[beejay]

Hello,

I have picked up a 98 model Tempo Traveler Van with the intent to convert into a mobile eye testing van.

The Van would be converted into a store in the bay area and I intend to remove the bench seat and have the following seat configuration.

Driver, passenger two individual seats in front and one bench seat behind.

Behind the bench seat in the cargo area, I plan to fabricate an optical store, with lockable cabinets and shelves, a table and two chairs.

Exterior would carry graphics, planning to have my store logo, contact details and other catchy graphics.

I have not seen the vehicle in person and is right now in transit on top of a lorry from Madras.

From the looks of it, I am sure there is tinkering and painting involved.

Now,

What would be the RTO rules for this kind of a vehicle?

What should I look out for when I fabricate this into what I have in mind?

Is vinyl wrapping a good idea? If yes, should I just do the body work and wrap with the logo et all and save on the painting charges?

Any suggestions for the body graphics and fabrication inside? Do you know of any places down south where I can do the same?

What alternate power sources should I have to power up the machine and lights in the bay area. Would one battery work?

Kindly pour in your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Benny John

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by beejay

Is vinyl wrapping a good idea? If yes, should I just do the body work and wrap with the logo et all and save on the painting charges?

Vinyl wrapping will save some money on painting, and you would be able to change the graphics mid way as well. I am not sure if it would have any implication on the registration.

Originally Posted by beejay

What alternate power sources should I have to power up the machine and lights in the bay area. Would one battery work?

I think one battery would not be sufficient. Lighting and other stuff will be taken care of by a normal 1kVa Domestic Invertor.

[beejay]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Vinyl wrapping will save some money on painting, and you would be able to change the graphics mid way as well. I am not sure if it would have any implication on the registration.



I think one battery would not be sufficient. Lighting and other stuff will be taken care of by a normal 1kVa Domestic Invertor.

Thank you for your reply.

Even I felt vinyl wrap would be a cost effective solution. I think the whole body can be wrapped sans the top.

I am trying to see if I can get it done in Coimbatore.

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by beejay

Kindly pour in your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Benny John

• I can see some Rust streaks on the sides. Attend to them. Maybe a rub-down + at least a sngle coat of white should make it ready. Dont go for Vinyl before attending to Rust
• 98 Tempo Travelers where not so reliable, so you might want to give it a mini service and change all the critical parts like clutch cable etc.
• If you are tight on Budget, Contact UPVC Modular Kitchen Makers to help you with Cabinets. Coimbatore has scores of them
• Have a PA System for addressing crowds waiting outside the Van
• Have a Outside-Facing TV, which runs some Videos / Pictures related to eye or your clinic. LCD TVs cost hardly cost 10,000 now-a-days.
• Contact Any bus body building unit in Karur-Erode Belt. They fabricate almost anything. Hospital supply stores have sufficient equipment for Mobile units / hospital on wheels etc.
• You would need to have a Generator. Battery backup is not sufficient. Silent Honda Gensets are available for 20,000/-

[beejay]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

• I can see some Rust streaks on the sides. Attend to them. Maybe a rub-down + at least a sngle coat of white should make it ready. Dont go for Vinyl before attending to Rust
• 98 Tempo Travelers where not so reliable, so you might want to give it a mini service and change all the critical parts like clutch cable etc.
• If you are tight on Budget, Contact UPVC Modular Kitchen Makers to help you with Cabinets. Coimbatore has scores of them
• Have a PA System for addressing crowds waiting outside the Van
• Have a Outside-Facing TV, which runs some Videos / Pictures related to eye or your clinic. LCD TVs cost hardly cost 10,000 now-a-days.
• Contact Any bus body building unit in Karur-Erode Belt. They fabricate almost anything. Hospital supply stores have sufficient equipment for Mobile units / hospital on wheels etc.
• You would need to have a Generator. Battery backup is not sufficient. Silent Honda Gensets are available for 20,000/-

The LCD is a brilliant idea, thank you.

I plan to give it a single coat before painting. The test drive by the lorry driver seemed okay. He told me, its fine and the engine is good. radiator needs to be replaced I think, as he said the water was boiling after driving around 50kms in Madras.

