I've just bought a 2001 Vauxhall Combo (think Berlingo sized white van) with no side doors for biking duties and a road trip up to Fort Bill in July.
The plan is to fit it out so that 2 people can sleep in it every other day of the trip with bikes still inside . Along with insulation and ply-lining I'm currently thinking of a 'bench' seat down one side that could double as one bed, with a lift up top with storage inside and a 8 inch deep set of cupboards/shelves on the other side for more storage. This would leave a gap in the middle for 2 bikes. The 2nd bed would be a bunk bed above the first or some kind of hammock arrangement.
Before I begin I was just wondering on other peoples experiences are.
I've done a search and there's quite a bit on fitting out Transit sized vans but I couldn't find much for smaller vans.
Thanks in advance.
DAVE
Not sure I can offer much advice on the bench/bed fitting, as I bought one in,
But on my VW T4 I insulated with kingspan 25/50mm on the sides, and topped off with silver bubble wrap style insulation under the panels. roof + floor got 2 layers of the silver bubble wrap, but the proper way to do it is to raise the floor with battens and fit 25mm insulation in there.
Also used flashing tape in an attempt to sound deaden - worked quite well.
I also carpet lined and that makes the whole thing look a lot more pro and car like. Bought the whole kit of automotive (stretchy) carpet and evil heat-proof glue from megavanmats (do a search)
My bed is high enough off the floor that 2 bikes can be fitted underneath. it's not full width/length so bars can stick up at the side/end.
Have to say that two people plus bikes sleeping in a van that size sounds really cramped particularly as access will be difficult without a side door.
Remember that if you're insulating and ply-lining it, that is going to take up some of the space
These guys do camper conversions on vans your size so may be able to advise / give you some ideas of what is possible:
http://www.amdro.co.uk/jump.php
two people = cosy, almost intimate 🙂
... and the romantic scent of drying mud and GT85 just to set the mood.
This my old van - long since sold but sorely missed:
[url= https://picasaweb.google.com/dforey/VanPictures# ]Blue T4 kitted out for bikes and sleeping[/url]
Trying to get everything in that van and sleep in it will be very hard. The only way I think it'll work will be to make a sleeping platform part way up the van (vertically) at the full size of the rear, leaving as much room under as you possibly can (lowest bed to roof gap) and stash everything underneath.
Not sure i'd fancy it, got a VW Caddy that's barely long enough to sleep in comfortably(i'm 5'11"), let alone sharing it with two bikes and another person.I'd try it for length before you start spending money on kitting it out.
Steve has it right (but I'm sure his last van was a little bigger) I measured mine to do Bikes upright/seats down/front wheel out and the rest is sleeping. But then again mine is a Med Hi transit. Would probably suggest taking bikes apart at night for more room and get the thinest mattress you can
How about bed one side, bikes the other next to a fold down bed.When camping, remove bike wheels and place bikes on front seats then fold down second bed?
Hammock is also good idea if you need the floor space for tools/dirtworker/etc.