I have watched too many van conversions to count and I swear this one right here is the first one that makes me believe that one day ( not too far off hopefully ) I can finally jump into this lifestyle myself. It just proves that everything doesn't have to be completely built in and tricked out at a very huge cost to be able to start living the van life. Robert is clearly brilliant and planned this out extremely well using ideas that I could have never come up with myself. However, after seeing his build I could copy many of his ideas and use them in a van for myself. I love this. Great video!! Sending my best to you all
You’re very kind, thank you so much! Hopefully not too far off, you’ll have your van and it would be great to be able to run into others that share the same dream. Best of luck!
This was an excellent presentation. Robert gave great explanations to the various choices he made, his reasoning and application of the various systems. He has everything he needs. Great episode.
I too!!! I think THE POWERS THAT BE (Corporate America) have us all SO TRAINED to HAVE TO live super fancy.... But WITH FOOD, GAS, HOUSING & HEALTHCARE PRICES, (all thru the roof).. and our govt NOT PROTECTING US... HEY,.... IT'S ALL ABOUT NEED... NOT WANT!!!!! YA GOTTA SURVIVE❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Everyone is broke these days so Roberts ingenious ideas are helping folks to SURVIVE in comfort, in a practical and simplified manner!!!!!!! THANK YOU, DEAR BROTHER ROBERT❣️
This was one of the most refreshing van builds! I loved his K.I.S.S. acronyms. His van was full of ideas that he kept simple, yet functional and aesthetically pleasing. He is truly an innovator. This gives hope for those who want to try van life without it costing more than some small homes. Thanks for another fantastic video!
#1 in my book, Robert's ideas & execution of van life camping has set a new gold standard for aspiring overland campers! What a wealth of ideas and methods of not only getting it done well, but getting in all in one small transportable package. This is a must watch, after at least one year's viewing of RUclips overlanding videos, this will be my go to reference as we build our unit. Thank you Robert, happy trails & we look forward to your next installment, please don't be a stranger on RUclips. As my father use to say "you are a gentleman & a scholar", my complements to you sir!
Problem after problem after problem SOLVED!!!!! Great tour !!!!! A one man travel van Everything you could possibly need. KISSified love it. Very inspiring. This video will save a lot of people Time money and a possible aspirin overdose by solving so many of the challenges of the civilized simple life.
Wow, thank you Robert, he's the brain bank that I could sit and chat with for hours about ideas. He saved me months of research and untold money in trial and error. These are the builds I enjoy the most, people who apply their brains, insight, and skills instead of their wallet. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
Number one! Only one word for it, elegant! I have seen so many very modern, elaborate van conversions videos. But imagine if you have to fix something in those van. This feels doable, fits and functional. Robert needs a channel.
Such useful ideas, especially for those of us without the tools or knowledge to do a lot of building. I especially like the fact that his cab/driving space is protected by his wall and walk thru door. 1) if he needs to make a fast get away, he can slip into the drivers seat and go. And 2) I just learned of a woman that sadly lost her life due to a TBI, after being rear ended. Her refrigerator had been secured with a bungee cord, broke loose, and struck her, her injuries were too severe. I can’t stop thinking about her and all of us driving around with potential missiles in our rigs. I don’t know if his wall could keep those heavy drawer systems from breaking thru, but he possible has them secured, my gosh he gave us so much great information and couldn’t possibly cover every detail. Sure wish my brain was as common sense as his, but I have already saved this video. Sure enjoy your content, a truly great interview!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! About the wall, it’s made exclusively for that purpose. The manufacturer is weather guard and the wall is made for delivery vans. The intent of the wall is to be able to secure the back of the van with a locking handle which it has and also to keep any cargo in the back of the van from the driver or passenger in a sudden stop or an accident. Everything in the back of the van has been secured with the exception of the two large cargo boxes. The one that’s heavy sits right up against the wall so it wouldn’t gain any momentum and the one that I use for the shower weighs very little and so I don’t think there’s any concern with it. My big concern was the toolbox, that weighs at least a couple hundred pounds. I made sure it was very well secured! 😊
I have seen thousands of builds, but this one was absolutely spectacular! He is a genius and I love his organizational skills. I plan to watch this over and over again!!
Excellent concept of keeping things simple with plenty of space left. Other long term van life builds are fancy, which comes with a price tag and serves their purpose. Main thing is to build what ever fits your life style. Not all builds are perfect. As for simplexity this is a plus.
Robert is 1 of the most creative & efficient van-lifers I’ve seen. Thank U for so many simple, doable ideas & still maintain comfort while living as a nomad
I have been watching conversion videos for 2 + years. This is the best KISS build I have seen. This build actually looks like a van I could function in.
LOL you would think a couple days wouldn’t you? Would you believe about six months? There was a lot of trial and error even after coming up with the ideas. However having all the experience if I was to start from scratch today I could probably build it out in a couple of weeks.
@@me4654 I am not completely sure that I understand your comment about living in a bathroom. The I doubt if you have one either is a little confusing also since I showed everything in the video. Yes I have a bathroom and I have a living room and I have a kitchen and I have a bedroom. It’s not like a house where you have separate rooms for each, there is some adjusting and the van converts to the room that you need at the time, whether it’s a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen or living room. Also another thing to consider is that I don’t live in the van. I only use the van to travel, I have an incredibly nice house to live in. However that being said I would be perfectly comfortable living in the van just the way it’s set up. That’s not something everyone could do or would want to do but you certainly could if you needed to and there’s a lot of people out there living the van life style and loving it. Yes it’s certainly not for everyone but I always say to each their own. Live the life that makes you happy and let others do the same. Thanks for your comment.
