Thanks to all of you who offered tips on buying a used van. I got a ’99 E250 with just 49,000 miles.
Does anyone know if it is ok to cut back shelving at the base? The van came with steel shelves that reduce the floor width to about 40″ – too narrow to slide sheets of plywood or drywall in. I’d like to cut them back at the bottom to about the wheel houses to accommodate 4×8 sheets of materials, but this will remove some of the lateral support, probably putting more stress on the restraining brackets that fasten bins to the walls. I would, of course, add extra bracing, but I’m not sure if that would take care of the problem.
Has anybody successfully tried what I’m suggesting, or unsuccessfully, for that matter?
Thanks
BruceT
Replies
In my '89 F250 I built plywood cabinets w/ doors, leaving the floor clear up to the top of the weel wells. They were attatched foreward to a cabin bulkhead w/ door , mid way they rested upon the weel wells, and the rear was spanned w/ a stretcher board at the top. Not to mention the backs of the cabinets were bolted to the ribs of the van walls. This allowed me to slide full sheets of plywood in (about 10 high).
With my 2001 F350 econoline, I built removable modular cabinets which hook into the cargo strap railings. They bolt together and are attatched to a foreward bulkhead w/ door and have a spreader in the back (similar to my first van) These however do utilize removable leg supports at the bottoms. I cant slide plywood in flat anymore, however I'm able to slide them in vertically at a slight angle. I can haul more than thirty sheets if I want to. Never have loaded more than 8 (any more than that, I have them delivered). I find this way is much easier to load and unload by one person (myself)
I'm pretty sure I know what type of system you have, so try this method first. If not, try using stretchers a the top to pin the tops from side to side. Also enhance the attatchments to the ribs of the van, then you could cut the legs off.
Good luck, Vans rule!
Phil
Spreaders across the top - what an idea! That would prevent any tendancy of shelf units with narrow bases to pull themselves off the walls all right. What did you make the spreaders out of - Since my shelves don't reach the roof I'd have to craft some sort of extensions and bend the spreaders (made of pipe? EMT? square tubing?) to match the bow of the roof in order to lessen the head-bumping hazard.
You find that loading plywood or drywall vertically is easier than flat? Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree in the first place by trying to clear 4' of floor space.
BruceT
Give me a few hours (sun has'nt'nt risen out here on the west coast) I'll post some pictures of my cabinets and their structural elements. I made steel spreaders w/ (what I would call) vertical extensions which keep them tight to the lid. There seems to be two philosophies about cabinetry in vans (with or without). I seem to have gone overboard on the (with-cabinet) side of the spectrum.Phil
Went ahead and took some pictures this morning of my van cabinets. I'm going to post a new thread in the "tools for home building" section showing them. After all, for most of us, our vehicles are our most important tool of all. How we outfit and stock them varies greatly. Hope to see you all in the tool section. I'll call it "Van Cabinets / Tool Storage"Phil
Edited 12/18/2004 1:51 pm ET by PhillK
When I had custom builtin's in the old van, I had an area at horse level that allowed 4' wide goods flat on the horses. In the new van, came with stock shelf units. Thought long and hard on how I could accomodate the same style. Gave up, lost too much of the shelf/drawer space. Now I stand up on edge all sheet goods, bungy the back corner to hold tight to the shelves.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
rip them out now before ya set one tool on them!
mine came with the factory set-up ...
looks great ...
works like sh!t for a carpenter. I could see how a plumber or the electrician I bought it off could work off of them ... but 99.99% of my tool's and cases are too damn big to fit anywhere useful.
I've kept them long enough ... and hated every attempt at van-reorganization .. then they're there to stay .... simply bacause new used van time is hopefully this spring .... and having the factory shelves/racks adds to the resale value.
My advice ... tear them out before you get used to seeing them in there ...
start from scratch ... 2 rows of simple open shelving down doth sides is worlds ahead in usefulness ...
Hate them damn shelves!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
What buck said
And while your at it build you a partition behind the seat
you'll thank me everytime you go down the road and you need
heat or a/c.
Okay already, your welcome
Them metal shelves sound like marbles in a tin can rattling down the road.
that's the one thing I'd keep ... or add.
I like the steel partition .. mine has the swing door ....
solid about half way up .... holes in the "windows" above the head rests and in the door ....
U can still see out the side window ... I have one on the small barndoor ...
but when ya walk up on it ... hard to get a good look into the back thru the windshield.
Plus ... one quick stop and hearing a loud bang on your way home from the lumberyard ... and ya really appreciate it!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Jeff, have you ever given much thought to what that cage could hold back in case of a collision? I've looked at how they are secured and believe me, getting blasted in the face with the air bag is a cream puff v. the other end. But for the levels, boxes,nails and 2x's it would stop, it's good insurance on a quick stop.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
it's held back plenty so far!
plus .. ever little bit helps.
plus ... heats faster in the winter ... hold the magnetic Tigger toy from the kids baby days ... holes make for a nice bungie organizer... etc.
try one ... you'll like it.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
If I had a swing door I'd never be able to open it up
with all the crap in the back. I don't have a side window so don't
need to worry about seeing out side.
I like using a piece of 3/4" ply, and is that ever fun cutting to fit,
even funner attaching to van, and fun again cutting carpet on
driver/passenger side. .
And I don't have a full size, but when it grows up it wants to be.........
Be staying warm
I've been tempted to close her off ...
but I like the times when I can kick thru the mess and open the door ...
and carry 12' stuff inside ...
unlike the last month or so ... when I've had a 4x4 piece of ply I can't throw away so it sits along the headache rack fully blocking my views into the back ...
Jeff
really .. I'm going to make little boxes outta it ... it's 1/2" ply ... nice piece ... it'll really open up my world ... yeah ... sure ..... I'll jump on that project as soon as the temps drop enough to make working outside fun ... Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
My 89 E250 I had made my own partiton. That thing was great for the winter.
I had done an addition for a guy who had owned a saturn dealership. Well one day my 89 died in his driveway and he was tellin me about a trade-in van that he had in his lot. It was off to the auction since they didn't sell vans. I decided to check it out.
2000 E250
Roof racks
Shelving
Security partition
54,000 miles
$6500 !!
So I emptied my savings and bought it.
The metal shelving I did not like since I was used to laying 4 x's on the flat.
I was able to clip the corned on the top of the shelving unit, added doors to it and made my own shelving on the other side.
I have 49 1/2 in between and am much more organized. Tons of shelving and 49 1/2''.!! Maybe you can do the same.
Here are some pics of the bulkhead in the 89 and pics of my new 2nd home.
Thanks for including pictures. I hadn't thought of full width shelves on street side and shallow shelves on the curb side to leave 49" of floor space. Seems to leave more room for chop saw and such in the middle too.
A low-mileage 2000 E250 for $6500? What a steal!
BruceT