/diy/ - Do It Yourself

the dirty cut

some thing that holds the desk

some dirty hack to make the post that hold the desk longer

>>1011953
forgot picture

and some rear view

I have a better idea for a bracket, let me see if it's feasible first.

nice rape van

This is all assuming that you can lift up the flip-down section a bit. You'll need to make brackets to attach to the van wall, but it should be sturdier than those hinges you're using now. Two of them should work. Make templates out of cardboard and play with the dimensions before you actually make them.

This looks cool, what van are you using?

>>1011950
Dont forget to think about a way to attach moving objects, like the chair

>>1011969
that seems better, thank you, i'll try it.
I can't work on the project tonight or tomorrow, i'll be on it thursday, i'll keep you guys updated.

>>1011971
It is a Ford transit connect, the cheapest version with no extra. (pic related, not mine but same) i would have liked to get a bigger van but prices are too high.

>>1011983
Yes i though about this, the chair will fit under the desk and i can attach it the same way i did with the mattress, using stretchers.


Also guys what about the desk plank edges ? paint or whatever ?

>>1011985
pic

>>1011987
how much did you pay for it?

>>1011988
i paid 2500€, it has 113 000 km and diesel, from the researches i made it is a fair price for this brand and kilometers. i really had to brake my piggy bank though.

>>1011989
doesn't sound like a bad deal, good luck on your project I would love to see some finished pictures.

I lived in a Sprinter for two months. It's possible, but not ideal. Just make sure your exhaust is piping is good because you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning.

>>1011950
That chair is going to roll all over the place if you actually drive anywhere

>>1011987
Got damn that thing is small for a van. That's going to be really cramped, even for van dwelling. You can still make it work, you just need to prioritize what you ABSOLUTLY need. Also you will need to use every square inch you can. Think lots and lots of wall storage.

>>1012066
Yup. A collapsible camping chair would be a better option. Takes up less space when not in use, wont roll around all over the place while driving, and it can be taken outside easier whenever you're at camp sites or parks.

For the desk edges, people usually use the plastic edges that are already attached to them. You might be able to salvage some from the scrap pieces.

>>1012169
>wall storage
Are there fasteners for pegboard besides metal hooks?

A few more thoughts:
Swap the vacuum cleaner for a small broom and dustpan.
Maybe switch the metal pole for a sheet of the material you're using for the desk.
Is window tint legal in your country? Time the front windows and use a sun shade thing in the windshield for more privacy.
Add speakers to the rear area and hook them up to the stereo.
Round off the front corner on the desk and it'll look a bit nicer.
Don't forget to use the passenger cabin for storage space. You should be able to fit some things under the seats for example.

>>1012169
>That pic

The fuck? Why would you put a double bed into a van? 99% of van dwellers are single and that space could be put to so much better use.

We should also add

>Can I live in my van guise?

To the /diy/ bingo. Although OP has OC so can be forgiven.

>>1012277
We have always had van dwelling threads on /diy/
Are you too new to remember the vandweller tripfag?

>>1012279
We have also always had measurement argument threads, bad pictures, no skills, how much will this cost, etc.. threads.

>>1012280
Which half would go unnoticed and get purged, and the other half would get productive and generous help which OP learns something. It doesnt feel like that anymore

>>1012169
Yes actually there is a lot of space wasted by the wood pannels in the walls, i'll fugure a way to store things in there.
>>1012187
I'll "hang" in a town where they collect bulky trashes toninght (peoples just have to put them in the sidewalk and they collect it tomorow), so i'll very probably find what i need, and maybe other usefull planks/ stuffs if i get lucky.

no the pegboards are only attached with long metal rivets, but rivets can be delled and i can put a screw in them to fix things, but i am worried about strenght, i'll make some tries.

>>1012207

vaccum cleaner is actually an extra, i wont take it with me when i'll use then van to live.
the metal pole is kind of mandatory now because i had to make a hole in the mattress to fit in, so would be a shame to change plans for this.
windows tint is not legal nope, i'll use curtain or sunblind for privacy, again depending on what i find.

For stereo previous owner alredy had speaker at rear so the cables are already there (i removed the speaker they were so big), i have found a lot of speakers so yes i'll do it, just some wiring thing.

So guys i'll go salvage materials tonight and go for work on the van tomorrow, stay tuned.

>>1011950
I'd sleep in a hammock instead of a conventional bed. Hammocks can be very comfortable, take no floor space, and stash in a small bag.

Check out hammock forums for info and to post any questions once you've measured your vehicle.

The Walmart cheap hammocks are quite comfortable. I upgraded to a Hennessy Expedition but I camp outdoors. For sleeping indoors I have an ENO Doublenest but that is too long for many vans.

