Grandma's Chevy Cargo Van Conversion to a Simple Camper Van

grandmawalker · Sep 29, 2012

Building Grandma's kitchen con't..... One evening when I was coming home, out in front of a neighbor’s house along side of the curb was one of those computer desks that come in a box and you put them together.  IT WAS MARKED “FREE”.  It had seen it’s better days and was coming apart in some places but I knew right what I was going to do with it.  Well, that desk was heavy!  I tried to get it in the back door several different ways and I just could not lift it up that far.  I went to the house and knocked on the door to see if anyone was around to help me load it.  No one was at home…. Or did not want to come to the door!  Just my luck.  Well, I got my dander up and I pulled it around to the sliding side door.  I tried to get it in there, but it was still too heavy.  Then I really got determined that this cabinet was going to be mine and I was the only one to load it so I had better get’er done!   I tried it once more and got the back edge up on the running board.  Took a deep breath and got it up on the next step and then up into the van and gave it a push.  YES!!!!  It was MINE! Here is what I did with it.  (see pic) I removed the keyboard tray and the inside panel that held a shelf.  I also removed the back brace that you see here.  I slide the 3 drawer cabinet inside the desk on the left side and fastened it with screws from the outside of the desk frame into the frame of the 3 dr. cabinet.  Then I made a shelf on the right side and took the back panel that I removed and laid it on top of the 3 dr. cabinet for a shelf there.  I had a very useful cabinet for $3.00! You will see the finished kitchen in the pictures coming a little later on.

Sunny1 · Sep 29, 2012

Very nice work, grandmawalker. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

blkjak · Sep 29, 2012

nice going "grandma" .... blkjak

She · Sep 29, 2012

Wow great job Grandma!! Its looking classy!!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

grandmawalker · Oct 3, 2012

Grandma's build con't... Lets go back to Friday the 24th of August.  I was going to build my own bed / sofa but I was running out of time.  So, I went shopping for a futon.  I found one that would fit perfectly by removing the legs and placing it on a frame. It was exactly the width of the camper.  I made a lot of measurements, paid for it and said that I would pick it up on Monday or Tuesday.  Now mind you …. This was the Monday (8/27) & Tuesday (8/28) before we were to leave on Friday (8/31) to camp over the Labor Day Weekend! I went to Lowe’s and purchased some 2 x 3” pine studs and got to work.  Because of the wheel well I had to build the bed frame high enough to be over the wheel wells and the frame would have to go way back almost to the two back doors.  I finished the framing about 3pm on Tuesday (8/28) and drove to the furniture store to pick up the Futon.  Guess what?  Due to the curving of the sides of the van we were not able to get the Futon in on the bed frame!!  So,…… I had to go home and tear out the frame that I had built, make a build a new one in sections.  At this point I was working 10 hour days to complete this project.  The temperature was running in the high 80’s.  I was working out in the sun in the parking lot and I was getting pretty tired to say the lease.  My happy-go-lucky temperament was really being tested! I worked into the night on Tuesday using a crowbar tearing out my hard work.  Early Wednesday (8/29) morning I went back to Lowe’s and purchased more 2”x3” pine.  I worked all day building the sections of frame that would fit together.  In other words, a puzzle.  Then back to the Furniture Store late that afternoon.  I took out all of the sections and placed them on the sidewalk beside of the van.  They brought the futon out and put it in and held it up while I crawled under and placed the frame together under the futon.  I had 4 cross frames that went under the bed with a side railing on each side.  Got back home around 5:30 … exhausted.  After supper I collapsed in my recliner and later dragged myself to bed. Through the night I was thinking about the next step…. ½” plywood needed to be placed under the futon on top of the frame.  How was I going to do that?  In the morning I took the measurements and drew out how to cut two 4” x 8” sheets of plywood.  Headed back to Lowe’s and a nice young man cut the plywood and even came out and helped me put them under the futon.  Then I discovered …. I had made a big mistake.  I forgot to secure all the pieces of the frame together before I went for the plywood!!!  I was so upset with myself I could have spit bullets!  I drove back home and looked over the situation.  There was only one thing to do.  Crawl through the bed frame and set up the two cross frames in the center and make sure the side braces were in place.  Oh, boy.  What a job this is going to be.  I asked Linda if she would help me again.  I crawled under the bed through the frame and adjusted the two cross frames in the center while holding up the plywood with my back and shoulders.  Then lined up the frame and end braces the way they were suppose to be.  I crawled out and started attaching the frame together and the plywood to the frame while Linda helped hold the Futon up.  After 2 or 3 hours of work it was finally secure.  Another instance when “Hast Makes Waste”. You can see how I made the bed frame in these pictures that were taken before I purchased the plywood.  The futon is a three quarter size bed and my frame is a Queen size.  If I had had more time to think this out I think I could have figured something out that would have fit perfectly, but, haste makes waste, as I said before.  I will have to build up a two foot wide addition to the side of the futon to get the full queen size bed.  For now I have stacked up pieces of foam that I had and several large heavy blankets.  I’ll think of something better before next years camping.

