Here's a few other things I ended up adding to make my vanlife more comfortable that weren't already covered in the sections above:
Miscellaneous parts & tools:
Magzo bug screens - $112 for the first two; plus $202 for the 2 revised sizes (explained below)
Tiny door mat - $22
Tiny dust pan - $9
Blackout curtains - $30 + $40 for alteration
Grommet kit for curtains - $11
Westin running boards - $257
Owens Products 10-1221 ClassicPro Series Bracket Kit (hardware for running boards) - $128
Running boards & Suspension install - $250
Total cost = $1,480 + sweat equity
I love these!!
There are companies that offer custom-made screens for vehicles, but they're rather expensive. I bought these from Magzo. They are designed for home doors so they're square, but they work fine for my purposes. They ship from overseas so they do take a few weeks to arrive.
They come with adhesive velcro that you attach to the edges of your doorframes, and the edges of the screens have velcro sewn on. The bug screens are magnetic so they snap together easily in the middle. When I want to leave 'the door open' I just stick them to the vehicle.
Bugs are really attracted to the light so they like to hover around, especially at dusk. This does a good job of keeping most of them out so it's nice to be able to leave the slider door open for a nice breeze.
On my first few trips, I had a full-length bug screen on the rear cargo door as well. This one doesn't 'stay open' as easily so it was kind of frustrating when I was loading things out of the storage area.
So I upgraded by purchasing two different bug screens, for the top and bottom. The bottom one is rolled up and secured by velcro, in case I'm ever in a bug-heavy area (I'm sure I will be) and am loading the trunk.
This is another drawback I learned about my yellow van: bugs are attracted to the color yellow.
Here's a little closer look at the cargo bug screen rolled up.
On the first trip, driving in heavy winds was rough because it would cause the van to sway. Adding this rear suspension from Super Springs has really improved its drive handling. Here they are (at left) and how they look installed (below).
I also purchased the front suspension from the same company...
...but wasn't as impressed...
...it actually fell off on the first trip. I can't tell if the front suspension does much, so I'm not sure if I would purchase these again. But the rear definitely helps.
Sometimes if I'm pulling over for a few minutes at a gas station or rest stop just to get some work done or eat dinner, I don't want everyone peering inside my van yet am too lazy to put all the windshield covers on. This is when I pull down the cab curtain. It's also insulated so I put it down on cold nights. The cab area gets slightly colder than the rest of the vehicle, because of all the windows, so I think it makes a difference.
I bought these blackout curtains, had them hemmed down to size at a local drycleaner, and added grommets using this grommet kit. Here's a time lapse video (at left) of the grommet installation. (Not super exciting, I know.)
I re-used some of the d-rings that I pulled out of the Flooring and attached them to the same holes where the original bulkhead was. The curtains are connected to the d-rings with carabiners and when I roll them up (like the photo at left) I use velcro straps.
One drawback is that it is kind of a pain to roll up. So if I'm using it frequently I just stuff it in the headliner shelf underneath the window covers.
The van felt like it needed a welcome mat. I do use it to wipe off my feet when entering. The floor still gets pretty dirty but at least it's a small area so it's easy to clean. I keep this tiny dustpan handy too. The mat is 15" x 6.5".
Honestly I was a little disappointed when it arrived because the lettering was a little bit crooked, and the seller never responded to my request to redo it. But it was only $22 (including shipping), so I guess I'll live with it.
When I got the van, that first step was a doozy! I added running boards on both sides. I did a fair amount of "internet research" trying to figure out what kind I should get for this particular vehicle. Amazon actually says that these running boards (or "step boards") won't work for a Promaster, but I was assured by several anonymous web forum users that this was the way to go, accompanied by specific hardware: the Owens Products 10-1221 ClassicPro Series Bracket Kit, which I found on eBay. It worked, sort of. Miguel screwed them in for me, (at left).
The support still seemed a little weak, so when the welder came to weld the greywater tank frame as mentioned in the Water System section, he welded it on for some reinforcement.
And that's it! We're finally done!
What an amazing journey it has been, and hopefully it leads to many more. Here are some pictures from my early Travels!