I was happy to hear Steph's idea to build a table that a pulls-out from the driver's side cabinets. I've been thinking of doing that, too. It will be nice to see how it works before diving into the project for myself.
Cudos to the new videographer, Grace, great soft box lighting techniques. I didn’t even notice the lighting in the van until part way into the video. Good job!!! Also, I’m excited to watch this new van unfold. Although I’m a big class A owner. Your diy solar videos have allowed me to build a good Victron Energy system on my class A. And currently working on phase 3.
I think your modular concept is brilliant! Doing the walls, ceiling, flooring, mounting the L track, and running the electrical through the walls is essentially the build. All that remains is the cabinets, which are custom according to individual needs. Showing this process using extruded aluminum would be awesome. Esplori Vans says they're going to begin selling a modular kit sometime this year.
We are currently building out this same exact van! Our layout is similar to your plans, though we are not using L-track for modular components. I recently finished the electrical setup over the driver side wheel well with heavy inspiration from your other electrical tutorials. The customer connection points on the driver seat made installing the Orion dc/dc charger a breeze!
Cool video. Can't wait to see how the modular works. I used a fridge with a remote compressor. It was only 15" deep, which let the kitchen counter be only 18" deep. If you're dealing with modular, smaller lighter pieces is probably a good idea. My thing was I wanted floor space so it didn't feel crowded. If you want more space you can just leave something home. If you're not living in it, it's really like a giant suitcase that you can set up for whatever the trip calls for.
Look at using Ikea Skorva beams for removable bed supports. They have a simple bracket they slot into, and the beams themselves are expandable, so it makes it very easy.
We added a window to our slider because it was almost impossible to see to the right at intersections with angles less than 90 degrees. Sometimes I had to take off my seatbelt and lean way over into the passenger seat then flop back into the driver seat to make my left turn.
this is so good. basically like my ideal van i think, i thought of it being modular and would only build like that. and so glad somebody else made a modular van before i made loads of mistakes making my own :D
Just a thought from Down under. Light switching was mentioned and how it’s to be kept modular. Have you thought of switching the circuits wirelessly? As that way there’s less cabling which allows for less plugs to connect/disconnect. My van has Sphere lighting modules and switches for example.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen the Lagun pillar mounts but we have one installed next to our passenger side swivel seat and love it! It’ll reach all the way out the sliding door to even use outside. Easily moved out of the way when you need to get up and packs out of the way super easy. 🤙🏾 Great video!
I'm looking forward to a video on water tanks. Fresh/grey sizes, inside vs. undercarriage, etc. I'm trying to design a layout around tanks that fit over wheel wells, but they take up so much precious space! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Thanks for doing this serie! People like you give us the confidence needed to build our own van. There is so much to learn, finding this was a miracle 😁. Cheers to you both!
I bought the same van (in the same colour) but in the extended length and I'm in love with it! Funny, I even got the same features except the keyless pin pad entry. I'm done insulating the floor and installing floor finish. The walls are insulated with Thinsulate and the Wabasto heater just got installed (4 season van build). I've decided to get the FVC roof rack once they are back in stock, so I'm looking forward to getting that installed. I'm about to start framing it out with 8020 and then it time for the daunting task of getting the solar array and electrical system installed (thanks for all your electrical youtube content I've consumed). I want to install an air conditioner but don't know which one to get, I'm leaning towards an internal cabinet model to save more roof real estate for solar panels and vents. I'm really looking forward to seeing how you build your new van out, I'll be following along!
Awesome video! Have you considered the pull out table having a hinged/ folding aspect so it stores in the cabinet but when slid out and unfolded, goes the full length she wants? In my buildout of a box truck, the natures head is on a platform and heavy weight bearing drawer slides and it slides into the cabinet when not in use, and out when needed. Your video already has me thinking of different ways to do a few things, and you’ve just started! Can’t wait to see the whole series!!
