My new E-350 Extended van

[coultergeist]

It does take a lot of patience and I'm sure mine will be tested too before it is done, but I think it will be more than worth it in the end.&nbsp; <br><br>Just plan everything out as much as you can.&nbsp; Try to think of all the possible problems and ways you can minimize or eliminate them ahead of time.&nbsp; We had a saying in the army.&nbsp; Every plan is great right up until the first shot is fired.&nbsp; Unexpected things will always occur, but the more you have planned out ahead of time, the less unprepared you will be when they happen.&nbsp; When they do, don't let it get to you.&nbsp; It's just life.&nbsp; Adapt and figure out how to overcome that problem and go on.&nbsp; Problems will always exist in life.&nbsp; It is just the nature of it.&nbsp; The situation you find yourself in doesn't decide whether or not you will be happy.&nbsp; You decide that yourself.&nbsp; You can have fun in situations that others would be miserable in.&nbsp; <br><br>Let me tell you a story.&nbsp; I was in the first Gulf War.&nbsp; We were waiting on the ground campaign to kick off.&nbsp; My section was sharing this little tent.&nbsp; It was given to us by the nomads.&nbsp; It was kind of like a circus tent in that the sides and the top were not connected.&nbsp; You would put up poles and wrap the wall around it and run ropes and stake it down.&nbsp; Then the top just draped over it.&nbsp; I'm sure it did a great job most of the time as sun and dust are the main things you have to deal with in the desert.&nbsp; Unfortunately, it didn't do so hot when it came to rain.&nbsp; <br><br>Contrary to popular opinion, it does rain in the desert.&nbsp; It usually only does it once a year, but when it does, it rains for days.&nbsp; Few things are more miserable for a soldier than mud, and it is hard to imagine mud as far as the eye can see in all directions.&nbsp; It was not alot of fun at first.&nbsp; As the days passed the tent got worse and worse.&nbsp; We ended up with about one cot that wasn't soaked.&nbsp; The three of us that were in the tent would sit side by side on the cot to rest so we would be somewhat dry.&nbsp; It was truly miserable.&nbsp; <br><br>After about five or six days&nbsp;of this, we were sitting in our customary spots one night.&nbsp; Just kind of talking and trying to pass the time.&nbsp; I happened to notice this little hole next to the center tent pole a few feet away.&nbsp; About then a little mouse came out of the hole.&nbsp; Apparently from his point of view we had the best place around.&nbsp; I thought he was pretty cute.&nbsp; He was multi-colored, kind of like a guinea pig.&nbsp; I pointed him out to one of the other soldiers.&nbsp; I'm guessing he didn't find him nearly as cute as I did.<br><br>He jumped up like he had springs in his feet and threw himself onto one of the other cots while letting out a yell.&nbsp; All the other cots were puddled with water, so there was this huge splash when he landed.&nbsp; The mouse was scared to death and took off blindly and ran right into the center pole and literally knocked itself out.&nbsp; <br><br>It was probably one of the funniest moments of my life.&nbsp; I still laugh to this day everytime I remember it.&nbsp; We were in a situation that was absolutely miserable physically, but we still managed to have fun and make the best of it.&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[jtgjco]

Yes you are correct, it is the little things that make a day and yes be&nbsp;prepared&nbsp;for all and know it is impossible to do..working on routes and how to stay free and live on my SS&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I finished up all the windows that will be permanently covered today.&nbsp; Not sure exactly how I will cover the remaining windows, but they can wait while I get started back on woodworking.&nbsp; The last picture gives you an idea of how the window covers do.&nbsp; The window in the front is just mirror tint.&nbsp; You can see the interior through it when lights are on inside.&nbsp; The back two windows are covered.&nbsp; They look just like a dark van interior no matter how close or far away you are from them.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

There are alot of folks on this site that are doing what you are thinking of doing jtgjco.&nbsp; With good preparation I'm sure you can make it work.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

