Looks like miracles do indeed happen and my van has arrived at the dealership in Reno! I'll be picking her up this week. She's named Miracle Whip because after all the delays and questions about microchip shortages and so on, it's a miracle she even made it to me.
When I placed the order and started planning, I thought I'd be building in the summer and then using the van while on sabbatical from my job as a math professor, snowboarding in the mornings and working on research in the afternoons. But a lot happened in the months between when I placed my order (2/4/21) and now (8/21/21). I thought I'd have more time than money, but I am now taking a leave of absence rather than a sabbatical and taking a new job that is much more demanding than being on sabbatical. So, I find myself in the opposite situation with more money than time. This means I'm making some adjustments to how I do the build, hiring out jobs that I had planned to do myself, mostly the ones involving cutting big holes in the van (Flarespace, Arctic Tern window), and the ones that are tedious time-sinks (electrical, templating floor and walls).
Van Purpose and Planned Use: A four season van for chasing powder, sleeping at trailheads between backpacking trips, and sometimes working remotely.
Basic stats
I'll update with more once I have the van, but for now here are some screen shots of my plans!
![158349]( "158349")
![158350]( "158350")
![158351]( "158351")
When I placed the order and started planning, I thought I'd be building in the summer and then using the van while on sabbatical from my job as a math professor, snowboarding in the mornings and working on research in the afternoons. But a lot happened in the months between when I placed my order (2/4/21) and now (8/21/21). I thought I'd have more time than money, but I am now taking a leave of absence rather than a sabbatical and taking a new job that is much more demanding than being on sabbatical. So, I find myself in the opposite situation with more money than time. This means I'm making some adjustments to how I do the build, hiring out jobs that I had planned to do myself, mostly the ones involving cutting big holes in the van (Flarespace, Arctic Tern window), and the ones that are tedious time-sinks (electrical, templating floor and walls).
Van Purpose and Planned Use: A four season van for chasing powder, sleeping at trailheads between backpacking trips, and sometimes working remotely.
Basic stats
- 2021 148" LB HR 350 CARGO AWD (W2X body code)
- Avalanche Grey
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6
- Minimize complexity of systems to increase reliability and ease maintenance.
- Balance beauty and practicality.
- Minimize permanence and maximize accessibility.
- Reduce weight wherever possible.
- Van can sit unused in freezing temperatures without damage.
- Ability to function well in snow.
- Heat.
- Very good insulation.
- Very good ventilation.
- Easily accessible composting toilet.
- A place to sit with legs propped up.
- Storage for snowboards and skis.
- AVC Rig roof rack
- MaxxAir fan(s?)
- Arctic Tern window in passenger slider
- Fixed crosswise bed in the rear with Flarespace
- Galley behind driver
- L-shaped counter-height bench with footrest and Lagun table in corner
- 8020 construction
- No propane and no paint.
- WilsonArt HPL on cabinetry
- Upper cabs: Snow Geo Y0676-60 Matte Finish
- Lower cabs: Blackbird 5024K-19 Leno Weave Finish
- Inside cabs: Designer White D354-60 Matte Finish
- Countertop: Birch Plywood Y0684-60 Matte Finish
- Thinsulate insulation
- Floor and wall kit from AVC Rig
- LONSEAL Lonwood Natural with Topseal in Whisper 7461
- Upholstered walls in grey marathon tweed
- TinyWatts 5 electrical system with solar panel, low-temp batteries, and alternator upgrade
- Induction cooking
- Simple jerry can water system with foot pump, Yeti Silo for drinking water
- AirHead toilet under bench near passenger door
- Espar heater in front of rear driver wheel well
- Dometic CFX 75 on slider in center of van under bench and into garage
- Passenger seat swivel with Lagun mount
I'll update with more once I have the van, but for now here are some screen shots of my plans!
Oh yeah, I can see what you're referring to.