Excellent video, thank you so much for doing more tutorials with the Ford transit van. That’s definitely my van of choice versus the spriter or pro master
Hi. After my first conversation was written off from a drunk driver drove into me last month I'm in the early stages of conversation 2. Main question is how to keep my dog Boris safe. I recogn pyris is a couple of inches smaller than my borzoi. I'm thinking about having a cage area under my bed for him to travel in a convind safe space. Or an area between cabinets and a bed but with a stop to keep him off the bed so he doesn't have too much space. I'm so glad he was not in the van while the woman drove into me. Have you any thoughts? Or suggestions 🤔
What about the option of a drop down bed on a track system? Gives you access to the "garage/seating" area during the day without the need to play musical bed Cushions every night.
Normally a video like this would be painful to endure, but involving us in the rationale behind planning decision making was captivating and I enjoyed the whole thing. With as highly edited and planned as your other excellent videos are, it was a real breath of fresh air to just get involved with a more authentic view of your process. I love it either way! You guys are AWESOME. Question: what is the largest Victron/Battleborn system you would consider developing? I need a REALLY BIG one...
Perfect timing! I have a T350 AWD on order but no eta just yet. Looks like I ordered the exact same platform as you. Looking forward to tips and tricks and ideas. Followed.
Great view brainstorming of what to do, but if I correct understand no fixed bed (componibile and 2 height position) and no bath/shower (inside a cabinet)?
We are going to try to do both a fixed bed as well as a collapsible table/bed kind of thing; both removable of course. We will probably do a shower of some kind for the sake of making the tutorial; but being 6' 2"...I would probably never actually use a shower in the van, personally.
Cabinets, Minute 10 or so. If "modular," you may be able to design in an "adjustment" ability on the move... (left right up and down). Regarding the depth and height, I'd recommend you make a list of the items and sizes and locations of where they will be packed and make the cabinets for those items... super generalization.
Great idea! I've thought about getting some packing cubes (for small items) and then making the upper cabinets the exact size to fit, say, 6 packing cubes (or whatever). I think that would be FANTASTIC for organization as well.
This build is very close to my plan too. I'm so stoked for this series, thank you! Your full electrical system tutorial video is already the most impressive web tutorial I've ever seen. The modular construction is exactly what I had in mind, I investigated L and E track. Will you do the build in 80/20 aluminum? It appeals to me for weight, flexibility and construction simplicity (square angles, fastening, etc.). 80/20 seems like a more recent idea for van conversions, but Ourkaravan is selling cabinet kits already. I think 80/20 is easier to DIY than wood, because 80/20 only needs a simple saw setup and a metal blade, not all the wood related tools. Not to mention McMaster-Carr sells just about every kind of fastener, hinge, and draw slide imaginable, all compatible with 80/20. I am intending to spray the interior with projected cork for sound deadening, thermal isolation, and moisture control. Then havelock wool insulation the walls, and close them up. I am "systems and maintenance oriented" -- so I do not want any wiring or water lines inside the walls where I can't access them. I do want an induction cook-top, and need power for an electric fridge, a few small appliances and work computer equipment. I'm planning to run conduit to wire those outlets, on the van-interior side of the walls. I'm thinking 1000-1500 W solar -- your elec tutorial was amazing, thanks again! I have been gathering inspiration from the euro campervan industry. For example, the Froli sleep system springs can make a bed much thinner and lighter than using a traditional thick and heavy mattress. Good Life Vans in Germany makes modular camper designs, and have an interesting floor track to slide the cabinets forward, allowing a bed platform to fold over from the wall. This is not too difficult to DIY, as it's just track in the floor. www.good-life-vans.de/en/ Thanks for making all your videos, you are creating such an unbelievable resource!
Great plan... my only thought is try to leave at least 4' 2"floor space between the electrical module and water modules so you can carry sheets of material ... goes to the modular/cargo aspect
@@EXPLORISTlife That would be tough as there is only about 69 inches of width on the floor so leaving 50 inches open would only give you less than 10 inches on each side and that is already partially taken up by the wheel wells. But there is plenty of room to haul sheets vertically or on top of the water and electric cabinets.