It's been kind of rainy this week, so I haven't gotten much done.&nbsp; I decided to work on the covers on the top of the side doors.&nbsp; They had been damaged during years of use by the wheel chair lift.&nbsp; I was going to just remove the torn covers and replace them with the same NRP material I used to cover the windows.&nbsp; After I got the old covers off, I realized that the area is about two inches deep.&nbsp; That is about perfect for spice jars and other similar objects that aren't too tall.&nbsp; Instead of losing this space, I'm going to use the side door behind the sink as a storage cabinet for things like spices and dish washing liquid.&nbsp; <br><br>I think I'm going to use the other side as a vent for the stove.&nbsp; I have a range vent cover that is used with RVs.&nbsp; It is louvered and only opens when a fan is blowing air through it.&nbsp; It can be latched in case of really bad weather or driving to keep water out.&nbsp; I will cut a hole in the door and install two small powerful fans with it.&nbsp; They are rated at 40cfm each.&nbsp; They come with a speed controller, so I can adjust their speeds and how much air they flow.&nbsp; They won't draw much current, so it can also double as a way to help vent out the van in general and keep it cooler in hot weather.&nbsp; <br><br>I was going to just open the side window when I used the stove, but I was having a difficult time figuring out a way to keep bugs and such out when they were open.&nbsp; Also, the window opening is much lower than the level of the countertop.&nbsp; Not sure how good of a job it would do, considering that hot air will generally rise.&nbsp; I figure if I do this, then I won't need to open the side door windows and I can go ahead and cover them like the rest of the windows were.&nbsp; I think this will be a much better option.

 

[coultergeist]

I got the pieces cut for the storage compartment in the door.&nbsp; They have to be stained and urethaned before I can install them, so it will be tomorrow before they get put on.&nbsp; Didn't want to waste the day, so I started working on the bed area.&nbsp; I determined the best location for the fresh water tank and then got the first of the side bed supports attached to the wall.&nbsp; It took alot longer to do it than I thought it would.&nbsp; It is attached with toggle bolts.&nbsp; Took a while to get all the holes lined up and drilled in the sheet metal to attach them.&nbsp; It is very sturdy.&nbsp; Will hopefully get the other side installed tomorrow.&nbsp; Once that is installed, then I can start installing the rest of the bed rails and supports.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I was side-tracked with other stuff today, but I did get the driver's side bed support installed.&nbsp; I also finished up staining and urethaning the pieces for the side door storage compartment and vent cover.&nbsp; I will try to get as much of that installed tomorrow as I can.&nbsp; <br><br>I am trying to decide if a closet is a good idea.&nbsp; I could work one in, but I don't want to waste the space if it isn't going to be worthwhile.&nbsp; Would love to hear from anybody out there if that is something they really enjoy having or really wish they did have.

 

[coultergeist]

I got the storage cabinet behind the sink installed today.&nbsp; Spacing worked out as it was supposed to.&nbsp; It will hold anything up to about two inches thick.&nbsp; Just right for spices and small bottles.

 

[coultergeist]

I worked on the kitchen vent today.&nbsp; The metal they used in the door extension was some pretty hard core stuff.&nbsp; The first picture shows my first attempt to cut it.&nbsp; I used a jig saw and got about an inch and a half with a brand new blade.&nbsp; Had to step up and buy alot better blade.&nbsp; <br><br>After I upgraded to a jigsaw blade that could take care of the job, I got the hole cut.&nbsp; Had to do a little fine tuning but got the hole cut relatively quickly.&nbsp; Drilling and lining up all the screw&nbsp;holes took longer.&nbsp; I used putty tape between the vent and the van wall to seal out the weather.&nbsp; Will see how that holds up.&nbsp; The last picture is of the vent cover from the inside.&nbsp; <br><br>I still have to make the wood cover for the inside of the door with the fans and speed controllers installed.&nbsp; I'm also planning on making a filter for it to protect the motors and serve as insect netting.&nbsp; Hopefully, I can get that done tomorrow.&nbsp;

 

[stude53]

<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Nice Job, Patrick! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"></span></strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Been following youir build, thanks for showing it as you go.</span></strong></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Bob</span></strong></span>

 

[papas34]

Things are looking good.....keep in there it will soon be ready to hit the road.

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks Bob and Papas34.&nbsp; I'm trying to document it as best I can as I go.&nbsp; It's alot to do.&nbsp; I really appreciate the interest.&nbsp; I wish it was going faster, but it is a huge project.&nbsp; I didn't realize just how much bigger of a job it would be than the GMC Safari was.&nbsp;

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Where did ya get the vent cover?