I will post more details after I see the vehicle in person, tomorrow.

[Ashley2]

I suggest you do your body fabrication, tinkering, painting all in one go. All these are complimenting each other and finishing them at one place will save you cost. You will definitely need a complete paint. A full wrap around decal will not give you a better finish if the substrate is not finished properly (read as properly painted with out rust).

Traveller has a 12V system and so, if you use another battery, this will complicate the functioning of equipents functioning in 12V. Instead you can increase the Alternator (atleast 45 or 55 Amps) and battery ( higher side can be 100 Ah) capacity.

More simpler option will be having stand by generator ( may be petrol or diesel powered)

[beejay]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

More simpler option will be having stand by generator ( may be petrol or diesel powered)

Reckon, I will do tinker and one coat of a basic white and also have a petrol powered generator.

[MetalBuff]

Hello beejay,

I have just one suggestion to provide. Please give this project as much of your efforts/ resources as possible and turn this into a head turning van both inside-out.

Today's market thrives on buzz. The better looking it is, the better would be the publicity which indirectly will swell the inflows, right?

[beejay]

Originally Posted by MetalBuff

Hello beejay,

I have just one suggestion to provide. Please give this project as much of your efforts/ resources as possible and turn this into a head turning van both inside-out.

Today's market thrives on buzz. The better looking it is, the better would be the publicity which indirectly will swell the inflows, right?

Thank you for your encouraging words. I intend to do that even though I am on a budget.

Update- I took delivery of the vehicle from Mettupalayam and drove it 40kms uphill to Coonoor. The engine seems pretty good, did not overheat and the TT came up in full force. Impressed with the engine.
Gave it to the mechanic to change all fluids and flush the radiator.

There is tinkering, no doubt. For the inner floor in the bay area, I am thinking of using marine plywood. Cut off the entire floor and support the plywood. Is it good? Will it be cheaper than tinkering?

[slicvic]

How's the work coming along beejay?

Any pictorial updates?

[beejay]

Originally Posted by slicvic

How's the work coming along beejay?

Any pictorial updates?

Hello Doctor,

I have been busy and not been able to concentrate on the vehicle.

Have removed all the window tint films, and gave it a thorough pressure wash. Will send it for tinkering to Sultan Bathery next week.

[beejay]

Update-

Van taken to Mettupalayam for tinkering and painting.

The rust is just terrible. I did not want the local tinker to experiment with it, so decided to send it to Mettuplayam as thats where there are a dime a dozen tinkers and painters, thanks to the Lorry traffic.

Things I plan to do
1. Full Tinkering and Body Work.
2. Wiring
3. Locks and Winders
4. Replace the side moving windows on both sides to fixed single ones.
5. Seating for three behind the driver seat.
6. Marine plywood partition behind the three seats
7. After tinkering and rubber coating the loading bay area I intend to cover the area with marine plywood.
8. Change the inner roofing to rexin from the cloth kind used now.
9. Change the entire glass beading's even for the front glass area.
10. Have the door pads replaced with lam sheets.

Pics to follow after I go there today.

[beejay]

I am having doubts about the single window on both sides and am thinking to just stick with the stock type sliding for both windows on both sides. Picture attached, reason being airflow into the loading area.

Picture 2- I am planning to have marine plywood covering for the entire loading area after tinkering and rubber coating the area and a partition just in front of the spare wheel with the same marine ply.

Edit- The dashboard is in terrible shape. The meters are all working just fine, however the finish is bad with peel off. Can the dash be vinyl wrapped? I am planning to give it a bright maroon shade.

[beejay]

Does anyone know of any sun roof specialist in Coimbatore area?

I plan to do it before installing the roof upholstery, which would be next week.

thanks

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by beejay

Does anyone know of any sun roof specialist in Coimbatore area?
thanks

I would suggest NOT to go in for a sunroof especially for an eye hospital van. The best to examine the eye in a "dark" environment, with that Spot light that doctors use. Sun Roof will hinder visibility and secondly, your AC might consume more power during summer.