Build-out Idea of the Week: A Door on a Door

Kevin from Georgia has a background in industrial maintenance, so he has a knack for construction and electrical systems. He started vandwelling part time in 2016 after discovering Cheap RV Living.

“I started small,” he explains. “I started with a cot and some totes, that sort of thing. Added the cabinets shortly after, then went on some trips to try things out. I’m on version 3.5 or so of my setup. Everything evolves over time.”

Kevin’s clever problem solving skills are evident throughout his rig. One example is the way he mounted his Wave 3 heater. Unlike most heaters that work by first heating the air and then the warm air heating you, catalytic heaters like the Wave 3 heat you directly—as long as it’s pointed at you. To make positioning easier, Kevin mounted the heater to a panel that’s attached via hinges to a cupboard door. Sort of a door on a door. There’s a quick-connect coupling on the propane hose so it can be easily stashed out of the way when not in use and not hinder the function of the cupboard door.

Another ingenious feature is Kevin’s pull-out countertop. The main countertop is hinged at the back. Lift it and an extension pulls out on drawer slides, mating perfectly with the main countertop when it’s lowered back into place. The hooks above the counter even hold his bag of cooking utensils open. Slick.

8 Comments

Penelope Knight on March 18, 2022 at 4:22 am

Innovative thinking in van dwelling like this gives me so many ideas on how to improve my home on wheels. Thank you.

2Z Bundok on March 18, 2022 at 6:25 am

Thanks Kevin “I’m on version 3.5 or so of my setup. Everything evolves over time.” We are on 2.0 and notice / mantra how “one thing leads to another!”

Lucy on March 18, 2022 at 5:56 pm

Nice & smart settings.

Donna Mount on March 18, 2022 at 7:39 pm

I bought my son a wave

Deb JustDeb on March 18, 2022 at 10:13 pm

Simple but Ingenious. GOTTA LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing

M&Neka on March 19, 2022 at 9:42 am

Thanks for sharing!! Very well done.

Cori on March 23, 2022 at 1:26 pm

Really awesome! I love you’re great ideas for improving your life while living out of your van. I’d like to start using tiny space ideas like this in my bricks and sticks home and then move them to my mini van when I’m ready to hit the road. Kevin, I’d love to see more step by step instructions on the convertible table and anything else you care to share. Do you have a blog of your own? What type of van are you dwelling in? Thanks so very much for the great inspirational ideas.
Cori

Hope on March 24, 2022 at 3:56 am

Kevin Hello, Thank you for posting your article about a door on a door for you heater. Yes my dear there are people like me that are not designers and at times we are slower to fully understand. I am new to van building so I have a lot to lear and understand. I have been doing research and reading for the last four years.
I need to see plans and pictures to fully understand. I want to build a fold up sink cabinet with a removable sink, I to think at times it could give a person more space. I noticed some of the fold down work spaces. I have been doing some ruff floor designs of walk spaces that are 24 inches wide. Now because of van and truck shortages and with high fuel costs it might delay my building. The more I am reading about box trucks the more interested I become interested. But the problem with box trucks is there big and not very low keyed and they stick out like a sore thumb. I do think a the present time a cargo van might work for me better.
Regards
Hope

Penelope Knight on March 18, 2022 at 4:22 am

Innovative thinking in van dwelling like this gives me so many ideas on how to improve my home on wheels. Thank you.
2Z Bundok on March 18, 2022 at 6:25 am

Thanks Kevin “I’m on version 3.5 or so of my setup. Everything evolves over time.” We are on 2.0 and notice / mantra how “one thing leads to another!”
Lucy on March 18, 2022 at 5:56 pm

Nice & smart settings.
Donna Mount on March 18, 2022 at 7:39 pm

I bought my son a wave
Deb JustDeb on March 18, 2022 at 10:13 pm

Simple but Ingenious. GOTTA LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing
M&Neka on March 19, 2022 at 9:42 am

Thanks for sharing!! Very well done.
Cori on March 23, 2022 at 1:26 pm

Really awesome! I love you’re great ideas for improving your life while living out of your van. I’d like to start using tiny space ideas like this in my bricks and sticks home and then move them to my mini van when I’m ready to hit the road. Kevin, I’d love to see more step by step instructions on the convertible table and anything else you care to share. Do you have a blog of your own? What type of van are you dwelling in? Thanks so very much for the great inspirational ideas.
Cori
Hope on March 24, 2022 at 3:56 am

Kevin Hello, Thank you for posting your article about a door on a door for you heater. Yes my dear there are people like me that are not designers and at times we are slower to fully understand. I am new to van building so I have a lot to lear and understand. I have been doing research and reading for the last four years.
I need to see plans and pictures to fully understand. I want to build a fold up sink cabinet with a removable sink, I to think at times it could give a person more space. I noticed some of the fold down work spaces. I have been doing some ruff floor designs of walk spaces that are 24 inches wide. Now because of van and truck shortages and with high fuel costs it might delay my building. The more I am reading about box trucks the more interested I become interested. But the problem with box trucks is there big and not very low keyed and they stick out like a sore thumb. I do think a the present time a cargo van might work for me better.
Regards
Hope