 

[coultergeist]

Hi Dazar.&nbsp; The vent cover is a standard range vent cover.&nbsp; They are used on RVs and campers that have a stove with range hood.&nbsp; There are a few variations, but they are all very similar.&nbsp; I purchased mine from the parts department of an RV dealer.&nbsp; Pretty much any RV or camper dealer should have them in stock.&nbsp; You can also find them on ebay pretty regularly and any RV parts supplier online should carry them.&nbsp; Just search for RV range vent and you should find them pretty easily.&nbsp; I used it for just that reason.&nbsp; I wanted something that I could find an exact replacement for easily if it ever got broken or needed to be replaced.&nbsp;

 

[WanderingRain]

Looking good so far!&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks WanderingRain.&nbsp; I appreciate it.&nbsp; Hopefully, I will be able to get a good bit more done this weekend.&nbsp; It's hard to make much headway after work each day with only a couple hours of daylight.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

Hoping to get a bunch done today.&nbsp; I'm about to head out and start.&nbsp; I realized a couple of days ago that I needed to get the fresh water tank mounted and water lines ran to it before I could build the bed above it and figure out exactly how much room I would have left to work with for other cabinets.&nbsp; I spent yesterday collecting up all the fittings and supplies needed to get that done.&nbsp; Should have enough stuff to tackle that today.&nbsp; <br><br>I also finished up getting all the pieces to complete the exhaust fan panel for the side door.&nbsp; It ended up being alot more involved than I originally envisioned it.&nbsp; The picture below shows everything needed for it.&nbsp; <br><br>My plan for the vent is as follows.&nbsp; The two fans that I have are 40cfm computer fans, 80mm size.&nbsp; They just fit inside the external vent cover.&nbsp; I have the holes drilled in the panel to mount those.&nbsp; They will be attached directly to the wood panel with stainless steel machine screws.&nbsp; <br><br>I wanted to have a filter in it much like you would have in a regular stove exhaust hood.&nbsp; None of the commercially available ones would fit.&nbsp; They would be too thick even if they were cut down.&nbsp; I decided to fabricate something myself.&nbsp; <br><br>The big long brown piece in the picture is a screen for awnings.&nbsp; It's used to keep leaves out.&nbsp; It is a pretty small mesh pattern.&nbsp; About the equivalent of insect netting.&nbsp; It is plastic and will cut and drill easily.&nbsp; I will mount it between the wood panel and the fans.&nbsp; That will keep insects out.&nbsp; On the front of the panel I will mount the white air return register after I paint it black.&nbsp; I will cut a window air conditioner filter down to the size it needs to be to fit between the register and the wood panel.&nbsp; The air conditioner filters are only a few dollars and can be easily changed out whenever they need to be.&nbsp; Just unscrew the register, drop the old one and put a new one in place, then screw the register back in.&nbsp; <br><br>I will also have a fan speed controller mounted below each fan to control its speed.&nbsp; There will be a 12v outlet mounted there as well with a switch to control it.&nbsp; <br><br>I also plan to have a light switch installed there as well.&nbsp; What I will do is run a wire loop from the switch below that turns on the interior lights automatically when the door opens.&nbsp; That way, I can just turn the lights on and off by just flipping that switch.&nbsp; I will eventually wire up another switch like it at the back to turn on the lights from the bed compartment.<br><br>I will post pictures later on today to show the progress of how all of that&nbsp;gets done.

 

[coultergeist]

I ended up having to help a friend with his vehicle today, so I didn't get quite as much done as I had hoped.&nbsp; I did get the exhaust vent panel put together.&nbsp; It took a lot more effort than I thought it would.&nbsp; <br><br>I still have to connect all the wiring and mount it in the van.&nbsp; Probably won't be able to do that until tomorrow.&nbsp; <br><br>The screen is mounted between the fans and the wood panel.&nbsp; The filter is underneath the air return grille.<br><br>The two long rectangular pieces at the bottom are the fan speed controllers.&nbsp; The switch to the left at the bottom is power for the fans.&nbsp; The switch at the top is the power switch for the 12v receptacle at the top.&nbsp; The switch in the middle will be wired into the vehicle wiring so it can turn the interior lighting on and off.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Nice job, looks pro <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; So this is an air intake vent?&nbsp; I though you were venting from the cooking area to the outside.

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks DazarGaidin.&nbsp; It is the cooking area vent.&nbsp; This panel will fit in the upper door extension behind the stove.&nbsp; The fans will sit inside the vent cover when it is installed.&nbsp; It will exhaust the cooking area to the outside.&nbsp; The screen will keep bugs from getting in whether it is running or not.&nbsp; The air conditioner filter should keep anything from gunking up the fans.&nbsp;