Creeper Van Build Thread in Chit Chat!

[dntsdad]

Okay, so here is the Creeper Van build thread in Chit Chat since there are no Creeper Van subs for some reason.

Too much to narrate each stage but you'll get the idea.

Started as a transport van for wheelchair bound peeps. The CAT was stolen and the lady couldn't afford to replace it at 1800 so I got a good deal @ 5500 I think it was. High top vans are hard to find and this one only had 60k on it. Took a little over a year from start to today and that is most weekends and a few nights during the week and a shit load of money. I tried to do everything right and buy good to excellent stuff like the Victron electrical stuff over the cheaper Chinese Renology or similar. I have more into the electrical components that I paid for the van itself by far.

Still, lots of stuff that I don't have pics off like the portable toilet stuffed away next to the fridge, the diesel heater, the 30-gallon water tank underneath where the spare was, or the 5-gallon propane tank underneath as well with the lines stubbed out on quick disconnects under the side door for Blackstone and BBQ. Diesel tank underneath as well for the heater.

How it started

Started tearing out all the interior from the front seats back. Everything was stripped, even the rear heater/ac and all the ducting. Rolled a ton of sound deadener over the floor and covered with plywood for a subbase for the vinyl plank to come later.

The blow in insulation was a nice bonus that I wasn't counting on. I still added some more 3m shit, but the blow in is supposed to be the best way.

 

[dntsdad]

Side panel, framing in rear for bed, water panel, electrical component panel, lots and lots of sound deadener, insulation

Starting the framing for the cabinets. I ended up building them all out of 20-20 extrusions for weight, durability and not worrying about wood splitting and such from constant movement. This was a pain the ass honestly, and especially later when attaching faceframes, but it was worth it in the end.

 

[dntsdad]

Finishing up the paneling, starting the huge slideout for the fridge/freezer, framing the rest of cabinets with a closet cause I like my shit hung up and shoved in drawers.

 

[dntsdad]

Water components mounted...electrical will go on the other side. The black is a rubber mat so hopefully easy to clean and don't have to worry about scratching it up and such. If you look on that rear sill, next to the rear door latch, you can see the input for a water hose to fill the tank that I put underneath.

Starting the electrical as far as routing it all to a central location for switches and displays. Ending up being way more congested that I had foreseen!

Starting the frame the cabinets in alder. The top drawer I made into a "charging station" and USB and HDMI that is routed over the TV to plug in a HDD, camera, whatever to view photos or video from the day's journey or just watch a movie/Firestick and not have phones, hdd, etc. laying all over.

Microwave is also a convection over and air fryer. Still haven't used it so not sure how well it works. Mostly use the Blackstone or BBQ outside.

All the parts built for the doors and drawers ready to go.

 

[dntsdad]

Using my laser to make the electrical panel for switches and the Cerbo display. Thing is badass. Shows state of charge on the 12v batteries, rate of solar charging, AC current in and out, water tank status, propane status, temps of inside and outside and interior of the fridge, etc.

I also used electric ball valves on the fresh water, grey water, and propane supply. Switches on the panel operate those so I can dump from here without needed to go outside!

Finishing cabinets up. Pretty much all built in place so there aint gonna be any removing them! Stained and top coated them in place as well, which wasn't fun at all.

Electrical panel all done mostly other than that other cover.

 

[dntsdad]

Doors and drawers getting the treatment. Stain and top coat

Redid the headliner

I only got one picture of the countertops I guess. Used the CNC router to cut the hole from the manufacture spec for a bottom mount. Ended up working out perfect.

The first pic of the bed area was how big I originally built it. I knew it was small but I thought I could make it work for a camping vehicle. After one night, I was like fuck this. I ended up redoing it and made a matching piece that slid out and rests on some brackets and a metal pole to support it. Twice as big now and rock solid. I just have to use two separate small mattresses and stack them when the bed in retracted back in place.

I had originally built a roof rack from 3/4" conduit but it was just getting way too heavy for my comfort zone. I ended up scraping that and built this all from 20/20 extrusions. I only foresee putting lighter things up there. BBQ, small 1 gallon diesel fuel can, bag of recovery gear, etc. so this should work out.

Solar panels aren't much but better than nothing. 175w each

Big light bars on the front and rear and smaller ones on each side. All four on at once and it's like daylight out. Nice for setting up or finding a spot when you roll in late at night.

 

[dntsdad]

Getting close to being "done" at this point. Cabinets are done. Plumbing and electrical are all in and operational.

