[VanMan]

Had a few responses to comments about "stealth camping" and the 70s van craze.
Lets share the stories and use for ideas
OK, I will go first, "this is how we Roll" mid roof,lwb T250 (9000) to haul/camp. (blue jean color) ecoboost GDI/turbos
1st, white (#2 color pick) is #1 truck color, so you see alot of them,blends in everyware, so its just a "van". Magnetic "flowers" sign will let you park anywhere (just kidding) no "free candy". Hotels are a good place to park/sleep/go inside to use the bathroom,wash face. etc.
Nothing fixed mounted (just me).
We where buying old Mustangs down south(no rust), reading current newspapers (pre-internet) and driving from Mich. to go get them. Sleeping in my friends (new) econoline. He left it 100% stock on the outside,so it was "just a van"
I am looking to do the same type of thing.
How about you? If you are young,ask Mom or Dad about vans in the 70s
Camping/traveling stories?

VanMan
:

 

[orton]

I regularly city camp in my stealth 08 Sprinter. The only things that show from the exterior are the Maxxair fan housing and the solar panel. Can not see the solar panel from the sidewalk but you can if you get far enough away from the van.
1. Shore connection is a electric reel hidden under van at left rear. Reach up under van and grab the plug.
2. Gray water tank hidden under van with drain operated by reaching up under van.
3. No propane so no vents through the roof.
4. Plain grey paint job.
5. Windows only in sliding door and rear doors.
6. No inside shade used on windshield. Dark curtain behind driver and passenger seats.
7. No bike rack. Bought foldable bike stored inside.
8. No exterior water fill. Open sliding door to access fill opening on tank.
9. Curtains with button holes that hang from carriage bolts on sliding door and rear door windows.
10. Have portapotty, pee bottle, shower enclosure and 5 gallon beer keg converted to electric hot water heater.

I scout out where I want to spend the night in daylight. Come back after dark with curtains up and park without noise or lights. Leave at sunup. Lot of places to park: outside B&B's, casinos, rich neighborhoods next to a park, boat harbors, hotel parking lots, friends driveways, state parks (not CA. too expensive), BLM land, FS campgrounds, industrial areas etc. The reason chain fast food joints were established was to provide toilet facilities for the homeless. Do not eat the food.

 

[Del]

this is excellent, never mind the 70's FT USA bringing it back

 

[VanMan]

this is excellent, never mind the 70's FT USA bringing it back

Ok, I am in, I was using bed sheets w/magnets to cover the back windows, shock cord/shower curtain rod to hang behind front seats. I want back door windows on my Transit (cargo) also rear de-fog. Considered making Miriored "panels" I could cover when I want,open (take off) up other times.
Was looking at a guys NGV sprinter and it had a snap button,behind the seats (front) hanging cover, looked factory?
I wait till I am at a camp to pull out the Honda EU2000i generator, my friends van was SOO clean, we parked and camped (overnite) in the Ford dealer with the other new ones.
Have a aircraft "pee bottle" and it works driving or laying low (they make a female verion too)
The price for hotels are outrageus!, I will put the 100+ bucks into the gas tank. Its good to hear that I am not the only one doing this sh*t,
I was renting NEW vans, had to dis-able all of the door light switches, so when the door was opened the light would not come on (like a cop car), "having to #1 at night outside"

VanMan

 

[greg-92083]

Attached:

1981-E150-1984-Camping1.jpg (123.0 KB)
1981-E150-1990-Wisconsin.jpg (76.6 KB)
1981-E150-BackDoors.jpg (72.1 KB)
1981-E150-1986-MontereyBayAquarium1.jpg (67.4 KB)

1981 E150 bought used with 80k miles in 1983, ex-Purolator courier van from a Phoenix Chevrolet dealer. Came with an Arizona Commercial Plate. The Chev dealer added the vinyl stripes. I was working for a living at least 60 hours weekly. So I kept it simple. Queen size bed, porta-potty, two five gallon cans of water. Awning, Coleman folding table, folding camp stools, Coleman battery flourescent lantern.

One of these pictures we are parked in a loading zone, in front of Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we spent two nights. Afternoons early evenings we would go roaming around but return here for the night.

Greg Hayden

 

[Longboard]

We slept where ever we wanted to for the most part in our stealth Sprinter.
But sometimes we wanted to be at a special event and not only park closer than is normally permitted but also wake up right there the next morning without forking over the premium hotel prices jacked up for the special occasion.
A vague magnetic sign took care of both issues.
I did salvage it from the wreck, so the Transit should be rockin' it soon!

