My Portfolio
PREVIOUS BUILDS
PAST IS PROLOG
Just a couple of projects from the past...
I’ve been building RV’s of one type or another for nearly 50 years. Unfortunately, because I like to concentrate on the build process, few of the projects have been documented in any detail and for some I have no photos at all. I wish I had pictures of my first build back in 1973 which was a pop-up camper for a Datsun truck. Likewise on the cargo trailers I’ve converted into toy haulers with living space – not a photo! Other van builds have also been completed and sold without any pictures at all. Starting in 2014 with the build of the ‘Otter’ Transit Connect, I did at least start to take some photos. Going forward, I’ll also be doing some YouTube videos even though I’d rather just flow through the build process without the pain of shooting and editing. Please enjoy the two projects shown below.
Big Blue is van # 5 for me
TRansit Connect RV
The Otter - a 2012 Transit Connect
This Transit Connect was my first van build back in 2014. From the outside, you would not think that it can hold everything that it does. It’s a comfortable travel van for two !
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RAM PROMASTER
2014 Promaster 159 High Roof
Not long after completing the Otter shown above my business changed and I needed to have a larger van to haul the machines I was building and selling so I decided to build a Promaster. 2014 was before the popularization of ‘van life’ and there was little information anywhere on van building.
I took my inspiration for the Promaster from the Winnebago Travato 159K which at the time was selling for over $110,000. I felt that by starting with a used van and using my building skills, I could make a very similar van for much less. Starting with a $19,000 van with about 40k miles on it, and adding about $10,000 in building costs, I wound up with what you see below. I drove this van for nearly 100,000 miles!
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