bipolar express
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We started over a year ago looking at Class B vans (Roadtrek, Pleasure-Way, etc) and after looking at a few we decided they are actually too big & heavy for our needs. I accidentally saw an Eclipse Chevrolet G20 conversion but it was sold before I had a chance to actually see it.
Eclipse, Turtle Top, Jayco and others made "weekender" camper vans in the early to mid 90's based on the Chevrolet G20, Dodge B250 and Ford 1/2 ton vans. These conversions are exactly what we want, but are scarce. In a year of looking I have seen less than 10, and none in the Southeast (Tennessee), so I am thinking of getting a passenger conversion van and building it. Think VW camper only with a toilet in an enclosure. I have attached a couple of pictures of a 1994 Coachmen for visuals.
I have not seen one of these vans in person, so I am imagining/fantasizing how these are actually put together. My ideal van will have a small kitchen with a sink using 5 gallon supply/waste containers; a stove (can be a portable butane stove), 12/120V refrigerator; microwave; toilet with enclosure, and a hanging closet; plus all the storage I can cram into it. Roof A/C no generator.
My questions:
1. Can a build out be done on an existing conversion van without removing the side paneling?
2. Has anyone moved the rear seat/bed to the side of the van? Most of the factory conversions have a lengthwise bed, and it would be nice not to have to toss a perfectly good electric seat/bed.
3. The factory conversions have a porta-potti in the rear with some partial side walls and a curtain enclosure. Has anyone successfully installed partition walls in an existing conversion van?
4. Finally, what do you do with the windows? A kitchen cabinet will sit higher than the bottom of the side windows. I would probably use limousine tint on the side windows but wonder about the space between the glass and the cabinet becoming a catch all for trash and hard to clean. But I don't want to create a problem by attaching anything to the glass (with adhesive, for example).
Thanks for any experience you might have had with these issues. Or if you can point me to one of these unicorns in Tennessee!
Eclipse, Turtle Top, Jayco and others made "weekender" camper vans in the early to mid 90's based on the Chevrolet G20, Dodge B250 and Ford 1/2 ton vans. These conversions are exactly what we want, but are scarce. In a year of looking I have seen less than 10, and none in the Southeast (Tennessee), so I am thinking of getting a passenger conversion van and building it. Think VW camper only with a toilet in an enclosure. I have attached a couple of pictures of a 1994 Coachmen for visuals.
I have not seen one of these vans in person, so I am imagining/fantasizing how these are actually put together. My ideal van will have a small kitchen with a sink using 5 gallon supply/waste containers; a stove (can be a portable butane stove), 12/120V refrigerator; microwave; toilet with enclosure, and a hanging closet; plus all the storage I can cram into it. Roof A/C no generator.
My questions:
1. Can a build out be done on an existing conversion van without removing the side paneling?
2. Has anyone moved the rear seat/bed to the side of the van? Most of the factory conversions have a lengthwise bed, and it would be nice not to have to toss a perfectly good electric seat/bed.
3. The factory conversions have a porta-potti in the rear with some partial side walls and a curtain enclosure. Has anyone successfully installed partition walls in an existing conversion van?
4. Finally, what do you do with the windows? A kitchen cabinet will sit higher than the bottom of the side windows. I would probably use limousine tint on the side windows but wonder about the space between the glass and the cabinet becoming a catch all for trash and hard to clean. But I don't want to create a problem by attaching anything to the glass (with adhesive, for example).
Thanks for any experience you might have had with these issues. Or if you can point me to one of these unicorns in Tennessee!