 

[Todd]

You guys are making me rethink my color choice. I'm tired of white and was going black since I could get the crew windows and they should blend right in. The white would be more shall we say more tradesmen.
I do love the idea of not paying for a hotel or parking. I always look for the signage "No overnight parking". Todd

 

[VanMan]

WOW, the joke about magnetic signs (kidding) "flowers"? This is serious SH*T!
A+ on the "event parking" I would not think twice about that parked
Don't give up on the Black color yet, my buddy's van was "jet Black", spotless CARGO.
Used a magnetic roof furneral flag on it and no one would get near it (out of respect) when parked
This is more of a sub-culture than I thought (stealth Van camping)

VanMan

 

[VanMan]

Correction:
"EVENT TRANSPORT"
WOW again

VanMan

 

[Longboard]

If you want a '70's or earlier look but are interested in remaining stealthy here's what NOT to do to a VW van if you find that you need more sleeping room than the Westphalia Pop Top provides. .

 

[VanMan]

Where is that from (picture location)? "Partridge family" bus in backgroung @ capsite.

VanMan

 

[Longboard]

Where is that from ...?

VanMan

Overview

 

[VanMan]

30 year member, I am @ about 12 & Cedar, use the Rukus to get to the gate.
20+ years flying in, have more fun camping (in Scholler) in a Van.
I have the same Gen.by that bus, EU2000i (76 days away!)
The Partridge fam. bus fired off the radar

VanMan

 

[s4s]

Dang longboard, lookin jacked! Clean sprinter as well.

Very much like that bus I've got an 90s bluebird, always thought about putting a bus on a bus.

A cupola!

 

[Longboard]

Got my SELS in '85, decided to build in '89, never did!
Been there the entire week since '89 and have never missed.
Flew to Wittman just to do it the week before or after, but never flew in to the event.
With at least my two sons and sometimes my wife and daughter as well Scholler was just way more fun and predictable.
Always straight in from the Beer Tent in Woods 101, halfway from the tent to the smaller camp store.
My 24 year old son first went at 10 months of age, and also has never missed a year.
He flew a CRJ 200 for Pinnacle at 21, and now flies a B727.

 

[carryon]

so much awesome

 

[VanMan]

Got my SELS in '85, decided to build in '89, never did!
Been there the entire week since '89 and have never missed.
Flew to Wittman just to do it the week before or after, but never flew in to the event.
With at least my two sons and sometimes my wife and daughter as well Scholler was just way more fun and predictable.
Always straight in from the Beer Tent in Woods 101, halfway from the tent to the smaller camp store.
My 24 year old son first went at 10 months of age, and also has never missed a year.
He flew a CRJ 200 for Pinnacle at 21, and now flies a B727.

That is what happens to any kids that are exposed to that (boy or girl)
The trick to geting in during is IFR clearance,reserved parking @ Baslers (DC3 guy) that is what we where doing (Navajo's) good plane
BACK TO THE SHOW:
Nice Sprinter, looks like you are doing the same thing as I do,Van camping
SOS beer tent, never been there, but have heard many stories (lighted balloon)
The people make that camp the best!

VanMan

 

[Longboard]

You know you're having a good time when for an hour or so you think the SOS balloon is the Moon!
I have a buddy who's an A320 Captain who always wears his SOS Bros Security Tshirt while dining and drinking late at night there. Commands more respect then wearing his stripes would!
That Tshirt is kind of like the Event Transport wearable equivalent.

 

[VanMan]

Dang longboard, lookin jacked! Clean sprinter as well.

Very much like that bus I've got an 90s bluebird, always thought about putting a bus on a bus.

A cupola!

I have seen VW bug (bettle) tops cut off at the doors and mounted on top of buses' they looked like a upper turret on a old bomber

VanMan

 

[call me Rob]

Ok, I am in, I was using bed sheets w/magnets to cover the back windows, shock cord/shower curtain rod to hang behind front seats. I want back door windows on my Transit (cargo) also rear de-fog. Considered making Miriored "panels" I could cover when I want,open (take off) up other times.
Was looking at a guys NGV sprinter and it had a snap button,behind the seats (front) hanging cover, looked factory?
I wait till I am at a camp to pull out the Honda EU2000i generator, my friends van was SOO clean, we parked and camped (overnite) in the Ford dealer with the other new ones.
Have a aircraft "pee bottle" and it works driving or laying low (they make a female verion too)
The price for hotels are outrageus!, I will put the 100+ bucks into the gas tank. Its good to hear that I am not the only one doing this sh*t,
I was renting NEW vans, had to dis-able all of the door light switches, so when the door was opened the light would not come on (like a cop car), "having to #1 at night outside"

VanMan

I really like your idea of making mirrored panels to insert into the windows. Maybe 1/8 plexiglas with a "cram it to fit" window gasket and the DIY mirror reflective film. That way you don't screw up the factory windows. Woohoo! Another trip to Home Depot - haha.

Also Home Depot has spring-loaded shower curtain rods, and Martha Stewart blackout curtains in white or black. Stealthy AND Stylish!