Door and opening dimensions

[itsnotliving]

Hi, Looking at various options for the side doors on vans.

Does anyone (or would anyone care measure) the side door size nad the actual opening for the Econoline and Chevy Express vans?

I'm leaning toward the barn door style rather than a slider but the slider opening size would be useful. Does anyone have any thoughts on the pros and cons of either style?

The main dimension I'm looking for is for the larger door opening (max width between the smaller (closed) door edge and the trim panel on the fully open door and/or the actual opening size of the slider version.

Not been able to find that out. Guess I may need to carry a tape measure and take open door opportunities.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.

 

[LeeRevell]

The biggest pro to the slider is less space needed to open it in a parking lot, especially if someone parks on your right side.
But the sliders are noisy, and can be cantankerous to open and close as the van ages. That on my 1986 E150 cargo van is a real PITA at times. Noisy in campgrounds at night too.
I also have seen some higher end Class B vans with body extensions on the sides that would be impossible with a sliding door.
The barn doors also can be convenient to hang a tarp for an outside shower, or put a hinged mini table on.
My 1988 E150 Conversion Van has the barn doors, and I looked for exactly that option when I searched for it.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

i have 2 sliders, i dont like them. mine are older and both are quirky to open and shut. i dont know if its the case on newer vans but on older chevys the slide track is bothersome when converting, as it actually begins in front of the passenger seats back. so a wall has to be cleverly designed around both the track and seat. a curtain fairs only slightly better, as the track is shaped in such a way as a tension rod doesn't work well pressed against it and you cant anchor to it well without interferring with track. I really would prefer barn style. sure you need less room next to you but most spaces have room for doors to at least partially open anyway.

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my current van the seat sits back a little further than usual as it spins around but you can see the issue. the track is curving in too.

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also consider this, a slider is essentially a whole wall of you home open to the world and viewable from any angle, barn doors can be partially opened and aid in privacy. one member also noted that when nearest a wall or barrier, you can actually create a private lil alcove with the doors.

 

[Almost There]

New to the forum but not new to vans. With the exception of a couple of mini vans, I've had full size vans and/or RV's since 1975. The Montana daily driver is living on borrowed time!!

The barn door style is my favourite for several reasons:

- it gives you the largest actual opening. The doors can be swung back out of the way. A sliding door always leaves up to 6" of the door opening unavailable for loading larger objects.
- a sliding door is loud and harder to close than barn doors.
- I can put the inside of the barn doors to use for adding small cabinets or a shelf that drops down when the doors are open. Sliding doors are wasted wall space.
- if you want to add fender trim the sliding door won't go past most unless you add a door extender (do they even still make them??) We always had trouble with them.
- like others have said, you can leave one door closed or angle them both so that you have greater privacy.
- if you park on any kind of hill, sliding doors have trouble staying open if the front end is down and are a pain to close if headed uphill.

Get the barn doors!

 

[itsnotliving]

I'm convinced! If the guys with sliders seem to prefer the barn door style that works for me. Thanks for going there ahead of me.

I see a few vans for sale with notes like 'slider off the track' or slider won't open' and they do seem to get worse as they age. Unlike us, right guys?

Still leaves the question of the size of the opening though. I would really like to be able to just use the larger barn door without opening the smaller one. This would be OK if it was just a person going through as most things (grocery bags and bags of laundry - tonight's chore) can easily be pushed through the opening first. However, I also want to be able to get a bicycle in through the one open door without too much contortion or scraping the van to often......

Why not open both doors? Present preferred interior layout calls for a partition that meets where the barn doors close together. Why?

1. Think of a mud room area to store the bike (front wheel off). The van is to be stealth(ish) so having the bike outside won't work (besides it's Portland OR; it'll get stolen).

2. A.. got to go do laundry....

Later, thanks again

 

[MrNoodly]

Guess I may need to carry a tape measure and take open door opportunities.

If you're not close enough to a van to measure it, you're not close enough to buy it, so it's sort of irrelevant.

 

[akrvbob]

Just to reinforce what everyone else has said, I have a slider, I hate it! I just spent $300 to make it work. Fourtunately, now it works perfectly, but it's money down the drain.
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

My E150 Conversion is a Gen Three, so both barn doors are the same size. I'm a Big Guy so open BOTH doors to enter and exit. I do envy the Gen Four and Five with the bigger front side door.

 

[Stargazer]

Itsnotliving,

If I understand correctly, you are considering building a wall behind the front seat(s) that is the width of the right side barn door for your bike. Maybe consider building it across the back, accessing it from the rear doors?

The reasons I suggest this are:

If a wall is built across the front, as I understand you have described, will that make it more difficult to get into or out of the living space? You will either have to maneuver around the bike, assuming there will be a door in the wall to the back, or open both side barn doors to enter from the outside, since the right hand door must be opened to open the left side door. Amd how will you exit? Will you be able to open the "primary" door from the living space? And from the driver's seat, how will you get to the rear? Depending on how it's built, think about that. And if you ever decide to turn a front seat to face the rear for comfortable seating while parked, what will that do?

If it's across the rear, the side doors will allow much better access to the living space from inside or outside. I almost never enter/exit from the rear doors as there is no step and it's high enough that I have to step up using the hitch receiver. Not too safe, especially when wet.

