Thank you, I have been using the hanging bags for a long time. It works out pretty well for lighter stuff. I'll post some better pictures of it.WinnieVan said:
"Delilah" my terrestrial space ship....
Six years after buying her and joining the forum I am finally starting a build thread.
(Can't rush these things)....
Most of her nearly 250,000 miles are mine... several trips back and forth between Florida and California (including last years 9,500 round the country trip). Mostly just a cot or an air mattress in the back.
I am taking a trip down to Joshua Tree and Death Valley this week... that and helping a friend find an Astro (which he is planning an awesome build for) I felt inspired to get some kind of sleeping platform with some gear stowage under it.
This is what I did today;
I have an Engle fridge (great little unit... real fridge, runs on AC or DC.. only draws 2.3a when the compressor is on. So I made a 6' platform behind the first 2 feet of floor the Engle sits on. I think I like it as I can still get into the van without pulling a muscle. :dance:
I left it open in the back with spaces dedicated to my "$30 Camping Awning", and 4 storage boxes.
The space behind the platform is for bicycle wheels, and on this trip it will be for carrying a few water jugs.
I also made a drawer that is 20" wide to stow my tools... My plan was to get as much of the heavy stuff out of the roof top carrier.
I bought a keyed latch for the drawer...
I'll glue down the carpet later, for now I think it is going to work out for me.
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Just outside of Bakersfield, CA...
![IMG_8762.jpg]()
On the way to Joshua Tree...
![IMG_8828.jpg]()
![IMG_8804.jpg]()
Death Valley
![IMG_8848.jpg]()
Not a bad view...
![IMG_8882.JPG]()
On the way to Joshua Tree...
Death Valley
Not a bad view...
Someone asked for a shot of my interior, I realize the build pictures did not show the stove and the refrigerator...
For more on my solar system ~ click here -
One more picture since the first one kind of made it look like a partial raised roof...
Delilah got a cooling upgrade yesterday.
![B5B78E3C-2DAE-41CE-B045-502AEF3CB7AC.jpeg]()
Replaced the OEM 5/8" core radiator with a 2 1/4" 3row aluminum one from flea bay. ($140 after several offers)...
![BE2C0C6E-D1BC-4FED-BCF7-A2000E49489A.jpeg]()
![0FC39C19-59BB-44A6-8F89-EDE86C2A27D0.jpeg]()
Swapped out my heater core at the same time.. did not have a visible leak but the air was feeling a little 'moist'.
Thinking I won't need to turn off the AC now on those high mountain passes, or when buzzing across Death Valley. :rockon:
Replaced the OEM 5/8" core radiator with a 2 1/4" 3row aluminum one from flea bay. ($140 after several offers)...
Swapped out my heater core at the same time.. did not have a visible leak but the air was feeling a little 'moist'.
Thinking I won't need to turn off the AC now on those high mountain passes, or when buzzing across Death Valley. :rockon:
Just back from a month long +7,000 mile plus trip from CA To FL and back with a lot of wandering around the south west (Big Bend National park, Guadalupe Mountains National park, Grand Canyon and Yosemite….
Not a single problem to report other then a wheel center cap self destruct after being over torqued by Costco when they rotated the tires….. :driving:
I LOVE this van. :cheers:
![5ABE2B06-6775-4E2F-B628-B70F6B3B05EB.jpeg]()
Not a single problem to report other then a wheel center cap self destruct after being over torqued by Costco when they rotated the tires….. :driving:
I LOVE this van. :cheers:
One of the stops on the 7k road trip was in Big Bend National Park.
Getting out to the primitive camping area involved some fairly significant mud work…. I am so thankful for my G80 rear end that plowed through some deep mud (bottomed out thrice)….
The engine was completely covered in mud when I got back…. A little degreaser and a quick spray down with the hose had her back to looking the way I prefer.
![24DDA887-B876-4289-AA90-8E672416D717.jpeg]()
By the way, the refrigerator (and caframo fan) ran daily off of my solar system daily for 19 days…. No problem. :banana:
Also…. Driving up 10% grades with the AC blasting in near 100f temps the gauge never moved. I highly recommend the radiator upgrade. :rockon:
Getting out to the primitive camping area involved some fairly significant mud work…. I am so thankful for my G80 rear end that plowed through some deep mud (bottomed out thrice)….
The engine was completely covered in mud when I got back…. A little degreaser and a quick spray down with the hose had her back to looking the way I prefer.
By the way, the refrigerator (and caframo fan) ran daily off of my solar system daily for 19 days…. No problem. :banana:
Also…. Driving up 10% grades with the AC blasting in near 100f temps the gauge never moved. I highly recommend the radiator upgrade. :rockon:
Update on radiator. People have asked me what seller I bought from…. Not sure, and there are so many I don’t know that it matters anyway.
There seem to be at least 4 styles of these aluminum radiators;
True 3” 3 row core…. Expensive and don’t work with factory shroud…. Probably have better cooling but the 2.5” 3 core works fine…. When I was shopping these they were sold by Summit for around $400.
2.5” 3 row core without mounting tabs…. Don’t get this one. It is a pita to mount (can be done with fabrication of brackets… BUT! The filler neck on this one is not long enough and makes it hard to get the cap off and fill…
![Water Rectangle Automotive radiator part Gas Font]()
2.5” 3 row core with flimsy tabs…. Ok, but better to go with the stronger mounting tabs… (this picture does not look bad, others look really flimsy)…
![Motor vehicle Automotive tire Bumper Automotive lighting Automotive exterior]()
2.5” 3row core with boxed (channel) tabs…. This is what I have and I am pretty happy with it. It worked with the factory shroud, had the mounts for the ac condenser, has the extended filler neck (radiator cap in same place as OEM) and fit with no drama.
![Rectangle Silver Font Fashion accessory Grille]()
There seem to be at least 4 styles of these aluminum radiators;
True 3” 3 row core…. Expensive and don’t work with factory shroud…. Probably have better cooling but the 2.5” 3 core works fine…. When I was shopping these they were sold by Summit for around $400.
2.5” 3 row core without mounting tabs…. Don’t get this one. It is a pita to mount (can be done with fabrication of brackets… BUT! The filler neck on this one is not long enough and makes it hard to get the cap off and fill…
2.5” 3 row core with flimsy tabs…. Ok, but better to go with the stronger mounting tabs… (this picture does not look bad, others look really flimsy)…
2.5” 3row core with boxed (channel) tabs…. This is what I have and I am pretty happy with it. It worked with the factory shroud, had the mounts for the ac condenser, has the extended filler neck (radiator cap in same place as OEM) and fit with no drama.
Couple of updates;
Delilah got 22-1195HD springs (+ 1,700lb 3+1 upgrade). For more details see this thread; 22-1195HD upgrade (do I need a rubber?)
![Landscape Wood Soil Road surface Shadow]()
![Wheel Tire Land vehicle Vehicle Automotive tire]()
And she got a new shelf with soft stowage boxes to replace the bags of stuff hanging from her rail…. The shelf is plywood with redwood trim, it sits on cleats fastened to the side wall and is suspended by chain (#75 rated)…. It is just high enough that it does not affect my leg room when sleeping (even my size 13 feet clear it nicely).
![Motor vehicle Toy Machine Track Vehicle]()
![Textile Automotive tire Red Wood Automotive design]()
Delilah got 22-1195HD springs (+ 1,700lb 3+1 upgrade). For more details see this thread; 22-1195HD upgrade (do I need a rubber?)
And she got a new shelf with soft stowage boxes to replace the bags of stuff hanging from her rail…. The shelf is plywood with redwood trim, it sits on cleats fastened to the side wall and is suspended by chain (#75 rated)…. It is just high enough that it does not affect my leg room when sleeping (even my size 13 feet clear it nicely).
I probably should have included this earlier…. It’s something that might be helpful to others who camp (or live in) these vans.
One “upgrade” that is useful for anyone who camps in our vans is screens for the windows. I use;
Baby carriage bug screens…. Cheap, effective and stretch to fit many windows.
I use them on the front doors and around the side opening windows.
here is a link…ThreeH Baby Mosquito Net for Strollers Car Seats Cradles Universal Size Insect Netting BX07,Black https://a.co/d/44cojVj
O
![Car Vehicle Automotive side-view mirror Motor vehicle Automotive tire]()
![Automotive lighting Hood Automotive tire Automotive parking light Automotive design]()
One “upgrade” that is useful for anyone who camps in our vans is screens for the windows. I use;
Baby carriage bug screens…. Cheap, effective and stretch to fit many windows.
I use them on the front doors and around the side opening windows.
here is a link…ThreeH Baby Mosquito Net for Strollers Car Seats Cradles Universal Size Insect Netting BX07,Black https://a.co/d/44cojVj
O
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