Tour the Changes we made in our Minivan Camper
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2023
- #vanlife #nomadlife #travel #nomad
I DIY'ed the whole thing. If I did it, you can do it.
If you'd like to buy me a coffee, THANKS! Hit this link: ko-fi.com/thevanthatgotaway
Here's some of the stuff I used to make the van a camper. As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission at no cost to you:
Marine-Grade Fabric:
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Screen room:
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Stove:
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Hook & Loop strips:
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Trash can:
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Refrigerator:
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Battery power pack:
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Wise Owl Tarp:
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Square perforated tubing for roof crossbars:
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Roof basket:
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Tarp poles:
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Sewing machine:
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Roof rails:
Get the OEM - Original Equipment Manufactured - roof rails:
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Roof cross bars:
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Motion activated light:
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Collapsible crate:
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Telescoping table leg:
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Table Support Channel and Slide:
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Rechargeable fan:
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Igloo cooler:
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3-drawer unit in pantry:
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Collapsible bucket:
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Disposable "toilet" bags:
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Mattress:
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Mattress fabric (Looks like the design I ordered was discontinued. But I LOVE this one):
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Zippers for mattress covers:
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Lantern that's crushable, USB chargeable and SOLAR chargeable:
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Toiletry travel bag (Hubby loves this!):
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Quick Dry towel (Another of Hubby's faves):
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**WATCH NEXT**>>> Full Bed/Bench Build: ruclips.net/video/I1vxM8fZ6Ck/видео.html
Thanks for updating how everything worked out. I got my own minivan a couple of weeks ago. My plan is mainly for a commuter cargo van (just myself) but I also miss going camping. I used to do lots of camping at state and national parks 30+ years ago and went through similar phase of roughing it with backpack in my 20's to car & tent camping later in my early 30's. I've been watching lots and lots of YT videos of people who camp or actually live out of their vans, particularly minivans. Their channels all start w/ the "dream" and vision of how they want to build their tiny fuel efficient cabin on wheels. After they have experience under their belts they all have common realities. Fold up bench-beds are way over rated and most prefer to just have a bed mode. Electric fridge is a must and thus also a mini power system. The trunk/cavern should be designed for stuff you rarely need access to (like the electric power system, tools, etc.). My camping will be limited to weekends and on rare occasions may be a whole week.
I was wondering how your awning worked out and if you still find it more ... or less useful than you had initially thought? Also, do you miss not having a tiny sink with flowing water for cleaning dishes and pans? Thanks again for your informative videos.
I wondered if you were going to buy a fridge. Anyone spending that much time on the road really should. It makes life sooooo much easier. :)
Amen, April! We say that to ourselves ALL the time 😄
I would love to see a video tour of the new set up. Yours is the one I will follow when I build my van out. Thank you!
You got it, Roxanne! What kind of van are you working with?
At 3:44 thanks for clueing me the bench conversion didn’t get used much, I’ll just use your dimensions and leave it flat and save myself a whole lot of work :)
That's the practical approach. I like it! Are you doing your build currently?
Greetings from Canada! Love the changes! Thanks!
Hi Barbara, thanks!!
Nice to see your out having fun.
Hi Wendyo! Fun is my middle name. 😄 Nice to see you.
I directly copied your bench/bed design for MY Odyssey, and I gotta tell ya, it's brilliant! I got better sleep camping in it than I ever do at home.
Oh, I'm glad it's a win. I see I'm not the only one who sleeps better in the van, LOL!
@@TheVanThatGotAway Just finished putting your very same R&R bed today!! I just had to cut the frame by 29” to accommodate the mid seats. Next is your curtain in front ( for privacy), Outside power, then cubbies. Love it Leslie! Stay strong😊 (Thanks)
20”, not 29!😅
Thanks for showing what works and what doesn’t, I love your minimalism.
Only way to go in a miniRV! Thanks for being here.
Love the upgrades, thanks for sharing!
