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vanbrat
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I have always loved my dogs, all of them and can't imagine not having one around. Check out all the local rescues I'm sure one is waiting just for you. Let us know when you find the right one.
LargeMarge
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Because of stagnant air and the inevitable humidity of full-time live-aboard, I fabricated our bed platform using expanded metal, similar to stout window-screen.
This allows plenty of ventilation.
.
During their first build, a lot of folks experiment with a flat wooden bed platform.
Unless the vehicle is rigorously ventilated with plenty of fresh -- 'outside' -- air, humidity can accumulate under the bedding, contributing to mold.
And black goop.
And oozy pustules.
And the Stuff Of Legends for van-camp.
Large Marge, your memory is failing you, I am not a Newbie.
Some people have enough “smarts” to think through and analyze how to prevent issues such as mold. I am one of those people. My bed area as well as all of my small travel trailer has zero mold issues. I thought all that stuff through before I started renovating. I have spent the last 50+ years professionally building things. I do not need to be told what to do and I am not even close to being a “newbie”. I have 50 years of professional building experience and that means I have skills and knowledge and the result of that background is I have zero mold issues in my travel trailer. Your way is not the only way. Moisture never reaches the boards under my mattress or even gets into my mattress cushions and all my cabinets are constructed with ventilated cabinet doors. I have mesh panels that allow air movement on every one of my custom cabinets that I designed and built myself. They are designed specifically to prevent mold issues by allowing for a constant air exchange. If you think before you build you can avoid problems such as mold.
Some people have enough “smarts” to think through and analyze how to prevent issues such as mold. I am one of those people. My bed area as well as all of my small travel trailer has zero mold issues. I thought all that stuff through before I started renovating. I have spent the last 50+ years professionally building things. I do not need to be told what to do and I am not even close to being a “newbie”. I have 50 years of professional building experience and that means I have skills and knowledge and the result of that background is I have zero mold issues in my travel trailer. Your way is not the only way. Moisture never reaches the boards under my mattress or even gets into my mattress cushions and all my cabinets are constructed with ventilated cabinet doors. I have mesh panels that allow air movement on every one of my custom cabinets that I designed and built myself. They are designed specifically to prevent mold issues by allowing for a constant air exchange. If you think before you build you can avoid problems such as mold.
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bullfrog !
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We had frost/dew at Bullfrog Utah! A rare occurrence for sure! My milk crates work well as “ventilated cabinets and can be easily removed and installed so no doors needed!
islanderxx
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I'm thinking about building a deck for my doggies. Is the big front porch you r talking about attached to the van and elevated?
travelaround
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I think she was talking about my front porch which is attached to a house, not a van. I would love to have a porch on my van too.
travelaround
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I just bought a Zinus mattress foundation to use with the Zinus mattress I had in my van before the forest fire (2020) - cot size, 30" wide. When I feel I can afford it I'll upgrade to a twin xl size of both, most likely. Then the 30" version will go back into my van.
My review so far: The 6" memory foam mattress has never been enough for me. I'm getting a mattress topper to make it a little softer. The frame is good so far. Easy to put together and seems stable and sturdy enough.
There are problems I've heard of with the Zinus mattress. If you get one do not open the zipper in the covering of it - I hear terrible things happen with the insides coming out. I have cleaned that mattress on the outside since van days and put cot size washable waterproof mattress covers on both sides of it.
For right now I'm getting a full night's sleep - sleeping better than I did in the travel trailer.
Anyhow, that's my solution because I have no woodworking skills.
My review so far: The 6" memory foam mattress has never been enough for me. I'm getting a mattress topper to make it a little softer. The frame is good so far. Easy to put together and seems stable and sturdy enough.
There are problems I've heard of with the Zinus mattress. If you get one do not open the zipper in the covering of it - I hear terrible things happen with the insides coming out. I have cleaned that mattress on the outside since van days and put cot size washable waterproof mattress covers on both sides of it.
For right now I'm getting a full night's sleep - sleeping better than I did in the travel trailer.
Anyhow, that's my solution because I have no woodworking skills.
That’s great your sleeping better TA… a very merry Christmas to you…
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Today must be the day. I just ordered a full foundation for our new van. The Zinus looks to be quite sturdy. The one I selected is a little less structurally sound, so we'll see.
