My 97 1500

[Seajatt]

Thank you for posting this!

 

[LargeMarge]

Thank you for affirming my hope! I was really thinking on how well I could make welding travel and work for me. Are you a welder??

.
Semi-retired welder-fabricator here.
1970s, I built titanium submarine components.
Contracting, this week, I am fabricating tungsten components for surgical heart pump machines.
.
Apparently, I am the only qualified, so I asked for us$250 an hour plus us$300 per diem... although the shop is a three minute walk from our place.
They countered with us$275 per diem... but are happy with my hourly.
.
.
Our ExpeditionVehicle introduction with plenty of portraits, plus our reasons for our decisions:
https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/expeditionvehicle-build.44908/#post-576110

 

[Seajatt]

.
Semi-retired welder-fabricator here.
1970s, I built titanium submarine components.
Contracting, this week, I am fabricating tungsten components for surgical heart pump machines.
.
Apparently, I am the only qualified, so I asked for us$250 an hour plus us$300 per diem... although the shop is a three minute walk from our place.
They countered with us$275 per diem... but are happy with my hourly.
.
.
Our ExpeditionVehicle introduction with plenty of portraits, plus our reasons for our decisions:
https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/expeditionvehicle-build.44908/#post-576110

I would love to have a gig like that. Very cool. Thanks for sharing

 

[Seajatt]

Back in Tampa, foot is on the mend, but still giving me some grief, and I'm getting the truck set up. Nothing special at all, I realized living in a tent for the past month how little I really need.

I put an 1/8th" sheet of smooth plywood in the bed that way the ripples in the truck bed don't bother me too much.

I also bought some clear plastic totes that sort of serve as a kitchen, hygiene, etc.

Most of the food I have is all backpacker type food, instant potatoes, quick rice, tinned chicken, tuna packets, etc.

I did get some avocado's and hoping yall will give me some ideas on veggies that will keep.

I received email confirmation that I got the sugar beet job in Fargo, but want to call her tomorrow for confirmation.


Also, lost a few people I thought were friends. Maybe they're scared of catching the homeless.



Hurts a little, but I've always preferred hard truths over soft lies. I've known them both for a couple of years but yeah

Overall, pretty happy. Wondering where I'm gonna park tonight, but not too plussed about it.

I'll take some more pics of the cab, but really, not too much to see.

 

[WanderingRose]

So, Seajatt, my first thought when you posted about your foot injury was “what’s on his feet???”

Be sure you are in a sturdy walking shoe or boot, that gives your feet and body plenty of support.

Makes all the difference in the world.

Good luck in this next chapter.

 

[Morgana]

Ditto what Rose said about the shoes/boots. Worth spending money on or even going into hock for if necessary. Be frugal about everything else first.

Also make sure that the /kinds/ of motions you'll make during the harvest -- bending, twisting, lifting, etc. -- are things your foot can handle right now. I'm glad it's getting better but stay realistic about what it needs to heal completely. Taking a little trouble now will save you 10x the trouble later.

Congrats on the vehicle! Sorry to hear you outgrew some of your friends but hope you'll make better ones soon.

 

[Seajatt]

I

So, Seajatt, my first thought when you posted about your foot injury was “what’s on his feet???”

Be sure you are in a sturdy walking shoe or boot, that gives your feet and body plenty of support.

Makes all the difference in the world.

Good luck in this next chapter.

Think it's gonna be ok. I pulled the rip chord on that walk before I did any serious damage I think and plus, I got another month before the work begins.


Thank you

 

[Seajatt]

Ditto what Rose said about the shoes/boots. Worth spending money on or even going into hock for if necessary. Be frugal about everything else first.

Also make sure that the /kinds/ of motions you'll make during the harvest -- bending, twisting, lifting, etc. -- are things your foot can handle right now. I'm glad it's getting better but stay realistic about what it needs to heal completely. Taking a little trouble now will save you 10x the trouble later.

Congrats on the vehicle! Sorry to hear you outgrew some of your friends but hope you'll make better ones soon.

I'm a little bummed about it. I honestly never would have expected them to behave like this. To be clear, I hadn't and wasn't going to hint or ask for anything, my needs are met so

 

[Morgana]

To be clear, I hadn't and wasn't going to hint or ask for anything, my needs are met so

Oh, I believe you. Svcks, but people do that. You do you.

 

[Seajatt]

Oh, I believe you. Svcks, but people do that. You do you.

I'm betting I'm gonna meet some badass people on the road. It'll all shake out in the end

 

[user 22017]

... hoping yall will give me some ideas on veggies that will keep.

That question came up several times on the forum that I recall. Might want to do a search for 'food that lasts' or something similar. I found one post about it:

https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/building-a-healthy-meal-plan.44810/page-2#post-560221

 

[Seajatt]

T

That question came up several times on the forum that I recall. Might want to do a search for 'food that lasts' or something similar. I found one post about it:

https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/...age-2#post-560221[/URLT[SIZE=16px]ka,[/SIZE]

That question came up several times on the forum that I recall. Might want to do a search for 'food that lasts' or something similar. I found one post about it:

https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/building-a-healthy-meal-plan.44810/page-2#post-560221

Thanks, you're a gem

 

[jerry9180]

Hi all, I'm not a vanlifer but really enjoy reading about it here. I've worked on a lot of those trucks over the years so figured I'd tell ya the most common problems I've seen.

ECM (computer) sometimes when going bad will not start until cool or cause stalling and various other problems but will not set a code.

Oil pump screen stopped up, be religious about oil changes.

Fuel pump, usually happens when you try to start it after just turning off the engine. 99% of the time away from home lol.

Water pump/radiator leak, I put them together because they seem to go out around the same time.

Not trying to scare ya because they're good trucks and just want to give you a heads up. Unless the fuel pump is fairly new I would personally replace it before taking to the road because it will go out with no warning and hard to replace on the side of the road.

I know welders can usually find lots of cash jobs around farms, especially during planting and harvest. Be nice if you had a mobile unit for doing on site repairs.

Sorry being long winded but just a heads up for things to watch out for.