Tara's new cave (E350)

[Tara]

So I had this epiphany. You know what makes me really happy? Arranging and rearranging the things in my van and "cleaning" it. You know what makes me miserable? Trying to do something about the chaos in my cabin every single day and getting nowhere. But cabin dwelling has spoiled me and I don't like winter in the Astro anymore.

I got this van for $400 at an auction over a year ago. When I put a battery and gas in it it started right up. It has some issues, heater (core, motor, relays?), and dash gauges (I have an electrical diagram and can't make sense of the haywireness of it all and suspect that it might actually be overheating and having high oil pressure). It doesn't start at the moment, but whatever, it just needs to be an insulated bedroom/studio.

It came already sprayfoamed! Yay! Today I've been working on insulating the floor, which has some holes rusted out in the back corner. I'm using the cheapest white board foam insulation ($22), the cheapest plywood ($22), and remnant linoleum ($7).

 

[Hammer]

If you want to upload the wiring diagrams, I can see if I can make heads or tails of it. &nbsp;I've done lots with wiring so I should be right up to speed on it.<div><br></div><div>Hammer</div>

 

[Tara]

It doesn't make sense because the guages that are messed up either aren't on the same circuit or they are but the other gauge on that circuit (gas) is fine. I'll take pics tho and see if you notice anything I missed.

 

[Tara]

Here's the floor so far. &nbsp;Yes, I'm really really bad at cutting straight lines...&nbsp;

 

[blars]

From what I've read, if multiple instraments are acting wonky on a dashboard, the most likely thing is a bad/loose/corroded ground wire.<br>

 

[Tara]

Woah. &nbsp;I bet you're right. &nbsp;It had a couple non-starts and I tightened up the battery connections... can't remember if I looked at the gages after that.

 

[twokniveskatie]

whoa! that's HUGE! those grates give it somewhat of a prison bus look. how will you turn your seat around????? when can i have a ride? saw your caller ID last night. i'll be at the farm tonight.....

 

[Tara]

The bat cave is inhabitable!!! All insulated, linoleumed (messed that up already), and I made a Katie style bed (71"x48", two cheap foam pads, and a thrift store down blanket) and I'm toasty with the mr buddy aimed right at me. This is sooo much nicer than the Astro! My bed is a whole nest!

Yay for mr buddy and thrifty down and newfangled phones that let me tell you folks about it while I'm snug under the blankets!

Oh and Katie I insulated that cage and put a blanket over it.

 

[Tara]

Okay, that was f$*&amp;% cold! &nbsp;I did some more insulating today tho, so hopefully it's all warm now. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> &nbsp;Here's some pics.<div><br></div><div>That big silver expanse is the insulation where the cage used to be. &nbsp;Fiberglass (ugh) around the edges. &nbsp;See how it goes down the door side? &nbsp;The door touches it when closed and makes a sort of seal.</div><div><br></div><div>The bed is Katie style with sterilite drawers and crates.</div><div><br></div><div>And see the edge problem? &nbsp;Linoleum has been added to it and I have already broken the edges all off the linoleum. &nbsp;Woops. &nbsp;I have discovered that gorrilla glue works in the cold tho! &nbsp;Yay! &nbsp;Any ideas on how to fix this issue?</div>

 

[oldnjung]

<P>Check the price of cork (like what plugs wine bottles) flooring at Lowes. VanTramps site shows what they did for their floor. Great sound and heat insulation. For the edges of linoleum, I have placed a board (s) over them with heavy weight (rocks or water in a bucket) for at least 24 hours. Don't skimp on the amount of glue or linoleum sealer.&nbsp;Having grown up in houses with little or no insulation and linoleum floors I know it can be really cold! I would get large throw rugs or carpet remnants to put down. Good Luck! jb</P>

 

[Tara]

Oh, no big glue operation, it doesn't work in the cold... I'm putting gorrilla glue around the edges tho, strangely it works in the cold. &nbsp;I'm rough on stuff tho and so is my dog, so I was lookng for some kind of angle iron-ish solution for the edges...<div><br></div><div>Thanks for the corkboard tip!</div>

 

[stude53]

Tara, you might be able to use something like this product I found on the Lowes sight.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...p;cmRelshp=req&amp;rel=nofollow&amp;cId=PDIO1" target=_blank target=_blank>http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...p;cmRelshp=req&amp;rel=nofollow&amp;cId=PDIO1</A><BR>

 

[Guest]

Okay, that was f$*&amp;% cold! &nbsp;I did some more insulating today tho, so hopefully it's all warm now. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> &nbsp;Here's some pics.<DIV>

</DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV>If you right-click the pictures after downloading them to your pc, you'll get an option to rotate them. That'll make it easier to see without craning your neck! One of the pics is upside down! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></DIV><DIV>&nbsp;</DIV><DIV>Looks like it'll be a very nice and cozy little home once it's all comeplete.</DIV>

 

[Wild_E]

I am looking at the bed setup, if you add a skirting to the bed so it drops to the floor, it will assist in keeping out the cold, unless of course your heater is aimed at it, and it is adding warmth that way. Skirting should be out of some thicker material and not let the air through.<div><br></div><div>Like me you use two sleeping bags, if you take a double sized sheet, fold it over, sew it up to the top 3/4 mark it will assist in keeping you warmer. If you use flannel, it may even add in about another 10 deg. to the setup as it is.</div><div>best of luck</div>