Conversion to ice cream truck
drove it home friday. painted the floorboards white.
weighed out my freezer using 2 floor scales, it only weighs 300 pounds fully stocked. trailor frame has an inch around all sides of the freezer, drop liftgate in back, trimmed the axel to be able to fit inside the workshop. The registration listed the trailor at 400 pounds, but it seems less. either way, i'll be well within specs for short range towing for events. have to get it all licensed up of course and figure out how to wire the trailor lights to the car. got a backup battery starter/inverter, but it is too light duty to power the big freezer for an extended period, may need to get a generator or just run an extention to the 1000W inverter inside the car.
have lots of possibilites for decorating: vinyl, paintng, airbrush, cover it in chrome plating, ect., mounted the first 2 surfboards to the side and have a big umbrella to mount. looking for an ice cream bar and an old rocking horse for the top of the freezer.
got the trailer wired up to a hoppy from amazon. took a little effort to figure out color codes, but was easy enough once i removed the taillights and did trial by errors. got lucky on first attempts.
Lined the trailer walls with wood laminate flooring, doesn't look bad actually, matches the wood grain on the logo. was going to mount the 2 extra surfboards on the outside of the trailer, but just placed them inside for security for the freezer. kind of makes it look like tailfins. mount for umbrella stand fits just inside. will have to post pictures.
had some issues with the tag for the trailer, but it should be ready for memorial day weekend.
on a side note, the switch for the roof lights stopped working, so i was installing a new switch. was late and i was tired so got power lines mixed ( one time i didn't check with the voltmeter), burned out the wire for the switch which happened to be bundled with the speaker wire for the horn, so burned off the coating on both wire sets. I think i didn't do a good job originally wiring that potion because the fuse comes after the switch. I am keeping an extinguisher in car until i can examine all of the wiring again.
got music system relocated to drivers side left knee panel, have a splitter in case she wants to play van halen "ice cream man" or some such playlist from the ipod.
still working out the woodgrain flames and woodgrain boot/bonnet stripes. I think it'd be cool. wife likes the simplicity of the large wide white stripes.
Lined the trailer walls with wood laminate flooring, doesn't look bad actually, matches the wood grain on the logo. was going to mount the 2 extra surfboards on the outside of the trailer, but just placed them inside for security for the freezer. kind of makes it look like tailfins. mount for umbrella stand fits just inside. will have to post pictures.
had some issues with the tag for the trailer, but it should be ready for memorial day weekend.
on a side note, the switch for the roof lights stopped working, so i was installing a new switch. was late and i was tired so got power lines mixed ( one time i didn't check with the voltmeter), burned out the wire for the switch which happened to be bundled with the speaker wire for the horn, so burned off the coating on both wire sets. I think i didn't do a good job originally wiring that potion because the fuse comes after the switch. I am keeping an extinguisher in car until i can examine all of the wiring again.
got music system relocated to drivers side left knee panel, have a splitter in case she wants to play van halen "ice cream man" or some such playlist from the ipod.
still working out the woodgrain flames and woodgrain boot/bonnet stripes. I think it'd be cool. wife likes the simplicity of the large wide white stripes.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 6
I've used this brand and it worked great. There is an option for a portable misting attachment also.
http://www.dirtwerkz.com/Pages/produ...ace_shade.html
http://www.dirtwerkz.com/Pages/produ...ace_shade.html
there is a freezer where the passenger seat used to go.
it holds about $250 worth of stock ( a good day). added the trailer and freezer for larger events. will add some air vents to enclose it to prevent rain damage. decided against the woodgrain stuff. white stripes on the car are clean and easier for the signs. will just paint or wrap the trailer freezer with a beach scene and with the big zebra with ice cream logo vinyl print on top. plan to add some strobe bulbs to roof lights and a couple window decals for backseat windows for neighborhoods which don't allow the music.
haven't posted pics in a while. the umbrella sits in a stand i made out of PVC pipe.
it holds about $250 worth of stock ( a good day). added the trailer and freezer for larger events. will add some air vents to enclose it to prevent rain damage. decided against the woodgrain stuff. white stripes on the car are clean and easier for the signs. will just paint or wrap the trailer freezer with a beach scene and with the big zebra with ice cream logo vinyl print on top. plan to add some strobe bulbs to roof lights and a couple window decals for backseat windows for neighborhoods which don't allow the music.
