Fred the Van. The More We Explore's Adventure Van Build Thread
- Thread starter sixstringsteve
- Start date
sixstringsteve
Explorer
Here in the states a 4x4 transit goes for $55k+
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Built by who Steve? Quadvan or SMB?
sixstringsteve
Explorer
quadvan and quigley. you can actually buy them from Ford with a 4x4 option (though most dealers don't know this). It takes about 8 months. They'll put you on a list, then ship it to quadvan or quigley, then ship it back to the dealer with 4x4 from the "factory" with all warranties, then they give it to you.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Still a bit strange to me that they're considered "factory" 4x4 builds with full warranty when both companies use quite a few custom parts from what I'm understanding.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
maybe that's my wording and not theirs. You can buy it from the dealer with a 4x4 option is what I meant.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
I gotcha, just interesting that Ford has offered an "independent" shop's custom 4x4 build.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
Current plans for fred:
add a fiberine high top (24" bubble top with windows and plywood reinforcement)
mount spare in original location (under the rear)
change the interior layout. Mount bikes on the floor so we can keep the wheels on. Mount a bed above them. Add a small desk/table in there somewhere (probably behind the driver)
One day - add a 55 gal tank back there and find another place for the spare (a rear bumper-mounted spare makes it tougher to turn when towing; it jackknives easier)
add a fiberine high top (24" bubble top with windows and plywood reinforcement)
mount spare in original location (under the rear)
change the interior layout. Mount bikes on the floor so we can keep the wheels on. Mount a bed above them. Add a small desk/table in there somewhere (probably behind the driver)
One day - add a 55 gal tank back there and find another place for the spare (a rear bumper-mounted spare makes it tougher to turn when towing; it jackknives easier)
Steve, I am going to pick a nit here -- I have been mountain biking and road cycling for over 20 years, 23 to be exact and just don't understand the need to keep the wheels on, especially in a small space.
While I don't live in a Airstream or a van, I do ride frequently and for the few seconds, literally, that it takes to remove or install a wheel, it seems like you are choosing a design based on something inconsequential. I am not trying to be critical or harsh in any way and I can appreciate your point of view as someone who rides often. Usually, everyone is chatting a bit, stretching, changing clothes, etc. before a ride and there is really no reason (imo) that removing or installing a wheel should be a big deal.
You might convince me if you had an 8-10" travel dedicated downhill bike or a fixie track bike -- something a bit unusual, but for two Santa Cruz bikes, which I love by the way, I just don't see it man.
Please don't take me off the xmas card list.
Cheers
Dzl
While I don't live in a Airstream or a van, I do ride frequently and for the few seconds, literally, that it takes to remove or install a wheel, it seems like you are choosing a design based on something inconsequential. I am not trying to be critical or harsh in any way and I can appreciate your point of view as someone who rides often. Usually, everyone is chatting a bit, stretching, changing clothes, etc. before a ride and there is really no reason (imo) that removing or installing a wheel should be a big deal.
You might convince me if you had an 8-10" travel dedicated downhill bike or a fixie track bike -- something a bit unusual, but for two Santa Cruz bikes, which I love by the way, I just don't see it man.
Please don't take me off the xmas card list.
Cheers
Dzl
sixstringsteve
Explorer
It's ok, you don't need to understand. 
but you've been following us long enough to deserve an explanation.
For some reason people only heard the "I'm tired of taking the front wheel off the bikes" comment and didn't hear the rest of the reasons we are changing it up.
1) it wasn't just taking the wheel off, the stem had to be loosened on one of the bikes every time we put it away. That means readjusting the headset and stem every time we ride. Not a huge deal, but a hassle nonetheless. It also puts undue wear and tear on the bikes. Also, a 15mm fork mount puts wear and tear on these, removing the axle and resting it on that tube every time. My nomad had all the paint worn off the lower 1/2" of the fork from mounting it to the mountains so many times.
2) the bikes were really close to each other. We had to wrap them in blankets and throw pillows in between them to prevent them from touching
3) the pedals would get caught on stuff when we were pulling them out. We literally had a space about 18" wide for 2 bikes. It was a major hassle every time we moved them.
4) the new Santa Cruz bikes use boost spacing on their hubs now, so none of the old fork mounts fit anymore *thank you bike industry for changing standards every 2 weeks. Would it be tough to get new fork mounts? Sorta, but doable. Still a pain though, especially when you're on the road and you don't have a shipping address to receive parts, and no bike shops have boost stuff yet.
5) ever since we started rv shopping we were making decisions off the best way to transport the bikes
6) most people take their bikes to the trailhead and back. They don't have to worry about loading laundry, groceries, spare water jugs, and propane tanks around their bikes, while keeping them safe and out if harm's way.
