Down To Reality

"R&D" has come to a close, and I feel as if I just said goodbye to an old friend.  I must put the "Roving Home" fantasy to rest and sharpen my home improvement skills for the next stage.  The time has come for me to start this build. 

If you haven't figured it out by now,  I made the purchase.  I am the proud owner of a very orange 1997 International Utilimaster.  And it is quite the vessel.

I met Frank at the "Department of Motor Vehicles" office of my choice, explaining to him that the only way I would perform the transaction would be to do it under the direct blessing of the State of California.  And, really, what could he say?  He had a stack of paperwork including three bills of sale between three unique parties, yet he possessed no pink slip.  I told him I was ready with cash in hand and he desperately needed to sell -- something about his daughter's wedding and the embarrassment of having to move in with your parents at the age of forty-seven.  I felt kind of bad for him.

Normally, I schedule appointments at the DMV ahead of time, and I don't think I've ever stepped foot inside a branch office other than for my first driving test and subsequent renewals of my driver's license.  Transfers of ownership I have always done through the mail, so I really can't fathom what all of those people were doing in front of the DMV an hour before opening.  But, the earliest appointment was weeks away.  So, we decided to go for it.  The line rivaled those at amusement parks for the newest attraction on opening day.

Honestly, I was sort of dreading the whole experience.  I mean, who wants to stand for forty-five minutes beside your adversary in a business transaction?  Awkwarrrrrrrrrrd!

I also wasn't thrilled about the wad of cash I had in my bag.  What if someone followed me from the bank?  You never know. 

When I walked up and met him in line I asked him where the van was.  " I left it at home, because I didn't have a ride back."  The perspiration on my upper lip was building.

Finally, we zig-zagged our way through the doors and up the steps to window "A."  Taking two front row seats, we settled in until our number was called.  During that time, the ice began to melt, and Frank confided in me that he shouldered a tremendous amount of stress right now in his life.  He hasn't seen his children in three months since having come down to southern California for the express purpose of selling the vehicle.  He's been trying for several years to climb out of the hole left by an ugly divorce, and he said that he's tired of all of the back-stabbers and opportunists that make up Los Angeles.  I said it's the nature of the big city and I'll bet that people in Chicago lock their doors at night, also.  But I didn't want to add salt in the wound.

While at the counter, we fielded a handful of questions from the moderately enthusiastic customer care representative.  I love "customer care."  It's one of my all time favorite corporate terms.  But I digress.

She asked why the "release of liability" form was dated for tomorrow...

Start over.  New form. 

She then asked why there were two VIN's in all of the paperwork.  "Well, the truck has one and the motor has another."  She asked me what my weight capacities were going to be and then tallied up our answers.  The registration wound up being over a thousand dollars in fees and surcharges -- almost double what Frank had assured me it would be.  Nonetheless, the van was now mine. 

On the way back to his house, he missed a freeway turn off while fiddling nervously with his GPS.  "I'm all tore up about the cost of that registration.  I can't even drive right.  Let's take off a couple hundred bucks.  I'm really sorry."

We arrived at his house, and I flopped down two envelopes.  I counted out the total, minus two hundred.  He walked into the next room, looking for the manuals.  I remarked to myself how easily I could have peeled two bills from the stack he left in plain view, and he probably would have never known it.  He really was a trustworthy guy from a small northern town.

Upon his return to the kitchen, he reached for the stack of bills and slid out a crisp hundred.  "Here.  You already gave me a deposit."  Yep, a good guy, indeed.  I had forgotten about that.

I climbed in and roared off under the hot summer sun. 

At work, I either say it or hear it nearly every day, "...the right tool, for the right job."  I've been missing a couple of key components for the Roving Home laboratory, and those are a table saw and drill press.  I kick myself every time I think about giving away my last table saw upon completion of my home remodel.  But it was sitting around collecting dust because I had nowhere to put it.  I literally gave it away on craigslist. Not one person wanted it for even a paltry fifty bucks.  Finally, someone came by to get it...for free!  And after the guy loaded it into his truck he handed me two twenties.  "I can't just take this for nothing, man.  Go buy yourself a case of beer."  It was a Delta contractor's saw, belt drive, with an iron table top.  I bought it for $160.00, and it was probably $400.00 new.  So, I guess it wasn't so bad.

