Chevy Astro DIY Stealth Camper Van Build EP 9: Swivel Seat, Fridge, Window Coverings

[@willn8664]

That swivel chair is low key an ideal office/gaming chair. All you need is one of those fold out tray setups (like in a commercial airplane) attached to the chair so you can put a laptop or a keyboard and mouse on it.

[@SeekingLost]

Check out ep 10, i do build a board for my laptop, mouse and external hdd to sit on my lap. After almost 2 years, i still love the setup

[@Twobarpsi]

The truck is really coming along!! Awesome work man!!

[@samgoeshiking]

The window coverings are very clever.

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you!

[@Twobarpsi]

Excellent idea!

[@michaelmyers3892]

I'm not sure the exact year I know it's a 1990s maybe early short wheelbase Chevy Astro van on eyeballing it was a work van just like yours but this thing is in beautiful condition thinking about ditching my pickup truck and camper and going with this instead of going back to a minivan or a full size van I have heard a lot of positive comments about the Chevy

[@WizzRacing]

Just go to the salvage yard. THem swivel seat bases are a dime a dozen.. As GM full size vans fit the Astro\Safari vans.. The are $20.00 each...

[@SeekingLost]

That's a great idea, for those that have the nearby junkyards and a little time to look. I had the luxury of neither during my build.

[@sandeedobberstine5591]

How smart to leave the gap opening on the top of the side windows! Thanks for sharing that idea! 😊❤ Everything about your build is amazing!

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you!!

[@JustinTimeTo]

Great videos! Can’t wait for more and to start mine! Definitely inspired me to get back to planing my build.

[@rowanmulvey8632]

I will not make fun of your crank widows! By far my preference.

[@SeekingLost]

Why are they your preference, if you don't mind me asking? I would love to have power windows. It's such a pain(dangerous, actually) to reach around the seat while I'm driving on the highway to crack the passenger window. I thought about converting to power windows, but the conversion would be pretty ridiculous. The easiest way to do it would probably be to just swap doors from a junkyard van, but would still need the computer for it, all the wiring going to the computer et cetera. It just wasn't worth it.

[@rowanmulvey8632]

@@SeekingLost my reason for this preference is my previous experience with a vehicle that had power windows which stopped working dependably, which then caused security problems when I couldn't lock the car up when I was away from it, and had to deal with trying to keep the weather out of a window opening when the window would not close. Having to cover that opening with some other material (plastic) was loud, harder to see through, and was still not secure. I would rather have had the mild, occasional inconvenience of crank windows rather than a full time expensive and dangerous problem of non- functional electric windows. Not necessarily issues important to everyone, but important to me.

[@SeekingLost]

@@rowanmulvey8632 I had a feeling you would say failed power window motors. I personally find them pretty easy to replace, for about 35 bucks a piece. I'll take the day to day convenience of power windows over the inconvenience of it possibly failing once over what, 20 years of ownership?

[@Twobarpsi]

Happy Thanksgiving Eric!!

[@JustinTimeTo]

Happy Thanksgiving! 👋

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks you too! Gobble gobble!

[@nancyjohnson2070]

I have a 2002 Chevy Astro cargo van. I was wondering if you would know if I can just turn passenger seat 180% and just bolt it down. Will the bolts line up??

[@SeekingLost]

Yep, you can do that!

[@nancyjohnson2070]

@@SeekingLostthank you!

[@jethro9341]

Northern tool has a swivel base for around a hundred bucks man

[@SeekingLost]

Well too late for that! Just had a look. Northern tool says this about their swivel mount... "Designed for use in tractors and slow moving vehicles (Not recommended for use in cars, trucks and SUVs)". Probably a legal thing. The one I bought looks much stronger, at least. Ah well, no regrets, even at $400 it was totally worth it for the utility it provides.

[@jethro9341]

@@SeekingLost Yeah, its not dot approved, but neither is your $400 swivel base. With the seatbelts being attached to the van body and not the seat, Im not real worried about the seat base.

[@tedpreston4155]

I've never seen 3Ms "high strength spray adhesive, but I've been using the normal strength version for decades, and it has never failed, on dozens of different sorts of projects. I cannot imagine what would require any higher strength adhesive when all you're doing is gluing a very light layer of black fabric to a very light sheet of relfectix. Are you worried about heat causing the adhesive to fail?

[@SeekingLost]

Yes worried about the heat causing it to fail, and after a year of use there is a little bit of peeling around the edges. As I Put the window coverings away, I will fit them in between my bed and back door, and this action will cause Some peeling around the edges. One of my magnets came out too. I had to re attach the magnet and glue on the felt again while I was home a few weeks ago. Not a huge deal, I'm OK with doing a little bit of maintenance on these. I used to use this 3M90 Spray to For automotive headliners as well. always went for the 90 over the 77. I'm sure the 77 works great but if they make 2 different strengths, I figure might as well spend an extra buck or two and get something a little stronger.

[@tedpreston4155]

@@SeekingLost Thanks for exposing me to something new! I clicked on your video because I plan to make a set of similar window coverings. I suspect I'll probably store them similarly to the way you do. I'll go find some of that Super 90, now that I know about it. If you're having trouble with the edges peeling, I may alter your design a bit and sew the edges.

[@SeekingLost]

@@tedpreston4155 That's exactly what I would suggest, sewing the edges. This is what I wanted to do When I was at home last but didn't have the time. I suspect it will hold up very well with the edges sewn, probably never have to worry about it

[@davidchenze1374]

Can you please tell me the model number of the fridge

[@SeekingLost]

A link to it is in the video description, along with a full parts list

[@ericwansac2179]

With the swivel seat can you still lean the seat back? Thank you.

[@SeekingLost]

Yes you can, As long as you scoot the seat up a little bit