Bookshelves in a van?

[Taijibum]

I keep seeing great ideas for cooking and beds in vans, but my main concern is my books. Any ideas for living in a van with a lot of books? I am going to live in one during grad school and I have about a year to get the van ready. Thanks.

 

[christine]

Rubbermaid plastic containers or milk crates would be the cheapest options. If they're stacked on top of something, make sure you bungee them to the side of the van so that they don't topple over when the van is moving.

 

[MrNoodly]

Bookshelves, in the standard sense, are probably not a good idea. Books can go flying off when going around corners or down rough roads. I'd keep them in containers, or at least cabinets with doors.

 

[GotSmart]

Milk crates. That way you can rotate the different batches. You can also get most books online so that will eliminate a majority of the problem. My daughter is doing that this semester. Paying so much to have a 4 month access to the book in a database.

 

[Unchained]

GS beat me to it. While I keep some favorite actual books and recycle paperbacks, I have gone the way of the Nook and Kindle for the most part. I truly wish that digital options had been around when I was in school, as paying $50-$75 for a required course book only to find that a new edition was coming out so I could not sell it back was no fun (for anyone else who got stuck with 'The Munz', I feel your pain).

That said, sometimes you need actual books. As has been mentioned, shelves aren't the way to go. Milk crates or a cabinet are the best options. Just be sure that both the contents and their containers are secure, as the last thing you want in an accident is debris flying inside of your van.

 

[MrNoodly]

I have gone the way of the Nook and Kindle for the most part.

Thanks to a friend, I have over 300 books with me -- on my laptop. When I was starting my vandwelling life, he asked if I wanted some digital books. Sure. He handed me a hard drive full of them. I copied them over. I can read them with my Kindle reader app.

 

[Duck]

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/res...3761_1_XLARGE.jpg&w=606&h=467&t=1365030773000

is one of the best table/bookshelf combo's in my opinion. folds out to make a table for 4 in the boat but I think you could skip that side.

 

[GotSmart]

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/res...3761_1_XLARGE.jpg&w=606&h=467&t=1365030773000

is one of the best table/bookshelf combo's in my opinion. folds out to make a table for 4 in the boat but I think you could skip that side.

NICE! I think I will use that idea in my van. I was trying to think of a way to set up a able with limited space.

 

[Taijibum]

I have an iPad with maybe 200 books, 50 dissertations, and the entire Hellblazer (John Constantine) comic collection. I just love my hard covers and many of them are not on PDF. I love that fold out table/bookshelf. I was thinking the shelf with the holding bar across it like they have on ships. Looks like I will be getting a 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan 3 Dr LE Passenger Van Extended this week. I am trading my 2006 Charger for it. It is pretty nice inside and I will post pics when I get it.

 

[GotSmart]

My hardcovers will be left with my kids. They love books just as much as I do. I will be hitting used book stores on my journeys, and passing along the books I do not have room for. I have a feeling I am getting a Nook for my next birthday from them...

 

[Duck]

NICE! I think I will use that idea in my van. I was trying to think of a way to set up a able with limited space.

The better version IMO hinges on the top in the middle, instead of the other direction, with a latch on the outside edge Makes for a nice compact table folded up instead of hanging all over the place in the center.

There were pictures of one like that somewhere but I have unfortunately misplaced them.

Another good option which I am trying to find a link to was the modification of the settee backs on a sailboat called a Grampian 26. They turned the space into a sensible liquor cabinet and sets of shelves. Often sailboats have the back made out of plywood with space between it and the hull that is quite usable, then thinner foam in front of that, vs the couches you see in Rvs.

 

[GotSmart]

Behind the table folded up will be my electrical box, and under it will be my fridge, and the battery box cover.

Now I need to sleep on it, and let my mind design how it will work while I sleep.

 

[Willy]

I have bookshelves in my camper. There's a lower 'rail' that runs along the bottom and a middle 'rail'. Never had any books pop out, and I hang in the backwoods. Another book 'cubby' I have just has a deeper bottom rail, about 2/5 the length of a paperback in height. ..Willy.

 

[GotSmart]

My biggest problem is I have an entire wall filled with tool buckets and boxes. I dont have any room for many books. The OP being a student will have the need for this solution. I think it is the perfect one Willy!

 

[HWJ]

You can use tight bungie cords as a cheap option for book cases. But I agree with everyone else on rubbermaid bins or milk crates

 

[decodancer]

Thanks for the link for the shelf/table. I could use that in my van to hold DVDs and CDs as well as the few books I refuse to let go. The table is perfect for my setup too. I copied the picture to my computer, I think I can build a reasonable copy on the cheap.

 

[Bdog1]

Find "flyingkurbmaster" post in pictures of your van. Slick set-up he mentioned were of marine origin.

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Here it is....

 

[compassrose]

We had this stuff in our popup. We will be using it in our bus conversion to hide the DVD player, electric breaker panel, etc.

Anti-Rattle Feather Track http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/lg_...ge/66/highlight/antirattle sliding door track