Advocate I
Well I've been lurking here for a while and I guess its time to post the "build" or our E250.
Background:
I'm a car/moto nut. I've owned a little bit of everything from big diesel trucks to corvettes. I also love camping, as I discovered years ago, as its the only way for an IT guy to really unplug was to go to a place where there are no plugs, no cell reception, and no people. I've hiked and backpacked various places and always enjoyed (at least something out of) the trip.
Mrs Spaze and I are a one car house and have been for a few years. So when we camp or head into the great unknown its usually in an SUV rental. They were all fine until our last trip to Death Valley in October. Wild Rose was cold and windy and when we got into the heart of the park we ended up having to make camp in the parking lot as all the tent spots were taken. That night a couple showed up to the communal fire pit with a converted pickup. Drawers, kitchen, bed, heater... they had it all and Mrs Spaze was a little envious. So on the way home when she asked "Why don't we buy a van? We can camp AND take the pups." I told her until now, we never needed/wanted one. Meanwhile my inner car nut was like "SWEET! ANOTHER PROJECT!" That was about the time Mrs Spaze said "we are buying a converted van that is done, you have to many projects." Sadly, she is right, but the search began.
A month later, and many conversations with people, we brought this home.
A 1999 E250 with 153k on her. The PO's did the build out 4 years ago and had a CRAZY amount of receipts for maintenance done. But it was clear she needed some serious love, but she was campable day 1 which means its "not a project."
First on the to do list were a few things:
New headlights, painted bumpers, seat covers, drawer for the center "slot," some rust maintenance, new drivers side ball joints and new wheels/tires (3 different tires came on the thing and the spare was so dry rotted I'd never trust it).
Then come new years we took out first camping trip in it to Mojave National Preserve. We spent a few nights out there and really enjoyed it, and learned more about it. First we learned that the Yeti would only stay charged for the first 5-10min of use... then the battery would die. No problem, we had headlamps and a few lanterns. We also learned that the "insulation" in the doors was laughable, meaning either your head (or feet depending on how you sleep) were going to be MUCH colder. But we really enjoyed ourselves.
Round 2 of maintenance was a set of new Bilstein shocks, a new battery in the Yeti, adjusting the steering box and installing a steering stabilizer.... she was a different animal all together after that. So last weekend we took her to Sedona and loved it! I bought a Mr Buddy heater as well that worked nicely in the van.
So whats next? Everything! Here is the short list
Background:
I'm a car/moto nut. I've owned a little bit of everything from big diesel trucks to corvettes. I also love camping, as I discovered years ago, as its the only way for an IT guy to really unplug was to go to a place where there are no plugs, no cell reception, and no people. I've hiked and backpacked various places and always enjoyed (at least something out of) the trip.
Mrs Spaze and I are a one car house and have been for a few years. So when we camp or head into the great unknown its usually in an SUV rental. They were all fine until our last trip to Death Valley in October. Wild Rose was cold and windy and when we got into the heart of the park we ended up having to make camp in the parking lot as all the tent spots were taken. That night a couple showed up to the communal fire pit with a converted pickup. Drawers, kitchen, bed, heater... they had it all and Mrs Spaze was a little envious. So on the way home when she asked "Why don't we buy a van? We can camp AND take the pups." I told her until now, we never needed/wanted one. Meanwhile my inner car nut was like "SWEET! ANOTHER PROJECT!" That was about the time Mrs Spaze said "we are buying a converted van that is done, you have to many projects." Sadly, she is right, but the search began.
A month later, and many conversations with people, we brought this home.
A 1999 E250 with 153k on her. The PO's did the build out 4 years ago and had a CRAZY amount of receipts for maintenance done. But it was clear she needed some serious love, but she was campable day 1 which means its "not a project."
First on the to do list were a few things:
New headlights, painted bumpers, seat covers, drawer for the center "slot," some rust maintenance, new drivers side ball joints and new wheels/tires (3 different tires came on the thing and the spare was so dry rotted I'd never trust it).
Then come new years we took out first camping trip in it to Mojave National Preserve. We spent a few nights out there and really enjoyed it, and learned more about it. First we learned that the Yeti would only stay charged for the first 5-10min of use... then the battery would die. No problem, we had headlamps and a few lanterns. We also learned that the "insulation" in the doors was laughable, meaning either your head (or feet depending on how you sleep) were going to be MUCH colder. But we really enjoyed ourselves.
Round 2 of maintenance was a set of new Bilstein shocks, a new battery in the Yeti, adjusting the steering box and installing a steering stabilizer.... she was a different animal all together after that. So last weekend we took her to Sedona and loved it! I bought a Mr Buddy heater as well that worked nicely in the van.
So whats next? Everything! Here is the short list
- Replace Passengers side radius arm
- install new radius arm bushings
- install new I-beam bushings
- install new rear springs and blocks (or add-a leaf and blocks?)
- install new front lift springs
- install more weather stripping (was a cargo van with none on it)
- figure out where to put propane tank
- source "tow mirrors" and install them
- build roof rack with small deck
- fix some wiring
- install more LED interior lights
