[Philly758]

@Philly758 Looks good -Wouldn't work for me as there are two of us (me&wife).

What kind of LED light did u used?

Well, I have joked about buying a bunk bed cot with some of my buddies that go on bike trips with me. Cabela's sells one, it's pretty funny.

I bought all of my LED's on eBay. For the dome lights I used 48 SMD LED panels (they come with festoon adapters and others), 2 in the front dome, 1 in the middle, 2 in the rear. I got 42mm festoon 12 SMD LED's for the stepwell lights. I got 5 SMD LED (4 on the sides 1 on top) T10 bulbs for the map lights... I don't think the rear most map light covers are supposed to come off, they didn't get put back on, I'll glue them back in place some day but for now I don't care.

I also went a little nuts today at lunch and added another 12 SMD LED to my front dome light. For those keeping track, thats 108 SMD LED's in that dome... So bright, kind of stupid. :rockon:

 

[SilverBullet1997]

@Philly758 Looks good -Wouldn't work for me as there are two of us (me&wife).

What kind of LED light did u used?

Well, I have joked about buying a bunk bed cot with some of my buddies that go on bike trips with me. Cabela's sells one, it's pretty funny.

I bought all of my LED's on eBay. For the dome lights I used 48 SMD LED panels (they come with festoon adapters and others), 2 in the front dome, 1 in the middle, 2 in the rear. I got 42mm festoon 12 SMD LED's for the stepwell lights. I got 5 SMD LED (4 on the sides 1 on top) T10 bulbs for the map lights... I don't think the rear most map light covers are supposed to come off, they didn't get put back on, I'll glue them back in place some day but for now I don't care.

I also went a little nuts today at lunch and added another 12 SMD LED to my front dome light. For those keeping track, thats 108 SMD LED's in that dome... So bright, kind of stupid. :rockon:

So those are wired in to the stock light bulb? No additional wiring needed?

 

[Philly758]

So those are wired in to the stock light bulb? No additional wiring needed?

Pretty much. The factory festoon bulb sits in the middle… I got an LED festoon and 2 48 LED panels, that have 3M adhesive on the back. The panels come with adapters as shown below. I took 2 of the extra adapters and stripped the wires, twisted them together, and tucked them in on either side of the festoon bulb so they are held securely, and plugged them each in as your normally one. Make sure to make contact and check which sides need to touch for the LED to light up as you do it, because they do not work in reverse.

 

[Tegnus]

Bump. Hoping there will be more pictures soon as camping season starts...

 

[walks with ducks]

Just a teaser! I'll probably do a full write up of all the projects after my roadtrip to WY end of the month. Oh and my interior LED's are in the mail, can't wait!

 

[cowboydan]

I'm a big guy, I need my room. The wife doesn't care to have an elbow in the face late at night.

 

[SilverBullet1997]

I'm a big guy, I need my room. The wife doesn't care to have an elbow in the face late at night.

I don't blame her! I wouldn't want a cowboy elbow in my face any time of the day or night.

Any pics of your platform there, what kind of tent you got there? how do you secure it? are those fog lights in the grill?

Nice looking van

 

[Tegnus]

This is our Astro campersized for the weekend... 10 min conversation - take out chair, put in blow up mattress. Haven't had a time to build a proper platform yet, so I have a bed in the van full time

Also tested the bug screen - worked great, now just need to trim it for the other side windows. Overall costs under $15 per side, if you live in US, you can order everything from amazon even cheaper... Great how to can be found here: http://www.annestravels.net/bug-screens-van-screens/

 

[Harleybowtie]

A warm night, camping in the van, open the window, those skeeters can't get in.
Spent the better part of the day with some 1/4" plywood and the jig saw. Inserts
are NOT for driving, just for keepin' the flyers out on the occasional campin' trips.

one of those magnet screens, altered to fit.

 

[Tegnus]

@Harleybowtie I like how the screen is done on your van - great job!

 

[Harleybowtie]

Thanks ! I've been doing an expansion of sorts. I have a cap tent left over from my full sized pickup. It's in great shape so I thought I'd put it to use on the Astro.
So I got one of those receiver hitch cargo haulers and made a plywood box that's just deep enough to
clear the doors. It can be filled with coolers, chairs, whatever will fit without blocking the license plate.

When setting up camp, you empty the box and turn it over. This effectually raises the height by 1.5" . A piece of plywood gets laid on top to make the floor.

A 2X2 with a 1/3rd section of PVC pipe provides the top support.

The Cap-Tent then gets put on over the doors and held in place with built in bungee cords.

The tent has a zippered opening for entry & egress. Screened side opening and front door windows keep the critters out.

The floor is carpeted and folds in half via a piano hinge.

Flaps close up the tent for cooler temps.

 

[Tegnus]

Looks really cool - I like the idea about extra space added to van - tent. Don't like the cargo hitch hauler because that would affect my clearance.

What kind of vent in the roof do you have? Would you recommend it?

 

[Herman Wiegman]

Very slick. I have used some screen door material to cover my windows and a few flat fridge magnets to hold it in place. The front window inserts may be worth a try!
I did put a platform behind my middle seat, and when you fold down the middle seat the platform and seat become a 6foot long bed. I throw a 3" foam matress on top (cut to size) for comfortable sleeping.
The platform does raise the sleeping surface up a bit, so I sometimes bump my head, but we can store coolers under the platform.
Your floor extension is pretty slick, and you have a great tent over the back. Happy Camping!

herminator

 

[Harleybowtie]

I bought a 9"X9" roof vent on E-bay. I like it because it installs without having to cut through the whole roof support rib. I have to remember
to close it before backing into the garage.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180944357428?ss ... 1497.l2649

Mine's a cargo van. I have a coleman air mattress that just goes on the floor. I'll try to get some pix of it inflated & ready to use.

 

[Tegnus]

A/S Forum redirect to ebay is broken, can you say what is the price and I can look it up on ebay...

I have been thinking about something like it for my van, but the problem is that I am very afraid of it starting to leak...

 

[Harleybowtie]

Item # 180944357428 , $21.50

You have to use the plumbers putty under the flange. I pop-riveted mine then put a thin coat of clear silicone over the rivets.

 

[WoodButcher]

Slick HB. The cargo hitch lets you park anywhere regardless of the terrain if you find a level spot for the van itself.

Watch the plumbers putty, it does harden and crack. The product I would recommend is "Plumbers Goop", It's an oil base caulk / contact adhesive that comes in a toothpaste tube. A similar product is "Geocell 2300" both are clear and oil based, both very messy if your not careful but the plumbers goop can be peeled after it has cured. I use masking tape to get clean lines. Not easy but it is very elastic and both seem to suffer no ill effect from the suns UV.

 

[Harleybowtie]

Here's a few pix of the Coleman Airbed . It's a full size, (not single or queen) and fits nicely between the wheel well covers.

 

[Harleybowtie]

Not wanting to drill any holes in the roof I found some suction cups and engineered a set up
that holds pretty good. A breezy day couldn't move it. Those cups suck.

 

[cowboydan]

Not wanting to drill any holes in the roof I found some suction cups and engineered a set up
that holds pretty good. A breezy day couldn't move it. Those cups suck.

View attachment 2

View attachment 1

Nice application. truly light weight and compact. it's perfect. how does it anchor to the ground?