dokodemo

While out at Boris's barn and woodshop, Tim helped me design and fashion a loft-like shelf for the back of the van.

Here is the problem:

I store a lot of stuff behind the backseat. I try to keep it all in 2 large Rubbermaid tubs, so that it can get messy without the van getting messy. Clutter inside the van is not tolerated.

However, I also like to sleep downstairs, which involves moving all the stuff out of the way, or popping the top to put it upstairs. When "stealth camping" in the city, popping the top is not an option.

What the loft does is lets me just swap all the stuff from the cushion above the engine compartment to a shelf right above it. That previously unused airspace is now full of my gear, and my feet have plenty of room underneath.

The closet side door still opens perfectly through a cutout. The washer fluid reservoir is also accessable via cutouts. It would be especially swank to add a hose and funnel to it, but for now its ok (considering the washer fluid seems to last forever).

I dont intend to keep stuff on the loft while driving, but in case I do (and for security while asleep) a small lip was nailed to the rims of the loft to keep anything from sliding forward. It is still possible to pull the bins over the lip. The two bins fit perfectly above or below the shelf with a minimum of wasted space. There is still room on the side of them to keep extra items like chairs, sleeping bag, shoes, etc.

If something is placed over the door cutout, like an atlas, the gear beneath is invisble.

There are a bunch of photos of this loft and my construction of it in the gallery.

Original credit for this design is given to findtao, wherever he is.