Petrolburner
Explorer
I'm watching. I test drove and very nearly bought a '76 GMC Value Van before I bought my wheelchair van. That particular one needed more work than I was able to do at the time though.
My Cummins/Allison 1000 Freightliner MT45 Step Van Build
- Thread starter John906
- Start date
ExpoMike
Well-known member
Here was the post about a wheel failure - http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...ehicle-Economical-build?p=1435284#post1435284
John906
New member
. Yeah, I caught that one when I did my search on Rickson; literally a very unhappy camper. I forwarded that back over to Rickson yesterday in an eMail.
Greening Auto in Tennessee
Monster Beadlock/Raceline
Marsh Racing Technology (MRT)
Ag Wheel and Tire in Wichita
Vision Wheel
Alcoa Wheel
Hutchinson Wheel
Longs Wheel in Jacksonville
Rays Engineering/Volk (by special order for truck)
Custom Alloy Wheels: http://www.coloradocustom.com/Wheels.aspx?DivCat=4 – made in CO/CA
Intro, Boze, Bonspeed, Billet Specialties, Budnik, Colorado Custom, Centerline, Weld, Pro wheels all made in USA. Check Forgeline, Fesler, Alcoa as well as Japanese/German options, hoops and centers.
OMF, Accuride, BBS and many others all make custom wheels or have wheels that can be adjusted such as stock wheel, but you choose bolt pattern and offset.
Run quickly from Stazworks and Rickson. A few weeks of reading material on almost any majour off road forum will explain.
Your choice but I wouldnt choose them for wheels on my truck.
Very cool platform and nice setup, looking forward to the build. :beer:
PS: receptionist/secretary types are pretty faces, sometimes in more ways than one. Don't trust them for accurate information, at least that has been my experience. They neither control nor influence work quality, customer promises, delivery dates, shipping and the like.
Monster Beadlock/Raceline
Marsh Racing Technology (MRT)
Ag Wheel and Tire in Wichita
Vision Wheel
Alcoa Wheel
Hutchinson Wheel
Longs Wheel in Jacksonville
Rays Engineering/Volk (by special order for truck)
Custom Alloy Wheels: http://www.coloradocustom.com/Wheels.aspx?DivCat=4 – made in CO/CA
Intro, Boze, Bonspeed, Billet Specialties, Budnik, Colorado Custom, Centerline, Weld, Pro wheels all made in USA. Check Forgeline, Fesler, Alcoa as well as Japanese/German options, hoops and centers.
OMF, Accuride, BBS and many others all make custom wheels or have wheels that can be adjusted such as stock wheel, but you choose bolt pattern and offset.
Run quickly from Stazworks and Rickson. A few weeks of reading material on almost any majour off road forum will explain.
Your choice but I wouldnt choose them for wheels on my truck.
Very cool platform and nice setup, looking forward to the build. :beer:
PS: receptionist/secretary types are pretty faces, sometimes in more ways than one. Don't trust them for accurate information, at least that has been my experience. They neither control nor influence work quality, customer promises, delivery dates, shipping and the like.
Last edited:
John906
New member
UPDATE 11/27/2015
UPDATE 11-27-2015
:elkgrin:
Sorry for the long absence folks; the planned early fall update was interrupted by some health and personal complications. My recommendation is to start building your RV early; it’s a complicated process. Overall, my retirement plans are moving ahead; much progress was made on prepping to sell the house with a basement remodel. I also sold most of my motorcycles and I am pairing down possessions at every opportunity. I’m certainly motivated to start the great adventure! Also, I did go through the hassle of getting the Freightliner MT45 title changed to a Motor Home classification with the installation of a temporary bed and stove to meet the Michigan requirements. This is a big annual savings on plates and insurance.
:elkgrin:
Getting a new separate credit card is another tip for a project of this magnitude. I essentially got a 0% six month loan on all the 4x4 parts during the teaser rate period. That really helps out the cash flow. I also like the separate dedicated record of all the RV purchases.
