2003 B3500 Hightop

[toates89]

Howdy all,

This is my first build, intend to take this down to Central America for 6 months this Nov.

Van was originally a handicap converted van, so it came with a lift and a ton of seating. Got the Van for $1000. Put about $4k into it to freshen everything up including the transmission. Transmission was working but was noisey, turned out it was hanging on by a thread, snapped overdrive ring(occurs on pretty much all 46Re's). Put another $4k into the inside.

The van is pretty ugly, but hopefully that will work to our advantage. The passenger side door is a full door with steps that we will use for the main entrance, the swivel seat retracts enough to clear the step.

Details

175w solar
200 ah battery
50a mppt/dc charger
thinsulate insulation
Noico Sound deadner
Iceco Fridge
L track storage bags

Still need to work on the kitchenette and cubby next to the fridge. Then its just curtains, and odds and ends.

[marret]

Coming along nicely.

[kikisadventures]

Cool platform. Looks like a great start with the electrical

[campism]

Your Dodge is a twin to mine, an FGME (Fiberglass Molding and Engineering of Thomasville NC) 30" roof with the taller rear doors. Got mine cheap, too, and have a build thread on here. Taking a break from the van right now in order to finish up some house projects and wait for cool weather to return so I can work outside on the van. I got as far as cleaning and rust treating some of the holes that had been drilled and cut in the floor before I had to make the van a storage shed again while I reclaimed the garage for carpentry purposes.

[campism]

Oops, I see yours has the "bus door" on the right front, like this van at a nearby children's hospital. Mine has the normal passenger door and no step setup.


Where are you located?

[doublevan2]

Certainly a project in the making ! Not EVEN schooled in electrical - but should there be a concern about a house battery sitting inside a living area - and any off-gassing ? I know its not finished but - ? Good luck with the build out !

[toates89]

Originally Posted by doublevan2

Certainly a project in the making ! Not EVEN schooled in electrical - but should there be a concern about a house battery sitting inside a living area - and any off-gassing ? I know its not finished but - ? Good luck with the build out !

According to Renogy, as long as the battery isn't being overcharged, there shouldn't be off gassing.

[toates89]

Originally Posted by campism

Oops, I see yours has the "bus door" on the right front, like this van at a nearby children's hospital. Mine has the normal passenger door and no step setup.
Attachment 40890

Where are you located?

Im in Colorado, I have mixed feelings on the bus door, it adds noise when driving, but when you are posted up, its actually nice to use that as the main door, instead of climbing over seats. The seat is set back about 8" compared to where the original passenger seat would have been. When its slid all the way up, its about inline of when the driver is all the way back. When the seat is slid all the way back the stairs are unobstructed.

Ive considered cutting the bottom step to get back some clearance, but now that im in the final stretch, budget is becoming an issue.

[toates89]

Just a follow up on the interior.

Sink we dump into a home depot bucket, water will be held in a 5 gallon container. We will carry 3 containers for a total 15gal fresh water capacity.

[toates89]

Added some lolo bike racks, had to modify them a little to work.