Hello All

[Belchfire]

Hello All

I am planning on buying a step van and with the help of someone experienced I plan to convert it to a camper

My plans are for it to have
A Wood heater that can be used to cook on
A Regular propane stove
A propane heater
Good insulation
a roof vent with fan
A fridge
Batteries that can charge off the engine and solar
Lots of space for storage
The ability to tow a minivan
ETC etc


I have not been able to have my own home because of life circumstances so I hope God willing to to have my own custom home on wheels
My plan is to live in Alaska part of the year and down below in warmer weather part of the year

One of the first things I need to decide on is the type of step van I will buy and the next thing is what kind of floor plan I will have , then I need to decide who to get to help me build it

I can spend around 25k for the van the interior parts and the expertise to make it livable

I plan to take about a year for this project

If any of you have suggestions they will be appreciated
Thanks and nice to meet you all

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, Belchfire! 25K will be more than enough to buy and outfit your rig. I hope you'll keep us updatedwith pictures of your build and journey.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[wagoneer]

Hello and welcome. If your going to be towing (sounds like some serious weight ) Personally I would keep the box down to 20 foot. Although I do not like duels in this case I would consider it. Get a diesel inline 6 or 1998-2003 7.3 powerstroke . Your wallet will thank you.

 

[Belchfire]

Hi Cindi and Wagoneer

Thanks

Wagoneer So I could tow a minivan with a deisel slant 6?
What year would you recommend?

Also
Are there any places I can go to see how others have outfitted their vans?
Are there floors plans anywhere?
Thanks

 

[akrvbob]

Your very best choice for an engine would the a Cummins diesel inline 6 called the 6bt. Your budget can handle that no problem. Your next best choice would be the Ford 7.3 diesel. Both can easily tow a minivan.

For layouts I think I would look at school bus forums. You'll have to shrink it down because the step van is shorter, but the basic idea is the same.

Actually your best bet is simply buy some graph paper and start playing!! The beauty of a step van is it's just a big, open, blank space begging for you to customize it!! The straight walls and high celing make it very easy.

First thing I'd do is find the wood stove you're going to use because everything else will revolve around its clearance needs so it should come first. Then put the fridge far away from it.

I'd think seriosuly about pulling off the back door and then framing in a new wall with a back door and a window. I think I'd put a closet in it that opened from the outside and use it for the things that need vented like the batteries, propane tank and even to carry some firewood.

Bob

 

[Belchfire]

thanks Bob

Really great ideas

I was thinking of starting with flooring and then insulation

Would a wood stove go in before those two things

Also
What kind of wood heater would you recommend

Thanks

 

[SweetMarie1965]

Welcome!

 

[akrvbob]

I think I would spend the money and get a marine grade wood stove. They are designed to be ultra safe and reliable. You don't want your boat burning down in the middle of he ocean! They will be more expensive but it will pay off in the long run. I don't know any specifics about them.

I'd also check on skoolie (school bus) forums on wood stoves, they are common there.

Actually, you need the basic layout first, so you know where the woodstove is going. Then I would do windows and vents first then the floor and insulation. Then I'd put the woodstove in. You'll need a heat barrier around it to protect the wall from the heat so the insulation and paneling need to be first.

Woodstoves are very dangerous, do your homework and be sure you are putting it in right.
Bob

 

[Belchfire]

Thanks

 

[KayakGirl]

I Have nothing I can add refarding your questions, but I do want to welcome you to the forum. While this forum may not be able to answer some of the specifics to the type of conversion you are wanting to do there is so much other information here for you to learn about living on wheels. Welcome!

 

[Patrick46]

Welcome to the forum from a certified Stepvan Junkee!!

I love woodstoves, and I personally would build my own out of a beer keg...but I'm a custom fabricator so this is no issue for me.
I do agree with Bob's idea, that if you're going to buy one, then get one for a sailboat. They're very efficient little rigs that work well.

I also strongly agree with the Cummins diesel.

As for the stepvan itself...it'd think that one with 16 feet of room (from behind the driver's seat to the back wall) woukld be as big as you'd wanna go. I'd also make sure it has a driver's door (many of them don't). It makes it a lot easier to deal with to have one.

Hello from Oregon!!

 

[Belchfire]

Thanks Kayak Girl and all

Any ideas on what kind of shower I could install ?

 

[Belchfire]

Hi Bob or anyone

I wonder if you could tell me which step vans have
These two engines
Cummins diesel inline 6 called the 6bt. or the Ford 7.3 diesel?

Thanks

 

[wagoneer]

Unfortunately you only get one motor per , i can only expound on the 7.3, having owned many diesels cummins will be more common in step vans, they all had the choice. inner city delivery is hard on a motor. Cummins is robust inline 6 a proven formula easy to work on. It may be difficult to find one with gearing to suit interstate speeds with any economy, your pushing a lot of air with a flat face step van. 7.3 also very robust harder to service but powerful and in a van usually found in service vehicles I hope this helps

 

[offroad]

Is $25k your full budget before you start? Do you also have a chunk of money in the bank for the breakdown roadside repair? Maybe put some into saving and spend the rest on your truck-van-RV. Sorry about thus question but many fail to have a contingency. Am going to reserve $10k myself, ready to use, and urgently will be replenished after use.

 

[wagoneer]

don't be too alarmed when you see the odometer on some of these, usually fleet maintained 7.3
will be well over the 200k mark look for 1998-2004 more robust... injectors and glow plugs cost about 3k to replace but will get you another 150k down the road. Over 500-600k this motor is reaching the edge of life.

 

[cdiggy]

Add me to the list of diesel. My Chevy 350 gas gets about 8 mpg. Although you mentioned Alaska. I don't know how a diesel would act in those low temps. I know you will love the mpg of diesel. I am thinking of converting mine over to diesel just because the mpg. Good luck with the build. They are fun (step vans)

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

. . . It may be difficult to find one with gearing to suit interstate speeds with any economy, your pushing a lot of air with a flat face step van.

Wagoneer is quite correct. The average step van is designed for making deliveries around a city or town, not long distance cross country driving.

You may want to explore having the rear end gears changed to a ratio more suitable for highway driving.

I believe the modification would pay for itself in fuel savings in fairly short order.

Regards
John

 

[Belchfire]

Thanks
My plan is to drive interstate only twice a year about 2500 miles one way
I don't really care if I only go 50 miles an hour
Do I still need the special gearing?


I don't now about How a diesel would fare in Alaska temps I don't plan on traveling during the coldest months
Thanks for the tip on keeping a little money in reserve for breakdowns my plan is to get the best van for the money
so I don't have breakdowns but stuff happens

Thanks again

 

[akrvbob]

I lived in Alaska for a long time and diesels are very popular there. But, the assumption is you are near shore power and can keep the engine block heater plugged in all the time.

If you can't, you never turn them off when it's below zero. I drove school bus in Anchorage for 6 years and I've taken diesel busses on long weekend charters to Bball tournaments. One time I was gone 5 days and never shut the bus down one time. I slept in the back over the engine and it was the best sleep I've ever gotten!

Another time it was about 10 degrees and I thought I could shut it down but it turned cold overnight, about -10. No go the next day--diesels don't like cold! Fortunately the local bus barn came out and got me started. I didn't shut it down again until I got home.
Bob