[fastmtnbiker]

I figured I should join the crowd and document my conversion. I picked up my van off the dealer lot just before xmas and quickly threw in some reflective and a bunk with diy cushions. I had a time line for visitation with my son. Three days of construction got me a full queen bunk with room for my huge mountain bikes underneath.

I guess I should throw in some background info. I have been a mountain biker since the early eighties. I have owned a pop up trailer camper, two truck campers, and a mid size fifth wheel. I got tired of paying for diesel fuel, replacing 6 tires every few years, and the horrible gas mileage due to carrying a large box that weighed 4000 pounds.

I got a great trade and was super impressed with the ecoboost reviews. I was looking forward to paying $1 less per gallon and hoped it would get close to 20 mpg. So far, even with my lead foot, I've been getting around 18.

I'm 6 foot 5 inches tall, and I can almost stand up in my mid height van. I can't sit up in the bunk, but there is plenty of room up there for sleeping and I do not have to remove the seats, or lower them, on my bikes in order to get them under the bunk.

 

[VanMan]

Mountain biker since the early 80's ? (Klunker's) ? what kind of bikes to have (ride) now?

 

[madmike]

Pictures?

 

[fastmtnbiker]

I did my first post on my phone and couldn't figure out how to upload pics. Here are some pics of the first steps. I also put corplast sidewalls in to protect the panels from my klutzy self.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

Mountain biker since the early 80's ? (Klunker's) ? what kind of bikes to have (ride) now?

My first mtb was a Stumpjumper Sport. I now have a Surly Ice Cream Truck fat bike (new favorite bike despite not living in snow country), a custom Titus Racer X titanium 29er, Custom Titus 29er hardtail ti SS, Custom Spot SS, a custom Walt Works Fargo copy, and a couple others I don't really ride.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

Sorry for the sideways photos....

Here are some of the fan install I did last night. I salvaged the fan from a RV junkyard.....it needed a new cover....total price $60. I ordered wiring and conduit last night as well as a reverse polarity switch for it so I can suck and blow!

 

[camp&ride]

Dave, right behind your effort here. Just got my van and am going to build a queen size bunk with bike storage under as well. Can you post a couple of photos on how you mounted the bed to the walls and list the hardware that you used? Out of curiosity, what "freeboard" height did you design for? I am looking at 40" to accommodate fork mounted 6" travel 650B all mountain rig.

 

[VanMan]

I just looked up a "Surly ice cream truck" I love the blue color,
that's a COOL fat bike!

 

[ted]

Great work so far, everything looks to be done very professionally!

 

[bsdctx]

My first mtb was a Stumpjumper Sport. I now have a Surly Ice Cream Truck fat bike (new favorite bike despite not living in snow country), a custom Titus Racer X titanium 29er, Custom Titus 29er hardtail ti SS, Custom Spot SS, a custom Walt Works Fargo copy, and a couple others I don't really ride.

If you are enjoying the Ice Cream Truck you should check out the Salsa Bucksaw. I just got one and I'm loving it. It's kind of like an Ice Cream Truck mated with a Racer X.

I'm looking forward to seeing your build. I'm wanting to do something similar.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

I bolted two blocks in to the threaded holes inside the back doors to support the bed. The other end is supported by two legs (2x4s ripped in half). The bed is slatted and extends to 80". I still need to dial in this portion as I just slide it out and it's supported by wiggly legs that rest on some 2x4 pieces. I don't have it supported in the middle, but it has supported over 375 pounds. My mattress cushions have a layer of coroplast on the bottom to stiffen them up so I won't feel the slats. El Paso has a HUGE fabric and foam store. It's really tough to spend less than an hour in there. More than half of their warehouse is dedicated to automotive upholstery, carpets, and headliner materials. I used 3" blue foam for the cushion.

The cross brace underneath near the seats of my bikes is in the wrong place. I am trying to figure out a way to move it (I glued and screwed it) and then support it from the threaded bolts on the walls just above it. I mainly wanted to store my bikes underneath without having to remove or drop the seats.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

Here are some more pics.

 

[VanMan]

COOL, you got the blue"ICT"

 

[claytonwang]

Greetings all! First post here on the forums. Looking forward to learning a lot through this forum.

fastmtnbiker...I'm ordering a new Transit next week and the camper conversion thoughts have already begun consuming every thought of mine. As an avid rider with the desire to always be on the move, I'm looking forward to be building up my van accordingly and am looking forward to see how you put yours together with similar goals in mind. Though I'm a young gun and have not been able to see mountain biking evolve over the decades as you have, I've still allowed it to take over my life haha.

I like you're insulation and panel methods. Simple, yet effective.

Few questions.

How many bikes do you plan on being able to store in it? 4? 5? Wheel on or off? I'm thinking wheel off so that I can store 4-5 (probably 4).

Do you plan on utilizing solar? I'm thinking 200 watts and two deep cycles to keep a fridge running, some LED lights and the ability to charge a laptop once a day.

Do you know of any companies who sell affordable galley setups for the Transits?

 

[claytonwang]

I just noticed the more recent photos. Front tire off and two wide. I like it.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

So I got an offer from a friend to help with welding. I'd buy my own mig welder, but I'd rather save the $150 for something else. Having a buddy help with fabrication is also a bonus so I took him up on his offer of help. I yanked out the wooden bunk. I want to eek out every inch possible while also gaining some strength. I wish I had done this the first time. I spent as much money on wood as I did metal and the metal was WAY easier to fabricate. There is $30 of steel in this.

I also started on my ceiling. I'm installing a cedar closet liner for the ceiling. The cross member have so many holes in them and they aren't a curved flat surface. So I installed 3/8" ply strips to attach the 4" wide panels. I need to route my wiring since I have 6 lights I'll be installing in the ceiling. I can't wait to get the ceiling in even though it has really made my garage smell great. I'd rather have it make my van smell great. I'm hesitant to start the install due to needing to access those holes in the roof for the feet. Vantech and Eurocamper.com sell the feet that fit in there and you can use them for the awning attachment.

I pulled out the rubber floor and put truck bed liner paint in the "garage" area. The van is super noisy now. I've got 1/2" foam insulation for the cabin area and I'll put wood laminate over it and that noise should go bye bye. Then I'll install the counter/cabinet backed up to the garage bulkhead and a bench/bunk along the driver side. More to come.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

So.....it's been a couple of years since I've been on this site and lots of stuff has happened in regards to my van build. I see it as a constant evolution in regards to state of funds and lifestyle choices. I recently got back into skiing (I live in the desert) so I've been doing a lot of driving to snowier destinations.

After building the frame for the bunk, I put in a cedar roof using closet liner. Kind of a let down as the wood was quite crooked and difficult to work with. I randomly inserted screws to get it all together and ended up putting in a couple of battens to make it a little more solid. My previous post shows the ply ribs I put in to secure the boards.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

Next project was the floor. Put in some foam and some cheap laminate.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

Next was the bunk. I ended up redoing my cushions with a layer of corrugated plastic under the foam inside the covers and used luan as the bed surface. The bed extends over the counter top to a full queen. Not a ton of space in the bunk area, but I crash out fast when I crawl up there. It's like sleeping on a sailboat....especially in the wind. lol.

 

[fastmtnbiker]

I made a counter top with metal trim, but rushed, I ended up hating it. I eventually got some birch ply and some oak trim and spent a week fabbing up this beauty with 5 layers of bar top epoxy. It's the favorite part of my van.