Converting a 1986 G30 Van for Expeditioning

[arctic cat]

Well the van is getting new brakes and when I mean new Is new everything.  New Engine and transmission mount.  New U joint, replacing the transmission seal and center support bearing.  I just got 4 out 5 new tires.  so the project is coming accordingly

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Congrats on your van. Just looked through all your build pages, and she is coming out really nice. The paint job looks excellent, amazing at what a fresh coat of paint can do. Can't wait to see it with the new tires, they will really compliment the new paint job. To this day, nothing excites me more than new tires on a vehicle. I think it still stems from my first car when I was 16. Took me forever to save up for new tires and once I finally got them, I was so excited.

Jealous of your living situation too, a free apartment and all the storage anyone could ever ask for!

 

[arctic cat]

Congrats on your van.  Just looked through all your build pages, and she is coming out really nice.  The paint job looks excellent, amazing at what a fresh coat of paint can do.  Can't wait to see it with the new tires, they will really compliment the new paint job.  To this day, nothing excites me more than new tires on a vehicle.  I think it still stems from my first car when I was 16.  Took me forever to save up for new tires and once I finally got them, I was so excited.  

Jealous of your living situation too,  a free apartment and all the storage anyone could ever ask for!

Thanks my friend.   It happened at the time I was retired from the Army and separated from my ex, so I was sleeping at my storage unit on a little cot and someone came in to Rob the storage units.   They all have high end boats.   To make a long story short I unravel the robbery and the guys got arrested.  The owner was so happy he have an apartment on site and let me stay there.   Since them no more vandalizing or robberies.   So no storage fee for me, no rent and no utilities except cable and internet.   I come and go as I please.   I live next to a military base I get to used my privileges, next to VA and skip and throw from a lake.    Is there is something better it got to be in heaven.   Hope to be ready to go in August and off until at least mid october

 

[highdesertranger]

can't beat that cat. highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Couldn't have happened to a better man, Thank You for your service.

 

[arctic cat]

Well got the van off the shop. They redid all brakes so they shatter all over when applied, so I need to go back to the mechanic. Anyway I took the van to installed the tires and get an alignment and BAMM!!! out of of the blue a texting teenager plow into the back of my van My damage were minimal as the pintle hitch save the van, but her car I believe was toatalle as both of her airbags deployed and her front of her dodge ram was done. She was doing about 40 MPH and she did not applied her brakes. Whell after the accident I continued to installed the tires and aligment was done. That was today deal

 

[arctic cat]

Yesterday we began preparing the POD for this season trip.  We charge the battery fully and afterward we deployed the solar panel.   We are going to be sleeping in the POD for the next couple nights in order to use the fan and the lights and then let it charge thru out the date and see how the solar system would work.   There are some minor modifications that need to done or a least tried on the POD and working those angles.  There is an issued with the third brake light that need to addressed before departure.     Meanwhile we would be installing the CB/NOAA Radio probably today and start stocking the van for the trip. 

Yesterday the insurance man came in to assessed the damage from the rear ending from a couple of weeks ago and I expect have the money in hand shortly but I'm beginning with repair ASAP.   
I'm mapping the solar panel system for the actual van.  The only thing the van system is going to powering ARB 35QT Reefer which only consume about 0.85 AMP and will be obtaining those component within the next week   An outside shower area would be installed next to the van.  Already got the materials for that and most likely that would be done by COB tomorrow.  

We had been road testing the van to make sure all the components would behave accordingly but more testing are in order.  Eventually the trailer and the van would be tested together

 

[ArtW]

stoopid teenagers
thank goodness the damage was minimal and you weren't hurt

 

[rvpopeye]

You're getting close to done !

I think they invented texting to control overpopulation ! AND sell new cars that will crumple up too......
I'm glad most of us have older rigs with the steel to bounce 'em off !!!!!!!

 

[arctic cat]

I did not even get mad at her.  It did upset me afterward that I could havd been in my motorcycle or or my Jeep and the story would be different.  In my opinion the technology to stop any device from using the texting option while the vehicle is in motion is there.  They currently have it but is not compulsory.  I hope in the future the phones are made to be disabled for texting while the vehicle is in motion.   Anyway here some pictures of the damage and you can see they were minimal, the hitch save the day

 

[arctic cat]

So this last week the transmission gave me a little bit of problem.  Nothing, but I needed to addressed the issue.   AT modulator $11.24 and about 15 minutes of actual wrenching and bingo.    

Installed the CB.   I don't used the CB at all but I get a lot info from the trucker chatter thru them.    I needed to combined the CB and a NOAA radio in one.  The answer was in Cobra LX-29.    For both band to work (CB and NOAA frequency)  I needed to obtain a dual band antenna, the Wilson 2000 was the perfect combo and that was installed.

I needed some shelving inside the van.   Purchased one of those small behind the toilet shelving at Walmart.  Cut the right legs and installed  in the van.   Our two 8 gallons roll away jugs fit under it perfectly.  

Made a special based for the 20 lbs propane tank and installed.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Looking better and better everyday! I like that square water jug on the right hand side, what brand is that?

 

[arctic cat]

began working on a shower/restroom area so with that said I began working on installing an outside shower is a work in progress but here is the basic.   Shower rod, shower curtain with a portable floor (no one like to get their feet dirty)  The shower bar are removable for travel the floor is portable and can be place in the van as well during travel.

 

[arctic cat]

Looking better and better everyday!  I like that square water jug on the right hand side, what brand is that?

 The water jugs are both made by reliance and have a handle and wheels.  They also have a spigot  here is a link  Reliance Water Container

 

[arctic cat]

Like I said no one want to shower in a dirt floor.    From my Overlanding Day's I have this idea of making a portable floor so I could shower.   I'm a very basic guy so here is my idea turn into reality. from a pile of wood to the finished stained product

 

[arctic cat]

Well got my new 100 watts Solar Panel kit today.  Never installed a panel before so this will be a new experience for me.  So lets brush up on my reading.

 

[arctic cat]

Ok finally installed the Solar system on the van.  It had been testing at full capacity running the reefer at 21F  24 hours a day.  The system is maiting and charging the battery fully during the day and operate flawlessly at night.  Here are some pictures

 

[arctic cat]

Still working the bugs on the trailer connection. Here is the van and the trailer attached to each other.

 

[arctic cat]

Here is the importance of doing preventive maintenance vs waiting for an actual breakdown.   What you're seen below is the old harmonic balancer.    Not changing this would had cause my engine to go to pots.  Here are some pictures so you can see what a bad one look like.

 

[highdesertranger]

yep she was getting ready to blow. this is why I like fluid dampeners they never have that problem because there is no rubber torsional dampener. plus they continually balance at any rpm not the narrow range that rubber ones are tuned for. highdesertranger