Corvair van camper interior photos (Ben's Bus)

Here is the cab area with Corvair FC bucket seats in driving position:



Here is the passenger seat folded forward making room for our cooler(s) when set up for camping:



An overall view of the rear compartment looking back from the cab:



A view from outside:



Small folding table on the forward rear cargo door. Folding table leg is VW Westfalia. A nice place to set your drink...



Storage cabinet on rear side cargo door for miscellaneous stuff that won't fit anywhere else:






A view of the camping cabinets directly behind the front seats. Shallow stained cabinet holds dishes, plates, utensils, cups, etc. Jump seat houses port-o-potti and tools.



Inside of the shallow cabinet:



Inside of jump seat cabinet. Spare tire is located in this cabinet as well:



Table up...



Table down...



Rear seat folds down to bed:



Cushions tied down, seat back folded down- ready to fold forward:



Folded forward creating the front part of the bed platform:





Foam cushion pulled forward to make a 6' mattress:



Driver's side upper cabinets above wheel wells- mostly for first aid supplies and clothing:



Passenger side upper cabinets above wheel wells- mostly for food and clothing:



Upper center cabinet- drops down to load bulky clothing items into it:



TEC camper top closed- from the inside:



TEC camper open from the inside:



TEC camper top exterior- with awning case open:



Mini Structo toy Corvair van- painted just right- just for fun:

Lookin good Ben. A place for everything and everything in it's place.

Yep- and it only took four versions and about five years to get it just right!

Ben

Looks like it's set up nice

me likes!

I like that setup. Question, the pop top, is it just to give more head room, or does it have a spot to sleep up there like the Westy setups? Doesnt look so, but figured Id ask.

Very cool.

i love that van thanks for sharing

Looks great Ben I see what you mean about more room inside with the bed down compared to the original Chevrolet installed kits.Decided to build my own as the one Jeff has is really cool and priced right but the trip from Texas to Pennsylvania would cost to much.Will start interior next week I will post pictures as I go.

Nice setup!!

A lot of storage/space, very cool

Looks great! Any pics of the outside?

Corvanman wrote:I like that setup. Question, the pop top, is it just to give more head room, or does it have a spot to sleep up there like the Westy setups? Doesnt look so, but figured Id ask.

Very cool.

Thanks. Glad you like it- we do, too! There is a pole cot up top. The van I took the camper top off of had the hole cut over 6 feet long. I decided to cut less of the original roof structure out of the van allowing that part of the roof to be inside storage space when the camper top is set up.

This also meant a shorter cot- about 4 feet long. I think it would work well for a small child- I would not have slept up there when the cot was 6 feet long! I can't imagine the pipes or the structure would hold a big grown up guy like me! I will try to get pictures of the cot for you.

CorvanDann wrote:Looks great Ben I see what you mean about more room inside with the bed down compared to the original Chevrolet installed kits.Decided to build my own as the one Jeff has is really cool and priced right but the trip from Texas to Pennsylvania would cost to much.Will start interior next week I will post pictures as I go.

What is Jeff asking for it? It would be best for someone to buy the whole van and restore it. Like I said- that camper kit is built in really well! I am not sure it could be removed and installed in another van as nicely.

HandiVanMan wrote:Looks great! Any pics of the outside?

Sure- here are some:

Roof racks are modified JC Whitney VW Bus racks:



And with our Scotty camper at a local car show:



MUCH more can be seen here:

http://mysite.verizon.net/bensbus/index.htm

Peace, Ben

Corvanman wrote:I like that setup. Question, the pop top, is it just to give more head room, or does it have a spot to sleep up there like the Westy setups? Doesnt look so, but figured Id ask.

Very cool.

I got a chance to take a few pictures of the upper cot and storage area.

Camper top raised- this section of the original roof was left in to use as a storage area. I never thought I would need the upper cot, and if so- shorter would be OK for a child. I am thinking one of my little girls might use it now!



Standing in the camper top looking at cockpit- rolled up cot (hung on double cot bracket) can be seen at left- single cot bracket at center of camper top superstructure:



Cot unrolled and resting in front/center single cot bracket:



Rear of cot in front of storage area- I ma holding the inner pole of the cot because single cot bracket is currently removed (note mounting holes in plastic lumber camper top frame):



Ben

Thats realy cool. Love it.

Looks like a great time!! Very cool set-up.
Joel

bensbus wrote:

Corvanman wrote:I like that setup. Question, the pop top, is it just to give more head room, or does it have a spot to sleep up there like the Westy setups? Doesnt look so, but figured Id ask.

Very cool.

I got a chance to take a few pictures of the upper cot and storage area.

Camper top raised- this section of the original roof was left in to use as a storage area. I never thought I would need the upper cot, and if so- shorter would be OK for a child. I am thinking one of my little girls might use it now!



Standing in the camper top looking at cockpit- rolled up cot (hung on double cot bracket) can be seen at left- single cot bracket at center of camper top superstructure:



Cot unrolled and resting in front/center single cot bracket:



Rear of cot in front of storage area- I ma holding the inner pole of the cot because single cot bracket is currently removed (note mounting holes in plastic lumber camper top frame):



Ben

My pop top also has the same slots for a cot (missing one or two), but I've always been curious what the cot actually looked like. I wouldn't trust putting anything heavier than a small child on those things!

Mine doesn't have the storage shelf, however, and that gives me some ideas that maybe I could utilize that space more. Thanks for the awesome photos!

That thing is like a land yacht! Excellent use of all space available! Fun Camper!

[/quote]My pop top also has the same slots for a cot (missing one or two), but I've always been curious what the cot actually looked like. I wouldn't trust putting anything heavier than a small child on those things!

Mine doesn't have the storage shelf, however, and that gives me some ideas that maybe I could utilize that space more. Thanks for the awesome photos![/quote]
You're welcome for the photos...it was good for me to document the interior.

I have a few double cot brackets for sale if you need some. These are cast and not pressed like the ones in my van, but vintage and correct. I got a ton of them from an RV place going out of business, and have sold a lot already to members of the Scotty camper trailer group where the cots are also found.

Ben

Very Nice!!!