Minivan Jiffy RV Scheme
by JP
2004 Update Info:
I have to add that there are a couple companies out there that make very nifty $40K van RVs that might be what you want, or might inspire your custom work. They look pretty cool anyway. The Westy and the Great West (Sorry this site link is DEAD, so removed!). These do almost everything a big RV can. Then there’s the Eurovan, Vanagons but the Volks website is too fancy for my browser.
Then there’s the old Ford Sports Van that I saw for sale near here a couple years ago. That was VERY cute. A 1972-approx van with cab-under V8 that was a stand-alone camper. White with mint green trim and a jumping bass sticker. It was all set up. Extended roof top, too. Mint, no rust. Simple mechanics. Simple engine. Arizona, 40,000 miles. $1500. Shoulda got it! It had pivoting captains chairs for driver and passenger and a couple more behind, then a bed somewhere, kitchen with sink, stove, frig, bathroom, curtains. Cat’s meow! With retro stylepoints, too. I bet you could find another.
The other thing is that I think it’s Mercedes/Chrysler of Europe which is making a TALL “white van” that they are starting to import to the US. It’s a total cult favorite overseas already. They figure they can sell a jillion here, too, but had troubles financing the plant to build it. They ALMOST had 100K of them a year coming from a dedicated plant! They’re thinking it will eventually be their “new van.” I believe it has standing headroom. It will be perfect for converting.
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Today’s minivans are really something. They can haul so much stuff, but aren’t too big, and get pretty good mileage.
What I really like about them is those cool floor attachment points and those cool click-in mounts that are used for the rear seats.
Think of the possibilities.
You can sleep inside a minivan.
Now, they’ve been making RV’s out of larger vans for some time. “They” meaning the cool folks who all seem to work in Indiana. That seems to be the van conversion capital.
Now we see some novelty cars these days that consider themselves versatile. I don’t know much about them. They’re probably pricey. But a used minivan…
I think it wouldn’t be too hard for a manufacturer to start whipping up some accessories that use those mounts and click-in points, nor would it be too hard for a DIYer either.
For starters, I picture the following:
- unit with frig, stove, sink (with space for 5 gal jug and propane tank or hoses leading to same elsewhere)
- swiveling chair for behind the front seats
- swiveling front seats (need more click-ins?
- table with drawer
- bed with stowage beneath
- cabinet/pantry/dresser, tall, cube-shaped
- head (with a great seal)
- drill holes for various drain attachments as needed (stove exhaust, dishwater, toiletwater; maybe stove could vent thru a window fan fitting.)
- snap fittings to create tent or screen room off of rear hatch
These things could be easily clicked in and out of your minivan as you need to use it for various degrees of RVness.
You’d need velcro screens to snap over windows. And a set of velcro curtains.
I suppose you could get really carried away and get the roof cut out and a heightener installed. Do those things help? They don’t seem to let you stand. Probably leak. Maybe some pop up higher to give standing room and another bed.
Maybe there’s a way to have the stove/frig unit move so it’s accessible from outside so you can do stand-up outdoor cooking.
I’d think all this stuff could be made modular and integrating to use space well and fit together well.
Are any of these click-in points generic or universal? Or does every company do their own. Maybe these modules could have interchangeable click-in mounts. Of course different model space layouts are different as well. But I’d think there’s good hope for a multi-model config.
Seems to me some of this conversion stuff could thus be far cheaper and easier than usual.
Oh well, it’s a thought.
