You might also consider a large container to keep things in. I have the
Rubbermaid 48 gallon Action Packer. Walmart carries them, but the 48 gallon
one is a whopper!
See
http://www.rubbermaidcommercialproducts.com/store.cfm?d=3031&c=9057&p=20200&do=detail

Tom

On 12/31/05, Anonymous Digest <jbrush@aros.net> wrote:
>
> My van has been parked for the better part of the last year, just drive it
> maybe one weekend a month to keep it from getting too sad, so I haven't
> had much of anything to say.
>
> However, I read the list as often as I can,  appreciate the ideas I come
> across, and I enjoy being a part of the community, even if I am way out
> here "in the boonies" :-)
>
> Lacking any chance of owning a westy, I have been camping with my van and
> a tent, and enjoying that, but...... I am down to my last child, a son,
> who is going to be free to camp and get away now and then, as the others
> are gone, or have jobs in that crappy retail sector that never gives
> anyone two days off in a row, let alone a long weekend, or god forbid, an
> actual vacation....
>
> When I camp, I just remove the rear seat back, and have a queen size bed,
> minus a few inches as you all know, while the kids sleep in a tent. Its
> good to be the Dad. If I also pull the middle seat, my young son will have
> a decent place to put his air mattress, sleep inside, and we can keep all
> the gear in our small dome tent (except in bear country <g>)
>
> Anyway, without the seat back, and minus the middle seat, its not real
> safe to be hauling much gear that can go airborne in a sudden move, or
> even more sudden stop, so I need to come up with something light, easy,
> and doubtless clever, to keep my gear more or less in its proper place
> during those unplanned instances when the van is not just going straight
> ahead, or gently around a curve.
>
> Some have cargo nets in the trunk of their car, there are larger versions
> for pickup truck beds, and I am wandering the sporting goods and auto
> parts stores looking for inpiration along those lines, that would actually
> fit close to correctly.
>
> I could keep the gear on the floor where the middle seat would be, but
> need to have some kind of net, or some other unique device to keep things
> in place. Don't want to cover the entire floorspace if I can avoid it, so
> I can see some kind of net attached in some manner to the floor.
>
> Or if I could get a reliable net or divider that would go across the back
> seat, things could sit in the back like they used to before I pulled the
> seat back and the rear seat. something that could hold up, but be stowed
> in a small area would be perfect.
>
> Just  thought I would enlist the wisdom of the community, as I have a
> feeling someone has done something similar, or at least thought about it.
> Its not real good "water cooler" conversation, as I don't personally know
> anyone else with a van, and most of my friends have no idea why I am
> hanging on to mine for all this time :-)
>
> Not really the usual technical question, but it gives me a chance to say
> thanks to all, and to say Happy New Year.
>
> Suggestions or comments will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> John
>