I’ve watched a number of van conversion videos and often feel overwhelmed. Your step by step and scientific reasoning is awesome. Thank you for putting these videos together!
Every time I watched DIY van builts I just wonder why don't you use factory floor instead of cutting new plywood (which yours came with sprinter van is nearly perfect)
What kind of glue did you use for the floor joist? I know this is an older video but I’m sure glad that I ran into it because I was just doing a similar process and I’m taking a little bit of a U-turn based on your process.
Great video we’re in the middle of emulating exactly what you’ve done but uncertain about the area that’s kind of cantilevered over the entryway on the sliding door did you build everything together and then glue it down did you glue it down and then bolted together many thanks Marcus
The cantilevered part is screwed together with angle irons, then glued to the floor of the van. Then, the subfloor is glued and screwed to the joists. It ends up being super strong.
I would have made sure there was support directly under each end of the board for your floor. That or added 2 short joists perpendicular to you main joist, so that there is something other than just the insulation supporting the ends of the floor and it wont flex.
Getting lined up to take on this project in my 2011 170. Can you share how thick of plywood did you use? Also, have you had any issue with the subfloor at the joints? In hindsight, if you could go back would you have added support running perpindicular between the joists to support the joints in those areas? Also curious as you've continued with your build have did you have to go back into the subfloor to add support for cabinets or to drill holes to go under the van? Thanks, Tim PA, US
I believe... (and I could be wrong)... but R-Value is a time constant related to the rate of heat transfer through the material. So the higher value, the longer it takes to transfer heat through the material, and therefore, better insulation properties. There's also a couple of different standards - US and European (and possibly another one or two).
@@WillPemble R-value is the reciprocal of U value. U is used by us building scientists to determine heat transfer & the lower the number the better. So the U value of your 3/4" EPS is 1/2.8 or 0.357, which sales- wise doesn't sound as good as 2.8. BUT the overall R-value of your van floor is less as some percentage is aluminum. Get yourself an infrared camera & use it like the decimal meter device. Happy Trails ...
I did the math. Figuring it's a Sprinter 3500 and has the aerodynamics of a brick, it's kind of a rounding error on the economy front. But, I'm no acoustical engineer. Smarter folks than I should definitely chime in!
Thank you for the kind words and your question, Hydroa. The launch coaster is on hold until spring, as we’re back on the east coast for a while. Too cold outside! So please stick with me. I’ll get some indoor updates going on the coaster in a few weeks, and we should be riding it before summer!
Thanks, Eric! Are use Maple’s because it’s slightly less expensive than Baltic birch, and it comes in 4 x 8 sheets. Usually, Baltic birch comes in 5’ x 5’ sheets. Much higher quality but we’re talking about the subfloor here lol
Thanks for the great video. Does the hollow square tube glued to the metal floor amplify the road noise? compared to wood furring for instance I like the way you have done this and plan on using 80-20 for the framing of my van, just trying to figure out the best way to do this as it looks like a very clean install.
I'm not entirely sure. For the next van (if Mercedes will ever, ever, ever deliver it) I'm going to mimic ARV and screw/glue 3/4 plywood to the floor. It'll save 3/4" in headroom and insulate s well as this system. Sometimes (most times?), simpler is better.
Great video sir. You got a new subscriber. Cannot say what your doing wrong because there seems to be alot of rights out there. Waiting for our van to be built and shipped. Can't wait for the build itself. I've done lots of planning and some pre fabricating before it gets here. Such a cool albeit complex project🙏
Thank you, Scott! You're going to love the build! By the way - I started a new channel just for the van stuff. Check out ruclips.net/user/hackmyvan. That's where all the #vanlife fun is 🙏
I'd skip the rubber if I had it to do over again. So easy to get caught up in the hypothetical. As soon as you're rolling down the highway, it's gonna be noisy. As soon as you're parked in the woods in winter, it's gonna be cold!
Heading out to Seattle next week to pick up the newest van for build! It’s a 170 extended 4 x 4 sprinter, and it’s going to have all the trimmings! The build starts from a completely blank slate in the middle of April!
@@WillPemble hey will! Would you consider using PL Max Premium instead? Also, did you consider misting the surface with water per the non-porous instructions? It's all been a little confusing choosing the right Adhesive. I still haven't found anything saying that it'll specifically bind to aluminum, same goes for PL and for 3M 5200. Thanks for your help. Floor build starts tomorrow!