But, the real treat is that I picked up my new tools and set them up in the garage. 

Look at these beauties!

3hp -- Psyched! 

And, I completed my Iport mounting box. 

I framed the black plastic port with wood and then cut out a larger frame that will be hung flush with the studs. 

And, that's what it will look like from inside the electrical closet.  The front will just look like a standard wall outlet pressed into a wall opening.

I also picked up my stereo.  It has an auxiliary "in" from behind, so the iport cables will be run seamlessly through the walls right to the back of the stereo.  And, it's got a remote.  I can turn on my music from the comfort of my very own bed.  How excellent is that? 

Just waiting on speakers.  They're due to arrive any day, now. 

     

It's on!

Well, you're not going to believe this...but I'm buying the van.  Woohoo!  Yep, the very same one I featured a few weeks back has remained for sale, unwanted and unclaimed.  The owner dropped the price by nearly $2,000.00.  So, I called him back. 

It's built like a Brinks truck, with a T44 diesel motor and an Allison transmission. 

Frank tossed me the keys and said, "Let's go for a ride!" 

"Giddy," is the operative term, here.

I gingerly took it through the paces.  It sure sticks to the road, no bumps or creaks.  The steering is solid and the engine purrs like it's brand new off the showroom floor.

He said that no one wanted it, and that too many picky buyers had all kinds of finicky demands.  For some, it wasn't long enough, and for others it was too tall.  He was a day away from just throwing in the towel and parting it out piece by piece on ebay.

 

So, here's where it gets weird.  He actually bought it from a friend who bought it from another friend and the title never actually changed hands -- to which I raised an eyebrow.  "Oh, no, bro, I've done lots of these transactions.  You just need a paperless registration.  No problem."  I said, "Great, then let's go to the DMV window together and transfer ownership at the counter.  If they'll buy it, then I'll buy it.  How 'bout them apples?"  So, we're meeting at the DMV on Wednesday morning.  My gut feeling is that he's probably right, because he didn't hesitate in his story and he's willing to go with me right to the source.  So, we'll see.  I'll post the results later in the week.

On  a lighter note...

 

My faucet arrived.  Look at that piece of craftsmanship -- wall mounted, with a 90 degree swiveling neck.  And, the faucet arm rotates 360 degrees.  So, you can drink out of it like a water fountain if you wanted too.  How crazy is that?  The valve component that attaches to the water supply within in the wall costs nearly double the price of those two chrome pieces.  Sheesh!   

Next...

My inverter arrived.  That's 1000 watts with a 20amp three stage charger, as well.  Pretty darned hi-tech if you ask me.  And, that panel with the LCD display is removable!

It comes with a 10' foot extension so you can mount the panel on a wall, nearby. 

Amazing!

Needless to say, I'm beside myself.  It was as if Christmas sprinkled a little holiday joy over my house, this weekend.

Final Design -- Version 2.0

Hey, Apple does it, so I can, too. 

The changes will not stop until the task is complete.  Or, "The floggings will continue until morale improves." 

I'm well aware that sticking to a design is crucial for the success of a very elaborate puzzle.  And, this is a gigantic undertaking.  People are kind of baffled as to why I'm doing it.  The corners of their mouth turn up slightly, smirking with disbelief.  I'm essentially building a house.  All of the same elements of construction and design will contribute to the success of this creative endeavor.  I'm kind of viewing it as part function, part art form, part experience to add to my life's "Book of things I've accomplished."

I really can't allow myself to fail at this task because I've blabbed about it to far too many people  There's no turning back, now. Embarrassment looms over me like a black cloud.

I'm only on this earth one time, so I'd better try all kinds of cool stuff, right?

Enough blabbing...

The overhead cabinets are now going to have a translucent panel in each door.  LED light strips will line the inside edge of the cabinet, giving a glow through the panels at night.  Wired through a separate switch - they will be flipped on only when necessary.  Also, I think the translucence will add depth to the cabinetry that will make the living space seem a bit larger and less confining. 

