People can live simple clean and economically without a lot of trouble and expense. Have a better life and even move around. Plus you can eventually save the money a lot of the hardearned money you work for.
Most van builds are either 80k custom jobs or hippy nests on milk crates. It’s hard to find decent self builders that know what they’re doing. You guys did a great job. Def a top ten self build in my book.
Good job on the flooring! Having worked in OEM design of 'commercial vans' for many years, there's a TON of information I wish I could give the 'prospective conversion van' builders before they start out...it would save them a lot of money, and give them a better finish, when done. For example, a LOT of those 'strange shaped holes' in the wall sub-structure are actually designed in for 'attachment points', from anchor holes to run 'E-Track' to 'polymer push-anchor holes' to attach wire loom to. Before 'custom cutting-drilling-grinding', always look to see if you can 'work your design' around use of these anchor points...then make a trip to a 'bodyshop hardware' store (like NAPA or a local body shop) show them where the attachment point is, how much weight you want to bind to it, and they'll most-likely provide you with the answer (steel anchor plate, flanged push-pin, possibly even Huck Bolts...you may be able to borrow a Huck Bolt tool from your local Fastenal to install them...but they are as strong as hot-formed rivets)...again, knowing how to work the attachment points already built in can save you TONS in the 'final attachment solution', look better when you are finished, and make 'later modifications' much easier if you want to 'convert your conversion' once again...in the future.
That cement mixing tub you have in back from Home Depot can be used as a moveable shower pan... just a thought for those looking for a shower pan idea for inside showers other than a dog bath pool... they have an unnamed brand up to 24x 36 inches holding about 26 gallons for $13.
Great build. Its so refreshing seeing a reasonable build that doesn't cost a bunch. Love the thumb holes for the cabinets, contoured storage space, and extra seat. Well done.
I’ve used your videos as a guide/bible to complete my E350 conversion. The only major differences for me, was a tongue and groove ceiling, an extra set of brackets for the rear seat to turn around, and we may skip the sink for cooler space. I’m almost done putting the walls up and the bed will follow soon after. Can’t wait to get some trips in this summer! Without your videos I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to pull it off, thanks a bunch!
A real DIY guy that doesnt have a 100K garage and 50K in the latest and newest tools to do a van conversion. A real video that is actually sensible and done my an amateur that normal people can relate to.
Cool conversation. You can attach one or two diy pressurized pvc water tanks on your roof rack - one for drinking/cooking, the other for shower/washing.
Wow, what a great "How To.." video! Not only was your narration informative, but very easy to understand. Walking the viewer through each step along your remodeling job, shows the dedication, perseverance and completion of a job well done. Great job. Thanks for taking the time to educate others. God bless!
"...my pee bottle...one of the best things..." - spoken like a true engineer with a sense of humor! - One of the best Ford van conversion videos that I've ever seen.
I am about to be forced into van life due to finances and not being able to afford my apartment now that my fiancé left me and this has given me hope. I am fortunate to have a friend who has a van for me and he is a carpenter. This seems practical and almost perfect for me since I’ll need to have seats for my kids. I don’t think I’d need cabinets because I can have storage under the back seats and under the bed. Thank you for this. Best wishes and many blessings.
Great camper van! Your video inspires me to make my future camper build simple and fun. There are so many prominent conversions that look way too expensive and complex for the average person to pull off. And I think that's what's important and the point: simplified living for the average person in a simplified (and mobile) living space. I understand that different people have different needs, but you did it all way below 10k, which is/was my future budget. But now after checking out your tour video...I feel freer to spend and do what works for me. Thanks a lot!
Awesome budget build.. if I was u, I'd let some professional tint the window. Because as soon you put your reflective "privacy stuff" in, everyone around knows that you are in the van.. and if it's possible, put a swivel base for the 2nd row seat, and use it for chill-time also 😊👍
yay a video not sponsored by huge corps, for the rest of us that do not have 10000000 dollars to buy whatever we could think of, I have a 89 ford econoline van.. its in rough shape lol i have plans and your van is PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great van conversion. Everyday man's possibility instead of millionaire trust fund babies getting into van life w $60k build outs on top of an $80k van. Thanks for making this.
