VW Campervan? It will be!

[slynne]

So, my old car was rusting and I needed a new one. I didn't have the money to buy a real van so I went with a minivan. $10k got me a 2010 VW Routan. It actually is made by Chrysler and is a Grand Caravan/Towne & Country with a VW name plate put on it. Still, my dream has always been to have a VW camper van and this is as close as I am going to get!

So now to build it. It is going to be interesting! I have no skills or tools. I think I can do it though! 

I have three months. Although I am not ready to sell my house, I have engaged a house sitter and I am going to hit the road right after Christmas. I am going to west to California and (hopefully) some time in Arizona. I am so excited!!!!

 

[travelaround]

Congratulations - that is a lovely minivan and hopefully will have more power than the old VW vans. What modifications do you plan to make?

 

[RoamerRV428]

Congrats! Nice minivan and I know you will outfit to suit your needs perfectly! You can do it, take your time, put some effort into making it just what you need and away you go

 

[slynne]

Congratulations - that is a lovely minivan and hopefully will have more power than the old VW vans. What modifications do you plan to make?

Thanks! 

For my trip out west which is in December, I am going to put a twin bed in the back. That will take up most of the space but as I cannot build anything, I am going to buy a cheap wooden bed that doesn't have a headboard but is raised up about a foot. I think I may secure it with tie downs. This is the bed I am thinking of = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K5WPA1...olid=39LURXOLLYJWR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I have a CPAP machine so for that, I am going to buy a battery thingie that can be plugged into the 12v of the van while I drive. Probably this one = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SSMR6...olid=39LURXOLLYJWR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it


Then if there is space, a folding table so I can work on my laptop as I am one of those digital nomads and will need to work from the van. So really that is it. Simple and easy peasy. Oh yeah, a luggable loo for #2 and some kind of "she-wee" or similar for #1 but mostly I hope to be around bathrooms. I will shower at truck stops I guess or might get a Planet Fitness membership.

For food on this trip, I am going to buy an inverter to put in the 12v plug and I am bringing my kettle to make coffee and a single burner stove to do canned goods. No fridge by then. I have some of those inflatable solar lights for lighting and a zero degree sleeping bag for heat. I have a lot of experience with winter camping in Michigan so I am not worried about sleeping in a mini van in the cold even without heat. 

Then, once I am in California, I am going to ask a friend for some help. I am going to install roof racks and then attach solar panels to them, get a solar controller and some batteries. I am going to buy some kind of portable fridge. I may at that time, if my friend has time, build a narrower bed for the back so I can still have one of the back seats usable. Or maybe not. Maybe I will find that twin bed in the back to be just great for sitting?

This van came with a DVD player and two screens that fold down from the roof along with wireless headphones. I may ask a friend who is an electrician at Ford if she can help me rewire those so they draw power from my house battery set up rather than from the car battery. But that may just be too ambitious. Luckily for me, my main entertainment is reading books and you don't need power for 
THAT!!! 

But eventually, I want to get one of those tents that are designed for minivans and also a fridge. If I can get all of that done, I am going to see about renting a room in my house to someone because if they start to bug me, I will be able to just jump in my van and drive away for a few days.

 

[slynne]

So step 1 - learn how to stow the stow n go seats.

 

[travelaround]

I traveled from South Texas back to North Idaho last year .... in my car, sleeping in the back of it. I of course had no bathroom but managed to sleep almost every night at a truck stop and I remember, even getting out of the car in the middle of the night to use their restroom, I always felt safe enough. I am planning to go to WRTR and RTR in my car again as I won't have the van yet. I'll also be using a CPAP with battery - I like the battery you chose. Might get that one! I didn't have that last year - just started in December - and I love being able to breathe so well at night. Anyhow, I've been thinking, for my van, when I get it, I might go with a folding bed I could set aside during the daytime so I'd have more room in my van for other things. I love having a big desk for reading, writing, art, etc, and would prioritize that over any kind of kitchen setup, which I could easily minimize. What is an inflatable solar light? Do you have a link for that? Here's the folding bed I'm thinking about getting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CTJZGDS/ ...don't know if I might get tired of that setup after a while, but it would be okay to start out with.

 

[slynne]

travelaround, I like that cot idea. I don't think it would work for me because I am pretty large and may need more space but for someone smaller, it seems like a great idea. Having something that folds up easily sounds pretty cool too! Also pretty easy to change if you find you dont like it! 

Yes, I LOVE my cpap machine because I sleep so much better. I must have it. 

What do you do for cooking now in your car? 

This is a link to the lights I have. I think you can get them cheaper on amazon though. 

https://express.google.com/u/0/prod...oLuk12ASpdDv2snemzEIydhBW8THPIm0aAlE0EALw_wcB

 

[travelaround]

What do you do for cooking now in your car?

I don't cook in my car. I'm not living in it ... just using it for journeys. I'll be going to the WRTR and RTR in it, with a tent. I'll probably take along something to heat water - probably a propane burner for this expedition. I must have my tea!

Later, when I get my van, I'll go for an electric stove of some kind. My diet is pretty minimalistic anyway since I'm vegan, for the most part, these days. I don't require much cooking. I'm okay with a bit of snack food so long as there isn't much salt. (I'm guarding my blood pressure.)

Thanks for the link for the light - I've never seen those before!

 

[slynne]

I am hoping to go to WRTR too although as it is the busiest time at my work, I may not be able to. We will see. If I can make it, I hope we can meet up and exchange ideas.

 

[travelaround]

Okay - I'll be in a 2005 white Ford Taurus, with a tent nearby!

 

[slynne]

So first speed bump in my conversion. The middle seats are not stow-n-go so I am going to have to have one of them removed. Having only one of them removed will mean I can still drive two passengers when needed so that is a plus. I have to go in with the tape measure though because I don't think a standard twin bed will fit.

What to do as I have exactly zero carpentry skills?

Ok, my plan right now is to have the seat removed and then measure the space. I am going to go to Lowe's and have them cut me a board that will fit my space. I am going to do that trick with the #10 cans to raise the board. The husband of the couple with whom I am going to be staying in California this winter is a carpenter so I am hoping I can talk him into helping me add legs to my bed when I get there. Then I guess we can make a lot of soup out the beans and tomatoes and whatnot in the #10 cans!

Next I will need some kind of custom mattress. I have found this place which will make them! Now I just have to decide which kind to get

https://www.michigandiscountmattress.com

 

[bullfrog]

I'm not familar with the can trick but what about using plastic milk crates even if you have to cut them to fit as they could still be used for storage.