Allen Hart's High-Floor Cheap-Rack Plumbing Van

The Foundation

The floor of the van is high! And with good reason: there are a lot of tools and materials stored under it.

Both an extension ladder and a 6' step ladder are stored here. Long shelves and cubbies allow for storage of pipe insulation, copper tubing, and PVC pipe.

A plywood and chopped up steel racking serve as the supporting structure for the raised floor.

You might wonder if getting the ladders out of the van is ever a problem - in a parking lot, a car could block the back door. But Allen says that this has never been a problem as he's usually pulled into someone's driveway.

Cheap Steel Shelves

Allen bought some adjustable, inexpensive steel shelves from Ebay to use as storage shelving on the walls of the Transit.

A lot of commercial racking uses shelving with a somewhat tall lip, but he instead uses plastic bins that are screwed down to the shelves.

Extra Pipe Storage

If Allen needs to store large diameter pipe or large quantities, he has a ceiling-mounted rack that folds down to hold extra material. The rack is on tracks, so that it has adjustable length.

Side Cargo Door

The floor storage is a bit of a double-edged sword. It's amazing for the storage aspect, but it does require an additional step up to get in to the van.

This is partially solved by making his ladders and pipe storage easy to reach from the ground.

Also, many plumbing and HVAC vans keep the side cargo door relatively clear of obstructions. Allen has instead essentially blocked part of it off on the bulkhead side. This still leaves an entry point into the side of the van, but gives him a large, outward-facing tool wall where he's able to put some frequently needed tools.

Plus, like the rear of the van, the raised floor gives him slot storage for drawers and long items.