The Slow Van Fast House Build

[sfeely]

Hi everyone, I am the new owner of a project. A 2008 2wd e350. It's all show and no go right now and I am going to be converting it to a family camper for us. I took delivery of it on 12/16 and have already begun the process. Below are a few planning images and the build results.

 

[sfeely]

And the planning begins...
This is the overall idea. A bench seat, keeping the 2nd row for the kids.
Bench folds to bed and has a big drawer under it for kitchen galley storage etc.

 

[sfeely]

A few more...







This is the start of the right side storage box.
I took a lot of ideas and inspiration from the vandiana jones build.
This box will be divided to hold recovery and electrical.


Left side panel torn down and preparing for seat side build.


Here is the seat roughed out with drawer opening.

 

[sfeely]

Seat,Bench,Bed halfway there.

I have it mostly done but need to build the actual drawer and figure out what to do for the mattress.

 

[sfeely]

TIRES?????

I am looking for an all terrain tire that is quiet on the highway but really :roost: off-road. Any suggestions?

 

[ujoint]

Ck out the Toyo RT. Nice blend of both.

 

[mikracer]

I am looking for an all terrain tire that is quiet on the highway but really :roost: off-road. Any suggestions?

The Cooper Discoverer AT3 gets pretty good reviews for its performance and road noise. I have them (285/75/16) and they're quiet on the road. I haven't tested them offroad at all, but imagine they will do well...at least for what will use them for (not hard core wheeling).

http://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

 

[rdcolorado]

Ditto on the AT3s. I have 315/75-16 and love them. Work good in snow and mud.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[sfeely]

The Cooper Discoverer AT3 gets pretty good reviews for its performance and road noise. I have them (285/75/16) and they're quiet on the road. I haven't tested them offroad at all, but imagine they will do well...at least for what will use them for (not hard core wheeling).

http://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

I am leaning toward the at3 but like the look of the ST/Maxx. I have heard good things but I'm worried about road noise. I like that the ST/Maxx is a 3ply sidewall too.

 

[drobb]

I run General Grabber AT2s, load range E on our Sequoia 4x4. The Sequoia is not as heavy as a van....but still heavy. I've run this tire alllllllllllll over the SoCal desert, mountains and beaches of Baja. They've worked out great. I see you're in Nevada.....The AT2s work awesome in desert territory

 

[naterry]

I am leaning toward the at3 but like the look of the ST/Maxx. I have heard good things but I'm worried about road noise. I like that the ST/Maxx is a 3ply sidewall too.

Just fyi- I recently took off a full set of ST/Maxx's after a blowout. They had less than 10k miles on them and the remaining 3 tires also had long (3"+) radial surface cracks in the sidewalls.

 

[tequilasunset]

I LIKE... diggin dem shoes and all the blackness!

 

[sfeely]

I LIKE... diggin dem shoes and all the blackness!

Thanks!
I'm sticking with the "All Black Everything" theme.

 

[sfeely]

Thanks for the info. I think it's gonna be a showdown between the at3 or the KO2.

 

[montanawild]

Hi! I traded the stock Continental All-Season tires that came standard on my Sprinter and now have BF Goodrich KO2's. They have been on my van for 7,000 miles and they are quiet and very good off pavement.