grandmawalker · Oct 3, 2012

Grandma goes camping! So, I made the bed and stocked the cupboards and this is what it looked like at the campground.  (see pic w/campfire) Here is some pics of the inside.  I was very lucky to find mint colored sheets and pillow cases.  My bathroom rugs were mint green so now I need to redecorate my bathroom as I have stolen the carpets for my camper.  I use a mid-size cooler and cover it with a thermo cloth cover and then the carpet on top of that.  Ice in the cooler lasts for a long time. The last picture shows the tape deck cabinet that I cut down and laid on it’s side.  I attached this to the back of the FREE desk cabinet.  I added a piece of stained wood trim to the front to hold things in the cabinet.  In the foreground is my lucky horseshoe that I need to hang in the camper somewhere.

grandmawalker · Oct 3, 2012

Rear storage.  The two plastic tubs are long and go way under the bed.  Just pull them out and get what you need.  One is for my firewood, kindling and charcoal. Very handy and keeps all the wood particles out of the van.  (see picture of the rear of my van) The second weekend I camped alone.  The first day was a very nice day.  In the high 70’s.  I cooked shiskabobs over a wood fire.  Very tasty.  Then had a bonfire and a beer and enjoyed the evening.  Where I was camping there was a horse competition trail ride going on.  I enjoyed seeing all of the horses.   The second day was colder with a strong wind blowing.  It started to rain about 10 in the morning.  I  packed up my wood cooker and moved my chairs all inside the back of the van.  It was very comfortable inside during the all day rain.  I rested and caught up on some reading.  I had a sub and a tossed salad in my cooler so I didn’t go hungry.   The camping season is about over here in Upstate New York.  We wanted to go camping over the long Columbus Day weekend but the weather is going to be in the 40’s and rainy.  So, looks like I had better empty the food out of the cupboards and look forward to camping in 2013 …. That is if the world does not end on December 21st as the Mayan calendar predicts.   It sure is easier to winterize this camper than it was to winterize the 34’ Jayco travel trailer that we used to have.   Here in the Northeast part of the US we usually get a lot of snow and ice.  The highway workers spread salt and sand on the roads to break up the ice and clear the roads. I will be driving my car during the winter and letting the van sit because of this.  I don’t want to take it out on the salty roads any more than I have too.  The body is in good shape and I want to keep the rust away. Well, that about sums up my Cargo Van Conversion.  I hope I have given you some ideas of things to do and things not to do in your van conversion.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please post them.

blkjak · Oct 3, 2012

nice going "grandma" .... sometimes we all have to do things "over and over" as we go .... if you lived near me i would have helped you .... blkjak ....

