All the pictures (and more) shown is this article are available in the LEKtronics Gallery
November 2019 to present
I am retired!!!
The first order of business was to build some airline-style overhead bins. We added LED puck lights to the underside, making them dimmable and individually switched. We finished out the ceiling with pine tongue and groove boards. We also made an extension duct for the rear A/C with adjustable louvers and more LED lights. Then we installed some speakers in the drivers headrest. This allows the driver to listen to music without annoying the passengers. The ProMaster is pretty much finished at this point, except for the fog lights and LED DRL's that we added later. (See the videos on this website). 2020 just plain sucked. Our plans to visit Texas are put on hold. Maybe 2021!
April 2017 to October 2019
Once again, not much in the way of modifications to the van. In June of 2017, we took about a week touring around Lake Michigan. What a difference the new interior and rear A/C made! Spent a day at the "Dells", but it was raining. Did have a MooseJaw pizza! From there we went North to the UP, then across the "Big Mac". Sleeping Bear Dunes at sunset, awesome!
In 2018, we did not go anywhere in the ProMaster. too busy with other things. Finally got it back out in 2019 for a couple of days in April to visit the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania. Then, in June, we went to Myrtle Beach for a week. It was on this trip that we determined that we needed storage space.
December 2016 to April 2017
We didn't do much to the Van over the Summer and Fall, but did take a long weekend road trip to Nashville and Memphis in November. Stopped at the Shiloh Battleground and drove up part of the Natchez Trace. Still noisy in the back and hard to heat, so we finally came up with a game plan. We took the Van to a Pontiac, MI mobility dealer to have them install a Wesbasto London rear A/C and heat. The unit is an extension of the existing systems and mounts in the cubby over the drivers cab. They were also able to source side panels and a vinyl composite floor, which we planned on installing ourselves. We took everything back out of the van and proceeded to cover all of the surfaces with DynaMat (a noise reducing material). On top of the DynaMat we spray-glued Thinsulate padding. This was more for additional noise abatement than insulation. We then re-installed the bed and captains chairs on top of the new floor adding L-track tie-downs for the wheel chair.
We also installed a 120volt AC inverter under the drivers seat and put in outlets along with a 12volt and USB charging ports at various locations throughout the van. We installed the decorative cover over the Wesbasto unit and added running boards for ease of ingress to the van.
April 2016
We have a special-needs daughter who is confined to a wheelchair, except when lying down. The van is intended for her transportation and comfort. We are planning a trip to Florida next month and need to equip the van for her needs. We installed an aluminum fold-down ramp in the rear door opening, along with a bed with seatbelt-like straps to hold the daughter in place (she cannot spend more than an hour or so in her chair at any one time) and 2 captains chairs on pedestals. Put some cheap carpet on the floor, and off to Florida we went.
Damn, this van is noisy! Of course, it is just an (almost) empty steel box. Hot too. The front A/C just doesn't put out enough to cool the entire van. It doesn't help that the van is Granite colored. These items need to be addressed!
April 9th, 2016
Took delivery of the ProMaster, 4 months after ordering. Guess the dealer and I were both wrong.
December 8th, 2015
Pulled the trigger and ordered a 2016 Ram ProMaster 2500 LWB Hi-Roof Window Van to replace our old van.
The dealer said it would take about 3 weeks for delivery. You mean 3 months, I queried? No, 3 weeks, he said. I just laughed.
