Van Reno Part 2

While I was figuring out that I had to take down the darn shelves, we came up with the brilliant idea of putting in a folding table beside the sink. I bought 2 folding shelf brackets. They are supposed to hold up to 150 lbs. Then I got a piece of MDF and some vinyl trim for it. The hardest part of the whole project was putting the trim on the MDF. I did discover that using a level on a van in a driveway is not advisable - doh! Now we have a lovely little table that will make washing dishes in the sink much easier. 

 

 

Isn't that fantastic? I am not sure about the 150 lbs, since it is just anchored to the panel board. I used drywall anchors, and had to be careful to avoid the water reservoir under the sink. Love the folding aspect! The whole thing cost $25.

I have painted where the little shelves were, and touched up the paint on the parts of them that will go back up. I have also painted the new table top (without holes), and the board that goes in to make the bed. Will the painting ever end? Will I ever clean up all the paint drips in the van? Will we find the perfect fabric? Tune in next time to find out.

The birth of the van

I was in the salvage yard when I saw her. She was ugly on the outside...well, let's face it, on the inside, too. But underneath the ugly dark green paint and fake wood interior, I could see her potential.

The guy there (a somewhat creepy guy named Jergen, with few teeth) said he thought that she had nothing wrong with her. Isn't that what they always say? However, she had no rust and only 44 000 kms mileage.

 

How funky is that table? Not terribly practical for Yahtzee, but funky.

 

 I came home and told Jenny about her, cautiously optimistic that she could be a fun part of our future camping trips. Jenny, as is her wont, was more cautious than optimistic. We looked at some similar vans online, and decided that if she checked out, it was a really good deal. A few discussions and trips to the salvage yard later, we were $900 lighter in the wallet and driving her home.

Our trusted mechanic (what a find that is!) checked her out, and pronounced her "solid as a rock," and very well cared for. This is not a guy who says that lightly. He also remarked that she was "painted with a big, hairy brush." .

Next came the painting. First I had to remove all of the curtains and upholstered panels. Was powder blue with pink accents really ever attractive? I researched a bit about how to paint an RV, and there were lots of opinions. (Faux finishes? Really?) I decided on an oil-based Kilz primer and latex melamine paint in Natural White. I started priming. I primed and I primed. I should mention that I am not a very meticulous painter at the best of times, never mind cramped in little spaces. It was a disaster! What had I done? It looked terrible. I was quite disheartened. Still in love with the van, though.

Next came the latex paint. Wow, what a job! Three coats later, with loads of cutting in and using a tiny roller where I could, it looked passable.

I admit, it could probably have used a fourth coat, but that was just too much for me.