7) the main reason we are changing it up is so we can put the airstream in storage for 3 months during the summer and live out of the van. In its previous/original setup, we wouldn't be able to sleep in there comfortably, and we definitely wouldn't have been able to dress and cook comfortably. That meant changing things up. The new transits and sprinters are wide enough that we can sleep sideways in them. So we could easily put a bed above the bikes sideways and save a ton of room. Since we are changing it up anyway, why not just get a high top and build the bed above the bikes where they don't need to remove the wheels. We have a new setup at the moment, and not having to disassemble the bikes after a long ride is SO nice. Unfortunately the e350 isn't wide enough to sleep sideways in, so we have to get a high top.
8) even if we COULD sleep sideways in the e350, we can't change clothes easily or stretch, so a high top makes more sense.
9) I could sell fred for the cost of a new Transit, so I wouldn't be losing a ton of money. As transits start to be built out, the e350 is worth less and less, as people transition to transits and sprinters. That means now is my best time to sell if I want maximum selling price.
10) sprinters are out of our budget ($58k and an 8 month wait), and they're not reliable or easy to work on. Fred is dead reliable, 4x4 already, has a million mile motor, gets 16mpg, and can tow 10,000 lbs, and doesn't need DEF or any other crazy emissions requirements. No other van can do that.
I think that pretty much sums it up. Not everyone will agree with my decision, and that's ok.
but you've been following us long enough to deserve an explanation.For some reason people only heard the "I'm tired of taking the front wheel off the bikes" comment and didn't hear the rest of the reasons we are changing it up.
1) it wasn't just taking the wheel off, the stem had to be loosened on one of the bikes every time we put it away. That means readjusting the headset and stem every time we ride. Not a huge deal, but a hassle nonetheless. It also puts undue wear and tear on the bikes. Also, a 15mm fork mount puts wear and tear on these, removing the axle and resting it on that tube every time. My nomad had all the paint worn off the lower 1/2" of the fork from mounting it to the mountains so many times.
2) the bikes were really close to each other. We had to wrap them in blankets and throw pillows in between them to prevent them from touching
3) the pedals would get caught on stuff when we were pulling them out. We literally had a space about 18" wide for 2 bikes. It was a major hassle every time we moved them.
4) the new Santa Cruz bikes use boost spacing on their hubs now, so none of the old fork mounts fit anymore *thank you bike industry for changing standards every 2 weeks. Would it be tough to get new fork mounts? Sorta, but doable. Still a pain though, especially when you're on the road and you don't have a shipping address to receive parts, and no bike shops have boost stuff yet.
5) ever since we started rv shopping we were making decisions off the best way to transport the bikes
6) most people take their bikes to the trailhead and back. They don't have to worry about loading laundry, groceries, spare water jugs, and propane tanks around their bikes, while keeping them safe and out if harm's way.
7) the main reason we are changing it up is so we can put the airstream in storage for 3 months during the summer and live out of the van. In its previous/original setup, we wouldn't be able to sleep in there comfortably, and we definitely wouldn't have been able to dress and cook comfortably. That meant changing things up. The new transits and sprinters are wide enough that we can sleep sideways in them. So we could easily put a bed above the bikes sideways and save a ton of room. Since we are changing it up anyway, why not just get a high top and build the bed above the bikes where they don't need to remove the wheels. We have a new setup at the moment, and not having to disassemble the bikes after a long ride is SO nice. Unfortunately the e350 isn't wide enough to sleep sideways in, so we have to get a high top.
8) even if we COULD sleep sideways in the e350, we can't change clothes easily or stretch, so a high top makes more sense.
9) I could sell fred for the cost of a new Transit, so I wouldn't be losing a ton of money. As transits start to be built out, the e350 is worth less and less, as people transition to transits and sprinters. That means now is my best time to sell if I want maximum selling price.
10) sprinters are out of our budget ($58k and an 8 month wait), and they're not reliable or easy to work on. Fred is dead reliable, 4x4 already, has a million mile motor, gets 16mpg, and can tow 10,000 lbs, and doesn't need DEF or any other crazy emissions requirements. No other van can do that.
I think that pretty much sums it up. Not everyone will agree with my decision, and that's ok.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
you've inspired me to make a video covering this very topic, because we didn't explain ourselves very well. Without knowing the whole story it's tough to understand why we would do something like that.
screwball48
Explorer
I will just leave this here.....
http://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/van-w-bikes_4409.jpg
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http://www.alleewillis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/van-w-bikes_4409.jpg
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk