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
  • Contact
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YOUR CART

How Much Does It Cost to Convert a Van?

Total costs related to complete DIY van build.
Picture
Van build deliveries are piling up! Time to get to work!
Since we have discovered that Planning is Different Than Doing, it's possible that this is going to take a while.

Check out our Van details here.

For the live, running total, scroll below...

Yes, you can do a build for cheaper than this since you might have more knowhow and greater hands-on abilities. We originally estimated $10,000, but were hoping for $7,000.  We soon realized that we were under-estimating... and engaging in wishful thinking!

Update April 2021: We over-bought in the plumbing department. Our tanks were too big and after living in an unconverted van for three months, we decided that we didn't want to take up space with a shower or plumbing anyway. As such, our plumbing related purchases were deleted from our list below. The amount deleted was approximately $1,000.  We'll have to see if we can sell these items online!


NOTICE: THIS IS AN IN-PROGRESS BUILD WITH AN IN-PROGRESS LIST. 
NOT ALL MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR A FULL BUILD ARE LISTED HERE YET AND YOUR BUILD MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT THAN OURS.

General Tools and Supplies
*We started with nothing; the average person may already have many of these tools - or have access to borrow them

Dust masks 16.98
3M Safety Glasses 15.98
3M Scotchgard Anti-Fog Safety Glasses 24.98

Mad Grip Thunderdome Safety Gloves 14.48
Jig saw 59.00
Lithium Battery Kit with Charger (for the cordless tools) 99.00
V20 Cordless Hammer Drill 129.00
V20 Shop vac 89.00

6 ft ladder 69.98
Center punch (3 pack) 9.78
1/8 in drill bit 3.18
3-in-1 fluid 3.98
48 in level 9.98
Fluid Film Rust Protection 9.99

3 pack Scotch Blue painter's tape 19.98
50 pack of microfiber towels 24.99
Magnetic tray 5.99fl
Sharpie two pack 2.38
SmartSaker  19.99

Total for miscellaneous items $628.64
​for links to tools and supplies go to our Cutting a Hole in the Van page


Detailing
(Our splurge; optional)
Total for detailing our van $350


Insulation - Walls
Havelock Wool Insulation (3 bags) 391.81
- for walls and doors
Spray foam insulation 7.97

Vent Fan
See our vent choice
here
Vent fan- $269.23
Window seal 6.38/ea x 2 = 12.76
3M Marine Grade Silicone Sealant 13.06/ ea x 2 = 26.12
Total for supplies for vent fan install $308.11
​for links to tools and supplies go to our Cutting a Hole in the Van page

Passenger Swivel Seat
Base $374.00

Windows

2 - 24 x 15 RV Windows with Trim Kit 259.95

Auto Body Installs
Two windows and the Maxxair vent fan labor $600

Floor
Polyiso insulation (two sheets) 40.89

Reflectix tape (to seal floor insulation)
- two rolls 19.98
(Technically, we ran out of the first roll of Reflectix and Lowe's was out of stock, so our second roll was 3M insulation tape and cost a couple of dollars more.)
Vinyl plank (three boxes) $123.00
Caulking $5.37
Mallet $4.99
Tapping block $12.00

Total for floor $ 206.23

Access Doors

Chrome Universal Access Door 34.89
White Universal Access Door 23.63

Silicone Sealant - already purchased, see above
Required tools - already purchased, see above

Under the Bed 
Small vents for under bed and battery storage 8.99/ ea x 2 = 17.98

Walls and Cabinets 
Lumber $700


Kitchen
Alpicool 36 liter 12 v fridge $249

4 ft Butcher block counter top $124.99
Weather Wash Stain for counter top $24.97
Backsplash Mosaic Tile (Birch Lane) 82.00
Single burner stove top $24.99


Ceiling
see lumber for wood ceiling 
Pine Stain 9.96
Clear Satin Polyurethane 31.92

TORCHSTAR Ultra-Thin Recessed Ceiling Light with Junction Box 100.21


Solar
4 Renogy panels 352.00
Branch connectors 10.00
Charge controller 135.00
Converter 133.00
Circuit Breaker 19.98
Shore Power Adapter 25.00
Battery Kit 114.97
Lithium battery 1174.24
Total Solar equipment: $ 1963.99


Air Conditioner
13,500 BTU Roof Top AC 631.00


Fold Out Bed / Chair
Article Simplis in Gale Gray 498.00
see or buy it here

Miscellaneous / Décor 
*Most of these items are optional / aesthetic, but they sure make for more comfort & enjoyment!


Honeywell portable heater 24.99 
Twinkle Star String Lights 14.44
Canopy for Fold Out Bed 17.99
Mini String Lights 2 @ 7.99
Mini Clothes Pins (for photograph display) 4.99
Mongolian Oatmeal Pillow 40.09
​see or buy it here (we got ours at Nordstrom Rack and they were sold out right after, so our link is to Target)
Road Pal (head rest for Katelyn) 43.98
​see or buy it here 

As of April 2021
The live, running total to date is $7,661.60

*Taxes are NOT included in some of the above items.
Taxes in California are 7.25%


Go to Resources
Go to The Build

 

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.

Find Us on Social Media
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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.