haven't posted pics in a while. the umbrella sits in a stand i made out of PVC pipe.
still need to figure out what to do with the freezer/trailer thing. its really not so useful and kind of defeats the purpose of having the ice cream truck being so small.
installed an air-vent over the condenser and switch part of the freezer to protect from rain and allow air flow.
either need to paint the freezer and wood panels all black or all blue.
then just add the vinyl graphic to the freezer roof. would be the cleanest looking option.
got a story on local news show planned for tommorrow.
installed an air-vent over the condenser and switch part of the freezer to protect from rain and allow air flow.
either need to paint the freezer and wood panels all black or all blue.
then just add the vinyl graphic to the freezer roof. would be the cleanest looking option.
got a story on local news show planned for tommorrow.
link to video:
http://www.30atelevision.com/play.php?vid=551
freezer roof graphic( in progress): hula girl before ice cream.
http://www.30atelevision.com/play.php?vid=551
freezer roof graphic( in progress): hula girl before ice cream.
sadly, i am missing the ice cream run this week. but summer is awesome for ice cream (who'd a thunk'it?).
noticed the other day that the ice cream cone seemed to be melting. it had gotten so hot that the sealer i put between the cone and the ice cream had melted. an easy cleanup got rid of the problem. just added some wider washers to stabilize it, i don't think its going to pop off, but it wobbles at high speeds. Also, 3 of my wheel center caps popped off last week, think the glue melted.
wife had a big scare last week, she was hauling the freezer to receive an emergency extra stock replacement, when the trailer came unattached from the hitch ball, it almost flipped the whole freezer and trailer while driving (happened while she was driving over a large bridge of course). dragged and bounched on the road some. luckily the chains held and she was able to attach the hitch ball back to the trailer without any damage. probably my fault that i didn't attach the ball just right before she left. I'm thinking the trailer can be dangerous if attached late at night.
need to get a light up hitch mount (mini or a smiley face) for when the trailer is not in use.
if any tech savvy person can convert the video in an earlier post to a down loadable quicktime or any such file so she can watch it on her ipod, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again out to www.autoxcooper.com for the headlight eyes, they are awesome.
noticed the other day that the ice cream cone seemed to be melting. it had gotten so hot that the sealer i put between the cone and the ice cream had melted. an easy cleanup got rid of the problem. just added some wider washers to stabilize it, i don't think its going to pop off, but it wobbles at high speeds. Also, 3 of my wheel center caps popped off last week, think the glue melted.
wife had a big scare last week, she was hauling the freezer to receive an emergency extra stock replacement, when the trailer came unattached from the hitch ball, it almost flipped the whole freezer and trailer while driving (happened while she was driving over a large bridge of course). dragged and bounched on the road some. luckily the chains held and she was able to attach the hitch ball back to the trailer without any damage. probably my fault that i didn't attach the ball just right before she left. I'm thinking the trailer can be dangerous if attached late at night.
need to get a light up hitch mount (mini or a smiley face) for when the trailer is not in use.
if any tech savvy person can convert the video in an earlier post to a down loadable quicktime or any such file so she can watch it on her ipod, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again out to www.autoxcooper.com for the headlight eyes, they are awesome.
Yup, that would have been a big hit on the ice cream run!
http://thegreaticecreamrun.com/
Maybe next time!
http://thegreaticecreamrun.com/
Maybe next time!
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Let me know how this works for you. I didn't know which iPod she had so I just used the main iPod preset in HandBrake to convert the original file (apparently their "download link" is broken so I had to check out the source.)
Can't listen to this at work but looks like a nice interview judging by the video.
Last edited by SpinThis!; Jun 25, 2009 at 12:44 PM.
kinda off topic. wife was noting the recent heat wave and driving around with windows down was getting kind of hot. So thought, wouldn't it be nice if the AC vents blew directly into her clothes to cool her down.
$3.50 later, I invented this little thing that makes it happen.
got a plastic funnel with a movable bendable down tube from lowes, fit it inside a wet/dry vac hose, connected it with a hose clamp, put 3M double sided tape to the funnel and attached it to the AC vent.
