intro/build thread and our poorboy attempt at a campervan.

[86Scotty]

Nice! Just curious why you didn't have Derek do it? Did you save a lot by doing it yourself? You are brave my friend, and you have great friends!

[boywonder]

It appears that the CCV top has a full perimeter frame, a little different (and perhaps beefier) than the SMB PH......and the top is tall enough when down to get your head up there to see and trace.

Since you mentioned welding the frame to the roof, it's got to be way beefier.

We'll always want more pics

How does the canvas seal to the roof?

[shenrie]

^^^ sorry, i meant to answer that... the canvas is affixed by aluminum strips and screws. on the top, you sandwich the canvas between the strip and a wood strip along the bottom edge of the top, and the bottom is sandwiched between the strips and the roof skin with self tappers.

and ill get some detailed pix of where the frame meets the van.

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

...Just curious why you didn't have Derek do it? Did you save a lot by doing it yourself?

title of thread should say it all, lol...were poor

and ya, im guessing we saved roughly 3500-4k by doing it ourselves. if i would have been able to get a loan for as much as the van cost originally, i would have had it done on the way back from georgia. just wasnt in the cards though. plus i wanted things done my way, and id hate to be getting directions from my obsessive compulsive ass, so i figured it would be better for everyone if i just did it myself.

[SCBrian]

Great work.

[JWA]

I had to chuckle just a bit to see your friend Tony holding the saw, not a care or bit of concern making that first cut---after all its not his van is it?

Actually your friends are great friends indeed for jumping in with you.

Nice to show the shop too!

[REF]

Shenrie, great write up, need some pics of the top popped up. This is making me even more anxious about our CCV top install, even though we already have a SMB top on our rig. You must have gotten one of the last of that style tops that Derek did, his latest is more like the voyager/cruiser tops.
Looks, and sounds like Derek is keeping busy. Have been up to his shop a few times in the last month and he was working on or finishing up several rigs and had at least 5 go out with his new tops.
Boywonder- I'm headed up there next week with the LED lights that are supposed to be arriving to help mock up the custom rack going on the new top, I'll see if yours is there and take a pic.
Anyway, here's the idea, but ended up going with a 50" light bar. That thing is going to light up a runway!
And in case your wondering, I traced the outline of the rig, curtesy of Aluminess, with the voyager top and rack on their website.

[REF]

It posted X 2
I edited it out....

[boywonder]

REF: Your sketching skills are quite good..........mine usually look like a preschooler drew them.

I'm just curious how CCV tops install, as I'm sure you are as well. I may get some alternative ideas for installing my top.

I have a used SBM PH that I'm going to be installing on my van. Same deal as your sale to checksicks. It's presently sitting on sawhorses on my deck......and it's almost ready.

[REF]

Yes, it looks good, but again it's just a trace, although I did surprisingly freehand the rack on top.
Oh, right. Remember you mentioning about the top maybe in the other thread. Good luck!

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by REF

Rick, if you're planning on an awning, you may want to reconsider those side mounted flood lights. The awning would create a lot of shadow there.


Herb