did it my way...

I have had my head buried in this van project for like 2 weeks and 3 days up to now.  It has been really hard to get the results I wanted.  BUT I came close! Is that not our desired outcome?  Perfection is not my thing,  and so yes there's those imperfect spots here and there...

My bullet list was

• More headroom
• remove old saggy storage bins and dropped ceiling
• streamline the storage 
• reduce squeaks and rattles of the interior  

I think I accomplished that.  I reused and repurposed a lot of the old materials where I could.  I didn't really document the process as I had no plan from the get go...it was just a matter of try and see what works...but I have some still shots for you to see the finished product.  
In fact I didn't take any before photos so Im falling back on some  that I had here and there to try and show the changes I made.  

I don't have it kitted out for camping currently since IM not camping due to Covid travel restrictions and other responsibilities that are keeping me close to home for now. 

So when I purchased the van it had the original conversion from 19 yrs ago with this huge analog tv and vcr they worked but honestly the weight was making the headroom sag..so I removed that if you recall and put in some storage cubbies. BUT the top was still saggy and squeaky.  So I changed that and now it does not                                                                                         sag or squeak. 

                                                  

                                                  After                   

I did reuse the overhead light console...and replaced the headliner with a higher profile one and new darker fabric...here is the new drivers overhead compartment. It has some storage and I can easily remove the bins and stash items in the top compartment and I insulated it good too. 

This shot of the old shows the dropped ceiling,,,with the Disco Lighting...ugh.,I took all that out and replaces it with a lifted ceiling.  Giving more headroom in the main open area. I removed the extra captain seats a couple years ago.  I have those stored in my shed. 

After less is more...

I have one of those wood bead things on my seat it gives my back plenty of air in summer, and the other seat has one pocket organizer hanging on it. I stash my flashlights, pens, straws..etc there. I added 3 inches of insulation in this overhead compartment so it should be cooler in summer and warmer in winter.  

These are the side storage bins that I grew to not like...for all the size of them there was very little storage...they squeaked, rattled sagged and were falling down!  Gravity was working on them... So the seats are no longer there and I put this  up with some storage pockets that hide the items I wish to stash...I used some scrap that was left behind from the old top but When I find some mesh that I like better or they get more light grey material I can easily remove these 2 pocket just 4 screws holding them up and redo them...so I guess you can say these are temporary. I put reflectix behind the side pieces, and up top 

I already stashed some stuff in there like electric cords, and extra digital lights

And on the other side I removed a similar old plastic bin and  built this v shaped shelf that I can stash items in and easily get them without searching I just reach in and get it...

The back compartment was dark and unpleasant, and sagged and rattled. I kept the center storage box, and this compartment  houses 2 vent hoses for the air conditioning so it couldn't go up much higher, and that is not an issue at the back anyway.   I painted the old plastic housing with some brighter metallic color so. I framed it out and put some fabric to cover the areas I damaged trying to remove those old side cabinets they used to come right up to this bin. I also insulated this back area before enclosing it 

                                                    After

I havent decided if I want another light there or not so those wires can easily poke back thru if I decide not to add more lights...I'm leaning toward none, but I can decide that later. 

Other things I did was remove this plastic thing that was to resemble wood, but just looks cheap around my dashboard....it was so ugly....it also rattled because it was attached with double stick tape.

no more plastic wood grain. 
 

And another thing I did was paint the lower door interior covers  I have tried to clean them but they never cleaned up well so I decided to paint over it, I removed, painted, and put them back on and it is a improvement. I sprayed the old carpet insert too, now it looks better also. 

after

while I had these off I put some reflectix insulation in there...

The elbow rest on the drivers door was cracked and it was uncomfortable to put your elbow on...I recovered it...
not as good as factory done because in the factory they use a  very strong heat activated glue  backing and force these down into a form, in a trip hammer  type machine...

After 

It's amazing how much quieter it is now...nothings sways or rattles or squeaks and I like the simplicity...and I got rid of the big "disco" light track that I never used...I did put back some of the indirect led lights.  

Still a few tweaks to make but you get the idea...and I hope I won't be hitting my head on the ceiling anymore.  Next Im looking for carpet to replace the old with. 