I'm following along with your guys' build and learning a lot! Thanks for sharing your process and journey! I'm curious why you guys chose only one fan instead of 2 with the rooftop AC? I was planning on doing a rooftop AC with 2 fans at opposite ends of the van, AC in the middle for seasonal use. I understood 2 fans were needed for good cross ventilation/circulation. This is my first build, so cant really say if one fan is enough or 2 needed? Thanks!
We couldn't fit two fans plus an air conditioner plus adequate solar. 1 fan plus our 3 windows cracked is plenty of cross ventilation. We had two fans and no windows in our last van and I think you'd want two fans if you had no windows or ways to partially open the front windows.
So you tagged it, but where does the d.o.g. go? I would take at least M8 bolts for safety reason. But it should also be quickly detachable (every two or three hours?….) ;)) quite nice! Thumps up!
I know you're planning on making it "modular"/ability to convert it back to a cargo van. So I'm not sure how you're planning on insulating the van. But I hope you nerd out on the proper way to do that (with science backed reasoning). Similar to the depth of detail that Greg Virgoe went into.
Hi Nate, Craig here fro South Africa. Firstly, awesome videos and really easy to follow. They have been a great help to plan my solar power for my land Rover. Some advice please ----- Assuming I install the correct system into my landy, do I really need to also charge my auxillary battery from my main vehicle battery? Will the solar charge be sufficient? Thank again for the awsome content.
Great video, And again I hope to get some inspirational ideas from your modular build. Roughly 21min in this video, you where describing your wish for lights underneath the modular cabinets. Would wireless charging system that is used for phone and tablets work? I know these system can handle 20 watts for sure. But I don’t know if this would work connecting lights? Anyway perhaps an idea that you might want to explore. Cheers
Nate and Steph, I have a 2021 Transit with the same Overhead Shelf in the driver's compartment. When driving my van any items stored on the shelf falls on both the driver and/or passenger. Wondering if you experienced the same issue? On the passenger version of the Transit, Ford installed a center bracket to resolve this issue.
Hi Nate, awsome videos. If I wanted to put 2 100 solar panels on the roof fixed and wanted to add a 200 suitcase portable that could be plugged in when needed, and to move around for the best sun exposure how would that be wired. I have the Vivtron 100-30 mppt controller. Thanks
We are outfitting this van so we can show you how to do all of these projects and learn something new. We will sell the van before we start our next project, but flipping vans is not the business model of this channel.
I was happy to hear Steph's idea to build a table that a pulls-out from the driver's side cabinets. I've been thinking of doing that, too. It will be nice to see how it works before diving into the project for myself.
100% agree. I think there are a lot of people watching who like the idea of how to have workspace in their van build
Wish they had a 3d video of the final concept. Hard to "see" this when it's just tape and people talking.
Cudos to the new videographer, Grace, great soft box lighting techniques. I didn’t even notice the lighting in the van until part way into the video. Good job!!! Also, I’m excited to watch this new van unfold. Although I’m a big class A owner. Your diy solar videos have allowed me to build a good Victron Energy system on my class A. And currently working on phase 3.
Hey Cory, thanks so much! Really appreciate that, cheers!
I think your modular concept is brilliant! Doing the walls, ceiling, flooring, mounting the L track, and running the electrical through the walls is essentially the build. All that remains is the cabinets, which are custom according to individual needs. Showing this process using extruded aluminum would be awesome. Esplori Vans says they're going to begin selling a modular kit sometime this year.
Great, Thanks!! 👍
I think NOMADIK have modular kits already.
We are currently building out this same exact van! Our layout is similar to your plans, though we are not using L-track for modular components. I recently finished the electrical setup over the driver side wheel well with heavy inspiration from your other electrical tutorials. The customer connection points on the driver seat made installing the Orion dc/dc charger a breeze!
Cool video. Can't wait to see how the modular works. I used a fridge with a remote compressor. It was only 15" deep, which let the kitchen counter be only 18" deep. If you're dealing with modular, smaller lighter pieces is probably a good idea. My thing was I wanted floor space so it didn't feel crowded. If you want more space you can just leave something home. If you're not living in it, it's really like a giant suitcase that you can set up for whatever the trip calls for.