Behind the dinette, in the background, notice the two raised panels that look like file drawers with finger pulls.  The top one will flip up and the bottom one will flip down, creating a recessed bar with an additional small counter top.  The coffee maker and blender will be in there.   Swanky.  

Now for my next trick.

I'm adding a heater.  I was denying its value for awhile.  My rationale that the 2" insulation would encapsulate enough body heat during the night to make it comfortable is probably wishful thinking.  My girl and I will be going places that can get pretty cold (not necessarily freezing), so I readjusted things to accommodate a necessary creature comfort. 

                                        

That's a real flame.  It's like a mini fireplace.  My girl thinks it will add some very nice ambiance, and  I respectfully agree.   

Here's the application

 

To the right of the heater is the entrance to the bathroom.  The wall tile you can see is not really what's going to end up there.  Four by six inch aluminum tile will line the wall, but that stone texture I've selected is the only one that this program offers that's kind of similar.  It's only a suggestion. 

And finally, the bathroom vanity...

                                 

On either side of the mirror you can see the illuminated panels with LED light strips behind them.  On the left, protruding from the wall is the sconce I featured a couple of weeks ago that I converted to 12 volt.  The wood will be very dark and there will be a nice spot light over the sink.  A nice linen shower curtain will wrap about a third of the way around, blocking the doorway and the vanity. 

Oh, and a funny sidebar:  A guy at the airport this weekend saw my fiddling around with the 3d model and asked me if I was an interior designer.  "No," I replied as I flipped my scarf to the other shoulder.  Seriously, he wants to design a room addition and I think I could have swindled a few bucks out of him.  Too bad he lives in Seattle. 

Nonetheless, he complimented the layout, and that was nice to hear.

Okay, done....

...i think. 

   

       

Final design...I promise.

My schedule has operated on overload, as I spend my weekdays working a very demanding full time job.  I have also taken a weekend freelance gig, so needless to say, progress on the great Roving Home project has encountered some setbacks.  But never fear, for I have gained a profound understanding of the whole picture by spending quality time with my basic design. 

I've reviewed, revised, realigned and retooled the Roving Home.  And, with the help of Google's remarkable software, "Sketch Up," I have made some amazing discoveries.

After staring for weeks at a two dimensional line drawing that I created in Photoshop, I just couldn't wrap my brain around details that only three dimensional rendering could flesh out.  From scratch, I patiently assembled a model of my interior and solved a nagging problem that I had brushed under the rug with the thinking that once I get the vehicle, "I'll just figure it out."  Laziness leads to haste, and as the old adage goes, "Haste makes waste." 

I have no desire to stand in the middle of my van after driving it home to a garage painstakingly prepared with accessories and tools, only to start my build first by wondering just where in the heck I'm going to start my build.  Time is money, and right now I've got only a few scattered moments here and there to toss the puzzle around in my brain. 

Here's the first rendering I did during my lunch break, spread out over a few days. 

That's an overhead view of the galley.  The recessed gray areas represent the stainless steel sink basin and stove top.  Stainless steel sheets will line the two gray walls that surround the galley counter top.

This a reverse of the previous angle, featuring the dinette with a foreground view of the bathroom.  Above the dinette table, you can see what represents the wall sconce I made a couple months ago.  That unit serves as a light source and also as a light box that will illuminate my photographic transparencies.  I can create a vacation image right from my ink-jet printer and fix it to the light box for an instant gallery change-over.  I must have art in my life.  To create is to live. 

Here is where Sketch UP made me see the light.

   

The bed platform, made with a slatted wood mattress support, will expand as it is pulled forward over the counter top on the right and the ledge on the left.  The double stacked foam layers will then be spread out, side by side, thereby creating a queen sized bed.  In reviewing the first picture, you'll notice the spice rack on the counter top. That small ridge will border the bed frame on one side, while the wall will contain it on the opposite side.  I found a very fancy wall mounted faucet that swings to one side. 

You don't want to know how much that thing costs, but it's worth every penny, because it solves a great problem with one fell swoop with simplicity and elegance.  I almost welled up with tears at the sight of it.  For so long I had understood with complete conviction that a counter mounted faucet would function as the most obvious and right way to go...yet it was seriously clogging up the flow (no pun intended) of my whole design. 

