Step-by-Step DIY Van Conversion
Planning is Different Then Doing - VanLife Van Build
We bought our van in July 2020. It is now September 2020. We have our amazing design ready, we've made a bunch of purchases, and we've had her detailed.
That's it.
Two months and no actual "building" has commenced.
Yes, there is a big difference between thinking about, planning, and wishing, to actually translating all of that brain power into reality. I (Mel) think the problem- at least for me- is that "You don't know what you don't know."
Every decision that needs to be made has a thousand other decisions. Every search I do, trying to get educated about a specific task, topic, or purchase, leads me down a bottomless rabbit hole and reminds me of just how much information is out there, and how little I know. I end up feeling more confused and less qualified with each passing day.
For example, I need a shower - toilet combo pan. Which brand? Right or left facing? If the tray is cut for a toilet, how can I tell if the toilet I select will fit properly? Can I even do a wet bath with a flushing toilet- or does it need to be a chemical toilet? Does my shower door need to match the shower pan exactly? Will the black water tank go under the toilet or outside the van? Is there even room outside the van? What if it busts open while I'm driving?! I'll be leaking poop on the road! Eeeek.... What if we have an indoor black water tank and it busts open inside the van?!
Or the A/C... does it come with all of the parts necessary to install and operate? How many volts does it use? Does that even matter since I will only be using it while hooked up to services (at campgrounds, for example)? Is it going to fit up there on the roof with the vent and the solar panels? Which brand is the best for the money?
See what I mean?
What is true? What is a gimmick? What is relevant and what is wasting my time? How will this choice play out? What about that one? Am I overthinking or cautiously and passionately learning a new skill? Or, a thousand new skills?
Ugggghhhh.
While I am a bit frustrated with the lack of progress, I have learned a lot. Hopefully some of this learn-as-you-go struggle will be helpful for you, dear reader.
I've also learned that not all vanlife channels are created equal. Some are extremely commercial and are only there to promote the sale of their latest outrageously overpriced conversion van or their program on how to do a build.
In addition, many videos that are posted are by first-time DIY van builders... meaning their attempt at doing whatever it is... is dumb luck as much as it is anything else. A quick glance at comments will provide a laundry list of what was missed or done wrong. In fact, some videos take you through the whole process only to tell you at the end, "Don't do it the way I did it," or "By the way, here's a list of 27 things we did wrong." Well thanks! Now that I have it in my brain the wrong way. Delete, delete, delete. (That works for brains, right?)
I've also learned that most information can be gathered via sources related to the individual topic (plumbing, insulation, flooring, etc.) rather than vanlife + the topic.
Many industry-specific sites have product and installation information available. Their information is based on years of related work- not recent trends or the need for subscribers. And, there is no purchasing someone's book or program.
Finally, I've learned that I want quality over a fast turn-around. Yes, we're excited to get on the road. Yes, I could slap something together and make it work - until something goes wrong. I could make a jimmy-rigged quick build and sell it if it doesn't go well.
But we don't want any of that. We want it done right. We want a build we love and will enjoy. We want to be free from preventable hassles and hazards.
And, when you're basically building a house from scratch with no prior experience, there's a lot to learn to make sure it's done to your certain standards. It's a time-consuming challenge to figure out which products are going to be the right "fit," look good and and last.
It's not only about learning how to do new things like cutting a hole in a van, or framing a wall. It's also about deciding which tools to buy - and then learning how to use those tools.
It's about choosing among the various brands and styles for everything that will go in the van so you don't end up with a crappy product you will soon regret. It's about planning safety into the build. It's about designing for practicality and functionality. And it's about figuring out what comes first. And what comes next... then next.
Our original plan to contract the appropriate professional for each task (plumbing, framing, electrical, etc.) didn't pan out, either. Turns out each one of them is licensed by their profession's state Board- which of course, prohibits work on vehicles.
The alternative professional-on-call solution would be to hire an RV specialist. I'm guessing because "RV" is in the title, the fees are jacked up beyond my ability to afford them. (Pardon the snark and no offense to RV techs or people who can afford them.)
We. Will. Get. There.
God willing, this van will be built!
We will be updating, correcting and improving our list as we go so that anyone who follows in our steps will be helped - and not confused- by our efforts.
Here's to the future, a glorious complete van build (eventually), and to lessons learned (and yet to be learned).
