DIY Campervan Products: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/diy-campervan-buildout Our Adventure Gear: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/adventure-gear Blog Index of Tutorial Videos: adventureinabackpack.com/diy-campervan-conversion/
Adventure in a Backpack AWESOME VAN BUILD!!! So professional looking!! Amazing guys!!! How much approx did was the cost to build and how much was your van?? Thanks and have FUN!!!👍🏼♥️✌🏼🙏🏼
This is a really great build - thanks so much for sharing with us. Love the doggos, too. I work as a dog walker/pet sitter, so I spend much of my time outdoors, and have been toying with the idea of living in a van for a while now. I'd need a 2nd van to live in, though - the doggos always make a big mess of my work van. ;-)
I could not sleep last night so I have been watching van life vids for about 12 hours straight and you have packed more into a van than all the other self builds I saw all night!
One of the most appealing vans I've seen, I am only 16 years of age and I'm hoping that one day I could do the same one day, I really love vanlife, especially how neat this van is
Wow. Can't believe how much you have been able to put in your van. Great ideas! Great attention to organization. Converting my Mazda 2001 Tribute into a camping car, and being small, organization is key for two people to fit and stay sane. Thanks for the tour.
Nice! Super cool! ...and it's getting more and more organized by the day! It's funny to look back and see the things that we didn't think we could live without...that we can totally live without.
Love your teamwork and very successful effort at Van Life. Your attention to detail in the installation of equipment is also very telling of how you run your lives together. Very Impressive. God Bless You both !!
Love it, this shows how easy it can be when intelligence couples with reality. They dont try to sell this is a spacious place. They're like - look things are on rollers, and other things collapse to make life easier. Thank you for having/showing a toilet! Loved the privacy curtain.
I ended up THOROUGHLY enjoying your video once the full length mirror scene happened. Your personality burst out and I just suddenly realized you are a cool person and really wanted to hear your whole story! First time seeing you guys and was totally impressed by this one video! Good luck, take care and ENJOY!
It's the first time that i see a custom van that: A: Doesn't look like it's made out of garbage B: Have actually great idea and smart innovation. Good for you and thanks for sharing.
OMG you’re like soooo Amazing with speaking/explaining/and just being awesome! You both are extremely cool, and I love y’all vibes 💯 Truly inspiring!!!! Thanks for letting us into your world! I can only hope to meet you both one day🙌🏾🤟🏾🤍
Great video and build! Maybe you could do an update video on what worked, what you loved about your build, any regrets you have and what you would do differently next time.
This van layout is too perfect. lol Very sleek, modern and well thought out. The solar electronics look so neat and orderly. This definitely ranks in the top 3 overall van conversions I've ever seen and would rank #1 for the DIY conversions. Nice job! Thanks for including us on the tour. PS: With all that beauty, glamour and investment, I am shocked you don't have AC.
Thanks so much! :D :D That really means a lot to us. We honestly opted out of the AC because we couldn't find any good, energy efficient systems out there. :/ Maybe in another 5 years or so, there will be some, but right now all of the smaller units are expensive, ugly, or inefficient.
I would DEFINITELY put side and front low profile locks on those two electronics and camera drawers. The kind that you can just see the key part, or better yet, fully stealthed electro magnet security door locks for the drawers. Also, would move the fuse box from its present position to one of the cupboards in the van. I'd hate to have a fuse blow when it's pouring with rain or stormy or freezing cold etc, and have no choice but to completely empty the ' garage ' section just to get to the fuse box panel to replace the popped fuse! All that stuff would get wet in the rain and the time it takes wouldn't be much fun either. Love love love the led strip lighting everywhere.. Perhaps you could do a video on that install, products used etc. 👍
We definitely have some security in place, but for obvious reasons, we didn't talk about it on the video. Good call though for sure! I can actually access the fuse box without taking anything out of the back. Tight fit, but doable. Inside the living compartment would have made it a bit easier for access while living, but trying to wire that thing up when inside a cabinets hurts my brain. lol Definitely a good consideration though. The lights turned out great. Definitely gets the 'wow' factor when we are giving a tour. The products we used on that can be found here: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/diy-campervan-buildout Do you have any specific questions about the wiring? It would be a good video, but hasn't been requested very much. If you have specific questions, maybe that would spur us in a direction for a video.
