High clearance hitch cargo rack

[rayra]

ah, trying to turn an Astro van into a Class B RV. Tall order in a small van. Now I see why you need the exterior storage. It might well be worth adding a roof coffin. really shouldn't impact your MPG, especially mounted rearward out of the 'bow wave' of wind coming up off the windshield.

18cu', $250, Walmart

If she wants to live / sleep in the van, not much help for the situation. Really not much room in an Astrovan to live in it. But if instead the van were used to haul gear, you could have a very comfortable ground tent setup, including elevated air mattress, chuck box etc etc. With the van being a power and water source, even build the kitchenette in there. But live outside the van.

And with a small bit of custom sewing work, you could create a fly that connects a dual-room family tent to the cargo door of the van and have the tent as extension of of the van space or vice versa. Nice extra room for pets too.

 

[danfromsyr]

Building a better 'copy' of a VW estfalia seat will return ALOT of useful storage vs anything a conversion van bed will provide.
and still look civilized and not looking 'living in a van down by the river' that a 2x4 platform projects.

you just need to make a rigid cross bar/platform at the height of the old VW deck to carry the weight when folded out as a bed.
many VW rear beds go for $100~150 to modify. you really only need the hinges.

https://www.pinterest.com/kikiwykstra/dirtbag-digs/