The Dirt Sherpa Build

[GCecchetto]

Howdy Folks!

Talk about letting the thread slip down the list ha! Summer is coming so I have to get motivated again, basically haven't done squat all winter. Stay tuned.

 

[bob91yj]

Well, lets get at it! We're going to need pics to prove progress.

How do you like those steps that you have. Would they work for an old, fat, occasionally wobbly guy? We have been using a platform for a few years, unfortunately I backed over it last week. A new one is only $40 at Home Depot, but also looking at it as an upgrade opportunity.

 

[GCecchetto]

Well, lets get at it! We're going to need pics to prove progress.

How do you like those steps that you have. Would they work for an old, fat, occasionally wobbly guy? We have been using a platform for a few years, unfortunately I backed over it last week. A new one is only $40 at Home Depot, but also looking at it as an upgrade opportunity.

I have the GlowSteps by Torklift and they are quite solid. They also have a handrail option for you occasionally wobbly guys.

 

[rlargarticha]

great forum. I see whats ahead of me now:Wow1:

 

[GCecchetto]

great forum. I see whats ahead of me now:Wow1:

If you are starting a build, you'll have a haul in front of you, but it will be worth the blood sweat and tears. I hear people talking about the required skill set to pull off a build like this, and I will admit, having been in construction for 30 years has definitely made this easier, but the two most underrated skills you never hear mentioned are patience, and a don't sweat the small stuff attitude. If you have read through my thread, you know neither of the those are my strong suit. Have fun!

 

[GCecchetto]

Okay, I know you all think I have been screwing off......and you're right, but I did get motivated this weekend due to an upcoming trip in a couple of weeks. The hardest part is starting again, so I think I'll be back on it now that I've broken through the lack of desire to work on it. Here are some photos of this weekends progress.

Had to rework the rear tie downs to work with the new rear bumper.



The battery box I've ben sitting on since last summer. The guy that fabed it for me built the I.D. to the O.D. dimensions I gave him so I had to make a spacer out of a piece of 1/4" flat plate to fit through the opening in the teak paneling. The box has to come back out to weld in the battery clamp once I figure that out.



Got a start on the bed extension at the cabover. Still a lot of work left to finish this.



I had a few more photos to upload, but the site seems to be a little finicky this evening.

 

[1stDeuce]

Glad to see you back on here GC!! Remember to take your camper camping too, not just fiddle with it!

 

[GCecchetto]

Glad to see you back on here GC!! Remember to take your camper camping too, not just fiddle with it!

I'll be in the Eastern Sierras for four days the week after next. That's the shot in the arm to get going again.

Ordered the remainder of the LED puck lights for the ceiling, and picked up the slab of teak for the facia of the cabover bed extension. Pulled out the planer and surfaced the teak, planning to rip it to size tomorrow. $110 for one piece of teak trim....ouch. Didn't take any photos, not too exciting watching sawdust blow out of a planer.

 

[GCecchetto]

Have been pretty motivated. Got the teak fascia for the bed extension milled to size and fit to the birch ply with slots cut for the biscuits. Should have it assembled and ready to start the finish work by Friday. Also got the blanks cut for the four doors for the access holes into the bed of the truck. Don't know if I'll get anything else done on them before my trip next week though. The remainder of the LED puck lights for the ceiling should deliver today and I'm picking up a battery today as well. I also ordered the solar charge controller and it should deliver Friday, so I'm hoping to have lights and my vent fan for the upcoming trip.

Haven't had time for photos, but I will get some uploaded this weekend.

 

[shanz3n5]

AMAZING is an understatement to all u have done over the long, but entire course of this build. i read the entire post last night at the fire house in between calls. skilled craftsman, patient, perfectionist. i havent seen this quality in many years. so many good replies to your work. i ditto everyone of them. if i can every get out of this cookie cutter neighborhood in socal, i plan on using your drive as inspiration. i need the space. and this HOA would have a major cow if i started a project like this. 8 years to go to retire. haha. NW has a spot for me i hope. until then i will do what i can to truck and camper in my tight garage. At 48yrs old ive been a general contractor, equipt operator, jet engine mech and for the last 17yrs a single pop and firefighter. I tell u this because i have seen great work and shotty work over this life. You should be proud of this build. and who knows u may do another and pass this one to your son, driving time for him is around the corner. im working with 2009 grandy that i drove to iowa for and 2003 duramax 2500 with 200k on her. they both need love haha. thank you sincerely for the drive that is inspirational to get it done and done right, to get out and explore. im having an exo cage built right now around my crew cab, with a removable basket and front bumper uprights to carry the load. all in my head and sketched out to a great fabricator i found by accident. the only thing i want behind me is the motorcycle trailer and someday soon a fishing jetski trailer. Money and time right. i just modified a used Kendon Stand-up folding trailer and will POR-15 it today and rattle can it tomorrow. if u or anyone is interested on pics ill post, and am open to ideas (ones i can afford ha).
in the mean time GC... dam man keep on gettin'er done brother. Just an awesome perfect job. sorry for the length of this. Get the Dirt Sherpa rolling done or not. Nothing is every fixed and done until its gone.
~ the Simpleman, John, shanz3n5

