Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
Chilliwack?
The Memorial F150 Craptor.
- Thread starter dbhost
- Start date
badm0t0rfinger
Raptor Apologist.
Naw, unless that was some other Suburban owner.
Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
Nope. Not quite. His thread was known for another reason... lol
badm0t0rfinger
Raptor Apologist.
Buddha.
Finally in expo white.
I remember.
Todd n Natalie
OverCamper
You might still be able to go to his old tour of Canada Part deux thread. But I think the Admins took all the pics down.
Thank you! I am doing well! I’ve been pretty busy. 😀
I am here. Sorry folks. Don't want to regale with tales of woe, but had a big health event due to stress. Been camping my Sportsmobile camper van as much as I can just to get some peace in my life...
So I actually came here to give y'all an update.
Due to my health issues that got spawned off by a series of smashing losses culminating with losing my wife, I got forced into rethinking my plans. I am still rebuilding the F150, that was paused as I got into remission. Not cancer thank God, but the Dr. thought it MIGHT have been. I have been poked, prodded and otherwise experimented on until they figured out what was going on...
The rebuild / camper build will start up again in March. Mostly at this point due to lack of space in the facility I am using until then.
In the meantime stress is not my friend, camping and exploring are massive de-stressors. But even if the truck camper was ready to roll, too small for the medical needs. Not to be too graphic, but I need bathroom access NOW when I need bathroom access...
To make that happen I picked up a quite used 93 Econoline 250 Sportsmobile.
I have updated the 12v system. Ripped the battery isolator out, installed an AtemPower 40 amp DC to DC charger / MPPT charge controller, removed the battery vent from the side of the van and added a cable pass through for a 50 amp anderson connector to connect my 2 300 amp solar suitcase style portable panels. Battery is a Chins 400 amp hour LiFEPo4 battery. I started with 2 200 amp hour batteries but those are going into the pickup.
Not super off roady or anything right now. Weighing my options in that area... Not going to rock crawl a van so do I really need 4wd or would a lift, regear and add a limited slip. Mount up a front reciever and use my old Engo E9000 converted to synthetic line and mounted to a portable cradle.... I am not afraid of doing a full 4x4 conversion, but thinking the practicality of it. I have the 4x4 pickup camper getting ready as well. Do I need 2 4wd campers? Not really...
Due to my health issues that got spawned off by a series of smashing losses culminating with losing my wife, I got forced into rethinking my plans. I am still rebuilding the F150, that was paused as I got into remission. Not cancer thank God, but the Dr. thought it MIGHT have been. I have been poked, prodded and otherwise experimented on until they figured out what was going on...
The rebuild / camper build will start up again in March. Mostly at this point due to lack of space in the facility I am using until then.
In the meantime stress is not my friend, camping and exploring are massive de-stressors. But even if the truck camper was ready to roll, too small for the medical needs. Not to be too graphic, but I need bathroom access NOW when I need bathroom access...
To make that happen I picked up a quite used 93 Econoline 250 Sportsmobile.
I have updated the 12v system. Ripped the battery isolator out, installed an AtemPower 40 amp DC to DC charger / MPPT charge controller, removed the battery vent from the side of the van and added a cable pass through for a 50 amp anderson connector to connect my 2 300 amp solar suitcase style portable panels. Battery is a Chins 400 amp hour LiFEPo4 battery. I started with 2 200 amp hour batteries but those are going into the pickup.
Not super off roady or anything right now. Weighing my options in that area... Not going to rock crawl a van so do I really need 4wd or would a lift, regear and add a limited slip. Mount up a front reciever and use my old Engo E9000 converted to synthetic line and mounted to a portable cradle.... I am not afraid of doing a full 4x4 conversion, but thinking the practicality of it. I have the 4x4 pickup camper getting ready as well. Do I need 2 4wd campers? Not really...
I am well on the road to recovery. The Econoline Sportsmobile has been a great camper, not such a great off roader. I need to fix that within reason. Obvsiously not going to take a camper van rock crawling, but it would be nice to not get stuck instantly driving on the beach. Debating between an off road improved 2wd build, so say a 3" or so lift that will allow 33x12.50s, a regear, and selectable locker out back, or a full 4wd conversion. Obviously the 4wd conversion is much more costly, but more importantly, it is MUCH more maintenance and lower fuel economy, I am not intending on mudding this thing, or rock crawling it, but rather doing un, or poorly maintained forest service roads, and roads / trails into hunters camps that sort of thing.
I did great admittedly decades ago, with a 65 VW Westfalia on original BFG All Terrains out in Arizona. But that VW is a good chunk lighter than this E250, and I am carrying a lot more creature comforts with me...
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
That's cool that you shifted and got a sportsmobile, and glad you're on the road to recovery! I'd argue your assertions that 4wd is MUCH more maintenance and fuel economy. I've owned 4wd trucks for over 25 years, and I think combined I've spent $400 on maintenance of the front end components? Less than that if you don't count wheel bearings. As for MPG's, I've found that the difference between say 18mpg's and 15 doesnt make a lick of difference at the end of the day.... the truck takes how much it takes to fill up. Changes in fuel prices make more of an impact on the cost, so just don't get bent out of shape about it. Just filled my f150 with fuel today, 30 gallons @ $3.05/gallon. Cost a bit more than when gas was at $2.85 last time I filled up, bit I'm not trading my truck for a 2wd for anything
What he said. 😀
Mekcanix
Camper
Exactly what they both said. glad your on the mend