Looking to purchase a new cargo van and need to know the cheapest way to set up the back; bunk, E-track, inverter, etc. I'm still a wannabe newbe but need to start getting my ducks in a row to see if I can swing this. I wanted to go straight truck but you guys kinda made me rethink that idea with all the HOS changes in January that has everybody so upset. By the way I love this forum. It's very informative. All help greatly appreciated.
cargo van interiors
- Thread starter JT
- Start date
I am in to process of doing some work in my own 1 ton '03 chevy van. I had the interior spray foamed and lined by a van conversion company.
That really reduced the road noise as well as helps with maintaining temperature control. If you are looking at addding a larger invertor (for running microwave &/or refrigerator) you may want to look at adding a couple of batteries. My understanding is that it would be best to use gel batteries since they will be stored inside the van and do not give off dangerous fumes. A problem with the van is that you do not want to run the engine while sleeping. You therefore need to have a 12v source for heat (bed warmer) or you need to add a heater approved for use in a closed environment (same as in campers). I have seen several vans that had the bed suspended from the ceiling with chains. This allowed the driver to pull the bed out of the way when carring a larger load. Some of the other van owners may have additional comments.
Good luck & drive safe.
That really reduced the road noise as well as helps with maintaining temperature control. If you are looking at addding a larger invertor (for running microwave &/or refrigerator) you may want to look at adding a couple of batteries. My understanding is that it would be best to use gel batteries since they will be stored inside the van and do not give off dangerous fumes. A problem with the van is that you do not want to run the engine while sleeping. You therefore need to have a 12v source for heat (bed warmer) or you need to add a heater approved for use in a closed environment (same as in campers). I have seen several vans that had the bed suspended from the ceiling with chains. This allowed the driver to pull the bed out of the way when carring a larger load. Some of the other van owners may have additional comments.
Good luck & drive safe.
Thanks for the info Larry. I talked to TR last week and he uses two six volt golf cart batteries for his inverter. Wasn't thinking about the fumes from the acid though. I've never heard of gel batteries. Have to check into that. The spray foam insulation sounds good. I was going to use the styrafoam insulation boards and cover it with thin luan board. I appreciate your assistance greatly. I'm brand new to EO as well as the expediting lifestyle. Thanks!
brewster1958
Expert Expediter
Alum-Bunk makes a nice sleeper unit for the vans. www.alumibunk.com It is a metal frame, with plywood, on the cargo side, and carpeting on the driver's side. Bed has storage under it. It was a little cramped for me, but what isn't, I stand 6'5", and weigh 320 pounds. I am also new to this, and getting tired of the big trucks. I have spent the last 23 years driving tractor/trailers. Wanting to do this van thing badly. Hope it is all worth it.
Let me share some experience about luan and insulated foam boards. Both of these products will give off vapors (especially during the summer). Make sure when buying foam board products that there will not be any harmfull styrene or other gases. If you use luan, you will want to paint it to reduce fumes from the glue. You can also get the white hardboard, about 1/8th of an inch, that is used on bathroom walls. It is tough, relatively easy to work with and will brighten up the interior. I believe you can purchase it at Home Depot. If you do not want to spray foam in the van, then you may want to go with the "bubble wrap" and then cover with board. You do not want to use fiberglass batten insulation, since it will hold water, resulting in lost insulation value as well as mold. Also, you will want to get rid of that felt backed vinyl liner on the floor of the van. It is another place for water to accumulate, plus it will smell bad and be a breeding ground for mold.
JT,
Welcome to EO!
Another alternative is that GM has a nice, heavy duty interior package for cargo vans. They have promotions every now and then and will install it free - if you purchase it for "commercial" purposes.
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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Welcome to EO!
Another alternative is that GM has a nice, heavy duty interior package for cargo vans. They have promotions every now and then and will install it free - if you purchase it for "commercial" purposes.
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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Click on this link and you will see what Lawrence is talking about.
http://www.adriansteel.com/pdf/cat1p20.pdf
http://www.adriansteel.com/pdf/cat1p20.pdf
Tony - that was it!!! Thanks!!
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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On the keyboard of life, always keep
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dieseldoctor
Expert Expediter
The wife and i have been in this business for nearly six yrs so will give my opinion on this.
we are on our second E-250 Ford extended van. First one we put 367,000 miles on in 3 yrs. Did one brake job, one set of spark plugs, alt went out one month before trade, still ran good and didn't use any more oil than new when traded. Changed oil every 10,000 miles and it would use a quart between 2000 and 2500 miles. Have 300,000 on our 2001 and looking to trade about first of yr. I took foil covered bubble wrap (Lowes) and lined inside of van which had factory custom interior which gives you carpet on floor and a full headliner. Took headliner down and installed bubble wrap. Then i took a thick shag household carpet and covered bubble wrap completly. Sure makes it warmer and quieter. For a team we made a bed that folds down from the right hand wall. It uses a 42" by 80" premium sleeper mattress and sleeps real good. Just can't sleep in it when we have a tall load on. I put shelves on left side of rear area. Behind the passenger seat is a electric cooler and then a set of shelves. Behind the drivers seat are low bins and a closet to hang clothes in. Rear floor is covered with plywood with e track imbedded flush with it. I use four clips for the e track. I made two brackets out of 2x4's that drop in the clips. These are dual purpose. One they hold loads from sliding and two they are the height i want the bed so they are the base for it when it is down in sleeping position. I also have clips that fit in the e track to hook my tiedown straps to. Now i will go to the post about heat in a van to give my experience about that.
