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Getting back in the swing of things. First project was installing a few windows and a nice big access door for an outdoor kitchen and storage. The indoor kitchen will be along that same wall so the idea is to be able to grab things from the cabinets from inside or outside. We'll see how...

Finally getting back to working on this and the shell weight is approximately 1300 pounds including the hydraulic cylinders which are 60 pounds each (without hydraulic fluid). It's been a while since I've checked but I think I have 4000 pounds payload to work with so I think I'll be OK. The...

I ended up modifying the output housing on my 271 to work with the original gear driven VSS. Works great. If I didn't already have the 271 I probably would have gone with a BW. This sorta started as a prototype/test with an old tail housing but it ended up working so I'm running it. It...

I've been dealing with these issues on my E450 4x4 conversion for a while and haven't solved it yet but I do have a few things that might help you or someone else reading this. Did your van have the parking brake with a gear drive speed sensor in it mounted to the rear of the transmission? The...

I used a spool gun for most of the aluminum welding. I just finished the 4x4 conversion a few weeks ago actually. T Case is in along with a rebuilt front axle and new driveshaft. Works great so far aside from some VSS (speed sensor) issues I've been working on. I don't currently have a...

If I made more jaws I'd just use 3/8" steel so it's more time than material cost. I did make a set of jaws to hold multiple size pex crimping inserts but I made the tips too thin and they bent after some use. When the need arises again I'll make a stronger set for the pex dies and then make...

I've used it a few times and haven't had the best luck with it. It definitely blows cold air but I don't think it puts out enough to overcome the heat built up inside my camper. If it ran 24/7 it probably would eventually work but that would use an enormous amount of power. I do have 800ah of...

Yeah I started renting this shop about a year ago because my home shop wasn't high enough. This place has a 10' door and my rig is 119" so it just barely fits.... but it fits and that's all that matters.

I made it back home!! The install went well and I was on the road by 4pm on the same day I dropped the axle off. It's not a hard job but it is heavy and awkward. Red Beard Garage in Alliance NE were great to work with. Super helpful and they did a great job. We loaded up the old axle so I...

The axle is done. I ended up replacing the bearings, pads and brake lines and reused the calipers and rotors. I think this thing had a brake job done right before or possibly during it's time in storage because there was no wear on the pads or rotors and one of the hard lines was new. should...

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. It was definitely a rough couple of days but things are looking up at least as far as the axle situation. The ERV is still in Nebraska but I made it home to Minnesota thanks to a few friends that were in the area. In other good news I also found an...

Haha thank you. I'll keep plugging away but I've learned I'm definitely better at building things than I am at the business side of things. I think I have a 30k mile complete rear axle available to me back home so things are already looking up.

Update... not great news but I have plan. I found an axle in Loveland CO of all places (ironically where I was headed for Overland Expo) and I was all set up with a Uhaul to go get it but then I saw a picture of it :oops: and I changed my mind really quickly. It wasn't worth rushing to get...

ERV's are 75" inside height of the empty box so it's a great option if you can find one. Inside width is 90" and length is 164".

Well I'll skip that last part of the Sturgis trip and just jump to my current situation :(. I was headed to Overland Expo in Colorado and made it to Western Nebraska (from Minnesota) and my passenger side REAR wheel bearing went out which also resulted in a broken axle. I'm kicking myself for...

I like them. Noise is relatively low and they seem to ride great when loaded down. I also have them on my F350 and those seem to ride pretty rough but it's rarely loaded down. The size on the ERV seems to work pretty good with stock gearing and no chip if I cruise at 60-65. I can go faster...

The next day I decided to hit the interstate and get to Sturgis. As part of the show I got free no hookup camping at the Buffalo Chip which for those who don't know is one of the bigger campgrounds for the rally. I wasn't sure where I should park so I just picked a spot way out by the...

Couple more pics of the night in Carthage. Had to test the flood lights ? Yep they'll do haha...

After I finished up the bumper it was time to head to Sturgis. That same motorcycle I posted earlier got invited to be in Michael Lichter's "Motorcycles as Art" show at the Buffalo Chip and I couldn't pass that up. It was quite an honor to be selected especially since it was built with a...

And yada yada yada it's done.... Sorta. Can't decide if I should leave the ends raw aluminum or paint them? I do still need to take it apart and paint the steel parts black but that'll have to happen after my trip to Sturgis.... The winch is a Warn Evo 12s which is definitely undersized for...