Boomerweps Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 (edited) Probably it's just me but I would have to pull those tan rear door cards and paint them white to match the doors. They look so cheap. And it's an easy cheap fix. Edited June 3, 2017 by Boomerweps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 5, 2017 Author Share Posted June 5, 2017 On 6/2/2017 at 8:12 PM, Tiller said: jrm222 - check his first page.. he talks about the batteries under the floor there. Chong: would it be possible to fix that remote start timing system to a temperature sensor as well? I'd be interested in having that as a back up for my car when I have the dog with me. We are extremely careful in monitoring our dogs in the vehicles when at training or searches, but it would be a nice back up system to have the car auto start with the AC on full during the summer. Either once every hour on a timer or when the temp sensor hits 100F. Tiller It's funny you mention that. I have that exact same idea in mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 Can't help with the remote start. But the door cards are the same as the Passenger's and they come in a very reasonable looking black plastic . Much better and more finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 5, 2017 Author Share Posted June 5, 2017 8 hours ago, G B L said: Can't help with the remote start. But the door cards are the same as the Passenger's and they come in a very reasonable looking black plastic . Much better and more finished. Do you have a link to those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 9, 2017 Author Share Posted June 9, 2017 Made some more progress last night. Got the new bed fully assembled. The bed flips out and rests on 2x4s that are hung with hinges. I need to fit some braces to the floor to keep them from sliding around, but it should be quite sturdy. The next bit will be to figure out a good way to secure the bed itself to the floor in a way that makes it easy to install/remove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Great progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Everything is more or less installed. I've fixed up the janky cracked blocks and have been test driving everything to work and back this week. So far so good. It's been goddamn hot out this week (90+) so I've not been venturing outside unless completely necessary. I still want to add some more power points to the back side of the battery cabinet as well as wall off the cabinet on both ends to help sturdy it up a bit more. Almost ready to roll out on our first summer road trip in a couple weeks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loafer Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I've enjoyed every effort you have made to share your build with us. Thank you. Continued good luck.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 17, 2017 Author Share Posted June 17, 2017 Got the panel to mount the power points installed. Wiring it up today. I also bought an awning for the roof rack. Should be neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted June 18, 2017 Share Posted June 18, 2017 Looks like it is coming together very nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 18, 2017 Author Share Posted June 18, 2017 Did a bit of load testing yesterday. I have one more tray and an awning to get up on the roof before we leave. I don't think I'm going to roll with the wheel carriers. I've had wheels come off on the highway before, not fun. 5 bikes, no problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Very nice. Where is this journey going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loafer Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 On 6/18/2017 at 7:16 AM, chong said: Did a bit of load testing yesterday. I have one more tray and an awning to get up on the roof before we leave. I don't think I'm going to roll with the wheel carriers. I've had wheels come off on the highway before, not fun. 5 bikes, no problem! Wow, a twelve wheeler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share Posted June 22, 2017 15 hours ago, G B L said: Very nice. Where is this journey going? Ann Arbor -> Traverse City -> Marquette -> Houghton -> Copper Harbor -> Ann Arbor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share Posted June 22, 2017 Test fitting the awning. I need to make a quick run to the hardware store before I can leave it up there, but it should be pretty excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomerweps Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 Nice awning setup. Me, I keep things even simpler. Got a 10x10 EZ-UP with the screen room kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 Cool should be a lot of fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted June 26, 2017 Author Share Posted June 26, 2017 Got the awning locked down, added the 3rd bike carrier, and threw the mattress in the back and secured it down with a ratchet strap. Now we are just down to small stuff. Added a couple of hooks for hanging things like helmets: I'm also using those hooks to bungee my cooler in place We also got 2/3 curtains done last night. Need to make another run to the fabric store to make the 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Dude, your van interior is nicer than the apartment that I had in college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 On 7/21/2017 at 11:33 PM, Fifty150 said: Dude, your van interior is nicer than the apartment that I had in college. Tell my wife that so I don't have to come up with a solution for the walls and ceiling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted July 24, 2017 Author Share Posted July 24, 2017 (edited) First summer trip in the Van report! As mentioned, our route was as follows: Ann Arbor -> Traverse City -> Marquette -> Houghton -> Copper Harbor -> Ann Arbor The first night in the van was Marquette. Turns out, the Marquette Walmart is Boondock Central! As mentioned this was a bike trip. We carried 5 bikes: 2007 Giant TCX (Roof) 2012 Pivot Mach 4 (Roof) 2016 Surly Ice Cream Truck (Hitch) 2005 Santa Cruz VP Free (Hitch) 1986 Trek 400 (Inside) We mostly rode mountain bikes. Starting July 3rd we rode laps on Benson Grade in Marquette. The Norquemanon Trail Network is an IMBA Bronze Level Ride Center. Some good gravity there if you are willing to work for it. Monday night, we drove to Houghton and stayed with a buddy. Tuesday we spent up in Copper Harbor, an IMBA Silver Level Ride Center. The route from Houghton to Copper Harbor has some photo op places. I can quite honestly say that this is the first time I've ever stopped at either of these locations. I used to live up there so I never bothered. This time, we made an exception. It snows a lot up here. The pavement disappears in November and doesn't re-appear until Mid-April. I've chased a lot of storms up here. This thermometer tracks just how much it snows year to year. As you can see, last year was just above average. Breakfast in Copper Harbor: Lunch in Copper Harbor: Mrs. Chong getting ready to rip the Overflow trail: Apparently, the showers in Copper Harbor are only for bikes. Mrs. Chong was not pleased: All in all, it was a good trip. We didn't get any rain until after we were done riding/running on Saturday evening. We stayed Friday night at the Fort Wilkins State Park in Copper Harbor and Saturday night in the rest stop in Seney. We did 1573 miles round trip, averaged 23.2mpg, and never left the state! Edited July 24, 2017 by chong windguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loafer Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Looks like a wonderful trip, thanks for the pics, I enjoyed them. All the work you put into the TC was well worth it. Hope you have many more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom899 Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Great job with your Connect! Enjoyed reading and looking at the pictures! Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windguy Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 @chong - great thread and custom build. Thanks for sharing. Fun to read about the many stages of your build and trip. You did a lot of hard work and it appears to have paid off. Job well done! I've been to Banff, but in September, which was cold enough, as it ended up snowing in Jasper. You and your wife are a pair of hard core polar bears for doing this in the winter and living out of your van no less. Not sure if I should commend you or recommend a psych eval Looking forward to reading about more mods and adventures. Keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chong Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 So we've now had our van for 1 year. We've put almost 37k miles on it. We're loving it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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