Also I forgot to mention...
Eric searched high and low for 10.125 10.9 bolts with a shoulder on them. This was specifically for the intention to center the bolt holes and create way more shear strength by reducing looseness in the bolt holes.
Turning an L300 into an overland vehicle
- Thread starter Kellyn
- Start date
Also I forgot to mention...
Eric searched high and low for 10.125 10.9 bolts with a shoulder on them. This was specifically for the intention to center the bolt holes and create way more shear strength by reducing looseness in the bolt holes.
Update 2/14/18
The build is off and running.
The front bumper is almost complete. The winch is installed. Just waiting on my lights which will be in tomorrow. Here's the latest build sheet:
Front bumper
Engo 9k winch
10" Rigid flood LED bar
Rigid Dually Side Shooter spot lights. 1 pair
On the top
23zero double rooftop tent with full anex
Thule 12" gutter feet with Thule slim bars. Two pairs.
Rigid Cube Flood LED for each corner of the roof
On the side
ARB 2000 awning secured to the rooftop bars
On the back
In house fabricated tire carrier. Holds full size spare, two Jerry cans, a shovel, and an axe. Also serves as a step up to gain access to the rooftop tent.
Modified rear bumper to include LED reverse flood lights
Inside
6 way touch pad light/accessory controller
Cordless/corded CB radio
Removed OEM dash instruments and installed iPad mount
Scoche windshield phone mount
Dometic CFX75 DZW dual zone refrigerator/freezer
PLX multigauge. Displays EGT, coolant, oil temp, trans temp on one display
Adjustable boost controller
Standby for pics!
K
The build is off and running.
The front bumper is almost complete. The winch is installed. Just waiting on my lights which will be in tomorrow. Here's the latest build sheet:
Front bumper
Engo 9k winch
10" Rigid flood LED bar
Rigid Dually Side Shooter spot lights. 1 pair
On the top
23zero double rooftop tent with full anex
Thule 12" gutter feet with Thule slim bars. Two pairs.
Rigid Cube Flood LED for each corner of the roof
On the side
ARB 2000 awning secured to the rooftop bars
On the back
In house fabricated tire carrier. Holds full size spare, two Jerry cans, a shovel, and an axe. Also serves as a step up to gain access to the rooftop tent.
Modified rear bumper to include LED reverse flood lights
Inside
6 way touch pad light/accessory controller
Cordless/corded CB radio
Removed OEM dash instruments and installed iPad mount
Scoche windshield phone mount
Dometic CFX75 DZW dual zone refrigerator/freezer
PLX multigauge. Displays EGT, coolant, oil temp, trans temp on one display
Adjustable boost controller
Standby for pics!
K
Jere Shuler
New Member
Can't wait to see pics! Sounds great.
feetforbrains
Active Member
Which AUX box did you go with? I’ve been looking at the sPOD with rocker switches. My main problem with most of these new-fangled AUX controllers is that up until a few years ago I'd have fabricated the whole darn thing on my own. For about a third of the cost. As ever, I'm sorry to see radio shack has gone TU. Rocker switches are a couple of bucks a piece and some relays tied into a BUS bar aren't that expensive. Sure, I can't do the touchscreen, but $400 clams?
I'm planning on mounting a HAM, boost and EGT cluster where the vanity dials used to be. Which radio did you go with? Did you mount the antenna to the front bullbar?
Maps! Sweet. Right now I've got enough screen real-estate on my dash, but I can imagine that this just looks good.
Cool deal, I imagine that you put this in the back? Did you wire it to your AUX box, a separate house box, or its own line? The built-in hot/cold box holds about two cans of beer (if you're willing to play Tetris to get them in and out). Clearly, this is a deficient component of the van as a whole. That Dometic will solve the problem nicely.
Okay, now we're talking. This is what I want to see. DETAILED PHOTOS! Installation location and steps even. Let us know how you like the PLX cluster. HURRY!
Today I mounted the roof bars. I never realized until today but at least for the high roof Chamonix there are provisions in 3 areas of the highest part of the roof for roof bars to be installed. Too cool.
I had to add some foam on the rear bar because it's literally touching the roof. And that's before a 130lb tent and two adults put their weight onto it. We'll see how she goes.
I have finished pre-wiring for all of the lights. Tomorrow morning Eric will come with his tig and mount the brackets to the bumper. I plan on installing the Cube Dually Rigids in the smaller square opening in the bull bar.
I had to add some foam on the rear bar because it's literally touching the roof. And that's before a 130lb tent and two adults put their weight onto it. We'll see how she goes.
I have finished pre-wiring for all of the lights. Tomorrow morning Eric will come with his tig and mount the brackets to the bumper. I plan on installing the Cube Dually Rigids in the smaller square opening in the bull bar.
