Doin' the buildout

[MrNoodly]

<br><br>Okay, I have the van and now it's time to convert the sucker.<br><br>I originally thought I'd use the existing ladder rack to mount the solar panel, but after thinking about it more, I decided that particular rack would actually make things harder. So I found some simple bar racks on eBay and ordered them.<br><br>So I went about removing the old rack. Just undo the gutter clamps and... Sheesh it was heavy. I wrestled it bit by toward the end of the van, but little spikes on the bottom of the brackets kept digging into the gutter sealant. I needed at least one extra set of hands.<br><br>One of my buddies came over and we managed to lift it off without damaging the van. Victory!<br><br> <br><br>Then I started working on removing one set of shelves and moving the other to the right side of the van. All the bolts came out easily until I got the the ones in the floor. Two came out just fine (but why is it necessary to use 2" long bolts to go through a half inch of stuff?) The others, once loosened, just spun. I would need someone under the van holding the nuts. My friend had already left. So, to hell with it. I'll get out the angle grinder and just cut the bolt heads off. Aaargh, power tools!<br><br> <br><br>Anyone in the general Charlotte area want a rack or some shelves?

 

[Ziggy Moon]

Dang-It..... I'd take them in a heartbeat - but I'm nowhere close (or close enough, FL). Why get rid of these, MrNoodly? Seems they would serve well as already made shelving/storage. Man I wish I had'em.

 

[MrNoodly]

I'm getting rid of that section of shelves because I'm going to put the bed along that wall. The other section that you can see at the edge of the picture has locking doors and would be more useful to me. I'm moving those to the other side of the van. At least that's today's plan. There's a possibility I might run the bed side to side and sleep on it diagonally (I'm 6 feet tall) and leave the cabinet with the locking doors where it is.<br><br>It would be nice if the small bins were one or two rows instead of three. Otherwise they could fit on top of the locking door unit.

 

[Ziggy Moon]

Well feel free to FedEx the rack and any unused shelving to me if you'd like..... lol<br><br>Will be looking forward to pix of your build.

 

[Zil]

I would think the ladder rack would be easily sold.

 

[MrNoodly]

Yeah, it and the shelves are on CraigsList.

 

[MrNoodly]

New tires all around. Ouch, even with a $70 rebate from Michelin.<br><br> <br><br>I got&nbsp;235/85-16&nbsp;Michelin LTX M/S2's. A little narrower than the stock size for less friction and a little taller for fewer revolutions per mile (ever so slightly better gas mileage). Also, they look truckish, like I think they should, rather than like overgrown car tires.<br><br>Discount Tire Direct got me in and out in a half hour. They even checked the pressure on the spare tire.

 

[Zil]

Michelin are good. They can be run at higher air pressure for better mileage. Also more of a truck like ride <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[MrNoodly]

The divider didn't have a door in it but was handily split with one third behind the driver and a two-thirds piece the rest of the way across. I'm glad to get that out so I can step through to the back. <br><br>The panel behind the driver will be good for mounting the charge controller and inverter. And the amp for the audio system. I'm having a decent audio system installed Monday. I gotta have my music in order to stay sane.<br><br> <br><br>I also moved the cabinet over to the other side. It fits just right (because, duh, they were made to fit). It's there temporarily because I need to insulate behind it.<br><br>

 

[MrNoodly]

The van is off getting a decent (but not extravagant) audio system today. In the meantime, the new rack parts arrived. Got 'em on eBay. Simple oval-section cross pieces with no uprights on the ends that might cast shadows on the solar panel, thereby cutting its output.<br><br>

 

[Zil]

Looks real good. Music makes the wheels go round, sometimes too fast.

 

[psytechguy]

Mr. Noodly, what brand/model# is that rack? I'm looking for one like that.

 

[MrNoodly]

I got them here:<br><br>http://www.ebay.com/itm/280938596537?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&amp;_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

[MrNoodly]

The audio upgrade is in. The head unit can control my iPod and/or iPhone, it has&nbsp;<br>Bluetooth too. And there's a remote so I can control it from the back.<br><br> <br><br>There's a subwoofer behind the driver's seat, better speakers in the front doors and additional speakers in the back doors.<br><br> <br><br>It will all sound better once I insulate.

 

[MrNoodly]

Goodbye, car. Can't take you with me on this journey.<br><br>

 

[highdesertranger]

hi mr noodly,&nbsp; you got to love kenwood head units I wish they still made the old two knob ones.&nbsp; you know those amps suck allot of juice.&nbsp; I am going to remove mine next year for that very reason.&nbsp; highdsertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

This is frustrating. I ordered a solar panel and charge controller from Northern Arizona Sun &amp; Wind. Online. Paid with PayPal. Got UPS tracking info. Everything's cool, right?<br><br>Today I got an email from PayPal saying all the money I paid NAS&amp;W had been refunded. The reason: NAS&amp;W needed more for the shipping. What?<br><br>So I waited for business hours in AZ and called. Either the guy I talked with was really slow, or their computer system was. It took ridiculously long to get info.&nbsp;<br><br>It boils down to them not properly figuring the shipping costs. They were off by $13 and change. Sheesh, guys! You pulled the plug on a $739.00 order because of thirteen bucks?<br><br>They claim they tried to call me. There were no messages on either my land line or cell phone.<br><br>Closing on the house is next week. The panel and controller will arrive sometime before July 4th. I had them ship it to my temporary location where I'll be doing most of the buildout.<br><br>And, dammit, Mattress Firm was supposed to deliver my Twin XL mattress today. It's not a good day for deliveries.<br><br><img src="/images/boards/smilies/mad.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[James AKA Lynx]

Things will get better. James AKA Lynx

 

[MrNoodly]

Yeah. Part of it is the anxiety of getting everything in the house distributed to various charities, recyclers, neighbors and people with money. I have five days. It shouldn't be a problem, but little things like this start the alarms in my head. Will something go wrong? Will I forget something, screw something up? Will someone else throw a wrench in the works?<br><br>So I sit down, breathe and let the anxiety pass. After ranting a little online. &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[MrNoodly]

Today is Get Everything Out of the House Day. Closing is tomorrow. The cleaning crew will be here in an hour.<br><br>I have way more crap than I can reasonably live in a van with, but I'm spending the next few weeks with a friend, building out the van and getting rid of at least half the stuff -- mostly clothing. And art supplies. And just-in-case things.<br><br>Woot! The new life is about to begin!