I've been away from Sam and motor homes for about ten years, but now I'm back with a great project van. My last projects were a 70 Winnie Chief and then a 92 Coachmen prestige 5th wheeler. This time around, I'm mostly Boon docking now so its a whole different type of RVing for us.
We found a well used but serviceable 92' Coachmen built B van with a 3500 series extended chassis in need of, well, a lot..
my wife trying to hide... ๐
mechanical engine work so far-
โข Full major tune up
โข R134a conversion
โข new heater core
โข new exhaust
โข new Oil/ speedo sensors, probably need a speedo
โข coolant exchange
โข still needs exhaust manifold gaskets, valve cover gaskets
Mechanical Coach-
โข replaced coach 12v breakers (2) and Coils (2)
โข Waste valves (2 needed , 1 to go)
โข upgraded to LED house lighting
โข Furnace repaired and updated thermostat (to "auto" fan model)
โข Flushed and sterilized fresh water tank
โข Replaced rear door assembly (dented, wouldn't close properly)
โข Will replace dented side door
โข Eventually a new paint job outside, not a priority
โข add small Honda 2k generator or equivalent
the above was enough to get us on the road and we went on a 500 mile round trip with two nights and three days camping. Not everything worked as it should, but I was able to wither improvise or rig up solutions (mostly power related) that got us through the trip fairly comfortably.
and the "new" door...these are hard to find!
we also made another to do list, and luckily most all items in are already my garage or on their way, just need the time to install:
โข replace all carpet and add insulation/sound deadener (Obtained commercial indoor/outdoor grade Remnant cheap)
โข sand and paint interior cabinets (special laminate paint)
โข Add interior cabinet lighting
โข Add water filtration system (ordered basic under counter particulate)
โข Add Solar Panels (ordered 50w system to start)
โข Add Strip lighting
โข Repair leaky Hot Water dispenser faucet
โข Add Propane hot water heater and outdoor shower (Ordered)
โข repair on jack knife couch bracket (complete, sort of)
โข Add 120v inverter
โข Add Video system and back up camera
โข Add parking sensors
The biggest issue I'm having at the moment is getting the 12v system to work on its own. I have to jump out the house battery coil, even after replacing both coils and breakers. the 12v switch does nothing, so I'm tracing out those lines and looking for additional fuses or a line break. The fridge heats up on the coil side, but does not cool, so that will come out and get stood on its head for a few days and well cross our fingers...
will add pictures soon..
We found a well used but serviceable 92' Coachmen built B van with a 3500 series extended chassis in need of, well, a lot..
my wife trying to hide... ๐mechanical engine work so far-
โข Full major tune up
โข R134a conversion
โข new heater core
โข new exhaust
โข new Oil/ speedo sensors, probably need a speedo
โข coolant exchange
โข still needs exhaust manifold gaskets, valve cover gaskets
Mechanical Coach-
โข replaced coach 12v breakers (2) and Coils (2)
โข Waste valves (2 needed , 1 to go)
โข upgraded to LED house lighting
โข Furnace repaired and updated thermostat (to "auto" fan model)
โข Flushed and sterilized fresh water tank
โข Replaced rear door assembly (dented, wouldn't close properly)
โข Will replace dented side door
โข Eventually a new paint job outside, not a priority
โข add small Honda 2k generator or equivalent
the above was enough to get us on the road and we went on a 500 mile round trip with two nights and three days camping. Not everything worked as it should, but I was able to wither improvise or rig up solutions (mostly power related) that got us through the trip fairly comfortably.
and the "new" door...these are hard to find!
we also made another to do list, and luckily most all items in are already my garage or on their way, just need the time to install:
โข replace all carpet and add insulation/sound deadener (Obtained commercial indoor/outdoor grade Remnant cheap)
โข sand and paint interior cabinets (special laminate paint)
โข Add interior cabinet lighting
โข Add water filtration system (ordered basic under counter particulate)
โข Add Solar Panels (ordered 50w system to start)
โข Add Strip lighting
โข Repair leaky Hot Water dispenser faucet
โข Add Propane hot water heater and outdoor shower (Ordered)
โข repair on jack knife couch bracket (complete, sort of)
โข Add 120v inverter
โข Add Video system and back up camera
โข Add parking sensors
The biggest issue I'm having at the moment is getting the 12v system to work on its own. I have to jump out the house battery coil, even after replacing both coils and breakers. the 12v switch does nothing, so I'm tracing out those lines and looking for additional fuses or a line break. The fridge heats up on the coil side, but does not cool, so that will come out and get stood on its head for a few days and well cross our fingers...
will add pictures soon..
stan909 wrote:
Please have fire extinguisher handy just to make me feel better.
lol.. always do... one in the front, one in the middle, one in the back..
more painting of the cabinetry, and the new vantastic fan is working great:
Shower install progress, the water heater is easily removed, and the quick disconnect hose on the propane feed can be used for a propane heater or other propane accessory. all feeds have valves as well.
no floor drain yet, have a five gallon tub and will set up a hula hoop with shower curtain for now..