:elkgrin:
This RV project has reminded me of the saying “I’d rather be lucky than good”. I now must be a beyond good fabricator because of a few unfortunate twists of fate. The rule of the six P’s is another of my favorites for this project; Prior Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance. Perhaps more prior research on my part could have avoided these “challenges”.
:elkgrin:
First, the Allison 1000 transmission uses a different spline count on the output shafts for the RWD and the 4WD NP 261 versions. Now the transmission has to come down and apart to install the new $825.00 tail housing and output shaft. I would recommend a divorced transfer case if I were to start over again, but the rebuilt NP 261 has already been delivered. The thought that the engine and transmission would be staying in-place was a real plus when I chose this approach.
:elkgrin:
The biggest challenge so far involves the electronics. The Freightliner MT-45 on-board Controller Area Network (CAN) is expecting to see a true 4 hub ABS system. The Ford F550 donor 4X4 axles use a 3 channel ABS system with single sensor on the center rear differential. With the help of a local rapid prototyping firm, I’m now creating rear hub steel tone or exciter rings and installing magnetic sensors for the Ford Dana Spicer 135. The drum parking brake is being gutted to make room for the new ABS hardware, and a pinion emergency disc brake has to be fabricated as a result. I didn’t see this one coming at all; ouch, a lot of lost money and time.
:elkgrin:
Back in June, I did pick up my Rickson Wheels at the factory, and ultimately I am satisfied with my purchase. But, what a trip dealing with Dan Richter! Prior to purchase on the phone, I shared the negative Rickson feedback with him and held out the promise of favorable words here if all went well. At the end of the process, disconnected and aloof are best words I can use to describe communications with Dan. I had a bit of anxiety if the wheels would be ready on time, since I was picking them up at his shop on the way back from an east coast family visit. He got most of the facts of the transactions confused. He showed up two hours late, which is a big deal in the middle of a 1200 mile trip. Then the wheels were powder coated black instead of the silver as ordered. He offered to correct the order ship the goods free to Michigan, if I wanted. At that point, I just wanted out and did not want to prolong the agony of dealing with him. After I was on the road with the black wheels and tires in my pickup truck, I called Dan back and asked for a $500 refund on the purchase; the amount he would have paid for shipping the corrected order. To his credit and my surprise, Dan agreed to do that. The problem was he never initiated a credit refund with my credit card company and this got to be very annoying with multiple phone calls and e-mails. The problem was eventually solved by contacting my credit card company and filing a disputed charge claim.(a good point to remember) The card company credited my account with the $500 and gave Rickson 30 days to dispute my claim; they did not so the credit stands. So that’s the Rickson story; Dan’s a nice guy with a good product, he just should not be dealing with customers.
:elkgrin:
So, finally most of the parts are in, and the axles are starting to come apart for the rebuilding process. I’m planning on have the axles ready to be installed in the early next summer. Getting this baby into 4WD mode has become my obsession.
:elkgrin:
Thanks again for your interest in my project.
UPDATE 11-27-2015
:elkgrin:
Sorry for the long absence folks; the planned early fall update was interrupted by some health and personal complications. My recommendation is to start building your RV early; it’s a complicated process. Overall, my retirement plans are moving ahead; much progress was made on prepping to sell the house with a basement remodel. I also sold most of my motorcycles and I am pairing down possessions at every opportunity. I’m certainly motivated to start the great adventure! Also, I did go through the hassle of getting the Freightliner MT45 title changed to a Motor Home classification with the installation of a temporary bed and stove to meet the Michigan requirements. This is a big annual savings on plates and insurance.
:elkgrin:
Getting a new separate credit card is another tip for a project of this magnitude. I essentially got a 0% six month loan on all the 4x4 parts during the teaser rate period. That really helps out the cash flow. I also like the separate dedicated record of all the RV purchases.
