As an avid outdoors and mountain biking enthusiast, I wanted a small van in which I could sleep in to facilitate and enhance my weekend adventures. I stumble upon a brand new 2019 TC that was already a bit converted (minimalist set up, but still), so I jumped right in and I haven't regret it! The initial set up allowed me to start using the TC as a little campervan right off the start which was awesome, but the optimization-design-comfort-lover in me wouldn't settle forever with that set up...
So I made a mid-term iteration plan to get the van to my perfect set up, slowly but surely. Here's how it goes:
PHASE 0 (aka what was already included in the initial conversion)
Duration: 0 weekend, 100% completed
Interior paneling finition
Sofa-bred module (including 2" mattress)
Amovible table
Side and back windows
Curtains tailored to each windows
PHASE 1 (easy, quick and mostly necessary add-ons for the van's purpose)
Duration: 1 weekend, 100% completed
2" Hitch at the back
Bike Rack (Sportsrack 2 bikes, but upgraded to Panache T6 in 2022)
Roof bars (Thule)
Solar/roof shower (Yakima RoadShower, 10 gallons)
Awning (GoXplore)
Roof cargo box (Thule Pulse Alpine)
Interior roof light switch (so that it doesn't turn on in the middle of the night whenever I open the door)
That Thule roof cargo box also didn't make the cut in the next phase, although I loved the extra storage, I loved even more the solar pannel.
PHASE 2 (body work and not-so-fun stuff so that my dog can stay cool in the van during summer)
Duration: 2 weekends, 100% completed
Sound deadening (Kilmat)
Insulation (Thinsulate)
Ventilation (2 Maxx Air Dome fans)
Lighting (4 DEL 12 volts lights)
Plumbing (23L water container, small electric pump and faucet)
Solar panel (1 Renogy 100w)
All-in-one battery (Goal Zero Power Station, 1000w)
Secret flooring storage (backseat feet area of the Passenger version is unused/covered in the Cargo version)
Even if I love the dark look, the interior space being so tiny, It just made the interior feels even more cramped. So since I already have to remove all the panels for this phase, I figured, eh, why not just pull out the black carpet finition and paint everything white. Looked less "finished" than before, but I knew this was only temporary.
PHASE 3 (Interior finition and added storage)
Duration: 2 weekends, 75% completed
Roof & wall panelling (5/16" x 3" x 8' lambris)
Overhead storage in the cabine (not shown in the pictures)
Added Reflectix to the curtains (not shown in the pictures)
1.5" suspension lift kit
New all-terrain summer/four-season tires is we can find something that fits! (got advice? comment away please haha)
*Wow! Now it's starting to look like a tiny home ?
PHASE 4 (New slide out sofa-bed & kitchen counter construction)
Duration: 2-3 weekends, 0% completed
Slide out sofa-bed construction
Kitchen counter construction with a sink (finally)
Refrigerator (probably an Iceco 12volts model)
*Sorry for the few french notes, but I figured you would get the idea anyway!
* ADVICE REQUEST ABOUT TIRES/SUSPENSION LIFT *
I'm looking to buy new all-terrain tires for this little baby and I'm not exactly sure up to which tire profile I can go. The original tire size is 215-55R-16, but I would like more sturdy, heavy load capable and good looking tires. Last time I got towed, the guy told me the original Continental tires were not rated for such heavy load (considering the bike rack, bikes, fully loaded roadshower, etc.). I was thinking of these Falken Wildpeak or these BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain, but they got high aspect ratio which worries me a bit event if I'm thinking of adding a 1 to 1.5" suspension lift kit.
Got tips? Please help this is waaaaay out of my comfort zone!
Got questions? Don't hesitate, I might add product links and more specifications if there's an interest.
That's it, I hoped this can be of use to you somehow ?
For more photos and future updates on the van conversion you can go checkout my Instagram account @sarahthibo !