The Walls

  Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog, thanks for being here.  Last week we tackled the floors. In today's blog I will be talking about putting the walls in my van.

  I used the same batting board to build the wall frame as I used to build the frame for the floor. The sides of the van have hollow ribs, that's where I attached the frame with self drilling metal screws. And of course putting in the Havelock Wool insulation. 

  For the wall boards themselves I went with the Weaber 1/2" x 4" x 4ft white washed weathered hardwood boards. They come 8 to a case, easy to cut and install. You just have to be careful because sometimes they will split on you if you put the screw too close to the edge. 

  Let's remember something at this point before the next picture...I really have no clue what I am doing. I'm flying by the seat of my pants. Frame is set, it's time to put the boards up. Now here comes the problem. Do you see it? I can hear you laughing!!

  I sat back taking a look at this wall I have started, I am thinking to myself that I'm not really worried about the screw holes being uneven because I am going to paint this. But I also look at it thinking something is just not right. Then it dawned on me, I should be staggering the boards. Why did I start in the middle putting them up? I should be starting at the bottom or top right?

  So I tear it out...one of many tear outs mind you 😂😂 you just wait you will see.! Now I can start over and get it as right as I can get it.

  I start at the bottom, staggering the boards. Okay not perfect but I can live with that. You certainly wouldn't hire me to build anything for you and that's a fact! I'm just not a carpenter nor do I pretend to be one. But I am happy with it and that is what matters the most. My labor is free 😁 When I get through putting in the bed and cabinets most of this wall will not show anyway. I'm just trying to get it sturdy enough that it doesn't fall down while I am driving down the road!!

  Oh and speaking of the bed, I am going through several different options in my head for a bed frame, trying to decide what to build the frame out of...wood? PVC pipe? Crates? I have to come up with something fast because my first big trip is coming up. What size bed will I need? I don't know these things just yet. 

  Anyway back to this wall. It's been a long day. I put all the boards up but the last one. I'm tired, it's getting dark, I still have to get ready for work the next day. I call it a wrap for the day.

  The next morning I had a little bit of time before work so I ran out to put that last board up. In my haste I grabbed the wrong screws. I put two screw holes through the van before I realized my mistake. 😲😲 Nothing I can do at this point so I head to work. 

  While at work I contacted the paint and body shop that did my rust treatment on the inside floor of my van. I wanted to know if they could sand that wrap off then paint the van. I also told them about my two screw hole mess up to have them fix that. They laughed at me, I laughed at me, but they said they can get it back in their shop. We made plans for them to pick it up at my work place the next day. Finally I'm going to get that ugly wrap off. 

  Then it happened, my bed frame miracle. A detail shop we use to clean up cars for us called me, he knew I was doing a van conversion. His nephew did a van conversion but the van broke down. It was a 60's model van, impossible to find the right part to fix it so they were going to scrap it. He said I could go get anything I wanted out of it. I went to check it out. I couldn't believe my eyes, there was a very nice handmade bed frame in it. It was built to where you could lay it flat for a bed or you could pull the back up to make a couch. Very nice frame. I didn't want to use it as a couch because to do that you have to put split cushions on it. I didn't want to fall into the crack of the cushions while trying to sleep at night. But being adjustable I could make a twin or full size bed. It was also about 2 inches too long for my van, so I had to cut it down a bit. 

  I also pulled a 12 volt refrigerator even though I had already bought one, I decided to keep it, so I could use it for a freezer and mine for a refrigerator. Two AGM batteries, 12 volt solar panel starter kit with control panel.  I already had my power source so I didn't need all that stuff . I kept the bed frame and fridge then sold the rest. Oh and I pulled a cabinet out but it had water damage, it was ruined. I kept the counter top that now holds my propane one burner stove that I use to cook my meals with. I do fine cooking on the burner but I do miss an oven every now and then. If I have a hook up with electricity then I use my air fryer to cook with. 

I installed the bed frame as a twin size, this thing is adjustable so I could change it to full size if I wasn't happy with the twin. I knew I wouldn't have time to install hardwood floors before my trip so I just left them as is for now.

  I sent her back to the paint and body shop, this time to get the wrap off and fix the screw holes I put through her side. They sent me pictures of the progress. They had to sand her down to metal then repaint her. She looks so much better now, Kinda plain Jane but I will fix that later. I don't have time for all that I got a trip to go on!

 

Next week we will tackle the ceilings.

And Remember....

Life is a Journey...Sometimes the people around you won't understand your Journey! They don't need to, it's not for them. 

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See you in the next This Van Life of Mine!