sprinterpirate
not an electrician.
Wow pfflyer, this is great, well done! I'm surprised I never came across this one...
I also have a setup that allows me to convert from cargo to camper van. I did this partially because I was unsure about my design layout, and didn't want to commit to anything until I had tried out a few iterations. Essentially, I have a long bench on the driver side, and a long, floor to ceiling cabinet on the passenger side. I have a queen mattress that fits in when the back of the bench is hung between the two units. All behind the slider doors. They are constructed with plywood and furring strips, and don't weigh much, so I can unload or load them one at a time by myself. Both are held down with ratchet straps (connected to the factory cargo d-rings) that aren't even visible when installed. It has been incredibly convenient, especially for the times where I really needed cargo space to move some big things.
A few months ago my girlfriend rear-ended somebody on the freeway, and the van was in the shop for a while. I was relieved that no one was hurt, and was also happy to note that the cabinets didn't even shift a quarter inch. But it left me feeling a bit disconcerted about the safety of this setup. I know these ratchet straps are tough, but it sure would be terrible if there was a head-on collision, and the cabinets came slamming down from the back, hitting the driver or passenger from behind. Also, I'm starting to load the cabinet up with more and more things, getting ready to install refrigeration, etc.
I'm planning some new cabinets, with the front ends reinforced with a steel frame (made of square or rectangular tubing) that would bolt into multiple threaded inserts in the van walls. Anyhow, its easy to talk about, but the devil is in the details...
I was happy to come across your build. Inspiring to see.
K
I also have a setup that allows me to convert from cargo to camper van. I did this partially because I was unsure about my design layout, and didn't want to commit to anything until I had tried out a few iterations. Essentially, I have a long bench on the driver side, and a long, floor to ceiling cabinet on the passenger side. I have a queen mattress that fits in when the back of the bench is hung between the two units. All behind the slider doors. They are constructed with plywood and furring strips, and don't weigh much, so I can unload or load them one at a time by myself. Both are held down with ratchet straps (connected to the factory cargo d-rings) that aren't even visible when installed. It has been incredibly convenient, especially for the times where I really needed cargo space to move some big things.
A few months ago my girlfriend rear-ended somebody on the freeway, and the van was in the shop for a while. I was relieved that no one was hurt, and was also happy to note that the cabinets didn't even shift a quarter inch. But it left me feeling a bit disconcerted about the safety of this setup. I know these ratchet straps are tough, but it sure would be terrible if there was a head-on collision, and the cabinets came slamming down from the back, hitting the driver or passenger from behind. Also, I'm starting to load the cabinet up with more and more things, getting ready to install refrigeration, etc.
I'm planning some new cabinets, with the front ends reinforced with a steel frame (made of square or rectangular tubing) that would bolt into multiple threaded inserts in the van walls. Anyhow, its easy to talk about, but the devil is in the details...
I was happy to come across your build. Inspiring to see.
K
