The Real Nomadland: A Single Mom and Kiddo VanLIfe Story
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        • Vent Placement in Conversion Van
        • Cutting a Hole for a Vent Fan for our Conversion Van
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  • Home
    • About >
      • Our Van >
        • 2018 Ford Transit Cargo Van
  • The Build
    • Planning is Different Then Doing - VanLife Van Build
    • How Much Does it Cost to Convert a Van?
    • How Much Time Does it Take to Convert a Van?
    • DIY Van Conversion Checklist >
      • Phase One DIY Van Conversion - Research >
        • Designing Your Perfect #VanBuild While Going on Practice Van Life Adventures
      • Phase Two DIY Van Build: Making Decisions for Your DIY Van Conversion >
        • Rural Internet
      • Phase Three DIY Van Build: Selecting and Buying the Van DIY Van Conversion >
        • Finding a Van
      • Phase Four DIY Van Build: Prepping the Layout- DIY Van Conversion >
        • Detailing the Van Before Conversion
      • Phase Five DIY Van Build: Installing Windows on Van Conversion for #vanlife
      • Phase Six DIY Van Build: Vent Fan for our Conversion Van >
        • Vent Placement in Conversion Van
        • Cutting a Hole for a Vent Fan for our Conversion Van
      • Phase Seven DIY Van Build: Installing the Subfloor
      • Solar Panels on Conversion Van >
        • Wind Solar Power on Conversion Van
        • Van Conversion Solar Set Up - Everything You Need
        • How Much Solar Power Do I Need?
  • Our Adventures
    • The Backstory >
      • We Found a Van!
      • Pre-Purchase Van Freak Out
      • Vanlife- Van Purchase Day
      • Registering an Out of State Vehicle
      • Full Time Van Life Diaries >
        • Full Time Van Life - Kates Blog
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week one
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week two >
          • Kingman Arizona
        • Full Time Van Lifers - Are We Homeless or Not?
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week three
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week four
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week five
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week six
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week seven
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week eight
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week nine
        • Full Time Van Life Diaries week ten
      • Single Mom Cross Country Road Trip
    • Van Life Adventures >
      • Sea World - Orlando
      • Aquatica- Orlando
      • Treasure Island Florida
      • Great Wolf Lodge, Concord, North Carolina
    • Friends on the Road
    • Roadschooling
  • Resources
    • Basic Van Life Must Haves
    • Van Life Overnight Parking - Where Do You Sleep?
    • Van Life Trash
    • Financially Supporting Van Life
    • Vanlife Websites and Blogs
    • Vanlife Hashtags for Families on the Road
    • Vanlife YouTube Channels
    • Random #VanLife Stuff
  • YouTube
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YOUR CART

Cutting a Hole for a Vent Fan for our Conversion Van

#vanlife #vanbuild roof vent
The fact that Eliza did not come with a vent prohibited us from trying a roughing-it, stealth overnight as we made our journey from van purchase in Florida to California.  A couple of nights were cool enough, but we didn't feel safe (from scary people or gigantic bugs) to leave the windows open for a necessary breeze. 

So, getting a vent fan was priority just in case we wanted to do a bucket-and-a-blanket trip before the build was complete.

We were a bit nervous to cut a hole in the van so we decided to look for assistance from someone who is handy with a jig saw. After much searching, calling around and asking for recommendations on Facebook, we came up empty-handed.  Even the local community college's metal shop was closed due to covid. 

​So we decided to do it ourselves. We watched CheapRVLiving's video on Cutting a Hole in a Van for a vent, created a shopping list, ordered supplies and... chickend out. Or, played it safe... however you want to call it.

I eventually found a handyman who was spectacular at building a rock wall for my play therapy office, but was admittedly unsure about engaging in van building behaviors.  Without the knowledgeable assistant's helping hands and mind, it seemed too risky to do it alone.

We hired an auto body guy to cut and install the fan, along with windows.  The up-front cost for professional assistance will hopefully pay off in the long run by avoiding a vent fan dangling from the roof... or lying broken on the floor ... or leaking.

He made custom mounting rings (see the pictures, above) for the vent fan, which we're guessing was the piece that we knew was missing, but didn't know what it was or how to find it.  You know, that "thing" that kept us, ok me (Mel, yeah, I'm the anxious one) thinking the vent is going to bend the roof or crash to the floor?! That thing that made me think we had to do framing before the vent install? Yeah, that thing.  So, I feel better now.


That being said, we do highly recommend (again) CheapRVLiving's video on Cutting a Hole in a Van if you are one of those rugged, brave souls who will truly, truly be DIY.

However, if you are like us and value that extra security over completing the task yourself, you will probably have to shop around a bit before you find a shop that will take on your project.  We're not sure why, but this job wasn't for every auto body shop in town.  We eventually stumbled upon a referral while calling window installation companies after we thought we had exhausted the auto body list.

The dude who took our job is an auto racer and knows people who live out of vans and trailers. He has also spent a great deal of his time living out of them himself as he travels for races. He apparently gets his referrals via word-of-mouth and doesn't have to do a lot marketing. Or have a website. Hence, the links to his oft-forgotten Facebook page.

Anyway, the materials we purchased to install the vent fan are below (although we didn't use them because our guy provided them.)


Materials:
​Safety goggles 
Safety Gloves
Dust Mask 
Rafter Square 
25 ft. Measuring Tape 
Sharpie
Painter's Tape
Hand Held Shop Vac
- or standard Shop Vac with extension hose
​- or magnetic parts tray and shop rag for easy clean up of shavings 
Extra long heavy duty extension cord (if you don't have cordless tools)
Automatic Center Punch
Electric drill with drill bit
Jig saw
3-in-1 lube
Rust Protection
​
​
You can find our full list of van conversion purchases, along with the costs here.


Back to DIY Van Conversion Checklist
Go to Selecting a Vent
Go to Vent Placement Tips


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Kate & Mel

Meet Us
We are Kate & Mel, daughter and mother fulltime van life nomads who have set out on a gypsy adventure in our currently being built van, Eliza. Join us as we explore the non-glamorous, not-Pinterest-worthy, real, figure-it-out-as-we-go, sometimes ugly, but always glorious, version of full time van living.

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Single mom and kiddo set out on a nomad, van life, roadschooling lifestyle. Watch the beginner diy van conversion, first time homeschooling, first time build, first time on the road experiences, newbie family van life adventures unfold. 

We will share van life travels and tips to encourage other people to get out and explore the open road.