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Sleeper Sleeper: Toyota Sienna Campervan Build

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Boyink, Jan 31, 2021.

  1. Mar 10, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Is that something you’d use... um... in-house?
     
  2. Mar 10, 2021
    bigbendhiker

    bigbendhiker Member

    U.S.
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    Maybe something like this?

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Mar 10, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I see a lot of full time overlanders on youtube using the Thunderbox. I think it folds down to an inch thick, and if I remember correctly, it's rugged and made in the USA (if that's important to you). I've never tried one, but check it out @ thunderboxusa.com
     
    Boyink likes this.
  4. Mar 10, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Yes..and....
    No. ;)

    Keep in mind at least 1/2 of our use is going to be urban trips - visiting towns/cities then overnighting at Walmart or Cracker Barrel, etc. I don't plan to have any extra structures to setup.

    Not sure if the concern is odor or privacy?

    Odors can be dealt with in various ways.

    Privacy...well...let's just say that in the RV we had a standing house rule that you had to pretend you couldn't hear the conversation in the living room while you were in the bathroom. The walls were a facade in more ways than one...;)

    In the Class B ...well..I couldn't even use the "bathroom" with the door shut. I always said it looked like a magic act when MsBoyink did.

    In the van my hope is that we can move one of the front seats forward and make room in the "corner" for the potty - and have that be away from where our heads are while sleeping.
     
  5. Mar 10, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    My concern is head clearance.
     
    dozerjim likes this.
  6. Mar 10, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Thanks...I saw that in my searches. I liked it but trying to keep our costs down too. That will be a good plan B if this one doesn't work.
     
  7. Mar 10, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    With it sitting on the floor of the van I think it'll be OK. Has to be about the same height as the 2nd row seats.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  8. Mar 10, 2021
    bigbendhiker

    bigbendhiker Member

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    Well in that case you could also use their facilities. Walmart no problem, Cracker Barrel I might feel like I should eat a meal there or make a purchase of something.
    If an RV bathroom seemed confining, I’d think the backseat of a van would be more confining. Of course you do what’s needed to make it work for you and your needs.
     
  9. Mar 10, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    That was a Class B, so it was a van. Basically. ;)

    And while I didn't fit all the way into the closet they called a bathroom, I made it work. Actually this setup might end up more comfortable in that regard.

    Getting up 3-4 times a night to walk into Walmart isn't high on my list of fun stuff to do.

    But, it's also why I like the idea of a folding potty so we can use it or not as the situation demands. I expect we'll find some NF, State Parks, and other more rustic areas to explore as well. Those cases might call for an enclosure - we'll see.
     
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  10. Mar 10, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Hahaha or you could say, "plan #2".....

    See what I did there? :rofl:
     
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  11. Mar 10, 2021
    bigbendhiker

    bigbendhiker Member

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    Good point! I forgot about the middle of the night potty breaks and I too suffer from that. We usually camp at state parks and when the urge strikes I just go outside the trailer and find a tree. While you could probably find a tree in a Walmart parking lot I'm afraid it wouldn't provide much cover!
     
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  12. Mar 10, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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  13. Mar 11, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    :confused: Those don't offer any advantage over what I ordered?

    No way MsBoyink is going to use an "in the open" potty. Bumper dumper would require me to install a hitch too.
     
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  14. Mar 15, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    It was a drippy weekend so not too much visible progress on the campervan.

    I did get the rear hatch debadged - so you know, important stuff. I also bought a mitre saw to ease the construction work.

    And just for inspiration, signed us up for this "Wild Bacon Wine Trail" event.

    Wild Bacon Wine Trail - Bacon Events - Hermann Wine Trail

    It's the 1st of May and just over 3 hours away - so should be able to have something workable by then. Even if it's just a mattress laying in the back of the van...;)
     
  15. Mar 15, 2021
    bigbendhiker

    bigbendhiker Member

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    Wow! Bacon, wine, and looks like some music. Sounds like fun!
     
    Boyink likes this.
  16. Mar 15, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Mmmmm, two of my favorite things....
     
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  17. Mar 16, 2021
    jwmckenzie

    jwmckenzie Sponsor

    Boston, MA
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    Mike, been following this thread and every time I think about the Ford Model A 'Traveler'. It's built with a Station Wagon body. The folklore is that Ford made a handful of these, but none survive. Henry Ford was a big camper, along with Firestone and Edison.

    A couple of pics, the first two were pics of one of the originals. Then a couple pics of a version that was made. Very unique

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Mar 16, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Ah yes - the Vagabonds. I've run across their story before.

    The toilet came yesterday, so I experimented with placement. The blue tapeline is about where the edge of the bed should be (I may extend it just far enough to cover all of those seat mounts - they look like toe stubbers to me).

    With the passenger seat all the way forward and the console pulled out the toilet fits nicely into that corner. The legs allow it to straddle the seat slider on the outside.

    I'm going to make a new console (it's removed in the photo) - this one takes up a lot of space for the storage it provides (who needs 6 more cupholders?), and it's too low to work as an armrest. The seat armrest is about pointless for me too.

    At the rear, our Zip-Dee camping chairs fit nicely next to the cooler so they'll probably live there, spaced up closer to the edge of the hatch and with some storage under them.

    2021-03-16_0834 copy.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2021
  19. Mar 25, 2021
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Got a start on the bed yesterday - basically taking the approach in this YouTube video, but modifying it a bit since they based off of a framework/lid in the trunk area that I didn't have or want to build:



    Basically - bed in three sections (I need to make the front section yet).

    Front and rear hinged, middle fixed. I liked this build approach because it allows access to the "trunk" area, and the front section can flip back allowing us to haul pretty big things - maybe even getting the second row seats back in if need be. I was also concerned about losing easy access to underneath the middle section but this should allow access from either the front or back, I think.

    Height-wise I can still get into the cooler without raising the bed.

    Plans are for a drawer unit on the right side with 1-burner stove and some sort of sink fixed in place. 2021-03-25_09112 copy.jpg


    2021-03-25_0911 copy.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2021
  20. Mar 29, 2021
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
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    I have been following along on this thread and now my wife wants to try this in our 2008 Yukon XL. Very interested to see how it turns out. Planning a possible trip in May.
     
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