My new E-350 Extended van

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ah ok i understand now <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Sounds like a cool plan.

 

[coultergeist]

I ended up working on the fresh water tank today.&nbsp; I got it cleaned out and sanitized.&nbsp; I also installed new fittings and got started on the mounts that keep it from moving around.&nbsp; My bolts ended up being the wrong size, so I couldn't get it all mounted.&nbsp; Will pick up the right ones after work tomorrow and finish up mounting the tank.&nbsp; Will post pictures when that is done.

 

[coultergeist]

I finally got the fresh water tank mounts installed today.&nbsp; It was a real pain in the butt to get them all bolted down.&nbsp; It has to be really secure.&nbsp; The tank is 60 gallons.&nbsp; Full, it will be around 500 pounds so it can't have any room to move at all.&nbsp; It fits nice and snug in the frame built to secure it.&nbsp; I also got the first of the bed platform supports installed at the back of the van, along with one of its braces.&nbsp; I should be able to start moving a little faster now.&nbsp; It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so I will work on some of the small interior things until the rain lets up.

 

[RAILROADGREEN]

hey coultergeist,&nbsp;that a big water tank for a van !! 500 pounds wow, why so much water needed?fellow traveler gary&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I was shooting for about 30 gallons originally, but I got a really good deal on this tank.&nbsp; I will have a shower setup in the van, so more water is a good thing.&nbsp; My goal is to not have to rely on any external hook-ups as much as possible.&nbsp; I would like to go at least a week or more between needing to refill the water tank.&nbsp; I figure if I need that capacity then I will have it.&nbsp; If I end up needing less, I don't have to fill it completely.&nbsp; If I went with a smaller tank and then needed more capacity, it would be difficult to adapt later after everything is built.

 

[coultergeist]

It rained off and on today, but it actually stopped for several hours after I got off work.&nbsp; I ended up getting the rest of the bed rails in today.&nbsp; I could have gotten a little more done, but I ended up running out of screws.&nbsp; I will try to get a little more done tomorrow.

 

[coultergeist]

<p>Spent yesterday measuring and trying to work out some details of what needed to still be built.&nbsp; Realized I needed more two-by-fours.&nbsp; I decided to take an assembly line approach to get them ready to be used faster.&nbsp; I stained them all at the same time.&nbsp; Then went through and did the coats of spar urethane.&nbsp; They should all be dried and ready to work with tomorrow.&nbsp; Should give me enough to get a good bit done.&nbsp; Before I would measure and cut a few pieces and then stain and urethane them.&nbsp; I would then have to wait until the next day to use them.&nbsp; This way they will all be ready at the same time.&nbsp; I will just have to stain and seal the end of each piece when I cut it to length.&nbsp; That will only be an hour or two wait at most.&nbsp; This should speed up the process alot this weekend.&nbsp;</p>

 

[coultergeist]

<p>While I was getting the wood stained and urethaned today, I had some down time waiting for the various coats to dry.&nbsp; I went through my plumbing plan and figured out exactly what I would need.&nbsp; I had some fitting already, but they weren't the best way to do it.&nbsp; The fittings in the picture are what I plan to use to run the fresh water lines.&nbsp; I will be able to hook-up to a hose for city water input or use a 12v pump to pull water from the fresh water tank.&nbsp; My goal was to make things as simple as possible and be really easy to maintain and replace parts if needed.&nbsp; To that end all water lines will be 1/2 inch flexible hose.&nbsp;</p><p>The city water input hose will attach to the garden hose Y-adapter.&nbsp; One hose will go to the water fill port on the fresh water tank.&nbsp; The other hose will attach to a tee on its way to the kitchen faucet.&nbsp; The water pump will draw water from the fresh water tank and attach to the other port on the same&nbsp;tee on its way to the kitchen faucet.&nbsp; Just before the line from the water input tee attaches to the faucet it will feed into another tee.&nbsp; This will split the water line.&nbsp; One port will go to the cold water side of the faucet.&nbsp; The other port will go to the instant hot water heater and from there return to the hot water side of the faucet.&nbsp; <br><br>I opted to not use any extra check valves in the system.&nbsp; The pump itself has a check valve so water from the city water input can't back-up through it.&nbsp; The two on-off levers on the garden hose Y-adapter will be used to control fresh water input.&nbsp; When no external water hose is attached, both on-off levers will be in the off position.&nbsp; This will keep water from the pump from escaping that way and serve the same function that a check-valve would.&nbsp; It will also keep any water from the tank fill port from escaping from the fill line.&nbsp; <br><br>When I need to fill the water tank, I will attach a water hose to the hose Y-adapter and turn on the valve that leads to the water tank fill port.&nbsp; As soon as the tank is full, turn off the valve.&nbsp; I can keep the hose attached and use it for water with it still attached with the other valve on.&nbsp;<br><br>I think this will be the absolute simplest approach to having both city water hook-up, fresh water tank fill port and 12v pump supplied water in one all-inclusive system using commonly available parts.</p>