So cool to see how you mocked this out in real-time.
Thanks! 🙂🙌
Can’t wait for the next stage and the progress of the van build , especially since I plan on building on same chassis ( high roof transit) !
Look at using Ikea Skorva beams for removable bed supports. They have a simple bracket they slot into, and the beams themselves are expandable, so it makes it very easy.
We added a window to our slider because it was almost impossible to see to the right at intersections with angles less than 90 degrees. Sometimes I had to take off my seatbelt and lean way over into the passenger seat then flop back into the driver seat to make my left turn.
Could always include a type of light to plug into the cabinet connectors to light the cargo area when it is in utility format
this is so good. basically like my ideal van i think, i thought of it being modular and would only build like that. and so glad somebody else made a modular van before i made loads of mistakes making my own :D
Nothing like a clean slate to dream onto
😁😁👍❤️
Just a thought from Down under. Light switching was mentioned and how it’s to be kept modular. Have you thought of switching the circuits wirelessly? As that way there’s less cabling which allows for less plugs to connect/disconnect. My van has Sphere lighting modules and switches for example.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen the Lagun pillar mounts but we have one installed next to our passenger side swivel seat and love it! It’ll reach all the way out the sliding door to even use outside. Easily moved out of the way when you need to get up and packs out of the way super easy. 🤙🏾 Great video!
Nice, Thanks! Lagun has quite a few super cool solutions. Thanks for the lead!
I'm looking forward to a video on water tanks. Fresh/grey sizes, inside vs. undercarriage, etc. I'm trying to design a layout around tanks that fit over wheel wells, but they take up so much precious space! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Awesome. So we’ll done. I’m a year or so out from a project like this but the detail and speed is excellent. Thank you!
Thanks for doing this serie! People like you give us the confidence needed to build our own van. There is so much to learn, finding this was a miracle 😁. Cheers to you both!
Glad it was helpful!
I bought the same van (in the same colour) but in the extended length and I'm in love with it! Funny, I even got the same features except the keyless pin pad entry. I'm done insulating the floor and installing floor finish. The walls are insulated with Thinsulate and the Wabasto heater just got installed (4 season van build). I've decided to get the FVC roof rack once they are back in stock, so I'm looking forward to getting that installed. I'm about to start framing it out with 8020 and then it time for the daunting task of getting the solar array and electrical system installed (thanks for all your electrical youtube content I've consumed). I want to install an air conditioner but don't know which one to get, I'm leaning towards an internal cabinet model to save more roof real estate for solar panels and vents. I'm really looking forward to seeing how you build your new van out, I'll be following along!
So useful, but honestly can't wait to see y'all back on the road.
Awesome video! Have you considered the pull out table having a hinged/ folding aspect so it stores in the cabinet but when slid out and unfolded, goes the full length she wants?
In my buildout of a box truck, the natures head is on a platform and heavy weight bearing drawer slides and it slides into the cabinet when not in use, and out when needed. Your video already has me thinking of different ways to do a few things, and you’ve just started! Can’t wait to see the whole series!!
I can't wait to see this build in progress!!!
Hey, Christos! I appreciate that. Thanks for watching! 🙂😀
Awesome video. It’s obvious Steph is the brains of this build. 😋. Glad to hear you won’t be using high end tools like a CNC or a 3D printers.
Excellent video, thank you so much for doing more tutorials with the Ford transit van. That’s definitely my van of choice versus the spriter or pro master
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Hi.
After my first conversation was written off from a drunk driver drove into me last month I'm in the early stages of conversation 2.
Main question is how to keep my dog Boris safe.
I recogn pyris is a couple of inches smaller than my borzoi.
I'm thinking about having a cage area under my bed for him to travel in a convind safe space.
Or an area between cabinets and a bed but with a stop to keep him off the bed so he doesn't have too much space.
I'm so glad he was not in the van while the woman drove into me.
Have you any thoughts? Or suggestions 🤔
What about the option of a drop down bed on a track system? Gives you access to the "garage/seating" area during the day without the need to play musical bed Cushions every night.
