And So It Begins ... Again ...

[Dgorila1]

Nice build! I like the alternate layout with the kitchen in the back.

 

[Ballenxj]

 Know anyone looking for a Miata?

Just noticed this. Mine was a 92 I think? Original NA. Man that thing was a blast in canyon country, but that's another story.

 

[Gideon33w]

Nice build! I like the alternate layout with the kitchen in the back.

It was my backup plan in case the rear AC took up too much width and I have to say I think I like it more than the traditional rear bed layout.
I have WAY more storage room than I would have had and I get an opposing seating area should I have guests.
Plus, the kitchen is probably the lightest "room" so having that at the rear is better for the suspension and handling.

 

[Gideon33w]

Just noticed this. Mine was a 92 I think? Original NA. Man that thing was a blast in canyon country, but that's another story.

I have a 96 for sale. Assortment of Jackson Racing parts on it already. Absolute blast.
Plus, I have a freshly rebuilt Jackson Racing supercharger kit with all the add-ons sitting in a box.
Never got around to reinstalling the kit and now I need the money :-/
Talk about a nice toy though. With the kit the hp/weight ratio plus great handling makes it a riot.

 

[Ballenxj]

I have a 96 for sale. Assortment of Jackson Racing parts on it already. Absolute blast.
Plus, I have a freshly rebuilt Jackson Racing supercharger kit with all the add-ons sitting in a box.
Never got around to reinstalling the kit and now I need the money :-/
Talk about a nice toy though. With the kit the hp/weight ratio plus great handling makes it a riot.

I actually embarrassed a person driving a new SS Camaro going through the twisties with my little 118 HP 1.6. The Camaro had what, at least 450 HP?
Fun times.

 

[Gideon33w]

It's a handling game at that point. Who cares what your car can do on the straights if every turn you get crushed? Haha
Sad to see her go (well, hopefully go) but I need the money far more than I need the car.

 

[XFILE36]

Well, both propane and butane should be used outdoors. The key is ventilation. Butane offers more BTUs per oz (though you will see people argue this). Propane produces far more water vapor when it burns which is always an issue in a van. Eventually, I will likely switch to a dual fuel or propane but this was the cheapest and simplest option. Sadly, those choices have to be made at the moment. At least till I can sell my last remaining toy so I can have some budget. Know anyone looking for a Miata? Haha

The bin is being used as a proper sink. I have a fitting in the bottom and it drains into an onboard 2.5 gallon water tank. That tank is valved and has a hose leading the exterior. Once in a situation to drain it I need only open the valve and the greywater drains out the bottom of the van. That plastic dish bin is nice and lightweight plus easily replaceable for all of $2. It will do the job for now

Since I never used butane or propane I had nothing to compare it to.  It did boil water fast, so how much more time does it take using propane?  I understand about selling your last toy.  I have to sell my low miles beemer.  I love it, but can't drive two cars and be stealth.  No, I don't know anyone looking for a Miata, but they look like fun.

Re: the sink, whatever works.  In  my world you get extra points for ingenuity.     I love resourcefulness.

Are you still going to be a dealer?  What are you going to do/go when your done building your rig?  Is that too far ahead to think about?  Sometimes it's best to stay in the now.  

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Great build, Gideon33w!!! Can you show pics of how you valved your gray water tank? Your bed setup is pretty smart too! Wish my build was moving even half the speed of yours!

 

[Gideon33w]

Great build, Gideon33w!!! Can you show pics of how you valved your gray water tank? Your bed setup is pretty smart too! Wish my build was moving even half the speed of yours!

I was actually debating a simple write-up on it when it's all situated. It's cheap, simple, and takes care of a lot of the problems I see with most setups.

 

[Gideon33w]

Since I never used butane or propane I had nothing to compare it to.  It did boil water fast, so how much more time does it take using propane?  I understand about selling your last toy.  I have to sell my low miles beemer.  I love it, but can't drive two cars and be stealth.  No, I don't know anyone looking for a Miata, but they look like fun.

Re: the sink, whatever works.  In  my world you get extra points for ingenuity.     I love resourcefulness.

