I have been camping in my 1990 Chevrolet Silverado Blazer 2-door for the last 20 years. When I removed the back seat there was just enough room for a 3/4 sized (Hollywood, as some people called them) mattress to fit between the wheel wells and from the back of the console to the tailgate.
After all those years with my wife and I getting older, she decided we needed a little more room so she found me a 2001 Chevrolet Express van with low mileage on the internet. After checking it out and taking it for a test drive we bought it on the spot. It was a nice passenger conversion LT model with all the bells and whistles available in 2001. I will chronicle the changes I made to transform it into my Class B- motorhome in the next few postings. I call it my Class B- (B minus) motorhome because it is just a regular van without the raised roof.
Camping at Custer State Park, SD in February, 2015.
Camping and visiting Scott's Bluff National Monument, NE in October, 2014.
After all those years with my wife and I getting older, she decided we needed a little more room so she found me a 2001 Chevrolet Express van with low mileage on the internet. After checking it out and taking it for a test drive we bought it on the spot. It was a nice passenger conversion LT model with all the bells and whistles available in 2001. I will chronicle the changes I made to transform it into my Class B- motorhome in the next few postings. I call it my Class B- (B minus) motorhome because it is just a regular van without the raised roof.
Camping at Custer State Park, SD in February, 2015.
Camping and visiting Scott's Bluff National Monument, NE in October, 2014.
Sorry for not updating my quest for a van.
Last month I found this '10 Ford e350 w/55k miles from original owner. Had a wheel chair lift that was almost impossible to give away free but fortunately I found a taker for his wife.
It'll be used as a Home Depot run as well as my tow vehicle for my boat or TT so will only install a sofa bed and a slider tray underneath for easy loading and removing overnight camping gear.
BTW J herb, nice setup on your conversion.
Also Black'95 as well.
Last month I found this '10 Ford e350 w/55k miles from original owner. Had a wheel chair lift that was almost impossible to give away free but fortunately I found a taker for his wife.
It'll be used as a Home Depot run as well as my tow vehicle for my boat or TT so will only install a sofa bed and a slider tray underneath for easy loading and removing overnight camping gear.
BTW J herb, nice setup on your conversion.
Also Black'95 as well.
The latest addition to my camping van is a cell phone holder that I received as a Christmas present from my youngest son. It turned out to be quite handy hanging from an AC vent as it held both mine and my wife's phone.
He also gave me a little magnetic light that is both solar and motion activated. It worked great after dark to light the campsite.
He also gave me a little magnetic light that is both solar and motion activated. It worked great after dark to light the campsite.
Whenever the weather gets warm (50 degrees F or higher) we pack up the van and head for the Black Hills to camp and escape the snow here at home. Feb. 1-3 turned out to be one of those days.
We stocked up on firewood at our favorite gas stop on the way into Custer State Park Game Lodge Campground.
The next day we headed out on the Wildlife Loop and are always greeted somewhere along the loop by the friendly burros.
They are always ready for a handout.
You must be prepared for a little donkey slobber when you roll up your windows to leave as they always want more handouts.
Another regular that you can't miss on the wildlife loop are the prairie dogs and they are always entertaining.
Buffalo or more correctly bison can be seen either on or near the road or in the state buffalo pens. SD is famous for their September buffalo roundup and draw in thousands of observers every roundup.
The big horned sheep can often be seen here as well as in the Badlands National Park.
We saw plenty of magpies and I was lucky enough to get a shot of this one. Usually we see them flying by.
After finishing the wildlife loop we stopped at the picnic area near Mt. Coolidge for lunch.
While there we spotted several chickadees that delighted in entertaining us in and around the lookout deck while we ate.
Walking back to the van from the lookout deck area we spotted a Steller's Jay in the trees.
Returning to our campsite from our morning and afternoon of sight seeing we were greeted by the campground host. Us, the crows and the constant squirrels were the only residents of the campground today.
we saw many, many deer on the loop and along the forest roads. Every night we camp there a herd comes in at twilight and beds down around us for the night. Even when we packed up and left the campground for home we saw them.
When we got home we were greeted by everything covered in frost. Our home area had been in freezing fog for the three days we were gone. That night it even knocked out the electricity for the area for about three to four hours. I fired up the generator and we had heat, TV and internet services back again.
You can see how thick the frost was on the bird feeder chain outside our window.
It always helps our spirits when we can get away for a few days of camping in the middle of winter.
We stocked up on firewood at our favorite gas stop on the way into Custer State Park Game Lodge Campground.
The next day we headed out on the Wildlife Loop and are always greeted somewhere along the loop by the friendly burros.
They are always ready for a handout.
You must be prepared for a little donkey slobber when you roll up your windows to leave as they always want more handouts.
Another regular that you can't miss on the wildlife loop are the prairie dogs and they are always entertaining.
Buffalo or more correctly bison can be seen either on or near the road or in the state buffalo pens. SD is famous for their September buffalo roundup and draw in thousands of observers every roundup.
The big horned sheep can often be seen here as well as in the Badlands National Park.
We saw plenty of magpies and I was lucky enough to get a shot of this one. Usually we see them flying by.
After finishing the wildlife loop we stopped at the picnic area near Mt. Coolidge for lunch.
While there we spotted several chickadees that delighted in entertaining us in and around the lookout deck while we ate.
Walking back to the van from the lookout deck area we spotted a Steller's Jay in the trees.
Returning to our campsite from our morning and afternoon of sight seeing we were greeted by the campground host. Us, the crows and the constant squirrels were the only residents of the campground today.
we saw many, many deer on the loop and along the forest roads. Every night we camp there a herd comes in at twilight and beds down around us for the night. Even when we packed up and left the campground for home we saw them.
When we got home we were greeted by everything covered in frost. Our home area had been in freezing fog for the three days we were gone. That night it even knocked out the electricity for the area for about three to four hours. I fired up the generator and we had heat, TV and internet services back again.
You can see how thick the frost was on the bird feeder chain outside our window.
It always helps our spirits when we can get away for a few days of camping in the middle of winter.
Now that I have upgraded to a 2018 Express van, I have my old 3 Volume set of 2001 Express/Savana GM Service Manuals for sale for $75 with free shipping OBO
Contact: Private Message me: Black'95 or email: Mike.Barondeau@gmail.com
Contact: Private Message me: Black'95 or email: Mike.Barondeau@gmail.com
Cooped up in my garage due to Covid, I have had time to work on my DIY van conversion again. I needed a place to store my toys and had some extra space on the driver's side of the roof rack. I have an extra water storage tube on the passenger side. Taking all my measurements, I built a long box in my wood shop. I needed it long for storing my fishing rods, metal detector, remote controlled car, and other items I want to carry with me but not clutter up the inside of the van. Here is a picture of it from the back and another picture from the front and side. Once I get it out in the outside light I will update the photos and add on showing the space inside.
Ever since I added an 12 volt water pump to my DIY van camper conversion sink, it has pumped too fast when I switched it on. I requested some help in another forum link and found the answer I needed. So recently I purchased a 12 volt motor speed voltage regulator, installed it and it solved my problem. I can now turn down the speed of the pump for small water jobs and turn it up full blast for filling my coffee pot to make campground coffee. I like the model with the volume knob on wires so I could mount it close to the faucet handle and have the circuit board hidden away under neath the cabinet. I am not making any major changes to my van camper -- now I am just "polishing the apple."