This is a very nice, simple build. I have a similar van. I placed the upper cabinets over the bed on the other side, and sleep with my head on the driver's side. The reason for that is when parked on the street the passenger side is usually lower than the driver side so my head is not lower than my feet when I'm sleeping. It doesn't seem to trouble you, so well done.
Congratulations on the van remodel and the other good work you do. I've watched van remodel videos for years because I hope to do it someday, and your video came up and I was surprised that I recognized Ashley from high school! Yay adventures and DIY projects! Robby R
Robby!!! I can't believe you found our video! So far van-ventures have been great, you absolutely should build one! We're pretty happy with how it's functioning for us, it's certainly not perfect, and we will eventually upgrade, but it makes one-night adventures so much easier. Sending happy adventure vibes your direction!
Awesome job! I like the faucet you built. I spent so long trying to find a small faucet that would work for us. Love that you didn’t use handles on the cabinet either. Those can turn into a real hazard banging into them all the time in the van.
You spent $6100 and you have $mucho$ talent. That van is awesome, and when you were cleaning it out before the build it looked nasty. Really nice work and thanks.
Nice job man. I love how you contour the cabinets to the cabin. I just paid off my condo three years after I bought it, and I am thinking about renting it out for at least a year and doing at least a cross country trip. I’ve been looking at vans and campers and trying to figure out what is going to be the best route to go. As you said, the gas mileage on those vehicles is a great… But then again, even a newer truck hauling a trailer is still going to get roughly the same. So it’s kind of a lose lose situation and less you can get a truck or SUV that is hybrid. In which case, you get the best of both worlds and better gas mileage. Something I will probably look into if I decide to do this. We will see. I think it would be a blast to just drive with no destination and see what I see along the way.
It turned out so great! Our budget is pretty tight so we are building as we can afford items we really wanted! So, our build is taking some time for sure! Great job! It is so much work!
3 года назад+2
You did a very nice job with just $3000 and lots of love. Congratulations!!
The other videos were starting to discourage me from doing this and I really don't need what I have now, so I'm glad to see a realistic video. Thanks for sharing
I just found an E350 and bought it on a whim with the idea of converting it. It’s the non extended one and I was afraid it would be too small. But seeing yours, I did the right thing. So stoked! Bryan from Vancouver
Now im definitely tempted to buy that van I saw a few days ago... I would love to have a summer road tripper to live in as I explore the national parks.
Awesome build...just bought the same size van, it came with most of the seats was trying to figure out how to leave in one row for seating and you nailed it for me...thank you! I enjoyed your build!
As I’m approaching possible homelessness, this Van gives me hope! I’d need a place for a port-a-potty but that’s easy lol I know nothing about how to even begin something like this. Your Van is awesome! I had a home and a husband, all that. Unfortunately when my Breast Cancer returned, he left me. Our divorce was final on our 29th anniversary. I’m struggling desperately to keep a roof over my 59 yr old head. The Vans I see online are all $80,000 and that’s not including the Vehicle 😮 If I had $160,000 to live in my Vehicle, I wouldn’t need to live in my vehicle! Btw you’re the cutest couple! It’s clear you have great communication! That right there will keep your marriage solid and happy!
I own an E350 Super Duty and thought about getting a taller van as well but I like that I can fit into any parking garage. So I’m keeping my van for cross country (city) travel and if I’m actually going to RV/camp, then I’ll pull a camper. When we’re road tripping, we just need beds (to sleep at truck stops), a water jug, and a cooler.
Well well let's get right to it. You can hold your head up because you did a great job on your first Van. Under $3000. Dollars great in the budget you set. Not a 10 beside a 100 thousand dollar van. But Apple's to Apple's cost to cost Van I'd have to give you a 10 Great Job.😎👍🏻
Thank you so much for this video. Well explained and I love it when the prices are mentioned. Motivating video and these vans are all over...I’m looking into it!
I think you did an awesome job, ingenious, you should be really proud of yourself. I have a 2001 Ford E250 for almost 20 years, And with the price of vehicles I'm thinking of Renovating it or converting it
Good stuff. Have you considered putting a seat belt type device for the bed? I used to be an OTR driver. When driving team, one drove while the other slept. Having that seat belt made me feel a lot safer. Even a quasi stop, ie not slamming the brakes, but say a quick slow down from 60MPH to 30MPH due to some traffic back up- can throw ya forward if you're sleeping. Yea it's going to wake you up, but the sudden slow down will wake you up anyway. Better to be strapped in than to slam my head into the fridge.