I'll see what I can do! Thanks for watching. 🙂😁
Normally a video like this would be painful to endure, but involving us in the rationale behind planning decision making was captivating and I enjoyed the whole thing. With as highly edited and planned as your other excellent videos are, it was a real breath of fresh air to just get involved with a more authentic view of your process. I love it either way! You guys are AWESOME. Question: what is the largest Victron/Battleborn system you would consider developing? I need a REALLY BIG one...
Looking forward to the next episode. Thanks Don
Hey, Don Davis! I appreciate that. Thanks for watching! 🙂😀
Perfect timing! I have a T350 AWD on order but no eta just yet. Looks like I ordered the exact same platform as you. Looking forward to tips and tricks and ideas. Followed.
Great view brainstorming of what to do, but if I correct understand no fixed bed (componibile and 2 height position) and no bath/shower (inside a cabinet)?
We are going to try to do both a fixed bed as well as a collapsible table/bed kind of thing; both removable of course. We will probably do a shower of some kind for the sake of making the tutorial; but being 6' 2"...I would probably never actually use a shower in the van, personally.
Thanks for sharing. Like #195. Have you watched Humble Road?
Yuuuuuuh. Get it going. Woot woot!
Hey Camero, Thanks so much!
Cabinets, Minute 10 or so. If "modular," you may be able to design in an "adjustment" ability on the move... (left right up and down). Regarding the depth and height, I'd recommend you make a list of the items and sizes and locations of where they will be packed and make the cabinets for those items... super generalization.
Great idea! I've thought about getting some packing cubes (for small items) and then making the upper cabinets the exact size to fit, say, 6 packing cubes (or whatever). I think that would be FANTASTIC for organization as well.
This build is very close to my plan too. I'm so stoked for this series, thank you! Your full electrical system tutorial video is already the most impressive web tutorial I've ever seen.
The modular construction is exactly what I had in mind, I investigated L and E track.
Will you do the build in 80/20 aluminum? It appeals to me for weight, flexibility and construction simplicity (square angles, fastening, etc.). 80/20 seems like a more recent idea for van conversions, but Ourkaravan is selling cabinet kits already. I think 80/20 is easier to DIY than wood, because 80/20 only needs a simple saw setup and a metal blade, not all the wood related tools. Not to mention McMaster-Carr sells just about every kind of fastener, hinge, and draw slide imaginable, all compatible with 80/20.
I am intending to spray the interior with projected cork for sound deadening, thermal isolation, and moisture control. Then havelock wool insulation the walls, and close them up. I am "systems and maintenance oriented" -- so I do not want any wiring or water lines inside the walls where I can't access them. I do want an induction cook-top, and need power for an electric fridge, a few small appliances and work computer equipment. I'm planning to run conduit to wire those outlets, on the van-interior side of the walls. I'm thinking 1000-1500 W solar -- your elec tutorial was amazing, thanks again!
I have been gathering inspiration from the euro campervan industry. For example, the Froli sleep system springs can make a bed much thinner and lighter than using a traditional thick and heavy mattress. Good Life Vans in Germany makes modular camper designs, and have an interesting floor track to slide the cabinets forward, allowing a bed platform to fold over from the wall. This is not too difficult to DIY, as it's just track in the floor.
www.good-life-vans.de/en/
Thanks for making all your videos, you are creating such an unbelievable resource!
Neat! Good idea. 👍🙂
Great plan... my only thought is try to leave at least 4' 2"floor space between the electrical module and water modules so you can carry sheets of material ... goes to the modular/cargo aspect
Nice! Good idea!
@@EXPLORISTlife That would be tough as there is only about 69 inches of width on the floor so leaving 50 inches open would only give you less than 10 inches on each side and that is already partially taken up by the wheel wells. But there is plenty of room to haul sheets vertically or on top of the water and electric cabinets.
I’m late to your build process. Glad I’m on the same page with your thinking. Did you consider a Pop Top? Thanks
Since we were planning a rooftop air conditioner and a substantial amount of solar, a pop top was never on our radar for this build.
