I've researched a LOT of Element conversions, and never have I seen this attention to detail. You are a rare mix of craftsman and genius, this channel is going places.
that's what I was thinking too. So many of the element campers have set ups that are so involved that I would never want to convert my element back and forth before or after a trip. (I get lazy) But this one seems easy.
I spent most of my working life as a woodshop teacher. At one point, the old skool curriculum changed to a more problem-based design/build which required some high order thinking as well as skill development. Amy, you could teach that program in a minute, 100%!! Your projects demonstrate exemplary skills, knowledge, and talent. I can also see that you are driven by that "make it better / continuous improvement" thing. Awesome work!!
I literally just went and bought all the materials I need for making another bed so that I can make a video about that part specifically. (I made some slight design changes over this one that should make it easier to build). I'll have 3D and 2D plans released with the video for that as well!
Amy, I have been following van builds for three years. This is one of the smartest, simple and lightest designs I've come across. By all means, you could market this. Kudos.
This is one of the best videos I have ever seen. Very creative and thoughtful design, and I really appreciate the straightforward, down-to-earth explanations. So sick of people mucking it up for the camera like a bad radio morning show. I much prefer people just be themselves. You have done an exceptional job with this build!
WOW, this really inspired me, how you put the bed on one side and kept space for a shelf on the other side. Many vans designs have a huge bed that covers all the van surface and storage underneath, which is great for two people, but if you are alone, this seems like a waste of space. I love how you fitted everything so perfectly, great detail work! Thank you for the plans, I will send you pictures if I use them. I will probably need to adapt them, but they will help me to get started.
I really like this. I'm starting to outfit my element for overnight trips, and I'm considering doing a similar build to yours. I've love to see more detail about how the bed is assembled, maybe a view of the underside. This is really fantastic work - thanks Amy!
This is probably the best can build I've seen. It's simple, removable, and something I think even a beginner could tackle. Great job, Amy! Such a cool build
Your build quality is clearly evident in the painstaking way you form fitted cardboard templates. That's what elevates one to craftsman/woman status. Excellent job! I'm going to use your bug mesh idea on my truck cap windows. Reinforced edges and sewn on Velcro...awesome.
Been watching Honda element ideas for weeks. Yours out shines them all. Simple, efficient & so easy …Thanks for sharing & congrats on brilliant set up..
Definitely a creative soul. Your investment in quality tools and your mastery of their use shows.....awesome build. “Amy....Maker” would even suit you. You go girl!
Your creativity inspired me to design and create a bed of my own. Especially your explanation of iterations. I used foam core instead of cardboard to iterate the front and back. I secured my bed frame using turnbuckles, as you suggested. It stores in a bag, with 8 total “pieces,” not including the mattress. It measures 75” by 25”. Its set up time is 8 minutes and can be broken down in 5 minutes. It doesn’t require tools to set up, and has plenty of room for storage and airflow underneath. I used a few IKEA hacks: two thin steel support beams and their corresponding brackets along with modded slats to provide further support. The design maintains the original vehicle interior, offers good comfort, and lets the vehicle accommodate my folding bike, and a tiny “kitchen” that includes water, a Keurig coffee maker and some storage drawers. Thanks for your inspiring videos. Fondly, Tom
I love that moon roof tablet holder. I would out a swivel mount so you could watch from the front of the car, or from the rear, perhaps using a camping chair by the tail gate. What an excellent build! Now I will watch the "4 years later" video to see your updates.
Well you blew my mind with the simple solution of plastic strips holding in the reflectix. Now it seems so obvious but I've never seen it in hundreds of van build videos! And your skillsaw skills are amazing. Beautiful, deceptively simple, ingenious, and beautifully executed build. Thank you for sharing!
Great job on the bed and ceiling TV! Now you need sliding drawers under your bed so you can pack clothes. This type of slat pull out bed is the best design for campers. Very nicely done! Glad to see women doing DIY projects.