Oh, and never forget...an often-overlooked 'store' for 'conversion van' solutions is as close as your nearest 'full-service RV shop'...from Fantastic roof fans, to plumbing solutions, heaters, lighting, fresh-gray-black water systems and components...they either will have it in stock, or a supply book you can browse to see 'what works best for you'. Yes, like any store, you can 'go overboard' and spend too much (wow...look at that fold-up against the wall futon couch-bed!)...but having a 'layout idea' in your mind, it's really easy to 'find small answers' in hardware already developed...sometimes for other purposes (VW Westfalia's were built in much the same fashion!).
At this point I just plan to buy a van and sleep on an air mattress. Everything else is optional. Very nice build though. I’ll revisit your videos when I’m tired of roughing it 🤙🏽
Finally, a van conversion done by real people, and not corporate influencers. Dig it. Very refreshing. Great job. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it!
What's a "corporate influencer"?
@@CharliEdwards someone who does these builds cause they’re sponsored by some company and are having their vans funded by those companies
People can live simple clean and economically without a lot of trouble and expense. Have a better life and even move around. Plus you can eventually save the money a lot of the hardearned money you work for.
@@findoutDIY nice video! can you do an update video?
Most van builds are either 80k custom jobs or hippy nests on milk crates. It’s hard to find decent self builders that know what they’re doing. You guys did a great job. Def a top ten self build in my book.
Thanks!
And that $80,000 doesn’t include the Vehicle! I’ve checked them out! Those run another$80,000 to $100,000! Insane and ridiculous
Hey! I like my hippy nest and I don't have any milk crates!
😂 hippy nests
Good job on the flooring! Having worked in OEM design of 'commercial vans' for many years, there's a TON of information I wish I could give the 'prospective conversion van' builders before they start out...it would save them a lot of money, and give them a better finish, when done. For example, a LOT of those 'strange shaped holes' in the wall sub-structure are actually designed in for 'attachment points', from anchor holes to run 'E-Track' to 'polymer push-anchor holes' to attach wire loom to. Before 'custom cutting-drilling-grinding', always look to see if you can 'work your design' around use of these anchor points...then make a trip to a 'bodyshop hardware' store (like NAPA or a local body shop) show them where the attachment point is, how much weight you want to bind to it, and they'll most-likely provide you with the answer (steel anchor plate, flanged push-pin, possibly even Huck Bolts...you may be able to borrow a Huck Bolt tool from your local Fastenal to install them...but they are as strong as hot-formed rivets)...again, knowing how to work the attachment points already built in can save you TONS in the 'final attachment solution', look better when you are finished, and make 'later modifications' much easier if you want to 'convert your conversion' once again...in the future.
Skeeter you sound like a dude I wanna know ! Do you have your own channel or resource source somewhere?
THANK YOU!!! I just purchased an 01 Ford E450 that I am about to “redo.” Your info will be extremely helpful!
first time i see extra seats in a small van and there is still allot of livable space!! amazing!
That cement mixing tub you have in back from Home Depot can be used as a moveable shower pan... just a thought for those looking for a shower pan idea for inside showers other than a dog bath pool... they have an unnamed brand up to 24x 36 inches holding about 26 gallons for $13.
Great build. Its so refreshing seeing a reasonable build that doesn't cost a bunch. Love the thumb holes for the cabinets, contoured storage space, and extra seat. Well done.
I’ve used your videos as a guide/bible to complete my E350 conversion. The only major differences for me, was a tongue and groove ceiling, an extra set of brackets for the rear seat to turn around, and we may skip the sink for cooler space. I’m almost done putting the walls up and the bed will follow soon after. Can’t wait to get some trips in this summer! Without your videos I’m not sure I would have had the confidence to pull it off, thanks a bunch!
Thats awesome to hear! Enjoy those summer adventures!!
Glad I found your channel with real expectations of a van build, tomorrow my van building journey begins and I couldn't be more excited/nervous !
