Pictures of Great white

[WanderingRonin]

Hi All! It's been great looking at your pictures and reading various posts. I have learned a lot of things since coming on here. Thought I'd share a few more updates on my rig...<div><br></div><div>First off... I am now apartment-free. It was bittersweet but felt good to cut loose. Now, I am gonna live out of my van... as much as possible. I still work at an office so I just leave it out on &nbsp;the parking lot.</div><div><br></div><div>Here are some pictures.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oP_7y9Ks8aQ/ToefvJ0uJTI/AAAAAAAAACI/lViUle8MDSw/s1600/100_0504.jpg"></div><div>That's the interior now --it's packed! I look forward to streamlining it as I go along. This shot was taken from the driver's area looking back. I just put up the curtains today. For that back area, I used a shower rod and shower curtain. Easy to slide out of the way if I need to see out the back.&nbsp;</div><div>Left side is wardrobe.</div><div>I used the closet organizers I had in my apartment... normally, you would put shoes in those, but I found them to be really handy in containing my shirts, underwear, socks, etc.... at the bottom levels, I placed really heavy items such as books, games, box of plastic ties, bungee collection, etc. to hold them upright.</div><div>&nbsp;--I want to get rid of the large suitcase eventually... but I do travel a lot so I am keeping it for now. Inside it is some seldom used clothes and another smaller rolling bag. (notice I tied the handle with string and attached it to one of the dangling seat belt loops that I left on so that I can secure things.)&nbsp;</div><div>Lower right is the bed.</div><div>behind it is some crates with stuff... my old laundry basket is on top of the porta potti... secured in place by bungee to --you guessed it -- seat belt buckles.</div><div>This section of the van is now covered on all sides with black curtains.</div><div><br></div>

 

[WanderingRonin]

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SrY0c7D4HsY/Toefx2K5GWI/AAAAAAAAACM/XeLv0wrnY30/s1600/100_0513.jpg"><div>That's the bed now. Photo taken from the passenger side doors.</div><div>That's the futon --the ever loyal futon I have had for years moving from apartment to apartment... so it's got real sentimental value... not to mention comfort. I have always just used a futon foam on the floor.&nbsp;</div><div>Crates below are plastic tied together so that they don't shift as much.&nbsp;</div><div>The heaviest objects are placed in them to further provide some real stability. I just lift up the board where the bed lies on to access them... the anti-theft device I have makes for a nice sturdy brace to hold up the board for when I am sorting things in that situation.</div><div>That little white object on the top center is my LED light. I read somewhere on this forum that bad velcro just comes off in the heat... oh so true, I discovered!</div><div>So I ended up sticking two of them lights to each other... and then tying both of them up to the seatbelt buckle you can see there. So I got light!</div>

 

[Guest]

Good job! The more I look at pictures the more frightened I become about space and my cats. Definitely going to be a box truck conversion for me I think.<br>

 

[WanderingRonin]

<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BNk4YVomz3c/ToefyAtlD3I/AAAAAAAAACQ/0DCRIIvXd5s/s1600/100_0507.jpg"><div>That's the front curtain taken from the driver's seat. I used the same setup as the back of the van... essentially braced the shower curtain rods against that fat screw holding the seatbelt bracket in place. Those seatbelt brackets are good for so many things.... That curtain just slides effortlessly out of the way. I would have liked to buy black rods and hoops, but what the hey... those cost more.</div>

 

[cyndi]

<P><FONT size=3>Have bed, will travel!&nbsp; Looks good!</FONT></P>

 

[WanderingRonin]

<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f46TPG-47eo/ToefysIGHtI/AAAAAAAAACU/w9GHTT76Oqo/s1600/100_0510.jpg"><div>Here's a closeup of my wardrobe area. The shower curtain rod is simply attached to the seatbelt hoop via a couple of plastic ties. So now I can hang pretty much a LOT of things from the left side of the van...</div>

 

[WanderingRonin]

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQyT6sLi39U/ToefzFphGmI/AAAAAAAAACY/N56vHFT23j0/s1600/100_0511.jpg"><div>Here's a happy bonus: I discovered a neat use for those curtain packages... they had a hook on top and those plastic bags zipped up nicely. So why let them go to waste? I hung them up on the wardrobe area and just filled them with little knicknacks you see here...&nbsp;</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gchBGOMnE3g/Toefzkw1mwI/AAAAAAAAACc/8baOjlwh3hM/s1600/100_0512.jpg"></div>

 

[4x4tour]

Looks good.... I'm excited for ya. &nbsp;It's posts like these that keep me motivated to finish mine.&nbsp;

 

[WanderingRonin]

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">

Good job! The more I look at pictures the more frightened I become about space and my cats. Definitely going to be a box truck conversion for me I think.

