Building a false floor for the new van.

[HappyHippyDad]

I recently sold my Renault Trafic as it had done 214,000 miles and I also wanted something more economical.

I bought the Citroen Berlingo LWB. A very nice van to drive, more like a car than a van. However, I had to take out roughly half of the stuff I had had in the Renault as the berlingo was not big enough. Everyday I had to plan for each job and make sure I had the bits on the van for that individual job, plus it was still an absolute jumble in the back of the van. Not a good way to work if you want to try and limit your stress throughout your working day.

I tried to get a quote for someone to build a false floor. he didn't get back to me (I estimate it would have been around £700), so I built it myself.

Days and days of thinking about the design and 2 days to make. I'm very slow as I spend half the time pondering on how to utilise every inch and also avoid future problems, plus I had a few beers on the go and some Bob Dylan to help.

I love the finished product! Maybe not as pretty as a professional would have done it, but I reckon I gave it a lot more thought than they would have done and probably got some extra little bits that they wouldn't have done. (e.g. the extra shelf above the ladder to store conduit, capping, broom etc, all the bits that really get in the way when just lying on the van floor). Just need to fit the racking now!

 

[brianmoooore]

First thing I saw was the pics, and thought " tht was either careful measurement or sheer luck, just getting his new Ikea wardrobe into his van, to get it home".
Looks good, and not dissimilar to something I used to have in my half mini van trailer. I'd consider carpeting the top, to help stop things sliding around, and possible seal the edges to stop small objects falling down into an inaccessible space.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Just got to get the rest of it back in now . I'll probably leave the pants and socks in the house though.

And that picture doesn't even include all the cases...!

 

[littlespark]

Does everyone have a Lap external socket in their van? i know i do

 

[nicebutdim]

Will be Masterseal in this van for the new, discerning client base.

 

[mainline]

Just got to get the rest of it back in now . I'll probably leave the pants and socks in the house though.

And that picture doesn't even include all the cases...!

View attachment 113816

Must be comfortable though, what with having the armchair in there.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Will be Masterseal in this van for the new, discerning client base.

Blimey, I just cough at those prices and move on. I wonder if anyone actually buys them. Perhaps, they are amazing in some way and I am actually missing out.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Very nice. I have done similar with my berlingo enterprise, but with 2 drawers instead of one, plus some simple racking up the side. Ladders I strap to the ceiling. What runners did you use for the drawers?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Very nice. I have done similar with my berlingo enterprise, but with 2 drawers instead of one, plus some simple racking up the side. Ladders I strap to the ceiling. What runners did you use for the drawers?

Thanks PM.

I just used some heavy duty runners I found on ebay. 20-60'' Pair Heavy Duty Drawer Runners Full Extension Ball Bearing Slide w/ Lock | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325296131510?var=514180280676 , they seem to work ok, but I have a feeling the locking mechanism could prove to be a right pain in the future when it decides to play up and I can't pull the draw out. I do like the fact it locks into place though, so there is no movement when driving. It would be interesting to see some pictures of yours if you fancy popping some on, indeed anyone's van storage solutions, small bits like tube holders or large racking system's. it would all be interesting and useful to see.

I'm determined to make work run as smoothly as possible and a well organised van is probably one of the main priorities.

I built the draw, so I could get the size exactly as I wanted to accommodate 4 of the bins I use. I put the least used items in there, with the very least used at the back. Paying someone to do this may have been a lot quicker, but I don't believe the end result would have been as useful or effective.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Does everyone have a Lap external socket in their van? i know i do

Glad I'm not the only one . I try and have one of everything!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

First thing I saw was the pics, and thought " tht was either careful measurement or sheer luck, just getting his new Ikea wardrobe into his van, to get it home".
Looks good, and not dissimilar to something I used to have in my half mini van trailer. I'd consider carpeting the top, to help stop things sliding around, and possible seal the edges to stop small objects falling down into an inaccessible space.

I'm happy with the edges as I've already thought about that, and they will be fairly accessible. Plus I can fill them later, if it does become a problem.

I hadn't thought of carpeting though. How useful would you say it was? Has anyone else carpeted? Perhaps thin rubber matting instead?

I've taken an entire week off work to concentrate just on the van so speedy responses welcome

I'm having a great week, who needs Majorca when they can spend time playing with the van every day

 

[Vortigern]

Nice job @HappyHippyDad hope it works for your and your tools in terms of accessing/storing.

 

[littlespark]

I’ve built a box so far in the back half of my transporter, and have the walls racked.

The box walls are hinged, so it all folds up when empty, and I’ve get the full height of the van for carrying other items if needed.

Not ideal…. And I need to do something to the front half. Was thinking of some sort of drawer that slid out the side door.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I’ve built a box so far in the back half of my transporter, and have the walls racked.

The box walls are hinged, so it all folds up when empty, and I’ve get the full height of the van for carrying other items if needed.

Not ideal…. And I need to do something to the front half. Was thinking of some sort of drawer that slid out the side door.

Pictures please @littlespark Box walls that are hinged sound interesting.

 

[littlespark]

Pictures please @littlespark Box walls that are hinged sound interesting.

Great. That gives me a reason to clean out my van.

Give me a couple of months.

 

[littlespark]

Ok… I did a thing.

Cleared out the back, just to take a photo.

The space is wide enough for a 600 wide washing machine or whatever… and full height for 4 ft sheet timber or whatever.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Ok… I did a thing.

Cleared out the back, just to take a photo.

