Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 23:30:29 -0700
Reply-To: "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Subject: Camperizing a non-westy syncro...creating an outdoor kitchen
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Still inching along the process of creating a more camping convenient
vehicle while still being able to convert back to a normal van. Many of
these ideas were borrowed from list folks. Progress to date....
-Regular screens on both windows overnight. Still need to cut a small
additional slot and a little hole for the screen's clips and snap in post
to fit perfectly.
-Hanging clothes bar between knobs just behind the seats. Also doubles
as a towel hanging rack, make-up mirror holder, etc.
-Two extra knobs mounted on the rear A/C screws. Bungee cords running
all around the interior to hang things on or create temporary curtains
with towels.
-Walmart dark tinting on the interior side and rear windows for heat
reduction and privacy.
-Rotating passenger's seat useful for sitting, make-up, holding suitcase
when backward facing
-Min/max thermometer mounted in dash board.
-Some nice comfy camp chairs with soft cloth backing. Cute little foldup
wooden table that fits between them for cocktail hour.
-Green astroturf like carpet for in front of the door to create an outdoor
kitchen floor
-Extension cord and power strip to run hot water pot and other electric
appliances of choice, if power is available.
-Card table for appliances and food preparation. Or for propane equipment.
Maybe the Walmart roll up table would work just as well and take less space.
-The piece d' resistance is a pre-74 westy camping cabinet from the local
pick and pull. Portable to set outside. Has sink with manual pull faucet
from regular tank or simple plastic 1 or 2.5 gallon water bottles. Simple
ice box (not fridge). Shelves that swing up and provide lots of work
space. Two spice racks. Considering setting it up inside the van between
the driver's seat and the bed with a drain through the floor, mounted on a
seat slide to get it in and out easily. Needs handles, more work on the
swing out shelves, another spice rack, maybe a built in power strip.
Pretty neat and quite simple. More work to be done.
Picture time, eventually
Cheers, Tom Neal '87 syncro with more and more camping doodads.