The RV: Step #1

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 7:31 pm

You guys were a big help, with good advice. I stuck with the Big Van idea, but, after I looked at Nissan, I was sold on them rather than the Sprinters...V-6, Regular Gas, full power, complete Nav package, a couple 110V, and couple 12V power points, etc, 7 year bumper to bumper, Lo Jack for about half what the Mercedes would have gone for. MPGs are a couple less, but, gas is cheaper....Anyway, I'll be slowly upfitting it with "stuff" as I can afford it...lot's of good potential here....

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Fri May 31, 2013 7:47 pm

Sweet. A little different but then so are you

Look forward to seeing how you progress.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 7:57 pm

JReed wrote:Sweet. A little different but then so are you Look forward to seeing how you progress.

If all it ends up being is a metal tent, with heat, airconditioning, with a comfortable bed.....I'm good....I'll put in a Carbon Monoxide detector so I can run it while I'm sitting still for power and stuff...

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:07 pm

You need one of those small honda generators. Save wear on your vehicle and burns less gas the sitting there running the engine.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:13 pm

The generator can ride in the boat on the trailer behind it...

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:18 pm

An ongoing build, I like the concept.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:30 pm

HEY LOOKS GREAT

Hope you get to run the wheels off of it

ya stopping by?

ollogger

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:40 pm

ollogger wrote:HEY LOOKS GREAT

Hope you get to run the wheels off of it

ya stopping by?

ollogger

I hope so....

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri May 31, 2013 8:45 pm

Where are we going to put the stovepipe for the small woodburner?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:07 pm

Mescalero wrote:Where are we going to put the stovepipe for the small woodburner?

I'd like to set the stove inside the back door, so I can stoke it from outside, but, run the pipe forward the length of the inside so it will heat up the inside a little better.....

MikeNV · Post by **MikeNV** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:13 pm

Very Nice.... any photos of the interior?

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:27 pm

Cool, bring it by my shop; we'll work it out.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:39 pm

MikeNV wrote:Very Nice.... any photos of the interior?

It's all empty space behind the driver/passenger seats....

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri May 31, 2013 10:42 pm

Watch out for those "high profile vehicles not recommended signs."

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri May 31, 2013 11:22 pm

Griff wrote:Watch out for those "high profile vehicles not recommended signs."

Washington already lost one bridge this week.....I suppose I should find out exactly how high that puppy is

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:11 am

I like it. But red is a ticket magnet. Heck, CHP even got me once or twice in a 258 straight six powered Jeep. But, I did deserve them both.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:21 am

looks real fine. Thor has an indoor race track now. Neat.

won't need to run stack fwd for wood heat, any stove will plenty. are there windows in the rear?

are there tie-down spots inside? is there a movie player? what's the tow capacity?

what's the gas tank size?

anyway it's gonna be a fun ride I think.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:32 am

Grizz wrote:looks real fine. Thor has an indoor race track now. Neat.
Thor had his first ride today....he likes it...
won't need to run stack fwd for wood heat, any stove will plenty. are there windows in the rear? Just Heated Rear Door Window

Small Buddy Heater with tip over, and O2 sensor safeties...I'll run the truck heater until it's time to go to bed....

are there tie-down spots inside? Yes 8 is there a movie player? No what's the tow capacity? 5000 lbs

what's the gas tank size? 28 gal....

anyway it's gonna be a fun ride I think.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 2:38 am

Re electrics:

That unit has lots of realestate for PVs. If you aren't planning on putting a window into that front slope, consider a flexible PV sheet. Should be enough surface area to get you around 18w... which is plenty to keep a 12v system hot.

wecsoger · Post by **wecsoger** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:17 am

Interior pictures, please.

+1 on getting a PV array, looks like there is plenty of room and possibilities there

Ditto on a small generator. They are pricy, but Honda has a small one kW and two kW gas gens that are /super/ quiet. One I have, you can run in a flea market and three, four spaces over not even know it's running.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:30 am

.

It looks good, Blaine.

If I can add something, having built a bare van into a camper van, myself - The first thing to so, besides insulating & panelling the walls, would be to install a screened, crank-open (low-profile) roof vent near the rear of the roof (if a single), or front/rear (if a pair), or you & everything inside will get soaked every time you sleep overnite (breath/moisture).

I learned because I didn't, and by morning it was near raining inside the ceiling. .

Also, there WILL come a time when you'll want to sit outside, but sheltered (by a tarp) - so consider installing an awning rail ($10) along the length of the edge of the roof/sidewall, the type that's just a long tube with a 1/4" gap cut along it's length so the edge of a tarp with a small rope sewn in the edge can be slid in the tube/rail & staked out as an extended roof.