I watched all your videos and took a long look at a Promaster. You get something that is fun to drive, but the space is definitely limited. I might rent one, see if I really loved it. I would rate your build as outstanding. I don't know if people will try to offer more services to builders. Maybe a package with insulation and wall/roof panels. The pink rigid foam seems like a good product for the floors, with plywood on top. Some people buy cabinets at Home Depot, but van cabinets might work better. Something like a Goal Zero 1000 is a fairly complete power system. The Battle Born lithiums would work. Maybe a cabinet with a vent for a propane tank, and then couplers for a stove and furnace. I think you guys pushed the concept along. Everything you did looks good. If the level of enthusiasm continues for Van Life, it will be interesting to see the evolution over the next few years. A van you could convert back and forth between a camper and a carrier would be interesting. Thanks. It's a great public service to share this stuff. All the best in your travels.
Thanks so much for your thoughts! Some 'semi diy' stuff is definitely a big market. We have brainstormed how we could start up a company in that niche, but I digress. It will indeed be crazy to see how the next few years changes us. If absolutely nothing else, I'd venture to bet we learn a new thing or two along the way! Thanks again! :D
Awesome Camper Van Setup... Keeping it Simple That How I Have My Van As Well.. Simple, Minimal, Not To Crowded ... Still Enough Room to Move Around Inside and Relax... Great Video.!!
Most that make these videos don’t know how to modulate their audio and you have to volume up and down between the voice and the music but I have to say you all did a great job! Nice van too!
Fantastic !!! That's perfect... I am watching videos on Camper Van for around 4 years but I did not get anything like your one... Excellent... Great job...👍👍🤘
I have been looking for and watching videos like yours on keeping cool (I have two cats) so when I do the RV or Van life, hopefully in next few years. I really liked the bed, blanket design, and when you said it was from your own photo that was really neat you did that! In general I am always amazed at what people can do to make the van or rv more homey.
Amazing, simply amazing! Thank you so much. We've been looking for a workable design. This van build is so practical and well thought out. You've been very generous to your viewers.
So organized! Loved it and liked learning about how you dealt with your dogs. That has been a question of mine in wondering what to do with my dog while walking on trails that don't allow her.
Very nice. The sunset was fantastic. I heard there were slot canyons in Death Valley...that was pretty nice. I had never heard of the springs...very nice.
Seems a bit claustrophobic for my taste but if it works for you three that's all that matters. Very clean, modern and high tech. Thanks for the great tour. Happy travels, namaste.
As van builds go this one is the least claustrophobic I've seen. IMHO Many folks who have larger RV's downsize to something like this. To each their own.
So far so good! The we are willing to trade to roomy open floorplan house for the tight quarters of a full time traveling lifestyle any day! We love it. You're so welcome for the tour! :D Thanks so much for watching!
We actually spared several expenses. We could have bought a new van with 4x4. We could have built with lighter materials. We could have paid somebody else to build it. We could have gone with lithium batteries over AGM batteries. We could have had a hot water heater... I could go on, but we did have a budget we were sticking to and we were trying to get the most bang for our buck.
All hale the junk draw 😀🤣😀 I'm planning my van build as I speak and will make sure to include a junk draw in my plans lol. I'm also planing to have a small dish washer designed for boats 👍
Tip for the running water: please look into getting a Whale Gusher Galley maritime foot operated water pump..Not loud, very efficient (pumps on both the down and upstroke - capable of pumping 4 gal per minute), not a bulky item, about the size of3x4x4 inches or so) and made very durable...
Hey Sander! Are you recommending that we uninstall our electric pump and plumbing and replace it with the foot pump unit? I've heard good things about the foot pump unit, sure, but uninstalling the pump we've already installed and rebuilding the kitchen cabinet to fit the foot pump seems a bit overkill, eh? Just trying to make sure I understand your comment.
+Brendan Harris #montana #alaska. But seriously, I didn't notice she said that while I was videoing. I had a pretty hard laugh when it came time to edit. Seriously though...you never know! ROFL!
Thank you for that Beautiful TOUR ! Love the van and everything that you guys did. But one thing i didn't see anywhere for a Shower . Thank you again and looking forward to the next Adventure.............
Thanks so much! We don't have a shower. We had to substitute the shower for our gear storage. We have a nationwide gym membership that has showers we use when we stop in to work out. Aside from that, we also do have small portable solar heated shower (amzn.to/2wiTP1B) we carry. Thanks so much for watching! :D
Loved this video. In depth but to the point. one of the best van builds I've seen. (and 2 of the cutest pups!) You didn't mention what you used on the ceiling but I loved the contrast with the other colors and textures you used in the van. Great job ... ♡
This has to be the most well conceived, well executed van conversion I have ever seen and being a VW fan I have seen a few. Awesome, I would like an exact copy... Andy UK
Really nice setup! As far as the rack LED lights go, I wonder if using a yellow/amber fog light lens would cut down on attracting bugs,.. like a yellow bug bulb does on your home porch.
Thanks! Not too sure on the yellow lights. We don't really leave them on just to hang out outside. They are too bright for that and we'd rather see the stars anyway.
