2018 Sprinter 4x4 144"...Take 2

[grantwilson]

pfft... it take a little more than a Skottle to be an Overlander, buddy.

Do you have any Snow Peak?

[...and that's when the fight started]

All my mugs, and titanium sporks

 

[TangoBlue]

All my mugs, and titanium sporks

Sweet... you're wired for sound.

 

[grantwilson]

Sweet... you're wired for sound.

not yet. One of these days ill finish my audio though (ba-dum-chi)

 

[bob91yj]

^^^^Always wondered how that drum roll was spelled!

 

[grantwilson]

Making moves!
Started out building the vertical cabinet. I decided to do it as a separate unit because last time it was all one unit. I couldn't make it as tall as I wanted to in order to fit it in. This way, it fits much better.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Then I needed to build the upper cabinet over the kitchen
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
9 degree angle on the cut on the back wall fits perfect
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

Gotta make the other end upper cabinet over the bed, then ill skin the sides, lowers, and cover them with fabric. I will be getting all the doors and drawers made once i finish it all, and the van will be pretty much done!

 

[Al Swope]

I think I remember you saying that you work on your van after hours in the shop where you work. What kind of business is it? Just curious.

 

[grantwilson]

I think I remember you saying that you work on your van after hours in the shop where you work. What kind of business is it? Just curious.

So i run a place called Buildersstainless.com (its a physical store also).
We also have a sister company that builds custom stainless and aluminum railing and spiral staircases for one off projects for custom homes, beach houses etc.

I supply mostly marine contractors, builders, remodelers, homeowners and others with the killer stainless steel stuff they need.
As a byproduct. I get to supply really cool business like goose gear, hiker trailers, expedition essentials, trail kitchens and others with stainless steel at prices noone can beat.
I enjoy my job. About to open a second store as well

 

[Al Swope]

^^^^Very Cool!

 

[grantwilson]

And more progress!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Needed to build the unit above the fridge
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
actually used the slide itself to mount half the unit, saves about an inch and a half of walkway space by doing this.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
shane back there working on his stuff for something
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
not my best work, and i have to take a half an inch out of the side not welded to the slide because im a dipshit. Or raise the slide platform up 1/2 an inch (most likely the way im going)
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
this is the upper wall above the window.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
since part of this assembly is visible when it is all installed (door and surround around the door), took it into the polishing room and make it pretty
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
All assembled and ready to go in
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Installed into the van
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
also covered the wire wall
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
covering the galley unit


And some 80% build pics!
Went to a van show in orlando today, thrashed 22 hours between friday at 12pm to saturday at 1am to get it from a bare shell to what you see. Had to take i tall apart to do some more wiring nad fabrication, so the time was the crunch!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[Greg]

And more progress!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Needed to build the unit above the fridge
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
actually used the slide itself to mount half the unit, saves about an inch and a half of walkway space by doing this.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
shane back there working on his stuff for something
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
not my best work, and i have to take a half an inch out of the side not welded to the slide because im a dipshit. Or raise the slide platform up 1/2 an inch (most likely the way im going)
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
this is the upper wall above the window.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
since part of this assembly is visible when it is all installed (door and surround around the door), took it into the polishing room and make it pretty
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
All assembled and ready to go in
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Installed into the van
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
also covered the wire wall
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
covering the galley unit


And some 80% build pics!
Went to a van show in orlando today, thrashed 22 hours between friday at 12pm to saturday at 1am to get it from a bare shell to what you see. Had to take i tall apart to do some more wiring nad fabrication, so the time was the crunch!
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

That's sweet.

 

[java230]

Looking good! Im interested to see how much weight your adding/saving by doing the alu frames.

 

[Mike]

Wow, that is looking great! Wasn't sure on the blue color at first but getting more of it in there, it looks good.

 

[grantwilson]

Looking good! Im interested to see how much weight your adding/saving by doing the alu frames.

should be under 8k fully loaded

GVWR is like 8800 IIRC

 

[bob91yj]

I don't think you need any inspiration from these guys, stumbled across this link today.

http://www.doityourselfrv.com/nomad-vans/

 

[grantwilson]

Lights work finally! Couldn't finish the wiring and stuff until i did the panels on the fridge enclosure.
Now everything is all wired up and good to go. 110v is golden, switch for the hot water heater to come on, inverter panel, ignitors on the stove and all that jazz.
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Note the super cool aluminum backsplash thing for the countertop that i polished out. Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
when your overlanding helinox chair sinks into the sand, you use your bedslide as a porch....duh

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Also installed the forward maxxair fan finally, wired it up and trimmed it out

Last but not least, installed the winch mount (winch will be here tomorrow) and finished up the air system with the tank and horn
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

 

[Mike]

Nice. I had seen that winch mount before and liked the idea of it being stealth behind the factory bumper. You build it really making me think this will be the way we go in a future build.

 

[grantwilson]

Yesssss

come to the dark side

 

[Mike]

Yesssss

come to the dark side

Yeah, if it wasn't for the $$$$$$, we would be there.... with cookies.

 

[TangoBlue]

Yeah, if it wasn't for the $$$$$$, we would be there.... with cookies.

pfft... the answer you're looking for is already available through Rough Country at a fraction of the price and effort that Grant went through. Go with the illusion, not the solution.

 

[grantwilson]

Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Got the winch mount and winch all installed and spooled up. E brake works great for keeping tension while doing the KiKi chalenge

Then modified my bike carrier so it sits 4 inches higher for better approach angles
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

May be some headlight impact? Big ass roof lights going on says it should be okay

We also decided to start making our own line of sprinter racks. Modular, with a front, middle and rear, an extension piece or 170wb vans and cool light tab options and modular cross bars so you can put them wherever you want. First prototype is in work now as you can see. we decided it was about 4" too wide at 60"
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr
Untitled by Grant Wilson, on Flickr

more to come