2010 Dodge Van

[Jen Alexander]

This is going to be the official 'Alexander Adventures' vehicle.

 

[JDub]

Nice! Have fun and get in LOTS of trouble(Just don't get caught)!

 

[user 37446]

Some good Caravan/Pacifica build ideas on YT, I just watched 3 different producers:

1 - Kruisin Kevin

2 - Bicycle Touring Pro

3 - Nick and Maela

These, among others, use your vehicle (maybe not exact year but close).

 

[user 423]

This is going to be the official 'Alexander Adventures' vehicle.

Congrats. Safe and happy travels.

 

[crofter]

Looks roomy in there. Have fun with the build!
-crofter

 

[txmnjim]

if you are going to remove that back seat it looks like it will be easy. i have seen
other vans that look much harder so it will limit my choices when i finally take the
plunge. have fun on your adventures!
jim

 

[user 37446]

Seats in the middle cone out in like 5-10 minutes each. Back takes a bit more work.
Save all nuts/bolts! Mark the bag. Take pictures of each step for yourself.

Even just removing the middle seats will give you lots of extra storage. Keeping a back seat to sit on is a decent idea too.

Many GC videos are on YT. Theres only so many ways to lay it out.

Some European guy has a video on mistakes people make in their minivan builds. Try to find it. He has good points.

 

[XERTYX]

This is going to be the official 'Alexander Adventures' vehicle.

I have the '06 congrats!

It looks like you lucked out like I did regarding the second row seats. Mine has stow n go but like yours the second row seats had the "option" so they have the cubbies but that second row is a bench seat. Those 2 black handles pushed up and press against the rear seat and out she comes.

The ones that actually fold into the cubbies are a pain to remove. You have to take a lot of plastic loose and use a 15mm deep well socket and often spill some blood to get em out. But the bench style just pops out.

If removing the rear seats is what you have planned it's also a 15mm socket from what I've seen but it doesn't need a deep well and they're much easier to pop out.

I have made privacy shades from $1 black foam board panels at dollar tree for most of the rear windows. Just build a template from spare cardboard and trace the panels. The panels are pretty hardy and can sustain a lot of bending but they will form creases that can be seen only from the inside. From the outside it just looks like dark limo tint.

Take lots of pics and update us on the project. I for one will be very curious as to how you plan to build it out as my build is on a brief hiatus until the budget improves.

 

[user 37446]

Some good thoughts there. I never knew that some GC's came with a bench but had the 2nd row stowage bins. That's great cause' even though the 2nd row seats are not that hard to remove, the bench is easier. 
 
The foamboard/posterboard stuff that the dollar stores carry (black/white) does look like it will work. I used ordinary cardboard that I spray-painted but would have been better off just getting the b/w board cause' the spray paint stunk for a week and is flaking off. (Oh well.) Do use clear packing tape on all the edges to keep it more able to withstand crunching into the opening and if there's a seam/fold in the cardboard go over that with the tape to strengthen it.

WM has/had cheap $5-7 usb powered 12v fans that work ok to provide some air circulation (windshield fogging up due to your exhaling at night) and they don't draw much wattage.

For portable power I got a (Harbor Freight but any brand will do) 12v jump pack with a 17 ah sealed lead acid battery inside. It has usb and 12v (unregulated) power outlets and can also jump charge your starting battery. $44 on sale. They recharge off dc or ac but not from solar. There's also the small lithium jump packs or tablet/phone recharging batteries, 5-26K milliamps.

There's no need for a permanent "house" battery to start with IF you are good at limiting your consumption. Cook and heat with propane, avoid an ac or dc fridg and you can do fine with these portable dc power sources. (If later on you feel like you have to have it then go ahead but at the beginning try without. A lot cheaper and less hassle.)

 

[XERTYX]

Yeah right now budget is a concern so I bought a 3600mah USB bank for 5 bucks and a 1 meter string LED light with remote. That covers some lighting.

I have a butane stove I use already but I wont be camping in it until the weather gets warmer as I didnt get a chance to buy a heater yet.

I'll be going with 29DC batteries and solar once I recoup my savings from actually buying the van. In the interim I might install my small AGM bank I have on my family property, but I'll need probably 1 100 watt panel. Right now it only has 20w of solar but it's just a backup lighting and cell charger at the moment.

 

[user 37446]

I have the '06 congrats!

It looks like you lucked out like I did regarding the second row seats. Mine has stow n go but like yours the second row seats had the "option" so they have the cubbies but that second row is a bench seat. Those 2 black handles pushed up and press against the rear seat and out she comes.

The ones that actually fold into the cubbies are a pain to remove. You have to take a lot of plastic loose and use a 15mm deep well socket and often spill some blood to get em out. But the bench style just pops out.

If removing the rear seats is what you have planned it's also a 15mm socket from what I've seen but it doesn't need a deep well and they're much easier to pop out.

I have made privacy shades from $1 black foam board panels at dollar tree for most of the rear windows. Just build a template from spare cardboard and trace the panels. The panels are pretty hardy and can sustain a lot of bending but they will form creases that can be seen only from the inside. From the outside it just looks like dark limo tint.

Take lots of pics and update us on the project. I for one will be very curious as to how you plan to build it out as my build is on a brief hiatus until the budget improves.

X, if you haven't already, go to YT and click on this mechanic/used car buyer's videos. I just watched one on the 2006 T&C that he bought at the auction. He has a good video on all the things he looks for (and also repairs) that these vans typically have wrong with them.  (Oh, I watched on 1.5x speed cause' he talks slowly.)

Here's the title: "What to look for when buying a Town & Country or Grand Caravan - A Buyer's Guide!"
And the copied link: 

Anyone even remotely interested in this generation (01 - 07) of GC or T&C should look at it.