I will NOT be parking it down by the river...
December 7, 2007 6:27 AM Subscribe
Office in a van...it's got to be possible without resorting to professional help.
Ok, all you DIY'ers out there...
Help me do this for cheap.
I'm just looking for ideas at this point. The pictures on that site make me drool. It would be just the thing for my incipient business. Unfortunately, that company only works on new vehicles and funds for my project are experiencing buffer underrun.
I can't be the only one who's had the idea of buying an old van and tricking it out as a home office/writing space inside, so let me hear your stories / see your pics / share your grievances s'il vous plait.
What I'm looking for is exactly what's pictured on the site, just with a space for a bookshelf of some kind (for reference works). I never believed Google could let hopes down as much as they've been let down with this.
Ok, all you DIY'ers out there...
Help me do this for cheap.
I'm just looking for ideas at this point. The pictures on that site make me drool. It would be just the thing for my incipient business. Unfortunately, that company only works on new vehicles and funds for my project are experiencing buffer underrun.
I can't be the only one who's had the idea of buying an old van and tricking it out as a home office/writing space inside, so let me hear your stories / see your pics / share your grievances s'il vous plait.
What I'm looking for is exactly what's pictured on the site, just with a space for a bookshelf of some kind (for reference works). I never believed Google could let hopes down as much as they've been let down with this.
The more I think about it, an RV is halfway there anyway.
Especially when you think, what's an office without a washroom?
posted by Chuckles at 8:27 AM on December 7, 2007
Especially when you think, what's an office without a washroom?
posted by Chuckles at 8:27 AM on December 7, 2007
Especially when you think, what's an office without a washroom?
That's an Executive Washroom, to you!
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:50 AM on December 7, 2007
That's an Executive Washroom, to you!
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:50 AM on December 7, 2007
I'm totally thinking VW van here. Update us and post some pics!
posted by altcountryman at 9:46 AM on December 7, 2007
posted by altcountryman at 9:46 AM on December 7, 2007
Oh, yeah, and if you did change your mind and park it down by the river, you'd be livin' in style!
posted by altcountryman at 9:57 AM on December 7, 2007
posted by altcountryman at 9:57 AM on December 7, 2007
Brockles - at least in the US, those "A-team" vans are called Conversion Vans
posted by djb at 10:21 AM on December 7, 2007
posted by djb at 10:21 AM on December 7, 2007
Best answer: It is very hard to tell you how to do this with out seeing the van, or whatever you are using but here is how I would go about it.
There probably are some sort of structural members running along the hight of the cargo area. If there are any screw holes in these, you are all set, if not you need to drill holes then cut threads in them. Cutting threads is done with a tool called a tap, often found in a tap and die set, any hardware store guy will know what these are. It is not hard to do, don't be scared. Then I would screw in something that I could attach stuff to directly. If you want to be all fancy you can install paneling, or you could go ghetto and just do 1x2's running the length of the cargo area. If there are no structural members, you would have to find some other way to attach stuff. You could drill holes through the skin an put bolts, from the out side going in, but that would be ugly. If you go that way, use as big washers as you can. I think I would get some metal epoxy and glue on some brackets.
Once you have these sidings, just buy, or make a desk, or whatever, and bolt/screw/lash it on. If you lash them on, do not use Nylon, it is way to stretchy. Use polyester rope or something like that. I would screw them in. The overhead area is much the same, except that you will probably have to make it. You may also want to make / modify things to adjust to a mobile life. You can find latches that wont accidentally in traffic at marine supply stores. Also you can attach thin strips of wood or something to the edges that stick up just a bit, so stuff does not roll or slide off. These are called fiddles.
As far as the electronics go, I am not sure how to do all that. The thing you need to run your 120v AC equipment on 12v dc is called an inverter. You probably will need a separate battery (deep cycle) to run stuff. Also I am not sure how you would charge it. If you park at nights near an outlet, that may be the way to go. Be sure to strap down the battery somehow. There are a lot of books on wiring marine electric systems that I know of that would help you, but you may be better looking for books on RV electric system.
Good luck. This sounds like a fun project.
posted by d4nj450n at 11:51 AM on December 7, 2007
There probably are some sort of structural members running along the hight of the cargo area. If there are any screw holes in these, you are all set, if not you need to drill holes then cut threads in them. Cutting threads is done with a tool called a tap, often found in a tap and die set, any hardware store guy will know what these are. It is not hard to do, don't be scared. Then I would screw in something that I could attach stuff to directly. If you want to be all fancy you can install paneling, or you could go ghetto and just do 1x2's running the length of the cargo area. If there are no structural members, you would have to find some other way to attach stuff. You could drill holes through the skin an put bolts, from the out side going in, but that would be ugly. If you go that way, use as big washers as you can. I think I would get some metal epoxy and glue on some brackets.