One other point to consider...if you are parked next to another vehicle, or one parks next to you, will you be able to get the bike out from the side? And security wise, if you have your bike in the rear, you can always back up close to a wall, fence, tree, etc., and nobody can open the rear doors. Food for thought.

Just my thoughts. Whatever you decide to do initially, after living in it for a while, you will probably make a few changes anyway. Most of us have. Everybody uses their space differently.

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Btw, my van is an '05 E-150, regular height and length. With the right barn door open, measuring the narrowest part of the opening (rubber gasket of the closed left door to the inside panel of the open right door) is approximately 22". More than enough room to get a bike in, I think.

Good luck and best wishes!

 

[itsnotliving]

A member, Thinker, posted a link a year or so back for the Ford fleet data book for the E series. I thought I would reply to that on a more current post.
================================================
Thank you Thinker for the link to the Ford fleet body builder document. Very interesting.

Although Ford does not appear to offer archives (may need to look further) the Wayback Machine does have some parts of earlier documents saved.

For example, the 2006 has a bunch of porn (sorry van specifications- it's a guy thing) here.

I was able to get the pdf of the 2005 E series van dimensions. Probably more 2001 was not available.

If the pdf opens in our browser it may not display the drawings (not all the pages I have seen even have drawings) but you may be able to view them opening in a dedicated viewer like Adobe Acrobat (I use Nitro).

 

[MrNoodly]

I have a slider, I hate it!

When I was shopping for a van my preference was for swinging doors. But I found a van that had so much going for it that the sliding door wasn't a deal breaker. Each type has its pros and cons. For example, on a very windy day like today, I can have my sliding door open without needing to tie it back so it doesn't flap around. It would be nice to be able to mount things to the inside of the side doors, like a fold-up table or racks, but I've adapted my layout to work without that convenience.

 

[itsnotliving]

Hi Stargazer, thanks for the thoughts. Some good points.

I had seen an older Dodge van that had a partition that ran across the space from the rear of the slider with no access to the rear. I liked the idea of that work space separate from the (mainly) sleeping area which led me to consider splitting the side-doors with the bulkhead. In my case sleeping in urban areas would necessitate a stealth approach.


Click pic to see posting

If a wall is built across the front, as I understand you have described, will that make it more difficult to get into or out of the living space?

That's why I'm trying to get the dimensions. I just do not know if that will work using one door.

Will you be able to open the "primary" door from the living space? And from the driver's seat, how will you get to the rear? Depending on how it's built, think about that. And if you ever decide to turn a front seat to face the rear for comfortable seating while parked, what will that do?

The new bulkhead would have a door in it, the plan is to separate the entrance from the rear. Makes it easier to have a light on, work at the computer or watch a movie without broadcasting to the outside world.

This is not for RV'ing so an extended lounge area not required but otherwise a valid point. Someone on youtube actually had a La-z-Boy turned toward the rear.. Sensible in that they can go back into a bed pretty much. Still the ugliest things on the planet.

If it's across the rear, the side doors will allow much better access to the living space from inside or outside. I almost never enter/exit from the rear doors as there is no step and it's high enough that I have to step up using the hitch receiver. Not too safe, especially when wet.

It is likely I will end up with an extended van so the rear would house clothes on the driver side and an actual cargo area (albeit limited) on the passenger side so the side door will be the entrance.

Another consideration is that I may get to use it as a cargo van to pick up lumber. If I can have an opening fro the rear that I can slide a hundred or so 10-12' (1"x2") lengths in that would be ideal. It would go under the bed and through whatever bulkhead I end up with.

Small spaces require multiple uses for the same areas.

One other point to consider...if you are parked next to another vehicle, or one parks next to you, will you be able to get the bike out from the side?
This is a god point. I'm assuming most of the time I will be parallel parked on the street but regular parking lots could be problematic.

Whatever you decide to do initially, after living in it for a while, you will probably make a few changes anyway.
So true. Step one after getting the van is to put a bed in it and make that area stealthy if only temporary, then go from there as my needs develop.

Btw, my van is an '05 E-150, regular height and length. With the right barn door open, measuring the narrowest part of the opening (rubber gasket of the closed left door to the inside panel of the open right door) is approximately 22".
Thanks for that info. The Ford documentation shows the opening as 47.1"for an '04 but that is probably the widest with both doors open.

Thanks again and too others that have replied.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

There isnt much room behind that wall...maybe enough for the bed. Is it necessary to exclude the bed from the rest? If its a stealth thing, people are nosy about you being in the van, whether they can see a bed or not. its up to you but it seems confining to me...one of the cool things about being in a van is i can reach pretty much anything i want from anywhere in my living space

I had a cargo van before no windows. Everyone told me it was suspiscious, strangers even took pictures and posted it on facebook with some rude comments. I now have basically the same van with windows and curtains and no one looks at me twice. Everyone i know, tells me it looks less suspicious. I haven't been rousted by the cops or anyone yet, my other van it took like a week im starting to think if you look like you SHOULD be in there is probably easier than trying to look like you aren't (and failing).

 

[itsnotliving]

At this point the plan is to have the van a sleep space. No plans to travel with it.

Typical day would be wake up, drive from the sleep space, park at a daytime space and cycle or drive (if I still have 2nd vehicle) to work. Reverse that at night.

I could also just drive to and from the wok place to the sleep space but I need to get some ride time in and I don't want to bike to the van and