[RV8R]

Hello Builders & Conversion DIYers

I have been outfitting a 2018 EXT for the last 6 months. Here are some photos

 

[RV8R]

Kept it simple (no shower & cassette toilet under the bench

 

[Roblee]

I like the simplicity & function of your storage wall. No doors is my preferance too. A van gets messy when you use all the stuff we travel with so spacious & accessible storage is golden.

 

[RV8R]

Storage Bins Ikea “Trofast”

I like the simplicity & function of your storage wall. No doors is my preferance too. A van gets messy when you use all the stuff we travel with so spacious & accessible storage is golden.

Hi Roblee

The light wood units & plastic bins are from Ikea ( trofast is the name under storage bins ). I have several thousand miles on the Van now with those bins & they don’t slide out around corners.

 

[ThomD]

I like that storage wall. Simple, effective.

 

[RV8R]

Some More Photos; Our Parameters were; 2 People Travel Machine / Keep it Simple / Queen Bed “Permanent & Comfortable” / Stealth Exterior Look / Electric 12v & 120v / Few Holes Penetrating the Van / Self Contained Toilet / Sink / Storage “easy to grab & take outside / Fridge “electric only & efficient” / Cooking Outside “primarily” / Serviceability / Efficiency

Things we think we learned DIY; How Batteries Work 12DC & 120AC (limitations) / What we would do differently if starting again (or the next one) / Less is More

 

[RV8R]

The Bed Base Structure (can be removed in 20 minutes)

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Now take no offense as I am going to be humorous here.
My bed supports are 2 one half inch X 54”X26” pieces of plywood on edge and attached to the wheel wells with bolts/rivnuts. Thats it! They also form two cabinets fore of the wheel wells and storage behind. Your steel framing bed support is as different from mine as any two minds could devise. Either I’m nutz or you are, probably me. But in my defense it has worked super well to both support the bed, allow it to collapse into a single bed/couch and has withstood every possible road condition/panic stop and has provided countless nights of bed comfort as a double bed and many nights as a single.
You certainly build a skookum van conversion! I like the idea it comes out easily too. Have fun!

 

[RV8R]

Thanks RD !!

Now take no offense as I am going to be humorous here.
My bed supports are 2 one half inch X 54”X26” pieces of plywood on edge and attached to the wheel wells with bolts/rivnuts. Thats it! They also form two cabinets fore of the wheel wells and storage behind. Your steel framing bed support is as different from mine as any two minds could devise. Either I’m nutz or you are, probably me. But in my defense it has worked super well to both support the bed, allow it to collapse into a single bed/couch and has withstood every possible road condition/panic stop and has provided countless nights of bed comfort as a double bed and many nights as a single.
You certainly build a skookum van conversion! I like the idea it comes out easily too. Have fun!

Thanks RD . No Offense taken

Im guessing the truth is we are probably both nuts as we are DIY van camper converters :nerd:

Im a recent member as I joined this forum in fall of 2018, but “did not read the manual” thus my posts did not get posted (my bad >). Anyway I have seen your posts & I think you know what you are doing with regards to van conversions. I appreciate your interest & comments/feedback (thanks for taking the time to look at my thread). I think this forum is a fantastic site for us DIYers to share ideas & help each other out.

The older I get, the more “Design” seems to be important to me. I believe your & my design approach is so different due to very different design parameters. My bed system is focused & designed to be down & permanent - no convertible into a couch & no need to use my van to transport materials or bikes etc inside. Like you wrote, it is built to be skookum, & not to be taken apart. The reason it can be dismantled in 20mins is for “serviceability” of underbed systems (I don’t like to work on things in tight spaces on my back)

Im very novice @ internet forums & may screw things up here on my ability to post etc, but I will endeavor to get better at it

 

[SteveSS]

Looks great, says one skookum-driven crazy DIY'er to another.

 

[DonInLasVegas]

Sink

Looks fantastic! Great job!

Where did you purchase the sink?

 

[mostlyHarmless]

Removable bed at the rear is a good idea for utility when at home, nice idea.

 

[RV8R]

The Sink

Looks fantastic! Great job!

Where did you purchase the sink?

Hi Don Thanks for your comments !!

The sink & tap are both Blanco & both were purchased @ Lowes. They were approximately $400 each. Really a central point aesthetically so I decided to spend a bit more here than I normally would

 

[RV8R]

Hey Steve

Looks great, says one skookum-driven crazy DIY'er to another.

Thanks Steve !!

Looking forward to seeing your build & sharing ideas. The “skookum” building technique is probably coming from life experiences where I haven't “over built” & it bit me

Im 90% done & only got 90% left to do

 

[ThomD]

Im 90% done & only got 90% left to do

I resemble that remark!

 

[MsNomer]

Im 90% done & only got 90% left to do

So well said!

 

[RV8R]

Thank You ThomD & MsNomer

Not my saying, but resembles my life as well

 

[gdpetti]

What do you mean by 'queen'? Width? as queen length is 80inches... and the PMs aren't that wide inside. Are you adding flares or something?

 

[RV8R]

Queen Width 60”

What do you mean by 'queen'? Width? as queen length is 80inches... and the PMs aren't that wide inside. Are you adding flares or something?

Hi gdpetti

We bought a memory foam mattress 60” wide by 80” long

We then trimmer off about 7” off the 80” length to 73” so the mattress would fit between the walls of the van. We have had a total of 20 nights on it over the past months & find it to be very comfortable. I am 70” tall & do not feel cramped at all sleeping with 73” of bed length

No flares; my build has about 73.5” to 74” wall to wall

Hope that helps:nerd:

 

[RV8R]

So I just cleaned out 18 months of photos from my phone and put all my van build photos into on folder so I can actually show some of the build on this tread.

I will add to this thread as time allows in blocks of TASKS