My mobile workshop and truck can go almost anywhere (and has) but just doesn’t make sense for smaller jobs. You may have heard of it? I call it the Dogghouse and I tow it with a 2004 GMC Sierra 3500, 6.6 Diesel with an Allison Transmission.
I love vans though. I always have. They are great utilitarian vehicles, better on gas (if you can believe that), make comfortable overnight campers, and make me feel a little like Mr. T. when I drive them.
As a matter of fact, I have been saving for a van for a while and searching the used market for an older conversion van or stripped cargo van with hopes to build a work van that could also serve as my overnight accommodations when I’m on the road.
After a year of searching, I found the perfect van. This 1992 Chevy G20 was inherited from the original owner and was everything I was looking for. It is both simple and effective. In fact, “simple and effective” is a theme I think about often and try to employ in most aspects of my life. This van build was no different.
After I purchased the van I went in with a deep cleaning. Not just any cleaning though. It was the kind of satisfying deep clean you see on YouTube; carpet, wood veneer, seats, etc. Then I washed and waxed the exterior and added some brand new all-terrain tires.
The Mark III conversion had some radical pin striping that was mostly in good shape but the largest stripe was trashed and it needed to be brightened up. I used 2” baby-blue vinyl to cover the junk stripes and brighten up this unicorn.
In terms of working, I had to add ladder racks. Those were a must for longer lumber, ladders and off-road lighting for off-grid jobs. Like I did when building The Dogghouse I had to “feel-out” the space, give it a good shakedown run, and take my time outfitting it to suit me.
After a month of using and tuning up VANilla Ice, I built-out a simple interior that includes:
- Plywood bed platform
- 21-gallon RV fresh water tank
- Isolator/smart charger to charge aux battery bank using alternator
- 12V RV pump for water pressure
- 3000 watt, 12V inverter
- Mr. Heater for cold nights
- 2-100 AH gel batteries
- Butane camp stove for cooking
- Bean bag chair
- 3’x5’ rug
In my kitchen I currently use a cooler but I am quickly saving for a 12v Dometic fridge!
All in all, I am beyond pleased. There is nothing quite like Van Halen on the cassette deck, cruising the backroads of America, heading to the next job where I get the privilege of turning someone’s dream into a salvage reality.
Written by : Chris Strathy for the Tiny House Magazine Issue 107
