[Boondox]

Those goal zeros are pretty neat. Not cheap but seem pretty capable. Thanks for the information.

 

[foco]

You know I have measured the **** thing 3 times....And forgotten the measurement three times. I will measure it again and let you know. It will be 1.5 inches taller since I put new tires on it anyway.

that would be great if you get the chance to measure. I would hate to order it an install and then find out we can't get it in the garage. As Mitch mentioned, with the transit roof sloping its hard to know just how much the max height will be. And don't want to eventually upside the tires a bit.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

that would be great if you get the chance to measure. I would hate to order it an install and then find out we can't get it in the garage. As Mitch mentioned, with the transit roof sloping its hard to know just how much the max height will be. And don't want to eventually upside the tires a bit.

I measured 9'0"over the rear axle at the highest point, and 8'11" at the front of the rack before the rack tapers downward. This is with bigger tires 255/70/R16. I would say you might just make it as long as the entry into the garage is level.

 

[foco]

I measured 9'0"over the rear axle at the highest point, and 8'11" at the front of the rack before the rack tapers downward. This is with bigger tires 255/70/R16. I would say you might just make it as long as the entry into the garage is level.

thanks so much for taking the time to measure that. Now it's recorded for posterity! The entry to the garage is not at all level. Might have to do a cardboard mockup with 9' at the center line of the van before we buy.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

 

[Boondox]

Looks like you earned that first shot with a hike. Where was that at?

 

[lincolnjbutler]

Looks like you earned that first shot with a hike. Where was that at?

it’s about 10 minutes outside of The Dalles in Oregon. Beautiful area on the Columbia River.

 

[Boondox]

I've been through there once. Beautiful area! We'll be getting up that was someday with the van.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

 

[Hack Saw]

Build list according to priority:

1. buy van. check
2. IMMEDIATELY INSTALL CUSTOM HOOD ORNAMENT! CHECK!
3. Pick up beer. check.
4. Pick up more beer. check.
5. Build everything else. Che....almost

Bed is finished, trimmed, and ready for anything.

Installed some custom cabinetry designed by a small boutique Scandinavian cabinetry company called Ikea. I further customized the cabinets by adding 400lbs of VHB tape, nails, screws, construction adhesive, wood glue, lag bolts, regular bolts, angle brackets, tears, hammer blows, mental breakdowns and yelling. No level, plumb line or square was ever consulted, because references are only for people without this level of pure talent. Unrelated: For some strange reason my drawer fronts don't line up that great. Weird. Must be a manufacturer defect.

Cabinets installed. Next I needed a counter top. Pre-fabed laminate counter tops were running between 150-200 bucks, and butcher blocks countertops were in the same range. Both weighing a metric [email protected]%$-ton.

Living in Oregon, I figured I could get a live edge slab of wood for a similar price and weight. I went down to Oregon Wood Mill in Salem, picked through their hundreds of slabs and found a nice 96"x19"x2" piece of free-range, organic, non-soy, gluten-free, dry aged, conflict-free, farm-raised redwood (sequoia) for a 100 bucks. I carried it out under one arm, its about half the weight of laminated particle board or butcher block. I used Tennessee cedar to make a back/side splash, and have covered it all in enough Spar Varnish to macke suer eye weill nevir reade goode agayne. The stuff smells like confusion and makes my face feel numb.

After putting a few coats of varnish on yesterday morning, I regained consciousness and spent the remainder of the day anchoring that thing to the frame. This way I can make sure it doesn't become a scud missile the next time I stop short at an intersection.

"Did you hear? Jack Died"
"What happened?"
"He was decapitated.... with some really well finished wood. It was beautiful, it didn't even scuff or scratch as it severed his vertebrate"
"He must have used Spar Varnish."

Also of note: While attaching the backsplash to the countertop with a bradnailer, one of the 2inch nails went into the cedar, banged a sharp left, exited the board, sailed through the air, entered my left thumb approximately 2mm lateral to the nail bed, completely exited the thumb midline on the front surface, then sailed back into the cedar where it thankfully remained for the rest of the incident.