Goodluck! How’s it coming along so far ?
hey Eric how is it going?? sending good vibes
A real DIY guy that doesnt have a 100K garage and 50K in the latest and newest tools to do a van conversion. A real video that is actually sensible and done my an amateur that normal people can relate to.
Cool conversation. You can attach one or two diy pressurized pvc water tanks on your roof rack - one for drinking/cooking, the other for shower/washing.
Wow, what a great "How To.." video! Not only was your narration informative, but very easy to understand. Walking the viewer through each step along your remodeling job, shows the dedication, perseverance and completion of a job well done. Great job. Thanks for taking the time to educate others. God bless!
It's nice to see how you can keep stuff simple and economical for a practical 'get-away'. Refreshing and lots of good detail. Cheers.
"...my pee bottle...one of the best things..." - spoken like a true engineer with a sense of humor! - One of the best Ford van conversion videos that I've ever seen.
That turned out awesome! 👏🏻...very well done. Finally, a reasonable $6,000 van build video. I can’t see anything that I would’ve done differently.
I’d need to add a little potty lol
Beautiful, cheap, simple and something a common person can do, nothing flashy and very practical. Congratulations on your campervan
I am about to be forced into van life due to finances and not being able to afford my apartment now that my fiancé left me and this has given me hope. I am fortunate to have a friend who has a van for me and he is a carpenter. This seems practical and almost perfect for me since I’ll need to have seats for my kids. I don’t think I’d need cabinets because I can have storage under the back seats and under the bed.
Thank you for this. Best wishes and many blessings.
Great camper van! Your video inspires me to make my future camper build simple and fun. There are so many prominent conversions that look way too expensive and complex for the average person to pull off. And I think that's what's important and the point: simplified living for the average person in a simplified (and mobile) living space. I understand that different people have different needs, but you did it all way below 10k, which is/was my future budget. But now after checking out your tour video...I feel freer to spend and do what works for me. Thanks a lot!
Awesome budget build.. if I was u, I'd let some professional tint the window. Because as soon you put your reflective "privacy stuff" in, everyone around knows that you are in the van.. and if it's possible, put a swivel base for the 2nd row seat, and use it for chill-time also 😊👍
Window tinter here, and I totally agree!! It will add privacy and a layer of insulation. Ask for ceramic film, it blocks up to 93% of the heat.
yay a video not sponsored by huge corps, for the rest of us that do not have 10000000 dollars to buy whatever we could think of, I have a 89 ford econoline van.. its in rough shape lol i have plans and your van is PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great van conversion. Everyday man's possibility instead of millionaire trust fund babies getting into van life w $60k build outs on top of an $80k van. Thanks for making this.
Thanks! Really appreciate that!
Man, you did a really good job ,make me very jealous. Wish I had your skills. Thank You Brother !
I love that you showed us the build from beginning to end. Now I know how to start. Thank you so much
This is a very nice, simple build. I have a similar van. I placed the upper cabinets over the bed on the other side, and sleep with my head on the driver's side. The reason for that is when parked on the street the passenger side is usually lower than the driver side so my head is not lower than my feet when I'm sleeping. It doesn't seem to trouble you, so well done.
If you get sideswiped, your noggin' gets smacked!
Congratulations on the van remodel and the other good work you do. I've watched van remodel videos for years because I hope to do it someday, and your video came up and I was surprised that I recognized Ashley from high school! Yay adventures and DIY projects! Robby R
Robby!!! I can't believe you found our video! So far van-ventures have been great, you absolutely should build one! We're pretty happy with how it's functioning for us, it's certainly not perfect, and we will eventually upgrade, but it makes one-night adventures so much easier. Sending happy adventure vibes your direction!
Glad to see a fellow Washingtonian Econoline Conversion - a bit behind your build but I appreciate the videos.
Awesome job! I like the faucet you built. I spent so long trying to find a small faucet that would work for us. Love that you didn’t use handles on the cabinet either. Those can turn into a real hazard banging into them all the time in the van.
I thought the faucet was ingenious too. Very simple and budget friendly. I would have went to Ikea... Ikea is an RV or Van builders dream place LOL.
You spent $6100 and you have $mucho$ talent. That van is awesome, and when you were cleaning it out before the build it looked nasty. Really nice work and thanks.
Great build. Nice to see a diy low budget build compared to these kids and their $100,000 vans.
