My new E-350 Extended van

[Ballenxj]

Fast is one thing, taking your time and doing it right is way better. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>Looking good so far. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> <br>-Bruce

 

[jtgjco]

Hey, Newbee, james hemet ca. I am needing this lifestyle but it is difficult to alter the mind into thinking I dont need all the garbage attached to my live as of now. I am doing my resarch and working to become more comfortable with not being attached to the ground, I am and always have been a Traveler. &nbsp;<br>I have so many questons as to how to do this and be at peace and so many answers . It is a new world of thought for me. I am looking to sell my home and all that is not necessary and achive this within 6 months. So some of you know who I am , Google: &nbsp;A View From Behind Handlebars &nbsp;. It is not just a book but who I am..&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks Ballenxj.&nbsp; I am trying to build it to last.&nbsp; The wood is all stained and then coated with two coats of spar urethane.&nbsp; Should hold up very well.&nbsp; Everythings is installed using screws or bolts, so things can be removed or changed out easily if I ever need to make modifications or improvements.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

Hi jtgjco.&nbsp; Welcome to the group.&nbsp; It's full of lots of great people with plenty of experience in this lifestyle.&nbsp; Look around and you will probably find many of your questions already answered, but if not post and I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers.&nbsp; If there's any questions I can answer for you let me know.&nbsp;

 

[jtgjco]

Thanks CG . I am talking with Bob via emails as well. I am in Hemet ca. and looking to base out in Pahromp NV. I think unless there is a better place with less taxes and&nbsp;registration&nbsp;fees. Anyway working on what I need and dont need to sell and what I might need to do this, I am looking at a Class C home . what do you think?&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

You're welcome jtgjco.&nbsp; A class C can be a good option, but it depends on alot of factors.&nbsp; You will have to decide how much money you will have to put towards parking and related expenses.&nbsp; Class A and Class C vehicles are much better suited to being in a park or having a dedicated parking place.&nbsp; They are very expensive to drive and maintenance and repairs are pretty expensive.&nbsp; <br><br>Class B's are usually less expensive to maintain and are usually alot less expensive to drive around and can park in alot more places for free.<br><br>Space wise a Class C would be&nbsp;a great size for one person.&nbsp; You could reduce the size of the bed and make a few modifications and have tons of room.&nbsp; Class Bs are smaller and more compact.&nbsp; <br><br>Ultimately it depends on your circumstances.&nbsp; If you have a place to park or can afford to stay in an RV park then the Class C would be a good choice.&nbsp; If your operating budget is more limited you would probably be better served with a Class B or modified van.

 

[coultergeist]

I finished framing out the cabinet over the sink today.&nbsp; Everything is done except the door.&nbsp; I'm waiting on it to&nbsp;finish drying.&nbsp; It should be ready to be put on tomorrow.&nbsp; I will start working on the cabinet between the kitchen area and the bed this coming week.&nbsp; It shouldn't be nearly as complicated as the galley area was.

 

[jtgjco]

Very good info, CG, I will look at this from more directions now. What kind are you in and how big and where do you call home. Are you a free traveler, &nbsp;I was wanting to have some of my stuff with me along the way like my inflatable kayak but a storage shed may be a option..&nbsp;

 

[jtgjco]

Yes CG, &nbsp;I was looking at the B class and you are most&nbsp;defiantly&nbsp;correct, I did not know it had all the same stuff as a C. Seems they are way more expensive. But I think I can find one in my price range around $12,000.00, I am finding my way with your help

 

[coultergeist]

