Iggy's Adventures and Misfortunes

[Iggy]

I'm a slow learner....

 

[Iggy]

As a newer van dweller, it's the little things in life that I'm enjoying the most. Getting a full nights sleep, finding free WiFi where I park, discovering a gorgeous park in the middle of a boring industrial city, taking a shower after several days of going without, receiving a good hot meal from a Christian organization for the homeless, the sound of rain on the roof, going to the bathroom first thing in the morning. Today I'm thankful for no longer hitting my head on the celling when I sit up in bed. I lowered my bed 3" and voilà, no more headaches!

 

[caseyc]

Yes, it's good to be grateful for the small things. Makes the bigger things that much more enjoyable! I too had to lower my bed so I can sit upright on the bed without smacking my head on my low top van, haha! It didn't help that I got a platform bedframe which made things higher, plus a 9" thick iComfort memory foam mattress. I ended up having to saw off 2" from all 4 legs of the bedframe to lower the bed, and now I can pretty much sit upright for the most part. I was tempted to saw off more than 2" on the legs, but I didn't want to sacrifice too much storage space underneath the bed. It was a balancing/compromise act, for sure!

As a newer van dweller, it's the little things in life that I'm enjoying the most. Getting a full nights sleep, finding free WiFi where I park, discovering a gorgeous park in the middle of a boring industrial city, taking a shower after several days of going without, receiving a good hot meal from a Christian organization for the homeless, the sound of rain on the roof, going to the bathroom first thing in the morning. Today I'm thankful for no longer hitting my head on the celling when I sit up in bed. I lowered my bed 3" and voilà, no more headaches!

 

[Iggy]

Yup, almost exactly the same as my situation. Except my bed is a pillow top mattress. I can just barely get my storage containers under the bed now. Today I'm building a new cabinet that maximizes storage on my sidewall and shuffling everything around but my bed. My least useful space is my passenger seat area but occasionally it is needed for a guest rider. So I'll leave it be. Well, back to work on that cabinet!

 

[Bdog1]

That passenger seat can start pulling it's weight if you get a swivel base. Really adds to the usable space I find. I usually just end up stacking stuff on the drivers seat so that one stays fixed.

You can kinda see it there behind my big furry dogs taking a nap on my bed!

 

[Iggy]

That swivel would be nice to have. Right now, the only places to sit in back are the bed and the 5 gallon portable toilet ( never been used for anything but a trash can so far). The base of my passenger seat has a drawer in it but that would be a minor loss. The seat looks like it would have to move back and to the left to have enough room to swivel. I might have to have someone smarter than me to hold my hand and walk me thru the process. Wish my dad was still alive. He was a whiz at problem solving!

 

[GotSmart]

That swivel would be nice to have. Right now, the only places to sit in back are the bed and the 5 gallon portable toilet ( never been used for anything but a trash can so far). The base of my passenger seat has a drawer in it but that would be a minor loss. The seat looks like it would have to move back and to the left to have enough room to swivel. I might have to have someone smarter than me to hold my hand and walk me thru the process. Wish my dad was still alive. He was a whiz at problem solving!

I refuse to hold your hand. Someone would talk...

What I did was to replace my standard seat with one from the back, a swivel recliner. You can find a color matching item for your van in a wrecking yard. To make it fit in the position it was supposed to be, I had a plate welded on it that off set it so it can do what I need to.

To drill the holes, I positioned the seat, and used basic math and a sharpie to find/mark the ideal spots, drilled the first pilot holes, and some step drills to enlarge then to the right size. Sounds simple, right? :huh: It is a pain, but well worth it. I will be sleeping in the passenger seat, as I am unable to use a bed since my COPD went crazy a couple years ago.

 

[Iggy]

Ok, no hand-holding. Sorry to hear about your COPD. The seat I have reclines way down and is leather, in perfect shape. I wonder if I could somehow just switch the base. The carpet is cut around the existing base and would have to be replaced. I am going to think on this some more and probably go to some wrecking yards before doing the deed. It's nice to know that it is doable.

 

[GotSmart]

Then all you have to do is find the base, or any swivel base that will match up to that seat. Sometimes all you have to do is drill some holes.

