Since 2008 I have dreamed of tiny living as a way to extract myself from conventional living and all the burdens associated with it. I have explored several options from learning to live on a bicycle to having a gigantic travel trailer with a full sized truck. I never invested in anything, though (except a bicycle, of which that plan ended quickly lol). <div><br></div><div>Four long years passed and I realized I had to <i>do something</i>. I was sick of making plans in my head, scrapping those plans and making new ones. I knew I had to start doing something about my future.<div><br></div><div>I had been visiting Bob's cheaprvliving.com page for several years. When I first visited it, I thought I could never live in a van. Now I'm seeing that it's the only sensible solution for me. They require no special skills to drive, no special license to legally operate; there's nothing to hook up, unhook, set up, break down, or otherwise mess around with. Like trucks, vans are capable of hauling stuff so that would be useful too. They are stealthy, too.</div></div><div><br></div><div>So a van it was. But not just any van. A cargo van. I searched my local area for vans until I finally decided on a 1989 GMC Vandura G2500, V8, 5.7 lt for 1,200.00 (original asking price was 1340.00). It was a toss up between that and another yellow cargo van that had 555,000 miles on it for 800.00. Test driving the yellow one was a nightmare, so I went with the older, but lower mileage van. The plus side being that it is already white, has a tow hitch, and completely carpeted on the inside. Other vans advertised in my area were either a literal nightmare on the interior, had doors that didn't open at all, or lacked a working engine/transmission. </div><div><br></div><div>Of course there are several things I have to do with it. I made a list when I had some spare time, from easiest to hardest:</div><div><ol><li>Scrape off bubbled tint and apply fresh.</li><li>Vacuum and scrub interior floor carpet.</li><li>Scrub roof and apply Flex-Seal; paint white.</li><li>Remove and apply fresh white paint+primer.</li><li>New windshield washer blades.</li><li>The steering is loose and wanders, so tie rod end replacement+alignment.</li><li>The engine is burning antifreeze, so head gasket replacement.</li></ol><div>So that is my to-do list for my transition vehicle. I went outside and took pictures of it today to share with the forum. I layed down width-wise and was pleasantly surprised that I can stretch all the way out, so I may put the bed width-wise but we'll see. I think it'd be more comfy with a bed length-wise, but that's just me.</div></div>
meg's stealthy van
- Thread starter nuttymeg
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stude53
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<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Nuttymeg, Congratulations! <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></font> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Looks like a great start. I would prefer width-wise rear bed with storage under (including the spare and tools under - accessible from rear door). Gives me the feeling of more usable floor and wall space, too.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></font> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Bob</font></p>
Meg, if you would like some ideas, here's what I did with my white cargo van. It has everything I need to live in it fulltime if I wanted to. <br><br><A href="http://tinycamper.wordpress.com/from-cargo-to-camper-van/" target=_blank>http://tinycamper.wordpress.com/from-cargo-to-camper-van/</A><br>
Thanks everyone! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> <div><br></div><div>Bob, that's a good idea! I could probably construct a rudimentary platform bed with storage slots (bed that lifts up), and store the tools on the rear part like you said. My rear doors don't open from the inside, making me wonder what to put towards the back so that'll work for me!</div><div><br></div><div>gp, that's a <b>beautiful </b>van. <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/love.gif"> Great shower set up!!</div>
VanTrekker
Well-known member
<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi! I think Bob's advice is good regarding putting the bed in the back... As a guy, it was hard for me to stretch out sidewise but I think for most ladies it would be fine and offers a great way to use floorspace.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Congrats on buying a van and getting started. It's a fun, never ending project. </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Sleeping in the van has saved over $4000 in rent and utilities and made life a lot more fun.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Take care!</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p>
karl
Well-known member
Lurch is the same body style/size van and my bed is 4'x the width of the van- it allows me to sleep diagonally if necessary depending on how out of level the van is parked....I like my head higher than my feet, eh? I'm 5'9 and fit fine across even with a guest. Sure like the storage under also.<br>I have found that I can open one of the rear doors from inside by reaching inside and pulling on the mechanism...locking and unlocking can be done also. Never checked, but I bet a conversion van inside latch could easily be installed easily.<br>Lurch had the same paint issues on the roof....I think white mobile home roof coating would work nicely for that (Tractor Supply, Farm/Garden)<br>Let the fun begin, enjoy.<br><br>
