Bought a 1985 Dodge B350 custom today.

[Cylon]

Hello all, today I acquired a 85 Dodge B350 Custom with a 360/5.9 V8 with 5,000 miles on the engine, 43k on the chassis. I plan on gutting out some travel trailers and putting it all in the van. I wanted to post here to ask some questions, for me this will only be a summer camper for now but I'm engaged and will have two people in this van what is the best bed idea? I think something that can be dual purpose like a bed couch would be best thanks all.

<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/CYLON14/media/20150425_144258_zpsezvycbaz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n11/CYLON14/20150425_144258_zpsezvycbaz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150425_144258_zpsezvycbaz.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/CYLON14/media/20150425_144134_zps47wssrp3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n11/CYLON14/20150425_144134_zps47wssrp3.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150425_144134_zps47wssrp3.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/CYLON14/media/20150425_143450_zpsrlmvabou.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n11/CYLON14/20150425_143450_zpsrlmvabou.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150425_143450_zpsrlmvabou.jpg"/></a>

 

[Canine]

Wow, what a nice basic van and wow, what a top. Haven't seen one quite like it. .. Is it me, my phone or is there a real wind trap in the front above the windshield?

Gutting a trailer is a good idea but unless you are trying to put the Fridg, sink and stove in, you could maybe do better with old 2nd hand wooden furniture and a Mr Buddy heater plus a propane camp stove. Tons of threads on those. That's not to say if you found some scrap trailers that you couldn't part things out... Just needs wiring and plumbing lines and holding tanks and all. That's why class B vans are so stinking spendy. A lot to engineer into a small space.

However, that's a good shell and if you get things for the right prices and are handy, yours could be the next neat conversion build thread we all drool over. Have fun!

 

[Canine]

If you haven't already done so, go to the "Van Conversions" tab and then "How to live in a conversion van" by Jason. It's an older thread but very applicable as far as engineering your own parts and pieces into a van. He has great pics and details.

 

[Cylon]

If you haven't already done so, go to the "Van Conversions" tab and then "How to live in a conversion van" by Jason.  It's an older thread but very applicable as far as engineering your own parts and pieces into a van.  He has great pics and details.

Hi thanks for the info I did look at that tons of good info, I don't plan on using the other rvs tanks or propane system. Trying to keep it simple for the most part. Going to register it as a antique. Hoping to finish the whole camper for under 1k only paid 300 dollars for the van cause we got it from a friend.

 

[GotSmart]

If you register it as an antique, it gives you a LOT of use restrictions. Check your state DMV and insurance first!

 

[Canine]

If you register it as an antique, it gives you a LOT of use restrictions.  Check your state DMV and insurance first!

GotSmart is correct, as usual. Here in Az a collector car plate is limited to 1,000 miles a year. It's for driving to shows and the like. You'd maybe be better off keeping a normal registration on it unless you are back east where the gvr of the van might end up costing you. However, as I think about it, many states consider a window van as a "station wagon" and plates are cheap.

Keeping it simple is smart. Gravity water or a hand pump works for plumbing, an ordinary cabinet with 2 water containers underneath, sink drains into the one and pulls with the pump from the fresh. 4-5 gallons in and 4-5 gallons out... Refrigeration is more complex but a 5 day cooler with block, not crushed ice, lasts a long time. You have the roof room to insulate (hard panel foam boards), that's where heat rises to anyway. Don't forget a roof vent of some sort... Might want to block some of the windows, lots of UV heat gain there. There's cheap solar packages available, even a basic 100 watt panel with an inexpensive PWM controller going to your marine battery (that's the cheapest, you can get the 2 six volt golf car batteries later) with a lower powered inverter (less than 700 watts as long as you don't have a microwave)... Gee, panel or passenger vans have a lot of possibilities. Keep us posted and have fun. As long as it runs, $300 is scrap pricing!!

