Sheila

Here it is, the van we have all been waiting for. 

Well, myself anyway. Kasey wasn't completely sold on the idea of a van but I can see her  excitement grow as she sees the transformation and shows it to our friends. 

Oh, I gave myself a haircut too...

Follow along as we scrap the old versions of campers for the even slimmer "Sheila"....

2016 Dodge Promaster 2500, 22 MPGs, gas powered, and fairly inexpensive, as far as nice vans go. Automatic six speed transmission with a very nice option package that enhances long distance driving. Bluetooth, back up camera, front wheel drive.  Very nice driving van with a cargo capacity of 4,400 lbs. Wow! 

These vans are five inches wider than a Sprinter which allows for east/ west sleeping, creating different layouts for smaller vans. This van is about a foot shorter than the Ford truck was and drives way better. 

This is my dream van. 

The inside of the cargo van before its transformation.

Notice the 14 inch square hole in the roof??
The silver stuff is a sound proofing material from Home Depot.
It is actually roof repair for metal, but does an outstanding job as a sound proof/deadening  material at about 1/4 of the cost of the real product, Dynamat.

More sound proofing with an additional layer of insulation.
This is made from cotton jeans all shredded up and has a foil type of backing.
I installed it foil side out hoping to discourage moisture from entering the cotton.
The exposed metal is wrapped with a marine/ automotive type carpet that will create a softer, warmer feel to Sheila. All of the material I have used is glued in place with 3M 90 adhesive spray. I have tested it on several locations and have heated it to 200 degrees F with a heat gun to ensure that it stays stuck. It has been rigorously tested and has surpassed my expectations.
The box is for the bed base and will house the 35 gallon fresh water tank.
We are keeping everything inside to provide an all-season rig. 

This shows the progress from the rear. The face to face dinette converts quickly into a queen bed.
I have used light weight aluminium bars to support the bed. They seem much stronger and supportive than I expected.  

Here is the bed in position for sleepy time.
The gray carpet will provide a place for four inch high density foam wrapped in upholstery.
I am trying to get Ma Rumrill to come down and whip those out. She is great at stuff like that.  

The other side box is slightly smaller to maintain a larger space in between to house the bicycles.
Notice the wall is done in a Birch ply. This is to break up the  lines and provide an easy clean wall surface.

Stay tuned for the build... enough solar and battery to run a microwave and stay "off the grid". Inverter, 12 volt fridge, shower with hot water, and a propane or diesel heat system to keep us comfy.
Please leave comments or ideas and thanks for reading!