Stuventures - Musings

After a couple of stints in the alpine areas, it was no longer acceptable for me to keep warm with blankets alone. Heating was an important feature for my van build, so I investigated and installed a diesel heater.

For five minutes of getting wet it is a costly exercise to keep a shower inside. The space it uses, water consumption, enigineering required, it doesn't add up.

Before the rear bulkhead, before the shower and cupboard; the ventilation fan has to go in. Scary moments a 350 mm square hole is to be cut in the roof. Measure 59 times !

Over the period from July 2021 to July 2022, I have constructed and refined a murphy fold up bed. Here, I discuss the phases of the build and problems encountered.

Building a van is not much different to building a house: you need a plan. Without the plan you go nowhere. I am now more than one year into the van build and am spinning the wheels in the mud because my plan has not been updated and massive time line slippage. Covid-19 delays, work and rainy days aside, there is a lot of emotional lethargy due to the ongoing lockdown drama too.

 My life is not just about adventure. Most of it is actually spend at home. This especially so due to the lockdown we had in Victoria last year. During that period  I was looking at this scrap timber lying round at home doing that enforced house cleanup that one does to keep occupied. I was almost going to toss it. It has after all been sitting around for perhaps 20 years waiting for that "I may use it day" excuse us hoarders use.  Anyway, I remembered wanting to make a self watering planter pot and thought that maybe I could construct something bigger, better and more aesthetically pleasing than the black plastic ones I see at the hardware store and gardening shops. So, a bit of sketching:  Removal of nails. A dry run before committing. The joint is stronger if I do not screw into the end grain, so I re-arranged  the timber such that screws only go across the grain. Planning, concept testing done. I committed ...

I have embarked on a major project to build myself a van. How hard can it be ?