New member-family in Colorado

[IrishSprings]

First post.. we (family of four with a boy, 9, and girl, 7) just purchased a 2005 RB50 6.0, picked it up Friday and got it home. Not registered yet so, no driving until I get that squared away. Spent this weekend doing a deep cleaning on the interior while getting familiarized with the systems one by one. Cold here this weekend so we did test the furnace but I did not fill the onboard water yet to learn pump/heater operations (didn't want to get into winterizing on my first day).

I know, for sure, that priorities include replacing the house battery, adding 4-point seat belts for the rear bench, watching for deals on tires, and working down a lengthy (and growing) punch-list of tests, checks, and upgrades.

Primary experience with off-road, back-country travel comes from the Toyota/Landcruiser world and various versions of ground and roof-top tent setups. Have been interested in the van/SMB platform for a long time; excited to finally get a chance to live the dream

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Congrats on buying a rig, and welcome to the forum.


You might as well post some pics soon, otherwise you will be relentlessly hounded until you do.




Herb

 

[IrishSprings]

Thanks Herb.. image test. Annnnd fail.

Does this forum have a minimum number of posts before you can link images?

 

[Grampswrx]

You can link images from the get go. I have found them much easier to post from my phone using the tapatalk app. That way you don't have to host them elsewhere.

 

[Twoxentrix]

You already sound like a proud owner - you already have upgrades in mind. Use caution when surfing this Forum for info, so many knowledgeable members with great ideas that you'll be broke before you even get started.
Congrats on your new acquisition.

 

[WhitH]

It’s great you’re making a commitment to get out with your kids at this age, many fine memories ahead. Ok fine you wanted a cool van and the kids thing is a nice byproduct.....in all seriousness congrats. Do your homework and make sure that 6.0 is prepped and taken care of. If so it can make you happy. If not, well you’ll still make memories.

 

[MSD-SMB]

Congrats on the van

 

[marret]

Congrats and welcome. Wish you much enjoyment.

 

[eddyturn]

Living in CO too, I would hold off on filling and testing your water system until you know how to blow it out and get it set for cold weather. There are some other threads on this forum on best practices for that. In the winter, we just use jugs of water into a dish pan and dump the water outside rather than down the sink. If you use the sink, you will have to pour RV antifreeze down the drain to keep the P trap from cracking and the grey water tank from getting iced up and possibly cracking the drain pipe.

You can come over to Durango and deep clean mine if you need something to do. It's only got a couple of feet of snow on it now from this latest storm.

 

[Colorado Camper-SMB]

Congrats on the van! What part of Colorado are you in?

 

[saline]

Welcome to the Colorado Creepers

 

[IrishSprings]

Congrats on the van! What part of Colorado are you in?

looks like we are (potentially) neighbors.. I'm in South COS.

 

[IrishSprings]

Welcome to the Colorado Creepers

Thanks, we're excited!

 

[IrishSprings]

You already sound like a proud owner - you already have upgrades in mind. Use caution when surfing this Forum for info, so many knowledgeable members with great ideas that you'll be broke before you even get started.
Congrats on your new acquisition.

Thanks; as a hobbyist photographer, I'm pretty accustomed to GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) but, this may be on another level

 

[IrishSprings]

You can link images from the get go. I have found them much easier to post from my phone using the tapatalk app. That way you don't have to host them elsewhere.

thanks Gramps, tried to link off a google photo album with no success, will troubleshoot when I have some free time

 

[IrishSprings]

Living in CO too, I would hold off on filling and testing your water system until you know how to blow it out and get it set for cold weather. There are some other threads on this forum on best practices for that. In the winter, we just use jugs of water into a dish pan and dump the water outside rather than down the sink. If you use the sink, you will have to pour RV antifreeze down the drain to keep the P trap from cracking and the grey water tank from getting iced up and possibly cracking the drain pipe.

You can come over to Durango and deep clean mine if you need something to do. It's only got a couple of feet of snow on it now from this latest storm.

Eddy, thanks, that's what I was concerned about (freeze damage) so, I'll hold off on testing that system.


be careful what you ask for.. there's clean, and then there's my wife's clean..

 

[IrishSprings]

It’s great you’re making a commitment to get out with your kids at this age, many fine memories ahead. Ok fine you wanted a cool van and the kids thing is a nice byproduct.....in all seriousness congrats. Do your homework and make sure that 6.0 is prepped and taken care of. If so it can make you happy. If not, well you’ll still make memories.

kids: I think they're excited about it but, they're along for the ride either way so, it's in their interested to at least feighn interest


yes, the 6.0 caused a fair amount of trepidation pre-purchase, but we've got a scanguage to monitor engine vitals and the diesel shop that did my PPI gave me tips on what numbers to watch and which tolerances to be wary of so, if we see indications of impending doom we'll look at some "bulletproof" investing, and, in the near term, take trips to less remote areas until more confidence is built

 

[IrishSprings]

testing linked images...

 

[Twoxentrix]

Now thats a nice rig! looks like it was well cared for. Noticed the Propane sticker, so I'm assuming it was well appointed. Hard to tell from just one picture, but looks like you're viod of Solar ??? If thats the case, that would be one of my first "investments", after you complete your personal punch list.
The 6.0 has a reputation; first thing I would do is identify previous owner's maintenance schedule - was one followed? If you have any doubts get the fluids changed first (Include Diff's & transfer case). Is your van equipped with a Coolant filter? Amsoil Dual bypass filter?
You'll have a lot of fun in that Van.

 

[ConnieKat]

Welcome!
I am also in Colorado, and there seem to be quite a few of us here. It actually took me less than an hour to get mine registered here, assuming you have the paperwork? Zero Problems getting it done in Fremont County. Hope yours goes as well. Mine was in the gallery, but can’t find that since I came back one. It’s
a 2005 Chevy Express EB with bath and gaucho. I’ll be redoing the couch very soon since I need memory
foam! ( bad back). I also need a few ideas on storage
drawers since I only have 2 in the kitchen area. Plety of overhead due to extended top. They are just awkward to use/ organize. Good luck to you, hope to see you sometime.
ConnieKat