Wait Wait Wait, Steph, did I tell yu Nate is truly a LUUUUCKY GUY You're Awesome 🤫shuuu don't tell him I said so, but he's pretty awesome too I'm adding a solar system to my home, which is a 50 foot Gulfstar motor yacht I think I've watched a thousand videos in the last few days lol And I can tell you for sure I've learned a more from Nate than all the others combined Thx, and be safe out there 👉👍👈
OMG! That is massive storage space you guys have in the back, really didnt expect you to pull out so much stuff lol. & I think the slide out toilet was a neat idea, first time seeing something like that. 👍
Impressed!!! Subbed. I think you should build a thin box around your solar "station" (in the garage/basement section) In case some of your adventure gear/equipment gets jostled. That could possibly do damage
Awesome build guys! Lots of inspiration and thank you so much for the incredible videos. Can you possibly add information on the Aluminess roof rack and gear boxes? Additionally, any information on the outside LED lights would be super cool! Thanks.
Thanks so much! You are very welcome! We will eventually do a full review on the Aluminess gear. Do you have any specific questions you'd like answered? Also, do you have any specific questions on the outside LED lighting? Thanks so much for watching and I look forward to helping! :D
They are SO nice. Good for being at camp and checking for critters before we lets the dogs out to pee at night or early mornings. Also good for when we roll into a spot that kind of looks sketchy (everything always looks sketchy when it's dark...lol) But yeah, they are awesome.
Just a recommendation for your dogs. The company named invisible fence and they make wires that you bury around your yard that shock or vibrate the dogs collars when they try to leave. Since you are traveling and obviously can't do that they make a device that is about the size of a plate and when you plug it in and pair it with collars that you can set to vibrate the dogs and trigger an alarm that will notify you in the van when they go a certain distance from the van so that you can let them out and not worry about them going to far from the van when you are busy and they are bored.
I'm amazed that folks can build their own vans I just bought a Roadtrek because there is no way I could build my own ,yours looks amazing my only problem is the lack of windows ......keep on vanin'
We love to build things! :D Haha! No windows is no problem for us. We are really only inside the van to drive and sleep. Even when we are cooking, we usually have the door wide open so we have plenty of light and air movement. Windows are also a terrible thermal barrier, so having a better insulated space was more important. Also, we really like the privacy of not having windows when we are sleeping. Lastly, installing windows would have cost another $1000 that we would have rather spent on items we ACTUALLY wanted.
Like I said before great job of making YOUR camper if you don't windows its no windows with my Roadtrek its windows on the sides on the ceiling just makes nice natural light ...keep up the great work also liked the plasticote video that was gutsy !
Really nice job on your buildout and I enjoyed the video tour! I've read through all the comments (don't you wish everyone would?) and you've already answered most of my questions, but I have two more: 1) With your van + bumper boxes at about ~16 feet, does it pretty easily fit into spots designated as "car camping"? 2) Do you regret not going with a 4X4? (We're big skiers, so it seems essential for us.) 3) How's the composting toilet working for you, how often do you have to empty it, and do you avoid using it if there are public restrooms available? I don't know if I have the DIY skills to do this myself, but I've been drooling over the Winnebago Revel, even though it'd cost a lot more than what you've done. Thanks again for the awesome tour! Craig
Thanks so much! :D 1: From the front of the bumper to the back of the boxes, we are right at 25 feet. It really depends on the "car camping" spot because we have come across places that would literally be "car" camping. That being said, we are happy with the length. Any shorter would have made the full-time living part pretty difficult, but we can still fit into most spots we find. 2: Would we like 4x4? Sure! But we would have had to spend an extra $50,000 (and a few months waiting for one to come in) to have that luxury, so 'regret' wouldn't be the proper word. (We are also skiers) 3: Composting toilet is working great! We have to empty the liquid tank every other or every 3rd day. We do indeed avoid using it if a public restroom is around... Thanks for your awesome questions and for watching!
Adventure in a Backpack Thanks for answering all my questions. (I just realized I said I had two questions, but proceeded to ask 3 questions, and the final question was really 3 questions. 😁. One more: Where do you put skis?
When you were showing the inside, I seriously thought the bed was against the back doors. Then you opened the back doors. What kind of voodoo is this? 😂😂
Very nice van!! I like the paint job, never saw that look before!!! Like to see more of your dogs I'm a pet girl and I need to get to know peoples pets!!! LOL Judie
Thank you so much! Haha, we will see what we can do about including the dogs more. Fun Fact: Pyros HATES cameras. Somehow she can tell when shes on camera and always looks away.
