Last night, I was reviewing some of the saved process videos that I had for future steps in the van build. I came across one on wrapping the front and rear columns in fabric, which is something I wanted to do. As I watched the video, I noticed that I would have to do that step before installing the subfloor. So, I ordered the fabric and adhesive that I need and I will wait with the subfloor installation until I have wrapped the columns.
I also wanted to run the wire from the van batteries through the walls of the van to where the electrical system will be, and this would best be done before I install the subfloor. I still have not received the wire for this connection. I have ordered it twice, and both times I received the wrong length of wire (it was too short to use). I ordered it from a different company, and I hope to have it by tomorrow.
In the morning, I removed the weights that we had put on the back joists to cure the adhesive, and they all looked good. I then cut out the two remaining pieces of foam board insullation.
Even though I couldn’t glue in the subfloor, I did work with Artie to fit up the subfloor panels. You may remember that I traced out the template for the subfloor last week, and Elizabeth cut most of them out. Artie and I put them in the van, and for the most part they fit very well. Just a little trimming needed on a couple of sections.
The rear section needed the most work. It was too tight around the rear columns, so Artie used the jigsaw to shave some wood off that section of the subfloor.
Once it fit well, I used a marker to mark the curve in the rear of the van floor onto the subfloor (from underneath). I had left this piece intentionally long, so that I could cut it to size at this point in the build. It ended up fitting well.
The last thing to do on this back piece of subfloor was to cut a hole in it to allow access to the spare tire mechanism. I measured as best as I could (I was “blind” and just had to measure several times to be sure) and cut a 1 1/2″ hole in the piece. When we put it back into the van, it fit perfectly!
Here is what the subfloor looks like with all the pieces in (but not glued in). They are very solid, and I’m extremely happy at how it turned out.
All of that was about two hours of work, and Artie had to stop working. So, I drove the van to Charlotte to pick up the Unistrut channel that I will be putting on the walls and ceiling. The Unistrut sections are 20 feet long, and driving to Charlotte to pick them up saved me over $200 in shipping charges. They hung out the back of the van a little, but I had them tied down good and had no problems.
I moved the chop saw out into the driveway to be able to cut this long length of unistrut channel down to what I needed to put it into the van. Artie and Elizabeth helped by holding the overhanging ends of unistrut on both sides of the piece. It was only four cuts to make pieces that I needed for the van.
Since it was a hot sunny day, I laid the now eight sections of unistrut out on some 2″ x 4″ ‘s and cleaned and painted them for installation in the van. Burned through almost three cans of spray paint. It took three passes, but the paint dried very quickly in the sun. I think they look great. Once I receive the bolts I need from Amazon, I’ll hang these in the van.
That was the end of my work day. I’ll have to come up with a few things to do to keep me busy for the next few days until the fabric and wire shows up.