Campervan Curtains Update: Leather Tie-Backs

Back in 2016, just before our California Coast Roadtrip, I had finally got round to finishing the installation of curtains in the van.  For curtain tie-backs, I used some 1" Nylon webbing I'd found in a matching color.

Reupholstering the Rock-n-Roll Bed

After I built a steel-framed VW-style Rock-n-Roll bed last year (Part 1, Part 2), I had big plans to quickly purchase some made-to-order box-cushion covers from one of several online vendors who have leveraged CNC pattern cutting and inexpensive overseas labor.  I was hitting project fatigue on the whole seat/bed thing, so I just wanted to get it over with.

Quarter-Window Utility Rack

A quick update, now that I've finished the build on my utility rack that spans the rear quarter window between the C and D pillars on the driver's side.  Like many of my projects, this starts with inspiration provided by the wonderfully rich aftermarket available to the Volkswagen crowd, which I then shamelessly copy and duplicate DIY-fashion for the Astro van and its (non-existent) aftermarket.  In this case, I took inspiration from the Campervan Culture "Side Mount System".

Roof Rack Improvements

It seems that one of the universal farkles of any overland vehicle is a stout roof rack - usually overloaded with Jerry cans of fuel, dented aluminum cases, and tools.  Clearly, in building an Overlander out of an Astro van, I've eschewed some of the more de rigueur "fashions" of overlanding, but let's face it, a roof rack is just so damned useful..

Chuckbox 101

So after my last post about organizing my food box, in which I referenced the Chuckbox, I got some questions about the box itself, and figured I was due to write that up as well.

Trying to describe our portable camp-kitchen is a bit like trying to hit a moving target - it's constantly changing, and it packs in a lot of functions.

Overland Organization (aka DIY TrekPak inserts)

Those who know me know that I'm constantly working to better organize the stuff in our Adventure Rig.  The available space is quite small, so it needs to be used efficiently.  I've spent years refining how stuff gets stored in the van, replacing a "good" container with a "great" container whenever I can pick up a few more cubic inches of utilized volume or something that makes using the system just that little bit easier.

My "chuckbox" is a prime example. It is under constant revision; each time I can find (or eventually learn to make) a better item that helps me to efficiently store and use the items within, it changes.  It's a dense enough topic that it has its own post, and a second follow-up.

Kitchen circa 11/2016 - I've already changed some things since.

2017, In Summary

Well, we're about a week into 2018 and I'm just getting serious about finishing a writeup for 2017.  That's just about right, I guess.  2017 was the year of feeling very much on the back-foot much of the time for us.  Not that this is a complaint - being on the back foot at least means you're still in the fight, right?  And more importantly, things have felt hectic mostly because we've been busy doing a lot of worthwhile stuff.

2017 was definitely a year chock-full of travel!