ahh_me2
Well-known member
Well, living in a van is great! But it could be a little better...
What comforts are missing the most?
Space... and then the ability to fill it more! lol
This was my starting point last August when I built it: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Van-Conversion-POC
I finally moved into it a couple weeks ago and I Like it!
But I must admit, I knew I would need/want something bigger and so I have been watching the ads to find
something that would jump out at me and say: "pick me".
Well, last week it happened, a friend sent me an ad and said: jump on it dude!
I did!
I now have a new starting point!
I figure it'll take me 2-3 months to get it in livable condition so I can then move out of my van and into the ....
Hmmmmm.....gotta give it a name...
How about "The ES-3500" abbreviated as Elsie, The ES is what can be read on the vehicle in faded paint.
Emergency Support is what it was, not medical, but rather technical suppport as in a plant maintenance vehicle for Dow Chemical.
It is a Chevy Vandura C/K 3500, dually, 350 engine, turbo 400 tranny, from the dinosaur era, approx 1987 AD.
It has a decent size cargo box on the back with access to the front through a small doorway, and roll-up doors in the rear.
It sports a ladder up to the roof, very solid one too, as well as an extended low bumper with expanded mesh on top creating a
platform to walk/stand on, as well as acting as a step up to the main deck. And of course a nice towing ball mounted on a big heavy plate
as an integral part of the rear step, should be good for towing a decent load!
It is insulated with about 1.5 inches of foam and a plywood sheathing that looks to be about 1/2 in.
The floor is 1 inch OSB, the box framework is nice sized steel square tubing, very solid stuff!
Of course there is also the mandatory roof vent, but I got lucky, because there are 2 windows, one on each side of the box, near the front.
They are single pane, with a screen on one half and when opened provide a very nice cross breeze!
It has a battery tray under the driver seat area below the vehicle, accessible from underneath, as well as a battery isolator.
For the auxiliary battery, there is a master disconnect switch on the driver's side in the metal riser of the seat on the door side,
very big lettering "Connect" and "Disconnect", as well as many warnings upon entering the vehicle that ask " Have you unplugged?"
Obviously it sat connected to shore power most of the time, and since it has 2 coolant heaters in the rear it probably idled lots, thus
explaining the hour meter on the engine.
A reminder label on the door says next oil change at 375 hours and the reading is around 390 hours.
In the cargo area there are 3-4 12V lights on the ceiling, and on the exterior there are many big domed 12V lights, all white,
surrounding the vehicle, emergency vehicle style!
There is also a short 12/4 cable with a 4 prong 30A plug on the end, fed into a breaker box with 2 breakers, of 15A each.
One conduit comes out of the breaker box and goes down a couple feet to a split outlet, so each plug in has 15A capability.
The other breaker has another line running up to the front engine compartment and was used to plug in the block heater I assume.
The plug and line coming out from under the floor of the cargo area are only about 5 feet long, so shore power was very near to them! haha
They must have had a PA system in there at some point as there are mounting holes, wires and a mike bracket on the main dash,
as well as a large horn style speaker in the engine compartment. To bark out orders or provide critical emergency type info I guess...lol
$800 is what I paid for her! Elsie has a few flaws of course, don't all women? lol couldn't resist, not looking to insult/offend or ruffle feathers,
just a touch of humor...
All 4 rear tires are weather checked, and since they are 16.5 in LT tires, the replacement cost shouldn't be too bad.
It also looks like she has somewhat of a roof leak as it is a 3 piece riveted job, so I'll have to investigate avenues of repair on that.
She brakes front only, master cylinder compartment for rear is dry and has some gunk in it, I started cleaning it out today, but visually
checked the lines to the rear and couldn't spot a leak or a stain anywhere, it could have dried up as the vehicle has sat for 10 years or so.
Engine starts easily, sounds good, can't see any blue smoke, and she's only got 56,000 kilometers on her.
Time will tell how good of a gal she is to me!
Treat her with respect and good old TLC, and hope for the best!