>>1012277
>The fuck? Why would you put a double bed into a van? 99% of van dwellers are single and that space could be put to so much better us
Looks like the bed platform lowers and raises out of the way. Besides, rape van with room for 2 is classy. It shows you care.

Op here, just a quick update.
time has run quick and i havent done much, will work hard on it on the begining of the next week.

Thursday i just put a plank on top of the driving seat, like the 3d model, to have some nice storage space. quite happy with it tbqh.
pic related

>>1011987
If you go to Ford online ETIS website, you can download the Body Modification guide. Check that, which parts you can build on and shit. The idea is not bad, the van is durable and big enough. But, do it right. Choose durable wood pieces and shit.

You will also need an inverter for laptop or blanket heater. Aaand maybe you can add a second battery to the car, gotta look that up.

>>1014093
Another thing: You can buy these bed foam kind of things that just fold up to one piece, and got like 3 blocks when you fold it out. Its around 5cm tall when folded out, but as I said when you fold it back, it takes up less space. Its also very comfy.

Op here

>>1014093
I have checked the website but there are no pdf for my model.

I already have an inverter, 500w, it'll do.
For the second battery i'll think about it to save costs, what kind of battery etc.

Yesterday i have done a drawer for the desk and today i did some nice cupbaord on top of it.

The door of the cupboard is sealed with a hard drive magnet when it is closed, so it wont open while i drive.

i also have found that i still have one metal pole uncut so i put in in the place of the old one, removing the dirty hack.

progressions pic

>>1014995
That's actually looking pretty good, Anon. Keep us updated!

Op again.

I just checked on amazon the prices for solar pannels and i was quite surprised how they were cheap, especially the super-thin ones that would fit perfectly on my roof.

So i made this list (pic) to set it up, what does DYI think about it ? (i havent ordered anything yet)
Is 60W enough/Too much ?
Same for 18 Ah battery, is it suffiscient ?
And regulator, is 30A good ?


Also now that i am confident about having power, i consider putting a fridge in the car. Off the shelves ones seems expensives and would take too much space, so i have checked some Peltier fridges that can be DIYed, they are cheap and taylorable, is it a good idea ? anyone have done similar fridges here ?

Anyhow i'll keep you guys updated.

>>1015284
60W will be more like 20W or even less under normal conditions (cloudy, or whatever)
A small fridge might use around the same, but you'll still need to get through the night, and have some spare power during the day for charging laptop for example.

>>1013298
I would assume you're going to line the walls with some insulation? Sleeping in that will be damn cold without it.

>>1015284
That set-up will give you no more power than what's needed to power a couple of LED lights. There's a reason batteries for small solar installations are usually closer to 180 Ah than 18.

>>1015284
I would advise against the fridge. Your place isn't quite big enough to fit a fridge anywhere comfortably, and you can manage just fine without one. Just use the power for lights, computer/phone charging, and a heater/fan if you need one.

>>1015284
>>1015288
>>1016048
>>1016541

So, i made researches about the electrical installation. I now think about a system featuring :

- 100w solar pannel, i found a flexible and thin one for 145€ on some other website (same spec cheapest was 180€ on amazon), seems nice.

- 2x 38 Ah batteries wired up in parallel, so it would be 76 Ah in the end.

For the price on this some guys on leboncoin (french craiglist) claims they sell brand new ones for 40€, which is ~50% less than on regular web merchants. Do you guys think this is a good idea to buy from these ? Are there any way to control the batteries are new other than voltage or evental cosmetic look ? I think the batteries could be stolen if so i don't really care, i just want them to be new.

- 30 A PWM regulator, same as old, approx 20€ from amazon

plus some nice wall outlet for two 12V which is like 5€

The copper wires wont be bought, i have already collected a decent amount of them to do the entire electrical installation.

So i could to the whole setup for ~250€, what do you guys think ?

For the battries i could also use open lead ones, since they are really cheaper than sealed batteries, but according to my researches they need to be in well ventilated aera since they emit acid gas (!?). So i guess it would not be ok to put them inside the van, they'll need to be outside and so exposed to cold temperatures, last less longer etc. So are open lead batteries still an option ?
It would be difficult for me to go higher than 250€ now desu, so if the cheap "black market" batteries wont do i think i'll just go for a less powerfull battery set, since i can still ad batteries in parallel later.

My basic (electrical consuming) needs would be :
- lights (have some good led ones, will do measurement to see how they consume)
- phone charging
- laptop charging, i already have a car 12v adapter, i'll also measure this.
- maybe occasional water heating for coffee, but i also have some small gas burner so i'll see.