I really like your conversion and your template making skills and woodworking. I'm going to emulate your design in my 2004 Element. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome build! I like the convenient attachment of cabinet & bed; drilling/screwing wood frames into vehicle floor/sides scares me. And that sunroof mounted iPad holder is dope! Safe & happy travels. :)
I really like the adjustable slat bed and your ability to also take those things out when you want more space.I've had my 2010 Element for 4 years and really enjoy driving it. I used those round foldable window shades when I went camping on the Delaware River and attached them to the inside windows using magnets.
Im about to build out a conversion van and i like watching simple set ups like this because i dont want to go crazy with mine just make it simple and functional. Thank you so much! I cant wait till I have saved enough to buy some land and drive my tiny home to my new land!
Holy cow, nice little setup in there. You have good patience and skill, I really like how you contoured the wood to fit the panels and rounded your edges.
I wish I could have you help me turn my scion in to a camper. You have the nicest setup, love how you can remove everything so easy. And the pull out bed is super nice.
Thanks for sharing. This is still one of my favorite "builds" for an SUV, both in terms of how it is made and how it shows how you did it. There is a bonus in that we also have a Honda Element.
Never been in a Honda Element looks like lot more room than I thought I one it’s like perfect for a one person camper just be careful where you stay at night it’s a wild world out there and you did a very good job with the templates and fitment
Very innovative! Comfortable sleeping and working quarters while on the road in such a small vehicle. The best thing, in my opinion,is the fact you can install or take out the camper materials in just a short time and have your Element available for other uses...
OMG that last bit with the iPad holder had me rolling! LMAO! This was so fun. Great work and hope your Element is still making you happy. Thanks for sharing!
That's brilliant. I have an Element and have been thinking for quite a while of turning it into a camper of sorts. This is an excellent model. I love all the care you took to make things clean and trim and functional. Thanks for the video!
You are a fanatic craftsperson. Your template work has shocking tolerances, and your simple but curiously effective design is awesome. Keep up the good work.
I got a 2005 element after my 1999 corolla was too expensive to fix and never thought of making it into a camper. I'm finding it a fun and interesting challenge to utilize the space, but don't want to do any permanent alterations. You have many great ideas and the creativity to bring them to life. Thank you for sharing!
About to start my Sedona minivan build. So many different ideas on RUclips. I absolutely love the bed slats. Definitely gonna take that idea and run with it. I think the hardest part about a build is making up my mind on how I want it. I'm sure once I get started it will come together quickly. All of your ideas will be used on my build. Thanks for the video.
I have an Element. According to the dealer here in NH, they said they cou;dn't sell enough of them, that they were really popular here in NH and like states, but not other places. I can't imagine why. I love my Element!!!
@@waynelast1685 VW still makes camper vans , but they are not for sale in the states. It's called the "California" ironically. Too bad it is not available. there is a market for them, i guess just not enough of one.
Brian Gott honestly I think it’s a conspiracy so that we have to pay considerably more for campers. And get know darn well many hundreds of thousands if not a couple million of people would live out of them full time.
I like the simplicity of the setup. Often times, people cram way too much stuff in their conversions. All I need is a bed, a place to put my clothes and I'm good
Man... what a cool set up and well thought out. Your templates were precise and looked cool. Especially like the chill zone of the laptop while lying down to watch movies. Big ups to you. Way cool.
Great idea for the iPad mounting. Using cardboard for your templets is a very smart thing to do. You need to get a microfiber cover from Wal Mart for your foam mattress and bed pillow, it has a zipper and will help keep sweat and oils as well as dust mites out of your mattress and you can simply unzip it and put it in the washer along with your sheets to keep it clean. You are very efficient in all of your modifications. Excellent job Amy.
First time I've heard of you and wondering if you're an engineer? You have GREAT skills. I'm an elderly woman and I love seeing all the innovative clever ideas that are surfacing from the young women on RUclips. I'm going to subscribe!
