ZZZ

strannik · Feb 24, 2025

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Ironguy · Feb 5, 2024

Excellent write-up! Some nice ideas amd good links to other projects.
Thanks and safe travels.

kjfswkr · Feb 5, 2024

strannik[OP] said: ↑

Designing Living Space – Part 1

My initial attempts to design a living space were a complete failure. I was simply relying on the ideas that other people implemented in their designs. Eventually, I came to conclusion that what works for one person may not work for another. Through many trials and errors, I finally figured out what is working for me. It took me many miles and a full year to design a space where I truly feel comfortable.

In one of his videos, Dan Grec said that all that you need for overlanding is a car, a place to sleep, and a place to cook food. I would like to add “comfortably” before each one of these key words. I found out that the last thing that you want is to go on a long overlanding trip and sleep in a place where you cannot get a good night sleep, cook food that doesn’t give you strength to keep on going, and have a vehicle in which it is uncomfortable to drive long distance.

I have found out through personal experience that when you are just starting out overland travel, the road is going to throw challenges at you left and right. The last thing that you want is having to deal with the challenges of the road, in addition to the challenges of everyday life. On the other hand, if you have designed a place where you feel like home, you can easily recover from any challenges the road may throw at you and continue your trip full of strength and vitality.

Initial Design

Initially, things were taking up too much real estate. They bullied me into a corner, and there I stayed for about half a year. I had no room for activities because all the space was taken over by organized storage of things that I needed.

I can't imagine camping in that unless you are a young guy. Does look nice though. Good luck.

Kevin

With propane locker added, and storage cabinets in place, the entire passenger’s side of the vehicles was turned into a gigantic storage unit.

The standard of overlanding storage space – sliding drawers.

Sleeping platform and working space.

Some more stuff.

I felt like the focus of my initial design was on living outside, rather than inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was not considered my home, but rather a storage place for things that could turn my campsite into a comfortable home. Living in a place like this made my overlanding experience hell.

Over the past year, I have torn the old design apart and rebuilt the space with the focus on the inside.

***

New Design

New design has a predetermined layout of the space. The middle portion is the living space that stays free of clutter, and where various activities can be performed.

Gray – The right side is the wall storage unit. All the things that were before scattered around can be found in that location.

Pink – The left side is the technology side. That is where I have water system, heating system, parts of electrical system, and all the control switches.

White – The left side of the platform is leveled at a seat height. This area is used for storage as well as to seat on.

Yellow – The right side of the platform is a large surface area, which gets used a lot during daily activities. Underneath this platform is electrical system.

Turquoise – This area in the back is reserved as the main storage. I further mentally subdivided it into 4 compartments. It can be accessed from inside of the vehicle and from the rear. It is mostly used for long-term storage of food items and clothes.

Wall storage unit. Notice that refrigerator now serves as an extension of the sleeping platform. It no longer dominates the space by sitting on top of the platform.

Technology side.

Work space.

View from the back.

View outside with sleeping mattress unfolded.

View with all the storage spaces opened.

Storage space below the platform can now be opened from the inside and from the outside. Sliding drawers have been removed, which created additional space for storage. I have mentally subdivided the interior of these storage spaces into 4 compartments. Two rear ones can be accessed from the back of the vehicle, and contain tools and long-term storage items. Two front ones can be accessed from the inside of the vehicle and contain items that I use on daily basis.
Click to expand...

kjfswkr · Feb 5, 2024

I can't imagine camping in that unless you are a young guy. It does look good though! Good luck.

Kevin

n0mad · Feb 6, 2024

Wow! A trove of excellent and useful info, thank you for sharing. I'm curious...given the challenges of rust on the frame and body, what mitigation did you take, especially with the additional drilling and access holes required? I've started an annual fluid-film application regimen to keep things rust-free as best I can. Safe travels and enjoy the journey!

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