My New Van & Progress

[Roniit]

Hi Everyone,&nbsp;<br>I've been absent for the last year. &nbsp;Our tour went really well, but by the end of it I was so tired of sleeping on that uncomfortable futon! &nbsp;The van has been sitting in my driveway for months now unused <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>I'm currently working with a producer out in LA on some new music. &nbsp;I recently debated selling the van to spend the money on recording the album.. I've decided to instead make the van more comfortable and drive out to LA and live on the beach while I work on my music. &nbsp;I'll have to raise some money to record, but it broke my heart to think about selling the van. &nbsp;<br><br>Anyway......<br><br>I'm excited to get back into this! &nbsp;I've been feeling so antsy lately being in one place and doing the same thing every day. &nbsp;<br><br>Tomorrow I'm spending a day with a carpenter who is going to help me build a proper loft bed!<br><br>I'm also thinking about creating seating for 2 more people. &nbsp;Any suggestions help.. should I buy seats or build something??<br><br><br>

 

[WanderingRain]

You've been away a long time, Roniit! Welcome back. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> I am sorry to hear your futon was not that comfy. That had been the one area I did not make a mistake on. I think half my van is occupied by a bed, but the nice thing about it is that it IS the right bed and so very comfy at night. I am on it right now as I type.<br>Good luck with your further modifications!<br><br>

 

[Buster]

Lookin good so far, Lots of potential. keep us posted<img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif">

 

[Guest]

don't sell it if you can get around it! its your own home you have. have you read about hammocks? don't know if that would work but would free up more space?

 

[Roniit]

Hi again! &nbsp;We built a really cool platform bed. &nbsp;I'm going to buy a 6inch memory foam mattress ($140) on amazon then cut it to fit around the pillars. &nbsp;<br><br>We made the bed have those 4 pillars so we could intall a shelf, then add a closet bar on the other side. &nbsp;It also holds up the plastic thats holding the insulation on the roof (we had issues with it falling down while we were driving - scary)<br><br>Next step is either putting in a loveseat or a table. &nbsp;I cant decide what's more important. &nbsp;I would love to build a bench that folds into a table somehow. &nbsp;Anyone got any ideas??&nbsp;<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/IMG_3894_zps714d148a.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/IMG_3889_zpsa16ddfe8.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/IMG_3891_zps8a9865d1.jpg" class="bbc_img">

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

You could build a table that folds away against the driver side wall, and then swivel your driver/passenger chairs for seating <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img">&nbsp; Or build a loveseat against the side, and put a mount in the floor for a table support, then stow the table away when not in use.&nbsp; Just spitballin here <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>Hmm you could make a table that is upholstered underneath, then flip and over for a loveseat.&nbsp; Just need some supports at table level, and support at seat level.<br><br>Or probably easier would be make the loveseat, but make it so the back folds down onto the seat and creates a table.&nbsp;&nbsp; Kinda like a minivan seat folds down.&nbsp; Of course if you want to use the table while sitting on the loveseat this will be problematic <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Roniit]

I'm not much of a wood worker. &nbsp;I actually hired someone off craigslist to help me with that bed... But I was thinking about building this coffee table that turns into a bench. &nbsp;It's pretty cool, check it out:<br><br><a href="http://freshome.com/2009/01/30/coffee-table-that-can-turn-into-a-love-seat/" rel="nofollow">http://freshome.com/2009/01/30/coffee-table-that-can-turn-into-a-love-seat/<br><br></a>I think it might be easier though to just have some sort of folding table that I can stow away. &nbsp;Found this pretty cool fold down leaf table on ikea, and the price is right too! &nbsp;<br><br><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80091713/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80091713/</a>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Yeah thats what im talking about at the end of my rambling post <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; I like it.<br><br><br>The folding table is pretty easy though.

 

[Seraphim]

Kind of an off-the-wall thought, but I wondered if you could make a table top which slides out from under the bed platform - doesn't have to come out far, maybe 18". Wouldn't need legs and it would slide back under the bed easily when done. You would still have the same amount of storage space beneath. Nice table space taking little room.

Should be easy to build and design as well

 

[Roniit]

hmmm a table that slides under. &nbsp;That sounds cool, my only concern is it getting in the way of all the music gear I need to stow under there. &nbsp;I'm going to look into that! Thanks for the idea.&nbsp;<br><br>

 

[Roniit]

Still haven't figured out what I'll be doing for a table, but I'm making some good progress. &nbsp;<br><br>- Varnished the wood.<br>- Put in the old bench that came with the van. &nbsp;Re-covered it though.<br>- Got some cool storage bins for the shelf<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/photo1_zps44bc49b7.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/photo2_zpsd0d99f60.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>Also bought this awesome cheap foam mattress on amazon and cut it to fit. &nbsp;It's VERY comfy. &nbsp;If you're looking for a cheap mattress solution that can be customized - look no further:<br><br>http://www.amazon.com/6inch-memory-foam-mattress-QUEEN/dp/B00395QTC6<br><br><img rel="lightbox" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/cooties05/photo3_zps36797cc5.jpg" class="bbc_img"><br><br><br>

 

[Varmint]

Nice van. Love the "dawg".....a tri-color female resides here, along with a black doberman. The basset has better manners. The lighter fabric is nice for being able to see better with less light, and should help the acoustics. Glad you decided to keep the van, too, and thanks for sharing your progress with us!

Also, I checked out your website....real nice, love your music. I hope it all goes viral.

PS: Opening a window allows the poisonous gas to "fill up" the van until it finally gets deep/high enough to pour out the open window. Not good. I thought I should tell you that a great place to put a 1-2" vent is at the lowest point in your van....usually where there's a step, such as at the side door. It should be at the bottom. This will allow heavy gas, such as carbon dioxide or monoxide to exit the van safely. Heat rises, so you won't lose much heat this way, and even if you sleep directly on the floor you'll never have to worry about not waking up. One of those pre-made round vents with the tiny louvers on them would do it great, and I'm sure there are other ways to do this properly. Someone else here may be able to suggest a brand or place to get one.

The main thing is to put a small vent down low, as close to the floor or below it as possible so that heavy gas can escape without building up..