*     *     * 

At first I thought the macy parade was going on then I realized it was a rerun...

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Home all week...

This week I went no where fun or interesting.  Lots of new birds arrived at my house...and that was fun...I have been involved in a project and it has keep me very busy.  

The Hermit Thrush teased me into stopping to go in for the camera.

take my picture

I'm replacing the interior ceiling in my van the old stuff which was put in when it became a conversion van is saggy, rattles, and keeps me from being able to stand up in the central area.  So Im changing that...took out the old, that was hard.  I will post some photos when Im all done...

 the Dark Eyed Junco's are here...

I shared the Golden Crowned Kinglet last post so this week it's the Ruby Crowned Kinglet 

This is one of the  oaks on the homestead..

the Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, 

more Chipping Sparrow,  

Several Red Breasted Nuthatch visited  I was happy to catch one with the camera...I  had been hearing them in the woods all week long...hope they hang out with us this winter. 

Northern Cardinals are beautiful year round in my yard..but especially when the leaves are matching colors...

A little Downy Woodpecker wonders which limb to explore next..

The Camelia's  are blooming early...

Look at this beetle I found when I split a piece of old wood...poor guy I took him out of his winter hiding spot..hope he will make it I put him back on some old wood but I don't know if he can find his way back into the center of it...Notice the false eyes.

Eastern Eyed Click Beetle

And yet another Red Breasted Nuthatch shot soooo cute..

Annie getting a walk about...

Fly Over

 And I'm changing the name of my van...
something Celestial is what I'm thinking..

And check out the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker as he enjoys a ripe American Persimmon that didn't fall off the tree....yum yum. 

Press Play

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

What I Found Last Week..

Friday seems to be the day I have to get out and enjoy some nature.  Mon to Thursday the stress of life builds and then I gotta get a change of rhythm.  This time it's back to my usual place and I decided to do some  hiking so I picked 2 trails.  The Woodland Pond trail and a section of Tates' trail.  Both are woodlands trails, and the woods felt and looked great. 

I had a little threat on the trail look who is hanging right across the trail... 

A little late Halloween trick!

The Golden Crowned Kinglet has arrived back into the area..

The Forest Plants are all set for next year...

Even the Moss has put out seedspores

This trail is just a little over a mile long...

this is about the 3/4 point...

The trail circles the pond, but there is no good view of the pond from the woods, so once you exit the woods, the turtles are all surprised to see ya! 

Back at the van I need to drink some water and check the time...No worries about getting a call...

My Next Trail was a section of the Tates Trail...Unlike the other trail a loop this time Im doing an In and Out...this is about 3 miles total...

I pick the trail up where it crosses Wildlife Dr and hike toward Martin's lake.  

It's nice to hear the crunch of leaves underfoot...and then seeing the lake come into view...

when I get close to the lake I get a peek of what's out there...I've  heard the Geese as I walked so I know they are there but this was a surprise..

Closer view...

Tundra Swan...my first at Sandhills...I know its fuzzy very far away and he swam across the lake eventually...

So that was a treat, had some Wood Duck, some Mallard, and Ring Necked Duck too...

about 8 in total...

I took my lunch over to Lake Bee after the hike back and there was a nice breeze and I really enjoyed just listening to the wind talk through the trees...then I took a little walk around they have yet to allow Lake Bee to refill so it's just a little stream running through where the lake was, the Killdeer are still enjoying it there...

After  lunch, I drove up to the Oxpen Lakes...it's still very pretty there where it's more open up on Mary's Hill...

Some late flowers supplied food to the butterflies and skippers...

And the Yellow Rumped Warblers have arrived...and all berries beware...

PLAY

It was a FAB day, I went home refreshed and ready to face the election count and was so Thrilled when the vote was called in favor of Joe Biden on the next day...we dodged the bullet here, I hope the 70 million who think Trump is an option will come to understand he was  fueling  hate...and now I hope without his fanning the flame all of us can jump on board and help get the issues we face solved.  Trump will stop at nothing to try and force his way back into office nothing he would do surprises me..

I can't wait for Jan 20th to arrive.

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.