One Awesome Inch - Van Build

[One Awesome Inch]

I havent heard squeaking from the styrofoam yet. I'm not really worried about it breaking up as long as it doesnt disiningrate. Worse case scenario I might have to re-do it.

As to Luan on the door hinges it would not be an issue because I will be painting over that plywood door and the hinges wont be attached to the Luan.

 

[sassypickins]

Nice job!

 

[flying kurbmaster]

that cheap grey carpet they sell on those big rolls, glued to your bulkhead looks pretty good and in your grey truck would look like a factory finish. I used that stuff on my Toyota it was real easy to cut to size and install.
this is the best picture I have not great but you get the idea

 

[One Awesome Inch]

The carpet is a great idea and would help cover up some of the hackjob aspects of my 'carpentry'. However, I am not wanting to put any carpet in the van as I have severe seasonal allergies and want to reduce dust as much as possible. Carpet is much more capable of harbouring dust.

Pretty much settled on painting the partition grey.

 

[Rugster]

Some more videos would be cool

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Actually, I have been thinking about doing some van build videos.

My concern is that, because of my job, I want to be anonymous. I don't want my face being seen though I dont mind if my voice is heard.

I have also thought about doing a pictoral slide show of the van build.

I do want to do videos but I am hesitant. Any advice on that would be appreciated.

 

[Rugster]

Well, if you want to do videos, do them and don't show your face. Wear one of those Anonymous masks or a Mexican Luchadore mask

 

[Luisafernandes]

Actually, I have been thinking about doing some van build videos.

My concern is that, because of my job, I want to be anonymous. I don't want my face being seen though I dont mind if my voice is heard.

I have also thought about doing a pictoral slide show of the van build.

I do want to do videos but I am hesitant. Any advice on that would be appreciated.

Welcome to the Hesitant's Club!
You can film with the camera pointing away from you, your face will never be seen, and we'll never know you're an alien from outa space. [emoji89] Just remember to keep your tentacles away from the camera lens. [emoji23] [emoji106][emoji604]

 

[LeeRevell]

Welcome to the Hesitant's Club!
You can film with the camera pointing away from you, your face will never be seen, and we'll never know you're an alien from outa  space. [emoji89] Just remember to keep your tentacles away from the camera lens. [emoji23] [emoji106][emoji604]

And be careful about reflective surfaces!! 

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Continued work on the partition wall tonight. Both sides of the entry are pretty much finished. Just have to put up the vapor barrier and then the luan .That said, I think I am just going to leave them unfinished for now and try work on other stuff so I can get some of this building materials "used up" and out of my way.

I found a decent deal on some 2 inch rigid insulation. I bought six 2x4 ft panels as I knew I would use those. I have decided to get a whole bunch more and stick them on the van walls as well. I originally planned to use 1/2 inch foamboard so that it will curve to the walls. However, this pre-owned foamboard is so much cheaper I am just going to buy about another 15 to 20 panels and use that. Its 2 inch thick and does not bend but I have decided that not having the walls bend is less important as saving the roughly $200 over the brand new store bought stuff. Besides that, dealing with curves really pushes the boundaries in terms of my carpentry abilities, or lack thereof. For now, I am trying to keep it simple-ish and cheap-ish as possible... or at least what I think is reasonable. I can always change stuff later on.

One challenge I am thinking over is the ceiling. I think I am just going to pressure fit the foamboard up there, extend the van ceiling ribs so they are flush with the 2 inch insulation and then just screw on a 1/8th panel onto those ribs. I had originally planned to put up perpendicular furring strips up, but I am going to attempt to forego them in the interest of not losing another 1/2 inch of headroom. Hopefully the 1/8 panelling holds.

 

[karl]

Your plan for the ceiling will work. 1/8" paneling might warrant screws with washer heads or the addition of washers or rosettes to spread the load around. I like "lath screws". I recommend construction adhesive as well.
If the sheets dont fall on ribs, you can splice out the sheets by using a scrap of plywood( recommend 1/4") glued and screwed to the topside of the ceiling panels and overlapping enough to form a backer for both sheets.

I have found it easier and faster to install the center sheets first, using two or more "deadmen"- 1x1 or 1x2's cut slightly longer than the ceiling ht and jammed(gently) between floor and panel to hold the sheet for adjustment and screwing. if you are using prefinished paneling- sand the sharp ends of the sticks to round them a bit and tape on a glove or scrap of foam...whatever on the end to avoid scratches and gouging. I determine where one edge will be and partially drive a screw on two ribs to act as guides, apply construction adhesive to ribs- put that edge up first, hold pressure against the screws while lifting the panel into place, grab a stick and wedge it into place, repeat.

I have also found it easier and more solid to lap the narrow side pieces of ceiling over the center sheet by an inch or so- a strip of scrap under the outside edge acts as a filler. I usually paint my ceiling, and the edge of the lapped panels doesn't look bad if slightly sanded to remove the rough splintery edge. glue or construction adhesive between the lapped sheets is advised to avoid gaps as the plywood shrinks and swells with humidity.

Happy paneling.

 

[Free Range Chicken]

Hello. Congratulations on your conversion looks great. One question, what's the purpose of the plywood panel?? I see you will use 1/8 inch. I ask that cause I'm making my conversion but don't want to add the weight of plywood and for structural support ribs can be used. As a newbie, I fear if I put the panel it will also limit my options on where and what to drill and I'd be taking it off multiple times to make sure I don't hit any metal by drilling in the wrong place. Then, humidity can't be as easily monitored since the panel will hide the cavities .. just curious, thanks awesome inch! !!

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Great advice. Thank you.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I assume you are talking about the ply in door? Its there to give the door a more solid feel as it will he used alot. I wanted to beef it up a bit. Still not quite happy with the door and may redo it once everything else is done.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

if you go form rib to rib you might want to use 5mm luan instead of 3mm,

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Had the day off today so I got more stuff done. Put up most of the insulation on the left wall and gave it a good cleaning out. This how she looks empty. Wondering if I should insulate/box-in that fuel filler cover. I think I will.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

if you go form rib to rib you might want to use 5mm luan instead of 3mm,

Good idea. I'll take a look around for some.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

It is looking real good, if you are interested in having lights and plugs for either your tv computer 12v or 110 now is the time to run some wires, even if you are not sure what you want yet, speaker wire, 110 and 12volt from front to back so in the future you can tap into it.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

another thing didn't you get a bunch of that red tape with the van, if I was you I would tape every single joint on that insulation, the corners, onto the wood, insulation to insulation. It won't take long and on a cold day in winter you will be glad you did it.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

For electricity I am going to buy a 30ft USB cable and run it off the dual marine battery I'm going to buy. The only thing I am going to power is my large screen smart phone, 2 computer fans for ventilation (80 milliamps each) and thats it. For light I am using a battery powered LED lamp (in sig) and a solar powered light. A friend of mine says he is going to give me a large, high quality jumper pack. I just have to buy a new power cord for it as he has lost it. Not sure if that will see much use. Time will tell.

I do intend to tape up all the insulation seems. After that I am going to put up a vapor barrier with a large rolling of plastic sheeting I have.

Starting today I have two weeks off work. Lets see how much the (ex)wife lets me work on the van. With luck I'll hopefully be able to get all the insulation done before the two weeks are up.