I was mainly concerned about welding a 3/4" D-ring to 1/8" steel, and then ripping them off during a hard winch pull or something. I'll just incorporate the D-rings into the 1/4" plate box that the winch is mounted to. Then like you say, a little bit of plating here and there and we'll be good
The Lunchbox Build... 4x4 chevy shorty van
- Thread starter Lunchbox2
- Start date
I was mainly concerned about welding a 3/4" D-ring to 1/8" steel, and then ripping them off during a hard winch pull or something. I'll just incorporate the D-rings into the 1/4" plate box that the winch is mounted to. Then like you say, a little bit of plating here and there and we'll be good
You going to a 4-seater buggy?? :sombrero: That was my whole reasoning behind the long travel shorty van, I wanted something bigger yet still capable. My buddy was following me in his lifted XJ the other day, and he couldn't stop laughing at how much it was flexing. He was lifting tires and working his little jeep, and the Lunchbox just walked right through it, in 2wd....lol I really need that front axle pulling though so I can see what the ol' pile of parts will do, I'm scared to try too much in fear of getting it stuck.
Living in the city I had a street warrior, a Gary Fisher PHD, and it was awesome for bombing around town and the bike parks. Also had a carbon fiber TREK road bike that was fun, both are long gone now. I can't wait to go bike shopping next spring, I'm ready for some awesome downhill action!
The PHD, such a fun bike to ride
So I stopped by the local scrap yard with the Lunchbox today, I wanted to see what the ol' girl weighs..... The final weight with my son and I both in the van, was 5360 lbs., so the van itself is right at 5100 lbs. right now. That's all going to change in a few days once I start hanging bumpers, winch, and a spare tire on it. So I'll add a little more weight, but it'll be under 6000 lbs. with a full interior, I'm happy....
There's a guy over on vanning.com that is trying to tell me that his 145" wheelbase G30 4x4 (mine is a 110" wheelbase version) weighs 9500 lbs, I just don't see how his van is basically two of mine.
Probably not comparing apples to apples. Mine weighs 10.5k, but it's an E350 4x converted Ambulance camper conversion with a bunch of heavy crap added.
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Featherweight... my 138" wheelbase is 8500 lbs empty. 9500 seems heavy for a van though.
I can see the ambulance weighing that, there's a whole lot of mass there... lol. I think this guy is mistaking GVWR for actual vehicle weight
I'm stoked how light the Lunchbox came out, it's really pretty nimble driving it around. I'd like to keep the weight down as much as much as I possibly can
chiliVANilli
Adventurer
My buddy just sent me this when I sent him a pic of Blueford T Justice.
haha love it! That's where it all began.....
So I've been pretty busy for the past week. I borrowed my buddy's welder and band saw, so I could work at the house. It's so much easier this way, as my son can keep himself occupied and I don't need a babysitter, I can actually get things done....
I stopped by the steel yard and got some 4" wide 1/4" plate, and a bunch of cut off and grinder wheels, then I started building a box out of the 1/4" plate for the winch to mount to.
I got my buddy Dik, the guy that owes me some labor for the video work, to stop by and help out with the welding. Things go so much faster when I'm cutting/grinding and he's welding, it was a productive day...
Then I started the pie cuts in the square tubing and go the sides done...
After both sides were done, I put up a "bull bar".
For what I'm working with, both material and tools, I'm pretty happy with how the front one turned out. They need a good spray bomb, then I'll be ready to rock. This isn't a SEMA build, it's just an old beater van I'm going to use and abuse. Function over form for this guy....
I stopped by the steel yard and got some 4" wide 1/4" plate, and a bunch of cut off and grinder wheels, then I started building a box out of the 1/4" plate for the winch to mount to.
I got my buddy Dik, the guy that owes me some labor for the video work, to stop by and help out with the welding. Things go so much faster when I'm cutting/grinding and he's welding, it was a productive day...
Then I started the pie cuts in the square tubing and go the sides done...
After both sides were done, I put up a "bull bar".
For what I'm working with, both material and tools, I'm pretty happy with how the front one turned out. They need a good spray bomb, then I'll be ready to rock. This isn't a SEMA build, it's just an old beater van I'm going to use and abuse. Function over form for this guy....
While the welder is here, I'm trying to tidy up all my loose ends. Starting with the shifters.... I still need to make or buy a boot of some kind for the twin-sticks, but a couple pieces of DOM leftover from the steering for handles, and a sheetmetal box to enclose it all and that's basically done. Again...function over form
Thanks man! Considering places like Boulder Offroad want $15k to put an axle under the front of one, I built the entire van for less than what most spend on a 4x4 conversion... And she is going to get used, that's for sure