So over the weekend some more goodies came in the post and with a bit of spare time I figured it would be a good idea to build for a while.
Stage 4 Goodies.
So I am still waiting for my second battery to show up at the shop but here is a quick photo of the setup. I chose to wrap the box in the material that I used on the floor because my son's car seat is right by it and he is inherently a messy boy. The folding bench seat I used had to be raised 2" to clear the subs that I have under neath. (2 JL 12w6v3) They really had enough room but I wanted to be sure that if some 300lbs person sat on that seat it would still have plenty of room. I just welded a couple bars into place and then fastened them all together. In the bed mode it does have a bit of an uneven lay but it is perfect for me and my wife does not use that part since she is 5'2".
In the box is a manual disconnect key to sep. the battery banks wired into a Blue Sea 7622 with the remote up in the drivers area. There is a small fuse box that uses the mini atms so I can keep the same style of fuses as the van. Found that thing at a junk yard for ATVs. It was on a polaris golf cart looking thing. A couple of circuit breakers for things like the Stereo amps and CB Amps and then the batteries. My Xantrex prosine 2.0 is still in transit but that will go in upon arrival.
Then I got the aluminess stuff for the final install in pouring down rain. My personal favorite condition to work in. When I did the tank it was snowing and I can honestly say I would take snow over rain any day. Luckily the box and ladder went on in minutes and did not require laying down in the mud. Oh note to self and others. DO NOT GO MUDDING just before you chose to swap a fuel tank that was a dirty lesson to learn.
The rear box is actually a custom size because the 37"s don't leave room for other sizes. I chose the Galley box to use as a cooking station and because the full size box was just to high with the lift to toss water cans and stuff on top of.
The ladder was simple but did have me wondering how much abuse it could take without ripping off. The other stuff I have mounted onto rain gutters in the past had much more beefy mounting brackets. The ladder just has two small set screws but I figure it is fine since plenty have gone before me with this product.
Three more things on the todo list. First is building my cabinets in the rear of the van. Two on each side that will offer a small crib area and an upper bunk bed for the daughter when in sleep mode.
Second is installing the steering stabilizers that I bought for the front. It drives fine without them but I went into the woods the other day and did a bit of wheeling and would like to remove that little bit of play that is still there.
The last and biggest improvement is the 8 piston calipers and big bite rotor upgrades that I ordered from SSBC brakes. I am going to do the swap on the front and then upgrade the rears to match. Unfortunately they don't make 8 piston upgrades for the rears. I am just sick and tired of the poor braking on this van and I think this is going to be a big improvement. Just waiting for them to arrive so I can install.
So three more things to nail down before we are camp ready for the summer. We'll have too see. I might never change the whole interior out because I have already been loving the setup that I have.