Hi everyone, thanks for your support! It means a lot, and I'm encouraged more than ever to get this show on the road (literally!!)<div><div><br></div><div>VanTrekker - I'm 5'5 and a half so I *just* fit in the back, and I am happy to be able to at least stretch out. There's a spare tire in the back - it's the round carpeted thing in the picture in the back. Since there is a tow hitch on the bottom there is no room for the spare so the previous owners got inventive. When I go out today I will open up the back and see if the wall is carpeted behind it. </div><div><br></div><div>blkjack - I like the idea of covering the fender wells too! Seems like it would give extra support for the top and bottom of the bed, too.</div><div><br></div><div>karl, thanks for your suggestions! I'll definitely look for roof coating. I would install a latch on the back of the doors, but both of them are covered in carpet from the inside. Since I'm not much of a handyperson, I think I'll leave it there for now lol. </div></div>
stude53
Well-known member
<p style="margin: 0px;">Meg,</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">If you build your bed platform acroos the back and leave the back below the platform open, you could lay the spare down and slide it under when you open the back doors.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>
karl
Well-known member
My spare was in the same spot- scored a FREE mount for the back door...otherwise, mine would be laid down under the bed.<br>
Hi everyone! I've been getting stuff together to get started. I got myself a brand new tool set, some static cling window tint, oil change stuff, and Bar's head gasket repair. I saw some youtube videos where people dumped the stuff in their radiator fluid and it sealed their head gaskets. No more white smoke! I can't believe just I spent thirty dollars based on something I saw on the internet, but maybe that's just part of how I'm nutty. I'll post the results when I get around to it.<div><br></div><div>The good news, is that I don't need a new windshield wiper pump. It appears that the tube might have just been clogged, so that's money and time saved. It appears to be working fine right now, so I scratched that off the to-do list.</div><div><br></div><div>So, I'm posting some pics of what's behind the mysterious spare tire slot. I'm not happy that there's a gaping hole where there's supposed to be carpet. I'm pretty sure I can't get the exact same carpet to match, and yes I get funny about stuff like that. I'm neurotic. I know it's nothing to worry about, but still. I guess I could cover it by drilling decorative boarding on both sides of the wheel wells, after all it is where my bed is going to go and have a mock headboard and footboard would create visual symmetry to make me forget about the gaping hole in the wall.</div><div><br></div><div>Oh yeah, I did I mention - the spare tire is <i>flat. </i>Deep down I'm hoping it's just deflated to fit into the compartment but it's probably no good. I'm not sure if I need new tires all the way around for inspection - it is possible - but regardless I will have to buy at least one tire to put on the spare rim.</div><div><br></div><div>blkjack - thanks for the tip! I'm going to crawl under and see if I can screw it back on underneath. I'm pretty sure that's where it's supposed to go, so I'll be sure to mention how that goes in my next update.</div><div><br></div><div>bob - good idea! I can put the tire in the center, and the tools and stuff on the sides. That way I can make good use of the space around the wheel wells.</div><div><br></div><div>karl - good idea as well, I will look into that!</div><div><br></div><div>One last thing - I noticed other vandwellers creating blogs so I thought I would create one too. Well, it's not a new blog, but an unused one that I created several years ago and just never bothered to put to use until now.</div><div><br></div><div>http://station108.blogspot.com</div><div><br></div><div>Am I one of those weird Lost fans that analyzed the entire series, losing sleep and sanity over what might have been hidden meanings in each episode to figure out the point of the show? Yep, I am. But thankfully, I don't do it anymore (although I still own the entire series on DVD and I'm not afraid to try again).</div>
karl
Well-known member
Most likely your spare has a slow leak- I'd try reinflating it and pouring water around the rim and valve stem to see if there are bubbles .....often a tire installer will re seat a tire for 10 bucks or less.<br>Why not use the carpet from the tire cover to match/patch where the tire was?<br>That btw, is the factory mounting for the spare, the gas tank is where others may have a spare under the vehicle.<br>Good news- looks like your van is insulated, one less thing to do<br>Have fun with it!<br><br>
G
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welcome! love it! keep on posting so we can keep reading!!!
cargovanconversion
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<p>What an enthusiasm and that's what you need when you begin such a project.</p><p>Like you, I published a <a href="http://cargovanconversion.com" target="_blank">website/blog</a> when I started my van conversion.</p><p>Have fun and good luck!</p><p><br></p><p>Van.</p>
stude53
Well-known member
<p style="margin: 0px;">NuttyMeg,</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I read your initial blog entry. One suggestion: Change your preferences to include Anonymous as a type of response. Some of us can't comment because of Blogger issues. If you do, I will comment and put my identity in the response.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Have fun!</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob</p>
Simran
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That's a good starter van. It needs work but you get it coming around. Remember that tire is just a spare, it doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to hold air. Unless the cords are showing through I'd just fix it. It will get you by in a pinch; that is what a spare is for.<br><br>gus<br><br>
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