She · Oct 3, 2012

Grandma I was just wondering. Queen sized bed. I was planning more of a twinish size. Thinking of taking my twin and adding a long cushion to the back so like a couch. At night I was going to some how make it as extension of the twin. Maybe more like your quarter bed. Yours is just a queen frame so it takes a lot room? I guess you can put more storage in that way but my thinking is this ...its cold and freezing and I don't want to go out. I want a little bit of room. Your not not full timing I guess right? But heck Grandma thats some work you did ...it looks great!!! Sounds like you had a good time that weekend. Even with the bad weather...good for you.

gp · Oct 3, 2012

Very nice! Looks like home.  <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

VanLifeCrisis · Oct 3, 2012

Really nice!  Good Job!

VanTrekker · Oct 3, 2012

Super looking van, Grandma!  I love the pattern!

Coffee Tim · Oct 4, 2012

Grandma, that is fantastic!  Nice work.

cjmccormick · Oct 4, 2012

Hey Grandma! Nice to see local van dwellers / van enthusiast in the area. I live in Hornell, NY <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> I like the futon idea and insulation you have done.

grandmawalker · Oct 4, 2012

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

She.... I wanted to have a double bed instead of a queensize but because the wheel wells were so big the frame had to be built over them and that made the bed bigger. I had hoped that the futon could be used as a sofa but that did not work because of curving of the sides of the van it had to remain flat. You are correct, we just camp for a few days at a time.

Blkjak... Wow, I could have sure used your help! But, I wouldn't be able to say, ''I did it all myself''.

Cjmccormick... I visited your blog. You got a good deal on the van. Unfortunately, repairs always comes with a used vehicle. I was very fortunate to have found my van. I did buy it from a dealer but he fixed everything that needed to be fixed, plus he put in a new battery, new tires, fancy hubcaps and he even replaced the hitch, or whatever you call it, that pulls the spare tire up under the van and holds it. So you live in Hornell. You must know about the free camping at the Fire Tower on Sugar Hill. Thats where we camp. I hope you find work soon. What is your trade?

cjmccormick · Oct 4, 2012

grandmawalker said:
Thanks everyone for your kind words. She.... I wanted to have a double bed instead of a queensize but because the wheel wells were so big the frame had to be built over them and that made the bed bigger. I had hoped that the futon could be used as a sofa but that did not work because of curving of the sides of the van it had to remain flat. You are correct, we just camp for a few days at a time. Blkjak... Wow, I could have sure used your help! But, I wouldn't be able to say, ''I did it all myself''. Cjmccormick... I visited your blog. You got a good deal on the van. Unfortunately, repairs always comes with a used vehicle. I was very fortunate to have found my van. I did buy it from a dealer but he fixed everything that needed to be fixed, plus he put in a new battery, new tires, fancy hubcaps and he even replaced the hitch, or whatever you call it, that pulls the spare tire up under the van and holds it. So you live in Hornell. You must know about the free camping at the Fire Tower on Sugar Hill. Thats where we camp. I hope you find work soon. What is your trade?

Yeah it needs some work, I did get a great deal and I want to do most of the repairs myself. It will be a learning experience. I actually didn't know about the free camping at the Fire Tower. That is good to know. I'll have to look into it. Thanks! I hope I find work soon as well, I apply all over hoping I will get a call back or a reply of some sort. My trade..ehh lets say im a jack of all trades. I do some computer work on the side. Very knowledgable about computers repairing them and upgrading parts and so on. Im a general laborer. Don't mind getting a little dirty.

yesican · Oct 4, 2012

Grandma...I'm impressed...Love the job you did.  Happy travels. Rae

Tinabeane · Oct 5, 2012

Grandma, wow what a great job! Thanks for sharing all the pictures. I like the carpet inside, looks really cute. Looking forward to your future posts. Tina

SirJoey · Oct 5, 2012

Dang, that's cozy as a bear's den, Grandma! U could make a living at this if U were so inclined!  U go girl, cuz U got MAD SKILLZ!

angeli · Oct 7, 2012

I'm so impressed and inspired!  Thank you for detailing all of this.  I love the green!!!

Grandma's Chevy Cargo Van Conversion to a Simple Camper Van

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