Great video! You guys did a great job showing lots of detail while still moving the video along. I can't believe how neat and tidy everything is (clothes, equipment, and all the wiring). Very impressive! Maybe you could address safety in a future video. Can you open he back doors with the storage boxes on the back? Do you have fire and carbon monoxide detectors, and do they work in a van? Heat sensors when you leave the dogs? Alarms, locks, etc. for leaving equip. behind?
I just wanted to start by saying how much I enjoy watching your videos. I also wanted to ask you “Have you had any leaks with your roof vent?” I’m about to cut through my new roof and want to understand how realistic I should be about a leak free experience. Cheers, Andrew
Hey miss you guys been busy! guess what just got myself a almost brand new sprinter only done 35000kms already done out but i want to make a lot of mods great to see you guys again watching your videos! sean thompson Cape Town South Africa
Great build. Looks professional & cozy. Will be starting a build this spring & doing as much research as I can:). Ours is for family weekends/vacation...& my project addiction.
DIY Campervan Products: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/diy-campervan-buildout
Our Adventure Gear: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/adventure-gear
Blog Index of Tutorial Videos: adventureinabackpack.com/diy-campervan-conversion/
Adventure in a Backpack AWESOME VAN BUILD!!! So professional looking!! Amazing guys!!! How much approx did was the cost to build and how much was your van?? Thanks and have FUN!!!👍🏼♥️✌🏼🙏🏼
Adventure in a Backpack I have a question how do you make money with van life like what career is good?
This is a really great build - thanks so much for sharing with us. Love the doggos, too. I work as a dog walker/pet sitter, so I spend much of my time outdoors, and have been toying with the idea of living in a van for a while now. I'd need a 2nd van to live in, though - the doggos always make a big mess of my work van. ;-)
Adventure in a Backpack can y'all go to Japan toyko
We would LOVE to go to Japan!
I could not sleep last night so I have been watching van life vids for about 12 hours straight and you have packed more into a van than all the other self builds I saw all night!
This is by far one of the most PRACTICAL van builds I have ever seen. Kudos 2 U guys.
One of the most appealing vans I've seen, I am only 16 years of age and I'm hoping that one day I could do the same one day, I really love vanlife, especially how neat this van is
Super awesome! Thanks so much! :D :D
Top notch ! On a scale of 1 to 10, this video is about a 14 !
Thanks so much! You're awesome! Thanks for watching! :D :D
Wow. Can't believe how much you have been able to put in your van. Great ideas! Great attention to organization. Converting my Mazda 2001 Tribute into a camping car, and being small, organization is key for two people to fit and stay sane. Thanks for the tour.
Nice! Super cool! ...and it's getting more and more organized by the day! It's funny to look back and see the things that we didn't think we could live without...that we can totally live without.
You guys are way ahead of us... We're still planning. It's all theoretical at the moment.
Enjoy the outdoors guys!
Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦
Oh man! I bet you're so excited to get started! Thanks so much for watching! :D
Love your teamwork and very successful effort at Van Life. Your attention to detail in the installation of equipment is also very telling of how you run your lives together. Very Impressive. God Bless You both !!
Aww! Thanks so much! We really try to 'sweat the small stuff' so to speak. Thanks again for watching and for your kind words!
Sweating the small stuff really shows! I'm impressed by your focus on the details. Good stuff!
We think so too! Thanks so much! :D
Love it, this shows how easy it can be when intelligence couples with reality. They dont try to sell this is a spacious place. They're like - look things are on rollers, and other things collapse to make life easier. Thank you for having/showing a toilet! Loved the privacy curtain.
Thanks for all of your awesome words! :D :D You definitely see our vision. :D
I absolutely LOVE that you integrated space for your dogs!
It was a must! :D
STEPH did a great job on commenting on your Van Built, it is awesome!
I ended up THOROUGHLY enjoying your video once the full length mirror scene happened. Your personality burst out and I just suddenly realized you are a cool person and really wanted to hear your whole story! First time seeing you guys and was totally impressed by this one video! Good luck, take care and ENJOY!
Haha! Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers!
Well done, great build. It's one of the best thought out build on RUclips.
Stephanie, great job on presentation.
Aww, really!? Thanks so much! :D
It's the first time that i see a custom van that:
A: Doesn't look like it's made out of garbage
B: Have actually great idea and smart innovation.
Good for you and thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! We really appreciate that! :D Thanks for watching! :D
OMG you’re like soooo Amazing with speaking/explaining/and just being awesome! You both are extremely cool, and I love y’all vibes 💯 Truly inspiring!!!! Thanks for letting us into your world! I can only hope to meet you both one day🙌🏾🤟🏾🤍
Your presentation was one of the most thorough and best I have seen! You guys did an awesome job. Enjoy!
Thank you so much! :D
WOW! So Solar Jelly!! That is incredible!