Are you still going to be a dealer?  What are you going to do/go when your done building your rig?  Is that too far ahead to think about?  Sometimes it's best to stay in the now.  

Propane burns cooler. What that amounts to practically I can't say. But the less time you spend heating your van interior the better, haha.
While there's something to be said for "tried and true" there is a big perk to designing something which fits your specific needs. Like the sink/tank.
Becoming a poker dealer is a possibility. For right now I will probably just play full time though. Have to see how the bankroll works out.
I will probably spend my time between Nevada and Arizona mostly. I'm familiar with the casinos in Tucson and Phoenix which is helpful.
Too much to do before I can even look ahead very far. "The now" is my world at the moment. We'll see what happens. I'm open to possibilities.

 

[Putts]

Thanks for the pix. I'd say I can't wait to see it done...but at this speed I probably can. Enjoy!

 

[Gideon33w]

Hopefully, we both will! lol - Running around this morning picking up some misc. Solar should be here shortly. Might actually be lucky enough to dodge the rains today.
Can't say when it will be "done" though. Too many thing I need to hold off on until I have a better financial baseline. Otherwise, I'll get nickle & dime'd with extras.

 

[Gideon33w]

Got a fair bit done. Sadly, didn't have time for many pictures. So, here's an exterior shot that shows my solar mounted.
Yes, I installed it a bit further forward than normal on purpose. Yes, it's getting a fairing plus some more mounts.

100w panel is installed (100w more coming later), DC and AC power have been ran, simple led lighting is setup, inverter/batt/chargecontroller all wired and mounted, swamp cooler is built/tested and runs well, carpet is down (just needs trimming), mattress is cut up (needs final fit), bulkhead is painted (looks like a workmans bulkhead from the front), seat back (aka bed middle) now has a mounting setup, and I even took a rasp to all the sharp cut corners.

Can't go much further than where I am now until I improve my bankroll. So, today means: more window tint, blackout curtains, bulkhead curtain, more lighting and 12v goodies, get the carpet fitted, mattress cut into cushions and fitted, and some ducting to make my stealth vent a bit more efficient.

Oh, plus cleaning up the mess of tools/misc inside the van and out. My buddies back patio area looks like a mad scientist's workshop. No time to keep organized when I was trying to knock out as much as possible in such a short time.

Wish me luck !!!

 

[XFILE36]

Good luck! Looks great and sounds like it's livable already. The solar is very stealth.

 

[Ballenxj]

  Yes, it's getting a fairing plus some more mounts.

Apparently you and I are in the minority about a fairing being a good idea for solar panels.
Your van is coming right along. Good Luck.

 

[Gideon33w]

I understand that they prefer airflow but guiding air around them at speed is just prudent. Not like there isnt enough air flowing over the top to keep them cool. Id rather dodge rocks and keep downward pressure.

It is tough to keep a vandwelling from not standing out. Once I can I am going to encircle the panels with a rack to make them even more hidden.

Stealth enough for now though, haha

 

[Gideon33w]

Getting back to it in a few but here's some pics in the mean time.

This is just a quick shot of my homemade swamp cooler. The fan on top was just put there to direct some of the cold air right at me. The whole thing is self contained in that water cooler. Works really well so far even with the higher humidity to monsoon season.

Now onto some interior shots. All the windows are tinted and the carpet is secured in place. Cutting up the cushions this evening as well as the other window curtains. But this is a good look in the mean time.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Very nice!!

 

[XFILE36]

Giddeon33w, I'm just curious why you can't open the rear doors. Is your kitchen counter attached to the doors and could it be done so tit's just attached to the sides only so the doors can open?? I really like your design, especially with the bed forward. You can jump in the driver's seat if you need to leave in a hurry, for example if a burglar is breaking in.

 

[Gideon33w]

I knew I wouldnt be using the rear doors so I went ahead and mounted the kitchen to them. Works for my needs. It could definetely be done with rear access in mind. Just have to structure it a little differently.

Well, it might not have been the original plan but I REALLY like this layout. I think it is far more space efficient AND you get a bit more freedom in movement. The ability to comfortably change without needing to do that on your bed or other similar issues is pretty huge. The empty floor in front of the kitchen is more than 3'x4' which is a TON of floor in a van.