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Cylon! Very good advice from dusty and GotSmart. Start small and simple. Go camping a few times before you make any major conversions. You'll get a better idea of how you fit into the spaces and how you want to use it, what you need for good airflow, where you want the storage to be located, how much time you'll want to spend inside and what activities you want to do outside, like cooking. And we all love pictures of builds so please post more as you do the work!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Cylon]

Im not sure if you guys noticed the video I attached and it wont let me edit my main post but I found out how to embed a video so you dont need to click a link, here you go.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Canine]

Definitely worth the $300 you paid... Fixing the rust would be one of the first things, then getting rid of the handicap ramp, and finding the doghouse cover. Seems pretty solid for a base vehicle. Research YouTube videos on rust repair, grind back to good steel, make sheet metal patches, be liberal with rust restorer paints, practice your bondo skills... Look under the front floor mats or rubber liners too, one guy from NY bought a cargo van (Ford) and it was all rusted out under the matting... Moisture got trapped and really did a number on it.
Watch for the Dodge steering gear problems. There's posts on that too.

You'll have a nice camp rig with that overhead clearance.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Cylon]

Definitely worth the $300 you paid...  Fixing the rust would be one of the first things, then getting rid of the handicap ramp, and finding the doghouse cover.  Seems pretty solid for a base vehicle.  Research YouTube videos on rust repair, grind back to good steel, make sheet metal patches, be liberal with rust restorer paints, practice your bondo skills...  Look under the front floor mats or rubber liners too, one guy from NY bought a cargo van (Ford) and it was all rusted out under the matting...  Moisture got trapped and really did a number on it.  
Watch for the Dodge steering gear problems.  There's posts on that too.

You'll have a nice camp rig with that overhead clearance.  

Keep us posted on your progress.

Yep its all solid under the rubber i looked under it in spots there was already plywood there too, also what is the doghouse cover? For the rust i plan on removing most of it then covering it with por15 then screwing diamond plate to it.

edit: I thought about it more I think your talking about the engine cover? lol sorry, ya I have that you can see it in the video its in the back of the van.

 

[LeeRevell]

In some videos, using the phone camera sideways works better, not having that 'too tall, too narrow' format.

 

[SoulRaven]

Congrats!  Nice Van!  Mine is a low top 1986 extended maxi-van.


Forget insulation, park in the shade n the summer, and the sun in the winter, and if it doesn't already have roof vents, DO NOT add any, because sooner or later they leak, and opening side and back windows work just as well.

Some of the best advice I ever got was to not build anything in but rather just move it in.

My bed is a metal frame futon sofa/bed that I extended the legs using metal conduit so it clears the wheel well. 

Here's my floorplan:

 

[Cylon]

Congrats!  Nice Van!  Mine is a low top 1986 extended maxi-van.
Forget insulation, park in the shade n the summer, and the sun in the winter, and if it doesn't already have roof vents, DO NOT add any, because sooner or later they leak, and opening side and back windows work just as well.
Some of the best advice I ever got was to not build anything in but rather just move it in.
My bed is a metal frame futon sofa/bed that I extended the legs using metal conduit so it clears the wheel well. 
Here's my floorplan:

I like that setup, that bed idea seems really easy to do.... Ill have to look around for something that will work. I was going to build it with plywood. It did come with a roof vent built in that the factory installed. Thanks a lot for that floor plan Ill save it. I like the idea with the two chairs and a table the van only has the one drivers seat because it has stairs to get in the van so i think ill do it with a TV stand and two camp chairs.

 

[Cylon]

I also wanted to mention the generator, Im going to put a Honda e2000i in this box,
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-Aluminum...d=100011&rk=1&rkt=10&mehot=pp&sd=371313069494

And for the gas im going to get this can and mount them both to the back doors.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smittybilt-...unt-/360885024142?hash=item54066c758e&vxp=mtr

 

[LeeRevell]

Amazon has the Jerry Can Carrier cheaper.......

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...eld-keywords=Smittybilt+Jerry+Gas+Can+Holder+

 

[Canine]

Hey Off Grid, that's a slick floor plan. Very easy to understand and will give him and others good ideas. Futon bed, that's another possibility for me.