.

.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:31 am

Dang! That's really cool looking. I never saw anything like that. In fact, I'll go as far as saying I could live in there. Its the perfect size for one or two guys going to a three-4 day shoot. (or hunt)

Makes sense as I've never been a big fan of diesels, unless you have a lot to pull.

Does the back open up so you could drive your bike inside?----------------6

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:43 am

Real nice Blaine, we have a old 31 foot Class A Winny that gets 8 mpg so ya know how much that gets used

We have been thinking about getting a conversion van also.

wm · Post by wm » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:43 am

Good luck and I look forward to hearing more.

I will say that when I was a fleet manager for the newspaper we had 2 dozen diesel sprinters and those Mercedes Benz 6 cylinder engines were darn near bullet proof. I was so impressed with them I was on the look out for a engine and transmission to drop into a project body. Never got around to it but I really was impressed with them. Our drivers were rough on them, lots of stop and go driving, long warm ups while waiting to load paper and yet they still delivered better then advertised mileage.

Now as for the bodies......durability was not looking to good. Rust was a constant issue, keeping in mind they use a lot of salt on Michigan roads in the winter. And their were some gremlins in some of the trucks.....for example in the first year over half had their steering columns replaced because of various headaches. And also when empty they were so lightweight there were serious, dangerous handing problems on even the slightest snow and ice.

Wm

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:33 pm

HEY I LIKE IT! Always been a Nissan fan since their Datsun days, had a Datsun truck in High School and own a Nissan 4x4 Frontier right now. Great choice! That 4.0 V-6 is very gutsy at 281 hp. VERY roomie too. Congratulations!

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:34 pm

Blaine those are nice rigs. I would insulate with pink styrene? insulation and 1/4" Luaun plywood. Definitely do LED's mounted in ceiling for lighting. If you are gonna do PV panels the cheap ones from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool & Equip work good, but from what I have heard from others that have them, only give about 3-5 year lifespan if used everday. I have an 18watt, works great but only use about 45 days out of the year. Honda 2K gens are great I have one, the 1k is now made in Taiwan and have poor ratings. Yamaha 2k and 1K are the best small gens out there but you pay $2-300 more than the Honda. Lastly I use a 12X16 Heavy duty tarp over my van in rain to have a kitchen/leisure area when weather gets crappy. Having a awning mount would greatly simplify mounting without out having to tie it down. Happy traveling. todd

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 1:52 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:HEY I LIKE IT! Always been a Nissan fan since their Datsun days, had a Datsun truck in High School and own a Nissan 4x4 Frontier right now. Great choice! That 4.0 V-6 is very gutsy at 281 hp. VERY roomie too. Congratulations!

Thanks, Ji....That's a better representation than I could have done with my camera phone....I had a Datson pickup...1200cc? 2WD, but, went anywhere....I actually slept in the back of that one, too....

There are "oodles" of hard points floor to ceiling to firmly attach about anything...these are intended to be commercial work rigs with every kind of rack and shelf/cabinet imaginable...The ceiling absolutely needs insulated...it's a bit noisy, and it was warm on a 65 degree day in the sun...Thinking about a solar powered vent, and a couple vents at floor level.....Some privacy curtains front and back...etc....Murphy-type bed/couch? Sleeper chair bolted to the floor?

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:02 pm

BlaineG wrote: Thanks, Ji....That's a better representation than I could have done with my camera phone....I had a Datson pickup...1200cc? 2WD, but, went anywhere....I actually slept in the back of that one, too....

My Datsun was a 1973 with 1600cc engine and 4spd transmission. Looked just like the one in picture below except mine had bigger tires and steel spoker rims for better traction offroad. Back then there were no 4x4 mini trucks so we worked with with what we had- 2wd. I took it up some trails that would make some 4wheelers think twice. Great beach vehicle too.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:28 pm

Have been designing in my head the interior of a van conversion for years. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:33 pm

Way Cool Dude!

Can't wait to see the finished project.
Where's the gun safe go?

jb

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 8:48 pm

rjohns94 wrote:Have been designing in my head the interior of a van conversion for years. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

I have great ideas, but, my expertise with tools and the patience to do things right is nearly criminal...

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:07 pm

BlaineG wrote:You guys were a big help, with good advice. I stuck with the Big Van idea, but, after I looked at Nissan, I was sold on them rather than the Sprinters...V-6, Regular Gas, full power, complete Nav package, a couple 110V, and couple 12V power points, etc, 7 year bumper to bumper, Lo Jack for about half what the Mercedes would have gone for. MPGs are a couple less, but, gas is cheaper....Anyway, I'll be slowly upfitting it with "stuff" as I can afford it...lot's of good potential here....