Great to see the build again and innovative changes. Upgrading to a fridge is the BEST. Ice is expensive, takes up a lot of space, is sometimes not available, messy, and inconvenient. A fridge was the smartest thing I’ve done. What fridge did you get? I have the BougeRV 23 liter and it’s been great for almost 2 years now. I run it off a tiny Jackery (270 w) when not driving. I don’t have big power needs so that with a small portable solar panel works well.
Can you say more about your bed and configuring it to be always set up? What do you do about lost space? More time in the front seat? Great video as always. 🌿
We actually got a brand of fridge no one's ever heard of 😉 on Amazon. I linked to it in the description for you if you're interested! We only really use the front seats for driving, as we're outside all the time. I'm looking at getting a solar panel to charge the battery. What kind did you get?
Some smart changes! Love your build and what you've done. I think not having to go outside to get to your clothes is probably the best change. And what is that screen room? It looks pretty sweet.
I have an SUV tent that works similarly but is attaches to my rig. Really great for stays of more than a day otherwise it’s a pain to set up and take down…
After too many mind-numbing hours of research, I decided to get a Clam Quick Set. I can set it up by myself - if I need to - in 60 seconds. I wouldn't travel with any other screen room. I put the link in the description if that's useful.
@@TheVanThatGotAway I think it’s valuable as extra space- do put a link (btw, have you looked into affiliate links to make some extra cash?).
The tent I attach is a better fit for me, despite the set up/ take down difficulty. It has lots of windows so serve as a “screen room” but can also be closed up for privacy. I put my “pit potty” in there and I can shower as well. It’s great for longer stays; great “base camp.” 🌿
P.S. I have a cat so it works well to give him extra space too. 🐾
Thank you for being so gracious and sharing your work. Ive had a 2016 odyssey elite for about a year and a half now, previously had an 07 ex-l. Only have to fit myself so lots more room.
Im not sure how youre able to power your fridge on just the hondas power and that power pack. I have a national luna 60l dual control fridge/freezer, in the 07 I had finally gotten enough power with 200 watts solar on the roof, a dc-dc charger right off the alternator and a 280ah lifepo4 battery. Installing all that gets pretty involved and so far all Ive transferred to the new van is the battery so Im just charging it with a generator every 4 days or so. The solar and dc charger are enough without a genny. Summers coming so Im back to focusing on some kind of AC option. Had a portable inside the 07, it worked, powered by the generator, but took too much room.
Im thinking about using a trailer hitch rack to carry an external AC- either a small industrial spot cooler or a mini split, (either about $750) the hose could enter through the rear seat tub in the floor and the genny can sit in a hush box next to the AC on the trailer hitch rack. The beauty of it would be come fall the whole thing slides off the hitch with minimal fuss. (And could be run for several hours at a time on lithium batteries. )
My elite is white, and the 07 was nimbus gray, similar to yours. Come to find its almost as hot in the sun because of all the glass, which isnt really solar rejecting so a full tint job is in order.
I was able to hang an $88 walmart 24" flat screen tv over the ridiculous little screen in the rear with only giant zip ties, and put an antenna in the moonroof. A vizio soundbar mounted behind it with its little subwoofer in the rear well makes it a full AV setup on the cheap.
Oh and if a full AC is too much for some people, Vornado makes an awesome window fan called a Transom.? Like a tower fan on its side Im using that while working out the AC. Its about $100 but worth it. Only uses 27 watts, closes in the moonroof open just about 4", is quiet and blows an enormous amount of air angled toward the rear. I can install or remove that in seconds and it doesnt compromise security at all.
Love these odysseys, drives like a car.
Wow, John, you are hooked UP!! I love that you added a 24" tv. You've got a rolling hotel room there. Let me know what you decide to do for AC, okay?
@@TheVanThatGotAway will do. Im looking for pictures of a setup I saw in a chrysler on craigslist, the guy had taken a small window AC (the cheapest option) and built it into the 3rd row well, and covered it but there was a slot in the floor. Ive already put a cover over my 3rd row well with doors on it and theres only 10" vertical there so Im not sure how he got that in there.
Why didn’t u let us hear what u were saying in the video?
Hi Kay, This is an update on the original full tour. The original video is still available if you want to hear me yammer on about stuff 🙂