Two inches of bent nail passed cleanly through my thumb without touching bone or thumb nail. That was like hitting the lottery. There was a tiny entrance and exit wound, a little bruising in between, but no damage. It hurt for like 10 minutes and I was back to firing more nails with little regard for safety. I'm typing with it right now. WIN. WIN.


Now I am going to work on some wall panels.....

Spar varnish. Oh boy-I gotta write this one down.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

Captain's log, star date...roughly 6 weeks into the apocalypse. The captain and his crew have remained socially distant while maintaining a high level of hydration. Supplies of saline and PPE are running low, fortunately stocks of Radeberger and other German imports are in ample supply. To remain constructive and in good spirits, The cap't decided to improve the aft storage compartment to better utilize space, even though it has never actually come close to being filled, or has ever been a problem in anyway. Normally adamant in the philosophy "if it ain't broke don't fix it", The cap't has since become bored, and has begun purposely breaking things just to fix them (he already counted all of the popcorn kernels in his pantry, which was easy given that there were exactly none.)

Here is the before:

To improve the storage area, the Cap't decided he wanted to use the nail gun to build a cabinet around the wheel arch--as this is the tool which makes him feel "most alive". He purposely turned up the pressure to make it twice as interesting. Fortunately while making the cabinet none of the nails decided to bang a sharp left and provide a reason to test the current state of the healthcare system.

The cabinet building was done during the first momentary reprieve following 2 weeks of torrential rain. The fleeting break was apparently just the eye of the storm. Rain returned and the Cap't worked in waste deep muck, and managed to ruin most of the yard walking between the van and the shed. One of the Cap'ts crew sliped and fell in the mud, and was never seen again.

Alas the cabinet was finished. The craftsmanship and fit was a solid B-, but the effort--given the conditions--was applauded to all who bore witness.

Here it is painted up with the Goal Zero Yeti installed, using a peice of the old wire chase to protect the connections on the front. The extra water container fits underneath along with 2 camping chairs and some spare rope rachet straps.

Days later the Cap't also found some treasure that was delivered directly to his door in a chest, straight from Latvia. Now the Cap't will never run out of Whiskey again while traveling on remote forest roads. He will always have a spare 2.68 gallons bolted to the top deck.

The NATO grade Whiskey can, came with a locking cage that bolted directly to the rails of the roof rack. The captain is pleased.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

Also added a Link connection from the CCP to charge the Yeti while driving. The connection required making a 17 foot cord from 4awg welding cable, which was no trouble. However once the cable was run and ready to plug in, I realized the Link charge module contained no indications of the polarity of the EC8 connections on the back on the unit, or any associated wiring diagram. Being an input connection, a multi-meter could tell no stories. If i plugged it in I had 50% chance of liberating the magic smoke from the unit. Goal Zero in their infinite wisdom (wisdom regarding how to best separate you from your money) wants you to buy their proprietary cable and boot plug connector. It is insulated like an extension cord so you can't easily tell how the terminals are wired from pictures. I would have loved to have just bought their cable, and be done with it, however their options were a 2 foot cord or a 12 foot cord. I needed 17 feet. I was never good at the maths but I am fairly certain 12+2 doesn't not equal 17. I called tech support, and after being on hold for an hour, they were not sure the polarity of the EC8 either. They told me that someone from the engineering department would contact me. They never did. I got tired of waiting. Luckily "a friend" took "his" link module apart and traced the wires inside to figure out the polarity. If anyone is interested, the positive terminal faces the open vent on the back side of the unit. I plugged it in, no magic smoke. Inputs 450 watts at idle.

 

[bitburger]

I'm continuing to really enjoy your write-up. It's my favorite on the site.
Keep up the great work!

