Van Setup

[desert_gold_hound]

OK I have searched Van Setup, mobile setup, vehicle setup... have learned allot, got allot of good laughs, and wasted a few hours. Granted I didn't hit everyone but after a few hours I decided to post my question.

How are you all structuring your mobile service vehicles? I would love to see pictures of such setups.

If you find another post with this please list.


I realy figured this topic would have been hit a million times already.

[Shrub]

It is on site but i think only in 3 threads with only 1 being thi specific and that didnt have pics,

Theres also an old thread on a van that was for sale on ebay that was well kitted out and an evy to some of us,

But otherwise theres not as many as you think on this subject, maybe as its a hobby site most people here dont even drive so dont have such interests as where do you put your tools and how do you stop the carrage on your key machine bouncing around while driving along,

My van is a mess right now, i seem to clean it up then a week later its full of crap again, im doing a overhaul on mine as soon as i get a spare afternoon so will post you up some before and afters once its done,

If you want a good hint that ive learnt from hindsight,
Do not kit your van out from day one,

Throw all your stuff in the van and live with it for a month, it will be a pain in the rear finding stuff but you will soon know exactly what and where you need things, in my instance i fitted the van out then after a few weeks decided it was no good so redid it, now im doing differing work i need to change the van again,

Make sure you get this right as even thoguh ive got a brand new van on the way ill still refit this one because the time you save by being able to put your hands on the correct tool when you want it is a lot and jobs get done more professionally and quicker,

[desert_gold_hound]

I understand completely what you mean by living with it for a while. I however would build everything entirely of wood so that I have changeability. I am one of those peaple that others call "Neat Freak" and cant live without everything having its little place.


While I was doing my search I found a question on one of the forums (don't remember where) and it asked about a school on ebay. I followed the link and they had this picture.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q316 ... 1179952203

I like it, however; think I would defiantly change it so that there was a key code machine, grinding wheel, and then maybe have drawers for the keys this way to allow the driver to see out the back.

[HeadHunterCEO]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3C0LraRGc

[2octops]

Here's my 2001 Astro. All wood and constructed in about 4 hours.

From side door you can see the work bench, printer and American Key Box in the floor. Schlage and IC Blue Punches sit nicely under the work bench.



Standing out back, you can easily reach the Blitz or Bravo II. The drawers in the center slide in or out for easy access. Top drawer is tool, next auto pinning kits, third is levers and deadbolts. Orange box is spare ignitions. Invertor is mounted next to it. Green box is transponder keys and black box is T-Code.



From teh inside, you can swivel the machines in the back and also have access to the Matrix. Pinning kit sits nicely between the code machine and duplicator.



This van was exhausted with over 250,000 miles so I picked up something with a bit more headroom. 2006 E-350 passenger van loaded with dual air and everything but the DVD and monitors. I do not have any pics of it finished, but it's basically the same layout as the Astro.



I've built 9 vans with this set up so far and it is the layout that works best for me. I built the first one about 5 times before figuring out what I liked and what I did not like.

I like window vans better than cargo. The interior panels help insulate from noise and sun. Rear AC helps a ton here in GA. The windows make it very easy to see out and watch your surroundings while working. If laid out nicely, you can fit as much as you can a cargo.

[freakparade3]

Very nice 2octops. Looks like a perfect setup.

[desert_gold_hound]

Very Very nice.

This setup is a good way to go that would still allow me to follow shrubs advice on living with it. This setup would alow you to change things without great modification so you could slowly get comfortable with a setup. Thanks for the shots. I look forword to seeing what others have done.

[ponsaloti]

Looks like a great lay-out, unfortunetly if it was in my area it would be emptied or draged away within an hour of parking it.

[Shrub]

Desert, nice pic with as good idea, i carry 4 machines soon to be 5 though so i think thats a bit out for me,

If the rear door is a panel door it doesnt matter blocking out the back as theres no window anyway,
This is an ideal set up for car boot selling


Headhunter, looks like the messed up van was one that had just been rolled lol, not sure what the autors facination with swearing was though, its as if the video was made so he could swear as much as possable as it all seemed too fake towards the end (the person that is, if it was you im sorry but say it how i see it)


2octops, it happens rarely but this is one of those instances where my fully planned out and designed project that is actually on the workbench gets blown out the water and totally redesigned on a whim due to a snippet of info,

I love your idea and its one im gogin to measure up later, i think my van is perhaps a little narrower than yours but i should still easily get away with somthign simular, my work bench is on one side at the bulkhead end so this may be a better solution if for nothign else other than better weight distrubution,
I do use my van for moving stuff at times as well however and this system wouldnt allow a door to be carried for example unless it was on the roof rack,

Somthign to think about for sure,

Ps, i think all our vans are fitted out in wood as thats what we can easily work with
I suggest were all clean freaks but agter a few weeks on the job you soon get used to throwing stuff in the van on the floor or on top of the bench and that clean part gets locked away in that draw you wish you had never made because you cant get into it and it wont hold anything lol

[2octops]

Here's another optional design that a friend of mine went with. This is in the rear of an 06 Dodge Sprinter and took about a month to complete. Yes, it's still this friggin' clean and organized. I hate him

[zeke79]

Mmmm an ITL . That will likely be my next code machine purchase. Then i will be setup similar to him only my framon is the 2D and I have a blitz also.

[Shrub]

Now that bloke knows his comforts, i dont think a carpet would last 5 minutes in my van lol,

Otherwise its simular to how my van is set up now except my bench etc is all on one side but my van is a lot smaller,

Ive looked at it up and down for a while and decided its not the best thing for me and will stick to what i have but make it nicer lol

Ill start by clearing the crap off the floor i think and that will be a good start lol

[desert_gold_hound]

Ok I thought I was a neet freak. That thing is spotless I would have to guess thats very very new or else you keep your wood pollished. WOW.

[TheMikeMan]

Woah! hook that up with a mini fridge and youre all set. It looks like an office in there with all the custom cabinetry and carpet and oh look a filing cabinet. Nice.

[TheMikeMan]

Woah! hook that up with a mini fridge and youre all set. It looks like an office in there with all the custom cabinetry and carpet and oh look a filing cabinet. Nice.