:elkgrin:
This RV project has reminded me of the saying “I’d rather be lucky than good”. I now must be a beyond good fabricator because of a few unfortunate twists of fate. The rule of the six P’s is another of my favorites for this project; Prior Planning Prevents P*** Poor Performance. Perhaps more prior research on my part could have avoided these “challenges”.
:elkgrin:
First, the Allison 1000 transmission uses a different spline count on the output shafts for the RWD and the 4WD NP 261 versions. Now the transmission has to come down and apart to install the new $825.00 tail housing and output shaft. I would recommend a divorced transfer case if I were to start over again, but the rebuilt NP 261 has already been delivered. The thought that the engine and transmission would be staying in-place was a real plus when I chose this approach.
:elkgrin:
The biggest challenge so far involves the electronics. The Freightliner MT-45 on-board Controller Area Network (CAN) is expecting to see a true 4 hub ABS system. The Ford F550 donor 4X4 axles use a 3 channel ABS system with single sensor on the center rear differential. With the help of a local rapid prototyping firm, I’m now creating rear hub steel tone or exciter rings and installing magnetic sensors for the Ford Dana Spicer 135. The drum parking brake is being gutted to make room for the new ABS hardware, and a pinion emergency disc brake has to be fabricated as a result. I didn’t see this one coming at all; ouch, a lot of lost money and time.
:elkgrin:
Back in June, I did pick up my Rickson Wheels at the factory, and ultimately I am satisfied with my purchase. But, what a trip dealing with Dan Richter! Prior to purchase on the phone, I shared the negative Rickson feedback with him and held out the promise of favorable words here if all went well. At the end of the process, disconnected and aloof are best words I can use to describe communications with Dan. I had a bit of anxiety if the wheels would be ready on time, since I was picking them up at his shop on the way back from an east coast family visit. He got most of the facts of the transactions confused. He showed up two hours late, which is a big deal in the middle of a 1200 mile trip. Then the wheels were powder coated black instead of the silver as ordered. He offered to correct the order ship the goods free to Michigan, if I wanted. At that point, I just wanted out and did not want to prolong the agony of dealing with him. After I was on the road with the black wheels and tires in my pickup truck, I called Dan back and asked for a $500 refund on the purchase; the amount he would have paid for shipping the corrected order. To his credit and my surprise, Dan agreed to do that. The problem was he never initiated a credit refund with my credit card company and this got to be very annoying with multiple phone calls and e-mails. The problem was eventually solved by contacting my credit card company and filing a disputed charge claim.(a good point to remember) The card company credited my account with the $500 and gave Rickson 30 days to dispute my claim; they did not so the credit stands. So that’s the Rickson story; Dan’s a nice guy with a good product, he just should not be dealing with customers.
:elkgrin:
So, finally most of the parts are in, and the axles are starting to come apart for the rebuilding process. I’m planning on have the axles ready to be installed in the early next summer. Getting this baby into 4WD mode has become my obsession.
:elkgrin:
Thanks again for your interest in my project.
Last edited:
pappawheely
Autonomous4X4
I love these custom builds. Beware of the project iceberg. Only a portion of the engineering and budget can be seen above the surface.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Another choice for 20x11 super singles, for Ford's, Dodge's, Chevy's only;
http://1stattack.com/super-single-wheels-2/
http://1stattack.com/super-single-wheels-2/
overland_drifter
Observer
Coolest build on here, cheers man
I understand the tires will cause x amount of lift to fit but was really wondering how much lift a straight front axle is going to raise up the van.
This is somewhat determined by oil pan clearance I guess.
Did not know how much the stock solid axle is dropped for clearance from the factory and if measuring that rise on the ends for the spindles will be a rough idea or not.
This is somewhat determined by oil pan clearance I guess.
Did not know how much the stock solid axle is dropped for clearance from the factory and if measuring that rise on the ends for the spindles will be a rough idea or not.