[njvagabond]

Custom made, with big piano hinges, and an aluminum extrusion frame bolted together. Here are my 3D mock-ups (haven’t actually built it yet but I have no doubt it will work):

I messed around with some wooden prototyping and found that the curvature of the side wall was problematic even if I did not go full height. Adding a fixed panel to square the drivers side would preclude a swivel and then the folded stack of panels would take up a LOT of critical space. If going without a drivers swivel a set up with one fixed and 2 sliding panels might be a way to go. When I thought about a roll up, it seemed that the extreme curvature of the walls would preclude the side rails without adding fixed panels again. An accordion style security grate was discussed by @Van Gogh but I don't think he proceeded with the idea (yet?) . Again it seems either/or case with a drivers swivel.

I'd love to see (and copy!) something if you are able to figure out something creative to make this work. Swivels plus a bulkhead with a pass through door when closed, is a holy grail to me. I the case of my 148 non-EL the cab seats are the only seating so the 2 swivels are essential so in the meantime, I am giving a lot of consideration to the design of my 8020 structure to the selection of the connectors and attachments to the van.

Does anyone have opinions on a removable cargo net in place of a solid partition?

I've thought about this one as a possible option. I wonder how taught it would need to be to be somewhat effective. That could make it a real PITA. Probably not an ideal solution but could be helpful. Not sure, but it might be dicey to drill into the boron steel d-pillar with the seat belt stuff that is in there. I suppose that stuff could be removed first.

 

[njvagabond]

This doesn't fit your holy grail (because only one swivel) but prompted me to type it out anyway. I saw a "van tour" video (is there anything else on youtube anymore? ) where a fellow had made a full bulkhead that was two panels split more or less in the center. The passenger side panel slid over behind the driver's side panel when open, and then you could swivel the passenger seat. You did have to slightly "fit" between the passenger seat and the center stile to get to the driver's seat, but I thought it was in interesting approach. It was a Sprinter but seemed like it could apply to pretty much any van.

When I was kicking around ideas, I briefly entertained the idea of a 3 panel sliding set up to allow full access through the center of the seats. I even considered a door inset in the center panel of a folding partition before I figured out that the folding concept was not feasible. It seems that their might be a lot of options in the quite common layout where folks put the shower directly behind the drivers seat.

This would be great in so many ways (bulkhead being just one) . Perfect size, shape, integration ... IMO, But now I am off topic.

 

[njvagabond]

Can a regular person get one like this in any reasonable way?

UK. Not even sure if it is in production.

 

[njvagabond]

CAD is useful to figure out right spacing before building something

No doubt, but for some reason developing even a rudimentary competency with CAD has always eluded me. My wife has been playing with Sketchup and it also seem to be a challenge.

My folding bulkhead simply has notches in the top outside of the side panels to clear the blobs and roof curvature. When extended across there might be a small gap up top, but shouldn’t be large enough for a person to squeeze through. Folded the panels only take up about 3” of space in front of my shower behind the driver seat.

What I found would seem to indicate that any part that is past the cut out folds to the wall, there will still be interference with the inward curvature. I did look at putting a header in (which I think is needed structurally) with shorter panels to avoid the curvature, but did not like the ducking under (and IIRC maybe the closed in feeling with the seats swiveled). Do you have any drawings of a side view with the panels in the opened positions, or even the file if it can be read in Sketchup. I'd love to "find a way". Thanks.

 

[njvagabond]

Now that you are retired, take the time to learn CAD before starting the conversion. Too late?

My wife is working at it. Better for us divide and conquer and have me do more of the hands on stuff and work on the technical aspects of the systems, She's really good at design, so two heads in that as an iterative process is helpful. She is slowly getting more involved. Funny thing is, that is similar to the way I did line and plant layout at work with the mechanical guys at work.

 

[njvagabond]

For a van build, you’ll mostlyjust need to make simple 2D sketches (I.e. a rectangle) and extruding it out into 3D.

Thing always seem to get wonky when I manipulate stiff. There is something that just never seems to click for me. . Funny thing is never had problems learning other software. (even pre-mouse ) Need to try some more.

 

[njvagabond]

View attachment 169672

Sprinter Van Cargo Nets for Mercedes, Dodge hi-tops or standard roofs, vertical cargo nets

Here is a nice diy installation of a cargo net in a 130 LR
Cargo net partition

 

[njvagabond]

It's one of the funny things about ALL our safety concerns on building these: none of us are (intentionally) crash-testing them, so we're basically full of crap and betting our lives and our loved-one's on our guesses; and the real-world standard by which we perhaps should be measured (RVs) enjoy little to no testing for the most part. So, yeah... do whatever you feel good with?

Says the guy that drives a 4.5 ton vehicle at 83 mph (in the mountains?)