huskyhauler
Adventurer
Well, this is sort of an introduction and a recap of what I've done so far. I've been lurking for a bit seeking answers to specific problems during my build, but figured it was time to start participating.
Introducing "The Husky Hauler," which is designed to be a tailgating basecamp during football season, a weekend toy hauler for the kayaks, motorcycles, and mountain bikes, and extended stay RV during camping season. I did all of the work myself in my driveway except for the paint and decal.
1996 Ford E350 Road Rescue. 7.3L TD, 135k miles.
I don't have a lot of experience with builds (basic knowledge on working on cars and home renovations and whatnot) and my budget was tight so I focused on function, comfort, price point, and reliability. Nearly everything added was second hand (craigslist or Good Will), except for the mattress, water pump, and sink materials to help keep costs down. It helped I got my rig for a screaming good deal from a fire department and it came with a ton of bells and whistles (generator bay with sliding tray and automatic switch, battery charger/tender, new batteries). Let's just say I got it for less than the average Apple Lap Top!
The build sort of progressed organically. I didn't have a step-by-step goal or end game. I knew what features I wanted and tackled them one by one. The design phases for each project largely consisted of me sitting in the ambulance, drinking a few beers, and brainstorming on how I'd make it work. then, during the build phase it largely involved me drinking a few beers and MacGyvering my way through the build. So far it's worked out pretty well.
Random side note: I was able to figure out the combination of the locking cabinet in a matter of minutes by focusing on a combination of the three buttons that were most worn.
Before:
So Far (there will never be an after, because it will never be completed!):
What I've done so far:
Couch/bed: I started out with a jack-knife style couch/bed. It was heavy, cumbersome, and took up too much room so I ditched it for a custom slide-out bed. This allows me to fit the two CT90s side by side and stack the two kayaks on the bed.
old jack-knife style:
new pull-out style:
Fridge/Freezer: A simple, minifridge with separated freezer.
Sink: Stainless steel bowl installed in a "above counter" style. Gray water is tank in the cabinet directly below the sink. The faucet is an eBay special that's mounted to an old Jagermeister promo tin bottle. Water source is a tank in an outside compartment, fed by a water pump. The lines travel through a narrow outside compartment that once housed the stretcher. This compartment also stores the folding ramps and satellite cable bundle.
Entertainment: Much of this is for tailgating use. One 42" TV is mounted on a swing arm that sets up nicely in three positions. It can stay mounted in place on an interior wall for viewing while on the couch, it can swing over perpendicularly to be flush with the back of the ambulance for viewing while in bed, or it can swing all the way out the back of the ambulance in front of one of the rear doors for tailgating. Behind the 42incher is a 30 inch TV, which is used while the 42incher is deployed out back, for inside viewing or video games (we only allow NFL Blitz on the N64 at tailgates, or Mario Kart when there's kids at the tailgate). Satellite is provided by a Dish Tailgater. It's awesome. Just toss it on the roof and 10 minutes later you're ready to go. Of course there's a DVD player and a stereo unit.
Outdoor Drink Station: Much of last year's tailgating prep was focused on efficiency of setup and take down. Hence, the blood-mary bar and drink station was born.
The outside: It came white with a red stripe, so it wasn't too expensive to have the red stripe painted purple. Fast Signs installed the large decal of our tailgating group logo on the side, and I added the the others. I wanted a larger football helmet on the roof of the cab in place of the missing light bar and after scouring the internet and stalking ebay, came across a Buffalo Bills helmet BBQ grill cover. It was $20 after shipping. After sanding, prep, paint, decals, clear coat, and a flasher installed inside it really makes a statement.
Early Morning Tailgating. Gotta get there bright and early for a long day of parking lot partying.
All in all this has been a tremendous leap for us and it's worked out incredibly well for us.
Introducing "The Husky Hauler," which is designed to be a tailgating basecamp during football season, a weekend toy hauler for the kayaks, motorcycles, and mountain bikes, and extended stay RV during camping season. I did all of the work myself in my driveway except for the paint and decal.
1996 Ford E350 Road Rescue. 7.3L TD, 135k miles.
I don't have a lot of experience with builds (basic knowledge on working on cars and home renovations and whatnot) and my budget was tight so I focused on function, comfort, price point, and reliability. Nearly everything added was second hand (craigslist or Good Will), except for the mattress, water pump, and sink materials to help keep costs down. It helped I got my rig for a screaming good deal from a fire department and it came with a ton of bells and whistles (generator bay with sliding tray and automatic switch, battery charger/tender, new batteries). Let's just say I got it for less than the average Apple Lap Top!
The build sort of progressed organically. I didn't have a step-by-step goal or end game. I knew what features I wanted and tackled them one by one. The design phases for each project largely consisted of me sitting in the ambulance, drinking a few beers, and brainstorming on how I'd make it work. then, during the build phase it largely involved me drinking a few beers and MacGyvering my way through the build. So far it's worked out pretty well.
Random side note: I was able to figure out the combination of the locking cabinet in a matter of minutes by focusing on a combination of the three buttons that were most worn.
Before:
So Far (there will never be an after, because it will never be completed!):
What I've done so far:
Couch/bed: I started out with a jack-knife style couch/bed. It was heavy, cumbersome, and took up too much room so I ditched it for a custom slide-out bed. This allows me to fit the two CT90s side by side and stack the two kayaks on the bed.
old jack-knife style:
new pull-out style:
Fridge/Freezer: A simple, minifridge with separated freezer.
Sink: Stainless steel bowl installed in a "above counter" style. Gray water is tank in the cabinet directly below the sink. The faucet is an eBay special that's mounted to an old Jagermeister promo tin bottle. Water source is a tank in an outside compartment, fed by a water pump. The lines travel through a narrow outside compartment that once housed the stretcher. This compartment also stores the folding ramps and satellite cable bundle.
Entertainment: Much of this is for tailgating use. One 42" TV is mounted on a swing arm that sets up nicely in three positions. It can stay mounted in place on an interior wall for viewing while on the couch, it can swing over perpendicularly to be flush with the back of the ambulance for viewing while in bed, or it can swing all the way out the back of the ambulance in front of one of the rear doors for tailgating. Behind the 42incher is a 30 inch TV, which is used while the 42incher is deployed out back, for inside viewing or video games (we only allow NFL Blitz on the N64 at tailgates, or Mario Kart when there's kids at the tailgate). Satellite is provided by a Dish Tailgater. It's awesome. Just toss it on the roof and 10 minutes later you're ready to go. Of course there's a DVD player and a stereo unit.
Outdoor Drink Station: Much of last year's tailgating prep was focused on efficiency of setup and take down. Hence, the blood-mary bar and drink station was born.
The outside: It came white with a red stripe, so it wasn't too expensive to have the red stripe painted purple. Fast Signs installed the large decal of our tailgating group logo on the side, and I added the the others. I wanted a larger football helmet on the roof of the cab in place of the missing light bar and after scouring the internet and stalking ebay, came across a Buffalo Bills helmet BBQ grill cover. It was $20 after shipping. After sanding, prep, paint, decals, clear coat, and a flasher installed inside it really makes a statement.
Early Morning Tailgating. Gotta get there bright and early for a long day of parking lot partying.
All in all this has been a tremendous leap for us and it's worked out incredibly well for us.
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