Chevy 1994 Van
My 1994 hunk of Chevy steel gets some love.
Seven years ago I purchased my 1994 Chevy G20 extended van with 50,000 miles for $4K. It has a 305 V8 with overdrive, and runs fantastic. The van came from CT state auction where it was owned by the post office, moving staff from Hartford to New Haven and back. Perfect size and price for my land yacht.
Since this is the fourth van I have owned I had a good idea on how to adapt it for my land yacht. It is all about fitting the toys inside and being able to camp out while on the road. So a nice long and wide bunk is needed and loads of simple storage.
I am carrying my Slalom Carbon Art board, Mikes Lab Formula board, six sails, three mast, two booms, skegs, mast steps, cloths, sailing gear, on and on. I am now also carrying my travel SUP gear. This includes a Naish One inflatable SUP and a composite downwind board to soon be purchased used in FL. So loads of gear and it needs to be easy to get into the bunk and sleep well.
The last six years I have had a simple bunk up too high with all my gear under it that I built in four hours one day. Sleeping at window height is not smart in camp grounds, every light wakes me up. So a redesign was needed. And a leak in the roof gutter push me to do the work.
It is so nice having my shop where I could drive it in, and leave it there for a month so in my free time I could do the work. The gutter split last winter and water was coming in by the passenger seat and running down under the carpet. Ugh, did it smell and the carpet and pad was soaked. Some of the water was also running down the ceiling soaking it and it fell apart and was coming down.
I ground out the gutter all the way around and put in three coats of West System GFlex Epoxy and it seems to have done the job. Then out came the ceiling which was easy. Next I put a vapor barrier in where there was 1/16″ foam on the ceiling and covered it with cheap paneling. Ceiling done.
Next I pulled all the carpet out and put in rubber/foam 2’x2’x 3/4″ tiles. These are light, easy to cut, and give a great cushion. So far on test drives the sound deadening is nice.
The interior build was easy. I made a bunk that is a 80″x12″ bench and the front comes up to make it 80″x24″ bunk below window height.
Then a small simple board rack where everything fits snug and it easy to put in and take out. The rack it tied into the old seatbelt bolts (was a two bench passenger van) and the bunk it tied into old spare tired bolts since the spare in now on the back door.
So for a weeks part time work and only $150 bucks I have a dry, comfortable van for my trek south.
Ah trekking on land, get the theme? Time for some warm weather.