Steph alienating potential sponsors right at the get go, lol.
Interested on how you work with the floor without the original mat to trace out.
That s hard work man !! :)
For the bathroom portion, could you make it a cassette style like in pop-up campers?
I'll see what I can do! Thanks for watching. 🙂😁
I'm following along with your guys' build and learning a lot! Thanks for sharing your process and journey! I'm curious why you guys chose only one fan instead of 2 with the rooftop AC? I was planning on doing a rooftop AC with 2 fans at opposite ends of the van, AC in the middle for seasonal use. I understood 2 fans were needed for good cross ventilation/circulation. This is my first build, so cant really say if one fan is enough or 2 needed? Thanks!
We couldn't fit two fans plus an air conditioner plus adequate solar. 1 fan plus our 3 windows cracked is plenty of cross ventilation. We had two fans and no windows in our last van and I think you'd want two fans if you had no windows or ways to partially open the front windows.
Awesome guys .. you rock
Thanks! 🙂🙌
What do you do with the factory wiring? Is it easy to take out ?
I’d love to see the 112% Stephanie job of color pallet picking. How do you design the look of the interior. Thanks for this.
Will do!
So you tagged it, but where does the d.o.g. go?
I would take at least M8 bolts for safety reason.
But it should also be quickly detachable (every two or three hours?….) ;))
quite nice! Thumps up!
d.o.g. would be happier running alongside. 😂🤣
I know you're planning on making it "modular"/ability to convert it back to a cargo van. So I'm not sure how you're planning on insulating the van. But I hope you nerd out on the proper way to do that (with science backed reasoning). Similar to the depth of detail that Greg Virgoe went into.
Hi Nate, Craig here fro South Africa. Firstly, awesome videos and really easy to follow. They have been a great help to plan my solar power for my land Rover. Some advice please ----- Assuming I install the correct system into my landy, do I really need to also charge my auxillary battery from my main vehicle battery? Will the solar charge be sufficient? Thank again for the awsome content.
Great video, And again I hope to get some inspirational ideas from your modular build. Roughly 21min in this video, you where describing your wish for lights underneath the modular cabinets. Would wireless charging system that is used for phone and tablets work? I know these system can handle 20 watts for sure. But I don’t know if this would work connecting lights? Anyway perhaps an idea that you might want to explore. Cheers
Neat! I'll look into it.
I would spend the time to paint all the interior metal surfaces with LIzard Skin Ceramic insulation ; )
I'll see what I can do! Thanks for watching. 🙂😁
Nate and Steph,
I have a 2021 Transit with the same Overhead Shelf in the driver's compartment.
When driving my van any items stored on the shelf falls on both the driver and/or passenger.
Wondering if you experienced the same issue?
On the passenger version of the Transit, Ford installed a center bracket to resolve this issue.
Mule Bags would be a lot easier on the head bumps. 😁
That would indeed be much softer. 😁🤣
Could have a small format projector and screen instead of tv
Hi Nate, awsome videos. If I wanted to put 2 100 solar panels on the roof fixed and wanted to add a 200 suitcase portable that could be plugged in when needed, and to move around for the best sun exposure how would that be wired. I have the Vivtron 100-30 mppt controller.
Thanks
You'd want to use 1 charge controller per array: ruclips.net/video/N0UB7LZVduk/видео.html
Heat?
Is there such thing as a shower module?
Yes to "brainstorming" = sitting in the empty van with a beer......."thinking"
😂😂
Which soft box lights did you use for this video?
We used 4x of these clamped around the sides of the van and 2 of them on stands outside of the van: amzn.to/3KyWEin
@@EXPLORISTlife Perfect, thanks!
Wood stofe
Last
😁👍🙌🙌
Outfitting it so you can try to sell it? All of these super outfitted, not practical at all, super expensive, flip videos on RUclips are ridiculous.
We are outfitting this van so we can show you how to do all of these projects and learn something new.
We will sell the van before we start our next project, but flipping vans is not the business model of this channel.