My escape pod's REDCON status

[Guest]

<br />I think I have an advantage on you as far as the bed goes. &nbsp;<a href="http://cargovanconversion.com/?p=527">cargovanconversion.com<br /></a><img src="http://cargovanconversion.com/wp-content/gallery/woodworking/thumbs/thumbs_img_3310.jpg" alt="" /><a href="http://cargovanconversion.com/?p=527"><br /><br /></a>Van

<br /><br />Show off!

 

[Khyron]

Ok I've procrastinated enough finally updating this thread. &nbsp;Anyway I'm done! &nbsp;Yes REDCON 1! &nbsp;Backtracking now. &nbsp;Did all this July 29th.<br /><br /><br />After last post it was time to build the bed. &nbsp;Got a metal bed frame from my dads basement that was mine as a kid, and coincidentally my dad's when he was a kid as well. &nbsp;Was gonna be too low so decided to build some custom risers to get 18" of clearance underneath. &nbsp;Here's the parts in the back of the van on the drive home from Home Depot. &nbsp;Used 4x4's and binder plates for risers.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Risers assembled after cutting slots in em for the bed frame:<br /><br /> <br /><br />Mounted in van on driver side with slats. &nbsp;You can still see the wheel hanging out the bottom of the bed frame on right.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Was very stable front to back but not left to right so I zip tied the frame along the trim. &nbsp;Also installed a metal loop thingy in the whole where the bolt for the rear seat belt was:<br /><br /> <br /><br />Done with hospital foam mattress mounted!<br /><br /> <br /><br />Next post, Counter/Sink install.<br /><br />

 

[Khyron]

Inspiration hit and decided to use my old dresser from my bedroom for&nbsp; the van. &nbsp;Found it for free anyway in a basement in Tacoma so didn't feel to bad about sawing it up. &nbsp;Here is in my room after I pulled drawers out. &nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Here is on my front porch after sawing off 3 of the legs and a spot for the wheelwell. &nbsp;Was still able to save 5 drawers. &nbsp;Used a jig saw for the first time, safely for the most part.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> &nbsp;<br /><br /> <br /><br />Took a little fine tuning but got it mounted in the van on along passenger side. &nbsp;Used zip ties again to secure it underneath along trim.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Didn't have to saw off the last leg. &nbsp;Was exactily the perfect length to meet the bottom of the first step for the side door! &nbsp;Also you can't see it but along the middle there it just happend to reach exactly over one of the bolts coming out of the floor for the old captain chair so I lifted it up, drilled a short hole in it, and sat it down right on the bolt for even more security. &nbsp;Almost as if it was meant to be in my van lol!&nbsp;<br /><br /> <br /><br />Next was sink install. &nbsp;Got a small bar sink off ebay and it came with a cardboard cutout guide. &nbsp;More adventures with the jigsaw ensued. &nbsp;Got hole cut for hand pump as well:<br /><br /> <br /><br />And done.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />Grey water &nbsp;5 gal tank on left and fresh on right. &nbsp;Not a perfect setup as drain is barely above tank. &nbsp;I have to lift sink out of hole sometimes to get it to drain completely into tank. &nbsp;Happy with the pump though.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Anyway done!<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />And my cat is exhausted.<br /><br /> <br /><br />I've since added slide bolts and cabinet gripper things to the inside of the sliding drawers to keep em in place when driving. &nbsp;<br /><br />

 

[Khyron]

For cooling I added an Endless Breeze 12v fan to my back left door window. &nbsp;I didn't want to do anything permanent but I added a metal hook to the bottom and cut up some extra foam mattress to secure it in the window. &nbsp;I have it connected to my 110 AH battery and as this only draws about 1 amp it will last several nights before needing a recharge. &nbsp;I have it setup to pull air out. &nbsp;Works great so far and even when it rains only the foam on the outside has gotten a bit damp but none on the inside. &nbsp;I numbered the foam to remind me to put them in in that order. &nbsp;Just to the right you can see the plastic walmart drawers I added in the back.<br /><br /> <br /><br />And from the outside:<br /><br /> <br /><br />Even though the window is tinted the fan is visible from the outside. &nbsp;Not the stealthiest but I've been careful to back up in spots against bushes and the like when I can. &nbsp;Thinks are starting to cool down enough though lately that I haven't had to run the fan as much.<br /><br />

 

[Khyron]

Anyway for the most part it's done! &nbsp;I've been sleeping in her every night now for over 2 weeks. &nbsp;I'm still in easy mode though as I'm working full time and still frequently park in my old houses driveway. &nbsp;I'm also eating out way too much. &nbsp;So far loving it though. &nbsp;Looking forward to quitting my job in the next month or so. &nbsp;Here's a pic of me lounging on the bed during my lunch break one recent afternoon.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Next I need to add pics of my power setup. &nbsp;At the moment its a Lifeline 12v 110AH battery that I charge using shore power and a Black&amp;Decker smart charger. &nbsp;Figured I'd start small before going solar. &nbsp;More on that later.

 

[stude53]

<span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Great re-use of components, Khyron!</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Keep us posted, love pictures.</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Bob</span></strong></span>

 

[Stillwater]

Looks outstanding! Mine was a similar use of salvaged parts.

 

[Khyron]

Yeah I have NO wood working skills at all so building something from scratch was not gonna happen. &nbsp;My roommate had a jigsaw he couldn't give me ANY advice on how to use. &nbsp;It has an on/off button, not a trigger, so if i lost control of it it would just continue to saw through whatever was in the way. &nbsp;I envisioned my fingers getting severed or scaring up my face several times while trying to figure it out. &nbsp;I wore gloves and eye pro at least! &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[WanderingRain]

Looks beautiful. Love how you did the drawers. Very ingenious.<br />I may copy your layout when time comes for me to work on my vehicle some more.