we are on our second E-250 Ford extended van. First one we put 367,000 miles on in 3 yrs. Did one brake job, one set of spark plugs, alt went out one month before trade, still ran good and didn't use any more oil than new when traded. Changed oil every 10,000 miles and it would use a quart between 2000 and 2500 miles. Have 300,000 on our 2001 and looking to trade about first of yr. I took foil covered bubble wrap (Lowes) and lined inside of van which had factory custom interior which gives you carpet on floor and a full headliner. Took headliner down and installed bubble wrap. Then i took a thick shag household carpet and covered bubble wrap completly. Sure makes it warmer and quieter. For a team we made a bed that folds down from the right hand wall. It uses a 42" by 80" premium sleeper mattress and sleeps real good. Just can't sleep in it when we have a tall load on. I put shelves on left side of rear area. Behind the passenger seat is a electric cooler and then a set of shelves. Behind the drivers seat are low bins and a closet to hang clothes in. Rear floor is covered with plywood with e track imbedded flush with it. I use four clips for the e track. I made two brackets out of 2x4's that drop in the clips. These are dual purpose. One they hold loads from sliding and two they are the height i want the bed so they are the base for it when it is down in sleeping position. I also have clips that fit in the e track to hook my tiedown straps to. Now i will go to the post about heat in a van to give my experience about that.
dieseldoctor
Expert Expediter
Will try to get some pictures and post them as soon as I have time.
Here is the old EO van with the Adrian Package:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/eovan1.jpg
http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/eovan2.jpg
Lawrence,
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http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/eovan1.jpg
http://www.expeditersonline.com/hotnews/eovan2.jpg
Lawrence,
Expediters Online.com
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dieseldoctor
Expert Expediter
Hope these work since this is a first for me.
DieselDoctor,
That is one of the coolest, most practical interiors I have ever seen in a van! And it looks a VERY do-able project for much less than some of those 'conversions' out there! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures, and explaining how you did it.
I hope you don't mind, I believe I will be 'borrowing'
some of your ideas!
A couple questions, where did you get the clips you used to fasten the 2x4's to the E-track?
And... did you make the Forklift bumper, or buy that somewhere? What a great idea... I can't recall how many times a forklift driver 'bumped' my van a little too hard for my taste...a few of them hard enough to get a 'discussion' from me
Thanks again!
Dreamer
[font color="blue"] Did you ever stop to think a minute, and forget to start again?[/font]
That is one of the coolest, most practical interiors I have ever seen in a van! And it looks a VERY do-able project for much less than some of those 'conversions' out there! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures, and explaining how you did it.
I hope you don't mind, I believe I will be 'borrowing'
some of your ideas!A couple questions, where did you get the clips you used to fasten the 2x4's to the E-track?
And... did you make the Forklift bumper, or buy that somewhere? What a great idea... I can't recall how many times a forklift driver 'bumped' my van a little too hard for my taste...a few of them hard enough to get a 'discussion' from me
Thanks again!
Dreamer
[font color="blue"] Did you ever stop to think a minute, and forget to start again?[/font]
I want to second that about the pictures. You have given me some ideas for the van I will be converting this winter.
I know that the brackets & probably the e-track is available at Michigan Truck & Trailer in Westland, MI. (734-729-4588). This is one of those places that should be in your file. They have very reasonalbe prices.
Drive Safe
I know that the brackets & probably the e-track is available at Michigan Truck & Trailer in Westland, MI. (734-729-4588). This is one of those places that should be in your file. They have very reasonalbe prices.
Drive Safe
dieseldoctor
Expert Expediter
Dreamer, Thanks for the kind words. Use all the ideas you like. I like to share ideas and tips. You should be able to find the clips anywhere you find the e track. They use them in straight truck and trailers when they have e track on the walls and then they can drop a 2x4 in them and lock the load. As for the forklift bumper I built it. It goes in my trailer hitch reciever. All you need is a short piece of square tubing and about three feet of three inch channel and ten minutes of welding. The lights are optional. I have them hooked to a switch so i can use them to thank drivers that flash me that i am clear to pull back in front of them. They are wired so that they are on anytime the engine is running and the parking brake released. My low beam headlights are wired the same way with a push button switch to flash them also. They also stay on when the bright lights are on and until you see how much more that lights up the road you wouldn't believe it. Also penetrates fog real good.
Edited: I needed to correct the name of the place to buy parts.>
I want to second that about the pictures. You have given me
>some ideas for the van I will be converting this winter.
>
>I know that the brackets & probably the e-track is available
>at Great Lakes Truck & Trailer in Westland, MI.
>(734-729-4588). This is one of those places that should be
>in your file. They have very reasonalbe prices.
>
>Drive Safe
I want to second that about the pictures. You have given me
>some ideas for the van I will be converting this winter.
>
>I know that the brackets & probably the e-track is available
>at Great Lakes Truck & Trailer in Westland, MI.
>(734-729-4588). This is one of those places that should be
>in your file. They have very reasonalbe prices.
>
>Drive Safe
To everyone that responded, Thanks a million! You guys really have a lot of great ideas. Now if I can only figure out what might work best for me. That'll be the fun part. I'm looking forward to getting the van put together and hitting the road. Again thanks to all and drive safe.