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+--- Thread: My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) (/showthread.php?tid=34385)
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - Petarded - 12-05-2011
BANDWIDTH WARNING if you are on 56k ... then ... go play in traffic. If you are on your phone prepare to wait a while.
For those who care... here is my story... for most who don't scroll down for pics...
I did a LOT of research (about 6 months worth) before deciding to do this and start my motovan build. I sold my nissan titan as I was tired of the constant loading and unloading. I would drive home to load up my bike and gear then drive where I was going to ride (racetrack, dirt, or lot). I inevitably would forget something and curse when I got there then I would end up having to borrow the tool i forgot from someone or borrow gloves etc. I would then ride all day only to go home exhausted and still have to unload all my gear and bike back into the garage (as it would probably get rained on or stolen otherwise) Anyway at the racetrack I would either crash in a friends RV or camp out in a tent while leaving my bikes and tools etc outside under my ez up while hoping no one would steal or mess with them. My first bike was stolen and if you own a truck you cant say you have never had anything fly out of the bed from the wind (not to mention the bastards that like to throw trash into the beds of trucks... So all these reasons are why I started this motovan project and ditched my truck.
Anyway I searched through piles of forum posts on thumpertalk as well as other places but nothing was exactly how I wanted so I started sketching out plans for the build and even after months of prep I still ended up improvising as the build went along. I have also done and redone many things including the floor, carpeting, tie down points, interior, futon, etc... so this will definitely help anyone interested in building a nice motovan with small rv quarters. I am reluctant to show everything as this took about 3 months of my life that I will never get back... (this is a LOT more work that I would have anticipated so don't think you can start this and be done in a couple weekends)... That being said I will just take this as an opportunity to show that vans are cool and if you copy me I will be flattered that you liked my ideas and that I must have done something right.
I decided to go with a 2004 Extended Chevrolet Express Van as my platform... reasons are the following...
� Extended - the extended cargo vans provide enough room for bikes and full size bed rv area... without sacrificing gas mileage or ability to fit in regular parking spaces.
� Looks - Newer body style chevy express vans just look better (imo the fords look like they have a fat ass and their face got beat by the ugly stick)
� Parking decks - if you buy a van with a top (sprinter or even handicap van) you may as well get used to walking a long distance while possibly getting mugged and your van may not be there when you get back.
� Maintenance (vs sprinters) - express vans are much easier to find parts and should you need to find someone to work on them you can go just about anywhere ... I've seen plenty of express vans with 300k miles on original engine and tranny so I hope to take care of it and make it last a long while.
After searching for months i found one in NC with 150k miles ... It was originally a hitachi work van with great carfax maintenance history. A four wheel rider bought it two years before I picked it up and he left beside his house for a couple years only adding 8k miles on it in two years. When I went to see it the outside had a yellowish hue... and the inside was muddy and and smelled like a wet dog died in there. I drove home with windows cracked and spent a full weekend cleaning and tearing apart the interior. The paint was actually in decent shape under the filth. The spiders in the hood and fenders weren't happy as I stole their home and massacred their family but it cleaned up nicely after a lot of simple green.
Anyway enough talk...
2005 extended express van = $3900
Supplies cost so far = $700 (this does not include my wheel fail)
Hours invested so far = ~120 with probably another 20-30 to go
My thought is that these got wet from the four wheelers or the holes in the metal floor from the shelving that was never sealed. Either way it smelled awful.
After some cleaning
Using the van as a platform to light up the spot when the light burnt out... (found an outlet to plug my extension cord into)... here is twite riding in the spotlight.
At this point I had been getting a lot of grief about driving around the "molester van" So... If you can't beat them join em... Below are a bunch of images of me goofing off with Chester the molester van/Herbert the pervert van...
Nothing to see here...
Herbert/Chester picked up a few ladies in need of a ride... one of which was really excited.
Borrowed a friends twin babies for these... hahaha!
Disclaimer: this is not funny do not steal children.
And my new tag... haha
In front of a kids indoor play place.
Ok so back to work...
Interior out getting ready for black paint and replacement seats.
First test fitting for measurements
Starting the insulating
Wheel attempt (and fail) #1
Decided to try the easy route and just buy the above 16 inch wheels so that I could use the same tires that came with the van and save some cash... well after spending these 500 bucks shipped on ebay then about 150 getting them mounted because my axle bolts were too damn long and I even had to buy special lug nuts to fit the wheels... they ended up looking like teeny donuts on my huge van... the silver lip made them look even smaller than stock rims so I took them off a week later and sold them on craigs for 350. 300 dollar loss ... so yea... don't buy 16s
I convinced my office to let me use the parking deck on the weekends as I did not have nearly enough room at my place. Luckily the maintenence office was large enough to store most of my tools and supplies but still spent an hour unloading to start work and an hour of cleaning before i left.
More insulating and used liquid nails to hold wood to the top for stability and insulation...
Making left side of the wall template
Right side...
MAX NUMBER OF CHARACTERS REACHED (10000) more posts to come...
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - nags - 12-05-2011
Looks good
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - SQUINTS - 12-05-2011
that thing is gonna be NASTY!!!!!
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - tamucc2004 - 12-05-2011
looks good looking forward to what else you have in store!
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - DILTS - 12-05-2011
Subscribed. I had a lot of plans for my express but haven't done much with it lol. And the mpg makes me miss a s10. Build sounds sick.
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - JohnForLife - 12-05-2011
I'm doing the same thing, but with a diesel econoline.
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - DILTS - 12-05-2011
Originally Posted by JohnForLife
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - Petarded - 12-05-2011
Floor attempt #1 (osb)
After building template's for the wheel wells and then covering my osb with grey deck paint to keep moisture out I bolted it to the floor and tested it with the 600rr again...
I didnt like the feel of the look and feel of the wood floor... even after bolting it still felt flexy and just didnt feel right... so I took it out and decided to just build the wall and to figure the floor out later.
I went with two pieces of OSB for the wall for stability and well osb was cheap 7 bucks a 4x8... so I then covered them a;so in grey deck paint to keep moisture out and put two pieces stacked then threw my templates on it and after climbing in and out quite a few times (to ensure I had the measurements right) I whipped out the jigsaw and went to work.
First wall fit test.
I was more than pleased with the results but I didn't like just a bland grey wall so... seeing as though I have had neon orange and black bikes for a while I went with an orange and black hazard/danger theme on the wall...
HAZARD WALL! (now with window hole!)
Headed back to spend another weekend at the parking deck...
Ceiling was fully insulated and now is up (out of 1/4 masonite that was also painted with the same deck paint... I also sanded/scotch padded then spray painted the wheel wells and pillars black then clear coated with satin clear.
Plexiglass window with hinge...
Added weather stripping (and sealed the wall so that no fumes can get to the rv side/front of the van.
My buddy Josh and I discussing walls and tie down points.
Garage flooring idea (I thought about rhinoliner and many others but this is without a doubt the best solution... it insulates, its comfy, doesnt stain, and it was only 75 bucks shipped on ebay (obviously the floor needed templating and cutting)... (in the background is my friend Josh and I brainstorming my futon build... he kicks so much ass for helping me with this project and providing some brains to the operation.
My Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - Petarded - 12-05-2011
Originally Posted by SQUINTSthat thing is gonna be NASTY!!!!!
Originally Posted by DILTS Originally Posted by JohnForLife Originally Posted by DILTSMy Motovan Build/Project (WARNING LOTS OF PICS) - SkooterTrashR6 - 12-05-2011
Subscribed, I dont have my 04 express this well set up yet, but it is giving me ideas!