I agree with some of the other comments -- what beautiful, functional woodwork! Thanks so much for sharing this. It's my favorite build so far, and I've watched a lot of these.
Fantastic job you have done, nice and simple too. Who says you need a campervan when you can do this simple conversion! Enjoy your travels 👍🏼😀. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
Amy, That's really great work. Especially the monitor cradle covering the, nearly useless, moon roof. I've owned my Element since 2004 and have traveled and slept in it for months at a time. I also use it as my work truck so I've never dove into the full camper conversion ideas.
I've researched a LOT of Element conversions, and never have I seen this attention to detail. You are a rare mix of craftsman and genius, this channel is going places.
Omg I lost it when you showed the custom cut sunroof thing 😍! Amazing job
Hands down one of the best element camper set ups because everything can be easily removed and put back. I love it! 👍🏼
KevN B
You know it. Cardboard. Why didn't I think of that?.🤔
that's what I was thinking too. So many of the element campers have set ups that are so involved that I would never want to convert my element back and forth before or after a trip. (I get lazy) But this one seems easy.
Hands down? The best? Dude, just send her a DM already...
I spent most of my working life as a woodshop teacher. At one point, the old skool curriculum changed to a more problem-based design/build which required some high order thinking as well as skill development. Amy, you could teach that program in a minute, 100%!! Your projects demonstrate exemplary skills, knowledge, and talent. I can also see that you are driven by that "make it better / continuous improvement" thing. Awesome work!!
Thank you :)
That bed frame is gorgeous. The craftsmanship overall is very impressive
I literally just went and bought all the materials I need for making another bed so that I can make a video about that part specifically. (I made some slight design changes over this one that should make it easier to build). I'll have 3D and 2D plans released with the video for that as well!
You got pretty feet girl.
Great!! Thanks for showing us this!
How much are supplies total minus saws and 3D printer
Thank you so much everyone for the kind comments! I am working on digitizing patterns for the shelf and then the bed. Will post soon.
If you post it, I will build it.
Great build and nice tour, thank you for sharing it Amy! (And thanks in advance for offering patterns too!!!)
Nice.. Looks like you got yourself a new business ;)
I want. I love my 2007 Honda E!
wonderful!
I am blown away by your creativity. Excellent job on the camper design.
That is some nice woodworking skills! I admire the accuracy of your cuts and precision!
the crafting that went into all of the wood pieces is really what sets this camper apart from all the rest everything fits so gracefully.
Amy, I have been following van builds for three years. This is one of the smartest, simple and lightest designs I've come across. By all means, you could market this. Kudos.
I was thinking the same. I would pay for that setup.
I'm a professional carpenter and joiner from Scotland, Uk. Your carpentry work is very good, especially the scribes. Great job & video.
MrBigstef thank you!
Seems like shes really in her element here.
Groan.......lol
Get help
@@dislikebutton2688 lol
Luv dad jokes
thelaughingman79
I’m dead💀💀
This is one of the best videos I have ever seen. Very creative and thoughtful design, and I really appreciate the straightforward, down-to-earth explanations. So sick of people mucking it up for the camera like a bad radio morning show. I much prefer people just be themselves. You have done an exceptional job with this build!
Very innovative. If you aren't a design engineer you certainly seem to have the knack. Very impressive!
I was going to say, she must be an engineering student! Very nice, Amy
WOW, this really inspired me, how you put the bed on one side and kept space for a shelf on the other side. Many vans designs have a huge bed that covers all the van surface and storage underneath, which is great for two people, but if you are alone, this seems like a waste of space. I love how you fitted everything so perfectly, great detail work! Thank you for the plans, I will send you pictures if I use them. I will probably need to adapt them, but they will help me to get started.
Awesome! Good luck on your build!!!