Once you have these sidings, just buy, or make a desk, or whatever, and bolt/screw/lash it on. If you lash them on, do not use Nylon, it is way to stretchy. Use polyester rope or something like that. I would screw them in. The overhead area is much the same, except that you will probably have to make it. You may also want to make / modify things to adjust to a mobile life. You can find latches that wont accidentally in traffic at marine supply stores. Also you can attach thin strips of wood or something to the edges that stick up just a bit, so stuff does not roll or slide off. These are called fiddles.
As far as the electronics go, I am not sure how to do all that. The thing you need to run your 120v AC equipment on 12v dc is called an inverter. You probably will need a separate battery (deep cycle) to run stuff. Also I am not sure how you would charge it. If you park at nights near an outlet, that may be the way to go. Be sure to strap down the battery somehow. There are a lot of books on wiring marine electric systems that I know of that would help you, but you may be better looking for books on RV electric system.
Good luck. This sounds like a fun project.
posted by d4nj450n at 11:51 AM on December 7, 2007
Best answer: Wafer tek screws are designed to fasten wood to metal. You can drive tehm with a regular screwgun, no fancy drill required.
I'd insulate and panel the inside of the van. Not only because of temperature concerns but also to reduce noise, working in a metal can is noisy. After that it is easy to fill the space with a desk and shelving. An easy cheap way of going would be to buy a couple of pre-pak kitchen base cabinets with doors and a length of counter top. Both are available in assorted widths. If you run the counter front to back the back of the base units can be cut to match the curve of the van and the the counter top placed on top. A shelf above can be supported on shelf brackets shimmed at the wall-bottom end.
Small inverters are available at camping supply places and even wallmart. Just make sure you get a large enough size to run your computer and printer. Ink jets use less power and some laptops have supplies available that will run off of 12V. The stereo is of course just common automotive stuff mounted in a panel. A deep cycle battery or two and an isolator is a good idea. Running an inverter off a starting battery will kill the battery in short order. You might also want to invest in a battery charger that you can use to recharge your house battery at home. If this is going to be a travelling project Honda makes some small generators that are very quiet.
The sprinter pictured is the high version, your conventional van is not going to have that much overhead room. If it was me I'd put a double row of shelving across the back (one side of which would be available by opening the rear doors. And then run the desk front to back behind the driver's seat. On a 12 passenger (IE: not a short or extended wheel base) that would give you plenty of room for a chair. A bull board mounted behind the seats provides some security and could also incorporate some shelving.
posted by Mitheral at 3:05 PM on December 7, 2007
I'd insulate and panel the inside of the van. Not only because of temperature concerns but also to reduce noise, working in a metal can is noisy. After that it is easy to fill the space with a desk and shelving. An easy cheap way of going would be to buy a couple of pre-pak kitchen base cabinets with doors and a length of counter top. Both are available in assorted widths. If you run the counter front to back the back of the base units can be cut to match the curve of the van and the the counter top placed on top. A shelf above can be supported on shelf brackets shimmed at the wall-bottom end.
Small inverters are available at camping supply places and even wallmart. Just make sure you get a large enough size to run your computer and printer. Ink jets use less power and some laptops have supplies available that will run off of 12V. The stereo is of course just common automotive stuff mounted in a panel. A deep cycle battery or two and an isolator is a good idea. Running an inverter off a starting battery will kill the battery in short order. You might also want to invest in a battery charger that you can use to recharge your house battery at home. If this is going to be a travelling project Honda makes some small generators that are very quiet.
The sprinter pictured is the high version, your conventional van is not going to have that much overhead room. If it was me I'd put a double row of shelving across the back (one side of which would be available by opening the rear doors. And then run the desk front to back behind the driver's seat. On a 12 passenger (IE: not a short or extended wheel base) that would give you plenty of room for a chair. A bull board mounted behind the seats provides some security and could also incorporate some shelving.
posted by Mitheral at 3:05 PM on December 7, 2007
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I've seen what I call 'Day Vans' kicking around, too. No-one seems to know what I mean, but they are those A-team size vans that have darkened windows that go below the waistline of the van and are pretty damn plush inside. I've seen those going for very little, and if you are going to buy a vehicle (which I am assuming you have to) then buy one that is as near as possible to ideal in the first place.
The more I think about it, an RV is halfway there anyway. It'd have a small table already. You'd only have to shuffle some things around to make it 'work', and then modify later at your leisure to suit how you actually use it.
posted by Brockles at 7:07 AM on December 7, 2007