Camp Driveway to work out the bugs... UPDATED, it has begun!

[dbhost]

I am maybe too optimistically expecting the new to me pop up / pop top van to be delivered this weekend, and as such am hopeful I can do some camp driveway stuff with it. Most notably...

1. Unbox, fill fresh tank of, and install in cabinet new Seaflow portable toilet. Throw in TP and deodorant enzyme packets into cabinet
2. Remove the running boards. They hang down WAY too low, are bent up, and even if they were brand new, are ugly as sin IMHO.
3. Practice setting up / taking down the beds, and pop top.
4. Test the StarCool system, determine if possible where the noted fault is, or if the prior owner was just complaining it wouldn't keep up with 100 deg F days which it isn't designed to do...
5. Inspect and note what is left of the OE plumbing system, if anything other than the city water inlet that is obviously still there. Compare against Sportsmobile documentation, determine if a 15 gallon fresh tank can fit under the van, and take list of needed components.
6. Convert from battery isolator system to DC to DC charger / MPPT solar charge controller.
   1. Install 400 amp hour Lifepo4 battery bank.
   2. Figure out where to store in transit the solar panels, panel stands and associated cables.
7. Configure pantry with spice jar clips, load clips with my spices purchased for the camper specifically.
8. Repair sagging counter top extension (screw holes stripped out).
9. Source up 30 amp 110v surge supressor. I would rather fry one of those than my camper.
10. Practice pitching, and taking down the tarp shelter awning.
11. Find a place for an AquaTainer and collapsible sink for maiden voyage.
12. Double check all mechanicals.
13. Review available campsites close by. Reverve sites if possible for next weekend.
14. Power up allow to come down in temp and test 12V fridge.
15. Test microwave.
16. Load up all gear, and non perishable supplies needed for maiden voyage.

So doing these things ahead of time with a new to you camper, the dry run stuff so you KNOW what you are doing, will really go a long way to insure you have a pleasant experience when you get to Camp Dreamylake or wherever it is, as long as it isn't Camp Crystal Lake....

Oh yeah, that reminds me, install 12V extension for my CPAP!

 

[J Starsky]

I'd get the wheels off once before winter, or a I took any long multi-mile voyage - just eyeball the brakes, steering, bearings and ball joints. Then you know when you last looked at them. You've got a good handle at it~!

 

[Tonya Harding]

Drove the wife nuts every time I brought something new into the driveway, mission time lol...put up take down until everything went smoothly & time in doing so was cut to an acceptable level; explained to her early on that being "those people", the ones that take half a day to set up, raise their voices, & sport angry eyes was not an option, we'd roll in like pros & leave the same way lol...pre training was a valuable asset during inclement weather as well...

 

[dbhost]

I'd get the wheels off once before winter, or a I took any long multi-mile voyage - just eyeball the brakes, steering, bearings and ball joints. Then you know when you last looked at them. You've got a good handle at it~!

Inspection was done pre purchase. Brakes are about 50%, front end is tight, rear end just had bearings and sesls done...

 

[J Starsky]

Inspection was done pre purchase. Brakes are about 50%, front end is tight, rear end just had bearings and seals done...

Cool, Cool!! - If you paid or you looked - sounds fine. I'd still pull the wheels and make a day of it, reasons to have a torque wrench and all that jazz

 

[dbhost]

Cool, Cool!! - If you paid or you looked - sounds fine. I'd still pull the wheels and make a day of it, reasons to have a torque wrench and all that jazz

Will dig into it personally probably after new years. Planning on relining the brakes then.

 

[dbhost]

I might just have more time than I expected with it. Logistics company has the van on their trailer and has scheduled a drop off with me for tomorrow. I suspect coming from S. Florida he is being optimistic, but it is on its way!

Weather for Friday and Saturday are supposed to have very high chances of rain, which considering how dry it has been is a VERY good thing. The neighborhood just south of my has a bunch of evergreens that are now VERY brown and serious fire hazards. Time for them to come down... but I digress... I will likely start off with the make it state happy-able, and insure the port o potty is in place, then dive into everything else once I can... Seriously reconsidering how the solar comes into the van after finding out 50 amp Anderson connectors are available with bulkhead passthroughs... Make my parallel cable meet at the Anderson connector then go into the van, easy peasy, lemon squeezy...

