VANNA’S NEW RIDE

The January breakdown marked the end of the road for the drive train. I was hoping it would keep running long enough for me to complete the PRV constuction project.

The repairs to get Vanna running took six weeks. The process of eliminating fault codes, then waiting for the part, then moving on to the next issue was far to prolonged. Consumer grade vehicles parts are increasingly challenging to find. This issue only gets worse with vehicles manufactured in the two thousands and beyond. Consumer grade vehicles are produced with continuously evolving tecknologies of minimal manufacturing quality and life expectancy. Consumer grade vehicles are now mostly considered disposable. Complex repairs often surpass the value of the vehicle. A diversity of parts compounded by short production runs has greatly reduced the financial feasibility for aftermarket parts production and supply. Custom Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) may alleviate this situation some, however not completely.

I purchased with the odometer reading 280,000klm and now its at 334,000klm. Those 54,000klms have cost me $20,000 in repairs. That is unacceptable. That investment has not resulted in a reliable mechanically sound vehicle. The vehicle has never run properly or dependably. There is a long list of issues that are in critical need of attention.

The 7.3 diesel block is legendary and loved. The block is sound and burns no oil. Literally every thing bolted to it, the seals between them and the supporting systems have failed it.

The last repairs cost $2000 and six weeks of loss of use.

The vehicle now runs worst than it ever has in the past.

Vanna’s drive train has become a good money after bad reality. Time is up.

MOVING ON OPTIONS

The idea of purchasing another RV is traumatising. I looked at the available options and I just can’t do it.

The though of the energy and time require to get an RV to do what Vanna 2020 does is just to painful to consider.

One of the better options I considered as a short term quick and dirty solution was a one ton pick up truck and camper. It could be done affordably and it would be easy to sell when I’m done with it. It still would have been problematic with many challenges. A one ton truck carries a one ton cargo load. An empty practical camper with all necessary amenities weights one ton. Moving in my stuff and filling the tanks adds at least three quarters of a ton. The math don’t add up good. Also, campers are really cramped for space. They should be called “Crampers”.

I then considered putting a camper on a commercial truck flat deck. This eliminated the weight problem and the cramping could be mediated by circling the deck around the camper with storage boxes. Its feasible and relatively simple to do. The deal breaker for me was the energy required to convert the camper into a dwelling being at least as capable as Vanna.

THE SENSIBLE PLAN, VANNA 2022

Put Vanna on the deck. Vanna’s second life.

This option covers all the bases and check off my list of issues nicely.

THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PATH

The Toyota Hino and Isuzu GMC class of commercial trucks are popular. They are designed to work with minimal down times or operating cost. Commercial operators have no patience for the dramas of down time. They are commonly used because they perform well.

Commercial trucks with hydraulic brakes of the five ton or less class require no special licence. A regular drivers licence is all that’s required.

Stripping away Vanna’s obsolete components is a strait forward process if properly equipped and prepared. The hood, fenders, wiring, electronics, engine, suspension, drive train, tanks and miscellaneous components can be removed in a couple of days.

All of the removed components have a cash value. They have a scrap metal value by weight. The recycled auto parts value is greater to a recycler. Visit various recyclers so they can see the vehicle running and work out a deal for the parts package. If you have a place to keep the parts the value increases for you. List the parts on any marketplace to maximise the profits.

Placing Camper Vanna on the deck is the most challenging part of the process. Fortunately I have access to a variety of cranes. It is also easily done with the right vehicle hoist. It could be done with jacks and a complex effort of labor.

Vanna will be secured to the deck using the cargo strap ratchets that are fixed to the deck already to go. Vanna’s frame will rest on appropriately sized blocks so the tanks aren’t crushed.