Okay, the 6x12 might just have to get a shower!!! This van is one of my most favorites also. Robert did an excellent job! Jan's looking up the Coleman water heater as I type!
Before you go with the Coleman H2O water heater I thought I’d let you know that I’ve decided to go a different route. The Coleman H2O did work well but it was a lot of work hooking it up and then putting it away afterwards. I have previously purchased a different unit from Amazon which I will add a description of. It was considerably cheaper, $43 and it worked just as well for me and seem to be easier to use. The big disadvantage was that you had to heat the water separately but the advantages were that you knew you weren’t going to run out of water or that the propane or the battery wouldn’t go dead, it was also much easier to use and put away afterwards. Here’s the description: KEDSUM Portable Camp Shower, Camp Shower Pump with Detachable USB Rechargeable Batteries.
He has some great ideas for folks to utilize. I love his shower setup. His van setup is mostly what we call a no build build. Looks like the bed and ac are the only things really built in. It's really nicely done. I think I may be incorporating a few things from his build into mine. Thanks, Robert and Bill!
I converted my wife Chevy Express 1500 handicap van into a campervan after she passed. Since I'm not a carpenter I also went to Harbor Freight and got too short rollaways, took the wheels off them and mounted them to the non-door side of the van. Secured the microwave to the top of one of them and put a two burner Coleman folding stove and the thin top drawer of one of the rollaways. Had a friend build an enclosure for the porta potty. And the very back seat electrically folds down into a bed. Works great for me. I would like to find out how to get in touch with his gentleman so he and I can swap ideas. He has done a fantastic build out with minimal effort. Thought he did a great job
I would definitely have reservations about putting my contact information out for everyone to see but if you’ll use Facebook to instant message me then I could give you whatever information you would need to contact me.
@@Robertsramblings I too would love to have some sort of communication with you. I broke both hands a year ago and had to postpone my build. Thankfully, I had finished installing plusnuts in the ceiling. And used insulation board as a temporary ceiling. I covered the metal between the panels with strips of black poster board. Looking at your setup makes me anxious to start again. I will try to send you a Facebook message. Kt-KtzWorld
Robert you are a genius, your shower and air conditioning wow oh wow! Hats off to you for not only having the ideas for those things but man you made them work! The air conditioning that really is amazing cos I have watched many van life video's all saying that air conditioning can't work off solar, that your van has to be plugged in, well Robert you my man have proved those know it all's wrong, you are proof that you can run air conditioning off solar quite successfully. You are a genius and I love the look, the layout infact everything about your van! Well done you Robert well done you 🤗👏👏👏👏👌👍 Thankyou so much for giving us the tour, explaining everything and allowing us into your home! Thankyou I so really enjoyed it 🙏 Lisa UK xxxx
Awesome, have watched many builds and love the ones with the wall behind the cab, hate that curtain look , hot and cold spot even in sticks and bricks. A safe and practical build out weighs all the cute cabinets and counter tops. I watched many as I said and always worry about things not being more secured. I like being able to walk from front to back and just bedding down at night when needed. His build is very smart and to his taste. I love it!
It’s funny you should mention that. After looking at all of the ready-made‘s from a cost of 80,000 to over 200,000 not a single one of them was made for function. They’re usually made for two people and sometimes more than two and also made to look pretty. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone and with such a small space to work with it needed to be as comfortable and functional as possible. At least for me I think I’ve accomplished that. Thank you for your very kind comments.
@@Robertsramblings are you in the van full time or is this a getaway vehicle? You’ve definitely demonstrated a “function over form” design philosophy and it seems you’ve got everything you need. How is the tv powered and how do you get reliable WiFi? I’m also interested in the details of your solar setup- the products you chose for the solar panels, inverter, batteries (make & model of all that).
@@kacichristian I’m not full-time. It’s just a hobby, another toy. I power everything that needs AC off of a 2000 watt Renogy pure sine wave inverter. I now have 500 Watts of Renogy solar panels, a DC to DC Renogy solar charger, a Victron 115 V battery charger and 400 amp hours of lithium batteries. For Wi-Fi I use a Weboost Drive sleek. So far I have not had a Wi-Fi issue but I’m sure the day will come and when it does I’ll just watch videos downloaded off of RUclips.
Robert, I had to watch this so I could get the details I missed at Bev’s meetup. The sun was in my eyes that day so I couldn’t see well. I’m even more impressed with the thought and organization put into your living space after watching this. It’s a marvel of ingenuity! .
He's very clever . My next door neighbour has two of those shower units and lent one to us last year during a major power failure and I can attest that it worked great and was much appreciated after several days without power to be able to shampoo my hair. I love your videos.
Thank you. It was great seeing this in person when Robert gave us a tour at the rendezvous. He really made everything thing simple. It was wonderful meeting and talking with him. Thank you again. Blessings and stay safe 🤗🌞
I am using the adjustable, stainless stainless steel, restaurant shelf....I am only 5'3". The shelf has an open bottom for air and easily adjust to the uneven floor.