>>1016541
For the frigde, well, it was just a tough. I also did researches and Peltier ones seems to consume a lot of power so it is not ok for my setup, i'll keep dig in but i am not really into it for now.

>>1015298
Thanks for bringing this point because i havent tough about it yet. I can do insulation of course but some parts of the inside are just in plain metal so wont it ruin the insulation ?
For heat i tough about some gas heater, maybe other things, any tips ?

Anyhow thanks for your advices /diy/, feels good to share those projects.

It actually looks pretty good, but I'm curious why you seem to be prioritizing the desk as opposed to necessary arrangements for sleep? I understand that the desk folds up, but it's still going to have quite a bit of intrusion into your living compartment, taking up valuable space. Just seems that a desk and office chair would be lower on a list of priorities in a mobile shelter.

maybe a platform for the matress would be a good idea to gain space for other stuff.
And you don't have to mind the space for the wheel when the platform is there.

You could fit there a small water tank, maybe a big drawer you open to the back with a cooking space and a small sink.

a roof rack with solars installed could help you to get a power supply without worrying the battery gets empty.

Homeless on the internet.

>>1011985
I think the office chair is an unnecessary bulk, plus it will roll everywhere during transit. Go with a seat that folds down from a wall, or a folding camping chair if you want something you can take out.

>>1016801
Other people use it for more than shitposting, anon.

>>1016705
I have one of these vans and there is no fucking way you could sleep on that platform. The only way you could possibly sleep in the back would be if you laid diagonal from corner to corner and even that would be a squeeze...unless you are a dog ar a total short arse.
My van used to be a fridge van so is pretty well insulated and has a folding bulkhead at the passengers side and the passenger seat folds flat I've often thought about fitting some kind of mattress along that side as our have all the room from the glove box to the back door...I've never bothered to try it though as I usually just take a tent, it's bigger and more comfy and if it's cold you are pretty much gonna freeze to death in that van anyway

>>1016705
put the desk to the side and a little bigger and make it the sleeping platform.

Look at trucking berth cabs for examples
https://www.google.com/search?q=trucking+berth+cabin+designs&biw=1366&bih=612&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTpabsmdbNAhVC0oMKHXi6A5YQ_AUIBigB

I am planning on doing the exact same thing.

>Its a good Idea I think.

>>1017033
putting the platform on the passengers side would help a lot
luckily there is no slide door your would have to bother

some insulation would help a lot

the van is quite small, even for a hobo

>>1012277
Never understood why they just don't use a hammock.
More comfortable than most beds anyway, take 0 space when not using it.
Two small anchors and it's done.

>>1017251
You ever tried raping a semi conscious woman in a hammock?

There's your answer.

So i read about insultation and it seems that rockwool is the best choice, what about this lot ?
i wont isolate the floor so i would have nearly 10 square meter to isolate, so it can be done for 45€ ?

Is heating mandatory then, or can i just use the heat from the engine and then heat will stay long enough in the van ?

>>1017307
forgot pic

>>1017308
Is that fiberglass?

>>1017388
that is "rock" fiber, its the same thing but apparently it holds humidity better

>>1017401
Unless you get it behind a wall or something, the fibers will get everywhere and you'll be miserable. Foam will be better for your purposes.

>>1017475
of course i plan to put it behind some wood pannel, would be gross to put them 'as is'.


Also in for the purpose of heating, i just read about webasto mini boiler (pic related)

those things consume diesel (like .3 litter/hour) and electricity (12V/~45W or less when already hot) and produce hot water. They are small and so can be put under the car. i just checked it seems i have enough space under the van, so it seems like an excellet solution. I'll have to put a radiator in the van for the hot water to heat the air, and the combustion process is outside to no need to worry about CO problems.

And, they are cheap if you buy them used, the one in photograph can be bought for 20€.

this vid is good enough to understand how it works :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A8J-rNxnoU

seems perfect, think i'll go for that.

Kind of planning on doing the same thing OP, except with a murrican van.
>finding a van in decent shape with low enough miles
>figuring out how a 201cm/6'7" man is going to sleep comfortably inside a vehicle
>getting good enough solar panels and batteries

I would recommend fold down "beds", one for each side of the van that latch to the wall. Let down one side for extra seating or both for a bed for the night

>>1017875
Hammocks

>>1017875
If you can mount and fit a hammock they have near zero footprint when not in use. Check hammockforums.
Many people, me included, like hammocks better than a conventional bed. Even the cheapest can be quite comfy. All you need are two decently supported eyebolts and you can clip a carabiner to them. Pre-adjust your hammock and there's no fiddling.