Back to DIY Van Build- Phase One
Go to Resources
Go to About Us
We bought our van in July 2020. It is now September 2020. We have our amazing design ready, we've made a bunch of purchases, and we've had her detailed.
That's it.
Two months and no actual "building" has commenced.
Yes, there is a big difference between thinking about, planning, and wishing, to actually translating all of that brain power into reality. I (Mel) think the problem- at least for me- is that "You don't know what you don't know."
Every decision that needs to be made has a thousand other decisions. Every search I do, trying to get educated about a specific task, topic, or purchase, leads me down a bottomless rabbit hole and reminds me of just how much information is out there, and how little I know. I end up feeling more confused and less qualified with each passing day.
For example, I need a shower - toilet combo pan. Which brand? Right or left facing? If the tray is cut for a toilet, how can I tell if the toilet I select will fit properly? Can I even do a wet bath with a flushing toilet- or does it need to be a chemical toilet? Does my shower door need to match the shower pan exactly? Will the black water tank go under the toilet or outside the van? Is there even room outside the van? What if it busts open while I'm driving?! I'll be leaking poop on the road! Eeeek.... What if we have an indoor black water tank and it busts open inside the van?!
Or the A/C... does it come with all of the parts necessary to install and operate? How many volts does it use? Does that even matter since I will only be using it while hooked up to services (at campgrounds, for example)? Is it going to fit up there on the roof with the vent and the solar panels? Which brand is the best for the money?
See what I mean?
What is true? What is a gimmick? What is relevant and what is wasting my time? How will this choice play out? What about that one? Am I overthinking or cautiously and passionately learning a new skill? Or, a thousand new skills?
Ugggghhhh.
While I am a bit frustrated with the lack of progress, I have learned a lot. Hopefully some of this learn-as-you-go struggle will be helpful for you, dear reader.
I've also learned that not all vanlife channels are created equal. Some are extremely commercial and are only there to promote the sale of their latest outrageously overpriced conversion van or their program on how to do a build.
In addition, many videos that are posted are by first-time DIY van builders... meaning their attempt at doing whatever it is... is dumb luck as much as it is anything else. A quick glance at comments will provide a laundry list of what was missed or done wrong. In fact, some videos take you through the whole process only to tell you at the end, "Don't do it the way I did it," or "By the way, here's a list of 27 things we did wrong." Well thanks! Now that I have it in my brain the wrong way. Delete, delete, delete. (That works for brains, right?)
I've also learned that most information can be gathered via sources related to the individual topic (plumbing, insulation, flooring, etc.) rather than vanlife + the topic.
Many industry-specific sites have product and installation information available. Their information is based on years of related work- not recent trends or the need for subscribers. And, there is no purchasing someone's book or program.
Finally, I've learned that I want quality over a fast turn-around. Yes, we're excited to get on the road. Yes, I could slap something together and make it work - until something goes wrong. I could make a jimmy-rigged quick build and sell it if it doesn't go well.
But we don't want any of that. We want it done right. We want a build we love and will enjoy. We want to be free from preventable hassles and hazards.
And, when you're basically building a house from scratch with no prior experience, there's a lot to learn to make sure it's done to your certain standards. It's a time-consuming challenge to figure out which products are going to be the right "fit," look good and and last.
It's not only about learning how to do new things like cutting a hole in a van, or framing a wall. It's also about deciding which tools to buy - and then learning how to use those tools.
It's about choosing among the various brands and styles for everything that will go in the van so you don't end up with a crappy product you will soon regret. It's about planning safety into the build. It's about designing for practicality and functionality. And it's about figuring out what comes first. And what comes next... then next.
Our original plan to contract the appropriate professional for each task (plumbing, framing, electrical, etc.) didn't pan out, either. Turns out each one of them is licensed by their profession's state Board- which of course, prohibits work on vehicles.
The alternative professional-on-call solution would be to hire an RV specialist. I'm guessing because "RV" is in the title, the fees are jacked up beyond my ability to afford them. (Pardon the snark and no offense to RV techs or people who can afford them.)
We. Will. Get. There.
God willing, this van will be built!
We will be updating, correcting and improving our list as we go so that anyone who follows in our steps will be helped - and not confused- by our efforts.
Here's to the future, a glorious complete van build (eventually), and to lessons learned (and yet to be learned).
Back to DIY Van Build- Phase One
Go to Resources
Go to About Us