Holy Cow-------------------------I didn't know they made those(Nissan)

Nissan makes absolutely fine stuff-----------They build their vehicles (engineered )to last at least 300,000 miles
I was told this buy a (Mechanic Manager)at the areas leading car dealership that carries (New car/truck/van)Chevy/Ford/Dodge/Hyundai/Jeep/Chrysler/Subaru/GMC/Nissan/Cadillac/Suzuki
He said most are engineered for up to 200,000 miles but Nissan(300,000) I have known this guy all my life!
He don't care what I buy-----was just stating the facts from his 40 years experience and when he told me that said it kills him to say it-------------------------cause he is a Chevy guy since 1966

.

I love it Blaine-------------------Congrats!

Which V6 -----the 4.0 or the 3.5 ??????

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:13 pm

Your brothers are here to help with tech. questions.
Ask BEFORE you drill!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:32 pm

The 4 liter V6...Same as the Titan....

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:33 pm

Mescalero wrote:Your brothers are here to help with tech. questions.
Ask BEFORE you drill!

UhOh.....I'm pretty sure I can fix that leak....

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:10 pm

BlaineG wrote:You guys were a big help, with good advice. I stuck with the Big Van idea, but, after I looked at Nissan, I was sold on them rather than the Sprinters...V-6, Regular Gas, full power, complete Nav package, a couple 110V, and couple 12V power points, etc, 7 year bumper to bumper, Lo Jack for about half what the Mercedes would have gone for. MPGs are a couple less, but, gas is cheaper....Anyway, I'll be slowly upfitting it with "stuff" as I can afford it...lot's of good potential here....

Nice, be interesting to see how.it does mileage and payload wise on the road crosing passes. Hopefully it doesn't have a peaky high rpm powerband.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:35 pm

sore shoulder wrote:
BlaineG wrote:You guys were a big help, with good advice. I stuck with the Big Van idea, but, after I looked at Nissan, I was sold on them rather than the Sprinters...V-6, Regular Gas, full power, complete Nav package, a couple 110V, and couple 12V power points, etc, 7 year bumper to bumper, Lo Jack for about half what the Mercedes would have gone for. MPGs are a couple less, but, gas is cheaper....Anyway, I'll be slowly upfitting it with "stuff" as I can afford it...lot's of good potential here....

Nice, be interesting to see how.it does mileage and payload wise on the road crosing passes. Hopefully it doesn't have a peaky high rpm powerband.

We'll see tomorrow...doing a two pass blast for a break in...Chinook, and back on White...Cheeseburgers in Yakima...

Mescalero · Post by **Mescalero** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:40 pm

One cheeseburger Blaine.
ONE!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:47 pm

Mescalero wrote:One cheeseburger Blaine.
ONE!

They have a 2 pounder, and bottomless fries....

I was mad that I never made it to Chandler, to the Heart Attack Grill, for their burgers....

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:10 am

Looks good Blaine. I have the perfect bed for it. I will c if I can get a pic of it and post. It looks Comfy.
Perry

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 5:22 am

Congratulations Blaine

I hope you have many happy miles and years in it. My wife and I have had 5 Datsun/Nisans between us and I don't consider any of them a mistake. All gave excellent service with at least 200K on each and every one. My 2 trucks had over 300k. All were still running fine when we sold them.

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:17 am

I've got a buddy who bought one of these a year ago. He was always a full sized Chevy van man. He told me he was reluctant to get a Nissan but his wife thought it was cool. He played along and he loves it. I've been thinking of going the van route after 30 years of a pickup truck but I've got an 8 year old Ranger with only 80,000 miles that should last another 8 years. I'm looking forward to updates.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:28 am

can you sleep in the drive chair? I've spent months sleeping in the man-van that way. It helps my back.

beds take up a lot of room. if you install something like that would you make it portable, so it could all be removed easily? you could make storage boxes that you put a mattress on. secure them to the hard points.

for overhead insulation you could use wool blankets that are held up by wood ribs that fit across. this is easy to take down and clean. same for the sides. bear skins come to mind also. won't have the possible issues of foam insulation. offgassing and stuff like that. there is an insulated carpet type material that is used in some small boats, glued onto the substrate.

is it undercoated? that will add some years to the lifespan.

looks like a fun ride to me

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:49 am

Grizz wrote:can you sleep in the drive chair? I've spent months sleeping in the man-van that way. It helps my back.

beds take up a lot of room. if you install something like that would you make it portable, so it could all be removed easily? you could make storage boxes that you put a mattress on. secure them to the hard points.