Great video and build! Maybe you could do an update video on what worked, what you loved about your build, any regrets you have and what you would do differently next time.
This van layout is too perfect. lol Very sleek, modern and well thought out. The solar electronics look so neat and orderly. This definitely ranks in the top 3 overall van conversions I've ever seen and would rank #1 for the DIY conversions. Nice job! Thanks for including us on the tour. PS: With all that beauty, glamour and investment, I am shocked you don't have AC.
Thanks so much! :D :D That really means a lot to us. We honestly opted out of the AC because we couldn't find any good, energy efficient systems out there. :/ Maybe in another 5 years or so, there will be some, but right now all of the smaller units are expensive, ugly, or inefficient.
Fantastic build and video. Nice to see well planned and laid out electrics. So many are a bird's nest of wires. Inspirational.
Thanks so much! Yeah, we couldn't have messy wires... lol
I would DEFINITELY put side and front low profile locks on those two electronics and camera drawers. The kind that you can just see the key part, or better yet, fully stealthed electro magnet security door locks for the drawers.
Also, would move the fuse box from its present position to one of the cupboards in the van.
I'd hate to have a fuse blow when it's pouring with rain or stormy or freezing cold etc, and have no choice but to completely empty the ' garage ' section just to get to the fuse box panel to replace the popped fuse! All that stuff would get wet in the rain and the time it takes wouldn't be much fun either.
Love love love the led strip lighting everywhere.. Perhaps you could do a video on that install, products used etc.
👍
We definitely have some security in place, but for obvious reasons, we didn't talk about it on the video. Good call though for sure!
I can actually access the fuse box without taking anything out of the back. Tight fit, but doable. Inside the living compartment would have made it a bit easier for access while living, but trying to wire that thing up when inside a cabinets hurts my brain. lol Definitely a good consideration though.
The lights turned out great. Definitely gets the 'wow' factor when we are giving a tour. The products we used on that can be found here: kit.com/AdventureInABackpack/diy-campervan-buildout Do you have any specific questions about the wiring? It would be a good video, but hasn't been requested very much. If you have specific questions, maybe that would spur us in a direction for a video.
Sharing your experiences unfits and rational are really invaluable. Thank you.
I watched all your videos and took a long look at a Promaster. You get something that is fun to drive, but the space is definitely limited. I might rent one, see if I really loved it. I would rate your build as outstanding.
I don't know if people will try to offer more services to builders. Maybe a package with insulation and wall/roof panels. The pink rigid foam seems like a good product for the floors, with plywood on top. Some people buy cabinets at Home Depot, but van cabinets might work better. Something like a Goal Zero 1000 is a fairly complete power system. The Battle Born lithiums would work. Maybe a cabinet with a vent for a propane tank, and then couplers for a stove and furnace.
I think you guys pushed the concept along. Everything you did looks good. If the level of enthusiasm continues for Van Life, it will be interesting to see the evolution over the next few years. A van you could convert back and forth between a camper and a carrier would be interesting. Thanks. It's a great public service to share this stuff. All the best in your travels.
Thanks so much for your thoughts! Some 'semi diy' stuff is definitely a big market. We have brainstormed how we could start up a company in that niche, but I digress. It will indeed be crazy to see how the next few years changes us. If absolutely nothing else, I'd venture to bet we learn a new thing or two along the way! Thanks again! :D
Awesome Camper Van Setup... Keeping it Simple
That How I Have My Van As Well.. Simple, Minimal, Not To Crowded ... Still Enough Room to Move Around Inside and Relax...
Great Video.!!
This van is the BEST one I have seen so far.
Backpack.. I love the boxes on the back so you can lock things up! Cool 😀
Yep! Greasy tools on one side and extra engine fluids in the other. Keeps the nasty out of the living quarters.
Awesome Van! One of the top 3 ive seen for sure.
Personally I'd add a window in the van near Kitchen or the bed.
You both have done a super job on your van ,I love it. Thanks for the tour .
Awesome! Love the colors, storage areas, but impressed with the floor and storage lighting :)
WHAT A PROFESSIONAL JOB LOOKS LIKE IT CAME FROM A FACTORY BRAVO
Thanks you so much! :D
A Dobe!!!! Beautiful! I miss having a Dobie! Please feature him/her more!!!
Oh Yes! Thanks for watching! :D
Most that make these videos don’t know how to modulate their audio and you have to volume up and down between the voice and the music but I have to say you all did a great job! Nice van too!
Fantastic !!! That's perfect... I am watching videos on Camper Van for around 4 years but I did not get anything like your one... Excellent... Great job...👍👍🤘
I have been looking for and watching videos like yours on keeping cool (I have two cats) so when I do the RV or Van life, hopefully in next few years. I really liked the bed, blanket design, and when you said it was from your own photo that was really neat you did that! In general I am always amazed at what people can do to make the van or rv more homey.