 

[ccbreder]

Use potable water hose. For your plumbing, Pex tubing would be good. Thanks for all the info, every idea is a good lead.

 

[coultergeist]

You're welcome ccbreder.&nbsp; Hope it helps someone down the road.&nbsp; I am using 1/2 inch potable water flexible hose for all the hose runs except the line from the hot water heater to the faucet.&nbsp; That will have to be something capable of the heat. Haven't decided yet what I will use for that.&nbsp; The shower hose will attach to the sink faucet with a portable dishwasher quick release fitting.&nbsp; One end permanently screws into the end of the faucet.&nbsp; The shower hose will attach to the other piece.&nbsp; Works like a quick release for a garden hose.&nbsp; Should be the simplest way to run things in my setup.&nbsp; <br><br>When I want a shower I will just attach the hose to the kitchen faucet with the quick release.&nbsp; Adjust water temp and then get the shower.&nbsp; Turn off the faucets and disconnect the hose when I'm finished and stow it away.&nbsp; It will have the added advantage of allowing me to run a line easily outside to take a shower there as well by running the line out the side door. Could also use it to wash dishes or anything else outside as well.<br><br>The picture is of the portable dish washer quick release that I will be using to hook the shower to the faucet.

 

[ccbreder]

That is a great idea.<br>The PEX plastic plumbing lines are used for hot water.

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks ccbreder.&nbsp; I will definitely have to check out the PEX lines.&nbsp; Those are easy to get many places, so they will likely be how I run the hot water line back to the faucet from the water heater.&nbsp; I appreciate the help.

 

[coultergeist]

I haven't felt real great the last couple of days, so not much got done over the weekend.&nbsp; I did get the first of the uprights installed for the cabinet between the kitchen area and the bed compartment today.&nbsp;

 

[coultergeist]

I got the back rear upright put in yesterday, along with the base piece that will support it and the two center supports on the passenger side.&nbsp; The camping potti and the air conditioner will sit in the base of that cabinet between the kitchen area and the bed.&nbsp; I will have drawers and a closet for hanging clothes above the potti.&nbsp; I'm still working out exactly how I will layout the remaining cabinet space above the air conditioner.&nbsp; Would love to keep working on it today, but it has been raining all day and will likely continue throughout the evening.

 

[coultergeist]

It looks like it will be a good weekend to work on the van. As long as the weather holds out, I should be able to get the cabinet I'm working on mostly done. My internet is being troublesome at the moment, but I will take pictures along the way and post them as soon as I can.

 

[coultergeist]

Still having trouble with pictures. Will post as soon as I can. I finished all the framing on the cabinet I was working on. I now have two drawers, a compartment for the camping potty, a compartment for the air conditioner, a hanging clothes closet, and a cabinet space with adjustable shelves. I also finished all the supports for the bed area. I am working on electrical stuff now. I have the power panel installed. I am doing all the outlets and switches now for 120 ac. I will do all the 12 volt dc stuff next. Will post pictures just as soon as possible.

 

[bigou]

looking good. &nbsp;thanks for the ideas!

 

[RAILROADGREEN]

wow, thank's for the photo's, looking good, a great bug out van!!!&nbsp;keep them pic's a coming.best post on this website. fellow traveler gary

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks bigou and fellow traveler Gary. Its been a lot of work, but its coming together pretty well. Rain is really slowing things down. Should be able to post more pictures today or tomorrow.

 

[coultergeist]

Finally, got the internet thing working right again, so I will try to do a little updating.&nbsp; I got the stove and kitchen area exhaust fan panel installed in the van.&nbsp; I still have to run the power wiring to it and add one more piece of trim wood below it, but the panel itself is in place.&nbsp; Should finish it out completely this week.&nbsp; I did run it off of a portable power supply and it worked really well.