Ford Build Thread: FrED the Ford. '98 E350 7.3 4x4 The More We Explore's Adventure Van

[smartass_kid]

if you decide to wait for a while to do a custom bumper, i suggest detours offroad for a swing-away spare tire holder. look them up on facebook, they have a lot of customer submitted pictures.

 

[moab_cj5]

Looks great! First I've seen the finished product, glad you are enjoying it and are so organized!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[moab_cj5]

You're selling the van already? What's the new plan? How much gets moved to the new tow vehicle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sixstringsteve]

The drawersoak great, thanks for all your help on them. I'm they are working super well. I wouldn't change a thing on them.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Well, today is a big day for the evolution of Fred. I just placed the order for a 24" high top from fiberine. It'll be here in a few weeks. I'll be installing it myself (with the help of at least 5 friends).

I'm going to need about 6 people to help install this beast. We estimeate it weighs aroudn 250-270 lbs.

Anyone interested in lending a hand or seeing a high top install first hand, you're invited to help. We'll be filming it for our YouTube channel. We're shooting for an install date of Nov 19th in the late afternoon, provided there aren't any delays in building and shipping the top out here. Post up if you're interested in joining.


I'm also looking for an air nibbler, or some electric shears for cutting sheet metal would be even better. Anyone have any of those?

 

[moab_cj5]

I'm out of town those days or I would be there. I'll certainly be watching for updates, and can probably help if the dates are after Thanksgiving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks for the offer, you've put more blood and sweat into this van than almost anyone, including me. We're hoping to be out of Utah and in Arizona by Thanksgiving, but you never know with big projects like this...

In true sixstringsteve fashion, I think the sealant will be just barely starting to dry when we drive it to phoenix for the winter.

 

[Bart]

It's great to hear from you Steve, and it's been fun watching your adventures. I wish I could help with the heavy lifting but I'm scheduled for back surgery in early December. Maybe I can come over and help in some other fashion.

 

[Skylinerider]

I'm excited to hear you went this route Steve. I look forward to seeing it come together, love watching you two on YouTube.

 

[sixstringsteve]

It's great to hear from you Steve, and it's been fun watching your adventures. I wish I could help with the heavy lifting but I'm scheduled for back surgery in early December. Maybe I can come over and help in some other fashion.

Thanks Bart. You're welcome to come hang out, even if you can't lift anything. Back issues do NOT sound like fun. I've been having some neck issues lately and I can only imagine having that in my back.

We might need someone to move cameras around, make witty banter when we drop it on the ground and it shatters into a million pieces... or run for pizza. Either way, it'd be great to have you if you an swing it. I'll keep the date updated as I hear from Fiberine.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I haven't been very good at updating this thread with videos. Here are the latest Fred videos.

[video=youtube;fWV6I93z6xQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWV6I93z6xQ[/video]

[video=youtube;kfNm7Ohy7DQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfNm7Ohy7DQ[/video]

[video=youtube;jKcS3mIX1rM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKcS3mIX1rM[/video]

 

[RustEoldtrux]

Steve, depending on the date you are installing the high top, I may be available to bring my small John Deere tractor with loader over to help with the lifting. Let me know when you have a date firmed up (307-679-5195 Russ's cell). That sounds like a great improvement for Fred.

 

[airmanwilliams]

I havent kept up with with this or your trailer too much. Have you installed solar panels on either yet for more off grid rigs?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Wow, thank you for the offer! I'd hate for you to have to haul your tractor down from Wyoming just for this install though. I'll definitely keep you posted. I'm really hoping we can do it on the 19th. We'll see how quickly Fiberine can build it and how quickly we can get it shipped here.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I started the Airstream's solar panel install yesterday. It'll take me a few more days to get the panels mounted and wiring run. Corban is going to help us connect it all.

The biggest upgrade will be a huge lithium battery bank, since solar panels don't help much until you have a bit battery bank.

 

[airmanwilliams]

Which setup did you end up going with? I am currently looking into putting in a few things at our home and hope to get a few solar panels installed.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Mine are strictly for 12v RV applications. I went with panels from AM Solar.

 

[Corban_White]

I have one of these if you want: http://www.harborfreight.com/pistol-grip-air-shears-98580.html

 

[Corban_White]

Never mind, I just saw your other thread where you bought one.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks for the offer. Deviant also gave me an old one, so I should be good. Thanks though.