I retired this week...again.
I'll still do some small stuff, handyman type work probably but no more weeks long projects. Knowing myself I'm not going to be able to pull this retirement thing off if I keep a van loaded with working tools parked out in the driveway where all I have to do is jump in and go. So I'm going to convert the thing into a camping van. It's a 2010 E150 with 156,000 miles.
This won't happen overnight as there are a lot of things that need to happen. The first is what I'm referring to as the "Big Purge" I have a small outbuilding that is full of materials 'that might come in handy someday', spare tools, things I don't need or won't ever use again. This will make room for the things in the van that I want to keep so the Adrian Steel cabinets in the van can be sold. Once the van is empty the conversion can begin.
What I want:
Swivel captains chairs in the front so they can serve double duty.
Insulation
Vinyl plank flooring
Dual battery setup
RV style electrical hookup and converter/distribution panel
A 4' wide bed set crosswise in the rear with storage underneath accessible from inside and outside.
Cabinets along the sides for portable stove, sink, and storage.
The plan is to have the bed and cabinets mounted on hanging rails and pegged so they don't bounce off the rails when I hit a bump. The reason for this is so they can be easily removed when I want to use the van as a van.
The main objective is to use this for shorter solo trips like those that last until the ice in the cooler is gone.
Somehow I need to get all this accomplished without missing out on fishing!
I'll still do some small stuff, handyman type work probably but no more weeks long projects. Knowing myself I'm not going to be able to pull this retirement thing off if I keep a van loaded with working tools parked out in the driveway where all I have to do is jump in and go. So I'm going to convert the thing into a camping van. It's a 2010 E150 with 156,000 miles.
This won't happen overnight as there are a lot of things that need to happen. The first is what I'm referring to as the "Big Purge" I have a small outbuilding that is full of materials 'that might come in handy someday', spare tools, things I don't need or won't ever use again. This will make room for the things in the van that I want to keep so the Adrian Steel cabinets in the van can be sold. Once the van is empty the conversion can begin.
What I want:
Swivel captains chairs in the front so they can serve double duty.
Insulation
Vinyl plank flooring
Dual battery setup
RV style electrical hookup and converter/distribution panel
A 4' wide bed set crosswise in the rear with storage underneath accessible from inside and outside.
Cabinets along the sides for portable stove, sink, and storage.
The plan is to have the bed and cabinets mounted on hanging rails and pegged so they don't bounce off the rails when I hit a bump. The reason for this is so they can be easily removed when I want to use the van as a van.
The main objective is to use this for shorter solo trips like those that last until the ice in the cooler is gone.
Somehow I need to get all this accomplished without missing out on fishing!