Love this tour and the details. Thank you for sharing you van build. Impressive! So nice and neat. Someday I’ll have a version of this. I like bed concept. Putting it up leaves room for my bike to travel easily too! Would like more details on the bed build for sure.
Love the murphy bed. I have a similar water heater. My trick is to just recycle the water in the bucket at the start until it's at temp. Then turn off the propane. This is handy for getting consistent temp and a safe way for using with kids or pets without the fear of the water getting too hot or a heaven forbid, some malfunction which could result in a fire hazard while you're standing there soaking wet and naked in an emergency situation.
I had not thought about doing it that way. That is an excellent suggestion, I’m so glad you sent the comment. Definitely going to start doing it that way. Thank you very much!
I've been camping for 40 years off and on in almost every type of thing you can camp in. I started watching rv type video's for about 5 years now and enjoy how people create their own unique spaces! I'm also learning terms for types of camping that I've never heard of or use in my adventures. Always interesting and educational! Great video ☺️ Happy travels my friend 😊
This is a great build with great ideas. He is now my 2nd place favorite guest of your channel. Marvin & Mary are still #1 on my list. But Sir, you have done an excellent job with your van. Thanks Bill & Deb for showing other people's builds, looking forward to your next video.
Bill you and Deb did a great job. We showed up for the last 3 days. and had a great time, even got to see you concert for free. Robert did a very good job with that van. Great ideas.
Your build makes so much sense! I'm seeing every basic need addressed. The air-conditioning configuration and the low profile solar solves my concerns for stealth. I can reasonably see myself living in a setup like this. I would start here and add decorative touches, or not. Thank you.
I totally like his KISS van built!! Simple and yet very practical. A van built that can bring him everywhere in all kinds of weather! I would really like to know what is the capacity of your battery and how long can you use it for that air conditioner and the frig.
Brilliant, simplicity! Great job, Robert! This is my first visit to this channel. I'm about to hit that subscribe button and check out more of your videos. Thanks.
Oh my god he’s absolutely adorable and so ingenious I love the Ryobi fan excellent idea and the fridge the way he has his van set up very clever, and you can see that he Loves his journey and that’s what makes it the love of the travel and living in a van good on him
I immediately went on Amazon and made a list of all of Robert’s products for my future adventures. This is by far the most simple and practical setup I’ve seen on here. Everything was well thought out and left so much space to move around. I personally would need a more relaxing and inviting look as far as interior lighting and decoration but to each their own. Robert, you did a fantastic job and this build is really inspiring. Exactly the type of layout I’ve been looking to find for ideas for my future van project
Thank you Chris. I understand what you mean about the more inviting look. It is very utilitarian. It meets my needs however, I wanted the model 150 van because of the better ride and gas mileage. Going with the 150 I needed to keep the weight down as much as possible. That’s why I tried to keep everything simple. Another reason was that I’m not spending a lot of time in the back of the van. Most of the time is spent either upfront driving or doing outside activities. For the most part I just bathe and sleep in the van. But I do understand what you’re saying and thanks for your comment.
Super. Love this Robert. I'm building my Pro master to accommodate three lg dogs in crates and have been looking at the bed on the side vs the back to have two crates under it. Need the back for my solar hookup. I don't have a high top, unfortunately, but your bed design gives me a good starting point. Thanks and happy traveling.
A very creative van build, simple convenient, very impressive, don't think I would like the work that is required, but ingenious, I guess I'm a little to lazy to be that efficient. I am impressed.
Wonderful build!! In my Transit I have a blackout thermal curtain that I got at Walmart (under $20 for the set) and you will not believe the difference it makes! For those of us that don't build...
I bought one of those Ryobi fans last year for my house in case we lose power during the summer. Since it will also work with an AC plug, I ended up using it next to my bed when the fan I had crapped out. It is the perfect size for me and on the low setting it doesn't bother my wife at all. And I have that rechargeable pump sitting on my file cabinet next to my desk, I have some tubing running into a 5 gallon bottle that is over by my door so I have water in my office, Both of these things I plan on adding to my van build, since they are so simple and inexpensive and solve problems.
I have the same AC unit, but mine is 6000 BTU (470 watts) instead of 5000 BTU. Mine is running under 1280 watts solar and 300 AH lithium batteries and 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter. In summer, I can run it continuous only on solar for about 7 hours a day and keep batteries topped off at 100% by end of the day. I rely on MaxxAir fans (2) for cooling at night. AC definitely can be done in summer with sunny skies! Simple layout, easy to keep clean inside.
Thank you for sharing your mind and your creations with us. This , to me, is the best I have seen yet ! I will undoubtedly measure all other works against this.....and I will visit this many times, again THANK YOU HEBEL EST OMNIS ADAM
Frigidaire Air Conditioner, 5000 btu, digital and Energy Starfor soft start.because has extra capacitors wont need a huge pull of energy at start! 👍 (great tip on using yard signs for box around AC)
super doo!!!!! the freezer/cooler is the best idea i have ever seen if you have the room. i knew about freezing bottles of water to put into your box frig/freez when you first turn it on but wasn't smart enough to figure out the rest!!!! kudos to Robert!