I had crazy ideas as to how my sliding bed concept would actually work.  Then I began to realize I was kidding myself as to its safety and effectiveness...until I found this faucet.

It's like saying I have to cut a straight piece of wood with a perfectly square right angle, yet I'm determined to do so using a hand-held jig saw rather than a much more expensive table saw.  I have learned through trial and error that buying that expensive table saw is the only option.  I would then make that cut and fit that square piece of wood perfectly into the spot it needs to go.  After which I would wake up every morning to a job well done, rather than my regret of a job poorly done.

Once again...

That wall mounted faucet will swing to its left and rest against the wall, freeing up room for the slatted bed frame to expand open and slide over the counter top.  The sink basin will be mounted under the counter with a nice finished edge, and the stove will be mounted flush with the counter top.  Butcher block covers will rest over the openings thereby creating a solid counter top, suitable for my nighttime transformation.

Any comments on the color scheme?  I'm thinking a dark brown stain on the cabinetry found in the original Airstream.  I'm leaning toward a light color or even just a clear sealer/urethane for the counter top.  Maybe I'll match that on the kitchen table.  The knobs are the flush-mounted push/pull variety with a chrome finish.  And, the wall over the bed and the dinette will have a textile of some sort that I think will be a light sand/blonde color.  All of this is subject to change, of course.  

As of now, all sights are pointing toward the horizon in search of the ultimate van in which I will build The Ultimate Roving Home.   

  

Advancements in lighting, switches and hardware!

Last week's post was exciting, due to the fact that I actually found the right vehicle for my build.  So now I can rest easy knowing that there exists a van with the perfect dimesions to set my sights on.  Beyond that discovery, which nonetheless represents a large block in the Roving Home pyramid, I can't say I made major advancements in the infrastructure.  However, this weekend I announce with pride that I, indeed, have earned extra credit. 

My new 12 volt receptacles - of the correctly sized variety - arrived in the mail.  Of course, the new ones took about 3 days, as opposed to the three weeks or more that my previously ordered, incorrectly sized ones took to get here.  I'm still dealing with the paperwork necessary for a product return to Great Britain along with a credit to my account.

 A word about the Net.

I have a peeve regarding internet vendors.  If the vehicle by which you market your company stems entirely from the web, then wouldn't you ensure that descriptions and pictures of all items that you sell reflect every aspect of the inventory?  I had one strange experience whereby the salesperson seemed to lose all interest in corresponding with me after I requested a telephone conversation, rather than to drag on our email exchange.  I guess she felt that if I didn't get it in two tries then I wasn't worthy of purchasing her product.  She ceased all further correspondence with me.

I obviously wasn't completely well versed on what I'd get for my $328.00 through pictures, alone.  Luckily, beneath the salutations in her emails, I found the company phone number and requested another phone sales -  I mean "customer care" representative who gladly walked me through all of the components that were a necessary part of my order.  My new phone sales operator agreed that the pictures and descriptions were confusing and he happily answered all of my questions.

Onto the fun stuff.

This is a cabinet door knob.  It comes in two pieces which I wasn't aware of, because the website photograph only showed the entire component, which looks like this...

What I didn't know was that the price only included the metal portion and not the remaining plastic pieces.  Silly me.  I thought that when you order a locking door knob you get the handle, the tumbler, the casing and the catch.  But, what do I know? 

When you push in that center circle, the whole thing pops out, unlatches the cabinet door and becomes a pull knob. 

NEAT!

Yacht designers have included this hardware in their cabinetry for quite some time, but only as of late have I seen them in RVs.  They're quite cool.  So, I ordered up a batch, once I got briefed on all that I needed to make these work. 

Here lies another example of poor internet sales product description.  This 12 volt receptacle has three separate components to it, although you may not realize it from the picture, which looked like this...

 

What the picture fails to show is that the unit consists of the rubber cap, the cylinder and the rectangular mounting plate.  I didn't want the mounting plate, so I jumped to my other bookmarked website and ordered the wrongly-sized 12 volt receptacle.  After that debacle, I defaulted to the rectangular piece because it was the closest thing to what I want.  I decided that I'd reluctantly "make it work."

Pleasantly surprised...

