HAMBO build thread

[Bikersmurf]

Been a while since I updated my build...

Shower:
I moved the batteries from the side entrance and now have a nice shower pan and holding tank (still need to install a drain valve). The black plywood is temporarily and will be later replaced with a proper floor and the walls will need some work as well.

The final floor size is 20" x 31"

Electrical:
My sparky friend Jay came to the rescue again and greatly helped me with my electrical cabinet.

I now have my AC all hooked up, shore power included. Mounted my inverter/ charger, 5 fuse panels (for house, starter, key on...). Two DC-DC chargers (20a for house and 3a to trickle charge starting batteries from house).

There's a bunch more that we dealt with...

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How much benefit is there to a DC-DC charger over an ACR?
I can see an advantage for higher value batteries, but I don’t know enough to know for others

 

[Abitibi]

I was going to go with an ACR but it doesn't work well between lead acid and lithium batteries as their charging chemistry is too different. So I put my new ACR for sale and got the DC-DC charger instead, mainly to protect my alternators and to still be able to isolate the starting batteries from the house ones when camping. Some might go for a larger DC-DC charger (mine is only 20a) but I will mainly rely on solar and shore power to keep my lithium toped up... charging while driving should only be a bonus

 

[iggi]

I'd go ACR for batteries of the same type/chemistry but definitely a DC to DC charger if your house battery bank is Lithium. (like mine)

How much benefit is there to a DC-DC charger over an ACR?
I can see an advantage for higher value batteries, but I don’t know enough to know for others

 

[Abitibi]

Yup, ACR seems to work great mixing different chemistry as long as it's not mixed with lithium!



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[Abitibi]

Got most of the benches done. The front facing one is larger and doubles as extra storage behind the back rest which can also become a table.

Both benches have the option to be angled back for more comfort (front of benches tilt up and angled back). I'll post pics of that feature soon.

In bed mode it will give me 75" of length, 37" at shoulders and 32" at feet, good enough for the rare time I want to keep it more stealth. Most of the time the 2nd bed will be the poptop.

Still need to figure the seatbelts (only for the front facing bench) and a raised floor/ storage between the benches.

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[Abitibi]

On a much less interesting update I finally drove the Hambo yesterday. It had been sitting for a few months while working on the interior.

Turns out my front passenger caliper sized up on me. I tried to baby it back to fix it only to realize the new front bearings had also overheated.

Couple hours to get it all fixed but where it really hurts was in the wallet, those sealed bearings are highway robbery!!!

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[iggi]

That's a bummer. Sealed bearings? Ugh. How much?

 

[Abitibi]

That's a bummer. Sealed bearings? Ugh. How much?

After my very good discount at Lordco it came to $700! The loaded caliper was another $115 or so.

I guess it's part of the game, it just that I could have bought another lithium battery for that price, argh!

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[iggi]

Wow. I'll make sure to shop ahead of time for mine!

After my very good discount at Lordco it came to $700! The loaded caliper was another $115 or so.

 

[keane]

Ouch, that sucks. My 06 F350 work truck breaks would be fine if I drove it every couple days, but if it sat for more than a weeks the calipers would seize.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Ouch... makes me appreciate the older taper bearings so much more.

 

[IdaSHO]

If you want to ditch the unit bearings for serviceable, its 100% doable, just have to pay for it.
Highly recommended though.

Dynatrac Free-Spin kits (getting rid of unit bearings)

Anyone have any experience? Looks to be a legit setup. At near 140k on our 2011 Superduty, I've got a noise developing that is likely a unit bearing or two. And considering OEM Motorcraft unit bearings are near $400 each, this seems to be a relatively affordable long-term fix...

expeditionportal.com

 

[Abitibi]

If you want to ditch the unit bearings for serviceable, its 100% doable, just have to pay for it.
Highly recommended though.

Dynatrac Free-Spin kits (getting rid of unit bearings)

Anyone have any experience? Looks to be a legit setup. At near 140k on our 2011 Superduty, I've got a noise developing that is likely a unit bearing or two. And considering OEM Motorcraft unit bearings are near $400 each, this seems to be a relatively affordable long-term fix...

expeditionportal.com

Nice but as you said, be ready to open up your wallet at $2000usd! Very nice kit though!

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[Abitibi]

Today was an amazing day!

I haven't posted for quite some time as a lot of what I'm doing is not glamorous, bunch of electronic and electrical stuff, (thanks Jay!) etc. But some of them are pretty cool and finally in operation.

This little joystick is pretty sweet, it's basically 4 switches in one and controls both side light bars, my big auxiliary front lights (not installed yet) and the override for my back up lights. Also installed a quick connect for when I need to remove the doghouse. (The small switch beside the usb port is to turn on the 2nd back up camera)

But the star of the show is definitely this switch beside the cigarette lighter plug. It's a very humble little switch but as of today it will save me thousands of dollar every year!

It's my WVO switch which I just completed a couple hours ago with my best mate Laurentiu! We mounted this custom built 50 gallons aluminum tank, the heated veggie fuel filter, the big FASS pump and the two 3-way valves. So from now on once my truck is at operating temperature I just press that awesome little switch and it completely shuts the diesel and opens the way to my gold liquid, free, recycled, less polluting and plentiful! I've been running on veggie oil for over 15 yrs so very familiar with this technology but every time I convert a new truck I get just as excited as the first time!

I also installed a coolant filter, an Webasto hydronic heater, all plumbed up along with my Kuuma hot water heater and a small interior bus heater. Still need to wire up the heater but at least I found a good spot for it beside my starting batteries. I'm also using an Espar 6 way valve to control two heating circuits (interior priority, engine secondary).


This is the heated veggie oil filter, where the magic starts!

This one is a remote diesel filter.

This one is the coolant filter.

You can see the FASS pump for the veggie oil beside its little filtering buddy.

Just another angle showing a very compact assembly, so many coolant lines as they also feed into the 6 way valve (2nd picture) and into the hydronic heater. You can also see the big and shinny veggie fuel tank mounted up.

It's coming together!!!

Cheers
David

 

[iggi]

Wow, great progress David. I didn't realize you were going with WVO for the 6.0. I heard it wasn't a great choice for a veggie powered rig but I haven't done any indepth research. I'm curious if it runs quieter on WVO than on diesel. I know my old Landcruiser did.