What was a mistake or waste of $$$ on your van?

[Joanna-SMB]

Jage's 10 Best List got me thinking.
There's so much I love about my van but every time I climb up into it, I see that more black paint has peeled off the hoop step. Some mistakes were mine, like not remembering that I'm only 5'4" when picking items from the SMB menu.
So my list for most aggravating waste of money:

1. Choosing the sexier black hoop step instead of plain aluminum
2. Fantastic Fan--I've never used it once
3. Baja box--I can't reach into it without a step ladder
4. Bug screen for the side door--the velcro peeled off the van in one month, nothing worked, a real PIA
5. Hella tire monitoring system. Frustrating, erratic, useless, expensive, stupid POS

Well, at least it's a shorter list than the things I'm glad I added, so I guess I'm still ahead!

 

[jage]

1. The trip to Fresno to "fix" the leaky top the 2nd time.
2. The placement of the 2nd 4D. It could have easily gone under the EB with the first, but instead is cut into the wall and removes a whole section of storage.
3. The LED cigarette lighter flashlight. I moved it to my Jeep where the power outlet is key on, so it's only on when driving.
4. The position of the external plug for solar.
5. The replacement water fill valve that froze and broke again
6. Not doing the reflectix sooner
7. The Lightforce lights- they're big and practically useless without putting more money into lenses, block the storage area
8. Not rerunning the hot water line before this winter
9. Putting sharp pointy aux light switches where I catch them with my knee occasionally, and also can't see them
10. Getting new tires without having a place to hang the spare (a 33" tire takes up a LOT of room in the van, and there aren't tie downs anywhere inside)

Well I had to stretch things a bit to come up with 10. :a1:

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

We frequently use the BugScreen for the side door, but the one for the rear doors has never been installed, so:

1 - BugScreen for rear doors

2 - Privacy curtain for interior. We always put up the windshield and front door shades, so we don't need/use the interior curtain.

3 - Side exterior light. If the side door is open, it is behind the door. Never use it.

4 - Can't think of a number 4

Mike

 

[danamrak-SMB]

1. Had both drivers and passenger side seats to swivel around. Have only used the drivers side once. Love the passenger side one though.
2. still thinking.............can't think of anything else.



Isnt it funny though some of the things others don't like we love.
Love the sliding privacy curtain use it at least half the time when camping so much easier than putting up the window curtain. Also when just going in to change clothes can just pull the curtain that is behind the front seats.

Also love the outside light by the door. Put it on at night when doing a bathroom run.
:b4:

 

[charlie56]

1. The ($87) privacy curtain. Ours isn't a slider, it snaps to the ceiling. Used it once, its now in cold storage.
2. We added a ($300) circ pump on the coolant loop to the Flatplate to extend the time hot water is available. Rarely use it.
3. The SMB ($138) exterior shower curtain. Its a real PIA to setup. A $40 shower tent works much better.
4. Having SMB prewire for a future inverter. After living in it for awhile I changed my mind on the location so it was a waste of $$$.

If building it again I would not change anything else.

 

[daveb-SMB]

1. The bug screens front and back. Velcro keeps falling off. Worthless IMO but there might be a way to get the Velcro to stick.

2. The awning. It’s rarely used and has caused nothing but trouble.

3. The porta potty. I’m scared to death of it.

4. The Yakama tracks and load warrior. The basket is too small so I plan to add a rear rack that is permanently mounted.

5. Solar panels that must be glued down to the top.

6. The top section of the custom rear box. I made a design mistake on this which will soon be resolved.

7. Air bags. I wish I had gone with better springs.

The portable fantastic fan would have been on the list until I took a trip to Moab in late June, now I won't be without it.

My wish list has also changed from when I bought the van but a list still exists. I'm sure there will always be something on that list.

 

[geoffff]

The privacy cloth that snaps to the ceiling and walls around the windshield and front windows area? We actually use that quite a bit, when "stealth" camping.

And the portapottie -- It gets a lot of use, and it works well!

There's nothing I'd really call a definite mistake or waste of money, but if I wanted to save some cash when doing it all over again, I might leave off:

1) The awning -- We use it rarely, and its rattling has cracked the body paint.
2) The ARB front locker -- I can't say I've every really needed it, but someday it'll save my ass
3) The rear A/C -- We rarely have rear passengers, but then again someday we might.
4) Rotating driver seat -- We only do it about once a year.

Pretty much everything else we get a lot of use out of. There are some features like the TransferFlow gas tank and the rear tire carrier that have been great -- after I poured a lot of time / money into getting them to work right.

 

[surfgeek33]

1. Outdoor Shower curtain (Its PIA to put up and can't use it in Campgrounds here in CA)

2. Hella TPMS, doesn't work half of the time

3. Outdoor light (Driver side) not bright enough to use when hooking up. Should have gotten a work lights instead.

Other than those three things, we love our SMB!

EDIT: Awning brackets from SMB. They failed after 11 mos. of ownership and the awning came down on us while parked on the beach.

 

[canyonclan]

1. Microwave
2. Stock FORD springs that I had to replace with Deavers...to correct a problem that shouldn't have needed correcting on a $100k vehicle. SMB, are you listening?
3. Living with stock SMB interior lighting for as long as we did. LEDs are the way to go.
4. 17" rims...should have gone with 16" for tire availability.
5. The stock SMB propane stove (counter mount).
6. Baja Box...not applicable to our use on the road.

