Dandelion_Puff
Active member
So, I took the ultimate plunge and bought a van yesterday. I had two real motivations. The first is that if almost-husband and I don’t get out of my parents' house soon I’m going to commit murder-arson-suicide. The perfect pre-built RV refused to magically appear at a price I could remotely afford, and wasn’t looking likely to happen anytime soon. So the van conversion is the quickest way to mobile living. The second is that I ADORE Ford E-series vans. I learned to drive in my mom’s 1993 Ford E-150 Club Wagon, and when she stupidly sold it I swore to myself I would someday have my very own big fat Ford van. Took eleven years, but there she sits, bigger and fatter than I imagined and scaring the neighbor kids by being THE white van (I about died laughing when I heard the oldest shouting “Don’t stand by that white van! Don’t you know how dangerous those things are?!” to the others)
Anyway, she’s a 2002 Ford E-250, high mileage but always used for commercial purposes and perfectly maintained. I’ve literally never driven anything with an engine and transmission that worked together quite as perfectly, including brand new rental cars. Her name is Willow, chosen for the massive amount of folklore around willow trees and how they’ve long represented healing, flexibility, and magic, all things I’d quite like to imbue my van with.
Yeah, she won’t be winning any beauty contests. But that’s okay. I wouldn’t want Careliana (my 1977 Cadillac Coupe Deville) to get too jealous.
I’m afraid this build thread will be disappointingly simple compared to many on here. I have neither the skills nor the desire for much of the fancier stuff many others here have done. No carpentry, no cutting holes for vents (I’m switching out for windows that open instead), no insulating and making the interior look “finished”. Thankfully she already has brand new carpet in back and some bolted-in shelving I intend to keep.
Yeah, still not winning that beauty contest. But you might be very surprised in a few weeks.
I’ve actually spent most of today flailing about where to START, though. I know pretty much exactly what I want in every way except how to do the electrical (which you guys are going to have to help me with, but I’ll put the details over in the right subforum). So I’m going to go order the custom-sized foam mattress that matches her measurements and see if I can get some concrete guidance on electrical stuff.
Anyway, she’s a 2002 Ford E-250, high mileage but always used for commercial purposes and perfectly maintained. I’ve literally never driven anything with an engine and transmission that worked together quite as perfectly, including brand new rental cars. Her name is Willow, chosen for the massive amount of folklore around willow trees and how they’ve long represented healing, flexibility, and magic, all things I’d quite like to imbue my van with.
Yeah, she won’t be winning any beauty contests. But that’s okay. I wouldn’t want Careliana (my 1977 Cadillac Coupe Deville) to get too jealous.
I’m afraid this build thread will be disappointingly simple compared to many on here. I have neither the skills nor the desire for much of the fancier stuff many others here have done. No carpentry, no cutting holes for vents (I’m switching out for windows that open instead), no insulating and making the interior look “finished”. Thankfully she already has brand new carpet in back and some bolted-in shelving I intend to keep.
Yeah, still not winning that beauty contest. But you might be very surprised in a few weeks.
I’ve actually spent most of today flailing about where to START, though. I know pretty much exactly what I want in every way except how to do the electrical (which you guys are going to have to help me with, but I’ll put the details over in the right subforum). So I’m going to go order the custom-sized foam mattress that matches her measurements and see if I can get some concrete guidance on electrical stuff.