Thanks so much! :D We thought the custom blanket was pretty neat too and turned out better than we expected.
Amazing, simply amazing! Thank you so much. We've been looking for a workable design. This van build is so practical and well thought out. You've been very generous to your viewers.
Thank you so much! You're awesome!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your Sprinter build!
You are so very welcome! :D Thanks for watching!
So organized! Loved it and liked learning about how you dealt with your dogs. That has been a question of mine in wondering what to do with my dog while walking on trails that don't allow her.
The simplicity of your video was great. Thanks for sharing!
Very nice. The sunset was fantastic. I heard there were slot canyons in Death Valley...that was pretty nice. I had never heard of the springs...very nice.
Thanks so much!
Seems a bit claustrophobic for my taste but if it works for you three that's all that matters. Very clean, modern and high tech. Thanks for the great tour. Happy travels, namaste.
As van builds go this one is the least claustrophobic I've seen. IMHO
Many folks who have larger RV's downsize to something like this.
To each their own.
So far so good! The we are willing to trade to roomy open floorplan house for the tight quarters of a full time traveling lifestyle any day! We love it. You're so welcome for the tour! :D Thanks so much for watching!
You guys really spared no expense. Jeez!
We actually spared several expenses. We could have bought a new van with 4x4. We could have built with lighter materials. We could have paid somebody else to build it. We could have gone with lithium batteries over AGM batteries. We could have had a hot water heater... I could go on, but we did have a budget we were sticking to and we were trying to get the most bang for our buck.
Thanks for the full tour... I've watched all the build videos and it's nice to see the full break out now that you've been "doing it" for a while
You are so welcome! Sorry it took so long! It really is cool to see it all come together. Thanks for watching!
Take your time... That's the point right?! ;) We've got a rough two year jump date so planning and research go a long way as you know. Thanks you two!
You got it 100% :D :D
All hale the junk draw 😀🤣😀 I'm planning my van build as I speak and will make sure to include a junk draw in my plans lol. I'm also planing to have a small dish washer designed for boats 👍
Haha. The inevitable junk drawer... lol I swore not to have one, but alas...there is is... haha
This is THE BEST diy van build I've seen Great job.
Aww, Thanks so much! :D You're awesome!
Tip for the running water: please look into getting a Whale Gusher Galley maritime foot operated water pump..Not loud, very efficient (pumps on both the down and upstroke - capable of pumping 4 gal per minute), not a bulky item, about the size of3x4x4 inches or so) and made very durable...
Hey Sander! Are you recommending that we uninstall our electric pump and plumbing and replace it with the foot pump unit? I've heard good things about the foot pump unit, sure, but uninstalling the pump we've already installed and rebuilding the kitchen cabinet to fit the foot pump seems a bit overkill, eh? Just trying to make sure I understand your comment.
Love that bear spray is an 'as you walk out the door' item for van-life. Haha
+Brendan Harris #montana #alaska. But seriously, I didn't notice she said that while I was videoing. I had a pretty hard laugh when it came time to edit. Seriously though...you never know! ROFL!
A very smart design, clean, and well thought out build. Nicely done and one of the better DIY builds that I've found on RUclips.
Oh really!? Thanks so much! You're awesome!
Wow. What a great setup! Thanks for all your hard work posting your videos, my wife & I are loving them! Happy trails...
Thanks so much! You're awesome! :D
🏆SUPER VAN-incredible creativity! I hope you have countless wonderful adventures in it! 👍😁
Thank you for that Beautiful TOUR ! Love the van and everything that you guys did. But one thing i didn't see anywhere for a Shower . Thank you again and looking forward to the next Adventure.............
Thanks so much! We don't have a shower. We had to substitute the shower for our gear storage. We have a nationwide gym membership that has showers we use when we stop in to work out. Aside from that, we also do have small portable solar heated shower (amzn.to/2wiTP1B) we carry. Thanks so much for watching! :D
Loved this video. In depth but to the point. one of the best van builds I've seen. (and 2 of the cutest pups!) You didn't mention what you used on the ceiling but I loved the contrast with the other colors and textures you used in the van. Great job ... ♡
Awesome! Thanks so much!! :D Here is our ceiling video: ruclips.net/video/pJqj-Bepup4/видео.html
Another awesome video, thanks for the shout out and for showing our products!
Thanks so much! You guys are awesome and we are happy to have you aboard! :D Thanks for the comment!
Great video! You did a lot with the space available, especially the garage.
This has to be the most well conceived, well executed van conversion I have ever seen and being a VW fan I have seen a few. Awesome, I would like an exact copy... Andy UK
We do love VW's, but we are pretty happy with how this turned out for sure.