 

[Mark CASTELLANI]

"Great minds think alike"

a big Thumbs Up and a big Smiley Face right attacha!...

did it with both PUPs.. still do ("this is my OCD" ... LOL)

I once told a story about a family camped next to us that "tested" their N2U Class C on their Maiden Voyage...hooked up their Coleman Stove right out of the box. it turned into a flame thrower... the guy was clueless and put his family in grave danger, IMHO

Happy Trails!

Will dig into it personally probably after new years. Planning on relining the brakes then.

 

[dbhost]

You just reminded me of something that should have been first priority get a new fire extinguisher and get it in the van.

 

[dbhost]

Y connector and pass through for solar figured out. Going to do an Anderson plug pass through , and take one of the 12ga Y cables trim it so I have the correct polarity in the SAE connector, strip the other ends, tie positive to positive to an Anderson positive side, negative and negative to an Anderson negative side and voila, I have an SAE to Anderson parallel cable. Then the pass through on the van body into the other side of the anderson connection, and into the interior elecctrical compartment to the MPPT controller...

 

[dbhost]

So Delivery is done, the van is here,


Popped the side and back windows open, the ones that would shed rain as the sideways sliders will let rain in and it started raining immediately after I snapped this pic!

I started testing stuff out, starting with spinning the swivel captains chair around. This will make a nice spot to work at my laptop. In camp with the sliding door and back doors open, especially on those beach days! You can see the panels to the penthouse sleeper are stacked up allowing me standing room in the van, boy is that nice!


So as a reminder, it came to me with a rather old Port O Potty, that, well lots of other butts have been on. I don't know why it bothers me, public bathrooms don't but port o potties creep me out...
So out it went. That is on the curb now...


But it did NOT go out before I sized up the fitment for my new 4.8 gallon SeaFlow portable toilet. Fits like a glove.


I need to get busy with a tape measure and see about that frige. It is a 110v dorm fridge, NOT good... It has to come out. In its place I need something, just not sure what. If I can squeeze my big Alpicool in there then I will do that, failing that, well... Bodega has a 45qt front swing door model that may fit, 12v compressor of course...

Well, back to the van, and set up the bed. Each side is shorter than I expected, but then again, not surprised... I am going to have to sleep diagonally...

 

[dbhost]

Went back to look at that Bodega 45qt, and wouldn't you know it? Amazon had a lightning deal on that fridge for 30% off... Snagged, manual printed out and added to my documentation binder for the van... I need to create a schematic for the 12v DC to DC charger / MPPT charge controller tie in and get it printed out and stuck in the binder. The thought here is I fully intend on doing this up 100% right so that it will easily last another 30 years. I am in my mid 50s now, if I last another 30 years I will be amazed. So whomever gets this van after me will have a history on it... just like I got.

I do need to figure out how to clean what looks like mildew off the canvas though. It has a case of the yucks...

 

[dbhost]

Okay so the frog strangling rain finally let up, and I ran to Wally World and grabbed a pair of wipers (the ones that were on there were SHOT), Stabbed the new ones on. Tested lights and had an odd thing happen. Turn signals would not work, then I tested teh 4 way flashers no problem, THEN the turn signals would work... It is a 30 year old van. Somewhat wondering if maybe the flasher relay might be getting crusty...

While I was at Wally World I got a bag of toilet chem packets. Gotta have that working right.

Steering good.
Brakes good
Lights good,
4 way flashers good
Turn signals, well they work now...
Wipers new. However The wipers don't park themselves. Need to look into that.
Horn. good, and LOUD.
Belts good, just replaced.
Hoses good, just replaced.
Radiator cap. Not so much. On order should be here sunday.
Tires, good.
Check engine light? Nope.
ABS warning light? Nope.
Air Bag Warning light. It i son. I expected that. Not necessary for a state inspection so not worried but will have that fixed.

Once the radiator cap gets replaced and we are certain that is why it was losing coolant from the cap area, I should be good to go with a state inspection, and registration.

