Sienna Van Conversion- Window Screens
In our last installment about the Sienna van conversion we discussed installing the bed. Little did I know, that was the easy part. The sliding door windows needed screens, and I wanted to put in cabinets along the back windows. At least I didn’t tackle anything challenging! This post is about Sienna van conversion- window screens
Make a Template
I figured that I could use a piece of corrugated cardboard to make a template, cut the frame out of a sheet of plywood, staple the screen to the frame, and install it in the window frame. Easy.
Not so fast, dude.
I quickly learned that although starting with the cardboard was an excellent idea, the cardboard cutout only approximates reality. If you learn nothing else from these posts, please remember that. Also, the windows in my van do not go down all the way. You can’t template the curves at the bottom of the window very well.
I cut out the cardboard as best I could, put it in the window. The fit was close. I bought a half-sheet of the thinnest plywood Home Depot had, cut the frames, and stapled the screen into one of them.
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Sienna Van Conversion- Installing the Bed
In our last installment about the Sienna van conversion I discussed how the rear seat well of the Sienna needed to be framed before I could install the bed. Once that was done, and I had the slide-out drawer finished, it was time to install said bed.
Tools Used
Before we get there, though, I’d like to thank my tools. Simple though they may be, they have done me right. I’ve used (and will continue to use) two power hand saws, a basic Skilsaw and a Black and Decker jigsaw. I also used a small hand saw for a few jobs. I used a Black and Decker cordless electric drill quite a lot. Also used on every piece of lumber was a small DeWalt electric sander armed with 60 grit sandpaper. Rounding out the kit- a tape measure, a speed square, two C-clamps, a level, and various pencils and markers. I don’t have any kind of shop, so all work was done on an ancient folding table.
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The Sienna Van Conversion Begins
First off, this is my first blog about a Sienna van conversion, converting a soccer mom van into a killer mini-camper, and maybe becoming a vagabond too. Thanks for reading it!
During my adolescence, a question that often came up in our stoned/drunk conversations was, “What would you do if you knew you only had a year to live?” In May 2019 (age 66) I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable and always terminal affliction. I guess my answer to the above question is to get a van and become a vagabond.
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