MINI RAMP PICTURES

Twelve Board Store, Melbourne, AU

Indoor Skateboard Park Mini Ramp Photos Post 2

I was watching the latest installment of Jeff Grosso's Loveletters to Skateboarding and he made some really good points concerning the DIY Ramp Building Scene.

 When I first started skateboarding in rural area of northern Minnesota over thirty years ago, the only way to skate transitions was to create my own place to skate.  My grandfather helped me build a eight foot wide, by four foot tall mini ramp, and along with a neighbor's ramp down the road, this was our skate scene.  

House of Vans, London






Rampplans.org

OC RAMPS

DIY Skateboard Park Found in Carlton, Minnesota

Stop taking down skateboard parks and DIY projects.  People need places to skateboard.

Here is the article, and please post your comments:

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) issued two restoration orders on wetland violations in the area. A complaint of someone poisoning wild animals is being investigated in the area. Fishing opener was busy with a lot of activity to report in the area. Enforcement action was taken for unattended lines, angle without a license, insufficient life jackets and registration violations.  Turkey hunting activity was checked in the area but little activity was found. ATV activity was busy over the past weekend with enforcement action being taken for no safety certificate, operating on the road and registration violations. While checking an area of state forest land where there is frequent littering a group of individuals were contacted and found to be making a skate board park on a paved section of an old road. Concrete ramps and rails were all found on the property. The individuals were identified and the local DNR forestry and trails offices were notified so discussions on how it’s going to be cleaned up could take place.

Vintage Skateboard Advertisement

DIY Skateboarding Spot: My Driveway

Cement coping was poured using a piece of PVC cut in half for the front of the form, and chicken wire and rocks-poured quickcrete in the form, and I remembered to put some spray oil on the PVC, which made the removal easy.  #3ft. tall and fun for frontside grinds!

The little cement quarter-pipe kinda reminds me of the DIY barriers, but not quite as steep.  Fun and challenging to skate, and it only cost me about $5 in block, and $15 in quickcrete, so it is a pretty cheap little DIY project, and really fun to skate...no maintenance required.

and here is another shot of it from a different angle:

Link to DIY concrete skate spots:

broken magazine's d-i-y-skateparks

Link to information on creating a local skate scene:

http://www.skateparkguide.com/how_quality_skateparks_are_built.html

Broken Magazine PDF

Jeff Grosso: Love Letters to Skateboarding

Jeff Grosso continues to enlighten the new generation with compelling podcasts and videos concerning his perspective on the present age of skateboarding.  Grosso was one of my favorite vert skateboarders during my youth and his video parts were known for being wild and crazy in a eyebrow shaving sort of way.  Here is his latest installment:

Cargo Van Sleeper Pictures for Skateboard Roadtrips

This is a nice looking cargo van sleeper.  I like the high roof, and the clean design and bright white color.

This is a small, coffin style sleeper bunk.  Advantages to this design would include increased cargo space and lack of weight.

I found a great new article for cargo van sleeper modifications.  The name of the article: "Living Large in a Van via http://www.expeditersonline.com/news/truck-topics/living-large-in-a-van-cargo-van-sleepers-89.htm#comments

Improving the comfort level of cargo vans in earlier days of expediting usually required that the owner be skillful with the tools and materials necessary to insulate the truck and install the basic necessities such as the bunk, inverter, etc. 

Many of the home-constructed "conversions" were impressive, with foldup bunks, folding bulkheads, overhead storage and TV racks, etc.

There are still a number of those good-looking home-built cargo van sleeper setups out there, but over the last few years, the commercially constructed sleepers have been gaining popular acceptance. 

With today's professional conversions, the "B" unit driver can now choose between a spartan conversion with the basics of a bunk and storage compartments to a conversion that is close to the comfort levels of the bigger trucks, albeit on a smaller scale.

Some features to consider in the expediter sleeper conversions:

Length of cargo bed - The sleeper manufacturers have been able to retain a sizeable nine feet of cargo area behind the bulkhead. This allows the transport of two full-size pallets, long considered a gauge of sufficient cargo length in a van.

Bulkheads - All of the conversions spotlighted here feature heavy-duty bulkheads that separate the cargo area from the sleeper.  The bulkheads provide driver protection from a shifting load, they help insulate the sleeper area and enhance the truck's heating and air conditioning and provide a sturdy surface to mount storage cabinets.

E-Track - The conversions utilize both wall and recessed floor-mounted e-track securement systems. 

Freightliner of Knoxville Sprinter Van

Freightliner of Knoxville offers a 158" wheelbase, 73" tall roof model that has become the "Sprinter-of-choice" for the expediting market. 

A company called Phoenix Conversions is the exclusive provider of this sleeper package to Freightliner of Knoxville, and as New Truck Sales Manager Jim McFerrin says, "We provided Phoenix with our specifications, and we're very happy with the job they've done!  They've produced a unit that is equal in workmanship and quality to any of the more expensive sleepers that are available."

"We're fortunate to have a working relationship with a fine company like Phoenix Conversions - and they are located right here in Knoxville.  We've had extremely positive feedback from our customers who have purchased this package."
  
