The 4x4 conversion to the RV that won't go away.

[steamjam1]

It took me several extra hours because of nearly stand-still traffic getting out of the city, but I got to the destination where the magic will happen to the Dodge RV. Along the way, it didn't skip a beat, ran cool, and smooth.

[img=299x168]http://oi67.tinypic.com/i6ceh4.jpg[/img]

[img=299x168]http://oi64.tinypic.com/2ms2a0m.jpg[/img]

[img=299x222]http://oi67.tinypic.com/9gf2vk.jpg[/img]
And thats its new home for the 4x4 build up. Kinda sux that its off grid, but I like the challenge..

 

[highdesertranger]

I like your copilot. highdesertranger

 

[Txjaybird]

Us'uns do  too       Queenie and Her

 

[steamjam1]

I have to admit that the Dodge really isn't that bad to drive. I'm trying to get over how bad this van looks to me.

The engine and drivetrain are in great condition and it didn't skip a beat the whole way. I filled her up and got 13mpg almost on the nose, and had plenty of power to scoot around. It drove straight and true, the brakes are good, and it didn't squeak, clunk, or shimmy. Sans a new set of tires, I could jump in and drive it accross the country tomorrow morning as-is. I much rather own a van that may look shoddy but runs like new, then a van that looks new but runs bad.

Anyways, now that it's out of the 'rents driveway, I have some more decisions to make about it:

Do I go ahead and restore it as an RV? If so, do I want to return it to the original interior configuration, or come up with my own?

Do I just leave it gutted and use it a 4x4 cargo van?

I'm thinking about going Harlequin....
[img=300x225]http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/03/800px-VWGolfHarlequin.jpg[/img]

The old girl would be a one-of-a-kind.

 

[Almost There]

Anyways, now that it's out of the 'rents driveway, I have some more decisions to make about it:

Do I go ahead and restore it as an RV? If so, do I want to return it to the original interior configuration, or come up with my own?

Do I just leave it gutted and use it a 4x4 cargo van?

I'm thinking about going Harlequin....
[img=300x225]http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/03/800px-VWGolfHarlequin.jpg[/img]

The old girl would be a one-of-a-kind.

I really recommend doing your own layout but that's because maybe I'm a little prejudiced. There hasn't been a Class B layout that I've ever seen that I liked. The mfr crowd in all the components that you find in a 40' Class A including 3 way fridges that don't work well on 12V systems and undercarriage holding tanks that cost money to empty and also lower your clearance which limits where you can get to on forest service roads.

With your own layout, you're the boss and can pick and choose what you want to have in there and where it goes.

Oh, and ixnay on the Harlequin paint job....

 

[Txjaybird]

I really recommend doing your own layout but that's because maybe I'm a little prejudiced. There hasn't been a Class B layout that I've ever seen that I liked. The mfr crowd in all the components that you find in a 40' Class A including 3 way fridges that don't work well on 12V systems and undercarriage holding tanks that cost money to empty and also lower your clearance which limits where you can get to on forest service roads.

With your own layout, you're the boss and can pick and choose what you want to have in there and where it goes.

Oh, and ixnay on the Harlequin paint job....

Ditto on what AT said.  I like Flames!!  I always thought deep pink/dark purple /coral/ silver metal flake instead of the standard red/yellow /orange combo would be cool     Not stealthy.........no  slippin' & slidin',  peepin' & hidin' in a rig like that.  I think it would be nice with paint to represent the old custom paint jobs from the '70s...Helps if you can DIY I'd be afraid to ask what a flame job would cost these day's.                           
                     CAMO pale desert shading?                       Have fun!   TJB

 

[steamjam1]

Just a quick update:

Not a whole lot has been happening to the Dodge RV since I moved it up to the ranch. I've just been picking up some parts here and there as they pop up for cheap. I spent $40 this week on some HVAC controls, a lower dash panel trim cover, and a turn signal switch via Ebay. There are only a few more little parts I need to find to complete the old Dodge's dash area. I traded some welding work for a pair of dodge cargo van seats that aren't so worn you feel like your sitting on concrete when driving. My *ss will thank me for ditching the original swivel seats.

I'm still looking around for a front axle. I see plenty of GM 10-bolt stuff out there on Craigslist, they go for no more then $150 at the high end, and I could buy one today and get started on a pumpkin flip, but with all the measuring, cutting and welding that will be necessary to do the conversion; why start out with a weaker axle, only to blow it, and then to have to do it all over again with the right axle? I'll wait till a dana-44 pops up.

I still haven't made a concrete decision on what I want to do with the interior. I'm leaning towards ripping whats there out and starting over only because I never thought the Surveyor interior was well layed out. Big-Blue's layout is alot better and easier to use. It's bed is much bigger then the Surveyor's was, and there is alot more usable storage. I may just copy it. I'm also thinking about going back to more a minimalistic van dwelling set up like when I first started. I'll admit that I kinda miss the simplicity of it. The whole thing will certainly weigh a heck of alot less if I did that.... It'll be a larger, more powerful, but less maneuverable version of my Van Charger.