Homemade Sportsmobile

[surfgeek33]

Jammy,

Let me know if you need detailed pics of an Aluminess Roof rack with solar on it, I will be more than happy to shoot ours, if it helps.

Ray

[wannaSMB]

Great progress, Seth! Thanks for sharing the pics. If oyu ever need (extremely) unskilled labor, I am happy to help and learn.

Jim

[Greggd]

Seth ,
Their are Aluminess Rack Photo's on pages 5 and 6 in my gallery .Greggde

[BroncoHauler]

Seth,

What kind of wood is that fronting your stove? It's beautiful. I also like your "Volkswagen Wannabe" bumper sticker.


Herb

[Jammyauto]

Thanks guys. The wood is bamboo. The floors will be cork but they won't go in until everything else is done.

I've got most of the pieces all cut out for my roof rack/solar panels mounts. They will be all aluminuim like aluminess but slightly lower profile. I'm working on a design that will allow the solar panels to be angled in any direction when the van is parked. The roof pack portion will feature removeable plastic floor grates that will also serve as sand ladders/bridges should the need arise.

Here's a thread on the plastic grating http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=17223

[surfgeek33]

Hey Seth,

Did you do anything to your rear suspension? Your SMB looks really leveled, with out that rear sag look.

Ray

[Jammyauto]

For now my suspension is stock. Once I finish the conversion I'll put Deaver springs on the van but I need an accurate "wet" weight first to get the springs made. I also plan on adding some hydralic bump stops or possibly getting some fox shocks made that have a different rate for the last portion of colapse before they bottom out.

The van is sitting level because there is probably less than 600 lbs total weight inside. All my cabinetry is about 100 lbs. I could have made it lighter but I really liked the bamboo which I used for the counter top and the counter front. All the rest of the cabinetry is 1/8" birch. The house batteries are about 100 lbs each but they are mounted up front to the frame under each front door.

The van sag in the back once I've added 45 gallons of water, full fridge and engle freezer, 2 german shepards, Wife and 2 children, firewood, clothes etc, etc.

I've really enjoyed building this van but I must say I'm allready thinking of the next one. I've already planted the seed for another project with my wife. I'll keep the SMB and use it until the next camper is complete which will take several years.