one step back and a huge leap forwards Jan 13th 2020

With Storm Brendan making itself felt already when I was feeding the dog at 6am I knew that if I was to test out my brainwave before the weather got impossible to be out I'd better get a move on.

Yesterday was a normal Sunday of pottering and chilling out and after the madness of Saturday when my brain wouldn't let me switch off I certainly needed it. By stepping back and getting a good night's sleep I woke up with an mega idea - simpify.

What had been bugging me was the expanding bed, it was a good idea but I couldn't get it to slide smoothly not close properly without lots of fannying around which was immeasurably worse with the mattress in place. What was just as bad was realising I was losing a cubby box space as well.

those two slats on the left were a pain and kept jamming

I realised that if I got rid of all but the right hand side (ie the bit that runs down the centre of the car) and made a foam cushion to level out the base of the rear seat I had a simple and easy to operate bed system. I could then make the bed slat frame run all the way across making access to the bed box even better.
It took an hour or so to measure and make the changes but then it all just worked!

open wide

the seat works in either direction

slides out really smoothly

cushion made from foam I had lying around, I'll make a better one eventually

the foam is not very firm so I've not thinned it down. It's perfect once I'm lying on it

perfect

and put away

ready to roll

and now its a sitting room with a view

and now it's a dining room for 2 (plus a 3rd if they're small and thin)

Add caption

that 'table' drawer will have a lid

the top box resting in place - do you like my friend Alan's brilliant idea for the head rest?

all packed up

I'll have to repair the hole I cut in that box!

 
Now I have an actual usable camper van that just needs time spent refining the wee add ons.

• bolt on fixings for the top box
• rack for water jerry can on top of the rear drawer
• lid/seat for front of 'table' drawer
• hinge the door for the rear of the bed box
• varnish everything that needs it
• make a metal drop in tray for the stove (the drawer is actually a pull out kitchen/larder)
• cubby box ends (ie the spaces either side of the wheel arches
• delete the rear heating matrix and see if I can fit a diesel heater that feeds the warm air in to the rear vent system
• leisure battery and split charge system - possibly install in place of the rear AC condenser

In the meantime, I can test load all my gear and maybe even start going on test weekend trips. I also don't need to go mental getting it done so I have a usable vehicle again.