You can see the mattresses stacked up here. The forward one had to be two pieces because the the slope of the walls so there are actually three mattresses pieces when its pulled out to sleep on. Can't tell when you are laying on it.

Next the large fridge slideout there is a smaller panel with the fingerhole at the top that covers to portable toilet that was seen in other pics. It just sits in there. I don't plan to use it unless there is a 911 situation that comes up. I can shit outside. I also bought some trucker bottles to piss in.

I put a small safe bolted to the high top framing above the drivers seat on the left of that overhead storage space. Big enough to throw a wallet, a couple pistols, etc. in but nothing huge.

As an afterthought, I added the fold down table for just setting stuff while parked if I want.

 

[dntsdad]

Pretty much the present day interior.

Of note is the screen replacing the rear view. I have three cameras total. One pointing out the front windshield just above the screen out of the frame of this pic for CYA if I have shit happen on the road. Two in the rear. One facing out to be my "rear view mirror" and one facing down to watch a trailer or especially my bikes on the rack. All runs through a home NVR so it records for about a month before overwriting like they do. I thought that I would have to run it off the invertor but turns out most all NVRs run on 12v and just use the brick adapters so that worked out well. Of course, you can have all cameras on screen or choose to zoom on one.

The monitor also has a USB-C input that I can plug my phone into and use the monitor for Google Maps and whatever.

Works awesome.

 

[dntsdad]

Current exterior

Just got the wheels and tires and they really changed the look. Not nearly as creeper looking as it was.

Still a lot to do.
I added power lock and power windows. I bought some door panels of a more modern Econoline but just haven't put them on yet. Need to make and upholster panels for the rear and barn doors, add some storage cubbies or whatever in them.

It's functional though. Made the week long voyage all over Utah and getting ready for Oregon in addition to various short trips.

Wish it was 4x4 but it's not. I'll add a locker down the road and I have front and rear receivers now with a winch on a removable plate so hopefully that will get me outta where ever I find myself in a bad place. Mainly just dirt roads and never going to go anyplace that I am not confident in.

 

[Clemson13]

Saving posts? Lame

Things looks like it's going to be sweet

 

[urjb]

.....

WTF?

And I assume the pics of the SAS and D60 are pending?

 

[Levigarrett76]

impressive

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Hell ya man, nice work so far!

 

[Penetrode Offroad]

Fuck yes.

 

[chaplinfj60]

one thing i have noticed with all you van guys who make rvs or whatever, you guys are excellent wood works. looks great.

 

[pcorssmit]

You do nice work. That thing is awesome!

 

[zlathim]

#vanlife What's your youtube name?

 

[Splib]

As said above

Nothing really creeper about it, not even rape-shack. Did you fab that bumper or is it off the shelf ?

 

[75cruisin]

wow mad props yo.

 

[det107]

No turret, let alone a few potholes??

Laaame!

But hey, looking good-

 

[Provience]

Swanky

 

[bigun]

Better looking than some of the dumps I have lived in

 

[dntsdad]

WTF?

And I assume the pics of the SAS and D60 are pending?

Shit, I wish!

#vanlife What's your youtube name?

Not ghey yet. Just drive the van!

As said above

Nothing really creeper about it, not even rape-shack. Did you fab that bumper or is it off the shelf ?

Na, I don't have the metal skills to make that. I bought it from a guy by Pismo that makes them. I just modded it to take the spindle and made the tire carrier from 2x2 that I had, cut the holes for the lights, trailer plug and the AC line input.

 

[shortbus4x4]

Too many winders to be a creeper van. Here's a tid bit of advice I'll give you, have the "free candi" signs mounted on a flip sign controlled by a switch from inside. Makes it way harder for the po-po and witnesses to ID you. At least that's what I've heard.

 

[Santa]

Looks nice. Did you weigh it before and after?

 

[dntsdad]

Looks nice. Did you weigh it before and after?

No idea. I wish I would have. I would be interested in the difference.

Eventually, I am going to have some new rear springs made for it so I need to get it to a weigh station and do that. Betts is located a few miles from me and they will make customs for my weight and vehicle

 

[Couchracing]

I see a lot of hours in that build. Nice work!

 

[Arps]

Looks good!

 

[Deuce 40s]

Awesome build.

How did you attach your rails and stiles to each other?
Any details on the CNC setup?

 

[welndmn]

Rad!

We just swapped a 10.5" with e locker in a friends E350, I was nervous about the Semi floating rear axle it had.