Dive Van

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DTB1981

DTB1981

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Messages
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Location
Oceanside, California
I live here in Okinawa and 90% of all dive here is from the shore, most of us have Toyota Surf “4 runner”. I still have a small Nissan Silvia “240 SX”. The other day I was given a Toyota Hi Ace van from a friend it is the largest van Toyota makes. I think it will make a good dive van. It has descent ground clearance way better than the Silvia, for getting down some of the bad roads to the dive site. I have taken out the back seat to make room for tanks and dive gear for me and some friends. Besides a tank rack and a pole to hang stuff from one on the back door when it is open and one behind the seat. What else would you recommend to add? It will be uses for day trips holding four divers plus and 12 or more AL 80’s.
 
I'd put a tool box in it with your basic scuba tools, o rings, electrical tape, zip ties and what not. Maybe a good strong crate for holding extra weights. A cooler for Pre and Post dive refreshments :D

I have a brother in okinawa, one of these days Im gonna visit him. I heard the diving there is great! I wonder if he will be ofended when I dive half the time I'm there :D
 
I have been thinking I should add some extra lights to the back for night diving. And some way of a fresh water rinse. Or an inverter for charging camera and light batteries.

Any one know where to get some lights?
 
No DTB1981, but I am familiar with that make of Toyota van, they're very popular here.
I think that will make a great dive van, in fact I've been in one that had 8 tanks lashed down quite comfortably.

Oh and when you mentioned that pole in the van, my mind went to other uses of poles :D :D.
 
For lights, use 12 volt lights available through marine hardware stores (West Marine is international). I've got an 8 gallon "Sun Shower" in my van ("DiveMobile"). Its nice to take a hot shower after a dive. I also built an extendable frame onto the roof rack so that I can hang a curtain around the back doors and change into dry clothes without getting in trouble with the police and without having to crawl around in the van. The frame also supports an awning to supply shade during surface intervals. I've also got rinse buckets in the van for the first gear rinse after diving. A stereo and dvd player make things real nice.
 
if you had a power inverter you could get a mini fridge and make a kegerator out of it and have draft beer too :D
 
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