Like your thrifty approach to van life. You are a good handyman. Wish you good luck on your travels.
I really enjoyed the fact that it’s cost friendly for low income nomads I love it ❤ thanks
Nice job man. I love how you contour the cabinets to the cabin. I just paid off my condo three years after I bought it, and I am thinking about renting it out for at least a year and doing at least a cross country trip. I’ve been looking at vans and campers and trying to figure out what is going to be the best route to go. As you said, the gas mileage on those vehicles is a great… But then again, even a newer truck hauling a trailer is still going to get roughly the same. So it’s kind of a lose lose situation and less you can get a truck or SUV that is hybrid. In which case, you get the best of both worlds and better gas mileage.
Something I will probably look into if I decide to do this. We will see. I think it would be a blast to just drive with no destination and see what I see along the way.
Would love to hear what changes you would now make after using it a while
love this simple and actually budget
Could be on budget but is a very neat conversion. My congrats.
Love it! Awesome job! Love the simplicity of the build.
These vans a reliable and easy to get, I used to have a 2004 extended cargo with the 5.4, unloaded it gave me only 12mpg and it was working perfectly.
love these vans
your build is what i needed for inspiration and to make some decisions on my econoline build thank you!
It turned out so great! Our budget is pretty tight so we are building as we can afford items we really wanted! So, our build is taking some time for sure! Great job! It is so much work!
You did a very nice job with just $3000 and lots of love. Congratulations!!
Thanks so much!!
Nice work, great idea. Bravo guys.👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👍🏻
The other videos were starting to discourage me from doing this and I really don't need what I have now, so I'm glad to see a realistic video. Thanks for sharing
He is the Bob Ross of Van Conversions! 🤩 Fantastic Video
I just found an E350 and bought it on a whim with the idea of converting it. It’s the non extended one and I was afraid it would be too small. But seeing yours, I did the right thing.
So stoked!
Bryan from Vancouver
I'm from Vancouver too.. and planning to build one.
Thank you I needed this. I have a van now and changing it. Freedom. One person life.
Cannot thank u enough for showing the bed dimensions and how tall you are for comparison! Awesome van build👍🏼
Very nicely done! HAPPY CAMPING!
Awesome build :) I really like how you explain almost everything you do, love to learn
Now im definitely tempted to buy that van I saw a few days ago... I would love to have a summer road tripper to live in as I explore the national parks.
It turned out GREAT.... Love your style of explaining things... And how u keep things simple
I agree. You hav 2 go sometime.
Awesome build...just bought the same size van, it came with most of the seats was trying to figure out how to leave in one row for seating and you nailed it for me...thank you! I enjoyed your build!
Right on!
My first build was on a 5x8 trailer that I could not stand up in. Since then I upgraded to a ram promaster high roof. Loving it. Good luck/adventures.
I have a project to travel through my country once I finish university and I think I will inspire on your work, awesome build
As I’m approaching possible homelessness, this Van gives me hope! I’d need a place for a port-a-potty but that’s easy lol I know nothing about how to even begin something like this.
Your Van is awesome!
I had a home and a husband, all that. Unfortunately when my Breast Cancer returned, he left me. Our divorce was final on our 29th anniversary. I’m struggling desperately to keep a roof over my 59 yr old head.
The Vans I see online are all $80,000 and that’s not including the Vehicle 😮 If I had $160,000 to live in my Vehicle, I wouldn’t
need to live in my vehicle!
Btw you’re the cutest couple! It’s clear you have great communication! That right there will keep your marriage solid and happy!
I own an E350 Super Duty and thought about getting a taller van as well but I like that I can fit into any parking garage. So I’m keeping my van for cross country (city) travel and if I’m actually going to RV/camp, then I’ll pull a camper. When we’re road tripping, we just need beds (to sleep at truck stops), a water jug, and a cooler.
Awesome 👏 simple and easy to use 🏆
Congrats, good job!
Very nice. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome Job..Thanks for sharing 👏
Thank you for showing a reasonable way to build out a van.
