hoosiermark
Batesville ,Indiana
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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I have the regular length with a one ton chassis so weight will not be a problem. Sportsmobile has a great website that shows their standard floor pland plus lets you design an interior yourself by moving cabinets and beds around and print it out. It is a really helpful website for someone like me.
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Yep, a ton shorty will have no problem with weight. Maybe a little cramped depending on what you choose to do, but take a look at the Roadtrek 170 (17' 2500) for what all can be crammed into that length.... literally a full-house RV in 17'. I doubt that you want to build a copy, but it'll show you all that can be done.
Remembering family outings in the 1950 and 60's in Dad's stock VW & Econoline vans, I think the raised roof is the place to start.... 
Jim, "Manure occureth."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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howgregg
Gradyville, PA, USA
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Joined: 02/15/2001
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I did a van in 1994 using a 17 ft. Chevy van. There are pictures accessable from the link. Click on "On the Road Again" to access the page to the 1992 Chevy Van pictures. It was not all that easy and I probably only saved about $5,000 at the time.
http://mysite.verizon.net/howgregg/
How Gregg
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kking
Lowell, MA
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Joined: 02/18/2008
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Geez, all that work and the van was totaled 7 months after it was done? Bummer! Great job though, looked good!
The map shows the states my wife and I have driven (or camped) in together.
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Bamabound
Alabama
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Joined: 12/26/2007
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I came to this thread to see if we could do the same thing with out 94 full size van. It already has the high roof snd TV.
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kking
Lowell, MA
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Joined: 02/18/2008
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Of course you can. Long ones have more space though... is your's long or short?
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Bamabound
Alabama
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Joined: 12/26/2007
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It's a short with a small v-8. My husband is concerned about the smaller engine with any extra weight. We've pulled our 94 17ft. caravelle boat up and down a few mountains with no problems. I looked at some of the sites people posted on here.
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kking
Lowell, MA
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Joined: 02/18/2008
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The good thing about a DIY is that you only put what you want in it, and get to select the materials to do even that with. By careful planning and choice of material you can make a nice camper that weighs a whole lot less than a factory one. My Dodge has a 5.2 and I think that is plenty adequate even towing my boat.... but we haven't been where there's big hills with it yet.
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AsheGuy
Raleigh, North Carolina
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Joined: 11/15/2004
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hoosiermark, turn on your private messages in My Forums/My Preferences so I can send you a private message. I grew up in Napoleon near Batesville. Of course that was a long time ago, maybe you are a recent resident there.
David & Margaret - 2005 LTV 210B 3S
- Our Blog -
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RIA
NEW YORK
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Joined: 09/28/2003
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I have been working on mine for the last 5 yrs. I have a Dodge Ram van ext cab. Everything except the kitchen sink is in it. Wired for battery & 120v. GO FOR IT! And have fun. I have been fine tuning for the last 2 yrs.
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