Hubby has been talking about buying one, and adapting it for use as a travel/camper. Not the ‘get in touch with nature’ type camping, just sleeping in it while driving around on sightseeing vacations. Not every night, though, maybe every other, for the sake of such luxuries as showers.
I’m dubious. Even ignoring little details like plumbing and electric lights, and heating/a.c., are they even large enough to accomodate a pair of sleeping adults?
Which is the crux of my question: if you own one of these vans, can you tell me the dimensions of the floor space in the rear? If it isn’t six feet or better in at least one direction, I can nip this whole idea in the bud.
I’m not sure the sizes are standardized, but a “full size” van commonly accepts a 4’x8’ sheet of plywood with the doors closed. (The 4’ width is between the wheel wells - overall width is substantially more.) There is certainly room for 2 adults to sleep, and to carry a lot of stuff as well.
As for showers, the trick is to visit truckstops. All the larger ones offer showers, which are usually first rate (clean, large towels, unlimited hot water). The going rate for this is $5; truckers who buy 75+ gallons of fuel shower free.
I mean, thank you for the information, it’s just not the answer I was hoping for.
Hey, I grew up in a family that went on camping vacations. I’ve already suffered through my share of food that has been charred over a too hot fire, days on end huddled inside a canvas tent that is trying to imitate a sieve, sleeping on thin little pads perched atop major granite outcroppings.
If it doesn’t involve Room Service, it ain’t a vacation, dammit!
<sigh>
I briefly entertained this idea when I was young(er) and (more) foolish. I looked at a few, and realised it would be a very tight fit to sleep in one. I’m over 6’4" admittedly, but even for an average-sized person it’d be tight, and to sleep two adults, you’d be probably forced to throw some of your gear outside.
I used to have a 1972 Chevy Step-Van that I took to the auto races every year and camped out in for up to three weeks at a time. It had been a Merita Bakery delivery truck and was pretty small, maybe 8’ from back of driver’s seat to the rear doors and 5.5’ wide and less than 6’ high inside. Using 2x4s and plywood, I built a platform about 2’ above the floor to support a foam pad the same size as a full mattress but thinner; this got me above the wheel wells and gave me plenty of storage area underneath.
Since I’m 6’-4" tall, I lined the bed front to back on the left side and rear figuring, as you have, that less than six feet was too short for comfortable sleeping. The only thing wrong with that was that it cut down on the open space nearer the side doors, which I used most of the time. After a few years, I turned the bed 90° but still at the back doors. I let the head end of the pad curve up the side a little and slept catty-corner with my head at a rear corner. I slept just as well as the other way and had more floor area up front. Sleeping on the angle probably wouldn’t work as well for two though.
The van only had one seat so there was enough room to carry 6 or 7 coolers of beer and food, a generator, furniture, stereo, TV, clothing, lumber, firewood, half a ton of camping gear and tools, and even a 20 gallon water heater. Of course with all that packed in I couldn’t use the bed until I unloaded stuff as we made camp, but it was a good set-up. I was in it the year the storm of the century came thru Florida (I think it was called the blizzard of the century up north) in…when? Jan '93 maybe. We had wind and rain but I was snug as a bug in a rug inside that little step-van.
In Australia they were commonly referred to as shaggin’ wagons
or sin bins.
Usually just fitted out with a mattress and curtains. Beer cooler,
mull bowl, bong, music system, and airbrushed exterior all as
optional extras.
