Van Builds
This section hosts references to various interesting van builds and techniques.
What makes an RV?
- shore power?
- bed, cooking, toilet?
Layout
- Hein recommends avoiding too-deep ceiling cabinets to make the van feel more spacious. Similar architectural trick leaving a gap for anything which would otherwise go floor-to-ceiling
- MsNomer’s layout has windows all around and no ceiling cabinets for maximum openness - perhaps not enough storage though?
- interesting table design
- Lagun table in our rental might work anchored to passenger B pillar for passenger working table, or mount something on the behind-passenger footrest once built?
Suspension
Various people have removed a leaf spring from the Promaster rear suspension to lower it slightly and make the ride more compliant. FarOutRide have installed AirLift 5000 suspension and remote control, which looks promising on their Transit. FitRV had AdvancedRV install a more sophisticated system on all four wheels. Looks expensive, and probably overkill for now.
Other common changes for Promasters running on gravel and forestry roads frequently include:
- [replacement shocks]
- [spacers to raise height]
- [larger tires]
- tires more suitable for off-road are frequently louder and potentially less efficient on highways. It’s a balance
Vehicle Tweaks/improvements/toolkit
Promaster tips and tweaks
- windshield drainage tweaks
- vibrating mirror
- protecting radiator
- tighten nuts on arm between hinges on doors
- winch mechanism is finicky
- hardware cloth mouse block on air intake
- vibrating mirror - tightening screws will help
- consider lubricating lug bolts when in salt/snowy conditions, but back off torque from standard rating. Also consider carrying a 30” breaker bar in toolkit
- telescoping ladder with pool noodle and squeegee for cleaning solar panels (and front windshield)
- The rubber seal Mojogoat used to double-seal doors and slider with drip rail. Takes about 25’ to do one door and one slider.
Bed
- many people have built a bed platform using aluminum loading ramps,
bed and under-bed slider designs
Cabinets
- painting tips
- don’t make upper cabinets too deep proeddie’s keep the van feeling open
Flooring
There’s lots of opinions about approaches to flooring.
- in high-roof promaster, not a huge amount of space if you want to insulate both floor and ceiling. Some inside panelling tips
- coin floor for garage is durable and fairly easy to install examples from HD and Lowes
- GeorgeRa has a nice approach to templating and uses some innovative materials including Thermolite instead of plywood
Our temporary floor used cheap Home Depot 1⁄4” plywood, painted with flat paint from the mis-tint pile. Cheap, but not very durable and gets dirty easily. It should provide a good template for the next floor version though.
Awnings
- carefree vs. fiamma
- Dragonfly Tarps TODO
Roof rack
The Promaster roof has strange pins for rack attachement, different than most other solutions. Vantech and Fiamma both have attachment adapters, but at least the Vantech ones collect water and may damage the roof over time (need to sign in to see photos). Fiamma documentation shows a clear channel, so they may be OK. Further discussion on roof rack attachment including a suggestion to adapt the vantech brackets so they won’t retain water. I decided to try the Weatherguard roof rails and so far am not hugely impressed. The roof rails sit directly on the roof surface, so I added vinyl paint protectant strips at all contact points.