 

[GCecchetto]

AMAZING is an understatement to all u have done over the long, but entire course of this build. i read the entire post last night at the fire house in between calls. skilled craftsman, patient, perfectionist. i havent seen this quality in many years. so many good replies to your work. i ditto everyone of them. if i can every get out of this cookie cutter neighborhood in socal, i plan on using your drive as inspiration. i need the space. and this HOA would have a major cow if i started a project like this. 8 years to go to retire. haha. NW has a spot for me i hope. until then i will do what i can to truck and camper in my tight garage. At 48yrs old ive been a general contractor, equipt operator, jet engine mech and for the last 17yrs a single pop and firefighter. I tell u this because i have seen great work and shotty work over this life. You should be proud of this build. and who knows u may do another and pass this one to your son, driving time for him is around the corner. im working with 2009 grandy that i drove to iowa for and 2003 duramax 2500 with 200k on her. they both need love haha. thank you sincerely for the drive that is inspirational to get it done and done right, to get out and explore. im having an exo cage built right now around my crew cab, with a removable basket and front bumper uprights to carry the load. all in my head and sketched out to a great fabricator i found by accident. the only thing i want behind me is the motorcycle trailer and someday soon a fishing jetski trailer. Money and time right. i just modified a used Kendon Stand-up folding trailer and will POR-15 it today and rattle can it tomorrow. if u or anyone is interested on pics ill post, and am open to ideas (ones i can afford ha).
in the mean time GC... dam man keep on gettin'er done brother. Just an awesome perfect job. sorry for the length of this. Get the Dirt Sherpa rolling done or not. Nothing is every fixed and done until its gone.
~ the Simpleman, John, shanz3n5

Hello John;

Thanks for the kind words. Looking at things realistically I'm guessing it will be next summer when I hit the finish line on the Sherpa. I'll be pretty happy if I get the current work done, get the stairs refit, and get the dinette/fold out bed done. If I keep up the current motivation, I may get further, but I have other plans for some of the fun money. Planning to buy a KTM 1190 Adventure R this year. I would also like to buy another RAM turbo diesel but want to get the Tundra paid off first so I can hand it down to my son. Planning a trip out to Montana with him this summer so I should have some good photos to post later in the summer.

Hope to see you start a build thread soon!

 

[GCecchetto]

Been working like a rented donkey trying to get the my current tasks completed for my trip next week. It's going slower than I would like, of course, but I'm getting there. Due to miscellaneous nagging pauses to figure out the best way to layout the electrical for the solar, and a trip or two down the hill the spend copious amounts of money on materials, I didn't take time to take any photos. Hopefully tomorrow will allow time for photos.

 

[GCecchetto]

Here are some photos showing how I've chosen to spend my holiday weekend.

Here is the battery, finally strapped down in the box. I bought a rubber floor mat and cut it to fit the bottom of the box to put something under the battery to resist slipping on the aluminum floor. It's rock solid, won't moving around at all. The battery is held in place via some small ratchet straps. I cut the hooks off and then mounted the straps with some stainless brackets I bought at West Marine.



Here is the solar charge controller. Please excuse the messy wiring, the wiring to the right is temporary, other than the connection from the solar panels. The positive lead on the left has been purposely left long as I will need to re-terminate the wire when I make the connection that will feed the future inverter/charger. This setup exceeds my expectations, it was charging the battery at 6:00 PM in full shade.



The cabover bed pull out with Teak facia. The teak stops probably won't get the finish applied until after I return from next week's trip.



And.......got all the lights installed. I'm very pleased with the quality of the interior lighting.



More tomorrow.

 

[shanz3n5]

looking good

 

[Sock Puppet]

It all looks very, very good! Thanks for the inspiration!