On to the camper bits.
Pop top. Good, although the canvas could use to be cleaned of some dark stains at the ends, sides are perfect.
Toilet. Brand new. Needs to be filled with water in the fresh tank and a chem packet in the black tank.
Fridge. 110V only. To be removed soonest possible. Bodega 12V 45 quart 1.6cu/ft on order, arriving Wednesday.
12v system. Have not opened the battery box, but the breather hose is cracked and needs to be replaced, AND the battery box seemed super light, like no battery is in there... No worries as I need to redo it.

Connector to bring solar into van on order, will arrive Sunday.
Trying to understand how the 12V charging system works. I do not see the battery isolator on the fender like others have. Need to trace this out.
Discovering where the cabinet repairs need to happen first. Most are no big issue, one is an bit of an annoyance ad MDF has blown out in screw holes for hinges right against the floor... Sigh... Not sure how to fix that. Thinking...

If I could level this sucker up in the driveway I would seriously consider popping the top and crashing out there tonight for a test run. Leveling blocks arriving Sunday...

 

[dbhost]

So the 110v fridge is out, still haven't taken the running boards off. I think I want to borrow a set of service ramps, right now it is a pain in the tail to get a floor jack under the van...

The 12v house battery IS in place, the cover to the battery box is just loose and flapping around. Inspecting when it is tolerable the 12v system. Too stuffy in the van with it closed up.

I located the battery isolator, Pretty sure I know how to bypass that, HOWEVER, I am not sure how to connect in the electrical compartment. Reviewing the manuals... The electrical compartment as it sits is kind of a rats nest of confusion. Pretty sure the Inverter that is there is NOT original...

 

[dbhost]

So since I am WFH today, I slid out after my morning meeting and instead of taking a lunch today, I ran to the tax office to handle the title transfer, and registration. Other than the VIN confuses the snot out of my insurance and the state title people. Ford delivered the van to Sportsmobile with a VIN that was flagged "Incomplete vehicle", which is normal for the RV prep package. The woman that handled my transaction apparently runs into this a lot. The cab door panels appear to be customized by Sportsmobile with their own fabrics, and the Captains chairs / swivels that are there are abolutely not Ford pieces. I understand they actually shipped the vans to Sportsmobile minus the seats thus the incomplete vehicle flag on the VIN... It is quite complete now but still kind of silly that the VIN is flagged that way in perpetuity...

I discovered some I will call it MDF structural cohesion failure at where the T molding and retaining screws for cabinet door hinges meet. I need to figure out how to inject something resembling Durhams Rock Hard putty into the screw holes and the surrounding MDF. This is JUST A MAKE DO fix... Long term, I fully plan on pulling the cabinets out, one panel at a time and redoing them out of Birch plywood and either Cedar or pine beadboard insert panels.

The intent here is I want to keep this floor plan, thus using the existing cabinets as a template, HOWEVER I want the cabinets to be constructed of MUCH higher quality / durable materials, as well as reduce the overall weight of the conversion.

Since I am just a solo camping widower, I will likely remove the bunk panels from the Penthouse and replace the back 1/3 with a custom cedar panel that will be used to carry my solar panels, cables, and kickstands. Basically I am going to grab a mess of Cedar fence pickets, and get after them with my jointer, planer, and biscuit joiner to create a lightweight but sturdy enough for my purposes storage shelf. The Penthouse bunk panels and cushions will be stowed in the house when not needed. On the rare occasion I do need to have extra bunks, or when I want to sleep upstairs, I can always toss them in...

The counter tops are going to most likely be made with pre made maple counter tops that are planed and sanded down to the original 3/4 thickness instead of 1.5". I do NOT need 1.5" counter tops in this thing, even with an undermount sink...

The new fridge is something like 2" narrower, and 2" taller than the one pulled out, which is good. That means the fridge won't be in the drivers seat back any more. However it is designed to be installed IN a cabinet, not on top. I am going to have to figure that one out...

 

[dbhost]

So the Bodega 45L 12V front opening door RV fridge arrived. And quite surprising, it is marked MFG by Alpicool... I like my 60L Alpicool I got for the truck camper, so this should be a sure thing.
Got 15' of bonded 12/2 awg pure copper wire, basically a black and a red sheathed 12ga conductor bonded together so it is easier to route...

Depending on lighting as it is getting dark fast these days, I will try to pull the wire between where the fridge installs, and the electrical compartment. Doesn't need connection quite yet, but we are getting there...