Another step van build here in the City Of Salt!

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (reese77)

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:51:49 GMT

mofood

Thanks everyone for being patient until I have time to finish this thread! I will bring it to closure..

I can honestly say that the build has been the easy part for me. For those that haven't worked in the food industry much (like me), get ready for a whole new world when you get up and running. It's been quite the ride in my first 6 weeks!

Back to electrical. Somehow managed to not take that many pics of the 110 V wiring. Didn't seem that important at the time. It's just like a building for the most part.

Here's my 110 V panel, transfer switch, and independent 12 V panel pics:

12 V panel consists of water heater control, generator control, generator gauges (fuel, oil pressure, and voltage eventually):

Now I can't get my links to work. I will finish this thread soon..

Where's the pics?

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 02:05:22 GMT

Thanks everyone for being patient until I have time to finish this thread! I will bring it to closure..

I can honestly say that the build has been the easy part for me. For those that haven't worked in the food industry much (like me), get ready for a whole new world when you get up and running. It's been quite the ride in my first 6 weeks!

Back to electrical. Somehow managed to not take that many pics of the 110 V wiring. Didn't seem that important at the time. It's just like a building for the most part.

Here's my 110 V panel, transfer switch, and independent 12 V panel pics:

12 V panel consists of water heater control, generator control, generator gauges (fuel, oil pressure, and voltage eventually):

Now I can't get my links to work. I will finish this thread soon..

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (IndySpice)

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:46:57 GMT

I'm new to these boards, and have also found Mofood's thread on this build invaluable. Big thanks and much gratitude for sharing with us, & best of luck to you, Mofood!

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (oqanani)

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 01:15:56 GMT

This is one of my favorite truck builds on here, very detailed and very nice. Thank you so much for sharing the process. Its been a learning experience

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (sharkii's)

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:08:39 GMT

how much did it roughly cost to put that back door on the truck

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (SR-71)

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 13:34:57 GMT

mofood
After talking to my state fire Marshal, I decided I'd go with ply. I have since found other methods that would be acceptable to me. Hindsight is 20/20 :)

So what have you found since that would have been better?

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:20:36 GMT

Marco:
Ansul fire supp systems are only to be installed by licensed pros (wink wink)..that said find a cool fire system guy,

Wild dog:
The company I bought my doors from I don't recommend. Challenger door seems to have a good rep here on RF. I would price them. It's a 36x72" door. The wall was not all that expensive, but I did spend time on the design and integration. Try to think of strength and durability. I'm hanging 100lb propane tank off mine (200lbs ish).

Thx RJ

Not done with the build thread yet, but I passed HD today!!!

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (RJ's)

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:12:05 GMT

Nice work! Thanks for the info. I just bought a step van and plan on starting my own thread as well.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (THE WILD DOG)

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:33:42 GMT

can you provide a link for the back door ? Also, I have a roll up, I'm really thinking of ripping it out and putting in a single door. Can I ask what the matierial cost was for the entire back ?

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (marco226)

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:47:54 GMT

looking good mofood. Are you doing the ANSUL system yourself.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:25:02 GMT

Ventilation direct online. Low proximity backshelf hood. Good pricing..

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (delzottisausage)

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:40:33 GMT

mofood, Where did you get your exhaust hood?

Thanks!

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:53:56 GMT

Electrical:
Modified a surface mount box, put some holes in the top..

Wired the transfer switch. Bough an automatic transfer switch. Easy to work with.

Generator power lines, and mocked up shore power. You dont want female connector on shore power as many of you know. Testing. This is a 50 amp transfer switch. Wire is expensive!
General idea:

All metal conduit. I ran it across the ceiling, first run first, longest run last..

Hardware store stuff here. 1/2" wire clamps, mount it so it won't move much..

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:28:23 GMT

It's available. What model is it? Should be no problem to get. I'd be surprised if it's old enough to be discontinued..

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (jupemars)

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:08:06 GMT

Hey Mofood. Thanks for posting your build pics. You cannot imagine how helpful these have been in planning my own food truck build here in Atlanta. For instance, I've purchased a similar generator to yours and your pics have helped me determine where/how to mount it (I'm going to put it up in the driver's cabin since there's already a big, gaping hole where you access the tranny. Anyway, best of luck to you... keep posting! One question... you say you bought the installation manual for your generator... did it come with the floor template? I called my local Cummins Onan distributor and their telling me that the template is discontinued.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (reese77)

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:57:51 GMT

Gracias....

