Thaiger Van - 97 Ford E150

[Thaiger]

Hi all. Been reading for months, finally something to share.

landed LAX 3/13/15 after several years in Southeast Asia.
Rented car for 1 week.
Found and bought van on 3/17/15 - 97 Ford Econoline 150 $2600 + another $500 for insurance and tags.

Spent 3 days doing a quick build using hand tools and complimentary cuts from Lowes.

Slept in van since day I bought it.

Next, I want to add "house" battery that can also emergency jump start the engine and a small inverter.

Incredibly nervous about being rousted when parking and sleeping over night. On 3rd day was lectured and told to leave by security guard in casino parking lot ??

Thanks for all the great info and support on this site.

Thaiger

 

[Wabbit]

Hi Thaiger! I am planning on building our vehicle out while we sleep either in it or a tent until we can move into the van. We are going to be doing more BLM land and NF areas. If your able keep up your progress diary! Looks like you got quite a bit done in just 3" days, especially if your using hand tools! Best of luck on the getting rousted, that has to be a downer.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings & Welcome!


My secret for not getting rousted in cities is to find large apartment complexes where there is overflow parking on the street.  I park mixed in with that overflow on street parking.  Very rare to have any trouble.

For a house battery, I would just pick up a Minn-kota trolling motor power center.  It is a battery box that already has accessory outlets mounted in it.  Then you just add a deep cycle battery.  To charge it you can simply use a cigarette lighter to cigarette lighter jumper cable to charge it while driving.

That's probably the simplest system I know, and while mine is slightly more complicated, with a battery protector on it, it keeps me in power and I never run short.  I haven't needed any additional charging sources in over a year now.

 

[TucsonAZ]

Always call first, even with hotels, tell them you're just getting into town and have a larger vehicle and you just wanted to know if there's a specific place they would like you to park, worked for me every time. Battery wise, you just plan on having it inside? How will you keep it charged?

I find those cig lighter things are for the birds personally.

 

[LeeRevell]

The battery box power center is great. I built my own. Saw some folks online had added a small inverter to it, so I have a 400W inverter on mine. A small 12V plug in with USB port keeps small devices charged.

 

[sisterearth]

Hi, great job on the van already! I am not sure about other places, but here the casinos are patrolled by security guards constantly and have many cameras around. Is there a Wal-Mart or some Federal land nearby? Peace!

 

[LeeRevell]

Hi, great job on the van already! I am not sure about other places, but here the casinos are patrolled by security guards constantly and have many cameras around. Is there a Wal-Mart or some Federal land nearby? Peace!

Or a truck stop (Flying J, Pilot, etc.)?

 

[Almost There]

Or a truck stop (Flying J, Pilot, etc.)?

Flying J's have RV parking spots in the car parking lot area.

With the van I park near them, far enough away that I'm not bothered by the all night generators.

The problem with the RV parking spots when I was running the Class A was that if you weren't there by 4 PM or thereabouts, all the RV spots were taken, usually by 1/4 million dollar top of the line rigs...sigh! Left no room for those of us who couldn't afford to pay $40 a night for a KOA.

 

[Thaiger]

SoCal I bwlieve WalMarts are a no go ?

I picked up a marine battery at Sams and a 400w inverter from Harbor Freight. Just using plug from lighter now but like to wire straight to main battery with a solenoid eventually.

Taking all the info in. Will try to implement over the next couple weeks.

T

 

[Almost There]

SoCal I bwlieve WalMarts are a no go ?

I picked up a marine battery at Sams and a 400w inverter from Harbor Freight. Just using plug from lighter now but like to wire straight to main battery with a solenoid eventually.

Taking all the info in. Will try to implement over the next couple weeks.

T

This might be a valuable resource for you:

http://www.overnightrvparking.com/results.php

 

[Canine]

Good looking van.Good Luck.

 

[highdesertranger]

welcome. what casino booted you? what part of so cal are you in? I am in so cal and the wall mart by me allows overnight. there are always at least 5 overnighters sometimes a lot more. there are also some that have been there for extended periods. highdesertranger

 

[Thaiger]

Thanks.
I also downloaded the TRUCKER PATH app. Shows rest stops and truck stops.

 

[Thaiger]

Texas Station in Las Vegas gave me the boot.

I will be setting up in San Diego area.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Thaiger, out of curiosity, why is the upper portion of the shelf behind the drivers seat narrower than the base (with the ice chest in it) ?
     Other than that it's looking downright livable.....and with hand tools to boot....GOOD JOB !
KinA
(But I do see lions/tigers,  oh my)

 

[LeeRevell]

Allowing the driver's seat to recline a bit?

 

[Almost There]

Allowing the driver's seat to recline a bit?

That was my thought too.

I rearranged my planned layout to allow for the seat to be moved back and adjusted from where I normally have it. I'm short so it's always at the front of it's run but if anyone else ever had to drive it, they would need to move the seat or drive with their knees rapping their ears....

 

[Thaiger]

Yes, just following the back of the seat in driving position. The house battery is currently sitting on the floor between the cooler area and seat... snug.

I added a heavy curtain and bungee over the front of the cooler area. I have two shower rods in use. One behind the front seats with black curtain. The other is above my counter area with paper towels, tp, and a place to hang damp things.

BONUS: Just figured out that the passenger seat swivels. Did not know that when I bought it. ?

 

[Almost There]

BONUS: Just figured out that the passenger seat swivels. Did not know that when I bought it. ?

Lucky you, the best price I can find for the swivel base for my 2002 Savana is just over $200.00 - ouch!!

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Lucky you, the best price I can find for the swivel base for my 2002 Savana is just over $200.00 - ouch!!

Almost, would this work ($50) : http://www.factoryrvsurplus.com/products.php?product_id=1615

KinA