Truck Cab Upgrades
Coat rack
As great as the Volvo cab is for comfort, there were a few things we wanted to add in order to make it a little better.
One of the reasons we elected to go with the extended cab version of the VHD was that we could use the bunk area for other things besides sleeping. After all, we have a nice bed at the back of the truck.
Since we don't have a wardrobe sized closet in the camper where we could hang our coats, we determined that we could keep all of our outside coats in the truck cab behind the passenger seat. This would be beneficial because when we're driving the truck, we don't wear outdoor clothing. So if we need to exit the cab during inclement weather, our coats are right at hand.
We made the coat rod out of 1-1/4" stainless steel tubing, and bent up custom shaped end brackets to attach it to the truck interior.
Floor Carpet Upgrade
Although the cab is nicely trimmed out, it is first and foremost, a vocational use working truck. Because of this, Volvo left the floor covered simply with a heavy rubber material that could be easily washed off.
Since we weren't using it like a vocational vehicle, we wanted something a bit more upmarket covering the floor. It would help with warmth insulation and sound deadening.
To accomplish this, we bought a large entry mat like those used in large building foyers in winter time. They absorb water, are virtually indestructible, and actually don't look that bad.
We started the project by making a template of the truck floor using sheets of paper taped together. Then it was a simple matter of laying it on the carpet, and cutting around the perimeter with heavy scissors. Holding the carpet in place in the truck was easy, as Volvo screwed on trim pieces around the edges of the rubber floor covering. The end result turned out very well.
Convenience Table
The driver's station in the truck cab is well laid out with all the conveniences, but the passenger side is not as good. Add to that the fact that some other additions we added, like an iPad holder, covered up the passenger side cup holders etc.
So to fix that, we made a custom shaped table to fit between the seats. Attached to the shifter column, it was sized to allow both the driver and passenger the ability to leave their seat and go back through the bunk area to enter the camper section.
A fussy, but uncomplicated project, it had a number of steps to finish it off. The photos are pretty self explanatory.