I really like this. I'm starting to outfit my element for overnight trips, and I'm considering doing a similar build to yours. I've love to see more detail about how the bed is assembled, maybe a view of the underside.
This is really fantastic work - thanks Amy!
Very nice use of basic materials and good old fashioned common sense. That cardboard scribe trick is a very handy.
This is probably the best can build I've seen. It's simple, removable, and something I think even a beginner could tackle. Great job, Amy! Such a cool build
I'm really impressed with your craftsmanship and creativity. The fact, that everything can be removed makes it a winner.
All great ideas! That ipad hack is epic
agree
Yep, me too. Very cool and creative hack.
Sweet design & well executed... thanks for making the video-
-a fellow Element owner
Your build quality is clearly evident in the painstaking way you form fitted cardboard templates. That's what elevates one to craftsman/woman status. Excellent job! I'm going to use your bug mesh idea on my truck cap windows. Reinforced edges and sewn on Velcro...awesome.
Amy, very cleanly designed, implemented, and described! Hopefully you work in the world of design, because you got skills!
The best Honda Element build I've ever seen on RUclips. Extremely clever young lady.
Much respect! I am a fellow Honda Element owner. I appreciate you sharing this video of what you did to your Element!
Been watching Honda element ideas for weeks. Yours out shines them all. Simple, efficient & so easy …Thanks for sharing & congrats on brilliant set up..
Thank you!!
Easily one of the cleanest builds for a DIY camper! Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Definitely a creative soul. Your investment in quality tools and your mastery of their use shows.....awesome build. “Amy....Maker” would even suit you. You go girl!
The moon roof modification is simply ingenious. Loved the video. Thank you.
Your creativity inspired me to design and create a bed of my own. Especially your explanation of iterations. I used foam core instead of cardboard to iterate the front and back. I secured my bed frame using turnbuckles, as you suggested. It stores in a bag, with 8 total “pieces,” not including the mattress. It measures 75” by 25”. Its set up time is 8 minutes and can be broken down in 5 minutes. It doesn’t require tools to set up, and has plenty of room for storage and airflow underneath. I used a few IKEA hacks: two thin steel support beams and their corresponding brackets along with modded slats to provide further support. The design maintains the original vehicle interior, offers good comfort, and lets the vehicle accommodate my folding bike, and a tiny “kitchen” that includes water, a Keurig coffee maker and some storage drawers. Thanks for your inspiring videos. Fondly, Tom
Tom, your setup sounds awesome!!! I hope you are enjoying some awesome adventures in it!
The moon roof thing is awesome!!
I love that moon roof tablet holder. I would out a swivel mount so you could watch from the front of the car, or from the rear, perhaps using a camping chair by the tail gate. What an excellent build! Now I will watch the "4 years later" video to see your updates.
The removable fixtures are a great idea. Makes it super versatile
Well you blew my mind with the simple solution of plastic strips holding in the reflectix. Now it seems so obvious but I've never seen it in hundreds of van build videos! And your skillsaw skills are amazing. Beautiful, deceptively simple, ingenious, and beautifully executed build. Thank you for sharing!
Excellent job Amy. Happy travels. God Bless & protect U on your journey thru life.
Great job on the bed and ceiling TV! Now you need sliding drawers under your bed so you can pack clothes. This type of slat pull out bed is the best design for campers. Very nicely done! Glad to see women doing DIY projects.
That makes so much sense to use in everyday life as well as for camping. Love the versatility!
That iPad holder is GENUIS!! Definitely one of the best micro camper additions I’ve seen!
Amy love what you have done with the Element,your design is so clever.enjoy your travels .🙂🚐
I really like your conversion and your template making skills and woodworking. I'm going to emulate your design in my 2004 Element. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome build! I like the convenient attachment of cabinet & bed; drilling/screwing wood frames into vehicle floor/sides scares me. And that sunroof mounted iPad holder is dope! Safe & happy travels. :)
I really like the adjustable slat bed and your ability to also take those things out when you want more space.I've had my 2010 Element for 4 years and really enjoy driving it. I used those round foldable window shades when I went camping on the Delaware River and attached them to the inside windows using magnets.