Parts is parts.

The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Aristotle

 

[Bdog1]

The seat pic is actually a friends van I also did. It takes a lil fenageling! Found the base for $55 if I remember correctly. Prices are all over on them! Same deal, plate, drilling Ect Ect.

Tuff day for everyone involved!

 

[caseyc]

I have a Thetford portapotty (medium size model) whereby I velcro taped a Kensington memory foam seat cushion on top of the Thetford toilet lid. Now I'm able to comfortably sit on top of the porta potty as an extra seat.

As for the swivel chair, I had spent around $500 for a van custom shop to install a swivel base to my passenger captain chair. I did this more than half a year ago. The sad part is that I pretty much never use the swivel seat cuz my GF usually rides with me daily, and it would be too much trouble to have to constantly revert the seat back to driving position.

That swivel would be nice to have. Right now, the only places to sit in back are the bed and the 5 gallon portable toilet ( never been used for anything but a trash can so far). The base of my passenger seat has a drawer in it but that would be a minor loss. The seat looks like it would have to move back and to the left to have enough room to swivel.

 

[Patrick46]

I velcro taped a Kensington memory foam seat cushion on top of the Thetford toilet lid. Now I'm able to comfortably sit on top of the porta potty as an extra seat.

Sounds like you're spending too much time sitting on the pot!!


Iggy...C'mon back down to Coos Bay, and I'll help you fix up your passenger seat swivel. (I've got a fab shop, and this is easy-piezy for me to handle.)

Swivel seats really make a van alot more user friendly...especially for a vandweller.

PM me if you wanna talk further about it.

 

[caseyc]

The only minor "gripe" I have about the swivel seat is that the swivel base adds an extra 4" in height to my passenger captain chair. I personally don't so much mind since I'm normally sitting in my driver seat. But women in particular have complained they can't place their 2 feet on the floor due to the increased height of the chair. :-/ Even one guy friend who is shorter than average (around 5'6") had complained the same thing while riding in the higher chair, and he complained the seat belt was uncomfortable around his shoulder. Weird. I don't know if anyone else will have the same experience from a raised chair due to the swivel base, but that's been my own experience. Just thought I'd mention it as an FYI.

 

[Iggy]

Is there a psychiatrist or psychologist in the house? Please raise your hand. I have a problem that needs to be addressed. All my life, I've been rather casual about locking doors, on both my houses and vehicles. Partly due to living mostly on farms and partly because of my trusting nature. However in the last few months since moving full-time into my van, I've become obsessive about checking and rechecking if the van doors are locked. Maybe it's a result of losing 90% of my net worth in the last 5 years. Almost everything I own is in my van. Guess I'm afraid of losing anymore. Also noticed I'm checking my zipper a lot more lately. Another sign I'm getting loopy?

 

[LeeRevell]

No pshrink needed! It's a sign o' the times - SECURITY FIRST!
I ALWAYS lock my van doors. Just keep a spare key hidden up under the frame somewhere secure - in case you lock your keys inside!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Or, if you're like me and too lazy - I mean too efficient - to crawl under your ride, wear a key on a chain around you neck.

Admittedly, I have to wear the chain anyway cause it has a medic alert dog tag on it.

But Murphy's Law practically guarantees that if you need your back up key, the ground will be muddy, or full of dog crap or broken glass. Or there will be a rattlesnake under your ride, trying to stay out of the hot sun. Or some damn thing.

Regards
John

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have always carried a spare key in my wallet. Saved my butt a number of times.
But with a new 'improved' electronic key, I am going to have to find a new solution :s
-- Spiff

 

[Iggy]

I used to carry a key in my wallet but it always bugged me so stopped doing that. My spare is missing so need to make a copy. I like the idea of hiding one. With my luck, it would probably fall off right before I needed it.

 

[Bdog1]

While your vehicle may require a chip key to start, an old $4 key will unlock the door. Don't use it in the ign. It will "lock up" after you use the wrong key.

 

[Patrick46]

wear a key on a chain around you neck.

This is what I do while surfing. It doesn't come off, it's nice and handy, and b'sides... there aren't any pockets in my wetsuit!