DIY Camper Vans

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Anyone build up a van for camping and living out of? Looking for ideas, looking for firearm storage ideas, anything you got.

I’m considering a van and building it up inside for travel and working on the road.


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[spencer rifle]

Our youngest daughter in CA is building a camper in a white panel van. I can ask her about any questions you have.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

A friend of mine converted one of those shuttle bus type things and it was great. Van size front end but lots of room to stand up. Maybe bigger than your looking for also alot of windows.
Just a thought.

 

[snapping turtle]

Questions:
Overland off-road type?
Stealth neighborhood camping?
Long distance driving or short trips?
Solo or family?

I do long distance trips once every couple years. More of a get to the destination float a river go out to eat sleep then drive back.
I do it on a Pontiac Vibe hatchback. Enough room to sleep in the hatch. Just enough room for me and the little dog.
Sleep in casino parking lots a lot.

 

[4651feeder]

A relative works here and they say you should buy one of these to avoid the hassle and frustration of DIY.....

Midwest Automotive Designs Luxury Custom Sprinter Vans

Midwest Automotive Designs specializes in designing and building luxury custom Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van conversions. Discover what’s possible here.

midwestautomotivedesigns.com

Or is it too early in the thread for this recommendation?

 

[LtScott14]

Gosh, I'm sad the Volkswagen Bus isn't made anymore. That was a great camper vehicle.
My Uncle had one with 2 bunkbeds(canvas like), a catalyic heater, small sink, small generator and fold up table. He also carried a pop up tent, sleeping bags and basic survival supplies.
We took it to upper Michigan in 70's and 80's and fished and camped. Great times.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Mainly trying to convert a cheaper E150-350 style van for road trip use, not sustainable over a few weeks use.

Long road trips to shoots and all of that, have my own home away from home as I go.

Just looking to share ideas, I’m right at the point of purchase after I look one over now.


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[KittySlayer]

Consider a raised floor in the back. Maybe 6+/- inches with lots of storage for long guns underneath. Sure you lose a little headroom but you free up a lot of living space side to side with a bunch of stuff stored below the false floor. With a little creativity you can probably make it invisible from a smash and grab theif.

 

[snapping turtle]

The you tubes have all kinds of builds and this seems to be very popular in the larger west coast cities where rent is sky high and they just do van living.

lots do use Ford vans. I see a lot of sprinters also. The head room on the sprinters give them an edge. The transit seems popular the small builds.

I have worked out of a van for years. Favorite was a F250 but gas mileage sucked. Lots of the storage ideas of a work van do mix well with a SPARTAN style build.

plumbing always seems to be the tricky item. Do you want to poop and pee inside the van. Gray water and fresh water tanks underneath mean a lift. No water no issues.

cargo trailer conversions are popular and stealth in areas where construction is happening. Allows you to set up in a spot and then venture from there without hauling the rest with you.

pop up truck bed camper have come a long way if you want dual use of the vehicle for normal stuff when not out and about. I think they lay out better than some van builds. I have a friend who has one and he can drive under it and have it ready to go in an hour tops.

I only need shelter/sleep some small food prep and some entertainment. If I were doing a van build I would make sure about the sleeping area was good side to side not front to back this why I was looking more at a say 7x14 6x12 single axle cargo trailer build. Or if it were just me and the little dog a teardrop. Wife wants a fifth wheel home on wheels and that is not happening.

 

[BroodXI]

there was a guy that had a converted ambulance for sale in the classifieds a while back, maybe he can chime in. i still think of how nice it would've been if i bought it. All the work was already done.

 

[marvin02]

This is a model specific forum but there are some nice builds documented and good discussions of the how to aspects.

https://www.promasterforum.com/

If you sign up as a member be sure to do an intro post, they require it.

 

[jsx1043]

The you tubes have all kinds of builds and this seems to be very popular in the larger west coast cities where rent is sky high and they just do van living.

lots do use Ford vans. I see a lot of sprinters also. The head room on the sprinters give them an edge. The transit seems popular the small builds.

I have worked out of a van for years. Favorite was a F250 but gas mileage sucked. Lots of the storage ideas of a work van do mix well with a SPARTAN style build.

plumbing always seems to be the tricky item. Do you want to poop and pee inside the van. Gray water and fresh water tanks underneath mean a lift. No water no issues.

cargo trailer conversions are popular and stealth in areas where construction is happening. Allows you to set up in a spot and then venture from there without hauling the rest with you.

pop up truck bed camper have come a long way if you want dual use of the vehicle for normal stuff when not out and about. I think they lay out better than some van builds. I have a friend who has one and he can drive under it and have it ready to go in an hour tops.