As it turnes out, the rectangular insert comes off!  Now, you're probably thinking to yourself, "Jeeze, this guy is a nut job," but hear me out.  Everything in a home, be it a motorhome or a brick and mortar home is designed and built to look appealing and interesting.  Every element must be considered, especially with respect to small spaces.  In a small space the lines must be minimal and the composition, flowing.  I've looked at so many pictures and have realized this to be the case time and time again, whether it's a boat, rv, or even one of those cool modern minimalist homes featured in Dwell Magazine. 

When considering how to attach a 12 volt cigarette lighter outlet on the wall, along with multiple 120 volt a.c. outlets and three switches, I wanted them to fit nicely together and to feel right. 

Here's the outlet plate I started with.  And, by the way, you can't just get these at Home Depot.  This was a custom internet order, once again.

 

And, there's the finished outlet panel. 

This will be the electrical-needs-layout in the bathroom and the galley...

I think that the12volt outlet on the right would have looked horrible with a bulky rectangle taking up a large portion of that plate.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  But then again, there's no accounting for taste. 

My vanity light. 

Last time I made a lighting instrument for The Roving Home interior I received a fair amount of comments.  I'm pleased to announce the completion of my bathroom wall sconce, as converted from 120volts a.c. to 12volts d.c.  

 

I think it's pretty elegant.  As you can see, the scale is compact.  Size is everything in the world of 106 square feet.

I had to start by cutting off the globe base - one of those funky G9 ceramic types.  Why anyone thought that such a size would be a fabulous idea is beyond me.  But, whatever.  

 

I cut that thing off and slid on a piece of 3/8" gas pipe. 

Now, feast your eyes on this next step.  I wrapped the self-adhesive L.E.D. strip-light firmly around the pipe.

And, voila...

The tubing is hollow, so I ran the wires up through the middle and soldered them onto the ends of the L.E.D. adhesive strip-light.

So much fun.

Almost forgot.  My stovetop arrived...

Stainless Steel.

I Stand Corrected.

I really do.  After all that whining I did last week about missed connections with step vans, I almost tripped over an opportunity.  No sooner did I post about all of the hurdles I've had to overcome during my vehicle search than I saw the best van drop from the sky --  thanks to craigslist.  It's a 1998 "Utilimaster," a name I just adore, by the way.  It sounds like the second level of the fourth degree in the discipline of functional observation, as taught only by the secret society of medievel Runic followers.  Yes, I've made it to the coveted level of...Utilimaster.

 At only 58,000 miles, the turbo diesel motor is practically brand new.  The body is 21' long with a 12' cargo bay. That means I have the minimal interior length I need and the overall length of a vehicle that can squeeze snugly into a public parking space in virtually any town in America. And, the best thing about it is that it's 6'8" tall and 7'6" wide. Basically, it's a monster. Or, as the tag line for the ill-fated Ford Pacer read, "It's the wide small car."

Yes, I actually saw it, walked through it, sat in the driver's seat and even heard the motor purr with delight.  She's certainly not quiet, but I picked up some sound dampening pointers from a discovery channel episode about the Rolls Royce factory.  More from that, later.  Perhaps I'll get a couple of those headsets the firemen wear.  You know, they're voice activated and have an automatic volume adjuster for the stereo signal when you start to talk.  Wouldn't that be crazy?  

In a nutshell, I have found exactly the kind of vehicle I need.  This is the one.  The big white Freightliner from my last post had some nicer lines in the front end, as this one is a bit boxy.  However,  I later found out that the Freightliner has a cargo bay of only 11 feet.  That would have been a bummer, indeed.   I'm still holding out for the perfect one.  I can definitely rest assured that it will present itself before summer ends.  

A little frustration to spice up the mix.

I purchased these 12 volt receptacles to use for my 12 volt appliances (i.e. blender, coffee maker, cell phone charger, girlfriend's hairblower).    They're super streamlined, flush mounted, protrude with a low profile and they're cheap, at only $6.00 a piece. 

  

Now for the hilarious part...not!  They're "din" sockets, basically the size of a candelabra-base at the end of light bulb.  Silly me, I didn't scroll down on the website far enough to see the "12 volt lighter" socket.  Basically, trying to stick a cigarette lighter into that thing is like trying to stuff a basketball into a tuna can.