I'm glad it is helpful jtgjco. I am in Georgia.&nbsp; Still working.&nbsp; I am currently in a GMC Safari.&nbsp; I have a conversion thread on it on this site.&nbsp; <br><br>This thread is for the vehicle I am currently building out to replace it.&nbsp; It is a Ford E350, handicap patient hauler.&nbsp; It is being converted into what will effectively be a Class B.&nbsp; Home space will be about 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and a little over 6 feet tall.&nbsp; Will have a full kitchen (mostly done already), full size bed, plenty of water storage, shower, toilet, and tv with dvd player.&nbsp; Has a bench seat to use for a seat that folds against the wall when not needed.&nbsp; It will be wired for 30 amp service for when I have external power and about 500 watts of solar panels and 400 amp hours of battery storage when external power isn't available.&nbsp; I do quite a bit of wood working and have a pretty good background in plumbing and electrical work, so it just made more sense to me to build it myself.&nbsp; My own labor is free, so it ends up being just the cost of the materials and the vehicle itself.&nbsp; <br><br>If storage space ends up being an issue, you could always tow a small trailer for the items you use less often but would like to keep with you.&nbsp; Easy to lock and secure and a small one won't make much of a difference when it comes to gas mileage.&nbsp;

 

[jtgjco]

Thanks again for the help.. Thing with me CG is, &nbsp;i want to be legal in every way, Dont want to break the law in any way or try to hide around corners, &nbsp;I want to be free, out in the open, free of all the madness around me. I want to say, i am free of society hangups , I want to be on the road and stay in places where no one can bother me for any reason. Not in a walmart parking lot where they still control you. to live free of their pursuit to control your every movement. I know this will be a difficult road to try to&nbsp;archive&nbsp;but I am tired, tired of the garbage they throw on me everyday. I still work as well and i am very good at what i do in customer service areas with &nbsp;car rental company. I would make a very good camp ground host and something I would love to do.<br><br>I am looking into what&nbsp;vehicle would best serve me. B seems easy and&nbsp;practical&nbsp;but a C is more&nbsp;permanent, able to live comfortably, even in a year round RV park,. My first concern is where to stay each and every night or day on the road &nbsp;traveling and stay out of trouble with the law and private party type stuff. BLM is a real option. A plan which will take all that I can do to make it come true. &nbsp;Well I am open to any ideas you may have or anyone may have. Thanks again

 

[coultergeist]

You're welcome jtgjco. If you're planning on doing the BLM thing or working at a campground then the Class C might be the better option. A few things to bear in mind though. With dispersed camping you are usually a good ways from town and supplies. You will need to carry alot more supplies. You also won't have access to hookups. You will need a generator or solar to have power most of the time.

 

[coultergeist]

Finally got the upper kitchen cabinet door on last night.&nbsp; I am waiting on parts to be able to install the interior light, but otherwise it is done.&nbsp; Hopefully can start on the next cabinet this weekend.

 

[Ballenxj]

Looking pretty good CG. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br>-Bruce

 

[jtgjco]

Thanks CG, Ok will keep all that in mind, Looks like you are building something you can be proud of. Water comes from water hoses I guess?? Planning to be prepared for most butt I know there is always more.. JT