Thought about that, but I didn't want to interfere with drainage. It's only a matter of time until something gets spilled. Want it to be able to flow outta there without getting caught up on stuff I added. That's the thinking, anyway. Your idea might be way better. I'm gonna think on it for the next van, which is happening now!
Please do at least an update video for the coaster, you are coaster dad not van dad😂 even if you can’t build the coaster outside you can still work on cart electronics and the launch mechanism. Are you still going to do LSM launch?
why floor joists? Not necessary. you can put down mass load vinyl and closed cell foam and use lizardskin on the floor. Its wasted space as you will have less headroom. Complete waste of money and time. This isnt a home it is a tin can on wheels totally wasted effort
I’ve watched a number of van conversion videos and often feel overwhelmed. Your step by step and scientific reasoning is awesome. Thank you for putting these videos together!
This was super helpful. I got all my stuff cut out yesterday and today it goes down! Thank you. Great information.
Outstanding! Be sure to post pics/video of your progress. I love learning from others :)
How did you get it cut out? I’m not lucky enough to have a home workshop. Where can I go to get my plywood cut out?
I was going to say "harmonics", but "holla" works
Every time I watched DIY van builts I just wonder why don't you use factory floor instead of cutting new plywood (which yours came with sprinter van is nearly perfect)
Having done it both ways, I agree with you 100000000%
Will. Nice video... is there a Part 3? What are your current thoughts on using the mass loaded vinyl (worth it or overkill)?
What kind of glue did you use for the floor joist? I know this is an older video but I’m sure glad that I ran into it because I was just doing a similar process and I’m taking a little bit of a U-turn based on your process.
Liquid Nails ia great stuff. amzn.to/4cPcKCG
Why didn't you use PolyIso?
Thumbs up from me simply for the Reaver spaceship reference!
#mypeople!
Great video we’re in the middle of emulating exactly what you’ve done but uncertain about the area that’s kind of cantilevered over the entryway on the sliding door did you build everything together and then glue it down did you glue it down and then bolted together many thanks Marcus
The cantilevered part is screwed together with angle irons, then glued to the floor of the van. Then, the subfloor is glued and screwed to the joists. It ends up being super strong.
@@WillPemble thank you so much. that just what we did .it came out great
I would have made sure there was support directly under each end of the board for your floor. That or added 2 short joists perpendicular to you main joist, so that there is something other than just the insulation supporting the ends of the floor and it wont flex.
Excellent point. Before we screw everything down, we’ll add that extra support, as well as plate biscuits to keep everything super tight.
Any chance we could get the links to the 3/4" square aluminium tubing you used or recommendation on the supplier?
Check out Metal Supermarket online. They’ve got just about everything.
Getting lined up to take on this project in my 2011 170. Can you share how thick of plywood did you use? Also, have you had any issue with the subfloor at the joints? In hindsight, if you could go back would you have added support running perpindicular between the joists to support the joints in those areas? Also curious as you've continued with your build have did you have to go back into the subfloor to add support for cabinets or to drill holes to go under the van?
Thanks,
Tim
PA, US
HI greg great job ,why not use the factory ply wood
I believe... (and I could be wrong)... but R-Value is a time constant related to the rate of heat transfer through the material. So the higher value, the longer it takes to transfer heat through the material, and therefore, better insulation properties. There's also a couple of different standards - US and European (and possibly another one or two).
Thank you, rosserdman! That makes a lot of sense. 😁👍
@@WillPemble R-value is the reciprocal of U value. U is used by us building scientists to determine heat transfer & the lower the number the better. So the U value of your 3/4" EPS is 1/2.8 or 0.357, which sales- wise doesn't sound as good as 2.8. BUT the overall R-value of your van floor is less as some percentage is aluminum. Get yourself an infrared camera & use it like the decimal meter device. Happy Trails ...
Did you calculate the weight of the floor, it looks heavy. A heavy finished camper is not good for performance and economy
I did the math. Figuring it's a Sprinter 3500 and has the aerodynamics of a brick, it's kind of a rounding error on the economy front. But, I'm no acoustical engineer. Smarter folks than I should definitely chime in!
Will you screw down the wood to the joists when you’re finally done and you’re putting flooring on?