Sleeper Conversion Features:

-A bunk measuring 27.5" W x 66" L x 5" D  with lift-up lid for access to storage area.
 
-Floor-to-ceiling storage closet behind the front passenger seat with latching double door.

-Full width storage cabinet over sleeper bunk with latching double doors.
 
-Audiovox 13" color tv/video player built into overhead cabinet

-Ceiling mounted "Hide-a-Way" television cabinet
 
-Overhead cabinet with built-in microwave
 
-Built-in 12 volt refrigerator inset into a floor mounted cabinet with a laminated counter top

-1750 watt power inverter with remote on/off control switch
 
-Dual battery system with deep cycle battery and solenoid isolator system

-Exterior 110 volt shore power hook up with automatic transfer switch (inverter to shore power)
 
-12 volt interior lighting package with 3 fixtures
 
-"Reflectix" insulation package in the walls and ceiling
 
-Vinyl-covered walls with custom diamond button pattern and vinyl-covered ceiling

-Carpeted floor in sleeper area

-Fabric divider curtain around front doors and windshield

-Tinted glass - 5 percent on rear, 20 percent on side sliding door, 35 percent on driver and passenger doors

Cargo Area Features:

-Rear divider wall 108.5" from the rear doors - a full 9 feet of cargo space

-E-track securement system in rear cargo area (side walls and recessed in floor)

"Phoenix can also customize their installations to meet customer specifications," says McFerrin.  "They can build these conversions to suit with a very quick turn-around time, a matter of a week or two, in most cases."

"Because Freightliner of Knoxville deals in volume, we can pass our lower prices along to our customers.  We always keep several Sprinters in stock, including at least one conversion."

Jon Mosier
Freightliner of Knoxville
1413 Everett Road
Knoxville, TN. 37932
1.800.443.2324
1.865.842.2420 
jmosier@thetruckguys.com
http://thetruckguys.expeditersonline.com/

Bentz Transport Products Conversion

In 2002, Bentz Transport Products introduced the Expediter Interior Conversions for Cargo Vans. Designed and installed by Bentz, a leading manufacturer of aftermarket sleeper cabs, the interior conversions are targeted to expedited freight applications and provide bunkspace for convenient and comfortable rest when out of service.

Bentz offers three different conversion packages:

Model B10 Expediter Interior Conversion

30" fold-up bunk assembly only 30" x 76" fold-down bunk assembly, left side,
with foam mattress Bunk support legs when in open position. Bunk hinge, gas piston and retainer straps when in closed position

B30 Expediter Interior Conversion

30" fold-up bunk assembly with overhead storage compartments 30" x 76" fold-down bunk assembly, left side, with foam mattress Bunk support legs when in open position Bunk hinge, gas piston and retainer straps when in closed position Aluminum overhead storage compartment, left side Aluminum overhead storage compartment, right side TV compartment, right side, with external side-mount TV
antenna and 12-volt power outlet Soft trim panels with foam and vinyl on exterior surfaces of
aluminum storage compartments

B60 Expediter Interior Conversion

60" sleeper berth with cross-frame bunk configuration
Relocated factory cargo partition with 9-feet clear cargo compartment 60" sleeper berth with 30" x 66" bunk assembly, hinged bunk pan,
underbunk storage and foam mattress Carpet with 1/2 inch insulation pad 2 inch fiberglass insulation: side & rear walls, cargo door and ceiling Soft trim panels with foam and vinyl on side wall, back wall, and cargo door; cloth on headliner Reading light and fluorescent light Aluminum storage/refrigerator cabinet, left front Aluminum wardrobe/storage cabinet, right front Aluminum overhead storage compartments, left side & rear wall Aluminum TV compartment w/roof-mount antenna &12-volt outlet Soft trim panels with foam and vinyl on exterior surfaces of aluminumstorage compartments Black vinyl sliding curtain behind seats

Bentz Transport Products, Inc.
4532 Allen Martin Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46806
800 664-2865
Ph: 260 441-0404
Fax: 260 441-0202

Alumi-bunk Expediter Cargo Vans

Dan Tilley, Expediting Truck Specialist at Alumibunk of Knoxville says, "In the area of cargo vans, the Ford E350 1-ton van is a proven vehicle.  Our vans are equipped with the Ford 7.3 Powerstroke diesel, so an owner can rely on great fuel economy and great power."

"Alumibunk developed the first sleeper conversion for the cargo van a number of years ago, so we have been able to refine this installation, and build it to suit what our customers need."  
 
Sleeper Conversion Features:

24" wide bed 5" high density foam mattress Fluorescent light Digital alarm clock Privacy curtain Storage compartment Fully insulated door panel 4" Fully insulated bulkhead reinforced with aluminum sub-frame fully sealed from cargo area

Cargo Area Features:

9' Cargo bed 2 Rows of logistic E tracking on side walls Plywood floor 2 Rows of logistic E tracking recessed in floor 13" Corrugated scuff plate on bulkhead wall

Tilley adds, "The Ford E350 has the longest manufacturer's warranty for a vehicle of this size, and for the buyer with good credit, in many cases, these can be purchased with no money down.