Voila, AC goes directly through the tube into her shirt, or shorts, wherever she puts the hose.
she thinks its dorky, but I thought it was a good concept.
$3.50 later, I invented this little thing that makes it happen.
got a plastic funnel with a movable bendable down tube from lowes, fit it inside a wet/dry vac hose, connected it with a hose clamp, put 3M double sided tape to the funnel and attached it to the AC vent.
Voila, AC goes directly through the tube into her shirt, or shorts, wherever she puts the hose.
she thinks its dorky, but I thought it was a good concept.
got some new shoes
new wheels. new bubble machine, new bigger battery, new fireflies tire caps light up when wheels in motion. re wired some stuff, new roof straps make it quieter, smiley face trailer hitch cover lights up with turn signals and some other light combos.
well, summer's over.
Wife recently had some minor surgery, so decided to call it quits mainly over for the year. I took the roof rack and ice cream spotlights off the other day. was sad to see it look so plain.
good learning experience with it this year. now we know more of what and when to do things. next spring and summer should be a lot more organized and efficient. I think this year, once she figured out her neighborhoods and children playtime schedules, profits went through the roof.
for next year, think it needs to stand out a bit more. figured out how to use the plotter/cutter for adding more vinyl stripes. wantiing to find a vectorized template for bonnet stripes that turn into flames and run down the sides of the car, i've seen pictures here on NAM of the perfect stripe/flame on another mini. found some police roof lights locally to upgrade the roof spotlights, just need to make sure I have amber or white reflectors, the new lights wil also act as a top brace for the surfboard ice cream cone and bubble machine. may add an extra speaker for the music box and clean up the LED's attachments again. think i need to do something wild with the bubble machine like a make a paper mache dragon or something so bubbles come out its mouth. will also have some time to apply to the gated communities who say that they want us in.
may add the passenger seat back for the winter. airbags are fully functional without it, but returning the airbags to their "smart status" would be nice for safety.
thanks for everyone who bought ice cream, offered assistance, and helped this little project get off the ground.
Wife recently had some minor surgery, so decided to call it quits mainly over for the year. I took the roof rack and ice cream spotlights off the other day. was sad to see it look so plain.
good learning experience with it this year. now we know more of what and when to do things. next spring and summer should be a lot more organized and efficient. I think this year, once she figured out her neighborhoods and children playtime schedules, profits went through the roof.
for next year, think it needs to stand out a bit more. figured out how to use the plotter/cutter for adding more vinyl stripes. wantiing to find a vectorized template for bonnet stripes that turn into flames and run down the sides of the car, i've seen pictures here on NAM of the perfect stripe/flame on another mini. found some police roof lights locally to upgrade the roof spotlights, just need to make sure I have amber or white reflectors, the new lights wil also act as a top brace for the surfboard ice cream cone and bubble machine. may add an extra speaker for the music box and clean up the LED's attachments again. think i need to do something wild with the bubble machine like a make a paper mache dragon or something so bubbles come out its mouth. will also have some time to apply to the gated communities who say that they want us in.
may add the passenger seat back for the winter. airbags are fully functional without it, but returning the airbags to their "smart status" would be nice for safety.
thanks for everyone who bought ice cream, offered assistance, and helped this little project get off the ground.
well, back to work. wife's getting party gigs bigtime. music box is dead. tired of fixing it. want to connect an ipod to an amplifier and then to the external speaker.
there are lots of great ice cream songs made for ice cream trucks, I'd like that better than the old timey music box I currently have.
as I have a power inverter, I don't feel i am restricted to using an amp made for automobiles, but a car amp may be best for speaker output. I assume I can just get a 3.5mm to RCA jack, plug it into the amp then connect the amp to the speaker. never dealt with amps, how to power them or how much output I can accomodate, so any help would be appreciated.
there are lots of great ice cream songs made for ice cream trucks, I'd like that better than the old timey music box I currently have.
as I have a power inverter, I don't feel i am restricted to using an amp made for automobiles, but a car amp may be best for speaker output. I assume I can just get a 3.5mm to RCA jack, plug it into the amp then connect the amp to the speaker. never dealt with amps, how to power them or how much output I can accomodate, so any help would be appreciated.