-Jeff

 

[deminimis]

Porta Potti. It was a gift, but its a waste of space. Camp shovel takes up much less room.

 

[deminimis]

I'd better get back on topic.
For our van, the mistakes were ommissions by the previous owner when he ordered it.

1. Not having the top painted to match the body.
2. No hot plate or other water heater.
3. Keeping the orig spare (its a two-spare rig), so no under floor storage.

 

[kzemach]

Interesting that Jeff you don't like the 17" rims. I stayed with stock, and thus couldn't upgrade the brakes. And now I'm scared about my brakes half the time...

But back to money wasted:

1. Bought ethefoam for window inserts before finding out about Reflectix/Arctic shades. (few hundred $ wasted)

2. Paying for the shower wand for the sink. It's a no-go with a flatplate; much better to go with a solar shower bag and fill it.

3. Not having some things done correctly the first time, like flatplate inside, water tank and water lines off the floor so they don't freeze, and damn if I didn't go watch them insulate to make sure it was done correctly. I suppose that's not something I specifically paid for (other than as part of an $80k van). I could add the Amsoil installed backwards to the list too... and what I was told the Amsoil system would do for me has been downgraded several times. I THINK I'm glad I have it. I think.

4. Am still having second thoughts about the Aluminess rear bumper. Sure, it's cool, but that's a lot of money just to hang my tire off the back.

5. Buying the van new in the first place. Seriously. I hemmed and hawed about a used one on the list, but it had a propane system and I didn't like the interior color. However, I could have done a lot of stuff with an extra $15k, and with a 7.3 I wouldn't have been as scared about the engine as I am with the 6.0. Also wouldn't be so damn fanatical about not scratching it. It's vehicle that's meant to be used. Am glad I own it, but I think if I were to go back in time, I'd have gone used.

 

[bluedog225]

I'm an experiential learner (I screw thing up a lot)....and don't mind laughing at my own mistakes. With that said, After 3 years of looking, I bought a used SMB a couple of weeks ago and drove it 1200 miles home. The exterior is in excellent condition. Lots of shiny clear coat. Seems to have spent a lot of time in the garage. :a3:

Off white with 3 stripes around the middle, about 12 inches wide total, light blue, light brown, light blue.

I didn't like the stripes. A little dated looking for me. Lots of research. Hmmmm....a heat gun will take those right off. No luck. :a7:

Ok. Easy off oven cleaner will take those right off.....not really. :a7: :a7:

How about a 3M Stripe Eraser....ouch!. :r5:

End result, about 1/2 of the stripes are removed from the left rear door, in mangy patches. Looks like hell.

Off to a body shop to put either put it back the way it was or finish removing the stripe. Well, removing not an option, they are painted on. I would need to repaint the whole van. Just to fix the door back to original condition? $2400.

I think a nice black, no skid surface will look good there. I'll cover it with the spare tire and mount I just ordered this morning.....

Lesson learned. Anybody got a ballpark figure on repainting the whole van?

Tom

 

[daveb-SMB]

I sprayed side wall cleaner on a brand new set of rims and tires once and noticed the over spray made the rims look Hazed out. Sprayed a little more and it got worse and worse and worse. Then I read the instructions on the bottle "DON"T GET ON ALUMINUM RIMS". As I tried to rub the rims out I started to get warm but soon I was sweating bullits even though it was freezing outside. Not long after that I backed up the rig and watched my brand new garage doors buckle. Don't put the garbage can behind the rig. Sometimes it's better to laugh. Maybe now you can talk the wife into painting the van to the color of your choice...uh or maybe her choice :b1:

No way to re-stripe or maybe a two tone job? Line-X?

 

[winvest]

The privacy curtains- Never have used them, and use a sun shade in the windshield instead.

Pirelli Scorpions - Wore out really fast, and were helpless in the mud and snow, even though they say mud & snow on them. I replaced them with the Toyo Open Country MT's and am much happier.

 

[deminimis]

Amsoil system!

 

[philrod]

1. I've had second thoughts about the propane furnace. It seems like overkill. I had a small wall-mounted catylic heater in my previous motorhome that gave out a low, even heat. Better way to go.

2. The large fresh water tank was a waste of $$$. If you don't cook much and don't have a flush toilet or a shower, you aren't going to use much water......

3. Would have gotten the power hoist for the penthouse top.

4. Would have gotten another solar panel. Can't afford now & possibly don't need.

5. That's It. I LUV MY SMB!!!!!

 

[sailquik]

I LOVE my big water tank. Empty it often. And I don't even have a sink- just an outside shower!

I think my big waste of money was the air compressor. It comes in quite handy when you need it, but on hindsight, I don't think I'll be needing it all that much.

After that, probably the solid surface countertop. It didn't come out as expected.

The rest is just right.

 

[dkrahl]

Biggest mistake 1: trying to park the van beside the house. I had to drive through a double gate with only a couple of inches of clearance on either side. I found out that I am not a good enough driver to do it.

Biggest mistake 2: Parking under a persimmon tree.

Dave

 

[deminimis]

Sat radio! Sat radio has gotten ridiculously expensive. When my subscriptions expire next year, we're bagging it and going strictly MP3. Could buy 20 songs a month and still come out ahead (and not have to listen to "Madison" talk about her, well, nevermind). I just want to hear music without some dipshit talking over the tunes.