Our 8 Month
Van Build.
After having the most basic first build ever, we went all in for the second build! Here’s a little of what we learned during the long hours of building out our van. 🙃
The Van Details:
- Ford Transit 2020, 250
- High Roof
- 148-Wheelbase
- AWD
- Fixed Bed With A Real Full Mattress
- Full Shower & Composting Toilet
- 3-Burner Stove
- 40-Gallon Water Tank
- & So Much More!
Let’s get specific
Van Build Product Reviews and How-Tos
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Ford Transit Headliner Shelf by Vancillary: A 2-Year Review
Ever wonder if the products you see in van tours actually last in the long run? Like a DIY Headliner Shelf for a Ford Transit?…
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Simple Vancillary Shelf For A Ford Transit Van
Why We Want a Headliner Shelf A headliner shelf is a large shelf that sits above the driver and passenger seat. Ford has a tiny,…
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Prime Design Alurack: How to Install a Ford Transit Roof Rack
If you don’t like the idea of drilling straight into your van’s roof for your solar panels, you should consider a roof rack! The Prime…
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Scopema Swivel Seat: Lowest Height and Easy Instructions
Building a van is DAUNTING. That’s why you should consider installing the Scopema Swivel Seat as your first DIY van build project! Not only is…
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How to Buy the Ultimate New Van
So, you’ve made the decision to jump into Van Life. All you need is a van. I’ve broken down the steps in the table of…
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How to Buy a (New to You) Used Van
Good for you! You’ve made the decision to jump into #VanLife. All you need is a van. I’ve broken down the steps in the table…
These posts have some how-to, but they more chronicle how each project went
Van Conversion Journal Posts
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Ford Transit Headliner Shelf by Vancillary: A 2-Year Review
Ever wonder if the products you see in van tours actually last in the long run? Like a DIY Headliner Shelf for a Ford Transit?…
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The Super Simple Guide to Choosing the Perfect Van Fridge
This post will detail many van fridge options for your camper van conversion. We love our refrigerated veggies out on the road. Who doesn’t? But,…
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How to Install 420W of Solar Panels on a Van (Without Any Experience)
I had never installed or worked with solar power in my life. Then I installed 420W of solar panels on my van. It was intimidating….
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Electrical System: The Most Difficult Part of Van Builds
At first, building our own electrical system in our felt like we jumped off of a cliff and landed in glacial melt water. We decided…
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Off-Grid Van Life: A Summary of Options
You know that feeling right before you jump off a cliff into water where your stomach drops? That’s how I felt a few months ago…
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Van Shower: The KEY to Full Time Van Life
Having a van shower inside is a GAME CHANGER. It will revolutionize full-time van life for you. Trust me…it changed the whole way we thought…
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Water System: How to Stay Out for a Week
Water will bring you out of the woods faster than electricity and food. That’s why we maximized our water system in the van. We had…
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Simple Vancillary Shelf For A Ford Transit Van
Why We Want a Headliner Shelf A headliner shelf is a large shelf that sits above the driver and passenger seat. Ford has a tiny,…
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Creating a Beautiful Bench Seat with a View
One thing that Karma and I have learned time and time again when building a van, is to have multiple projects going at once. That…
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Propane System: Is It Safe In A Van?
Where are we in the Van Build? In the last conversion post, we ran, crimped, and heat shrank all of our 12v appliance wires. This…
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Wire Crimping in the Van: Astonishing Nerd Level
Before I get into the nitty gritty of van electrical systems, I’m going to talk about electrical wiring. Specifically, I’m going to explain why we…
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Bed Frame: For Once, An Inexpensive Project!
Fixed Bed Frame The one thing we knew was that we wanted a fixed bed. We did not want a convertible dinette. That meant that…
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The Many Steps in a Great Van Subfloor
Building and insulating your van subfloor is an essential step in the van conversion process. While not glamorous, it does set your van build up…
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Van Sliding Window: Don’t Make This Mistake When You Install
Anytime you cut a hole in your van, it’s nerve-wracking! If you’re here because you want toinstall a van sliding window…you’re in the right place….
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MaxxAir Fan Install: Everything YOU Need to Think About
If you’re working through or toward your DIY van build, you’re likely considering all the projects you need to start with. One of those beginning…
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Swivel Seat Installation: The Easiest First Project
We’ve lived on and off in a van for four years and watched countless hours of YouTube videos. Therefore, we have a pretty good idea…
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Solving the Limited Van Roof Real Estate Dilemma
Van Roof Real Estate One thing we learned early on was that we only had so much space available on the roof. You’d think a…
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Working out the Van Layout Challenge
Where We Are Starting From Van conversions are unique in that they are highly customizable. Hardly any two van conversions have the exact same layout…
Want to learn about life after the van build?
Check out my blog section on van life
Here you’ll find tips on how to make friends on the road, explore meet-ups, find seasonal work, how to survive winter, and more!