>>1014995
Pretty good work

>>1018480
>>1017251
What is it with you and hammocks?

>>1019335
I'm not the same guy, I just didn't read all the answers before posting ...

>>1017284
Do it on the floor like a real man


But really, appart from sex, hammocks are probably better than mattress es in such small configurations.

>>1019335
optimization

Put one of these babies in there and you are good to go.

Don't listen to that other guy go for this

Cotton hammocks are superior

check these

Believe me guys. If you have ever tried a wooden hammock you would ditch the shitty nylon and cotton ones. That's a fact.

>>1019672
>>1019673
>>1019675
>>1019676
>>1019677

>>1019677
That looks rather uncomfortable. Also technically a swing not a hammock.

What hammock is most comfortable? Can you just wash them?

Hello again, i haven't worked on the project much but i've made lots of investment, to the point i'll just eat rice with ketchup this mounth, but it is worth it.

I bought the 100w solar pannel and regulator. Also i found some nice 24Ah batteries on craiglist for 25€/battery. I bought three, and wired them in parallel. I have now a 72Ah battery, working really fine. (pic related) As you can see i made 2 wire links to simulate a bigger gauge, i know it is not up to code but screw that, that will do fine.

I also bought the Webasto heater, radiator, and plastic pipes. For this i made some tests today and it seems the fuel pump i chose is too big, the pipes are gigantic compared to what the fuel pipe is supposed to look like, i'll dig in, but webasto original pumps cost too much. So the webasto started to leak unburned gasoil from the air exhaust, will have to clean shit up.

I have then bought insulation, that is fiber glass 45mm, with a separate platic film to insulate it from humidity/condensation in the van. Will start to insulate tomorrow, i should have started wit it since now i have to take apart some of the work i done, but not much.

For additionnal space and battery space, i think this >>1016705 is the way to go, especially since the insulation will take space on the roof i had planed to used for storage.

I think i'll put a "permanent" platform near the rear door, containing batteries, and the rest will be removable/foldable so i can still roll the mattress and have this space left when not using it.

For hammocks-guys sorry but there is no way it would fit, too long between the two attach points

will post more update and pictures tomorrow

where's the shower?

>>1020824
I like your project and I hope it goes well.

Remember not to discharge your batteries below 50 %.

>>1011987
Is this a Ford Transit Connect?

I lived in one for 2 years. Weird sensation seeing it again. It felt much smaller than even on the pic. I wish they built it just a bit longer as sleeping was very uncomfortable.

I posted my "adventures" in this thing on another chan that is dedicated to computers and programming. It just came up there again, I wonder if you are from that site?

Anyways: good luck. Hope you didn't forget to insulate it. Keep us posted :^)

My van survival plan was:
1) 24h gym membership
2) uni library and mensa access

Life can be so easy. Not exactly a girl magnet, though.

some guy did 5 months in a transit.

in the end he concluded it was too small. also his appears to be a hightop.
https://imgur.com/a/qBNBw

>>1021223
That (pic rel.) is a Transit hightop - shitty pic, but you get the idea. OP seems like a top bloke and all, and more progress to date than 90%+ of van-dweller threads.. but for the love of God, why Tranist Connects, or mini-minivans?

Get a normal/LWB Transit LWB Hightop , 140-200km for 1000-1500 EUR, literally, about 8 times the space, and no-one looks twice at the things either. Dont undesrstand, why buy so frigging small in the first place?

add insulation + vapor barrier, look into air circulation too.

>>1021230
I'd like to see where you can find a transit for that price in France

>>1021256
France maybe less choice, but theres tons in Germany - point being, start off looking for a bigger one, you'll eventually find one to budget - and I'd maybe have went for more space here, personally, but, maybe next project..

http://ww3.autoscout24.de/classified/273085748?asrc=st|as

cant into french either, but, theres a (random example) 9-seater Transit in France for 2k - had one of these, the rear seat rows you can remove/put back easily, also dealer price, def. get it cheaper.. Got a LWB HIghtop sitting in driveway I'd have sold you cheap ;) its Bongloand but (LHD tho), and full of crap, is mobile garden shed.

Jist saying, dont think the bigger Transits are that much more expensive than the smaller - and I'd swap a bit more legroom on this for a slightly-less polished exterior, but, whatever, you doing a good job anway.

>>1011951
Extremely dangerous height. If someone hits your car from behind you probably don't survive.
Otherwise make sure the matress stays dry and you need a standard height and width to fit boxes that you can use for storage.

>>1021303
Not OP but never thought about buying one in Europe, will check that

Why don't you remove the passenger seat and shove a bed area in that cubby? Or a place to put a watertank, heater, etc.

