Seeking advice and input for designing MV

[EGAZ]

Though I agree that changing out with cheap paper filters through the week should be fine.

True on all counts.

[The Rod]

You guys fucking rock!

I really appreciate all the input from the Bonerpillars honorary engineering department !

Next question: communication. We intend to have radio communication between driver and safeties/spotters/walkers.

We are looking at these:

I don't know much about radios but I remember hearing that there is quite a bit of interference and busy channels out in BRC. Any input on if these will work out there with the thousands of supposed channel combos?

[Popeye]

Don't rely just on voice, put an emergency STOP NOW button on the outside where the the spotters can get to it.

[Captain Goddammit]

Those radios are pretty much garbage, but should work if all you want them for is in the immediate vicinity of the B-Pill.

[GreyCoyote]

ARock: can you provide a working link to the radios you are looking at? Would love to help but just get an Amazon advert.

[The Rod]

these things

Sorry about the shitty link!

[Captain Goddammit]

GMRS radios like those Talkabouts are really junk. 23 mile range? Across outer space maybe, if the sunspots are just right.
The only way they would talk two miles is if you set them on fire and made smoke signals.

Talk to Grey Coyote about radios, or at least get MURS radios.

They will work if you only ever intend to use them right in the immediate vicinity of your MV. beyond that, a good megaphone might work better.

[GreyCoyote]

I'm with Capt: save your money. Blister pack radios such as those are a waste.

I'd grab some Baofengs or Retevis radios made for hams and use those. Much better range and quality of audio. Very configurable. They are capable of tuning across a very wide range. Set them to a license-free MURS freq (use 1,2 or 3, but stay off 4 and 5 as a courtesy to the BMORG) and you will be good to go. Or talk to a ham (or PM me) for a list of simplex amateur freqs. Do NOT just "pick one" as there is a fairly intricate band plan that needs to be observed. All the ham freqs require a license, but its simple to get and a lot of fun.

As to range, forget the claims on the box. At these freqs, its all line-of-sight so the old adage applies: "if you can see it, you can talk to it". Range is more a function of height, not so much power. A kilowatt of power is useless if there is a hill in the way, conversely you can (and hams routinely do) hit the International Space Station from their backyards with 3 watts or less.

[The Rod]

I think the radio situation is under control . Eplaya rocks.

In other news: Oh man, oh man oh man.. I have 10 days until we load this thing on a truck! What the fuck did I sign up for?! We have a long way to go. Pretty sure will still be work in progress when it hits the playa...



Anyways.. Got a few things left to order (love that spamazon prime) and I'm wondering what the fuck to do about headlights. The wrap that hides the engine compartment covers the headlights, I want to keep them covered. I think the cut out thing looks cheesy. Was thinking about mounting a couple floodlights (maybe 12v) higher up on the front, in the mouth, pointing down. Added bonus that pedestrians in the front won't have headlights in their eyes. What do you guys think?

[Captain Goddammit]

That will be fine and good on ya for not using the stock original lights, it ruins the effect and makes it look "truck".

[cruizer]

Thank you for this fantastic thread! It offers such great insight into the process of creating a Mutant Vehicle to someone like me who is contemplating the creating of an MV. Thank you to all contributors for the info because it helps with my questions too!

[The Rod]

Thank you for this fantastic thread! It offers such great insight into the process of creating a Mutant Vehicle to someone like me who is contemplating the creating of an MV. Thank you to all contributors for the info because it helps with my questions too!

heres the question I should have asked at the beginning of this thread: "Is this project going to consume my life, deprive me of sleep for months, make my girlfriend hate me, drive me insane, and cost WAY more money then I anticipated?"

What do you think the answer to that question is? Think about that while you contemplate creating your MV.

[BBadger]

The answer would be: yes, but it'll be worth all that.

[Captain Goddammit]

Even after the initial build, every year you bring it, it'll be the same. Maintenance and upgrades etc usually end up snowballing to make it MORE expensive and time consuming as it goes.

[cruizer]

In my sailing days there was the often repeated saying about boats
"Boats are holes in the water in which to throw money" and also "If you wanna know racing sailboats is like, just stand under a cold shower tearing up hundred dollar bills"

I imagine both quotes would apply to building/maintaining an MV.

[Captain Goddammit]

Now consider that my MV is a boat...

[Doctor VonBacon]

BOAT : Break Out Another Thousand.

MV : Money Vacuum

BOAT + MV = Spending to rival the federal government.

[Ratty]

This thread makes me look closely at the MVs. Even the simplest vehicle is a huge time and money drain.

[Captain Goddammit]

Well... the simple decorated gold carts aren't. Fortunately people like A-Rock step it up and bring the "Oh wow!!"

[Doctor VonBacon]

Fortunately people like A-Rock step it up and bring the "Oh wow!!"

You're no slouch in that department, either, Captain. Your investment of time, talent, and $$$ show.

[Captain Goddammit]

shows I'm not the smartest motherfucker thar ever lived...

[The Rod]

Money vacuum! Fucking A...

I have no idea how I'm going to have this together enough to load it on a trailer in 5 days. Five Fucking Days!! Good grief, talk about not being the smartest motherfucker ever...





oh my god oh my god oh my god

[Captain Goddammit]

Gawd speed!
I know all too well the exhaustion from working early morning to late night, weeks on end, trying to get what didn't seem like THAT much work done!

[Dr Helix]

This is why I stayed small all these years with the golf cart frame/mini semi. Had it now for four years and I'm still tinkering, adding or repairing plus a full trailer transport up there. I can't even imagine all the work that goes into a large MV. I agree with everyone here though that it will be worth it. And if it's not perfect this year who cares? All the more to tinker with in the off season. Good luck and see you out there! I'm the Captain's wing man this year. Should be fun.

[Doctor VonBacon]

shows I'm not the smartest motherfucker thar ever lived...

Eh, you probably would have just wasted that money on booze, loose women, and other moral turpitude.

...and who wants to see that.

[Captain Goddammit]

Well my goddamm boat keeps catching fire every time I start it up. Exhaust is contacting the hull at bottom of transom.
Sawzall time.

[GreyCoyote]

You just need a wet exhaust... (Ducking)

[The Rod]

How's the boat?



BP left on a trailer this morning. won't see it again until Thursday...

Realized as we're loading it that I did not leave access to the gas cap.

[cruizer]

Fare thee well all burners and MV builders, enjoy the playa. Alas I am unable to go this year. Please, mourn my absence.

[Captain Goddammit]

Oops haha. I've intentionally got my gas filler cap located under the aft deck where I have to open the engine hatch to get at it. That prevents ignoring things down there.

I took care of the issue that was making the boat catch fire every time I ran it.

I worked and spent a LOT more on the trailer and the truck than on the MV.
That's a point a lot of new or would-be MV builders don't consider. You gotta be able to haul the thing!