1st Adventure with my new van - pics! - Page 2

**BroncoHauler** · 08-09-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captkimo

Saw it up there last week. Like the front bumper, may get one later. The crew at SB seem to be pushing the 315 tires with the 17" wheels. That means a $$ upgrade on the brake system. Not sure on mine yet. I still may go with the 285's with the 16" wheels. That will only need the upgraded rotors and pads?

There might be a misunderstanding here. The 17" rims will permit you to go with the larger rotor/caliper/$ brake upgrade. Just because you get the 17" rims doesn't mean you need to get any brake upgrade. I will say that larger tires = more rotating mass and therefore it will be some amont harder to stop (couldn't tell you how much).

Herb

mckaytrek · 08-12-2007, 11:24 AM

Jeffery ~

Gratz on your SMB!!

Sounds like you are already having a blast with it! We have only just begun - put down the deposit and designing/redesigning ours....... Won't have it until Feb or March.. YIKES! I am not very patient - and hearing about yours and your really cool trip makes me want ours even more! Oh well, I have to be content living vicariously through these forums **big deep sigh**

ENJOY on!! Oh - and the bumpers do look sexy - that is one thing I have pushed for (and I'm a chick) -

of course it wasn't too hard to convince my hubby.

Jeffrey · 08-12-2007, 02:04 PM

Hi Ms. McKay,

Thanks for the kind comments. Great to see more chicks getting involved with these thiings, although I didn't think that was a very contemporary phrase these days! Why the long wait? I began my process in April. You will enjoy it, as you learn what you want as you go along. The front bumper is made by Road Armor in Oregon. I ordered it from them and they shipped to Fresno for installation by SMB. I do like it.

A few more from my trip...

**BroncoHauler** · 08-12-2007, 06:21 PM

OK Jeffrey, I have to ask. Do you have different colored shackles to match your mood on any given day?

Herb

P.S. I like your new avatar.

Jeffrey · 08-12-2007, 09:00 PM

Herb, I knew you'd be the first to notice that! I bought some rings a few weeks before delivery because I knew they would fit the bumper. I painted them a similar color to the van for fun. When I arrived at SMB, Greg had already put on a nice pair of black ones at no charge. So, I waited until I camped that night and swapped them out. Apparently I did not secure them properly, and somewhere in the Inyos (washboard!), one fell off, never to be seen again, by me at least. That night, I put the black ones back on. So, some pics show both black ones, both tan ones, or one tan one. What a mess! I will paint the pair another color soon. Maybe yellow or red. We'll see.

mckaytrek · 08-20-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Why the long wait? I began my process in April.

Well, we want a diesel van - none available until around December! Then they have to do the 4X4 conversion and the SMB conversion - so.... that makes it around Feb. or March before we get it.

Total bummer - but on the bright side, we will have it for UT women's softball and UT men's Baseball games

**BroncoHauler** · 08-20-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckaytrek

Quote:

Why the long wait? I began my process in April.

Well, we want a diesel van - none available until around December! Then they have to do the 4X4 conversion and the SMB conversion - so.... that makes it around Feb. or March before we get it.

Total bummer - but on the bright side, we will have it for UT women's softball and UT men's Baseball games

Last time I was up at SMB West (2-3 weeks ago), they had a few completed vans in stock. I know, not the same as designing your own but there is that instant gratification.

Herb