Cargo van or passenger van? Add windows or remove interior?

[highdesertranger]

nice work makenmend. what did you coat the wood with? highdesertranger

 

[makenmend]

gapper2, thank you, I did loose a small amount of space but that was taken up by insulation, plus it was quick and easy to use the existing trim.
With all trim removed it wasn't difficult to lift up factory floor to remove seat rails and under floor heat duct, run wiring, lay insulation, then hardwood flooring that I had left over from my house flooring.
The headliner all taken out to install insulation, I did retain the rear A/C unit and ducting, run cabling for ceiling fan, re installed liner. Have not got fan yet as I wanted to see my options after solar installed on roof and existing rear A/C.

MM

                             

 

[makenmend]

Headliner out.



heat ducting out wiring in place.



Under floor insulation



roof insulation.

 

[makenmend]

hds thanks, the Baltic Birch ply was stained light oak then 5 coats of Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane with a fine sanding between coats.

 

  adding stain

and Varnished.

MM

 

[mayble]

Thanks a bunch, makenmend.  Very nice job and that's exactly the van I'm looking at, the Transit Wagon.
No issues with removing the headliner/airbags?

 

[makenmend]

mayble, to remove head liner you 1st have to remove window pillar trim, this also applies for wall trim. I purchased a set of trim removal tools from Harbor Freight (plastic). start at one corner/edge pry out till you can get a grip then pull to release plastic clips (make sure you keep them with the panels) they come in different lengths. On the headliner (start at the rear) try to support it as you release fasteners. These fasteners are glued to the liner, I pulled some off had to re glue.
I left my air bags alone ( so as not to void warranty ) I had to do this alone, a 2nd person would have been useful.

MM

 

[makenmend]

mayble, I forgot to add when you have the trim/headliner out you will see there was very little insulation at all. Also note those ribs in the van are great for running cables without having to drill holes, and underneath the van at those pillar location are opening that allow you access for such things as shore power cables floor venting, again no cutting/drilling required. And those pillars are Boron steel, extremely hard to drill.
The roof is pre drilled/tapped for roof rack with plugged access holes for solar power cables, all very convenient.

MM

 

[AJ452]

For those in the know, what do you think would be easier/less expensive for a non-DIYer?  Strip out a passenger van or have windows put into a cargo van?  I'm talking newer vans, 2012 or later, if that makes a difference.

There is a very interesting cargo van on CraigsList in the Denver area at the moment:  https://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/6043763135.html, "2012 Chevy Express 1500 AWD! / Cargo Doors on BOTH Sides!"

Barn doors with windows on both sides and without all the passenger crap to remove.  You don't see that every day.  I wish I could jump on it myself!

 

[gapper2]

Really good job on the buildout Makenmend,

  I hadn't planned to take my 2012 savana apart as much as you but after looking at yours and Falcon's build,  it sure looks great after it's completed.  My biggest worry is taking the seat rails out.  On savanas I've heard the bolts that hold the seat rails are tack welded on top side and after looking at the bottom side some exhaust heat shields will need to be removed to get to the nuts on the lower side.  Yep some of the work looks like 2 person job.  My warranty is out so I'm not worried about taking the airbags out.  I'm pretty sure the insulation for the roof and sides are almost nonexistent.  I am not planning for a roof vent at the moment because initial plans are to have solar panels cover almost whole roof.  It will be hard for me to cut a nice big hole in a perfectly good roof.

I think we have given the OP some things to think about. But for me, like you, it's about the view from the windows.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

Nice Makenmend!