I have been corresponding with the company from Great Britain for about a month now, getting updates on the back-ordered part.  Finally, the 7 pieces arrived in my mailbox, at which point I briskly tore into the packaging for a glimpse at my long awaited incorrectly ordered items.  At this point, I have to download a form, fill it out and repackage the sockets for their trip home to Great Britain. 

I bought a new set of sockets from a boating supplies vendor, but the receptacles probably won't sit flush in my metal mounting plate like I want.  They're a totally different design.  And, there must be a warehouse loaded with pallates of these things, because my order has already shipped out, according to Amazon.  The Chinese manufacturer probably can't get rid of them fast enough. 

 

They'll work, but they won't have a nice finished look.  Perhaps if I mount them from behind the plate, they'll look cooler.  I'll have to play with them when they get here.   

I also received a wall sconce that I dug up from the bowels of a lighting website.  The specifications for the bathroom application are very precise and compact. 

 

I think this will look really nice with the LED strip lights wrapped tightly around a central core.  I can easily fasten it to the base with some hardware.  Or, if I can find a G9 12 volt lightbulb I'll be set, because that's the receptacle size that's already in the fixture.  There's a store here in L.A. that carries a crazy lightbulb selection for architectural, scientific, medical and entertainment applications.  I'll have to check them out and see.  Luckily, they're right in Hollywood, so I won't have to travel far. 

The metal base is a bit heavier than I anticpated, but my electrical box will be mounted to the wooden studs, as in a house, so I think I'll do alright.  The top part is real glass.  If the thing falls off while driving around then I guess I'll have to change it.  But I love the style and I'm going to run with it.  "Adapting to change," is the operative mantra one must utter while negotiating the treacherous road that leads to The Roving Home.    

   

My Tortured Life

It's like when we're searching for a new apartment or for our first house, or when we're anxiously mining the Sunday classifieds for that exact model of camera week after week, only to watch it slip right through our fingers because we didn't get to the phone in time, or because we were short on cash, or were outbid on ebay. 

We're devastated.  "That was the one," we say.  "I'll never find another."  I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me.  And, sure enough, it's happened, again.  I'd found the perfect van so many times over that I think my ups and downs will soon get the best of me. 

I need to chill out. 

Today's found-then-lost vehicle.

It's a turbo diesel with only 82,000 miles (nothing for a diesel), a 12 foot box (exactly what I need) and is super tall.  At 6' I need to be careful what I buy, otherwise I'll have to sit down in the shower which would be a major bummer and something I really don't want to have to do.  My shower pan design is shallow, but it still needs some height to be effective at routing water.  And, with an insulated roof, those precious inches above and below begin to close in pretty darned fast. 

This is truly rare.  And, it's a Freightliner -- very TOUGH. 

The floor is solid oak and can be resurfaced to a luxe finish that would certainly rival any downtown loft. 

With my ceiling spot lights and dark wood cabinetry this thing would be the Ultimate Roving Home, indeed! 

So, now the rub...

The van is located in New London, Connecticut.  And, the guy wants $6,000.  Tack on $400 for air fare, $1,200 in fuel plus lodging, food, etc, just to get it back to the west coast and I'm looking at nearly $8,000 without putting a penny into the build.  No can do. 

But I was tempted.  This is the only vehicle I've seen within the length I need that also has the height.  Add a killer fat black rugged roof rack for the solar panels, paint it a cool lifeguard yellow, add some stainless steel doors to access the electrical panel and the folding bicycle drawer and this thing would rival any sportsmobile on the road, minus the gigantic price tag. 

But, I really need to keep the vehicle purchase under $5,000.  I was fantasizing, for quite some time, that I'd be able to get something suitable for $3,000, but now I'm not so sure.  With all of the time and energy I'm investing into this project, not to mention the money, I really can't sell myself short by placing an awesome living environment onto a substandard foundation.  So, $5,000 is my new price range.

--Another added allure --

Some friends of mine here in L.A. who have been keeping up on my shenanigans have entertained the notion of owning one of these for themselves -- pending an open house of the guinea pig, of course.  Now, that's a fun concept to kick around in my brain.  

But, then again, talk is cheap....One never knows.