Ivan The Beast

Ivan at Burning Man 2018

Well Ivan seems to have developed a bit of front end trouble. When slowing to go into a curve he starts to wobble. Feels like front wheels are going to fall off. Not sure what this is yet. Could be ball joints or wheel bearings or A-arm bushings. Won't know until I jack him up and put him on work stand, break out the air tools and wrenches.

Ivan the Beast is now fully solar while off grid! Removed a NON operation generator, dead weight, removed the mounting brackets for it and cleared out the entire compartment and rebuilt it to hold the bank of four(4) deep cell batteries. Constructed an aluminum frame to hold five(5) solar panels. Mounted the frame on the roof of Ivan and wired up the panels. Made all the connections in the charging control box and flipped the switches ON. GREEN LIGHT!

Well Ivan has had a few upgrades this year. Replaced both ceiling vent/fan units, a new fridge!, a solar engine battery tender, new light in bath and a new paint job on the cab roof. Next up is fabricating a custom rack and base for three solar panels on the roof. to keep cabin batteries up while traveling and parked.

Doing some work on Ivan the Beast. The cab top was starting to look like a red headed kid with a bad sunburn that was peeling off. couple hours of sanding, taping off and primer and paint and we have a clean white roof. Replacing the 45yr old fridge that is on its last legs with a new one today. Not cheap let me tell you. Also replace both ceiling vent fan units. Got a solar battery tender for the engine battery, after running it down over a weekend of phone charging. Next up is obtaining a control unit to use 3 of my solar panels to charge cabin batteries, even while rolling. Working on the mounting bracket now in CAD. Next outing for Ivan is next week. Taking off for Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville.