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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 23, 2011 - 07:21pm PT
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What's Up Tacoloadians!
I'm gettin ready to start converting my blank canvas of a cargo van into the Ultimate climbers bivy. It's not my first BBQ I've converted a few in my day. Does any one in the ditch remember my 69 dodge "Blues Traveler"? Anyway, lookin for some ideas (pics if u got em) of
Some good layouts. I've seen some really cool rigs built by climbers and I hope some of u are reading this. Thanks in advance!
Climb Hard or Die!!!
blueblocr
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Hand Jammer
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Oct 23, 2011 - 08:15pm PT
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Lay down carpet. Tear everything out and build a platform bed with storage underneath
Tint the windows and add snap in curtains
Add a pop up roof vent with fan and second battery. It really keeps the temps down inside.
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Reeotch
Trad climber
Kayenta, AZ
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Oct 23, 2011 - 09:03pm PT
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Sweet rig.
Consider covering over the driver's side back windows with some sort of spill-proof shelves or cabinets.
Get a hold of Mr.E. He had a 15 passenger he converted. I don't know if he still has it but perhaps he could post some pics . . . Eric???
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Oct 23, 2011 - 09:07pm PT
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whatever you do, try to keep it stealthy.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 23, 2011 - 09:16pm PT
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Put in a refrigerator and get a solar panel for the battery.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Oct 23, 2011 - 10:19pm PT
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Vans are the BOMB !
Mine is in a constant state of flux as my family continues to grow and our activities change season to season.
I started with a '03 E250 w/45k miles I found on ebay for $9k.
It had a prefab cabinet and a plywood bed but was otherwise an empty, insulated shell.
I first added a decent power source provided by a 3000W inverter from Home Depot online. It was by far the best price for this unit. A couple of three year free replacement 12v Marine Batteries (I'd go series 6V today) from Walmart.
I used to have it wide open and threw down sleepbags anywhere but recently fabricated mounts for two rows of fold down seats taken from a '94 Aerostar. They come with intergrated seat belts and aren't obnoxiously huge. I don't lose sleeping/cargo space this way and can carry more passengers.
A three-way Fridge is handy depending on legth of road-trip. Mini coffee maker and Microwave are nice to have.
I have a 25 gallon Propane tank mounted uder the rear of the van protected by 1/4 steel plate. It needs a refill every three years or so.
It supplies my Fridge and four-burner (or whatever) stove which sits nicely on the rear door fold down table.
The loft slides open to provide 4ft x 6.5 ft of sleeping room above.
Flatscreen DVD, 1000W Surround sound and air matresses aren't needed but are nice on the longer trips and at the races.
I replaced the stock 16" wheels w/17's ($300 off CL w/new tires) and installed a 2" suspension lift for under $200
Be creative and write down the things you wish you had when you are staying in your van. Then build/fab/create those things when you have the resources and time.
I just got a big window for the port side and am working on a custom rear bumber that does all kinds of cool stuff. It never ends..
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Oct 23, 2011 - 10:23pm PT
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these are kinda cool.
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Moof
Big Wall climber
Orygun
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Oct 23, 2011 - 10:27pm PT
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Just make sure you make it sharp stick and coyote proof. Those vet bills can be terrible.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 23, 2011 - 10:33pm PT
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Pud, That's what I'm talkin about, that thing is awesome! I'm still waiting for Erics pics to download... But gettin some GOOD ideas thanks everyone! I'm inspired. Back to work!
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Oct 23, 2011 - 10:41pm PT
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Check out www.expeditionportal.com and go to the forum section on vans.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Oct 23, 2011 - 10:49pm PT
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my interior is pretty basic.
no microwave.
fridge, heater, toilet, stove, sink
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Oct 23, 2011 - 11:01pm PT
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Geez. This may be a lost art from the swami belt days.
Shipley and Dale Bard both had unreal efficient setups. Dale took a bread van and made a Marriott hotel room out of it.
Use your imagination. Not a couple of pieces of plywood. I just built a small solar setup. Two big ass 6 volt deep cycle batteries that were each larger than a car battery, rig them in series for 12 volt. Bought a Kyocera 130 Watt panel and a pure sine wave inverter for running electronics..which is about the only thing I need electricity for.
It was pretty easy. Panels are cheap right now. I scored the batteries for 120 each. You probably don't need a fancy inverter, but you will need a charge controller between the panel and the battery to prevent overcharging. They are cheap. You can get high quality stuff for not that much. Run a small fridge, whatever. No washers and dryers, though...
Nobody cared about electricity in the old days, but a tiny set up will run just lights. Lights don't pull much current at all. I was surprised at what kind of stuff eats electricity.
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rwedgee
Ice climber
canyon country,CA
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Oct 23, 2011 - 11:44pm PT
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Sprinter diesel, 24+ to the gallon(pre '07 in line 5 cylinder) 28 gallon tank, do the math = LA to Grand Juntion w/o stopping. 2 six volt = 2k watt inverter means in run a microwave, coffee maker, electric heater, blow drier, propane heat too, sink with water pump, whatever else. Cook while I drive. I stripped it down , insulated(noise & temp.) Removeable panels, 6' 2" bed. Should have done it 20 years ago...
Strip it & insulate, you will be glad you did, it's cheap, just takes time.
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Archie Richardson
Trad climber
Grand Junction, CO
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Oct 24, 2011 - 08:34am PT
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A lot depends on exactly how you are going to use it. "Ultimate climbers bivy" to me means a lot of weekends, some two week road trips, maybe a summer. We spent several summers in our 77 dodge, carpeted interior, plywood platform bed that converted to a dinette, coleman stove, ice chest with a cushion on top so you could move from one seated position to another. Stealth camped at Curry lot, etc.
If you are going to live in it full time, then you need to be able to stand up. And a propane fridge sure beats emptying the ice-melt and spilled milk every day in the WalMart parking lot. A little more storage is nice, especially for a couple. Most climbers don't need 4WD - it adds a lot of purchase and operating cost and the rough roads rattle the dishes.
Once you pass a certain point you are really an RV and stealth camping becomes difficult. You become accustomed to electric appliances and end up in cheap rv parks mostly. That's where we are currently.
Of course if cost is no option...
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Dingus McGee
Social climber
Laramie
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Oct 24, 2011 - 09:29am PT
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Currently I have a e-350 super duty passenger van. The back half is double sized bed with storage underneath. The tinted windows are great. No one sees in but you have starlight from all the horizon. I have added an RV Furnace that uses the in place air/heating ducts for air delivery.
As Weschrist says counter space is at a premium.
Rather than buy all the diode hardware for keeping the engine battery alive, I have put my charging/use circuit on a SPDT switch. This exclusionary state switch allows appliance use only when disconnected from the engine battery and in the charging position no appliances work but the batteries are connected. You have to manually flip the switch to which activity you want.
A solar panel addition would come in handy occasionally but am I more of minmalist?
The more you make a van like being at home in the house the more of an energy gobble it can be.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 24, 2011 - 05:20pm PT
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WOW! Thanks for pics,links and ideas I'm PSYCHED!!!
Time to Get'er Done! See ya at the crags in about 4 days
Booowww!!!
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