La Lair On Wheels: Synopsis of the Evolution of La Lair

For the next couple of months I'll be blogging about modifying my empty ProMaster cargo van into living quarters for camping. It won't be a Class C motorhome with traditional motorhome contents - there will be no windows, no water/sewage tanks, no plumbing or shower, no refrigerator, no batteries, no upholstered furniture and no cabinets. Maybe some day I'll regret these omissions.

I know myself well; I'm a minimalist who follows the KISS theory. For showers, I've been using the campground's shower facilities, but in an emergency, I could heat up water in my solar-water-bag, hang it on the rear door that swings outside, wear a bathing suit, and shower outside. For bathrooms, I've been using rest stops, the campground's facilities, and library and grocery stores' bathrooms when I'm running errands. And when that's inconvenient, I have a 20-gallon bucket of kitty litter (see scoop in photo below), a plastic bucket lined with a plastic bag and seat which works very well (tie it off, toss), and a large Sysco Restaurant commercial-size plastic container with a handle and a leak-proof wide-mouth lid. It's important for women not to underestimate the value of a wide-mouth opening and the handle; a container without a handle won't work.

And I'm also a klutz with cataracts (translation, old lady) so I need lots of empty space inside with white interior walls/ceiling that will offer good lighting with just two fluorescent ceiling lights. I don't want to squirm sideways or contort my stiff joints to retrieve something from somebody else's wonderful idea of square storage compartments that waste too much space. Plus, I want full access to the sliding side door and both rear doors so I can unload/load my toys (8-foot fiberglass kayak, one-piece wood kayak paddle, SCUBA gear, heavy electric bicycle, heavy-duty ramp for bike, and maybe someday my saddle).

I track in a lot of dirt and wet gear inside La Lair, so I installed 3/4" thick rubber mats (each weighs 100 pounds) sold by Tractor Supply typically for horse stalls, gym floors, garages and trailers. They came in convenient 6x4 foot sections, so I used three mats. I trimmed the mats with a regular electric meat-carving knife. To clean, I use a broom and then a wet sponge mop. I can also remove the mat and hose it down with water and re-install, too. It's sturdy, has no smell and is very comfy to walk on.

Since leaving Texas over two months ago, I've been living in a messy cargo space behind the cab . . . That six-foot long red Polartec bag in the photo is a bean bag I used as a mattress on the floor. My bicycle was strapped next to the sliding side door.

After cleaning everything out, here's what the space (lined with Insul-Bright fabric) looks like . . .

I'm a lucky woman to have a mechanically-inclined very good friend who lives in Montana's beautiful mountains, Chef Renauld (AKA Ron). He's sacrificed all his summer projects and has kindly volunteered his time, home and workshop to help me build La Lair. Here's his workshop which shares an interior wall with the huge garage where La Lair is parked.

Chef Renauld is a retired electrical engineer formerly with the US Forest Service. He's also refurbished several vintage Airstreams. He loves to help (and cook for) his neighbors, his family and his good friends. The reason I fondly call him Chef Renauld is because his passion is baking and cooking and growing his own veggies in his garden (but no garden this summer because of me). Although he looks like a classic wild and crazy Mountain Man, his soul belongs inside a bakery making pies, cheesecakes, bread and cookies in a little village in the French Alps, where all the villagers would visit every day and gossip with "Chef Renauld". And he'd be micro-managing a restaurant next door, too. And since neither of us is a Republican, we easily laugh together at life and ourselves, especially when we goof.

Last winter through numerous emails, Skype calls and photo exchanges, we came up with this basic design for the wall behind the driver seat. During the next few weeks, we hope to bring this wall to life . . . . we won't finish everything this summer, it's going to be an evolutionary modification project.