Setting up house in a van

[waldenbound]

Well, we all start out looking for our vans, then getting some mechanical work done on it. Then we start the build, and with it, the insulation, solar, flooring, lighting, walls, cabinets, ect. All that stuff goes by in a flurry and is pretty straight forward. Now comes the hard part.

Setting up house. Getting everything the way you want it.

I know people just grab their camping gear and some household stuff and start off with that, but I got the time and the funds for now, so I want to set up house just right. My van will be my home, I will be looking at it 24/7, I want it looking right.

So many things I've tried and didn't work out like I thought. My tarp, I can't get a good pitch on it, and I have tarp poles, plenty of paracord, and I just can't get a tight pitch. So, I watched Bob's video on van dwellers who might want to consider a tent, and that's what I'm thinking of now. I had the thought in the Olympics, "this van is really cramped, I should look into a tent." I once figured if I became homeless, I'd take my last paycheck and buy the biggest, baddest tent REI carries. That is exactly what I'm going to do, buy the biggest, baddest tent REI carries. I want it for a sitting room, something airy, and spacious. I can put my port-a-potty in the vestibule out back, then have my chair and table set up. Then retreat to my steel tent at night. I would use the tent when I'm base camping 7-14 nights at once.

Another thing, the Shower Dilemma. I have a enamel wash basin and pitcher, I figure that will work just fine for bathing. Then I built one of those weed sprayer showers and tested it out this weekend. It was nice having spray water come out, but you have to do everything one handed, then pump it up to get the pressure back. All things considering, the hoses that can crimp, leak, crack, the moving parts, and space it takes, I think I'll go low-tech and stick with my wash basin and pitcher. Face it, some DIY contraption made up of hardware parts isn't going to be like a shower in a home, so a pitcher of water over my head will do.

That's just a few things. Then there's what kind of bedding do I want, pots and pans, kitchen gadgets, stove, laundry method, on and on and on. Pet accommodations, now there's a load of frustration, especially with cats. I'm glad I got my van so early, and can take it on trips so I can see what works and what needs tweaking.

So there you have it, once you get your van, congratulations! Then when you get it built out, pat yourself on the back!
Then, prepare to become the Martha Stewart of van dwelling.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

I find this lifestyle is like following 100 people [literally] at once and picking a few things that works from each one. LOL With as many times as I've changed my mind, I may end up in the beginning in a prius pulling mini-trailer for "stuff." Talk to me in a month. lol  :-/  

There definitely an eliminate of pride building it out the way a person likes.

 

[TrainChaser]

You'll get it right...... eventually. It takes some time and daily experience. You take what seemed like a good idea and and then realize there were things that you didn't take into consideration. It takes seeing what someone else did/does, and thinking, 'What a great idea -- why didn't I think of that?'

Did you ever have kids and buy your toddler a great gift that you think she would like, just to realize that she's having more fun with the wrapping paper and ribbon? Did you ever set up a nice little bed for KittyPoo, and find out that she likes the box that the camping stove came in better?

The chances are pretty good that you're going to keep making changes along the way. And it's okay! It means you can adapt. Some people can't adapt, and they have high blood pressure.

You'll be fine.

 

[Suanne]

Although I'm in a car, not a van, I've incorporated several features that make it more home/house like than using camping gear only.  

First, I don't use a sleeping bag.  Instead I use blankets over fitted and flat sheets, like in a sticks and bricks.  Because my mattress is the size of a cot, massage-table or cot sheets work best.

Second, I've installed curtains and window screens. That way I can be in my house/home and have my privacy, and I can relax in a breeze regardless of the bugs outside.

Third, I display little objects that remind me of people, moments, or periods of my life that I consider important.  I have a collection of pendants and other very small objects, each with a special memory or meaning.

Here is a pic of most of them ...