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Sat, 12 May 2012 12:37:32 GMT

You can source the grommets from Mcmaster Carr online. Some good industrial supply houses will have this stuff as well.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (chefbuba)

Sat, 12 May 2012 11:39:39 GMT

Chingadera

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (Dr of BBQ)

Sat, 12 May 2012 08:55:37 GMT

I don't know. I know they are for wielding and fabricating shops use them, and I have noticed them at Harbor Freight.I call HF the Chinese tool store because everything they sell comes from China. LOL

Ok just did a search and they are called Arrow Magnets
http://www.welders-direct...&Category_Code=ToT

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (marco226)

Sat, 12 May 2012 08:40:26 GMT

DR. what are they really called.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (Dr of BBQ)

Sat, 12 May 2012 08:10:13 GMT

magnetic thing-a-ma-giggers?
Are sold at Harbor Freight.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (reese77)

Sat, 12 May 2012 07:52:08 GMT

Mofood,

Where did you get the gromet and the magnetic thing-a-ma-giggers to hold the pipe square?

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Sat, 12 May 2012 03:10:26 GMT

Propane into the kitchen (fire suppression cut off seen here)

Another sealing grommet to keep out the critters.
Tees, and fastening to the floor with 3/4" hangers, upside down. They'll work I think.

Up onto the driver side wheel well:

Added another upside down hanger later for support. Understand, this went together, and came apart numerous times. All the pipes are sealed with gas tape (yellow) btw..

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Sat, 12 May 2012 02:55:40 GMT

Back wall done, electrical and propane are the big hitters now.
For propane, I'm gonna start with a 100 lb tank mounted to the back of the truck. All the appliances are 3/4" pipe, so that's what I'll use. I spoke with our propane shop before I did any work (there is always someone who knows all about anything you need to know at the specialty stores). I did a little calculating as well...
Piping will start at the back passenger side, go under the truck to just behind the water heater on the drivers side, then penetrate into the work space.
Here's how it looks..hard to tell orientations when taking pics from underneath the chassis. I'll try make sense of it..
Looking from under the passenger side, back of the truck. This is where it comes in from the tank, and heads to the driver side:

Held by hanger wire for now.
Up the frame rail and through a cross member:

Through another cross member, and out and down to clear the frame rail:

Around said frame rail, then up into work space:

Nothing is secured well yet, but it will be later.
Just general layout. Up into work area:

The union is the first separation since the back. It allows a disconnect before the penetration. The water heater tees off this line. You can see the control wires in the pic above. We're on the driver side wall of the truck here.
Interior later. Propane tank holder is next. Baby steps.

Not really, built it pretty quick. Mock up:

The plate is for the regulator mount. This will be brushed and coated with truck bed liner.
I predrilled all the holes in the tubes before welding. Everything will be match drilled to the frame I built for the back wall. The back wall has supports just for this frame. Measurements were matched to the frame cross members for mounting.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (purplepanda33)

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:10:48 GMT

Hi Mo,
I can't send/reply to your private message since it says I haven't been a member long enough. Do mind giving me your email? Thanks for getting back to me so promptly btw, I appreciate. My sister and I are barely starting this whole process so we're very appreciative of any help we could get :)

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (marco226)

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:33:29 GMT

MO your doing an awsome job.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (purplepanda33)

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:30:10 GMT

Hi! Are you guys willing to do some custom work for a step van I'm getting? I wanted a hood vent and service window put in. If so, could you message me with pricing info.

Thanks :)

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (kingofcreams)

Tue, 01 May 2012 08:10:44 GMT

Man you got skills for sure mo!! Good job man. Your doing much more custom work than me and i'm beat with working full time and trying to get mine done so I can only imagine how you feel!! Keep it up!

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (kingofcreams)

Tue, 01 May 2012 08:04:36 GMT

You can do what the Dr. said or you can use this : http://compare.ebay.com/like/400190913966?_lwgsi=y&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar both will work but I have personally used the fittings in the link I provided in my ice cream truck waste tank. You cut a large hole in the top of the tank so you can get your arm in it. Install the large plate fitting, allow to dry cause you'll use alot of silicone. Once it's dry you will now have an access plate that will thread in and out so you can install a waste fitting (included) or one of your choice in another location.

daddywoofdawg

How did you put the pipes into the tank?I need to put a larger drain in my waste tank, but can't figure how to mount the pipe without cutting a big hole in the top to thread a nut on the backside.

Re:Another step van build here in the City Of Salt! (mofood)

Tue, 01 May 2012 03:23:13 GMT

Insulated the wall with 2" pink board:

Sheeted with 3/8" ply, then 24g S/S.

Had to use a bunch of leftover, and make do. Couple extra seams, no big deal. Didn't enjoy cutting more ply, and S/S. It turned into a bit of a chore.
Put the service window in. Chose to have sliders open on either end, rather than center out. Can't close or lock the awning from the inside anymore:

I mentioned I had a local sheet metal fab shop make my generator cover box, and my wheel well boxes. Gen box was 1/8" Al tread plate, wheel well boxes 1/16" in tread plate. I cut the flat patterns, they bent and welded for me.
Insulated the interior of the gen box with foam for added sound insulation. This thing is quiet, now even more so on the interior. Minimal clearance requirements helped with space conservation.

Sleepy time..