We will probably be doing just the reverse of you, bringing one half of the full frame in the old van into the house and adding a 30" mattress when we can.
Congratulations on your new home!
Woodworking skills. You know how to measure things. There are plenty of woodworking plans online that use the basic sizes of lumber sold in stores such as Home Depot.
The biggest stumbling block is then being able to make accurate cuts. Of course for someone who has fear of power tools and/or when living a nomadic life without the space or electricity for power tools then things like building a bed frame or cabinet can seem an impossibility that is too hard to overcome. But it is not. All it takes is a small investment in a few hand tools that make great work very possible. The saw system in this video is sold on Amazon. You need to also buy the saw that is made for use with the guide. It cuts very accurately and is not scary to use. I have one, I give it a 5 star rating. (The version I bought does allow for cutting at angles other than 90 and 45 degrees.) The cabinet doors in my trailer were all cut using it and the 90 degree joints are perfect. Even better it is small and light weight enough for taking along in Van Life in a small living space. No electricity required. No scary spinning saw blades and it is very quiet. The Japanese saws are so lovely to cut with, it does require a lot of physical effort.
The biggest stumbling block is then being able to make accurate cuts. Of course for someone who has fear of power tools and/or when living a nomadic life without the space or electricity for power tools then things like building a bed frame or cabinet can seem an impossibility that is too hard to overcome. But it is not. All it takes is a small investment in a few hand tools that make great work very possible. The saw system in this video is sold on Amazon. You need to also buy the saw that is made for use with the guide. It cuts very accurately and is not scary to use. I have one, I give it a 5 star rating. (The version I bought does allow for cutting at angles other than 90 and 45 degrees.) The cabinet doors in my trailer were all cut using it and the 90 degree joints are perfect. Even better it is small and light weight enough for taking along in Van Life in a small living space. No electricity required. No scary spinning saw blades and it is very quiet. The Japanese saws are so lovely to cut with, it does require a lot of physical effort.
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Happy Camper
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Sometimes the convenience is worth the price.
But knowing how to do things if convenience isn't affordable or needed is priceless.
But knowing how to do things if convenience isn't affordable or needed is priceless.
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Of course you can learn to saw wood the way our ancestors did it. This video really helped me transform my efforts with using hand saws from being marginal to being pretty decent. The discussion on how to stand, hold the saw and move my arm were the knowledge I failed to gain from reading books and magazines.
https://pbs.org/video/the-woodwrights-shop-sawing-secrets?source=socialI did not have anyone around to work with me one on one to teach me those essential things that ended my struggles to get really good cuts. Fortunately the PBS Woodwrights Workshop video series brought in some very good hand tools teachers and the show was kept lighthearted.
https://pbs.org/video/the-woodwrights-shop-sawing-secrets?source=socialI did not have anyone around to work with me one on one to teach me those essential things that ended my struggles to get really good cuts. Fortunately the PBS Woodwrights Workshop video series brought in some very good hand tools teachers and the show was kept lighthearted.
Happy Camper
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Beautiful full moon on a Christmas night! I have been enjoying it but it’s getting cold outside now so time to fire up the heater and put up the insulated window coverings and enjoy heating up some of the Christmas Day ham leftovers I was encouraged to bring home.
Reminds me of a saying from a dear friend. The definition of two people and a Christmas ham is eternity, a dire situation one can easily avoid by sending the leftover ham home with willing takers such as me
Reminds me of a saying from a dear friend. The definition of two people and a Christmas ham is eternity, a dire situation one can easily avoid by sending the leftover ham home with willing takers such as me
Time for me to quit spending money on Amazon and get started working on projects. Of course what Iwas buying was for my new popup screen room project, some wind panels for the sides and some heavy duty outdoor rated polyester thread I need for sewing up some modifications to the sidewall wind panels and for creating a UV resistance rainfly for the roof. Previous experience with owning a popup screen room taught me they need some improvements to stand up to UV damage as well as high winds if I want my financial investment to last a lot more than one year of full time use. My trailer is very small so adding a collapsible outdoor shelter/workroom/kitchen/social space is nice.
vanbrat
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It will be good to have a place to be able to stretch out a bit....
