Polar Bear 1

[wanderer351]

Originally Posted by Zaskoda

A large package arrived for me at work. It took me a little while to remember what it might be. It was the visor I bought on eBay. I think I'll paint it black. Has anyone every installed one of these?

last time I had one like that...I found the grooves in it..and drilled the hell outta it..once I got it drilled for screwins...I put a little bit off the tip of a silicon caulk gun and then screwed it tight again...

God that sounds dirty!!!!...(on purpose!)

the middle should have some extra that looks like a mounting part..there and the outter edges that run down the A pillar put 2 screws in it top and bottom..get some screw caps that snap over the screws to kinda hide them..

[Zaskoda]

I started the day off trying to decide between two projects: 1) clean up the floor and cover it in bed liner or 2) install the roof top tent. I got to thinking about the roof top tent and, since I want to use it in two weeks, thought I should tear into it.

Sure enough, I'm going to have to fabricate some kind of mounting system. I ran to our best stocked hardware store, but it was closed for the holiday. I checked out home depot, but they didn't have anything I could make work.

I also thought my tent came with the additional cover. It didn't. I can make one fairly easily. I picked up some material today, but now that I look at it, I don't think it will work. Too light.

Blocked, I shifted gears and took a wire brush and air hose to the van floor:



I think I'm going to take a car wash hose to the interior before I go too much further. I think I can get the project done in a day, but not a half day. Maybe I'll slowly prep the floor this next week.

I had another nice find. I found an Optima Red Top in my garage and my roomie says it's been there for a long time and he has no idea who's it is. I also have a spot under the hood that looks like it was made to fit a battery to me:



Does anyone have any idea if there's a problem with mounting it here? ? ?

I need to build a plate, but there are already holes drilled in the fender well for bolts so it should be pretty easy. I'm not sure what normally gets mounted in that spot.

For a 3 day weekend, I sure didn't get much done. I have a growing respect for the amount of time that goes into these projects.

[teeots]

"I have a growing respect for the amount of time that goes into these projects."

DITTO!

[Zaskoda]

I contacted MB Quarts about the speaker I punctured. They're sending me a replacement for $20. She said she'd also look for a matching set speaker covers that offer a little bit better protection. =)

[campervanbeethoven]

I have found the visors on the internet, my question is where in the world did you get that mounting bracket?

[Christopher Thwaites]

I just discovered this thread...Zascoda,you have my respect and admiration. Your writing style is engaging and your girl friend must be remarkable. Keep telling your story.

[jage]

Originally Posted by Christopher Thwaites

I just discovered this thread...Zascoda,you have my respect and admiration. Your writing style is engaging and your girl friend must be remarkable. Keep telling your story.

Reading comprehension: C-

[Christopher Thwaites]

What did I miss....? It was late and a bottle of wine does make one drowsy!

[Zaskoda]

Originally Posted by Christopher Thwaites

What did I miss....? It was late and a bottle of wine does make one drowsy!

She's no longer my girlfriend. =( But thank you for the positive remarks! =)

Twas a productive day. I'm trying to get the roof top tent installed for an upcoming trip. It's a bigger project than I calculated, as usual. Before getting started, I wanted to shift the rack forward just a few inches. I left the front rear brackets attached to the van and the middle brackets attached to the rack. I used a ratchet strap and a tree to pull it all forward. It actually went surprisingly well. While I was up there, I cleaned and painted the scrapes in my roof paint.



I bought one of those rear window 'expand your view' thingies... I thought about installing it this weekend, but realized I need to wait until after I add tint to the windows. The not-my-girlfriend-anymore swung by to help me get the roof top tent onto the van, but I wasn't ready yet. She did take a pic of me with the thingie:



I was almost ready to mount the tent, but right before she got to the house I realized I won't be able to mount the visor while the tent is on the van. So, I decided to wait until midweek to actually attach the tent. That means I gotta get the visor on quickly.

All in all, the delay turned out to be a good thing, because it slowed me down enough to think through the whole build. I'm treating my roof like a "second story". I will have the tent as well as a platform on top. I'm using 3/4" pressure treated plywood for the flooring of the second story. I really think this part is going to come together nicely.



You can see the black visor in the background. I applied the first coat of paint today. I also painted up a few more pieces of the old trim and re-installed them. I try to do the painting on the side and do the real work during drying times. Today was a good day to paint, it was extremely warm.

I cut and all my pieces and sanded the edges with the belt sander. I made two little lips up front where I hope to attach some lights eventually.



I painted the underside with flat back. By the time I finished, it was too dark for pictures. I had to run after more paint so I also picked up a 6x8 roll of gray outdoor carpet for the top of the platform.

I probably won't have particularly interesting photos until the middle of the week when it all comes together (I hope).

[Christopher Thwaites]

Sorry about the girl friend! Why 3/4" ply on the roof platform? If you have support every 24" or so 3/8" would work and be lighter. My son did a roof top platform on his 86 Toyota van. It ended up being kind of a Quanset hut style "tent". Slept 4 or 5 or 6 at Burning Man in 99'. Are you headed for BM? (Burning Man)?