For the shower, if a spigot is installed in the base of the storage like a cooler has a release for melted ice, a hose could be installed to make releasing the grey water simpler. Then, maybe spritz with vinegar to keep it fresh since soap scum builds up. I was thinking of using a cement mixing pan from a big box store, and had been practicing at home, for a bathtub with a variety of ideas. What I like about this so much is the shower can be indoor or outdoor. And, I can still use the cement pan as a secondary option. Plus it has other uses, too. With a shower tent could work in this or in the rig or in the back of the rig outside. Sharing some of my ideas to inspire others. Am elated to have seen your genius. That bed, for me, prefer a narrower bench width I’ve been using in my Jeep to practice. If I used narrower could have shelves above. While making underneath accessible whenever. Nailed it with a freezer. I was thinking my similarly. The walls, brilliant. I’ve been using an Aldi (supermarket) fridge that looks like a cooler. Does both. Just bought a second one that cools down to 30 degrees. With a freezer and enough solar … this is one of the best builds ever. Thank you for all these ideas. Simplicity rules. For me will try a portable AC in that space. Could use an insulated tube to the exterior port and not require the longer ceiling mounted vent. Definitely using these ideas in my build. ❤ I’m excited to see future builds from Bill. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 standing ovation 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🏆
yes thinking the same and even a hole that a tube could fit thru the floor....and a valve could be just slightly open so it would drain while you drive or even just look like AC draining if you set the valve to drain very slow.....
I considered most of the things that you had suggested, or had maybe just decided that it would be better for you in your build. The cement pan would work, however I already had the other one, so I didn’t have to buy anything, another plus was the sides are very high and I didn’t have to worry so much about keeping the shower curtain in. For the air conditioner, the reason I went with the one I did is that it’s an energy star model and draws less than 5 Amps, the portable models all draw at least twice that much. Just wasn’t practical trying to use it with solar and Boondocking. As a matter fact, I had a portable unit I could have used and chose not to for that reason. Thanks for the suggestions!
As simplistic as his build is so far, it fantastically shows you don't need a full-blown build to start out 👍👍👍
Robert has a great van
I have watched too many van conversions to count and I swear this one right here is the first one that makes me believe that one day ( not too far off hopefully ) I can finally jump into this lifestyle myself. It just proves that everything doesn't have to be completely built in and tricked out at a very huge cost to be able to start living the van life. Robert is clearly brilliant and planned this out extremely well using ideas that I could have never come up with myself. However, after seeing his build I could copy many of his ideas and use them in a van for myself. I love this. Great video!! Sending my best to you all
You’re very kind, thank you so much! Hopefully not too far off, you’ll have your van and it would be great to be able to run into others that share the same dream. Best of luck!
@@Robertsramblings best van built ever. Keep it simple.
Damn! I can’t wait to watch this now 😊 I’ve spent hours watching the same.
LOVE HIM
@@Robertsramblings how many hours/day does your ac run? Does that solar and battery bank still give you enough power or would you upgrade?
Wow..a RUclipsr that actually ask a question...then allows the person to answer without rushing him ..enjoyed..thank you..
I still get a little carried away from time to time, but I'm working on it. 😃
And complementarity
Not only is that air-conditioning great, but the best part is its pointing right at that toilet for when the business gets a little tough ahahahah
The way he configured his AC is nothing short of brilliant!
This was an excellent presentation. Robert gave great explanations to the various choices he made, his reasoning and application of the various systems. He has everything he needs. Great episode.
THIS GUY IS A GENIUS!! SIMPLE DESIGN BUT AWESOME...
Military I bet
@@keithpatterson9040 spy mobile
Thank you! 😊
Wow! I thought I would be bored with this one, but his design and how he figured everything out is fascinating! What a great job!!!👍👍
I too!!! I think THE POWERS THAT BE (Corporate America) have us all SO TRAINED to HAVE TO live super fancy....
But WITH FOOD, GAS, HOUSING & HEALTHCARE PRICES, (all thru the roof).. and our govt NOT PROTECTING US...
HEY,....
IT'S ALL ABOUT NEED...
NOT WANT!!!!!
YA GOTTA SURVIVE❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Everyone is broke these days so Roberts ingenious ideas are helping folks to SURVIVE in comfort, in a practical and simplified manner!!!!!!!
THANK YOU, DEAR BROTHER ROBERT❣️
Thank you 😊
Same here
This was one of the most refreshing van builds! I loved his K.I.S.S. acronyms. His van was full of ideas that he kept simple, yet functional and aesthetically pleasing. He is truly an innovator. This gives hope for those who want to try van life without it costing more than some small homes. Thanks for another fantastic video!
Robert did an awesome job
Some of the most ingenious vanlife solutions I've ever seen. Great job sir!
Thanks 👍
Vanlife blesses the not so tall.
For a mimilist build this was done well.
👍
#1 in my book, Robert's ideas & execution of van life camping has set a new gold standard for aspiring overland campers! What a wealth of ideas and methods of not only getting it done well, but getting in all in one small transportable package. This is a must watch, after at least one year's viewing of RUclips overlanding videos, this will be my go to reference as we build our unit. Thank you Robert, happy trails & we look forward to your next installment, please don't be a stranger on RUclips. As my father use to say "you are a gentleman & a scholar", my complements to you sir!
Thank you! 😊
Problem after problem after problem SOLVED!!!!!
Great tour !!!!! A one man travel van
Everything you could possibly need.
KISSified love it. Very inspiring.
