Hi you all. First time poster here. This site comes up all the time in my internet searches, it's about time I joined!
Well let me get right to it, my DIY cargo van conversion.
My dream for years has been simply to take a nice and clean 1/2 ton cargo van, like a Chevy Express or Econoline, and make a utilitarian, light duty camper out of it. About really all I want to do to it would be insulate the walls, and line the interior and ceiling with nice, precision cut wood panels. I'd do it myself. My van would be inspired by the custom vans of the 70's. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and this would be something I could take to southern Cal on the weekend, do some surfing, and just get away from the heat. Of course it would be a versatile van for my life here in Phoenix too.
Well what's stopping me you ask? Well here is where things get a little more complicated. I live in Sun City, AZ with my mom and brother. I already have a car that I just can't part with (Grand Marquis), it goes in the garage. My mom doesn't want another vehicle parked in the driveway, especially a big van.
Fortunately Sun City offers it's residents real cheap RV parking at a compound. However you can park anything you want there, as long as it's not a van, truck, or car. You can park boats, trailers, pickup truck camper tops, etc. But if it's a drive-able vehicle, it' has to meet their self-contained motorhome requirements. So I asked the lady at the office, what exactly does that entail? She said it has to have a holding tank, and shorepower. By holding tank, I assume she means a blackwater tank/toilet. And Shorepower, well get to that.
First of all you're probably going to ask, why not just get a Class B motorhome? The answer is, it's just so much more than I need. And I'd probably have to spend at least 15 grand for one. Plus by not having a big hightop roof, I could just park it at Venice Beach or whatever, and blend in.
So finally the main question, how difficult would it be to add a toilet, blackwater tank, and shorepower to a cargo van? I've been doing as much research as I can. The holding tank just mounts underneath the van with a hole going through the floor, where the toilet mounts directly on top. For flushing, I'd have a plastic water tank (doesn't need to be huge) inside the van, with either an electric or manual pump. I know I'm oversimplifying it, i'll need flanges and gaskets, and stuff, the toilet will have to be mounted to the floor which will probably be wood or MDF on top of insulation.
As for the shorepower, well if it was up to me I'd just have an extension cord. They probably want more than that though. Maybe one of those outlets on the outside of the van, perhaps there is a fusebox in it? And then all I need are a couple of outlets inside the van.
So, is my idea doable? I'm very good "handyman", I just swapped out all the 120V outlets in my kitchen. I'm also good at woodworking and have all the tools.
I can build on this van too. Later I could put a rooftop AC on it with a quiet little Honda generator. I think it would be a fun project. But that toilet/holding tank, I've got to know what I'm getting into, because that's what's going to allow me to park this van at the Sun City RV compound. Thank you
