From Freightliner ambulance to RV - we hope!

[rossvtaylor]

Thanks Guidolyons, for correctly answering while I was away! I appreciate it, really.

Yes, the uprights have 3/4-inch pipe (not, tube, so the inside diameter is 3/4-inch) and there are 3/4-inch pipe sections welded to the frame. 6-inch long 3/4-inch grade 8 bolts pass through those two, to create the pivot. When leaning forward, the lower end of the uprights rests against a tab on the side of the frame extension (which holds the winch and the bumper). And when in the vertical, driving, position the lower edge of the uprights is against another tab (but, this one is forward, which keeps the elk bar from leaning back). In the photo, the rebar was just used for positioning, since it was easy to slide in and out. And the elk bar was leaning back against the hood, in one pic, since I didn't yet have the tabs welded in place. I'll post pics of all that, once it's all back in place.

There are other pipes which will run from the upper cross rail to the A pillars on the cab, where I'll be installing a bracket to support the roof rack. That will further support the elk/bull/roo/veliciraptor bar and also lock it in place... plus, it will also offer some additional branch protection to the hood. I also ordered two 6-inch lights to install inside the bar and I've got some steel "mesh" to weld inside the uprights, to offer protection for the grill. The "mesh" is actually the remaining metal from a sheet from which trailer suspension shackles were cut... picture a sheet of dough, from which a bunch of oval biscuits were cut... the "mesh" is the leftover dough on the cookie sheet. It's hardened stuff and only $40 for a 4x10 foot sheet. Again, pics to follow as I get that part done.

Have a great weekend, all! We're in for snow...

 

[AmbulanceRV]

Love the front bumper grill guard, very road warrior LOL

Should do the job well and love the pivot feature

 

[PHeller]

I've seen your old F350 and camper floating around Craigslist. Wondered what the logo was about. Now I know about the logo and why you sold it. This looks like a fun build. Will it make an appearance at Expo West 2017? If you ever need a hand with anything I'd be glad to help.

> Fellow Flagstaffian

 

[rossvtaylor]

I've seen your old F350 and camper floating around Craigslist. Wondered what the logo was about. Now I know about the logo and why you sold it. This looks like a fun build. Will it make an appearance at Expo West 2017? If you ever need a hand with anything I'd be glad to help.

> Fellow Flagstaffian

Hi and thanks! I'm always open to coffee, as it's nice to meet new local folks. But, I've never had an F350 or camper. Hmmm... but, there are tons of our FBomb stickers floating around town. I see them in all kinds of places, which is kind of fun. I'm guessing someone had a sticker on their camper, maybe?

Anyway, our facility is up by Buffalo Park and my wife and I are at Rendezvous almost daily, for a bit. And, yes, we should be at Expo this year. We took it last year, just two weeks after picking it up in Philly, to show a "blank slate" vehicle at Ozrockrat's talk. Hopefully, this year, we'll be in a vendor area or something.

My email address is my first name at dropanfbomb.com if you'd care to meet up for coffee or wine/beer.

Ross

 

[rossvtaylor]

Well, we finally had a few days for some progress... it's now black - rat rod satin, to be exact. Now, to paint the rims and put stuff back on. Then, some bed liner on selected areas and logos. This weekend would be good for that, if the weather hadn't taken a turn for the crummy... soon, though! We're taking this rig to FitCon, in Utah, in April. So we have a deadline, now.

 

[patoz]

And, apparently it does!

 

[rlrenz]

Looks good, Ross.

What kind of paint did you use? Two-stage urethane? Single-stage urethane? Epoxy? Bed liner? Hardware store? Valspar tractor paint? Latex house paint (oddly enough, some of the MIL vehicle folks are using latex house paint mixed to the MIL colors - apparently with decent results)

And how much paint did you need? I'm guessing 2 gallons per coat.

 

[rossvtaylor]

******, Black ? Are you kidding me ?
Is this going to be a mobile sauna ?

Sauna? Haha! Read right after I got back in from scraping the ice off the windshield and taking the snowplow off the front of my truck...

For the color reasoning, you'll need to look back at the earliest posts. We have business reasons for black. But, we think we'll be okay. It's got 3 air conditioners, we'll have awnings on the sides and rear, the box roof is still white (but may end up silver), and both the box and cab roofs will be shaded by roof racks and solar panels.

And, Bob... We used the Eastwood satin Rat Rod black, which is a single-stage urethane. So, it's 3/4 paint and 1/4 activator - mixed, they give you about 90 minutes of working time. These photos were taken during the process, so there's still some striping. We got 5 gallons and used all of that. I did just order another gallon, for painting the wheels and other bits. We also have a 4-liter Raptor Liner kit, also black, with which I'll spray the high-abuse areas (the handles, the corners, the box front, the bumper, the steps, and a 2-inch strip along the bottom edges).

We ordered paint stencils from decalboy.com for the lettering on the doors and back. And for the windshield's top edge, we ordered US Flag lettering (to spell KETO 1) from a place which sells fire department lettering and graphics.

It's coming together!

 

[Ozrockrat]

1st it was cruise control envy now it's going to be paint envy. Man it's hard keeping up to that rig. Looks good in the photos, will we be seeing it at Expo.

 

[scooter421]

LOL, right OZ....just when you think your making progress! Looks really nice Ross, can't wait to see it at that Expo!

Scooter...

 

[rossvtaylor]

Did someone say something about turning KETO 1 into a sauna, by painting it black?



Granted, it did get to 60 degrees today...

Anyway, I did get the front end substantially done last week. The brush/roo/elk/zombie guard is done, the winch is physically installed (permanently now... before, it was just temp for testing), the bumper is also now properly installed and the tow pin (on the left of the winch) is tied into the frame.

I've now moved onto the rear bumper, which will incorporate the spare tire carrier and a motorcycle carrier. Photos of that process to follow, hopefully this weekend.

We are hoping to drive the rig to SLC, Utah late next week - so, the turn signals, mirrors, air horns all need to get re-installed. And the logos painted on. And the middle seat installed, where there's now a center console. And the 4 camera video system needs to be put in, so I can see behind and to the sides (better). Whew!!!

 

[Ozrockrat]

We are hoping to drive the rig to SLC, Utah late next week - so, the turn signals, mirrors, air horns all need to get re-installed. And the logos painted on. And the middle seat installed, where there's now a center console. And the 4 camera video system needs to be put in, so I can see behind and to the sides (better). Whew!!!

Nothing like a hard deadline to to focus your time.

 

[patoz]

Are either of you guys planning on making it to ExPo East later on in the year? If things work out, I may try to make that one myself.

 

[rlrenz]

Are either of you guys planning on making it to ExPo East later on in the year? If things work out, I may try to make that one myself.

I may try for the Expo-East if you go, Pat.

 

[patoz]

I may try for the Expo-East if you go, Pat.

Sounds good Bob! Maybe we should make that a target date to shoot for with our builds.