Van Bunk Bed Pictures, Links, and DIY Projects

For expediters, RV living, or any type of thrifty travel, these vans will give you an idea of how to live well on four wheels.


In this van, the owner has built in a bunk with storage underneath.   It also has some nice features including a skylight, fridge, and plenty of storage, along with a divider between the living area and cab. which allow the space to be heated or cooled easier.
photo link

This is an example of an easy solution to using the back of your van as a sleeping quarters. The plywood can be folded out into a platform for sleeping when their is no cargo, and folded back up and put away to make room for cargo.

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This van has a built in bunk with storage underneath and a plywood sub floor. It also has an inverter and LED lighting for energy efficiency.

Read more about customizing your van at  thread on building van beds

The next two images include folding bed options for vans.

Link to the Forum discussing a van sofa bed install

http://www.blazinbelltech.com/ to see the folding bed options they have for sale.


This is a DIY bunk based on an Airstream design.  It could be a great option for a van owner that wants to build a small sleeping bunk.

Do it yourself RV projects like the one pictured above

There are quite a few of these caravans still out on the roads.  They are dependable, and with the four cylinder option, fuel efficient.

This Astro Van pictures shows the different options available to a DIY van build.  This Astro van incorporated a folding bed/ kitchen table design usually seen in small pull behind campers.

Link to photo

Van Dwelling Pictures and Links

-Lessons Learned From A Year Living In A Vanby Justin W Coffey

-They lived in a van while building a cool house in hot Arizona:
http://www.omick.net/shelter/shelter.htm


-Vandwelling FAQS, Resources and Common Questions (WIP) at Reddit.com:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/

Expedite Trucking Sleeper DIY Pictures

This space is well utilized with a comfortable cot and plenty of room for several pallets. It also has a nice battery array, inverter, and other electrical components so the driver can recharge electronics or watch television. The use of shelving also contributes to the organization and space of the entire sleeper and cargo area. I like the way insulation is used but the walls are left uncovered which helps to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle.



This partition board is incorporated into the e track to give the driver a separate sleeping space in this cargo van.




Nissan NV Low roof sleeper DIY



DIY sleeper with an OSB partition blocking off the cargo area.


This cargo van has been insulated and the interior walls are finished in what appears to be masonite wallboard.

Expedite Now Trucking Magazine - Comfort for the Road

Expedite Now Trucking Magazine - Comfort for the Road is a great article.  I have included a brief overview of the article, but click the link to go to the whole article.


The Latest in Custom Sleepers for Expediters


For an expediter, a custom sleeper is much more than a sleeping quarters; it’s a home away from home.

“Expediters tend to spend a lot more time in their sleepers in between loads. So it needs to be more of a living area than just a place to sleep,” says Jim McFerrin, sales manager for Freightliner of Knoxville. “For typical long-haul tractors, most of the sleepers will have a bunk, refrigerator, television, microwave, but they often don’t have a lounge area. For expediters, we’re putting in a bottom bunk that turns into a ‘booth’ with a table and sitting area. Whereas the freight hauler is going to drive his eight hours, get another load and then keep going, the expediter will unload and might sit there for two to three days.”

That’s why sleepers for expedite trucks are designed with comfort in mind, says Bobby Snyder, sales representative for Fyda Freightliner, based in Columbus, Ohio. “The sleeper design is for drivers to be able to stay out on the road a little longer because expediters are having to wait in the cab more often than those just running dedicated freight. Expediters live in their trucks, so they want it to be as comfortable as possible, especially when they’re husband and wife teams.”

A typical custom sleeper for expediter trucks ranges from 96 to 100 inches in length, which allows for up to 22-foot freight box, while staying within the 40-foot overall truck length requirement. But some expediters are requesting larger sleepers, says Brian Callan, president at Bolt Custom Trucks.

“Traditionally, the largest sleeper we install on an expedite (straight truck) is 100 inches long,” says Callan. “However, it now looks like we will be building at least one 130-inch sleeper on a straight truck in 2015. We have another customer talking about doing a 150-inch sleeper on a straight truck. These larger sleepers are not unusual for us to install on a tractor with a fifth wheel, but the longer sleeper takes away from the full potential of freight box size with a straight truck. It’s a matter of striking the right balance to give customers what they want (and need) for their particular application.”


- See more at: http://expeditenow.com/expeditetruckingnews/thetruckzone/424-comfort-for-the-road.html#sthash.c7WvYCVC.dpuf

Cargo Van Sleeper Ideas and Pictures: Great Ideas for Expediters

I found a great new article for cargo van sleeper modifications. The name of the article: "Living Large in a Van": via http://www.expeditersonline.com/news/truck-topics/living-large-in-a-van-cargo-van-sleepers-89.htm#comments

Read the article after the jump:

Dodge One Ton Hauling a Flatbed with a Sleeper

I have been seeing more one ton trucks hauling campers and flatbed up in this part of northern Minnesota. Last week, I was going into town and saw a really nice white, late model Dodge one ton with a factory made sleeper.

After doing some online research, I found a company called AA Truck Sleepers.

Here is some information about the company from their website:

About Us

We start with a great idea and tons of enthusiasm.

With over 34 years in the business we know the ins and outs truck sleepers. We believe in great design, durability, and usability. Coupled with our amazing fabricators and high quality materials, AA Truck Sleeper LLC always delivers.
Manufacturing

AA Truck Sleeper, LLC provides complete design, build, and installation services for truck sleepers, crew cabs, and specialty products in sizes ranging from 32″ long “coffin” sleepers to fully-furnished Super Sleepers in lengths up to 156″ and beyond. We have outfitted trucks of almost every make and model.
Remodeling

Along with new product design and installation, we offer interior remodeling on existing truck sleepers whether factory or after-market regardless of manufacturer. We also perform interior remodeling for RV’s and stock trailer living quarters.
Repair

AA Truck Sleeper, LLC offers complete repair services for all sleepers whether factory or after-market. We are an authorized Norcold repair center and have certified air conditioning technicians on staff to service both engine driven A/C systems and APU’s.