for overhead insulation you could use wool blankets that are held up by wood ribs that fit across. this is easy to take down and clean. same for the sides. bear skins come to mind also. won't have the possible issues of foam insulation. offgassing and stuff like that. there is an insulated carpet type material that is used in some small boats, glued onto the substrate.

is it undercoated? that will add some years to the lifespan.

looks like a fun ride to me

+1

Cardboard bicycle boxes and refrigerator boxes also insulate real well. I have also used "blonde colored carpet, not only kept the heat in but also helped light the area up better. Carpet and boxes can be had for the taking at most of those businesses.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:38 am

Blaine reason also I say Nissan's hold up-------------------
1973 Datsun truck-------------------bought new-------------311,000 miles
1987 Nissan Sentra------------------bought new-------------297,000 miles
1995 Nissan Maxima-----------------bought 2 years old(28,000 miles)drove till 161,000 miles gave to brother(runs perfect@ 211,000 miles)
1996 Nissan Altima------------------bought 1 year old (8,000 miles)drove till 183,000 miles gave to brother(runs perfect @ 289,000 miles)
2009 Nissan Sentra------------------bought new for daughter(has 29,000 miles on it runs perfect, looks brand new)not one issue wrong.
That one was a cash for clunker deal-----------$19,000 dollar retail car------cost me $10,000

Let me say---------Not one vehicle has or had "any major Motor/Tranny issues" (none of them)what does them in eventually is this area with the salt----------------------------------rust out after about--------15-20 years!

Now-----Her boy friend bought a New 2012 Jeep limited Cherokee-----7,000 engine went south------spent 1 month waiting for a new engine to be put in--------another 6,000 miles(this time the head went south)another 2 weeks in shop(mechanic said---yep they have been doing that)

------when they got it back-------whenever they drove it---had a bad smell (like a burnt catalytic converter and gas smell combined)shop said ????????? think its ok

They couldn't get a free rental to use there because of their age???
They dumped the junk---------------------------------boy friend says (boy do I like her Sentra) he just bought a new GMC full size 4 door 4x4 truck.

To be fair----(Sixgun) in mind------I think that is a unusual deal with Jeep-------Am thinking that for 2012 they changed issues with their motors and thus having the heads going bad. The first time it was more than the head though---second time---the head was bad.

I consider Jeeps(not that one they had---or no I would not get a 2012 Cherokee with their setup)but overall----------I like Jeeps.
Love their rugged capability and their looks. In fact the Liberty-----------we really like. Prior to that 2012 Cherokee they had a 2012 Jeep 2 door hardtop Wrangler-----I loved that!-----no issues with that(think they only put on 5,000 miles but traded it cause now with their big poodle (he's big)no room!---------so they traded for the Cherokee!

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:04 pm

BlaineG wrote:
rjohns94 wrote:Have been designing in my head the interior of a van conversion for years. Looking forward to seeing what you do.
I have great ideas, but, my expertise with tools and the patience to do things right is nearly criminal...

+1!

I did insulate, panel, and shag carpet a Chevy Van back in the '70s with my Dad though. Dark walnut paneling and orange shag carpet baby!

Built in speaker cabinets for the 8 track sound system too. I was in high school and up to no good in that van.

(What the heck was my Dad thinking??

)

Nice wagon bro!

This looks like a Cadillac generator: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-EF2000iS-4 ... +generator

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:35 pm

Hey Blaine,
Here's an interior design idea for ya.
This is a picture of Fred's (OS's) old van that he didn't
think anyone had a picture of or remembered.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:38 pm

For a sleeping bed, I would do a fold down frame, low enough to sit on and have it hinged so it could swing out and latch to the side of the van. Storage underneath. I planned on two rifles, a shotgun, a belt gun, ammo, take down bow with arrows, fishing rods and tackle bags. Clothes storage in bins, cabinets with canned food stuffs, small sink with water and holding tank, an outside awning, folding chairs, paper plates and plastic utensils,

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:43 pm

Ah yes - the 70s. I wanted one of those Dodge vans. Just saw a yellow extended one for sale yesterday on Ave O - Did have a yellow Challenger. Indianagirl was with me when I bought it.

Of course here was the real deal for the hippies

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:02 pm

Rusty wrote:Congratulations Blaine
I hope you have many happy miles and years in it. My wife and I have had 5 Datsun/Nisans between us and I don't consider any of them a mistake. All gave excellent service with at least 200K on each and every one. My 2 trucks had over 300k. All were still running fine when we sold them.

You wouldn't say that if you'd had a F10.

The 300-Z after it was ever so much better... but, truly, there is NO substitute for cubic inches!