2011 E350 5.4V8 EB Passenger Van Build

[86Scotty]

Great pics. The glamour shots (IMO) are for when you are building one or selling it. Otherwise, you built it to live in. Cats and people and stuff everywhere sounds like home to me!

[h.grenade]

Thanks Scotty! Yeah so far its been a blast. I am trying to tackle the barn door inserts this week while on xmas break. The back two with just be automotive type storage - jack, compressors stuff, chains, etc. The side doors will be a full bar and some more kitchen storage with a drop down table for outdoor cocking. Then I will really be done!

[yonah]

Awesome build and great documentation with photos, etc.!

[h.grenade]

Thanks yonah!

WINTER UPDATE


Starting barn door storage pockets. The plan is to cover the lower 1/4 birch ply panels with the same interior fabric and then paint the upper plastic black. I will noise kill and insulate and I have already drilled and installed plusnuts so that we can remove these panels in the future to make any changes or repairs. Sadly, we got a ton of snow and its freezing so I will have to wait for better weather to finish.






They don't hold much stuff but every bit helps in a small space. This bar area will fit whiskey and wine and have a flip up bar top for mixing drinks and the opposite door will have a kitcen cabinet with drop down table. Can't wait for this summer.

[marret]

Nice, they look great.

[aarcaris]

Nice, those look super clean!

[Scalf77]

Nice work, looking good

[h.grenade]

Thanks dudes

[h.grenade]

FINAL DETAILS


Finished up the WTD molle panels and the door kitchen/bar areas. Ready to hit the road finally.

NEED HELP ON THIS...



Hey guys - looking for some ideas here. We just had everything weighed and its good new bad news. Good news, the van only weighs 5500lbs. The whole camper/off road build weighs less than the factory build with 4 rows of seats! I believe it was around 5749lb stock.

The micro toy hauler on the other hand weighs 2300lbs, which is fine but I have 550lbs of tongue weight with 2 dirt bikes loaded. It also takes about 300lbs off of the front axle which I don't like. Up front is just a wood framed bathroom wall, thetford toilet, 13g water tank, weber BBQ and 3/4 plywood cabinet. The bikes get mounted as far back as possible, literally touched the ramp door. I imagine that I could have the axle moved forward but otherwise have no idea why the weight balance is so bad in these. I guess they just assume that you want more tongue weight, always.

Any ideas? thx

[kbeefy]

I always make sure I have the load biased towards the tongue, 550 pounds for a 2300# trailer doesn't seem bad.


I am surprised you lost 300# off the steer axle with only an additional 550 on the hitch.
How are you weighing it... truck scales?


How does it drive? I would guess the trailer tracks fine with 500# on the hitch.