The space is wide enough for a 600 wide washing machine or whatever… and full height for 4 ft sheet timber or whatever.

View attachment 113826View attachment 113827View attachment 113828View attachment 113829

Very good idea! You have the extra height if needed, but can also have a false floor when required.

 

[nicebutdim]

Ok… I did a thing.

Cleared out the back, just to take a photo.

The space is wide enough for a 600 wide washing machine or whatever… and full height for 4 ft sheet timber or whatever.

I like the lights inside the racking.

 

[Dan]

I love these threads! I'll try remember go find the couple on tilers forums because I remember a few. One guy runs a lovely old but fully restored 1960's renault or volvo or something. And custom paint job with real hand painted sign writing.

Lovely project to stick through a nice running business as it's an advertising feature then and not just a work van.

 

[littlespark]

I like the lights inside the racking.

There’s a story to that….. oh yeah

Here it is

 

[nicebutdim]

There’s a story to that….. oh yeah

Here it is

I do remember that. The result certainly looks much better than I might have expected.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Thanks PM.

I just used some heavy duty runners I found on ebay. 20-60'' Pair Heavy Duty Drawer Runners Full Extension Ball Bearing Slide w/ Lock | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325296131510?var=514180280676 , they seem to work ok, but I have a feeling the locking mechanism could prove to be a right pain in the future when it decides to play up and I can't pull the draw out. I do like the fact it locks into place though, so there is no movement when driving. It would be interesting to see some pictures of yours if you fancy popping some on, indeed anyone's van storage solutions, small bits like tube holders or large racking system's. it would all be interesting and useful to see.

I'm determined to make work run as smoothly as possible and a well organised van is probably one of the main priorities.

I built the draw, so I could get the size exactly as I wanted to accommodate 4 of the bins I use. I put the least used items in there, with the very least used at the back. Paying someone to do this may have been a lot quicker, but I don't believe the end result would have been as useful or effective.

View attachment 113820

View attachment 113821

Lovely job. I'm impressed how far the drawer runners extend. This is my effort. I built them for my older model berlingo, and moved them over when I got the new one (new to me I mean). Apologies to forum members that are sensitive to clutter.

I used box section steel and skateboard bearings for the drawer runners, which works fairly well (a bit of rubbing on the R/H drawer these days), and can take a lot of weight. The drawers are easily the best thing I did to the van, they free up so much space. The racking could do with rethinking though. I'll get round to it one day!

 

[littlespark]

I do remember that. The result certainly looks much better than I might have expected.

thanks.

Looks fine with just cool white output.... but it gets a bit crazy when i put it on RGB flash in time to music

 

[buzzlightyear]

Nice job under false floor, the pull out draws look like a under taker uses.
Paint your van black and the way you go.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Lovely job. I'm impressed how far the drawer runners extend. This is my effort. I built them for my older model berlingo, and moved them over when I got the new one (new to me I mean). Apologies to forum members that are sensitive to clutter.

View attachment 113835

I used box section steel and skateboard bearings for the drawer runners, which works fairly well (a bit of rubbing on the R/H drawer these days), and can take a lot of weight. The drawers are easily the best thing I did to the van, they free up so much space. The racking could do with rethinking though. I'll get round to it one day!

Your draw runners look equally as long as mine. Sounded odd saying that! Comparing lengths of men's draw runners
I'm surprised at how less space there is compared to the renault trafic, even with it being a LWB, so we have to utilise every single inch.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Finished!

I took the week off work and have at last finished the van. A week of lost work, but a really enjoyable week and now 10 years of reduced stress when working.

It was driving me crazy having it all just crammed on the van floor, all on top of each other. It took ages to move everything to find anything!

A bit of a decision to lose access from both side doors, but I gain a lot more storage.

 

[nicebutdim]

It wasn't a week's worth of work lost, but a break from work which you chose to use productively.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Nice job, OK where is the trap door.
You must be a diddy man to walk in to that or Alice in wondervan.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Nice job, OK where is the trap door.
You must be a diddy man to walk in to that or Alice in wondervan.

6ft, but slim. Sounds like a dating site!
I now officially love the van.
I have spent more time in the van over the past week than the house..
I'm cooking dinner, but I want to be in the van.
Van

 

[buzzlightyear]

I'm cooking dinner, but I want to be in the van.

I have a fork, be round in a jiffy.
We can both cook sausages, narh you can bring the spuds.

 

[ferg]

Looking good HHD.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm sorry to go on about the van yet again... but, It has made my working life a joy and I wanted to reiterate that, in case it jump starts some others into making their van more work friendly.

We perhaps go in and out to the van 5 - 10 times during a days work. Instead of dreading the trudge to the van I now actually enjoy each little visit as everything is in it's place, easy to find and easy to get to, plus it's just nice to look at (the inside bits, not the van itself... very sad I know).

Just a bit of a nudge to anyone to get their van sorted as it makes a huge difference to working happiness

 

[littlespark]

I'm having a rethink.

Ive got the foldable box at the back.... but the lid has always got large items sitting on it... stepladders, cardboard box or two.... a flipping empty storage heater at the moment.... I've got to take everything off to open the lid to hunt for whatever im looking for...

 

[SparkySy]

I did mine 5 years ago, it doesn't half make things easier and save time hunting for stuff!

 

[grumpyjohn01]

Couldn't go back to an 'everything piled in a heap' van again , in fact I even have a little tantrum if I have a courtesy van for a day or 2 with no racking...