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Where to begin with TC?


woop21
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In May I bought a 2011 TC Cargo van, it does not have seats, but it does have side and rear windows. My intention was to make a stealth-camper or campervan, but I haven't done much with it. I live in an apartment, so I don't have many tools or a garage to work on the interior of my van, I also don't really have the skills. What I would like to do is create spaces where I can store a cot/bed, luggable loo toiler, and whatever else I need. I have no idea how to do this, but the photo gallery has lots of awesome examples. I am a computer guy, and I don't know much about renovating car interiors. I also have some nerve damage, and am mostly one-handed. Is it realistic that I could take my TC to some automtoive place and get them to qoute me how much it would cost to convert my van for me? If so, what would a realistic price be?

I have seen some "instant conversions" online for anywhere from $1k to $9k, but even those I would need someone to install. I also considered removing the co-pilot sear since that space could also be used. I was hoping to maybe spend $2k-$3k to get a business to convert it, but I suspect they will want a lot more than that. It doesn't even have to look that great, I just need it to be functional, without things coming loose while travelling.

I have been considering buying a really old class b campervan (like an old Ford Coachmen), and just fixing that up, but I spent a lot of money on my TC so I'd like to use it if possible.

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Listen I really like my TCPremium but as a camper it's mighty small.A good craftsman could maybe make a day camper for 1 at a cost of $1200 or more plus labor.If you are doing it I suggest an airbed or a cot.A cooler,some bedding and a tent for extended stay.Any permanent changes to the TC will not add much value and may not be recoverable if you want to sell.

Just my 2 cents

mrlizzzard

p.s. The well used Rv idea has issues also.Usually they are ravenous on gas,VERY undependable and make La Quinta seem like a bargain,clean sheets,cable and hot water every second or third night is the way I do it.

Edited by mrlizzzard
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I was able to put a folding table in the back of the TC, and put a mattress on top of that. That leaves me a lot of space underneath for a porta-potty and other supplies. I ordered some curtains for truckers cab which should give me some privacy. I guess I am just going to buy an assortment of things that add up to a campervan. I'm using bungee cords to hold things in place. I'm not sure what a La Quinta is!

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Cots are a good solution if one does not want to go the built-in route. Be careful though-some fit much better than others. There are past posts here by me and others on this topic.

With two cots there is room for very little else except what will fit beneath them. With one cot there is ample room for the cooler, camp stove, simple bucket potty and such other gear.

The biggest problem though is ventilation. It is also very difficult to control the temperature to anything reasonable. A couple of opening windows in the back would make all the difference.

Edited by Willie
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

I have made some progress. I bought a "chemical-toilet", and it fits in to a heavy-duty plastic-bin I got, so it's now a "stealth toilet". I also got some large heavy-duty black containers with yellow plastic lids, which can hold a lot of stuff. I can fit 4 containers in the TC, and still have room for the toilet and a chair. I also got a folding plastic table, that can be put on top of the containers as either a bed or desk. I put 5% "limo tint" on the already tinted side-windows, so they are now 97% tinted. A friend made curtains for the back, and I got a truckers curtain for the front (behind driver's seat).

If I take out the toilet and plastic chair, I can fit 6 containers on the floor, stacked 3 high gives a possible 18 containers. So I can really pack a lot of stuff in to the TC if I ever have to. I will post some more pics as it comes together.

I just ordered a $105 Black & Decker "Power Station" that can inflate 4 tires, jump start a car, power household appliances, and charge cell phones. That will be my power source for anything I don't want to run off the cigarette lighter. I am working on putting together a hot-shower system using a 12v water sprayer. I just need a way to heat the water without killing myself, lol. I have 2 blue-plastic 5-gal jerry cans for holding freshwater. Since I have zero mechanical skills, everything will be plastic containers held in place with bungee cords.

My goal is to be able to have enough stuff in the van to live in it for a week, and not have it obvious that it is a stealth camper to anyone looking at the inside (like my co-workers). Since everything is modularized by virtue of being in a plastic container, I should be able to empty the van of stealth camping stuff within a few minutes.

I was thinking I should have got a full-size van, but there isn't anything I haven't been able to figure out how to do, yet. Making hot water might be tricky, but I will figure out something. If I can put a generator and gasoline can on a rear cargo-hitch, I would have enough electrical power to do almost anything. A generator would not be stealthy, however.

post-3590-0-29337600-1383620530_thumb.jp

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I have made some progress. I bought a "chemical-toilet", and it fits in to a heavy-duty plastic-bin I got, so it's now a "stealth toilet". I also got some large heavy-duty black containers with yellow plastic lids, which can hold a lot of stuff. I can fit 4 containers in the TC, and still have room for the toilet and a chair. I also got a folding plastic table, that can be put on top of the containers as either a bed or desk. I put 5% "limo tint" on the already tinted side-windows, so they are now 97% tinted. A friend made curtains for the back, and I got a truckers curtain for the front (behind driver's seat).

If I take out the toilet and plastic chair, I can fit 6 containers on the floor, stacked 3 high gives a possible 18 containers. So I can really pack a lot of stuff in to the TC if I ever have to. I will post some more pics as it comes together.

I just ordered a $105 Black & Decker "Power Station" that can inflate 4 tires, jump start a car, power household appliances, and charge cell phones. That will be my power source for anything I don't want to run off the cigarette lighter. I am working on putting together a hot-shower system using a 12v water sprayer. I just need a way to heat the water without killing myself, lol. I have 2 blue-plastic 5-gal jerry cans for holding freshwater. Since I have zero mechanical skills, everything will be plastic containers held in place with bungee cords.

My goal is to be able to have enough stuff in the van to live in it for a week, and not have it obvious that it is a stealth camper to anyone looking at the inside (like my co-workers). Since everything is modularized by virtue of being in a plastic container, I should be able to empty the van of stealth camping stuff within a few minutes.

I was thinking I should have got a full-size van, but there isn't anything I haven't been able to figure out how to do, yet. Making hot water might be tricky, but I will figure out something. If I can put a generator and gasoline can on a rear cargo-hitch, I would have enough electrical power to do almost anything. A generator would not be stealthy, however.

Pretty cool ideas you have there. Do you have something that divides the cargo area from the passenger area so that items can't come flying forward?

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I don't have a bulkhead. My idea is to put most of the heavy things behind the passenger's seat, so they would hit that seat if they came forward. I can investigate getting cargo straps and/or a cargo bar. When I bought it, it did have a bulkhead, but I had it removed so I could get in to the back of the van without going outside. It also rattled like crazy, it was some homemade contraption the previous owner had built.

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I bought a trucker's curtain, which I cut in half, and 3 magnetic hooks. It works pretty well. With the jumbo shade and limo-tinted side-windows, I think i will have enough privacy. I'm still debating if I will try to put a curtain behind the driver's seat (maybe the other half of the trucker's curtain).

post-3590-0-06938000-1384370138_thumb.jp

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I bought a trucker's curtain, which I cut in half, and 3 magnetic hooks. It works pretty well. With the jumbo shade and limo-tinted side-windows, I think i will have enough privacy. I'm still debating if I will try to put a curtain behind the driver's seat (maybe the other half of the trucker's curtain).

Nice, simple solution.

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