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Happy New Year 2016!
To all of you who regularly followed VivaLaVida’s journey, it’s time to give you some news…
Back to Switzerland in early June, the life surprised me with a beautiful encounter that changed many things in my life and my future. Thus VivaLaVida’s journey has stopped and will not resume, at least in the same way. I’m still thinking about how to reinstate me, socially and professionally, in a world where I wasn’t supposed to come back anytime soon!
VivaLaVida is still stored in Salt Lake City, he hasn’t moved since late May. However, it’s well sheltered in a warm storage and should not suffer from this extended stay. I’m currently evaluating the possibilities for exporting and registering it in Switzerland. Nothing is done yet but it seems that this should be possible without major works. It would please me to be able to keep it to travel in Europe. I will keep you informed. 😉
It’s high time for me to wish you all the best for 2016, with many travel in all shapes, health and an open mind to all the positive experiences that life offers!
Cottonwood road article comments
Don’t ask me why the comments are off for this update, I haven’t done anything different than the others and I don’t manage to find the parameter to allow those… Sorry.
Next updates…
I just found out how to publish updates without having Internet connexion.
I will so be able to reduce the difference between updates and the place I’m actually. Not sure it also works for translation, so sorry if you English speaking guys could see updates in French only, I will fix it later… 😉
Mechanical hazard…
Well, you will have to wait a bit for the next images of the beautiful nature here … The bad news is that the code “Low turbo boost” did not come from the actuator replaced a few days ago. Friday morning, the code came again followed by an ugly noise and a lot of white/blue smoke coming out of exhaust. Power boost to zero, I tried to drag to the workshop Chris… A two-hour dismantling later, I discovered that the turbo shaft was shared throughout, never seen taht before!
No other choice than to order a new turbo … Two hours thirty later, after reassembly, VivalaVida is again roadworthy. Insight into the cramped engine compartment which makes interventions sometimes difficult…
Only hope that I will be quiet now with the mechanics for a while…
VivaLaVida: interior
Here is a presentation of my “Wheel house”. 😀
The space where I usually live is in the middle. There is a large sofa transforming in bed for the night. Uper bed is in three elements which fold during the day to let space above the sofa.
Day config:
Night config:
Cabinets, sink and fridge take place on driver side. The two front seats can swivel to open a convenient space. A table can be installed in front of the front seats or the sofa. The sink contains a basin, a cutting board and a draining rack, nice to save space. 😉
Front passenger seat with table and fridge
Sofa with table
Sink closed and opened
The diesel stove is installed on the rear lateral door. It transforms as an outside kitchen and the cabinet door makes then a small outside table.
Closed
Ready to use
Outside kitchen
The back offers a lot of space to carry my stuff and my mountain bike. The bed plateform has hinges in front, so it can tilt up to easier access under where I carry cases and travel bags. At rear of floor, there is a large underfloor storage where I carry Tools, winch stuff, ski boots, etc.
Overview
Backpacks, heater air intake
Bracket for front bike Wheel is on the right door
Underfloor storage
I can also intall my outside shower, a real pleasure already tested this weekend… 😉
You know almost all on my interior but I answer any quastion you would like to ask. 😀
VivaLaVida: outside equipments
Here are some information and detailed images from the outside:
At the front, the OEM bumper was replaced by an aluminum bumper with protection bars. I did it modified to be able to move the winch back if needed. It features two long-beam Xenon (HID) lights. I also changed the original grille to maximize cooling as the big 6-liter diesel engine is a little cramped in the van. Finally, above the windshield takes place a directional Xenon headlight controlled from the dashboard, handy to find a place to sleep when it’s already dark (I missed it on previous trips!).
Front view
Movable winch (opened)
Light Force lights
On driver side…
Step
LED courtesy light, main tank filler and shore power plug (110/220 V)
Custom aluminum ladder and auxiliary tank filler
The rear also gets an aluminum bumper incorporating two reverse lights, a storage compartment, spare wheel on which sits a Trasharoo Bag (bag to transport garbage, avoiding odor in the van) and a storage box where will take place in a small emergency generator, my custom grill . There is also the High Lift jack already presented. Top of the roof, wide flood LED light and rearview camera complete equipment.
Overview
Rear bumper storage
Aluminum box
Hi-lift jack
On passenger side, there is water tank filler, a courtesy LED light similar than other side, air intake and exaust of diesel stove, and a sliding foldable step made of stainless steel.
Water filler
Step
Step folded
That’s all for outside presentation. Inside will come soon. 😀
Recovery stuff…
… which will likely serve on some trails :
1) Hi Lift Jack with 48 inches capacity
2) the 12’000 lbs winch which I will be able to move form front (normal position) to rear if necessary.
The reassembly of the engine is still in progress, but it is not completely lost to achieve end tomorrow… 😉
Roof rack on work
While the replacement of the 4 injectors of right cylinders bench is in progress, the roof rack is ready to be welded. It will provide a framework on hinges allowing three solar panels to flip for a better performance in the countries at high latitudes and also a roller for easy loading of a canoe.
The front bumper came from powdrer coating late afternoon. I will show it soon. 😉
VivaLaVida puts her nose out!
The day has come to leave Robert’s workshop to get to Chris’s one. It’s the opportunity to make a couple of images of VivaLaVida under the sun …
Mechanical work will start tomorrow: the diagnosis is clear: bad third injector. Since there are 10 hours of work to replace it – must get the engine down to access it! – I will replace 4 injectors of the right cylinder row, just to put all the chances on my side to not have to start again in a couple of months. The roof rack will also be made soon, as modified front bumper and various other small jobs to finish …
Have a nice week-end! 😉
Custom front bumper
In parallel with finishes of interior, the front bumper “special VivalaVida” is under construction : aluminum bumper to save weight, winch attached to front hitch making possible to move it to rear hitch and thus to winch from the back if needed… Not bad, isn’t it? 😉
D5 Creation