This video will save a lot of people
Time money and a possible aspirin overdose by solving so many of the challenges of the civilized simple life.
Thank you. A few small inconveniences but keeping it simple sure beats the Hampton Inn in my book.
Wow, thank you Robert, he's the brain bank that I could sit and chat with for hours about ideas. He saved me months of research and untold money in trial and error. These are the builds I enjoy the most, people who apply their brains, insight, and skills instead of their wallet. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
Number one! Only one word for it, elegant!
I have seen so many very modern, elaborate van conversions videos. But imagine if you have to fix something in those van. This feels doable, fits and functional. Robert needs a channel.
Robert did a great job
Such useful ideas, especially for those of us without the tools or knowledge to do a lot of building.
I especially like the fact that his cab/driving space is protected by his wall and walk thru door. 1) if he needs to make a fast get away, he can slip into the drivers seat and go. And 2) I just learned of a woman that sadly lost her life due to a TBI, after being rear ended. Her refrigerator had been secured with a bungee cord, broke loose, and struck her, her injuries were too severe. I can’t stop thinking about her and all of us driving around with potential missiles in our rigs. I don’t know if his wall could keep those heavy drawer systems from breaking thru, but he possible has them secured, my gosh he gave us so much great information and couldn’t possibly cover every detail. Sure wish my brain was as common sense as his, but I have already saved this video. Sure enjoy your content, a truly great interview!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! About the wall, it’s made exclusively for that purpose. The manufacturer is weather guard and the wall is made for delivery vans. The intent of the wall is to be able to secure the back of the van with a locking handle which it has and also to keep any cargo in the back of the van from the driver or passenger in a sudden stop or an accident. Everything in the back of the van has been secured with the exception of the two large cargo boxes. The one that’s heavy sits right up against the wall so it wouldn’t gain any momentum and the one that I use for the shower weighs very little and so I don’t think there’s any concern with it. My big concern was the toolbox, that weighs at least a couple hundred pounds. I made sure it was very well secured! 😊
TBI??????
@@JEvrist TBI= traumatic brain injury.
@@jenniferwise8515 thank you!!!! I was wondering what that meant!
I have seen thousands of builds, but this one was absolutely spectacular! He is a genius and I love his organizational skills. I plan to watch this over and over again!!
Couldn't agree more!
This is the first video that has such a simple shower set up that I know I could do it myself. Very nice, thoughtful design of the entire van!
Wow! What an ingenious conversion van build this gentleman came up with!!!
Wow, I'm saving this one! I already planned to use the Harbor Freight toolbox in the kitchen, but the air-conditioning and shower ideas are brilliant!
Very impressive! I'm 70 Years old and dreaming to find van life or tiny house living. Thanks for your channel! God bless!
Excellent concept of keeping things simple with plenty of space left. Other long term van life builds are fancy, which comes with a price tag and serves their purpose. Main thing is to build what ever fits your life style. Not all builds are perfect. As for simplexity this is a plus.
I love this build! So clean and simple yet comfortable and complete. Great job!
Robert did a great job
Robert is 1 of the most creative & efficient van-lifers I’ve seen. Thank U for so many simple, doable ideas & still maintain comfort while living as a nomad
I have been watching conversion videos for 2 + years. This is the best KISS build I have seen. This build actually looks like a van I could function in.
the fact that this whole rig probably only took a day or two to put together puts it at 1# on my DIY no build lists!
LOL you would think a couple days wouldn’t you? Would you believe about six months? There was a lot of trial and error even after coming up with the ideas. However having all the experience if I was to start from scratch today I could probably build it out in a couple of weeks.
Okay I would have a panic attack living in a bathroom! I doubt if you have one either 😭
@@me4654 I am not completely sure that I understand your comment about living in a bathroom. The I doubt if you have one either is a little confusing also since I showed everything in the video. Yes I have a bathroom and I have a living room and I have a kitchen and I have a bedroom. It’s not like a house where you have separate rooms for each, there is some adjusting and the van converts to the room that you need at the time, whether it’s a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen or living room. Also another thing to consider is that I don’t live in the van. I only use the van to travel, I have an incredibly nice house to live in. However that being said I would be perfectly comfortable living in the van just the way it’s set up. That’s not something everyone could do or would want to do but you certainly could if you needed to and there’s a lot of people out there living the van life style and loving it. Yes it’s certainly not for everyone but I always say to each their own. Live the life that makes you happy and let others do the same. Thanks for your comment.
This man is amazing...He has all the comfort with almost zero bills...Hat's off brother!
Okay, the 6x12 might just have to get a shower!!! This van is one of my most favorites also. Robert did an excellent job! Jan's looking up the Coleman water heater as I type!
Woo-hoo
Before you go with the Coleman H2O water heater I thought I’d let you know that I’ve decided to go a different route. The Coleman H2O did work well but it was a lot of work hooking it up and then putting it away afterwards. I have previously purchased a different unit from Amazon which I will add a description of. It was considerably cheaper, $43 and it worked just as well for me and seem to be easier to use. The big disadvantage was that you had to heat the water separately but the advantages were that you knew you weren’t going to run out of water or that the propane or the battery wouldn’t go dead, it was also much easier to use and put away afterwards. Here’s the description: KEDSUM Portable Camp Shower, Camp Shower Pump with Detachable USB Rechargeable Batteries.