This is awesome. And much more "do-able" than a lot of the Element camper designs I've seen. Thanks for adding the plans for the shelf!
Amen! Won’t cost 10,000$ either.
Im about to build out a conversion van and i like watching simple set ups like this because i dont want to go crazy with mine just make it simple and functional. Thank you so much! I cant wait till I have saved enough to buy some land and drive my tiny home to my new land!
Holy cow, nice little setup in there. You have good patience and skill, I really like how you contoured the wood to fit the panels and rounded your edges.
🤔 very good engineering.👍😁👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
You are unbelievably clever. This is the simplest conversion yet looks fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing 😀
That's such a nice simple layout. I've wanted to try do some kind of partial van life and an element seems perfect
I wish I could have you help me turn my scion in to a camper. You have the nicest setup, love how you can remove everything so easy. And the pull out bed is super nice.
Thanks for sharing. This is still one of my favorite "builds" for an SUV, both in terms of how it is made and how it shows how you did it. There is a bonus in that we also have a Honda Element.
Very cool looking set up. You have done a terrific job. Congratulations
Never been in a Honda Element looks like lot more room than I thought I one it’s like perfect for a one person camper just be careful where you stay at night it’s a wild world out there and you did a very good job with the templates and fitment
Nice job, especially the sky pad :)
Instead of cardboard a contour gauge tool can be very handy too for the small and difficult angles.
Erik M or you could use a free piece of cardboard. 🤷🏻♂️
Very innovative! Comfortable sleeping and working quarters while on the road in such a small vehicle. The best thing, in my opinion,is the fact you can install or take out the camper materials in just a short time and have your Element available for other uses...
I knew you had to be an (mechanical) engineer! Great job on the build!
Whoa that sun roof Ipad holder is next level awesome.
I seen tons of van builds and no one has that type of innovation going on
Brilliant job of an easily installed/removed home on wheels! LOVE IT!
Hands down Cleanest and most elegant camper of any vehicle I’ve seen! I like how simple and adaptable it is very fitting for me at least Thanks
Very well thought out 👍. Really maximizing the limited space. Great job!
OMG that last bit with the iPad holder had me rolling! LMAO! This was so fun. Great work and hope your Element is still making you happy. Thanks for sharing!
This is an incredible build. Wow. Just wow.
The way you have so skilfully templated round the curves is insane!
wow, you did a really good job on those curves tor your fittings (excellent job)
That's brilliant. I have an Element and have been thinking for quite a while of turning it into a camper of sorts. This is an excellent model. I love all the care you took to make things clean and trim and functional. Thanks for the video!
Modular and perfect. Simple design and innovative!!! Well done!!
You are a fanatic craftsperson. Your template work has shocking tolerances, and your simple but curiously effective design is awesome. Keep up the good work.
❤️ thank you :)
You did a very good job on the templating and cutting. A perfect fit!
Your setup is WAY better than mine in my Tacoma. It didn't even occur to me to make mine removable. Your setup is so practical. Safe travels.
Wow, that's impressive. So much thought went into everything. Looks good and more importantly, it's very functional! Awesome!
I got a 2005 element after my 1999 corolla was too expensive to fix and never thought of making it into a camper. I'm finding it a fun and interesting challenge to utilize the space, but don't want to do any permanent alterations. You have many great ideas and the creativity to bring them to life. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, very smart design for such a small space...brilliant actually 👍🏼
About to start my Sedona minivan build. So many different ideas on RUclips. I absolutely love the bed slats. Definitely gonna take that idea and run with it. I think the hardest part about a build is making up my mind on how I want it. I'm sure once I get started it will come together quickly. All of your ideas will be used on my build. Thanks for the video.
What a very elegant design!.No bloat and all function.
