Super minimalist van

[Kiwi49]

I was wondering if anyone has ever just moved a mattress and their stuff into a van without doing any conversions. Any pictures would be appreciated.

 

[LadyElaineFairchilde]

That's how I camped for years, in my minivan, but I didn't do it full-time, only a few days at a time, so all I needed was a cooler, some water, and warm bedding. I liked the simplicity of it, and those experiences are what motivated me to make the van more and more liveable over time. I still don't have house batteries or a heater, but I haven't done much in cold weather. Are you thinking of taking the plunge full-time as minimalist as possible?

 

[LeeRevell]

Worked great in my minivan, for a few days doing roadtrips. Too limited for longer duration, in my personal opinion. I used a twin-size inflatable with a 12VDC pump, powered off the van's ciggy sockets. Easy to keep it firm. More comfy than my S&B bed.

 

[TrainChaser]

That's what I did in the beginning, with my first van. Living on the floor got old fast.

 

[BigT]

I was wondering if anyone has ever just moved a mattress and their stuff into a van without doing any conversions. Any pictures would be appreciated.

Define "Conversions".  

Are you talking about custom cabinetry, complicated electrical systems/lighting, a power inverter, fridge and all the bells and whistles?

Or are you including anything more than a mattress on the floor as a "conversion"?  

I tried to keep my van as minimalist as possible, which is a good thing because I suck at woodwork, and just install what I thought I needed to be comfortable. 

The bunk (designed to keep me from having to get up off the floor) is simply some plumbing nipples for legs, floor flanges to screw the legs to the floor, and a piece of plywood with a chunk of foam on it, covered with indoor/outdoor carpet that's stapled on the underside of the bed.  
I don't have an inverter, a fridge or heater or TV or holding tanks of any kind.  Just a bottle of water in the back, an Igloo cooler, and little table that folds out of the wall to eat my meals from. 

I like to think my van's a hybrid of sorts:  It's "converted" a little, but it's not a "conversion".  

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-My-2010-Ford-Transit-Connect-conversion

 

[flat]

Works for me (in order of importance):

- Maximum legal tints on all windows
- Blackout blinds/curtains (pref. insulated) forward windows incl. windscreen for sleeping
- Thermarest or other mattress
- Soft furnishings, a rug and/or carpeted (or woodlined) floor. Clean.
- Plastic bins for food and other essentials
- Water container
- Tie downs (ratchet) w/ attachment ponts for water container and plastic bins
- A Fire blanket

hope this helps

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I did this in 2008 with my 2003 Chevy Express. My dad had just passed away and I inherited his van. I was also laid off about a month before he passed and collecting unemployment. My dad had done a cross country trip in a van when he was my age, so I decided to recreate his trip as best I could. I threw my full size mattress on the floor, had two trunks....one with clothes, one with cooking gear. My hiking backpack, a camp chair and cooler. Nothing fancy, but was always very comfortable. Hit the road for about 3 1/2 months and then did a few one month trips the same year. Had I not lost my Dad that year, it would have been the best year of my life. Even still, have many fond memories of the trips I took.

Wish I had all my pictures from back then, but my computer crashed and I didn't have any of them backed up. 2nd time I lost all my pictures and I still haven't learned my lesson as I still don't back things up. Maybe after the 3rd time I'll learn.

 

[introverting]

I don't think he has any pics, but Bob Wells started out in a box van by throwing a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag in the cargo area and that was home for him for a few weeks.

@BigT: I've seen that setup before. Have you been toured on the Enigmatic Nomadics YouTube channel?

 

[steamjam1]

Thats how my G/F started when she bought her van. All she did was throw a futon mattress on the bare floor and lived out of a couple of plastic bins. (She got sick of that FAST)

 

[MindyLee]

- Maximum legal tints on all windows

Just curious about this...does this vary state to state or is it the same everwhere?

 

[Richard]

Just curious about this...does this vary state to state or is it the same everwhere?

My understanding is that it varies. Here's a good starting link for more info: http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets/window-tint-laws-the-basics.html

 

[Kiwi49]

Thats how my G/F started when she bought her van. All she did was throw a futon mattress on the bare floor and lived out of a couple of plastic bins. (She got sick of that FAST)

What didn't she like about it?

 

[Wanderer]

Well, I'm sorry but no pics. 1986 E-350 dual tanks.

Put a twin bed, all my clothing and personal effects and Dogs then moved from Vancouver, WA to Cabool, MO.

Lived in it that way for 5 months, then got a 12 X 12 shed...Had shower, stove, bed and dogs.....

2.5 years there, put down dogs, moved to Springfield and then lost everything after that and came back with only a wallet full of cash and a broken heart.

 

[steamjam1]

What didn't she like about it?

There was no insulation, just bare walls and floor. It got really cold and damp and mold became an issue. No easy way to cook food, eat (No table) etc etc etc.....

 

[Rugster]

This is not my van or blog and I haven't seen him post here in a bit, but you can't beat a $300 dollar, one hour, full conversion:

http://www.vanlifecrisis.com/2015/09/the-320-1-hour-van-conversion.html

 

[dazednconfused]

I recently got a used minivan that I don't plan on doing any actual conversions on. I threw down a rug, a bean bag chair, and some curtains so far. I personally am perfectly fine with just a sleeping bag. I haven't done any super long term traveling in it yet, but I plan to leave in it in the spring time.

However, I did travel full time in 2015 in a Ford Focus with multiple people at a time so my standards for space are not very high whatsoever. I'm stoked about all the space I have in my minivan!

If I can get around to it later I'll provide some pics for you.

 

[DannyB1954]

If you make the bed so that it can fold up to the wall,(at least part way), milk crate storage bins can be used as the bed frame. Just a light piece of plywood under the mattress should do as it will be supported by all the crates. Half or more of the bed space could have storage above it. This would give you room to sit up, but when sleeping the storage would be high enough above the bed so that it would not be in your way. You could pull out whatever crate that you wanted to dig through and put the bed back down so that you could sit and look through the crate. The rest of the crates would still support the bed.

 

[BradKW]

Ah, I was wondering where Ingrid vanished to...one moment we were enjoying long, hot showers, then she up and left. Good woman, try to keep her happy...it's just really hard to tell if she's happy or not...

[img=500x400]http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/rr18/Brad_Bleakley/box 3_zpsl6qjsb1a.jpg[/img]

 

[DannyB1954]

Ah, I was wondering where Ingrid vanished to...one moment we were enjoying long, hot showers, then she up and left. Good woman, try to keep her happy...it's just really hard to tell if she's happy or not...

Problem I find is she just lays there, (she is also kind of flat).

Don't get upset people, we are talking about the cartoon lady in the drawing I made. It is a 3 dimensional drawing program, but the people used to illustrate in it are 2 dimensional, (or flat).

 

[WriterMs]

@BigT:  I've seen that setup before.  Have you been toured on the Enigmatic Nomadics YouTube channel?

I know he has a conversion thread of his own under Big T in the van section. There are cool things one might not notice in that pic such as his tiny fold=down table.