I have Faith

[GypsyDogs]

Yeah, I know, I know— been a long while. 
Many things have changed.
I finally managed to acquire a suitable escape pod. The hardest part about finding an Affordable rig is finding one where the list of projects is both manageable and doable. lol

Wound up with a 2004 Roadtrek 190p on the chevy chassis. Has some miles, but many of them are freeway miles. The price was such (due to a long list of projects...) that I could afford it with minimal indenture.  :blush:

So far I have:
Fixed many latches on interior cabinets and bathroom door.
Reattach the runners for the rear side windows.
Replaced the original roof vent.
Replaced the water pump (house).
Removed the gross microwave.
Added mirror tint to upper windows.
Gone through the engine fuse panel.
Replaced the dump hose.
Fixed the kitchen faucet.
Added solar panels to the roof.
Mppt charge controller tied into house power.
A lot of cleaning.
Redesigned the sleeping area for twin across- keeping side couch cushion space as added area for canine lounging.
Moved the night stand.
Removed some unnecessary weight.
And some other fiddling around.

Still to do:
Rework the pantry area for new battery (going lithium soon)
Adding charge ports here and there.
Sand/prime/paint peeling hood.
Cap 3way fridge propane line (non functional)
Saving up for a fresh engine battery.
Someday replace the damaged side door skirting. Looks ghetto- riveted in place by PO after an accident.
Finding all the other little things the PO did Cletus-repair on...  :-/

My goal is to have enough done in time to make a trek to QZ in January ...

 

[rvwandering]

Congratulations! Hope to see you at QZ!

 

[highdesertranger]

wow gypsy great to hear from you. we need pics. highdesertranger

 

[GypsyDogs]

Thanks HDR

Yeah yeah-
I know. And I still owe you a piece of burnt meat and a beer (for all your help a couple of rigs back..lol)

I will get pics up soon. He ain’t pretty, but he’s cozy and he’s mine!
I figure he is pretty enough that folks don’t stare, but ugly enough that folks think there isn’t too much of value inside ((that is my hope anyways))

 

[GypsyDogs]

Ok.. here is one to tide y’all over for a day or two

 

[GypsyDogs]

ok.. a few more pics

One of a lovely sunrise..


and how I routed my solar wiring down to a path inside, without drilling holes..
(yes the bare wires get eterna-bond tape over, for more protection, less wind chatter, etc)


and one from a recent excursion into an actual campground

 

[WanderingRose]

Congratulations on your new rig, which looks to be overall in very good condition.

You have probably discovered that a good cleaning and polishing of everything makes a huge difference in appearance and personal liveability.

I have found that a periodic coating of ArmorAll or Back to Black does a great job on the outside vinyl and rubberized strips.

 

[highdesertranger]

nice. highdesertranger

 

[Sofisintown]

Beautiful! Congratulations, and many happy travels!

 

[GypsyDogs]

Thanks folks

This is a labor of love.. and a little cussing

I know it will be a never ending project. But, as some of you know, I have wanted a decent B for a few decades...

 

[bullfrog]

Looks great to me!

 

[B and C]

You have Faith and I have the Beast! I really enjoy mine and I am sure you will enjoy yours too!

Good luck with fixing up.

 

[GypsyDogs]

Faith is officially Lithium powered- behind the cab...

Been a lot of fun learning to build my own battery pack and tie it into the existing house system. Also deleted alternator charging (for now- as it is the original factory model — not made to handle LiFePo4 charging..) and removed the old sad group 24 ‘marine’ battery.

 

[VanFan]

I think Faith is beautiful!  Enjoy to the max, and keep us posted, okay?

 

[GypsyDogs]

For all of those that have these power hungry halogen finger burner lights


They convert, fairly easily to usb..


And you can keep the function of the switch too

 

[NctryBen]

Looks like a good find. Worth investing some time and a few bucks. Vehicles are never cheap it seems. But neither I the sticks and bricks.
I would think you could replace the finger burning halogen with LEDs, but that is a very nice option.

 

[GypsyDogs]

Rig already had a multitude of lights. These were not being used- and I need the handy power outlets more. Lol

Already converted the overheads to led, and have a plan for the ‘stupid fluorescent ring’ fixture over the bed- for led conversion as well. Plus, I have usb led lights I can use (and Still have use of the other usb port..!)

 

[GypsyDogs]

Fun wrangling the 50 lbs or so of battery into the back of the cabinet. (Maybe 1/4” of wiggle room, side to side)

Used heavy duty rubber floor mat on the three impact sides, to reduce vibration. 
Yes, it got lashed down after the photo
Working on a ventilated housing/protective cover...

And the after market radar detector.. lol


And did decide to replace the finger burners with leds in the very back.

Had a good test camp- 100 miles from s&b home base- hubby had surgery and I hung out in an rv park (in a non-hook site..)
Was quite comfortable

 

[highdesertranger]

Very nice, What brand battery is that? What brand detector, I have never seen one like that? Highdesertranger

 

[GypsyDogs]

Not sure what brand of detector.. but they are helpful with carburetors too- lol
I will look up the lifepo- they are rated for Mining Equipment and such.. so burly