Van interior design

moon161 · Feb 12, 2020

In the US, crazy rents, tuitions and static wages are driving lots of people, some that I know to convert and live in vehicles like vans, RV's station wagons etc. The bay area of CA is a prime example.

I'm curious about pursuing interior design work for people who do this. This might be as simple as as space planning visualization with a dimensioned plan view and a couple elevations, a set of plans to put a lengthwise bench in a popular van or something like that.

Another possibility is modified weight and CG estimation to conform to the OEM builders/conversion limits, & safety standards etc.

What are some:
Legal liabilities and protections that people see?
Design possibilities?
Ways to legally and ethically work in this sector? I'm gonna assume that since it's a precarious life, if I did some work it will be in the same space as a car crash, that someone will give them selves CO poisoning from an unventilated heater, someone's gonna wake up and die in their firetrap, etc, etc..

BrianPetersen · Feb 12, 2020

Lots of existing companies do RV conversions on vans, and that's essentially what you would be doing.

The original vehicle manufacturer will have documentation for so-called "upfitters" concerning where and how things may be attached to the vehicle plus the restrictions on GVWR and center-of-gravity position. Your first step is to obtain and read that. Fortunately, in this day and age, there is plenty of online information to get you started. Here's an example from one manufacturer:

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/body-builders-guide.html

IRstuff · Feb 12, 2020

I wouldn't quit your day job for this. It seems to me that your own payscale would go against you on this; say it takes 10 hrs to do whatever it is you offer, so possibly $600 (salary+overhead) to the customer. Would you be able to compete with people who do this for a living, given that they probably scale at maybe $40/hr?

In general, brick and mortar retail is not a friendly place to be right now

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CWB1 · Feb 13, 2020

The major problem I see is that folks living out of their vehicles are doing so to save money as they have little, these aren't folks who are going to spend money on a proper RV conversion. If they were, there are a plethora of options available from individual products to full upfitters as RV customization is a fairly large industry.

As to the legal-eze, I'd recommend having a PE, proper insurance, and relevant experience in the auto industry.

BUGGAR · Feb 22, 2020

We spent a summer driving and living in a '68 Dodge van throughout Alaska, with our cat. I recommend that you experience what you are about to sell. You are in love with what you are doing, aren't you.
Bob

moon161 · Feb 22, 2020

Honestly Buggar I was just considering developing a bit of side work. I did a tiny bit of consulting with a guy who lived in an econoline in a parking garage while he was a berkely cause rent there is crazy, and I know another person in a similar pickle.

Alaska sounds like fun though.

BUGGAR · Feb 23, 2020

As you would guess, discrete toileting and disposal is primary! Then some kind of bathing. You can never carry too much water. Run electric everywhere, even (especially) if it's low voltage. For discretion, I like used City Dept of Public Works vans with as much of the original paint as you can keep.
Everybody's got do a road trip thru Alaska!

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