[flatcatgear]

Several years ago, I went on a monthlong trip to Iceland, I rented a smaller campervan and fell in love with the concept. I decided to purchase an NV200 and do a van conversion. A few years later, I completed about 80% of the conversion. I am a backpacker and use the van on my trips and developed a list of criteria that the van needed to have:

1. A space inside that we could comfortably sit for hours in case of bad weather (rain)
2. A sturdy table to play cards on or eat meals
3. Wide enough to hold a full-size bead
4. Adequate storage area
5. Easy access to items
6. Not block any of the window visibility
7. Maintain the ability to load 4-foot-wide items like plywood
8. The ability to remove / empty the van in less than 45 minutes
9. Tie down points for transporting boxes & groceries

 

[pknopp]

Nice work.

 

[Bigfoot]

Good job, looks like you got it set up to meet your specific needs. Is it working out for you and is there any thing you would do different or anything you want to add to it? Is that 1" square tubing and 1/2" plywood? Hard to tell from the pics. I eventually want to set mine up as a weekender. Be a while yet as I have too many other projects going on.

 

[flatcatgear]

I have actually been using this configuration for about a year and a half. The frame is 1" square steel tubing and 3/4" plywood. The ALPHA version was plain 3/4 plywood and regular hinges. I redesigned the seats a couple of times. Once I got the design nailed down, I built the BETA version out of 3/4" red oak veneered plywood and intalled the Bulter hinges for a flat surface. I know that the surfaces are going to get scratched up but red oak plywood does not cost that much and the plywood is a much better grade. I am going to have to install clear anti-slip strips as the surface is too slick and boxes slide around a bit.

 

[PD66]

Great work; I plan a similar concept to keep the van as multi-purpose as possible.
Always nice to have to ideas and experience to follow.

Last time I made a full size bed in a van it was super-comfy but I found it too much and pretty much had to get out of the van to do anything.
Going for something a little smaller this time...