@@Robertsramblings good deal. What brand dehumidifier do you have. I know they're probably all made in China...
Great video thank you so much Robert and Bill for filming and posting. Lots of good ideas. For KISS We say “Keep it super simple”.
Oh that’s great! Keep it super simple, that’s probably politically correct. No one’s ever accuse me of being politically correct lol
He has some great ideas for folks to utilize. I love his shower setup. His van setup is mostly what we call a no build build. Looks like the bed and ac are the only things really built in. It's really nicely done. I think I may be incorporating a few things from his build into mine. Thanks, Robert and Bill!
I just love how stealthy this conversion is..really neat and tidy too! Nothing flying around n that van!
Perfect! My dog & I could live quite comfortable in this van! I sincerely look forward to 1.3 tour. Thank you both! The AC puts him #1 in my book 👍
I converted my wife Chevy Express 1500 handicap van into a campervan after she passed. Since I'm not a carpenter I also went to Harbor Freight and got too short rollaways, took the wheels off them and mounted them to the non-door side of the van. Secured the microwave to the top of one of them and put a two burner Coleman folding stove and the thin top drawer of one of the rollaways. Had a friend build an enclosure for the porta potty. And the very back seat electrically folds down into a bed. Works great for me. I would like to find out how to get in touch with his gentleman so he and I can swap ideas. He has done a fantastic build out with minimal effort. Thought he did a great job
I would definitely have reservations about putting my contact information out for everyone to see but if you’ll use Facebook to instant message me then I could give you whatever information you would need to contact me.
@@Robertsramblings I too would love to have some sort of communication with you. I broke both hands a year ago and had to postpone my build. Thankfully, I had finished installing plusnuts in the ceiling. And used insulation board as a temporary ceiling. I covered the metal between the panels with strips of black poster board. Looking at your setup makes me anxious to start again. I will try to send you a Facebook message. Kt-KtzWorld
Robert you are a genius, your shower and air conditioning wow oh wow! Hats off to you for not only having the ideas for those things but man you made them work! The air conditioning that really is amazing cos I have watched many van life video's all saying that air conditioning can't work off solar, that your van has to be plugged in, well Robert you my man have proved those know it all's wrong, you are proof that you can run air conditioning off solar quite successfully. You are a genius and I love the look, the layout infact everything about your van! Well done you Robert well done you 🤗👏👏👏👏👌👍
Thankyou so much for giving us the tour, explaining everything and allowing us into your home! Thankyou I so really enjoyed it 🙏
Lisa UK xxxx
Wow! What kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the van build and the video. Thank you!
Mr. Robert is such a smart guy. This is a van build I've been looking for. So simple but well-thought out. Love it. Thank you sir for sharing!
Never stop getting amazed at the creativity and ability of folk!
And this was a Think Tank of one person, a special person.
I love his K.I.S.S. methodology and the efficient simplicity of his buildless build! Well done!
I love how streamlined everything is inside!
Awesome, have watched many builds and love the ones with the wall behind the cab, hate that curtain look , hot and cold spot even in sticks and bricks. A safe and practical build out weighs all the cute cabinets and counter tops. I watched many as I said and always worry about things not being more secured. I like being able to walk from front to back and just bedding down at night when needed. His build is very smart and to his taste. I love it!
It’s funny you should mention that. After looking at all of the ready-made‘s from a cost of 80,000 to over 200,000 not a single one of them was made for function. They’re usually made for two people and sometimes more than two and also made to look pretty. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone and with such a small space to work with it needed to be as comfortable and functional as possible. At least for me I think I’ve accomplished that. Thank you for your very kind comments.
@@Robertsramblings are you in the van full time or is this a getaway vehicle? You’ve definitely demonstrated a “function over form” design philosophy and it seems you’ve got everything you need. How is the tv powered and how do you get reliable WiFi? I’m also interested in the details of your solar setup- the products you chose for the solar panels, inverter, batteries (make & model of all that).
@@kacichristian I’m not full-time. It’s just a hobby, another toy. I power everything that needs AC off of a 2000 watt Renogy pure sine wave inverter. I now have 500 Watts of Renogy solar panels, a DC to DC Renogy solar charger, a Victron 115 V battery charger and 400 amp hours of lithium batteries. For Wi-Fi I use a Weboost Drive sleek. So far I have not had a Wi-Fi issue but I’m sure the day will come and when it does I’ll just watch videos downloaded off of RUclips.
@@Robertsramblings thank you!
I like the way he did the bed. That’s an awesome way to have a lot of space.
Robert, I had to watch this so I could get the details I missed at Bev’s meetup. The sun was in my eyes that day so I couldn’t see well. I’m even more impressed with the thought and organization put into your living space after watching this. It’s a marvel of ingenuity! .
Robert did an awesome job
Thank you
He's very clever . My next door neighbour has two of those shower units and lent one to us last year during a major power failure and I can attest that it worked great and was much appreciated after several days without power to be able to shampoo my hair. I love your videos.
Robert did a great design
👍💯Extremely educational, ingenious. Thank you.
Love all his great ideas!! BRILLIANT shower system!
Thank you. It was great seeing this in person when Robert gave us a tour at the rendezvous. He really made everything thing simple.
It was wonderful meeting and talking with him.
Thank you again.
Blessings and stay safe 🤗🌞
OMG ! Wow! Very impressed with this van tour. Thanks for showing this.
