Interesting service body option

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by JWA

...Add in the right-hinged doors can and do bang into the passenger side front doors if they're left open.

That does make me wonder if they could reverse hinge that side entry door?


Herb

[BroncoHauler]

So, do you use your rear doors with any regularity, or would the available space be better used some other way? Looks like with Rockport you may be able to delete the rear door(s).




Herb

[Pntyrmvr]

I have a converted cube van that came with hinged full height doors. I put used RV windows in both of them.

I chose to keep them instead of putting up a solid wall. The idea that I could own a cube van without being able to load it from the back end as use it as a cube van drove the design.

The removable bench across the rear doors is used for sitting at the table that swings down from the hinged murphy style wall bed. In effect everything swings up and out of the way to allow the center of the van to take a load of sheet goods.




Sadly the factory wheel wells are 46" apart and I didn't measure that until after! I just prop the load up across them with a couple of 2x6.

I'd order that box with 2 rear doors.

[mk216v]

Herb, have you finalized an interior layout?

As other have mentioned, depending on your interior layout, having 2 rear doors would allow the vehicle to double as a hauler for sheets of plywood or other long/tall items. As well, you could open the 2 rear doors and have one heck of a vista to the outdoors. Keep in mind though that rear doors will get very dirty vs a side door.

Or go with rear doors deleted and just a side door, which would allow more interior layout options.

Looking forward to seeing what you do.

[BroncoHauler]

I'm not even close to finalizing a layout. I can't even decide between a walk-through configuration and a rear bed configuration.

I'm really struggling with all this. My first decision point is whether I want the chassis or the rear box (ambo, service body or cargo box) to be the driving consideration for me. The way I see it I can spend about 50% of my budget on a new chassis (brand new E450 DRW with Ford's latest engine and transmission) and then build out the RV portion and then have Quadvan convert to 4x4, or spend 35% of my notional budget on an ex-ambo, and have a higher quality box but then have to spend more for the RV conversion (4x4 conversion cost would be the same). Gutting an ambo is pretty extensive.


Herb

P.S. If it hit the market in a few months, I might actually be tempted by the Alpha van but the timing's just not right. I'm not really looking for a high-top, but that rig is just too nice. I'm guessing the price will be beyond my threshold anyway, and I'm not a big fan of buying via an auction, especially sight unseen.

[arctictraveller]

Having rear doors would certainly make the build out process easier than trying to get everything in through the side door...............

[Pntyrmvr]

There's a reason RV fridges are just under 24" deep. The doors are 24" wide.

[larrie]

Rear doors and dust intrusion.

[JWA]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

So, do you use your rear doors with any regularity, or would the available space be better used some other way? Looks like with Rockport you may be able to delete the rear door(s).

Herb

I would prefer at least a single rear door in case of an emergency exit.

Perhaps a double door where you still place a movable bed cross wise in the box, an easily deployable bug screen pull down so sleeping with the doors open was possible? In that case a nice awning over the rear door would also be nice, possibly an attachable "extra room" tent?

[mk216v]

Originally Posted by larrie

Rear doors and dust intrusion.

This!! Gotta have excellent seals.