 

[lincolnjbutler]

I decided to improve the organization in my cabinets because.... well, I had nothing else to do. To make it interesting and to add an "element of personal expression" I installed some dividers and extra shelves with no regard to physical location, alignment or continuity. Again, no level, no tape measure, no plumbline was used, as I enjoy a more Salvador Dali-style of carpentry, and am not bound to the conventions blindly followed by the masses.

Another solid B- on build quality and craftsmanship, but with an A for styling.

Why does it not conform to level expectations and perfect right angles? Because it is contemporary art. Its design and execution clearly exceed the ability of most people to comprehend what I have just achieved.

I have successfully installed crooked dividers and shelves... within.....a crooked cabinet.... in a van....that also leans a bit to left. After a few beers, it looks perfect.

I also decided to clean up my water storage area under the sink, and install a drain out the bottom of the van. I am not sure why I did this, but I always wanted a drain. And who am I to rationalize my own desires. If a drain is what I want, A drain is what I will get,...and the "why" will come in time.

Also weighed Moby Dick again. This time loaded up full of gas, gear, water, food, two people and mountain bikes. 7200...The whale is getting fat in quarantine. Time for a diet.

 

[mikesee]

You can also change your unlock options in the console display / settings so that the first unlock of the key fob (and I assume key pad) unlocks all the doors.

How? I can't find any menu item that even hints at this.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

Took Moby Dick out for spin in southern Washington over the weekend, which officially opened for business. Climbed some pretty steep and rough OHV roads without any issues. This was completely a night and day experience compared to when I had the Hankooks on there. I gave full credit to the KO2's at the time. Looking at a video of it pushing itself up steep rutted grade, it was throwing up rooster tails with both wheels, but never lost traction. It just shifted from side to side and climbed up without any drama. Ithought it never had a chance, This had me curious, and finally motivated me to go check the door sticker. And Behold! It was like Christmas morning, I checked under the tree. Turns out I had an OEM LSD sitting there the whole time. The clutch-style LSD is a little more subtle than an Eaton Trutrac, but ****, for free, I'll take it.

The only thing stopping me from driving even worse roads, was the interior rattling itself to pieces. Oh does the body flex. I put few minor cracks in the joints of the wainscotting ceiling. Nothing some caulk can't fix. Ces't la vie.

 

[Shade]

How? I can't find any menu item that even hints at this.

The lock settings are in the following menu on the transit information display (speed/trip odometer/temp/etc. display in the dash).

Convenience -> Locks -> Autolock / Autounlock / Global Unlock / Custom Lock

I think Global Unlock is what you want in this case. There is more info in the manual “Information Displays” section.

 

[lincolnjbutler]

After multiple close calls with animals that insist on running across the highway at night, I decided to drop the money on an Aluminess front bumper. I think I will finally put the order in....

 

[bitburger]

This had me curious, and finally motivated me to go check the door sticker. And Behold! It was like Christmas morning, I checked under the tree. Turns out I had an OEM LSD sitting there the whole time. The clutch-style LSD is a little more subtle than an Eaton Trutrac, but ****, for free, I'll take it.

Hey! I checked my door sticker and it said I was a cheap rascal and got no LSD. Could you let me know where the Christmas morning sticker is located because I'm a bit unhappy and would like a different answer.

I'm heading down to Quadvan next week to get upgraded to 4x4. He offers front and rear lockers at $1100-ish (each) so I'd say that was quite a sweet surprise for you to discover it on your van.

 

[mikesee]

The lock settings are in the following menu on the transit information display (speed/trip odometer/temp/etc. display in the dash).

Convenience -> Locks -> Autolock / Autounlock / Global Unlock / Custom Lock

I think Global Unlock is what you want in this case. There is more info in the manual “Information Displays” section.

Thanks.

That actually didn't jive at all with what I had to do to get global lock/unlock, but it at least got me looking into the speedo display instead of at the infotainment center. And it was, as they say on tv, all in there.