The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by gbstewart

Heres my step cover well worth it , it keeps the noise down as well as a place for your feet
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5931&start=180
gbstewart

Thanks, I was trying to figure out a way to store it under the seat. I did not consider folding it up under the hand rail like that. I have room there.

[gbstewart]

yes it folds out of the way, the first one I made you had to lift it up and store it then put it back in place work great, but a pain in the ass, this is so simple to use.
I really like your build, keep up the good work
gbstewart

[Saddletramp]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

Hey, I like long legged women.

I plan to build a pull out cover of some sort. Right now it will probably be my grand-daughter and her legs don't touch anyway.

You are going to get your grand daughter to crouch in the stairwell so the passenger can rest their feet on her?

Ingenious but probably illegal.

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by Saddletramp

You are going to get your grand daughter to crouch in the stairwell so the passenger can rest their feet on her?

Ingenious but probably illegal.

Ha ha

[gusbus]

The stair cover is a grand idea guys!

[ThePimentals]

Do you have any of the original clearance lights? I'm keeping them original and need some replacements I have 4 broken. 2 red 2 amber. Not looking to spend money on replacing all of them, because if they don't match I'll lose my mind.

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by ThePimentals

Do you have any of the original clearance lights? I'm keeping them original and need some replacements I have 4 broken. 2 red 2 amber. Not looking to spend money on replacing all of them, because if they don't match I'll lose my mind.

Mine were all corroded and nasty, that was one reason I replaced them. You can ask Porkchop to see if he has any of his. He removed them all.

[wmkbailey]

I got my battery bank platform welded in.



I welded so scrap 16 ga to the top.



For now I will bolt the batteries to the platform. When I get back from my trip to Indiana, I will make a slide out, so I can get to them when I build the bathroom around them. I need to find a drawer slide that can handle 400 lbs.

Now that I have this done, I can do two things.
1) Measure and order the cables for the batteries.
2) Start putting in the insulation.

[gusbus]

Oh those things are so unmercifully heavy!!!
I've got three in my van; thankfully I've never had to mess with them in 2 years. They are AGM's. No Water!!!

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by gusbus

Oh those things are so unmercifully heavy!!!
I've got three in my van; thankfully I've never had to mess with them in 2 years. They are AGM's. No Water!!!

I have six 90 AH AGM's at 65 lbs each, 390 lbs total.They had a sale on the 90 AH and the plus side they will be easier to move.

[wmkbailey]

Looks like I will flip my bathroom around. I was going to put the sink above the battery bank and a closet on the other side. I discovered that my inverter needs to be less than six feet away. So now the closet will be over the battery bank with the shower next to it. The sink and toilet will be on the other side.

I will put the inveter and charger below the batteries. The distrubution pannel and battery monitor above. This will shorten several cables for me.

[gusbus]

Those cables are expensive too!

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by gusbus

Those cables are expensive too!

I just got back from out Battery Plus to have them made. I have one 14' that will go from the battery separator to the bus battery. Now I'm $350.00 poorer.

[gusbus]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

I just got back from out Battery Plus to have them made. I have one 14' that will go from the battery separator to the bus battery. Now I'm $350.00 poorer.

Yup; I feel your pain! That stuff is expensive. I tied my aux. batteries into my Van charging system. The batteries are just inside the back door. Long ways and many dollars from the back of the van to the battery under the hood.

[Diesel Dan]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

...Now I'm $350.00 poorer.

Dang! Now I'm REALLY glad my bus came with a wheel chair lift. I have a large gauge cable running the full length of the bus which I plan to use to connect the house batteries to the alternator via a separator switch.

[sdwarf36]

Too late now--but welding cable is much cheaper + works just fine.

[Tango]

If your putting any kind of electronics "under" the batteries, make certain the area is absolutely sealed off or the battery fumes will eat the expen$ive $tuff in a heartbeat.

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by sdwarf36

Too late now--but welding cable is much cheaper + works just fine.

I don't have the equipment to build 1/0 GA cables. So I'm having the experts do it for me.

[wmkbailey]

Originally Posted by Tango

If your putting any kind of electronics "under" the batteries, make certain the area is absolutely sealed off or the battery fumes will eat the expen$ive $tuff in a heartbeat.

They are AGM sealed batteries, so not as bad an issue. The equipment will be sealed off and the back of the battery bank goes to the floor, so I will vent then through the floor. That will have to wait until I get back. Only so much time left.

[gusbus]

Originally Posted by wmkbailey

They are AGM sealed batteries, so not as bad an issue. The equipment will be sealed off and the back of the battery bank goes to the floor, so I will vent then through the floor. That will have to wait until I get back. Only so much time left.

AGM's are the only way to go if you can afford them. You can mount them upside down if you want and no fumes whatever. I've had mine two years now and I love them . . .no maint. at all; other than making sure they never go below 12.5 volts. The solar panels pretty much take care of that. Sometimes on a real cloudy day I'll have to charge them with the little gen-set I've got but not often. Keep in mind; I live in my van 24/7 for two weeks at a time only going home every other weekend. They've paid for themselves easily in the two years I've had them.