>>1017401
>rock fiber
like asbestos?

>>1021632
Asbestos is it's own fiber. Look it up. Rock fiber is safe in comparison.

>>1021632
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_wool

Rock wool is made by melting minerals and sretching of flinging the molten material like cotton candy until it produces thin fibres that can be woven into insulation.

Asbestos can look like pic related, its a naturally occurring fibre, that exists naturally many places on the planet. There are different kinds, some of which are more carcinogenic than others. Common to them all is that asbestos dust can be very harmful to inhale over time, due to the physical properties and shape of the fibres. They get stuck in the lungs and are not possible to expel, and cause an infection called asbestosis.

I suppose rock wool is made to emulate asbestos, but they are not the same thing.

>>1021662
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos

Hey all! I'm planning on doing a E250/350 in a very similar layout to >>1021223 for seasonal travel along the US west coast.

I'm planning on putting in a shower behind the driver seat and throwing a cannister toilet in there for dual function as a shower seat, as well as a kitchenette with an induction burner and low-profile faucet so a tri-fold mattress can be drawn out across the whole unit when not collapsed as a couch. I'm also planning on using solar, installing reflectix as insulation, applying bamboo flooring, and purchasing a portable washing machine. Are there any other amenities that any of you wouldn't want to live without? I don't want to miss anything during the planning stages and have to jury-rig things in later.

>>1022952
>portable washing machine
Just stop at a laundromat.

>>1022952
>portable washing machine
Just hook up a trash can or other sturdy plastic vessel with a bungee cord, put soap and water in, and let the rumbling of your van do the work for you.

>>1022962
>>1022975
I do appreciate the forward-thinking, but both of those options are going to require a lot of driving, and I may spend weeks at a time in a set location. Plus, for ~$60, its pretty much paying for itself after a couple months.

>>1022979
Is it one of those manual washing machines? I would be very interested in hearing about how good they are. I suppose if your clothes aren't filthy then there's nothing wrong with them.

>>1022981
Manual as in a wash board and tin basin, with fels-naptha soap? Actually, I do that already and it works better than a washing machine that just sloshes wet clothes around... But no, I meant a mini washer. They only hold a day's worth of clothes and don't have any features except a timer, but they're tiny and don't weigh much. Google "bubble magic". Those are used mostly for marijuana processing, but it's the same thing.

>>1019672
>>1019673
>>1019675
>>1019676
>>1019677
Are those things even safe for your back? Maybe you could sleep there a couple of weeks but I think it would fuck up your back.

bump for a nice thread

Hello again, it is great to see the thread is going well, thanks to you guys for the support, i really appreciate it.

So today was a hard work day, i put the fiber glass in place as you can see in attached progression pic, i would recommand to be several people, i had a hard time doing it alone.
The webasto heater will be installed later since i do not have the right fuel pump to make it work, i ordered it from china so it'll take time, but i figured it was the time to put the pipes in place.

So now i have to give the whole thing a more clean touch, as you can see it is pretty "raw", i already have my idea on how i'll do. Then i'll put the desk and closet back on, maybe with come adjusting we'll see.

Next planned steps are making this >>1016705 and fix the solar pannel. I think i'll remove the drawer from the desk and use the space under bed instead, something like two bigger drawers and battery space. I'll work on it tomorrow so eventually you'll heard from it soon.

Thanks again for you support, i'll keep you briefed.

>>1024184
If you're using diesel to heat water, why not use it to generate electricity while you're at it? You could even ask some automotive guys about running a toggle-able oil feed through the living space to heat it up while the engine is running. It just feels a bit counter-intuitive to install a small diesel motor when you already have one in the vehicle :/

>>1024387
The webasto is not a motor, it is a boiler, its sole purpose is heating. The fuel consumption is 0.3 litter/hour, if running continuously, so it seemed the best compromise to heat the van since it consume very few fuel, and can be put outside to avoid carbon monoxyd problems.
Having to run an engine to generate electricity would be a pain cause noise and moreover fuel consumption, which would skyrocket.

With batteries/solar pannel i can have electricity without using any fuel 24/7.

>>1024494
Now I'm curious, how noisy is the heater?

>>1024184
you did not insulate floor and the entire front is open to the car's glass windshield and doors at the back. would be better if sealed like bubble, block off the front with insulation and wood. only open at back through insulated doors. look at this guy for making it less raw and storage options https://vimeo.com/163466361

>>1024592
>https://vimeo.com/163466361
compare a Sprinter to Connect - I doubt OP has space to put in a bulkhead, never mind insulate such. You seal/insulate everything, need to add ventilation, or condensation extremely problematic - which it is anyway.