290 replies to this topic

[Hodakaguy]

Continued From Above....

 

And all mounted up.  You can see here how I configured my screens for now, soooooo many possibilities.


















Hodakaguy

 

 

[billharr]

Your posts always makes me want to spend money. I had a scan gauge 2 on my old Tundra. May add a 3 to my Ford Transit. 

[Hodakaguy]

Your posts always makes me want to spend money. I had a scan gauge 2 on my old Tundra. May add a 3 to my Ford Transit. 

 

Lol.   You'll like the V3, it has some really nice improvements

 

Hodakaguy.

[Hodakaguy]

Hmmm...my 34" tires are rubbing on my custom tweed interior slider door panel. Let's fix that!

While we were on a trip this weekend I noticed a black spot on the bottom edge of my interior slider door panel, yep the tire is lightly rubbing when the door is fully open....but just Barely!  I'm pretty sure the actual mark came from driving short distances at the house with the slider open...not a great idea lol.  It's already left a black mark and I don't want it wearing a hole over time if I drive with the door open again so it's time for a fix.

I had a piece of 6061T6 Aluminum flat bar laying in the shop and after cutting it to length, rounding the ends and drilling/counter sinking holes for the mounting screws it's ready to bolt on. I used a soldering iron to melt a hole through the tweed/foam so the fabric won't fray, a drill to make the hole in the wood panel and a self tapping screw to go into the metal on the door.

About 30 min total and the door panel now has a tire guard that also works as a foot knock plate while we are getting in and out of the van


Offending Tire Mark.




6061T6 Aluminum flat bar ready to install.






Using a soldering iron to melt a hole through the tweed and foam, this prevents it from fraying.




And a drill to drill through the wood panel.




Self tapping Screws






Installed  Close but it's not touching :-)




I like the aluminum finish, it matches the L-track.








Hodakaguy

 

[Hodakaguy]

Let's finish out that interior trim!

Stopped in at Terrawagen and picked up one of Eric's "Tidy Trim" kits. We're running a custom interior in our 2017 sprinter and for the last several years the trim around the B-Pillars and over the sliding door has remained unfinished.  I keep saying I'm going to tackle this project but never find the time since making a professional looking trim piece for these areas is a royal pain and I have way to many hobbies fighting for my time lol.   Luckily for myself and everyone else Eric is now making a Tidy Trim Kit designed for just these areas!  The kit says for 2019 and up but fits the older NCV3's as well.  The kit is composed of ABS plastic molded pieces that fit like a glove and it's available with or without a drivers side trim ring.

Once back home I set to installing this setup ahead of the upcoming Adventure Van Expo in Hood River OR.

The kit as it comes from Terrawagen in all it's glory.










Here's the section of missing trim around my sliding door.








First up I needed to remove the Mule bag and remove the upper panels in the van.








The kit comes supplied with these barrel nuts that screw onto the existing factory door hardware, the center trim piece will attach using two of these barrel nuts.  These rest of the trim pieces are compression fit.




Testing the center trim piece for fitment.




Since I utilized/retained my factory passenger plastic trim in my build I'll have to make the new trim piece tie into my existing trim.   The Terrawagen kit comes with trim pieces that go all the way to the floor and most people will use the entire kit.   Here I'm marking out where I will cut the upper trim piece to line up with the L-track.




And....Cut.






Test Fitting.






With the trim piece temporarily installed I could take measurements and see how much I will have to shorten the panel.  With the measurements in hand I carefully peeled the existing fabric/foam back, cut the panel down to size then used some 3M90 to re-wrap the panel.







 

Continued Below.....

[Hodakaguy]

Continued from above...

 

Here I'm cutting out a piece out of the scrap portion of the upper trim piece.   This will be used to cap off the cut end and make a nicer transition from the Terrawagen trip to the OEM trim.






Covering the first piece with automotive tweed.   I started by applying glue to both the fabric and the trim piece, letting them tack then mating them together.   I started the glue process in the middle of the piece then applied glue in sections and worked the fabric into place.












Next pieces done






I used a soldering iron to melt through the fabric and open up the mounting holes in the middle trim piece.  This seals the fabric so it won't Frey.








I cut another piece of ABS plastic off the scrap trim and used it for a stop.  I glued it and the end plug into place.






Had to open up a hole to clear my L-track mounting bolt.  This corner gets trapped behind the L-track.






Installing.....Fit's soooooo nice.









 

Continued Below.....

[Hodakaguy]

On to the drivers side.   Here's what it currently looks like without the trim piece.  Drives me crazy.




Pulled down the Mule bag and removed the panel.   I trimmed a section of the fir strips to clear the trim piece.




Test fitting.   The trim piece is just a tad to high to fit with my existing panels so I'll have to trim a bit.




With the trim piece temporarily installed I can take measurements and shorten the upper wall panel to match.






Well that's nice, the cut came out right where I mounted my Victron 712 Battery Monitor Display.   I'll have to come up with a way to cover that!




Test fitting the panel, fit's great!   Here I'm also trimming down the L-track and test fitting as well.








Here I'm trimming a bit off the top of the trim piece to allow the panels to fit up tight.






Test fitting....looking better!




To cover the existing hole I decided to move the 712 Display over a bit and fabricate an aluminum cover that will hide the existing hole.












Decided to round the forward edges a bit for a better look.






Painted black and installed on the panel.



 

Continued Below.....

[Hodakaguy]

Continued from above...

 

Trim piece covered.



 

And going back together.




















Love the clean look!  

To channel the words of the Dude......It really ties the van together!   :-)

Hodakaguy

 

 

 

 

 

[goinoregon]

hey tom. nice work.  i like how you reworked the victron gauge, and covered the initial hole with your aluminum cover plate.   this looks good, and i assume much easier than fixing the entire panel.

greg

[ckent323]

Tom,

 

Excellent work as usual. 

Where/how did you learn the skills to do all of the truck, camper and van mods you have been posting for years?

I don't have a Van but I enjoy following the details of your efforts.   Keep em coming,

Craig