Leveling the Floor in My Dodge Grand Caravan Part 1 | Van Life Adventures
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- Leveling the floor space in my Dodge Grand Caravan Van Conversion project. Part 1. :)
I just traded in my Kia Forte for a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan so I can stop talking about how I wish I could go travel around in a camper van and actually start doing it.
I want to do a "No Build - Build" where I will not be altering my van at all in any permanent way but still making it livable.
My first task: Figuring out how to level the back where there is a significant dip in the floor - so I can put some plywood down and level my bed.
Cardboard, duct tape, and a whole lot of sore thumb moments went into this video and I think I figured it out. I probably did it all wrong but I get some points for trying. :)
Please feel free to leave me comments and suggestions - I love learning from other people, interacting with my fellow humans, and making connections. :)
Feel free to follow me on Instagram: @ninjamomjenowen
/ ninjamomjenowen
Totally get the great feeling of doing it yourself! Same here and I’m working on being more independent. I’ve always relied on my ex-husband for those types of things, and honestly still rely on him for most of that stuff. But I am working on figuring all that out on my own, and I very much look forward to the day where I start doing things like that and getting that independence!
Thank you. You will get there. It is hard. I had to ask my uncle for help for my floor 2.0 so I could use his tools and have him show me how to do it. It's ok to ask for help sometimes. :) But it does feel wonderful when you get that aha moment and figure it out yourself. :)
To build my sleeping platform in my Dodge Caravan, I used four milk crates. Two milk crates in front turned on their sides. In back, I placed two milk crates simply upside down in back. On top of the 4 milk crates, I attached two 73 inch long steel L-bars.
It levels out perfectly.
The floor is deeper in front in most minivans, so two milk crates placed on their sides in front help level out the bed from front to back.
On top of L-bars, I placed a sheet of plywood that matches the width of my single mattress.
Of course, milk crates also make great floor drawers.
I can remove my bed in two minutes when I get home from camping. I don't have stow'n'go in back so I take out the back seats, but leave in the middle seats in the floor.
That is an awesome solution!!! I was thinking of something like that too but ended up going with the "Trunk Bunk" bed from Camp n Car because I wanted something I could easily convert to fit 2 if my kiddo or sister wanted to join me.
@@thetravelingdork expensive.
That said I gave up on making window blinds and went to WeatherTech instead
Going to use your idea on the crates
I feel like the RUclips gods have heard my cries and finally sent your videos to my recommendations! I have the same issue, I really don’t want to take my 3rd row seats out as they don’t just pop out like the 2nd row in my 2014 Honda Odyssey. And I don’t want anything that would be difficult to reverse. This is not only practical but removable, and sustainable. The fact that you’re adding the insulation factor is like a 2 for 1 special! My mind is thinking about a big piece of carpet sitting in my attic from when we bought our house and immediately had it removed from the den to put down wood flooring.
You win the best comment on my videos so far award! Thank you! You just totally made my day! Carpet chunks could probably work too and maybe you can duct tape them together as well! I wonder if rolling them up tightly might work and be nice and sturdy? :)
Thank you for saying hello!! Have a beautiful day!
@@thetravelingdork the possibilities are endless, hope you have a special week with lots of magical moments and joyous surprises!
you are amazing.
Good point. I think I am going to see if I can secure it to the floor or with bungees maybe.
I am going to tie the legs together so that the two pieces don't come apart and scoot around - probably with a velcro strip maybe.
Good job, just got a 2012 with middle bench and stowandgo in back... Dislike the uneven floor so going to have to do something like this as we travel lots and want a slight camper conversion when we go😊
My solution is almost 4 years old and still going strong. :D
That is a really good idea just came across your channel. Got to catch up on all the stuff now. Wishing you and yours the very best in life. Take care:)
Thank you Nathan!! It's still working 2 years later!
That is great to hear still going strong thank you for all the great ideas. Slowly catching up. On all your videos. All the best to yours. Take care
It's three times harder to keep cool in summer in a vehicle then to keep warm.
Indeed!
You had a Great idea about the cardboard! I watched another one of your videos about the inside of your van. It was super cool on the inside. Loved your tattoo!!!
Thank you! It seems to be working and I discovered today during our heat wave that everything stored under my bed stayed fairly cool under there even when the rest of the van was 132 inside! Mind you my granola bars now look like something you would expect to come out of your body after you ate them but my battery pack, various other things all stayed nice and cool down there and I have to think it was partly because of the cardboard under it all and then the bed is sitting over top and my blankets are hanging over the side kind of creating a little cool spot under there.