An elegant Element??
@@robstonehouse5870 Well, the interior is at least
That pull-out bed frame is ingenious.
We had an 04. Most practical vehicle ever. I don’t know why Honda stopped making them.
I have an Element. According to the dealer here in NH, they said they cou;dn't sell enough of them, that they were really popular here in NH and like states, but not other places. I can't imagine why. I love my Element!!!
headingoutside
Wish we would’ve kept ours. Honda needs to start making them again. I loved riding in the back and stretching out 🤣
No car manufacturers make anything decent enough to turn into a small camper.
@@waynelast1685 VW still makes camper vans , but they are not for sale in the states. It's called the "California" ironically. Too bad it is not available. there is a market for them, i guess just not enough of one.
Brian Gott honestly I think it’s a conspiracy so that we have to pay considerably more for campers. And get know darn well many hundreds of thousands if not a couple million of people would live out of them full time.
Just bought an 07 Element. Looking forward to camping trips soon! Great diy! Love the tablet holder for the sunroof!
Amy... you're so talented...
Wow you thought of everything. Thank you for sharing your gifts and with Grace...🙏🏵🌼🌻🍀
I like the simplicity of the setup. Often times, people cram way too much stuff in their conversions. All I need is a bed, a place to put my clothes and I'm good
Genius! You've answered just about every question I've had about DIY conversion.
Nice plan Amy. The design is simply, straight forward and highly functional. Damn smart young woman. 😊
This is a great build! Very imaginative yet practical.
Man... what a cool set up and well thought out. Your templates were precise and looked cool. Especially like the chill zone of the laptop while lying down to watch movies. Big ups to you. Way cool.
Damn this is cool! Very well designed and removable... thank you for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more designs. Thank you.
WOW Amy ! Very creative and thought out build. Really good ideas to fit your individual needs. Adventure on 🚐
I shouldn’t comment before I finish watching the video haha the bug screen was clean as hell and a great idea
Great idea for the iPad mounting. Using cardboard for your templets is a very smart thing to do. You need to get a microfiber cover from Wal Mart for your foam mattress and bed pillow, it has a zipper and will help keep sweat and oils as well as dust mites out of your mattress and you can simply unzip it and put it in the washer along with your sheets to keep it clean. You are very efficient in all of your modifications. Excellent job Amy.
Genius in practical design and efficiency. Thanks for the ideas!
Great build, very minimal and efficient yet detailed. That moon-roof insert is genius!
OMG, the ipad in the ceiling! Brilliant!!!
First time I've heard of you and wondering if you're an engineer? You have GREAT skills. I'm an elderly woman and I love seeing all the innovative clever ideas that are surfacing from the young women on RUclips. I'm going to subscribe!
😃 thanks for watching! Yes, I am an engineer!
Girl genius.. without the fluff.
❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤
Great job with design. The creativity involved to get the results you wanted are second to none.
Nice job lady👍🏽very well designed
Simplicity at its best u rock🤗
I agree with some of the other comments -- what beautiful, functional woodwork! Thanks so much for sharing this. It's my favorite build so far, and I've watched a lot of these.
Thank you 😊
Brilliant! I love the idea of the micro-camper, and your’s is very well done. 👍
Fantastic job you have done, nice and simple too. Who says you need a campervan when you can do this simple conversion! Enjoy your travels 👍🏼😀. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
You have amazing talent… And patience to use that talent :-) super nice job
Amy, That's really great work. Especially the monitor cradle covering the, nearly useless, moon roof. I've owned my Element since 2004 and have traveled and slept in it for months at a time. I also use it as my work truck so I've never dove into the full camper conversion ideas.
as others have said, I love the iPad viewing option. Brilliant.
What a great job you did! I like the way you split things up to make them easier to man handle. That ipad bracket is ingenious!
Love it!
So bespoke.
... and the use of cardboard templates.
Subscribed!