I've made a folding shelf to bridge the gap between #PaddyTheCaddy's bench seat and the folded flat 2nd row seat. This means the bed is long enough to stretch out on.
I need to finish the support struts and I'll need some kind of hook and eye to stop the shelf bobbing about in bench mode when I'm driving.
I've made a bench for #PaddyTheCaddy.
It pulls out in 2 sections to make 3/4 of a bed. The remaining 1/4 will be at this end and built onto a folded down middle row seat.
Bits aren't straight. Some of the joints and screws are woeful and I've already identified things to improve or correct but, overall, I'm well chuffed with that. Look what I made! π
I'm starting to believe that I will eventually have a #campervan.
The frame of the bench is secured to the floor.
I've built the small section of pull-out bed. (Subject to some minor additional fettling.)
I'm identifying lessons at every stage. #PaddyTheCaddy2 is going to be AMAZING!!
#PaddyTheCaddy's bench seat is coming along. I've made most of the fixed frame. I planned to put 2 more legs in the middle but I'm sitting on the loose slats now and it seems quite sturdy, so I'll have a think about that.
The fixed slats will be spread along the length with gaps between them. The gaps will be filled with a sliding, pull-out set of slats which makes the bench into a bed.
The bench is only just over a metre long as the bed will extend over one of the folded down 2nd row seats.
Some of my woodwork is awful but I've been learning as I go and I wouldn't want it to look TOO professional. π
2/2
I'm looking at Black Friday deals for a power station and fridge. The Alpicool C9 fridge seems ideal but I can't decide between the C9 and the C9PT.
I'm wary of under speccing the power station but neither do I want something that's physically too big.
The size of the fridge and planned sink probably means I'll only have a single burner stove but, with a kettle and pan and pot stand, I'll be able to make better use of the single burner than I can in my tent with just a pan.
So, lots to think about. The plan is probably:
1. Order fridge.
2. Determine power requirements.
3. Order power station.
4. Design kitchen based around sink, stove, fridge.
5. Design and build bed.
6. Build kitchen.
#PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion update.
After finishing the floor, I seemed to run out of steam and needed a break. I also needed to give some time to the household and other tasks which had been backing up.
I'm refocused now, although I'm in a circle of decisions. My design will depend on what equipment I buy, but I need to buy the equipment which will fit into the design.
I experimented with some steel square-section tubing to make the bed and/or kitchen. This was originally used in Mum's van. It might be suitable for the kitchen but I think the bed will be made from wood.
1/2
I'm insulating #PaddyTheCaddy.
The driver's side is easy enough. The passenger side less so as I think that's where the fuel tank is and there isn't access to the inside of the outer skin. Hopefully any insulation will make a positive difference even if I can't add as much as I'd like.
For anyone not yet bored of photos of #PaddyTheCaddy's floor, here are the battens cut and ready for gluing down.
When I removed the 3rd row seat brackets, it left 16 holes in the floor which I filled with bolts with a dab of copper grease in case anyone ever wants to refit the seats. Those bolts are the holes you can see in battens 1, 5, 6 and 10.
The weekend weather looks relatively warm which is good for the adhesive. Hopefully that job will be easy enough. Once it has cured I can put underlay and the plywood floor on top.
Today's #PaddyTheCaddy #VanConversion job was finalising where the floor battens need to go. I made cardboard templates and used a few ply offcuts from when I made the floor.
The battens will be glued to the dips in the vehicle floor and the plywood floor then screwed to the battens with a sandwich filling of underlay. "Lino" will go on top.
The furniture will be screwed through the floor and into the battens.
There is something very satisfying about sawing wood with a good quality saw. I could've used a power tool but that would've been noisy and not so pleasant.
I should get the battens sawn and glued down tomorrow. (Unless I get distracted by wood screw experiments).
Judith