Rear camera install started, camera is in, monitor is in, just need to connect the two. made up the wiring harness already, will thread it in next week:
Speed enhancement accessory added:
Shower install progress, the water heater is easily removed, and the quick disconnect hose on the propane feed can be used for a propane heater or other propane accessory. all feeds have valves as well.
no floor drain yet, have a five gallon tub and will set up a hula hoop with shower curtain for now..
Rear camera install started, camera is in, monitor is in, just need to connect the two. made up the wiring harness already, will thread it in next week:
Speed enhancement accessory added:
Dash LED Light updates: Swapped out the gauge console for a working one (hopefully) and added the led;s costs me 70,000 miles.. ๐
I built the solar kit from parts i collected off of ebay over time. after doing some research i decided to bolt the panel to the ac shroud and also use the a/c wire routing for the panel wires, worked out well. I had the new electric refrigerator running on high , off the battery for the past two days with only the panel to recharge it (in partial sun.) The voltage dropped to 11.8, a >2v drop is not bad for a 24 hr a day draw. with other accessories running, I may need more power so ill likely install another panel, well see how it goes.
Spending to much time making a living lately, but we have started to cross a few items off the list.
I installed a 50w solar panel to maintain the house battery, which i also replaced and upgraded to a 110AH rated everstart, so its probably a 80 ah. But, thats okay, the price was good and i have plans to add a second panel and battery as we camp in places without power and have to make our own. the first panel went on top of the ac housing, which I reinforced and needed to repair anyhow.
We replaced the 6" broken vanair roof vent with a new, almost identical model, but this one has an exhaust fan (caught a sale on amazon and saved $20 buck!) Luckily, I was able to tap into the interior light circuit and didnt have to run any wire. downside is that that the lighting circuit has to be energized for it work. no big deal. Im still scraping the duct tape of my hands that was covering the old vent..
and today's BIG job was replacing the fridge. After trying every thing i could think of, and some things i couldnt, I decided the existing fridge was simply not going work again without a coil flush and r717 recharge. Not something i am able to do, and couldn't find any r717, A new cooling unit was close to $500 so i went for replacement. I found one that was larger, and snatched it up since it was an great deal, only to find that its too deep to work. And i was all ready to sacrifice our wardrobe closet too.. oh well. I then found a marine norcold 12/24v -115v unit, no gas but also a good deal and works great. 2.5 " wider doesn't seem like much, until you try and fit the unit in. basically i needed to rip out the entire existing cabinet facing, drawers, supports etc.. and build a new frame around the new fridge. The finish work isnt complete yet as i ran out of time and wanted to make sure it was at least enclosed before our trip next week, but the unit is in, and working great.
weve also replaced all the interior lightbulbs with LED units, got the 12v tap water heater working, installed a drinking water tap and filter (and flushed/sterilized the water tank) and some other things. not bad for working on it one day a month.. more to follow...
I installed a 50w solar panel to maintain the house battery, which i also replaced and upgraded to a 110AH rated everstart, so its probably a 80 ah. But, thats okay, the price was good and i have plans to add a second panel and battery as we camp in places without power and have to make our own. the first panel went on top of the ac housing, which I reinforced and needed to repair anyhow.
We replaced the 6" broken vanair roof vent with a new, almost identical model, but this one has an exhaust fan (caught a sale on amazon and saved $20 buck!) Luckily, I was able to tap into the interior light circuit and didnt have to run any wire. downside is that that the lighting circuit has to be energized for it work. no big deal. Im still scraping the duct tape of my hands that was covering the old vent..
and today's BIG job was replacing the fridge. After trying every thing i could think of, and some things i couldnt, I decided the existing fridge was simply not going work again without a coil flush and r717 recharge. Not something i am able to do, and couldn't find any r717, A new cooling unit was close to $500 so i went for replacement. I found one that was larger, and snatched it up since it was an great deal, only to find that its too deep to work. And i was all ready to sacrifice our wardrobe closet too.. oh well. I then found a marine norcold 12/24v -115v unit, no gas but also a good deal and works great. 2.5 " wider doesn't seem like much, until you try and fit the unit in. basically i needed to rip out the entire existing cabinet facing, drawers, supports etc.. and build a new frame around the new fridge. The finish work isnt complete yet as i ran out of time and wanted to make sure it was at least enclosed before our trip next week, but the unit is in, and working great.
weve also replaced all the interior lightbulbs with LED units, got the 12v tap water heater working, installed a drinking water tap and filter (and flushed/sterilized the water tank) and some other things. not bad for working on it one day a month.. more to follow...
