Dawn Patrol Build

[boywonder]

Wow, that awning....

Is the moto hauler a Joe Hauler?


With welding skills like that are you planning on fabbing some trick bumpers?

[arctictraveller]

Yea, It's been said before, but WOW!

[TeleSteve]

I am curious to see how you work out the sink cabinet. I have been brainstorming how to make a door galley with a sink that is usable both in and outside the van. I would like it to be roughly 28" from the van floor when the door is closed but drop down to around 38" from the ground when the door is open and the galley is opened up. At this point I'm thinking either have the whole box slide straight down or have the top swing down when opened up.
I have enjoyed watching your build, their are not a lot of low roof or no pop up builds on here. All your work looks good especially the rack and awning. I am building a similar floor plan in a low roof Express and a little way behind you.

[SixCardCharlie]

There's no way I'm not subscribing to this thread.

I love the two tone on your van. Your counter/cabinet as well as your door stove& sink is making me re think my drawings for my kitchen.

I look forward to seeing your progress!

[Gatorbait]

It's an MX hauler. I like it better than the joe because it doesn't wear on the shocks. I need to find a way to get better access to the stuff in the back though. I'm thinking of making the swing arms longer so it extends further out. We'll see.

[Gatorbait]

So the battery box is all done.

The support bracket. The batteries weigh 100 pounds each.


This box goes into the support and bolts to it. This is the bottom side.


The top side is open for venting. You can see where the batteries go on each side. The bars that will go across them will secure them from bouncing. It's tightened down by the two nuts you see on the previous picture.


We got some work done on the bumper too. It's a bumper I originally had on my jeep, made from JCR offroad.


Cut it in half, and made it wider to fit the van.




And had to add another section underneath to comply with DOT bumper height requirements.

[Gatorbait]

Here's some better shots of the battery box.








Last bit on the bumper.


Etch primed everything...


Lined...








Started making the template for the canvas but it started raining so the marker stopped working. But it gives you a better idea of what's going on.

[boywonder]

Nice! Sewing your own canvas? Where are you planning on putting the awning outriggers when driving? On the roof rack?

[Gatorbait]

I can't sew for sh!t. I'm having a local upholster make one. The awning arms will go into the box on the rack. I should be able to fit all 7 arms, the awning rolled up, and my hi-lift jack.

Mounted the battery box, hitch and front bumper today. The box is so solid and the batteries fit in nice and snug. They aren't going anywhere!













I set up the ol' spray booth again. We were going to paint, but the rain started to come down.

[86Scotty]

That's one tough battery box bro!