Attachments
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Found on Amazon. Click here! $146 and it is AWESOME for the price. It includes 6 40A relays! Not quite touch screen, but very compact. I'm going to install it where the clock is on the dash. Sorry clock but daddy needs his 6 way switch in a convenient spot, ya know?!
The aux box has a Constant power and an optional trigger power. I wired it all to constant. I mounted it to the engine cover itself with self tappers. It's getting really tight in the battery area and one more fuse box will cluster fuck it all. Regarding the refrigerator, I built an auxiliary fuse box where the second battery used to sit. I designed it to have two independent functions; To provide constant fused power to any additional devices I wish to install, i.e. fridge, but also to control ignition-switched devices if required. I installed a relay to switch ground when the ignition is on or off. I will show you this design.
Notice the stack of PLX sending units. They will be daisy chained in the next pic.
Finished product
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DustyDelica
Member
im interested in the exhaust. still plan on making these for resale?
Currently we are trying to revamp our materials list for the exhaust to cut down on the cost being that mine is all stainless. Some members have managed to have entire eshausts fabricated and installed for what I paid in materials! I'll let you know what we come up with.
K
We finished installing the lights on to the bull bar. Being that I chose cube spot lights, the alignment of them was very important. We ended up tacking the brackets onto the bar and tweaking them until the light was aimed properly. We then removed the light and Tig welded the brackets in place.
Also, I installed my 6 switch fuse box in it's final location under the engine hatch. It fits perfectly!
Also, I installed my 6 switch fuse box in it's final location under the engine hatch. It fits perfectly!
Today was another present day. The dometic CFX75 refrigerator came. It's going to work perfectly!
Tomorrow I'll install it and finish wiring the fuse box. I think I'll put the light controller in front of the dome light on the ceiling. It's a perfect spot IMO.
K
Tomorrow I'll install it and finish wiring the fuse box. I think I'll put the light controller in front of the dome light on the ceiling. It's a perfect spot IMO.
K
We ran into a snag with the awning. I decided on installing the tent so that the annex would be on the right side of the van. That would require that I install the awning on the left side. We held up the awning but realized that some special brackets were in order. My friend found a set of nice brackets that should suffice. ARB 813402 to be exact.
DustyDelica
Member
i used those brackets for my ARB awning. fit ok but I decided I didnt like how far away from the van it put the awning. ended up modifing awning brackets from Northwesty. Build is looking really solid so far man
feetforbrains
Active Member
Kelly did you go with the 8" or 11" risers. My van is a high-top Chamonix too and right now these appear to my only option. Been talking to my go-to source for overland bits, and they're saying that ARB and Rhino both no longer carry risers that will reach high enough.
These brackets I intend to modify as well so they don't put the awning out too far. Thank you!
I went with the 12 inchers and they're not tall enough. The bars hit the roof.
Jere Shuler
New Member
The last pic is my favorite!
Thanks Jere! Crazy to see snow on your Delica!
So, the lights work very, very well! I attempted to capture insane light output but it doesn't do it justice by the pictures.
OEM lights only
OEM lights and LED fog lights
Insane 10" Rigid Flood, LED dogs and low beams
I don't think I'll need anything else for forward lighting as I'm very happy with how they perform.
K
DustyDelica
Member
interested in how it handles with that RTT. my delica has a 2" lift and crystal lite roof and i feel like im already getting blown all over the place. looks rad though.
Really interested in those rack feet you used. what height are they?
Really interested in those rack feet you used. what height are they?
feetforbrains
Active Member
This is a picture of the last diesel van overland build that I did (that's not me, its the guy who bought Zeno). At over 13' after the lift and hightop, driving across southern Idaho was really an exercise in land-sailing. Opening the windows on the hightop didn't help all that much.
Here's a picture of my next overland rig.
Ootek was tall, but with the RTT down it really wasn't affected anything like Zeno. One of the advantages of the RTT is that even tight clearances air passes between the vehicle's roof and the RTT. There's just not as much of a pressure build up. That's why, when time and money allow, I'm installing a RTT on my Delica. Lesson's learned from previous builds are a) keep weight off the roof (meaning go for the lightest thing you can and b) consider how you'll break up the side profile of the vehicle.
I'm looking forward to hearing how @Kellyn's van performs post lift and RTT install. Take it out on A1A when there's an inshore wind blowing would ya?
Here's a picture of my next overland rig.
Ootek was tall, but with the RTT down it really wasn't affected anything like Zeno. One of the advantages of the RTT is that even tight clearances air passes between the vehicle's roof and the RTT. There's just not as much of a pressure build up. That's why, when time and money allow, I'm installing a RTT on my Delica. Lesson's learned from previous builds are a) keep weight off the roof (meaning go for the lightest thing you can and b) consider how you'll break up the side profile of the vehicle.
I'm looking forward to hearing how @Kellyn's van performs post lift and RTT install. Take it out on A1A when there's an inshore wind blowing would ya?