Cargo van floor space.

Guest · May 31, 2013

Whether you have or are planning on getting a regular or cargo van, one of the most important issues is utilizeing the floor space as much as possible. All vans that have either slideing or regular doors on the passengers side to enter the living part of the van, have a step up area to enter the van, and when the door is closed, this depression area for entering the van leaves less space to be used in the van. SO I was thinking why not when your inside and the door is closed to measure/trace this entering area and cut out on 3/4 plywood a piece that will fit this area, and by attaching say a couple 2X4's on the bottom of the plywood, just the right length so the plywood is the same level as the floor of the van, so you could possibly place a cooler against the door, and temporarily secure it in place. Living in stealth I wouldn't want to enter from the slider door anyway, not to arrouse any nosy people in the neighborhood. And of course this plywood elevation would be portable in case you would want to enter easily from that side.   

MrNoodly · May 31, 2013

A large item like a cooler, storage bin or cabinet could just hang over the depression since most of its bulk would still be on the rest of the floor. I think it might be a better use of space to use the depression to store small items.

VanLifeCrisis · May 31, 2013

Im going to extend my sink/counter halfway into the slider step/space.  Ive seen youtubes (and maybe some builds here) with similar setup, my water storage can then be accessed from outside when i open the slider.  I plan to leave just enough room to step inside. Kinda like this

Stargazer · May 31, 2013

My fold up bag lounge chair fits in that space perfectly. Thats where it lives when not in use. And the same space next to the front passenger seat holds rain boots and laptop. No space wasted.

James AKA Lynx · May 31, 2013

Space vrs great looking. It is really a personal choice. Some people just make a bed frame and leave the walls for shelving. I find the step up a little high and enjoy the step indention. Also when that door leaks it leaks in the indention and not on my floor. You do have a lot of room in the van. Just takes some planning and not buying stuff. James AKA Lynx

David · May 31, 2013

My class B has the 60/40 barn doors on the side and the cabinet with the sink covers the area of the smaller door. It actually hangs over the step area so it's right up against the door when it's shut. I have no issue getting in or out with just the one door area.

creationode · May 31, 2013

April, I realize you want to be stealthy, like most others. I have a pass-through, and primarily use it to duck in the back to sleep/do stealthy things, when I am in public areas. I would never give up BOTH side cargo doors.  My van has the hinged side doors, and they both have windows (which I have since blacked out with Plastidip).  I do use one side door, at least once a day.  If you fill up the entire back of your van with a bed area, that is more or less permanently installed, you will have a nearly impossible time moving material/stuff into the van to work on it. At least one side door is well worth keeping unblocked. I know I diverged, but I just had to mention that. To put a little 'cover' over the step well would work.  Just make sure you don't permanently attach it with glue or something.  Screw the wood into the step, so that you might remove it.  The step well does tend to catch water, if your door seals are not perfect.  And with a used, oldish van, the door seals will probably NOT be perfect. As of now, I actually stick my sandals in the step well.  Because I am over 6', I just altogether ignore the step well, and step right into the van in one motion.  I have become very quick at this, and can happily hobble about bent in half inside. I like the idea of extending a door-mounted storage space that extends down into the step well, but that is a largish project requiring some very nice planning, and I am not there yet. I do plan on having my cargo area, completely sealed from the cab, to aid in air handling issues.  When this happens, I plan to cut the doors down there in the step well, and install fresh air intake vents with fans in that exact location.  Since the roof vent I have will suck air upwards, this will creative a nice upwards breeze of air.  Of course, it will not exactly be...cool air....since the hot pavement will be radiating near the door there...but it is alot better than nothing! IMO so far, the step well is best reserved for odd item storage like chairs, shoes...wiring, plumbing, ventage.  I have looked at a whole bunch of pictures of the vandwellings, and so far, it is pretty much left as-is.  I would not plan or reccomend to completely block/clog the first opening side cargo door, or completely fill up the step well at first.  Using the internal space near the door to store a cooler would work, though.  Just don't plan on keeping it there permanently. I spend all of my time in cities, in store parking lots, in public areas, and nobody has even cared that I might occassionaly open my side door to grab something, duck in real quick.  I keep it really clean inside, so even if they do happen to drive by, they will not be able to see anything related to 'inhabiting' the van.  Not to mention, they are focused on driving.  Not me, not the van. You can get away with a whole lot.  I am living proof. I was 1 hour in McDonalds today, with a large iced coffee, charging and surfing the laptop.  I then moved into the van for another two hours, still using their WiFi.  Nobody knew a thing, and they never will. I am the last of anybodys concern.

Guest · May 31, 2013

Thank You everyone for your great advice! In my original post on this article I said, "And of course this plywood elevation would be portable in case you would want to enter easily from that side." And if a cooler is against the door, its not held perminently, so it and the elevation can be removed at anytime for easy entry!