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks Ballenxj.&nbsp; It's a lot of work and taking longer than I'd like, but so far I am happy with everything that has been done.&nbsp; <br><br>You're welcome jtgjco.&nbsp; I'm trying.&nbsp; It's alot of work, but it's coming together a little at a time.&nbsp; As for water, if you are in a regular RV (Class A, B, or C), then you will have a built in fresh water tank that you will have to refill periodically.&nbsp; There will be an electric pump that supplies that to all of the fixtures in the vehicle.&nbsp; For the most part, other than refills, it pretty much just works.&nbsp; Just remember to turn off the pump when you aren't using it.&nbsp; You will have a grey water tank for dirty water.&nbsp; This is where all the water from the sink and shower would go to when it drains.&nbsp; There will also be a black water tank which is where all the waste from the toilet goes.&nbsp; Both the grey water and the&nbsp;black water tank will have to be emptied periodically when they get full.&nbsp; The Class of the RV usually gives you a good idea of the size of the tanks.&nbsp; Class A's will have the largest tanks.&nbsp; Class C's will typically be the next biggest and Class B's will usually come in just a little smaller than those in a Class C.&nbsp; The bigger the tank, the longer it will be before you have to empty or fill it.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are traveling alone then any of them should be fine.&nbsp; With sensible use the tanks should last a good while.&nbsp; <br><br>My vehicle will be a hybrid in alot of ways.&nbsp; My fresh water tank came from a wrecked rv.&nbsp; It is much bigger than a standard Class B would have.&nbsp; I think it is a good fit because I won't be at a place that will have hookups very often.&nbsp; The more water I can carry, the longer I can go before I have to resupply.&nbsp; My grey water tank is a wheeled cooler.&nbsp; I will be able to take it out of the vehicle to dump it (if I'm in a campground for a few days).&nbsp; It will also have a bilge pump attached to it, so I can dump it while it is still in the vehicle.&nbsp; My toilet is a camping type toilet.&nbsp; It is self-contained and has its own little holding tank.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I decided to hold off on the rest of the cabinets until I got the windows covered.&nbsp; It will be much simpler to do the windows first.&nbsp; The windows have a mirror tint.&nbsp; In daytime it is very difficult to see inside, but at night time any light on the inside really shows everything.&nbsp; <br><br>I managed to get one of the big side windows done today.&nbsp; I am using reflectix to insulate the window.&nbsp; I first measured and cut it to fit tightly inside the window.&nbsp; You can just barely see the reflectix through the mirror tint, so I took weed control fabric and covered the outside edge of the reflectix and taped it on the back side with duct tape.&nbsp; It took two layers of weed control fabric to completely black out the reflectix.&nbsp; <br><br>In order to increase the insulating value and to keep the inside brighter and neater looking, I cut a panel to completely cover the window out of a material called NRP.&nbsp; Basically, it is a thin flexible sheet of pvc plastic.&nbsp; It comes in full size sheets the size of a piece of plywood.&nbsp; It runs about $30 a sheet at Lowes.&nbsp; I secured the NRP by taking off the nuts that hold on the glass window and drilling holes in the NRP and placing the window mounting studs through it.&nbsp; Then put the nuts back on.&nbsp; I will probably put on some thin metal bands to make it a little sturdier just to be safe but it looks really good so far.&nbsp; <br><br>From the outside there is absolutely no light visible through the window I have covered.&nbsp; It is completely blacked out and even with a flashlight shining in you can't tell there is reflectix there.&nbsp; It just looked like a black window.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I worked on the window again today.&nbsp; I cut metal banding to help support the window covers.&nbsp; Had a few other things to take care of, so I only got done with the first one.&nbsp; I did get the covers cut for the next several windows.&nbsp; Hopefully I will be able to finish all of them this week.&nbsp; Can't really get back to building until they are done.&nbsp; If anybody would like to do the same thing with their windows, I have all the measurements to make the panels and cut the reflectix.&nbsp; Would save a whole lot of time.&nbsp; Let me know if you need it.

 

[coultergeist]

I had to work on my doors a bit today too.&nbsp; The side and rear door handles on a Ford van use cables to connect to the door latch.&nbsp; The ends that connect to the handle and latch are just plastic and over time they tend to break.&nbsp; Just about every one in the van was broken.&nbsp; The cables themselves are fine.&nbsp; It is just the ends that break.&nbsp; <br><br>I have found kits to update them to steel ends, but they are $20 a cable.&nbsp; Each door uses two cables.&nbsp;&nbsp;It would have taken $80 to fix both the side and rear doors that way.&nbsp; That was a bit much.&nbsp; <br><br>I found a post online where someone used small hose clamps to fix their cables.&nbsp; I decided it was worth a shot.&nbsp; It took several hours and a little ingenuity but all the doors are now functioning properly for a total cost of about $5 in hose clamps and a little banding wire.&nbsp; The picture is of the end of one of the cables with the clamps on it.&nbsp;

 

[jtgjco]

What you are doing takes a lot patients which I am a little short on, planning out my road stuff where and when and how..Trying to see if I can do this and still have fun..