hoosiermark
Batesville ,Indiana
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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Has anyone investigated the possibility of removing the rear doors on a van and creating an extension. I have a reg size 1 ton chev. I want more room. If I add say 3 feet to the rear of the unit I could have more inside room. If the area was only used for a portion of the bed, only my feet would be there and only when I slept. If the addition was light weight, it might not impact the handling much. I am thinking that the weight could be kept to a minimum but I gain 3 more feet of interior space in the main part of the van. If not this idea, has anyone considered something similar to a slideout for the rear?
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cm
Dillon, CO USA
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Joined: 08/01/2002
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You could the rear slide using a ball bearing slide and it would easily slide in and out. Do a search for ball bearing slide racks. They make them in many different sizes. Also some variation of a material handling support would work.
To make a power slide would just make it more complex and heavier.
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hoosiermark
Batesville ,Indiana
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Yes I could use ball bearing slide. A set came with the van which is what gave me the idea. I am leaning towards "the add on" as I call it. I keep thinking I only occupy the sleeping area when I am stopped and only for x hours but I will be in the rest of the vehicle all the time and can use the space there. I have been amazed at all of the responses members give and the fantastic insights they have. I was thinking of using the hinges as an anchor point and perhaps either extending the frame or using a support from the hitch. I think I may want to remove the attachment when I am not using it for camping or traveling, so the hitch idea is #1 at this point.
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gerrym51
massachusettes
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Joined: 07/31/2007
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go to safari condo website. they make(made?) something similiar
at one time
gerry
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david_42
Oregon
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Joined: 04/08/2005
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Another possibility would be to add a fabric foldout like they use on hybrid trailers. That way you wouldn't have to remove the doors, just open them & fold out your bed. You could put brackets on the doors to help support the bottom of the foldout.
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juliev
Minnesota
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Joined: 07/29/2004
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We've though about it, as a place for the dogs to hang out at night. We were considering something like what David42 suggested, a fabric foldout tent with a solid bottom perhaps using carbon fiber material (we have a friend that is a CF fabricator). Our idea was to have it fold up inside the back doors, then just swing down when the back doors were opened.
After some cost studies, we decided it just wasn't worth it for the small amount of space that we would earn. We do have a screen room thingee that attached to our awning. That gives us enough extra space to use when we're on a long term campout or when we camp with the kids and grandkids. The dogs will just have to continue to sleep with us.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
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loving retirement
SF Bay Area
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Joined: 06/30/2006
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hoosiermark wrote:Has anyone investigated the possibility of removing the rear doors on a van and creating an extension. I have a reg size 1 ton chev. I want more room. If I add say 3 feet to the rear of the unit I could have more inside room. If the area was only used for a portion of the bed, only my feet would be there and only when I slept. If the addition was light weight, it might not impact the handling much. I am thinking that the weight could be kept to a minimum but I gain 3 more feet of interior space in the main part of the van. If not this idea, has anyone considered something similar to a slideout for the rear?
Hoosiermark, your approach sounds like a light weight version of the Winnebago Navion IQ 24DL with the expanding Queen bed rear slide. I know, Winnebago's slide is power driven and likely weighs a 1,000 lbs, but I have wondered why no B manufacturer has not gone to a light weight manual driven side or rear slide for a larger bed at the rear.
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mumkin
Minot ND USA
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Joined: 07/16/2004
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Something similar was done by Great West Van, but they put a slide on the rear side to lengthen the bed - across the back of the van. It was apparently not popular as they no longer offer it... or the other slide that they used to have to extend the dinette/bed.
It was a power slide.
Mumkin
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Gene in NE
Omaha, NE
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Joined: 09/15/2003
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hoosiermark wrote:Has anyone investigated the possibility of removing the rear doors on a van and creating an extension. I have a reg size 1 ton chev. I want more room...If the addition was light weight, it might not impact the handling much. I am thinking that the weight could be kept to a minimum but I gain 3 more feet of interior space in the main part of the van. If not this idea, has anyone considered something similar to a slideout for the rear? I'm surprised that Rodger has not jumped in yet. He ordered a tent from Napier per this posting . I can't recall any follow ups. The advantages of a tent of this nature is the flexibility. Just another idea to your rear slide.
2002 Trail-Lite B Plus 211-S w/5.7 Chevy
Gene
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Rodger
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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The tent didn't quite fit over the rear doors, but we decided to keep it, and use it as a stand alone tent.
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