Check out this video for more information on Hot Shot Trucking:

Expedite Van Sleeper Pictures

I recently found some really interesting DIY sleeper builds for cargo vans.  In Arizona, I saw quite a few people living in their cargo vans. With easy access to BLM land, and many innovative off grid practices, the Southwest is the ultimate climate for living in a small RV or van during the winter.
The follow pictures of cargo van sleepers can be used for full or part time recreational vehicle enthusiasts, or for full or part time expediters.

Here are a few pictures to give you some ideas when constructing your own sleeping quarters:
I really like the way this builder constructed this sleeper in his E350 Unicell Ford. This vehicle design allows for more headroom and a much more spacious interior living and cargo space.

Photo via Rev's Ride

Ford E350 Unicell Sleeper DIY build via Rev's Ride at Expediters Online Forum

E350 Unicell Cargo area with E-track, flooring, and insulated partition

Bunk built up above with storage area underneath

Here is a view of a Sprinter Sleeper with no partition. 

 And another view of a Sprinter Sleeper

Great post by Van Vagabond

I thoroughly enjoyed this article about setting up a Sprinter van for full time living and traveling.  The author of this blog has many great posts and pictures documenting her outdoor lifestyle and van vagabonding.  Here are some of my favorite pictures, and the customization could also apply to expedite freight and doing deliveries with a well fitted Sprinter.

via http://www.vanvagabond.com/striving-to-minimize-customizing-a-small-sprinter/

Check out the rest of the article on her site:http://www.vanvagabond.com/striving-to-minimize-customizing-a-small-sprinter/

sleeper cargo van pictures

I really like the way these expedite cargo van drivers have customized the interior spaces of these Sprinter, Ford, and Chevy cargo vans. Insulating the cargo area would be very important for drivers operating in the northern states during the winter and most of the time I add more R value than suggested, since I have spent my whole life in the northern plains where the winter winds and windchill factors make the extra insulation money well spent.

In the photos below, I like the way the both wells are covered and e track is also installed for securing cargo.

To Van or Not to Van.

For some recent information on expediting with a van, check out the following link from Expediters Online:

To Van or Not to Van.

The article goes over the pros and cons of expediting freight in a cargo van. I enjoyed the details and research the author included in this article, and have come to my own conclusions on expediting. I think working as a company driver would be a good way to start, but the reality associated with expediting is most companies will want the driver to be able to stay out on the road for 2-3 weeks at a time minimum.  I think this would be a challenge for most people with a young or growing family.  The only way I would consider this industry would be finding a route allowing the driver to be home a few nights a week. For those needing to stay out for weeks on end, a sleeper like the one below would make living on the road much more comfortable.

Transporting Freight Expediting Van Sleeper pictures and Smarter Logistics in USA

Custom made sleeper on a van from Scotland and the UK is doing a great job at giving the US ideas about transporting freight more economically in terms of LTL loads and different types of 3PL freight. I think the models for transportation and trucking from Europe will be the norm in the US unless we want to keep fighting for oil prices. A refreshing aspect would be if the US would use innovative tactics and intelligence to lead the way in fuel cost saving transportation and logistics.

This is the ultimate in no frills expeditor hauling. It says I can go anywhere and cook and my fold out stove with a propane single burner and slip on my flip down mattress. It would be a good payload living like this on the road.

Cargo Trailer Camper Conversion Pictures

Here are some options for building a custom RV out of a $800 trailer from the clearance lot at your local Menards or other big box store like Home Depot.
Check out these innovative designs for vagabonding economically:
This place has all the fancy features:

Expedite sleeper options and pictures

Finding the right sleeper options and customizing your expediting rig are important first steps for individuals interested in making money in the expediting business.  Hauling freight and minimizing dead head miles can make or break new expediters right out of the gate.  I found a picture of a custom Sprinter at http://sprinterguy.wordpress.com/ and was impressed by the build.  Here is the picture via http://sprinterguy.wordpress.com/ :

Sprinter with fold down bunks and plenty of storage while still allowing for plenty of freight space.

Here are some other custom options to make your expedite rig a comfortable home away from home.

This is a picture of really cool design of a sleeper built for a cargo van. I found the picture in the following informative post at Expediter's Online:

Another DIY option would be to build a loft out of PVC. I found the picture and some very informative plans on http://mark.rehorst.com/PVC_Loft_Bed/Alex%27s%20Bed.jpg and plans for many other PVC DIY projects at http://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-pipe.htm.

Van Dwellings: Expediting Fold Down Bed Designs with Pictures

Here are some pictures of vans converted into expediting rigs.

Here is a nice looking Sprinter for sale.  I like the way it has been customized with a folding bed. The folding bed design allows for much more cargo space, and I am guessing this operator could fit up to three skids, which is a common load for expediters.
With all of the RV options, it would be easy to set up a nice Expediting Rig:

interior view of sprinter van

Here is an aftermarket sleeper that looks nice:

Here are some more pictures of the folding bed options for expediters.   With all the new commercial van options, many choices are available from manufacturers along with the Sprinter.

This folding bed design is tied into the wheel well, and it appears to have plenty of storage underneath, and the carpeting and other elements make it look neat and comfortable.