</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">I agree. It is a tight fit for one person. I have seen other members with cats on something similar to my space, but yeah, it is close quarters. I am getting used to not banging on top of those shower curtain rods I installed. I still hit my head on occasion but I reckon I'll get adjusted in due time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">I just tried the curtains on tonight.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">They are perfect. pitch black inside even though I parked in a well lighted area.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">So hopefully tonight will be my first night in the van.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">If the temp is still too hot, I can always retreat to another sleeping place... (my cubicle at my office --my boss knows but he's cool with it. two other guys at my office do the same thing to save on apartment bills.)&nbsp;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247); ">I will keep trying my van until the temp is cool enough.&nbsp;</span></div>

 

[WanderingRonin]

thanks for all the great encouragement, everyone! It's what keeps me going and I would cheer anyone on. It seems like just yesterday I was posting some earlier pics of my unfinished vehicle and hearing about someone else just moving in that day... how time flies!&nbsp;<div>If anyone is in the San Antonio area, I'd love to meet up and show you around (especially if you have never been --I'm good at that... showing people around like a tour guide. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> )</div><div><br></div>

 

[Vanimal]

Very nice, I like what your workin with. &nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[stude53]

Ronin,<br><br>Looks like you are making use of every inch of space. The idea of re-using the clear&nbsp;plastic bags is a good one.<br><br>Bob<br>

 

[WanderingRonin]

Thanks, thanks! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> It's still a work in progress as with most of everyone's vehicles on here. I hope to get things pared down some more as I work through the vehicle. Those last 2 bins at the back with drawers need to be re-organized. they are just full of random things... but most of it canned goods and dried food. Those crates behind the bed can be better situated. Some space will suggest itself in due time, I suppose. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><div>Tried the setup last night. Still too hot and muggy for me. I really am tempted to drive up north to enjoy the cooler weather, but work keeps me in town for now. Oh well! At least I am doing finally what I have been yapping about the past few months. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> It's exciting so far and I am learning new things all the time.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

 

[Seraphim]

Consider a fantastic vent fan - that's their name lol. They are thermostatically controlled reversible fans that mount in the roof. Mounted near the front and a small pop open vent in the rear will provide a nice flow of air on hot muggy nights. They are designed to run off a car battery, but a portable car battery which you could recharge during the day in your office would power it as well. A small monetary investment, but one which would be worth it in the long run.

Vent

Battery and compressor

That battery will have other uses as well, running or charging anything that can use a 12v power source. It'll start your car with a dead battery and put air in your tires. Or air mattress. Or inner tube lol.

 

[WanderingRonin]

That battery looks very promising! thanks! I really am not trying to do much to the van. Actually, as much as possible, I'd rather not spend too much or do too many alterations because I know this is not the final vehicle I really want. This is just sort of a test vehicle if I really like doing this. Once I do, and I am fully committed, I'd actually want to buy a real winnebago so that I can live in it full time.<div>That's the one I want to trick up and install all the "features" on. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>

 

[Seraphim]

<P>Probably a good idea to make a test run to make sure you like the lifestyle. Several FT RVers I know claimed to have lived in their units for several months in their driveways, before selling their homes, just to make sure they didn't hate it.</P>

 

[WanderingRonin]

Thanks for the tip! Yeah, that's pretty much what I am doing. Except I did move out of my apartment to really force me to adapt... but all the same, that's why I don't want to make too many permanent alterations to my vehicle so that I can just turn it into a regular van later on again just in case. What makes this not scary for me is that I know full well I can go back to apartment life anytime. So it's kind of like a controlled experiment at this point.&nbsp;

 

[stude53]

<p><font size="3" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Good Luck, Ronin</font></p>

 

[She]

How was the 1st night Ronin?

 

[WanderingRonin]

The first night was pretty cool. I think it made a huge difference that I used the same futon foam I had for 4 years now... So it felt the same... and I was also surrounded by&nbsp;my own things from the apartment. So everything felt and looked familiar... only in a smaller space. I camped &nbsp;out in my office parking lot. The first few hours, I slept in my cubicle but as the night wore on and the vehicle cooled, I transferred to the van. I slept almost straight afterwards.&nbsp;<div>When I woke up (I slept in), the lot was suddenly full of vehicles. It's my first stealth camping night! yaaaay!</div><div>I am so looking forward to even cooler temperatures. It's gonna be awesome.&nbsp;</div><div>I am glad to belong to this forum. I am always excited about hearing other people's stories. I am so raring to go explore! However, real life demands like work (projects I have to complete in town), friends (I cannot leave until a newly transplanted friend gets accustomed to life in this city) and family (helping with my brother's sick father in-law),&nbsp;keep me here in San Antonio.&nbsp;</div><div>But mistake it not. I will still go out on probably weekends out to the nearby boonies to test drive this baby!</div>