks is working on a poptop too!
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/96155-MG-Metalworks-Quadvan-Build/page52

 

[FarmerFrederico]

Sorry to disappoint but I won't be able to show you how the color scheme comes out because I've cancelled my pop-top with CCV for a number of reasons - the most important are personal.

That frees up some cash for working on version 2.0 of my interior.

A pop-top will be done someday, but a few other priorities need to be worked out first.

 

[mk216v]

Sorry to disappoint but I won't be able to show you how the color scheme comes out because I've cancelled my pop-top with CCV for a number of reasons - the most important are personal.

That frees up some cash for working on version 2.0 of my interior.

A pop-top will be done someday, but a few other priorities need to be worked out first.

Sorry to hear Adam. But that means better things are over the horizon right?...
...like your interior. What does v2.0 consist of?

 

[MorrieSugg]

I guess I'll have to be the guinea pig. I'll post up pics when it's done, so you can see if the color scheme turns out like you want.

-Mike

 

[FarmerFrederico]

Update

Sorry to hear Adam. But that means better things are over the horizon right?...
...like your interior. What does v2.0 consist of?

Yes - in time all will be better for sure. No major emergencies, but after paying the ER bill for our 3yo's latest adventure it did make me tighten my wallet a bit! All is well though!

As far as the interior goes, I'm basically going for something that resembles the RB21 interior. Someday we'll get a pop-top, but for now I need to come up with a way that I can cram two 6'1" adults and a 3yo :

I'm looking make two storage boxes that will sit on the floor with a folding panel that spans the two of them to make a bed. Maybe what goes in front the boxes will be of the same height so that a bed could essentially take up the whole space.

• The passenger side one will have electrical stuff and a bit of storage.
• The driver side one will be storage for smaller camping items.

I need to keep the space behind the seats flexible or have soft bags with clothes that can be crushable so that the Sienna seats can recline against them. I might have to forgo that for one of them though and put the refrigerator behind it.

Here's what I've come up with in Sketchup so far. Messing with the idea of dropping a hammock down above the reclined driver seat and driver side seat behind it for the kiddo.

*Blue box is 63qt ARB - anyone know how much ventilation those need? It will stay put - not planning on moving it at camp...I have a little Yeti too.
*Red box is chuck box - will need to add another panel that support bed area when that is out of the vehicle at camp.
*Yellow boxes are telescope and mount.
*Green are Sceptor water tanks.
*Brown panels flip up against the wall.
*Center gray panel would flip up with one of the brown ones. These all need supporting legs where they meet in the center aisle.

This won't be a permanent set up - it will change again when I eventually get a pop-top - hoping more options reveal themselves in the next couple of years.

Considering a Ujoint rack up top for Yakima box and solar panels. Will likely put a Maxx Air or Fantastic Fan in place over the bed in back or out a back window as I've seen some do.

Any feedback is appreciated!!!

 

[FarmerFrederico]

A pop-top will eventually be a reality with this build but I need to find a way to get some stuff on the top of the van that can economically make the transition to the roof of the pop-top in the future. I need to get a Yakima Box up top, 100w of solar...can anyone convince me of the need to get a UJOINT rack? $1700. Maybe I could just get two sets of Yakima towers and cross bars for about $500. Anyone had any luck with those? I don't need to mount an awning to the rack, but I intend to get one mounted to the gutter because when I get a pop-top I'll want to keep the awning from going up with it.

I don't seem to see too many roof rack systems other than commercial stuff or Aluminess out there. UJOINT sells brackets to carry Yakima load bars but wouldn't I just be able to clamp a box and basket right on to the 5 cross bars that already exist on the rack? Can I stand on the UJOINT rack?

Here is a sketch of the UJOINT rack footprint and the Yakima Skybox 16 and 100w Renogy panel I could fit up there. I'd have to move the box over to one side to fit a fan up there as well. If I wanted more solar than that I guess I'd need stick on or something I'd set up on the ground.

 

[philos]

I see roof racks on craigslist, 100-500 pretty regularly. Add maybe a couple hundred more to a local fabricator to make it work on your rig if it doesn't already fit, and you can't/don't want to do it. There's often a guy here in LA that sells on craig's and has brand new racks for $495.

Also, my local pick-a-part will sell a fiberglass top for $65 plus tax...

 

[FarmerFrederico]

I see roof racks on craigslist, 100-500 pretty regularly.

Thanks for the idea Philos - I looked and found someone who sells custom steel stuff starting around $250 to bolt on to your current crossbars. I guess I'm not interested in that though.

What do you guys think about this awning for a van? Bunduawn by Bundatec Video review USA Supplier

Looks quick enough to set up that I'd use it...covers the windshield for the most part too to keep interior cool especially for quick stops. Will likely need a custom gutter mount.

I think I'll just get a Yakima crossbar setup so that I can put a Skybox 16 up top, and maybe come up with something custom and low profile for a Renogy 100W panel.

 

[philos]

One more thing, I found brand new gutter mount lumber racks/crossbars for $75 at a local close out warehouse (again, Craigslist) that would work. They're stronger than Yakima/Thule as well. Plus the white color matches my van, and helps it look more stealthy when I boondock.
That awning looks cool.


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