Hello, thank you for your response. When I said "It looks like it has an overhead sleeping space", I should have added - from the outside. When you look at the space from the inside, it was originally open to the ceiling which allows the driver or passenger to stand up in that space when they exit their seat toward the back of the van. There are three storage cabinets directly above the windshield. The center cabinet has a roll up wooden door which I believe housed a small TV at one time because there is a coaxial cable and a 12 volt outlet coming out from the wall behind the cabinet.
I built a plywood bridge that spans the opening above the driver and passenger seats and installed a 66-in mattress on top of it. I think we have only used it three times. It really is too short for an average person to sleep on but good enough in an emergency. My daughter, who is 5 ft 6 in, slept scrunched up in there during a windstorm, instead of outside in the tent with her husband. He slept on the outstretched passenger seat below. Both very uncomfortable, but safe. When camping with my wife we usually leave the bed above the cab and it provides additional storage for cushions, bags etc.
One thing I wish I had added to my post, which is already too long, is that the van appears to have had dual wheels at the back at one time. Since I don't have a manual there was no way for me to know this for sure. If this was in fact converted, the person who did it decided to make the rear tires a slightly bigger diameter than is listed on the van door. Does your van have single or dual wheels on the back?
I am sure I will have more questions for you but I think those are enough words for now.
John
PS. I recently had awning trouble in a September camping trip. I was told by local RV dealership that parts were no longer available for it. As it turns out parts are definitely available. What the dealer was not aware of is that the awning is manufactured by Fiamma. It is the f45 Plus model, I think manufactured in italy.