Really nice setup! As far as the rack LED lights go, I wonder if using a yellow/amber fog light lens would cut down on attracting bugs,.. like a yellow bug bulb does on your home porch.
Thanks! Not too sure on the yellow lights. We don't really leave them on just to hang out outside. They are too bright for that and we'd rather see the stars anyway.
You have the perfect van! I have van envy! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! You are very welcome! :D
That wiring was beautiful
Thanks so much! Steph is a wiring artist. lol
Wait Wait Wait, Steph, did I tell yu
Nate is truly a
LUUUUCKY GUY
You're Awesome
🤫shuuu don't tell him I said so, but he's pretty awesome
too
I'm adding a solar system to my home, which is a 50 foot Gulfstar motor yacht
I think I've watched a thousand videos in the last few days lol
And I can tell you for sure
I've learned a more from Nate than all the others combined
Thx, and be safe out there 👉👍👈
nicest van ive seen on u tube, like your choices for interior finishes.
Thank you so very much!
you guys are awesome! i appreciate all the effort you make explaining things and providing info and sources!
I simply have to say. Well done to you both and your marvelous van conversion. Best of luck for the future from Rob and Pam North Wales U.K.
Thanks so very much! :D :D
the best i have seen yet. I am going to refer to this alot when it comes to building mine.
Thanks so much! Be sure to check out the tutorials that we did videos as well. There is something like 15 of them if you check out our other videos.
This is a great video guys. Excellent info. Can't believe I missed it when it was first published.
Thanks so much! We are glad you found it even if a bit late. :D
OMG! That is massive storage space you guys have in the back, really didnt expect you to pull out so much stuff lol. & I think the slide out toilet was a neat idea, first time seeing something like that. 👍
So much adventure gear! :D :D
Incredible use of space!
Very Nice Build Guys! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely Cool!! Enjoy that Journey Kids
Thanks so much! :D :D
Beautiful conversion guys, very impressive..thanks for sharing, precious doggies
Very impressive. The overall design is just so clean and smart. :)
Thank you very much! :D
Impressed!!! Subbed. I think you should build a thin box around your solar "station" (in the garage/basement section) In case some of your adventure gear/equipment gets jostled. That could possibly do damage
Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching! :D So far, so good. All of our gear fits in there nice and tight!
Very impressive. Exceptionally well thought through and detailed overview. Thanks
Awesome build guys! Lots of inspiration and thank you so much for the incredible videos. Can you possibly add information on the Aluminess roof rack and gear boxes? Additionally, any information on the outside LED lights would be super cool! Thanks.
Thanks so much! You are very welcome! We will eventually do a full review on the Aluminess gear. Do you have any specific questions you'd like answered? Also, do you have any specific questions on the outside LED lighting? Thanks so much for watching and I look forward to helping! :D
Cudos with Iris. Ours is a 16 month old Doberman. Can’t imagine taking her in our van. Admitting it is only a dodge 1500. Lol
Very cool! I did it the easy way and bought a Roadtrek SS Agile 2015.
Hey! Whatever works! What matters is that you can now go adventure how you want! :D
Incredible job on both the van build and this video! I'm inspired!
Awesome! Thanks so much for watching! :D
Great ideas. Loved it. That matte paint job is great (i will use it).
I _love_ your roof mounted scare lights! I'm taking notes…
They are SO nice. Good for being at camp and checking for critters before we lets the dogs out to pee at night or early mornings. Also good for when we roll into a spot that kind of looks sketchy (everything always looks sketchy when it's dark...lol) But yeah, they are awesome.
found it! You guys are the best. Alot of videos now. thanks for all of your guidance!
Are you feared about the szenario in the "I am legend" movie? :D
Just kidding! Really great van!
Fear it? No. We are PREPARED!! rofl! :D
WOW Amazing, very well organize. Also feels homey. Good job.
Thanks so much!
Absolutely outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
Just a recommendation for your dogs. The company named invisible fence and they make wires that you bury around your yard that shock or vibrate the dogs collars when they try to leave. Since you are traveling and obviously can't do that they make a device that is about the size of a plate and when you plug it in and pair it with collars that you can set to vibrate the dogs and trigger an alarm that will notify you in the van when they go a certain distance from the van so that you can let them out and not worry about them going to far from the van when you are busy and they are bored.
Honestly a pretty good idea! I knew about the invisible fence, but didn't know about the other one where it's distance based. Good idea! Thanks!