I only need shelter/sleep some small food prep and some entertainment. If I were doing a van build I would make sure about the sleeping area was good side to side not front to back this why I was looking more at a say 7x14 6x12 single axle cargo trailer build. Or if it were just me and the little dog a teardrop. Wife wants a fifth wheel home on wheels and that is not happening.

Yep, the screwtube, fascistbook, instergrams and reddit will probably give the most ideas. Just search up “van life” or “camper conversion” or similar. I’ve been going through a lot, more so just for jealousy and entertainment, but that’s where I’m seeing the most discussion and pics.

Good luck on whatever you do, and please share some pics!

 

[tim87tr]

Ford Transit forum has decent content and here's an organized list of builds from that site:

https://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/threads/list-of-camper-van-builds.83249/

I like a upfitter out of Kansas City area near the Ford Plant called Vandoit. They have used vans for sale on their website and YouTube also.

LIV – The Livable Ford Transit Camper Conversion | Vandoit – Vandoit

vandoit.com

 

[Cameramonkey]

Good luck. On a related note, I wish I had the woodworking skills to buy this guy's plans and build a mini houseboat.

Man Designs Micro Houseboat You Can Build for Cheap

In this post, I'm going to show you a micro houseboat that you can probably build yourself if you wanted to. You know, one of my favorite things about tiny houses, micro cabins, and "alternative" structures

tinyhousetalk.com

 

[bwframe]

there was a guy that had a converted ambulance for sale in the classifieds a while back, maybe he can chime in. i still think of how nice it would've been if i bought it. All the work was already done.

It's not listed as sold...?
I thought it was pretty slick too. I bet the gas mileage really sucked though? Maybe 10mpg?

WTS/WTT: - 1999 Ford E350 Camper Van 7.3

I'm putting our 1999 E350 Camper Van(Campulance) out for sale. It's been a fun project but with the addition of our son its a little harder to camp in it now. It has a Raptor Lining paint job. It has a couch that converts to a twin bed in the back. I also installed a removable double van seats...

www.indianagunowners.com

 

[Leo]

I did a home made camper van in the 70's. It really was not that hard, just time consuming.
Since I also needed a van for work, the camping interior slid out in 3 pieces and was held in place with some wingnuts. I just left the paneling on the side walls. The "bed" in back was a table and sitting benches with a pipe holding it up. Remove the pipe and the table fit s that the air mattress sat on it. Water was in removable cooler. I had one of those seats with a bag to catch waste for emergency, but never used it. I had a trench tool and a couple of rolls of TP in a baggie. I usually used park or restaurants. I did have a portable shower which was a water tank on the roof and a bracket that held a shower curtain that hooked to the door. Depending on the time of day, you would have burning hot or freezing cold. It was really fun when I was in my 20's

It was a 3/4 ton Econoline. The biggest drawback is that when you are over 6' tall, you end up crawling n your hands and knees a lot

 

[DoggyDaddy]

It was really fun when I was in my 20's

Man, this is what really jumped out at me from your post. The things we do in our 20's!

Not to sidetrack this thread too much, but I used to borrow Dad's little 14' fiberglass fishing boat, with a 5 hp and a 7.5 hp motor on the back to go down to Monroe. Even before I was 20 I would take it, a cooler, a sleeping bag and a backpack and just stay on the boat all day and all night (sleeping in the bottom of the boat). I'm guessing I'd be in a lot of pain if I tried something like that these days.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Man, this is what really jumped out at me from your post. The things we do in our 20's!

Not to sidetrack this thread too much, but I used to borrow Dad's little 14' fiberglass fishing boat, with a 5 hp and a 7.5 hp motor on the back to go down to Monroe. Even before I was 20 I would take it, a cooler, a sleeping bag and a backpack and just stay on the boat all day and all night (sleeping in the bottom of the boat). I'm guessing I'd be in a lot of pain if I tried something like that these days.

You and me both. Anything less than a 4" air mattress and my neck and back are waking me up before 4am.

 

[snapping turtle]

I have two old thermarest camping mattress and a eureka G2 mountain tent 4 season. if given a small bit of grass I can sleep well and with the two mattresses I can wake up without pain.

I like to camp but the idea of just driving till you can’t pulling over and getting nice shuteye time then hitting the road again is a big asset when you have three day weekend and one day will be travel to one on the water in West Virginia the night at the river bar next is going back home. Mainly I do the car sleep because I am cheap.

 

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Whole intention is to have a nice little battle van as I drive to things like Kalashbash and I don’t have to unpack a thing.

It’s be nice for concerts and all when you like to have a few drinks and pass out after as well.


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