Productive camping trip

[Gnarvan]

Along with testing out the wing/awning I crossed off a couple more items on my to do list. I used the left over ez-cool insulation from the floor install and cut out window shades for all the windows except the back door windows and the rear side window on each side. This will give me some privacy at night in campgrounds when I'm inside the van with the interior lights on.

I also stopped at a closed weigh station and got the vehicle weight. I did the whole van, then front and back axels and then individual tire weights. The van was loaded with my typical 3-5 day weekend camping gear. Weights were taken with me outside off the scale.

Entire van weight- 8150
Front axel-3550
Rear axel-4650
Front left-1900
Front right-1600
Rear left-2300
Rear right-2400

The scales round the weight to 50 pound increments. That's probably why the weights don't add up to the same. For the curious out there I'm running a 5.8L gasser not one of those portly diesels. I am also using E rated tires. I was able to get a little better than 10mpg on this trip. That figure seems to be pretty consistent on trips where I'm not pulling my cat trailer.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by Gnarvan

I used the left over ez-cool insulation from the floor install and cut out window shades for all the windows except the back door windows and the rear side window on each side. This will give me some privacy at night in campgrounds when I'm inside the van with the interior lights on.

Love to see some pictures of that. Is it aluminized stuff?

[Gnarvan]

Originally Posted by daveb

Love to see some pictures of that. Is it aluminized stuff?

It looks a lot like refletix, but has more aluminum in the outer coatings. It's also a better thermal barrier than refletix. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of it installed in the van. The wind picked up shortly after I got done with the job and a new kite was calling my name. So it was off to the beach to fly it.

I did have a killer campsite for the trip. My site couldn't have been more than 100 yards from the pacific ocean. Great place for flying kites.

[daveb]

Then I'd love to see pictures of your campsite

[Gnarvan]

This is a picture taken from the front of the campsite. The trees you see at the back of the camp extend maybe 20 yards deep with a trail into them. That trail led to a trail that paralleled the beach. With the van parked on the fairly level pad I had great access to the campsite from the side doors. There was also a fair amount of privacy for a well used campground.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by Gnarvan

There was also a fair amount of privacy for a well used campground.

That is a must!

Looks nice. I don't mind primitive camps but if kids are screamin and gens are goin

[Gnarvan]

I took a few pictures of Gnarvan parked at the Upper Clackamas White Water Festival with the E-Z Cool in the windows. It's kind of hard to see but there is E-Z Cool in the windows of the side doors. This picture was taken at the mile post 41 putin. That's where I spent the night to get away from all the campground party noise.

As I sat around at the campground Friday afternoon watching people set up camp I kept thinking to myself "It sure is nice having a giant metal tent on wheels". Quite a few people asked me where I was camping. I smiled and told them on some quiet semi-flat piece of ground upriver somewhere where the the only noise is coming from the river. Park, insert E-Z cool and sleep. Setting up camp doesn't get much easier.

[vandiesel]

Some windows in that gnartop would be nice I bet.

[Gnarvan]

Originally Posted by vandiesel

Some windows in that gnartop would be nice I bet.

Not sure how I'd install windows. The top is probably 3"-4" thick. There is some kind of ribbed space between the inner and outer walls of the top. From the bolt holes left by one of the previous owners I think there are metal ribs adding strength to the top structure. It could be the result of some type of safety requirement for it's original purpose as a Wheelchair lift tansportation van.