Nice build! Those hydraulic closer were a must. Especially with the doors opening up. Thank you so much ;)
Just Great Job!!❤🎉Very Simple , Useful n Practical!! User n Budget Friendly!!🐣🎊💝❤️🙏🏼
Well well let's get right to it. You can hold your head up because you did a great job on your first Van. Under $3000. Dollars great in the budget you set. Not a 10 beside a 100 thousand dollar van. But Apple's to Apple's cost to cost Van I'd have to give you a 10 Great Job.😎👍🏻
perfect balance of enough, and not too much... well done man
nice neat simple job. i’m about to embark on my own conversion of a chevy express. this vid was very helpful. thanks for posting it.
You must be an engineer. Everything is well thought out and logical.
I think an engineer would have over thought everything. He just used common sense LOL...
Thank you so much for this video. Well explained and I love it when the prices are mentioned. Motivating video and these vans are all over...I’m looking into it!
Excellent job man
Thank you! Cheers!
I think you did an awesome job, ingenious, you should be really proud of yourself. I have a 2001 Ford E250 for almost 20 years, And with the price of vehicles I'm thinking of Renovating it or converting it
You could look at some travel nets (Subaru accessories as an example) if you need some move storage. Good build. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the tip!
Wow, you guys did a fantastic job on your Van...
Enjoy your travels
Fantastic work! I'm in the middle of converting my Chevy Express (very similar size/layout)! Thanks for making this video!
Great job on the build👌
Fantastic build. But I really like that unique driftwood trim!
Nice, skirts, jackets, and all 🌊🤙🏼
Good stuff. Have you considered putting a seat belt type device for the bed? I used to be an OTR driver. When driving team, one drove while the other slept. Having that seat belt made me feel a lot safer. Even a quasi stop, ie not slamming the brakes, but say a quick slow down from 60MPH to 30MPH due to some traffic back up- can throw ya forward if you're sleeping. Yea it's going to wake you up, but the sudden slow down will wake you up anyway. Better to be strapped in than to slam my head into the fridge.
Great job!
And a great video!
Thanks!
Love your video. Genuine honest demeanor make you very likeable:)
Oh, and never forget...an often-overlooked 'store' for 'conversion van' solutions is as close as your nearest 'full-service RV shop'...from Fantastic roof fans, to plumbing solutions, heaters, lighting, fresh-gray-black water systems and components...they either will have it in stock, or a supply book you can browse to see 'what works best for you'. Yes, like any store, you can 'go overboard' and spend too much (wow...look at that fold-up against the wall futon couch-bed!)...but having a 'layout idea' in your mind, it's really easy to 'find small answers' in hardware already developed...sometimes for other purposes (VW Westfalia's were built in much the same fashion!).
Thanks MUCH for great share and video! Love the backup camera addition. All the BEST to you ! Cheers:)
Great video and I feel more encouraged to start my journey!
Simple is best. Even second hand furniture can be installed ☺
Great job, my first van to Florida was in78. Ford econ with bed,potty and beer cooler.
Beautiful work! A nice build to aspire to, honestly! You make it seem simple, thanks for sharing the process
Add space and room with getting rid of the secondary seating. You can get fold up seats.
This is a down to earth build I can relate to. Just right.
Great van job i did similar with an extended cab e-150 , now it needs the naked lady mud flaps
Only thing I’d add is solar panel to the top. Very cool build.
I love it so much! I'm trying to start my van and will do something similar to yours! Thank you and have a safe journey on the road
A really good job with the build. 👍🏻
That really turned out nice man. I bet it was a fun project to build probably built some good understanding and skills in the process. Awesome!
Thanks 👍
At this point I just plan to buy a van and sleep on an air mattress. Everything else is optional. Very nice build though. I’ll revisit your videos when I’m tired of roughing it 🤙🏽
Great job! Thanks for taking the time to explain your build. Very cool!
Just subbed for the great content and i really liked how u explain what is what you use and where to get it. AMAZING YOU GUYS STAY BLESSED.
Thanks, I'm just starting my conversion, some great ideas here! 🙂
amazing! loved watching this and the previous video!
Thank you so much for all the info. Inspiring to see such craftsmanship for so cheap
Some great ideas here. Thanks for sharing.
So many great ideas!! Thank you for your time.
I love the simplicity! Love that you don't even have cabinet pulls. You don't need'em! Do you have a compost or porta-potti thing?
No toilet in the video. Where else in the van do you suppose one might be hiding?
Great work and great budgeting.