Well, that's all for now, off to find some pics, only took a few, and will try and post em soon!
What comforts are missing the most?
Space... and then the ability to fill it more! lol
This was my starting point last August when I built it: https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Van-Conversion-POC
I finally moved into it a couple weeks ago and I Like it!
But I must admit, I knew I would need/want something bigger and so I have been watching the ads to find
something that would jump out at me and say: "pick me".
Well, last week it happened, a friend sent me an ad and said: jump on it dude!
I did!
I now have a new starting point!
I figure it'll take me 2-3 months to get it in livable condition so I can then move out of my van and into the ....
Hmmmmm.....gotta give it a name...
How about "The ES-3500" abbreviated as Elsie, The ES is what can be read on the vehicle in faded paint.
Emergency Support is what it was, not medical, but rather technical suppport as in a plant maintenance vehicle for Dow Chemical.
It is a Chevy Vandura C/K 3500, dually, 350 engine, turbo 400 tranny, from the dinosaur era, approx 1987 AD.
It has a decent size cargo box on the back with access to the front through a small doorway, and roll-up doors in the rear.
It sports a ladder up to the roof, very solid one too, as well as an extended low bumper with expanded mesh on top creating a
platform to walk/stand on, as well as acting as a step up to the main deck. And of course a nice towing ball mounted on a big heavy plate
as an integral part of the rear step, should be good for towing a decent load!
It is insulated with about 1.5 inches of foam and a plywood sheathing that looks to be about 1/2 in.
The floor is 1 inch OSB, the box framework is nice sized steel square tubing, very solid stuff!
Of course there is also the mandatory roof vent, but I got lucky, because there are 2 windows, one on each side of the box, near the front.
They are single pane, with a screen on one half and when opened provide a very nice cross breeze!
It has a battery tray under the driver seat area below the vehicle, accessible from underneath, as well as a battery isolator.
For the auxiliary battery, there is a master disconnect switch on the driver's side in the metal riser of the seat on the door side,
very big lettering "Connect" and "Disconnect", as well as many warnings upon entering the vehicle that ask " Have you unplugged?"
Obviously it sat connected to shore power most of the time, and since it has 2 coolant heaters in the rear it probably idled lots, thus
explaining the hour meter on the engine.
A reminder label on the door says next oil change at 375 hours and the reading is around 390 hours.
In the cargo area there are 3-4 12V lights on the ceiling, and on the exterior there are many big domed 12V lights, all white,
surrounding the vehicle, emergency vehicle style!
There is also a short 12/4 cable with a 4 prong 30A plug on the end, fed into a breaker box with 2 breakers, of 15A each.
One conduit comes out of the breaker box and goes down a couple feet to a split outlet, so each plug in has 15A capability.
The other breaker has another line running up to the front engine compartment and was used to plug in the block heater I assume.
The plug and line coming out from under the floor of the cargo area are only about 5 feet long, so shore power was very near to them! haha
They must have had a PA system in there at some point as there are mounting holes, wires and a mike bracket on the main dash,
as well as a large horn style speaker in the engine compartment. To bark out orders or provide critical emergency type info I guess...lol
$800 is what I paid for her! Elsie has a few flaws of course, don't all women? lol couldn't resist, not looking to insult/offend or ruffle feathers,
just a touch of humor...
All 4 rear tires are weather checked, and since they are 16.5 in LT tires, the replacement cost shouldn't be too bad.
It also looks like she has somewhat of a roof leak as it is a 3 piece riveted job, so I'll have to investigate avenues of repair on that.
She brakes front only, master cylinder compartment for rear is dry and has some gunk in it, I started cleaning it out today, but visually
checked the lines to the rear and couldn't spot a leak or a stain anywhere, it could have dried up as the vehicle has sat for 10 years or so.
Engine starts easily, sounds good, can't see any blue smoke, and she's only got 56,000 kilometers on her.
Time will tell how good of a gal she is to me!
Treat her with respect and good old TLC, and hope for the best!
Well, that's all for now, off to find some pics, only took a few, and will try and post em soon!
