Van build out first stages and flooring

I got a bare cargo van for a few reasons. First, it’s what I could find. Since Covid-19 started vans have been hard to find. Second, it’s cheaper. The van came off an enterprise fleet service. Clean but a lot of miles. It was bare inside. Great because I didn’t have to try and work around anything.

Since it was a fleet delivery vehicle, it had the standard steel bulkhead wall. That was the first thing that I took out. After fighting and drilling out a few stubborn bolts for over an hour, I had a clean line from the front seats to the back. That and the whole van looked a little less creepy.

I have a lot of ideas in my head about what I wanted. The problem with a blank canvas is where to start. I knew that I wanted to get a floor first. The van had nothing, just a ribbed metal floor that was near impossible to walk on let alone sit or lie down.

It’s a standard roof, which is still taller than some other vans. But I didn’t want to lose any more height than I had to. I went for a floating floor. A layer of foam insulation, then a finished piece of plywood, topped with vinyl flooring. I didn’t go with a real hardwood floor. It’s a van, I wanted something a little more durable and easy to clean. Plus there is also the cost. I don’t have a trust fund to hire a pro and build a van that looks great but has a terrible function.

It worked out great. The edge trim was a real price shock. About $25 bucks a 10-foot piece. Lumber and building prices have gone mad.

I have been wanting to find used and cast-off building supplies. It’s a really hard search. People used to give lumber away. Now they ask for cash for even the smallest remains. Slim pickings. I’ve been seeing some joke posts on Craigslist. Sadly, they are serious.