This was jam-packed with lots of good ideas, so I've also saved it for future reference. Thanks! Kir (and Ron)
The idea that I'm definitely keeping with me is the slats for the bed. Well done build.
I am using the adjustable, stainless stainless steel, restaurant shelf....I am only 5'3". The shelf has an open bottom for air and easily adjust to the uneven floor.
He is precious and informs so thoroughly!!!!!!
Love this tour and the details. Thank you for sharing you van build. Impressive! So nice and neat. Someday I’ll have a version of this. I like bed concept. Putting it up leaves room for my bike to travel easily too! Would like more details on the bed build for sure.
This guy is a genius! I got SOO many ideas on my build !
AWESOME !
Wow, thanks!
Love the murphy bed. I have a similar water heater. My trick is to just recycle the water in the bucket at the start until it's at temp. Then turn off the propane. This is handy for getting consistent temp and a safe way for using with kids or pets without the fear of the water getting too hot or a heaven forbid, some malfunction which could result in a fire hazard while you're standing there soaking wet and naked in an emergency situation.
Good plan
I had not thought about doing it that way. That is an excellent suggestion, I’m so glad you sent the comment. Definitely going to start doing it that way. Thank you very much!
Excellent ways to make living in a Van easier, I am impressed. Thank you!
I've been camping for 40 years off and on in almost every type of thing you can camp in. I started watching rv type video's for about 5 years now and enjoy how people create their own unique spaces! I'm also learning terms for types of camping that I've never heard of or use in my adventures. Always interesting and educational! Great video ☺️ Happy travels my friend 😊
Great job 👏 Thanks for all the detailed information on your build. Iike your "KISS" way of doing things.
This is a great build with great ideas. He is now my 2nd place favorite guest of your channel. Marvin & Mary are still #1 on my list. But Sir, you have done an excellent job with your van. Thanks Bill & Deb for showing other people's builds, looking forward to your next video.
Thank you so very much! Those are very kind words.
BRILLIANT ..rotating frozen water bottles..
Wow! What a fantastic van! Such wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing!
He did a great job
Genius! The KISS-fu is strong in this one! Awesome!
Cool love that camping van,,shower,,,ac,, heater,,, tv ,,great ,,
This is the most ingenious yet simple set up I have ever seen. Good job!
My new favorite van build.! Lots of great ideas.!! Thanks for sharing.
Bill you and Deb did a great job. We showed up for the last 3 days. and had a great time, even got to see you concert for free. Robert did a very good job with that van. Great ideas.
We are so glad we met you!
Your build makes so much sense! I'm seeing every basic need addressed. The air-conditioning configuration and the low profile solar solves my concerns for stealth. I can reasonably see myself living in a setup like this. I would start here and add decorative touches, or not. Thank you.
Excellent....thanks for sharing..
👍👍👍😊
Wow! He’s like an engineer and so organized! Minimalist ninja.
Thank you Robert. You explained things so that I could understand how to make it work in my build. Wonderful. Safe travels
I totally like his KISS van built!! Simple and yet very practical. A van built that can bring him everywhere in all kinds of weather! I would really like to know what is the capacity of your battery and how long can you use it for that air conditioner and the frig.
Great work around with the aircon, everything there but light weight and simple and cheap. This guy is a real inovater 👍
This was an awesome interview and showing of his van build. He and I process problems to solve very similarly. Thank you so much for sharing
They say it can’t be done, but I did it. Ingenious! Great job! Thanks for the tour. Happy travels!
Thank you 😊
Brilliant, simplicity! Great job, Robert! This is my first visit to this channel. I'm about to hit that subscribe button and check out more of your videos. Thanks.
Thank you
Amazing set up. He one smart fella. I am impressed!
This build and this man are a goldmine of ideas, great video.
What an amazing job you did with this Van. There's so much that I like about it. And, you explained it so well. Wow
Oh my god he’s absolutely adorable and so ingenious I love the Ryobi fan excellent idea and the fridge the way he has his van set up very clever, and you can see that he Loves his journey and that’s what makes it the love of the travel and living in a van good on him
I immediately went on Amazon and made a list of all of Robert’s products for my future adventures. This is by far the most simple and practical setup I’ve seen on here. Everything was well thought out and left so much space to move around. I personally would need a more relaxing and inviting look as far as interior lighting and decoration but to each their own. Robert, you did a fantastic job and this build is really inspiring. Exactly the type of layout I’ve been looking to find for ideas for my future van project
That's awesome
Thank you Chris. I understand what you mean about the more inviting look. It is very utilitarian. It meets my needs however, I wanted the model 150 van because of the better ride and gas mileage. Going with the 150 I needed to keep the weight down as much as possible. That’s why I tried to keep everything simple. Another reason was that I’m not spending a lot of time in the back of the van. Most of the time is spent either upfront driving or doing outside activities. For the most part I just bathe and sleep in the van. But I do understand what you’re saying and thanks for your comment.
@@Robertsramblings I’m going the same route as far as keeping the weight down and my cost to a minimum. Thanks again for all the info!
This is a man cave, not the boutique
WOW! OUTSTANDING build indeed! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing! ALL THE BEST, and Cheers! :)
I'm Not into vans but that's a Pretty Simple , Funtional Build for 1 person.
