Big first step (for me)

[daveeedo]

Hello everyone. I'm David up (or over, or under depending on where you are) in Victoria, British Columbia.<div><br></div><div>I'm currently on disability and have some time to live a forgotten dream which is to convert a van and do some travelling.</div><div><br></div><div>To that end I bought a 2007 Pontiac Montana a couple of days ago. I'm scrubbing it down, reading as much as I can and trying to figure out what best to do with my space spending the least amount of money.</div><div><br></div><div>I like the simplicity of what<a href="http://thegroveguy.blogspot.ca/2011/06/toyota-sienna-van-conversion.html" target="_blank"> this guy</a> has done with his Sienna conversion, but lack the woodworking skills.</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, glad to be here and I've already learned a lot.</div>

 

[Les H]

Hi David. Welcome to the forum. First time I stayed in a van for an out of town construction job, it was in my wife's Pontiac Transport. Just pulled the seats, threw an air mattress down , duffel bag of clothes, a 9" tv/DVD and a 50' extension cord. It can most Definatly be done cheap and easy, or you can get as complex as you like.
Glad to have ya here.

 

[robear]

Welcome Dave, I look forward to seeing your project as you go along <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome, Dave! <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>

 

[Khaly]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi David, I'm new, too.&nbsp; Welcome!&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[daveeedo]

@Les, @robear, @stude53, @Khaly - Thanks!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><div><br></div><div>I'm reminded that my perfectionist tendencies can get in the way of just jumping in and doing it.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif">&nbsp;I'll try and post some pictures as I go along.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif"></div>

 

[cargovanconversion]

Welcome to the forum and happy travels,<br><br>I recently started to convert my van as well. You follow 'my adventures' at <a href="http://cargovanconversion.com" target="_blank">cargovanconversion.com</a><br><br>Van.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi David!&nbsp; Welcome to the group.&nbsp; You will love camping in your vehicle.&nbsp; I enjoy it more and more each day.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I also maintain a blog of various conversion notes and travel experiences from around the area.&nbsp; Some day I wish that God had given me the woodworking talents of the others on this site - there are some real masterpieces out there.&nbsp; My van has some good ideas and high school level craftsmanship.&nbsp; It works though.&nbsp; As you go, please post notes and pictures so we can&nbsp; "ooooo" and "ahhhh" over it!&nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Whatever your skill, background, how much work you wish to put into your van, it's all worthwhile.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><br>Have lots of fun in the process!</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p>

 

[Ricekila]

<P>

</P>

 

[KatieinKansas]

<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Welcome!</span></font><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br></span></font></div>

 

[daveeedo]

Hi,&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">cargovanconversion. I've got you bookmarked. You've done some very cool stuff.</span><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Hi VanTrekker, Thanks. If your woodworking skills are high school, mine must be kindergarten or nursery school.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Hi Ricekila.&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Thanks, blkjk and KatieinKansas!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Planetmoon, congrats on your Montana! I haven't done any highway driving yet, so I'm not sure what mine will get. I think I may have lucked out with mine as it has 70k miles, however it did start out its life as a rental vehicle.</span></font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">Thanks for the tip about what to watch out for mechanically. I'll read up on it. Can I ask what converting you've done to your Montana so far?</span></font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><br></span></font></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="white-space: nowrap; "><font size="2">Thanks for the welcome,&nbsp;</font></span></font><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap; ">É£-wave/Mike. I feel very welcomed! Everyone's been great.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="white-space: nowrap;"><br></span></font></div>

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome, Dave <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Look forward to seeing your progress. Pics, please.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[jeepguy8]

<p style="margin: 0px;">looking to do something similar to my wagon...have any idea where you are gonna head to first?</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[daveeedo]

Pics are forthcoming - I guess I should create a topic in van conversions.<div><br></div><div>I wish my tinting were a little darker, but I've picked up some blackout fabric from Walmart and a roll of Reflectix from Home Depot so I can create a bit of privacy.</div><div><br></div><div>I may not be going much of anywhere for a while since I got rear-ended stopped at a red light last night. On the plus side, the Montana showed almost no damage but I've still got to get it checked out.</div>

 

[daveeedo]

Thank you. My neck should hopefully be ok soon.<div><br></div><div>Are you talking about the curtains behind the front seats? I was wondering about that myself. I couldn't get a curtain rod to work, so the least destructive way I could think of was to attach it to the ceiling with drapery hooks and then seal the sides with velcro.</div><div><br></div><div>Have you seen this video?&nbsp;</div>

 

[daveeedo]

Gaffer or cloth/fabric tape might do the trick better since it doesn't leave behind adhesive residue.