 

[waldenbound]

My bed, that's another thing. My bed is beautiful to look at, but it is so narrow! OMG, when I turn over, I have to do it very slowly and carefully. I couldn't make it wider, or else nothing else would fit. I looked at different photos of builds and saw the ones built along the rear doors, but didn't think I could sleep unless I could fully stretch out. So I built it against the wall, and it's so narrow.
I'm not a good outdoor sleeper, don't know why, but when I do this for weeks, stretching out to months at a time, I hope I'll get used to it. Yeah, I hope, or else that REI tent is really going to see the action, and the van will just be the hauler.

 

[bullfrog]

We started out with a 10' x 14' Kodiac spring bar tent. Even folded with the poles, ground cloth, stakes (different stakes for different types of ground), ball bungies and hammer ( we eventually used 12" lag bolts with plastic washers and an 18 volt impact) and all the wonderful stuff that could be put in it for two people we needed a 4' x 6' trailer to haul it all. It was great for 2 week stays, but took a day to set up and a day to take down and it couldn't be wet when you took it down. We eventually built an enclosed box 6' high x 80" wide x 8' long to haul it all and still be able to sleep inside the box in bad weather. We used a shower tent for a while but found it wasn't as durable as we liked so we made the box and trailer 4' longer and used that space for a shower and separating toilet. One person makes this much easier as long as the tent is light weight and easy to put up. There are some really neat screen rooms that can be enclosed for use as a living room/ bath room and even though you shouldn't, a kitchen when it rains. We really like our tent but not if you move often. When I was younger and single I lived 6 months in an 8' x 12' and had plenty of room for everything I needed and loved it cause I only moved twice.

 

[Txjaybird]

 I couldn't make it wider, or else nothing else would fit. So I built it against the wall, and it's so narrow.

Even though I have a Aliner I do not intend to set it up for just brief periods of time to sleep while traveling.   In the Safari sleeping side to side didn't give me enough room to stretch out the one time I tried it.  I'll need a sleeping platform down a side wall and to complicate matters it needs to be on the passenger side.  

I'm thinking of something simple like a tote that can be moved beside the bed with a cushion or folded quilt or pillow on it when needed.  Or maybe a sliding section that will pull out from under the mattress on the side with a cushion/pillow and push back when not in use.  

Queenie, my fat & sassy Chihuahua sleeps behind me, anywhere from my knees up to my neck so I need that extra bit of space.  

While sitting with my Mom yesterday I dozed off on the futon she uses as a couch.  Her ShihTzu Jezebelle decided to "share" with me.  I coughed hard twice in my sleep and she fell off on the floor. That was some look she gave me before she jumped back up! 

Jewellann

 

[bullfrog]

When we travel packed we used 4 totes with a piece of 1/2" plywood on top, makes a bed 30" wide x 80" long.

 

[waldenbound]

My old bed was 30x I think 77. Couldn't spare the 6 inches on the sides and 5 inches on the length. The darn wheel wells make things so tricky. If I was a more talented carpenter, I could of probably built those fancy ones that have a hinge to lift the top up, or slide in on itself, but I have to make do with what my capabilities are. Made wheel box covers that square them off, so things can fit on top.

Another thing that has to be fixed. I got a soft sided, open tool box, not going to work. I need a regular one that something can be stacked on it.

First aid kit, I had a plastic tote that had everything thrown in, had to get a smaller box that is plastic but looks like an ammo can. I fit everything in there very carefully, now it's compact, lightweight, and stackable.

I bet I could think of about a hundred other things to tweak and change, but I have to pick a point and just say "done, no more." That will be when I'm backing out of my driveway for good, lol.

 

[waldenbound]

Another van household tip.
Those green Scotch Brite pads, they work to clean cast iron well, but they tend to hold food in them. Besides looking nasty, it can attract pests. I got one of those chain mail cast iron scrubbers. Vastly superior, cleans cast iron very well, and with some dish soap, comes out cleans as a whistle. A little pricey, but will keep clean and last forever.

 

[Putts]

So there you have it, once you get your van, congratulations! Then when you get it built out, pat yourself on the back!
Then, prepare to become the Martha Stewart of van dwelling.

I. Can't. Wait.

But I'll have to. Thanks for letting all us "in the build" stage folks live vicariously through you. Sometimes it seems it will be forever to come.