Very creative! KISS!!! Thank you for the detailed tour of the van!
Finally that has a sink like I want to do!!!!
Great presentation Robert! Thanks 4 sharing.
Super. Love this Robert. I'm building my Pro master to accommodate three lg dogs in crates and have been looking at the bed on the side vs the back to have two crates under it. Need the back for my solar hookup. I don't have a high top, unfortunately, but your bed design gives me a good starting point. Thanks and happy traveling.
Awesome build! I follow a guy up in Canada and I’m going to suggest this video to him, his channel is “Sharing the Wild”!
Love Joseph's channel! He amazes me with his outdoor skills.
I’m sure you enjoy Chrome w his Cruz too then 🥰
I do, and Emi, Mark the paint guy, Jeffie Bear... the whole clan of weirdos. ❤😁
Heeee, he sounds like home.
Great video and very well designed set up!
Brilliant van build! Great video, Always thumbs up from the 641...
He did a great job
What a treasure trove of great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
BRILLIANT! ! !
SIMPLY BRILLIANT ! ! !
🙂😎👍
A very creative van build, simple convenient, very impressive, don't think I would like the work that is required, but ingenious, I guess I'm a little to lazy to be that efficient. I am impressed.
very nice van... informative...thanks
Wonderful build!! In my Transit I have a blackout thermal curtain that I got at Walmart (under $20 for the set) and you will not believe the difference it makes! For those of us that don't build...
I bought one of those Ryobi fans last year for my house in case we lose power during the summer. Since it will also work with an AC plug, I ended up using it next to my bed when the fan I had crapped out. It is the perfect size for me and on the low setting it doesn't bother my wife at all.
And I have that rechargeable pump sitting on my file cabinet next to my desk, I have some tubing running into a 5 gallon bottle that is over by my door so I have water in my office,
Both of these things I plan on adding to my van build, since they are so simple and inexpensive and solve problems.
Nice finite features inside.
I have the same AC unit, but mine is 6000 BTU (470 watts) instead of 5000 BTU. Mine is running under 1280 watts solar and 300 AH lithium batteries and 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter. In summer, I can run it continuous only on solar for about 7 hours a day and keep batteries topped off at 100% by end of the day. I rely on MaxxAir fans (2) for cooling at night. AC definitely can be done in summer with sunny skies! Simple layout, easy to keep clean inside.
That’s a nice set up you have. Having air conditioning sure makes life easy. 😎
He's just lovely and brilliant. Thank you for sharing this.
Awesome… I love the water heater & the AC unit 🤙🏼😁🤙🏼
Thank you for sharing your mind and your creations with us. This , to me, is the best I have seen yet ! I will undoubtedly measure all other works against this.....and I will visit this many times, again
THANK YOU
HEBEL EST OMNIS ADAM
Thank you, for watching
Frigidaire Air Conditioner, 5000 btu, digital and Energy Starfor soft start.because has extra capacitors wont need a huge pull of energy at start! 👍 (great tip on using yard signs for box around AC)
super doo!!!!! the freezer/cooler is the best idea i have ever seen if you have the room. i knew about freezing bottles of water to put into your box frig/freez when you first turn it on but wasn't smart enough to figure out the rest!!!! kudos to Robert!
For the shower, if a spigot is installed in the base of the storage like a cooler has a release for melted ice, a hose could be installed to make releasing the grey water simpler. Then, maybe spritz with vinegar to keep it fresh since soap scum builds up.
I was thinking of using a cement mixing pan from a big box store, and had been practicing at home, for a bathtub with a variety of ideas.
What I like about this so much is the shower can be indoor or outdoor. And, I can still use the cement pan as a secondary option. Plus it has other uses, too.
With a shower tent could work in this or in the rig or in the back of the rig outside.
Sharing some of my ideas to inspire others. Am elated to have seen your genius.
That bed, for me, prefer a narrower bench width I’ve been using in my Jeep to practice. If I used narrower could have shelves above. While making underneath accessible whenever.
Nailed it with a freezer. I was thinking my similarly.
The walls, brilliant.
I’ve been using an Aldi (supermarket) fridge that looks like a cooler. Does both. Just bought a second one that cools down to 30 degrees. With a freezer and enough solar … this is one of the best builds ever. Thank you for all these ideas. Simplicity rules.
For me will try a portable AC in that space. Could use an insulated tube to the exterior port and not require the longer ceiling mounted vent.
Definitely using these ideas in my build. ❤
I’m excited to see future builds from Bill. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 standing ovation 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🏆
👍
yes thinking the same and even a hole that a tube could fit thru the floor....and a valve could be just slightly open so it would drain while you drive or even just look like AC draining if you set the valve to drain very slow.....
I considered most of the things that you had suggested, or had maybe just decided that it would be better for you in your build. The cement pan would work, however I already had the other one, so I didn’t have to buy anything, another plus was the sides are very high and I didn’t have to worry so much about keeping the shower curtain in. For the air conditioner, the reason I went with the one I did is that it’s an energy star model and draws less than 5 Amps, the portable models all draw at least twice that much. Just wasn’t practical trying to use it with solar and Boondocking. As a matter fact, I had a portable unit I could have used and chose not to for that reason. Thanks for the suggestions!
I could sit and listen to Robert all day. What an exciting can build! So many clever ideas.
And I could probably talk all day long. Thank you!