I'm amazed that folks can build their own vans I just bought a Roadtrek because there is no way I could build my own ,yours looks amazing my only problem is the lack of windows ......keep on vanin'
We love to build things! :D Haha! No windows is no problem for us. We are really only inside the van to drive and sleep. Even when we are cooking, we usually have the door wide open so we have plenty of light and air movement. Windows are also a terrible thermal barrier, so having a better insulated space was more important. Also, we really like the privacy of not having windows when we are sleeping. Lastly, installing windows would have cost another $1000 that we would have rather spent on items we ACTUALLY wanted.
Like I said before great job of making YOUR camper if you don't windows its no windows with my Roadtrek its windows on the sides on the ceiling just makes nice natural light ...keep up the great work also liked the plasticote video that was gutsy !
Really nice job on your buildout and I enjoyed the video tour! I've read through all the comments (don't you wish everyone would?) and you've already answered most of my questions, but I have two more: 1) With your van + bumper boxes at about ~16 feet, does it pretty easily fit into spots designated as "car camping"? 2) Do you regret not going with a 4X4? (We're big skiers, so it seems essential for us.) 3) How's the composting toilet working for you, how often do you have to empty it, and do you avoid using it if there are public restrooms available?
I don't know if I have the DIY skills to do this myself, but I've been drooling over the Winnebago Revel, even though it'd cost a lot more than what you've done. Thanks again for the awesome tour! Craig
Thanks so much! :D
1: From the front of the bumper to the back of the boxes, we are right at 25 feet. It really depends on the "car camping" spot because we have come across places that would literally be "car" camping. That being said, we are happy with the length. Any shorter would have made the full-time living part pretty difficult, but we can still fit into most spots we find.
2: Would we like 4x4? Sure! But we would have had to spend an extra $50,000 (and a few months waiting for one to come in) to have that luxury, so 'regret' wouldn't be the proper word. (We are also skiers)
3: Composting toilet is working great! We have to empty the liquid tank every other or every 3rd day. We do indeed avoid using it if a public restroom is around...
Thanks for your awesome questions and for watching!
Adventure in a Backpack Thanks for answering all my questions. (I just realized I said I had two questions, but proceeded to ask 3 questions, and the final question was really 3 questions. 😁. One more: Where do you put skis?
When you were showing the inside, I seriously thought the bed was against the back doors. Then you opened the back doors. What kind of voodoo is this? 😂😂
Awesome van. Great tour, great video, thx for sharing, you guys are awesome. I have a 23 foot class C as I need shower and little more space.
Nice! Yeah, we downsized from a 40' class A motorhome to this one. lol
Very nice van!! I like the paint job, never saw that look before!!! Like to see more of your dogs I'm a pet girl and I need to get to know peoples pets!!! LOL Judie
Thank you so much! Haha, we will see what we can do about including the dogs more. Fun Fact: Pyros HATES cameras. Somehow she can tell when shes on camera and always looks away.
Great video, amazing detailed descriptions, even educational, great use of space and love the aesthetics. Awesome Van!!
Thank you so much! :D
Great video! You guys did a great job showing lots of detail while still moving the video along. I can't believe how neat and tidy everything is (clothes, equipment, and all the wiring). Very impressive!
Maybe you could address safety in a future video. Can you open he back doors with the storage boxes on the back? Do you have fire and carbon monoxide detectors, and do they work in a van? Heat sensors when you leave the dogs? Alarms, locks, etc. for leaving equip. behind?
Thanks so much! Glad it was easy to watch! Great idea for the safety aspects of the van. We will put it in the hopper. Thanks so much for watching! :D
I just wanted to start by saying how much I enjoy watching your videos. I also wanted to ask you “Have you had any leaks with your roof vent?” I’m about to cut through my new roof and want to understand how realistic I should be about a leak free experience. Cheers, Andrew
We have had zero leaking from our vent. Use plenty of dicor above and below the flange and you'll be golden!
Awesome video! Great detail, wonderful editing and production, and clear explanation for a killer build! Congrats!
Thanks so much! You're awesome!
Hey miss you guys been busy! guess what just got myself a almost brand new sprinter only done 35000kms already done out but i want to make a lot of mods great to see you guys again watching your videos! sean thompson Cape Town South Africa
Great build. Looks professional & cozy. Will be starting a build this spring & doing as much research as I can:). Ours is for family weekends/vacation...& my project addiction.
Thanks so much! Good luck with your build, sounds awesome!
Just found your website guys @
EXPLORIST life... just to say thanks for the wealth of useful info much appreciated.
Awesome job guys !! It turned out really nice !!
This is the
best build out I have seen yet.
you have LED lighting in your garage! Great idea xx
It's so nice! It's great to be able to find our stuff without a flashlight.
Beautiful, simply beautiful!
Thank you!
so well done! the garage storage area is huge! I love it all
What an awesome van! Love what you guys did with it! Well done, subbed