I did screw them down with self-tapping, countersunk screws.
As much as I love the recent van videos, what's going on with the launch coaster, Is there somewhere else where I can get updates?
Thank you for the kind words and your question, Hydroa. The launch coaster is on hold until spring, as we’re back on the east coast for a while. Too cold outside!
So please stick with me. I’ll get some indoor updates going on the coaster in a few weeks, and we should be riding it before summer!
What gage and grade aluminum did you use? Wall Thickness? Thanks.
Great video helped a lot. Thank you! Why Maple ply and not baltic Birch?
Thanks, Eric! Are use Maple’s because it’s slightly less expensive than Baltic birch, and it comes in 4 x 8 sheets. Usually, Baltic birch comes in 5’ x 5’ sheets. Much higher quality but we’re talking about the subfloor here lol
Thanks for the great video. Does the hollow square tube glued to the metal floor amplify the road noise? compared to wood furring for instance I like the way you have done this and plan on using 80-20 for the framing of my van, just trying to figure out the best way to do this as it looks like a very clean install.
I'm not entirely sure. For the next van (if Mercedes will ever, ever, ever deliver it) I'm going to mimic ARV and screw/glue 3/4 plywood to the floor. It'll save 3/4" in headroom and insulate s well as this system. Sometimes (most times?), simpler is better.
Are you no longer working on back garden rollercoaster?
Great video sir. You got a new subscriber. Cannot say what your doing wrong because there seems to be alot of rights out there. Waiting for our van to be built and shipped. Can't wait for the build itself. I've done lots of planning and some pre fabricating before it gets here. Such a cool albeit complex project🙏
Thank you, Scott! You're going to love the build! By the way - I started a new channel just for the van stuff. Check out ruclips.net/user/hackmyvan. That's where all the #vanlife fun is 🙏
Did u make the new coaster yet
I used 1 inch foam board and tubing. Without the 1/8 inch rubber.
I'd skip the rubber if I had it to do over again. So easy to get caught up in the hypothetical. As soon as you're rolling down the highway, it's gonna be noisy. As soon as you're parked in the woods in winter, it's gonna be cold!
I feel like the obvious h word for audio is hearing. Height, heat and hearing? Not sure that works
Hearing! Of course 😊
Thank you, DRElliott!
How’s the van coming?
Heading out to Seattle next week to pick up the newest van for build! It’s a 170 extended 4 x 4 sprinter, and it’s going to have all the trimmings! The build starts from a completely blank slate in the middle of April!
Great video! Q: Did you join the plywood subfloor at the seams/joints?
Yes I did. Used construction adhesive to keep things tight n quiet :)
Material list?
Apologies, my friend. I didn't make a list. This was all by the seat of the pants as they say.
How many tubes of Fuze It did ya end up needing?
I think about 4.
@@WillPemble cheers!
@@WillPemble hey will! Would you consider using PL Max Premium instead? Also, did you consider misting the surface with water per the non-porous instructions? It's all been a little confusing choosing the right Adhesive. I still haven't found anything saying that it'll specifically bind to aluminum, same goes for PL and for 3M 5200. Thanks for your help. Floor build starts tomorrow!
Heat, height, harmonics(?)
Nice!
Killmat on the floor in the grooves would have been a great idea.
Thought about that, but I didn't want to interfere with drainage. It's only a matter of time until something gets spilled. Want it to be able to flow outta there without getting caught up on stuff I added. That's the thinking, anyway. Your idea might be way better. I'm gonna think on it for the next van, which is happening now!
HAPTICS
Nice!
Please do at least an update video for the coaster, you are coaster dad not van dad😂 even if you can’t build the coaster outside you can still work on cart electronics and the launch mechanism. Are you still going to do LSM launch?
Sprinter VanSubfloor is your Romanian vampire name.
😂😂😂😂
Ok I bought the van and installed the sub floor. Now what?
Heat, height & hush 🤫
Apple box measurement 🤣
A foot's a foot, right? HAHAHAA!
Dig it
Thanks, Paul. :)
Second
Hertz Hz
Hearing...
First
why floor joists? Not necessary. you can put down mass load vinyl and closed cell foam and use lizardskin on the floor. Its wasted space as you will have less headroom. Complete waste of money and time. This isnt a home it is a tin can on wheels totally wasted effort
Look, an opinion!