Who knows.
I am not Bill Nye the Science Guy by any means!
And thank you! I love my tattoo as well. I had a friend design it for me. It has a lot of personal meaning that maybe I will share sometime. :)
WOW great idea!!! This has solved my problem! I am about to get a minivan and I have been wondering how I can do the flooring when there are these weird fixtures everywhere (after I pull out the seats). Your cardboard box solution is perfect! Its much easier to stack them and cut the necessary holes and THEN lay the waterproof matting that I want (or any other kind of floor covering). Thanks!
YAY!! I am so glad I could help!!
Good job!
Thank you! I was pretty proud of myself for figuring it out on my own!
About the thumb thing, I hope you don't get osteoarthritis in that thumb. It smarts.
Your floor levelling is brilliant 👍
Thank you! I had 3 kids. One of which used to make EVERYTHING out of duct tape and cardboard. I had a 2d College class that required us to design furniture that would hold up our professor + one other person only using duct tape and cardboard. I had no idea it was so strong.
I think my thumb hates me but my floor is working so it's all good!
I love simple solutions - do let us know down the road if this worked in the long run. Thanks for sharing!
It's been a few months now and it is still working like a charm! Nice, solid and not moved a single millimeter. :D
Keep it up!!! Trial and error is always key
Thank you! I am loving it so far! I am doing my first real camping trip this weekend so I will find out real quick if it will hold up or not!
Such a resourceful solution! 👏👏👏
Going on 2 years and still going strong! Thank you!
Bwahahahaha! Your duck tape thumb.
I had no idea how strong duct tape was against skin. Sheesh. :)
Wow great job!!!!
Thank you! I am having so much fun challenging myself! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your encouragement!
Sweetheart, all you had to do was get a 2x4 cut the width of the bed, tip the bed up and screw the 2x4 to the feet of the bed frame, keeping the legs clamped together while you screwed the 2x4 to the feet.
Thank you. I wanted my whole floor level. :)
Great job Jen!
Thank you :)
Good job leveling.
Thank you! So far it is working perfectly and I have had no problems!!
Level up 👍
Doing my best! I'm looking forward to getting to decorate and fill my van with color! But first I need to build the floor and make my window covers!
Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams Charles!
How many cardboards did you buy?
I think you did a great job, very creative. I'm in the process of doing a no build build in my dodge grand Caravan.
Trying to level the floor is very challenging, however, I still want to use the front stowaway
I did subscribe to your channel, looking forward to part 2 and your travels.
Thank you!! I think I got 6 bound together in there! Thank you for saying hi and following along!!
Love the idea thanks
Ppl
:D Happy to help!!
Hey Jenn ❤️ Where did you purchase your nice big corrugated cardboard??
Hi!! I went to the Uhaul!! I was getting them for moving and put them in the back of my van and realized that folded up they were the perfect size and height so I just duct taped them together and got new boxes for moving later HAHA!
@@thetravelingdork Thank you! I've been looking for that big size, I love the idea of it for a bit of insulation too. Have a great day I appreciate you girl 🤗
Now that two years have past, how is your floor holding up? Asking because I want to copy.😊
Same floor underneath. Cardboard and duct tape section is still going strong. Replaced the plywood last summer and it is awesome
@@thetravelingdork ❤❤❤
@@thetravelingdorkGood to know! I'm going to copy also, Hope you're doing good 😊🙋♀️❤
Suppppper cute van❤️ just started following u
..... do u have a link for the bed?
Thank you!
YES - I got it from some great guys in WA state when they were just starting out and had a floor model they sold me for about half the price they sell their beds for now.
It's called the Trunk Bunk.
campncar.com/product/trunk-bunk/
@@thetravelingdork tyyyy that's awesome!
@@thetravelingdork o wow it is pricey!
How did you create get buy the bed? I just used a 30 inch wide single mattress.
A company out here in the PNW makes them!
ruclips.net/channel/UCOPc_B8Sb3gdwvNPxTEK8vw
Expensive but then again I gave up and bought blinds from weathertech 225$ Canadian
@@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793 the blinds I made are functional but ugly. Good to know that there are custom made ones available.
11:52 11:53
Haha I am not sure what that means :)