Finding someone to do a simple van build

[BrowneyedKat3]

I have told two friends only ~ everyone else absolutely not. I prefer to maintain my privacy; initially this was to be temporary situation. Although, now that my dog has passed, I'm leaning more toward continuing this lifestyle.
I want to buy a Chevy Van, the biggest obstacle is how to get the van converted to fit my needs. I can't do it and I have yet to find any place/person in the Atlanta area that could do the work. The cost factor is important - I need to calculate the cost of conversion along with the price of the van; the length of time necessary for the work to be completed too!
Anyone have a recommendation for this service in the Atlanta area?

 

[Almost There]

Maybe there's a solution to the 'can't do it' so you CAN do it. Or at least a lot of it and you can farm out the parts that are way above you capabilities. If there's stuff that needs 2 people to do it, think about hiring a teenager that's taking shop courses.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Kat,

Up here in NY, every county has a central vocational training high school. They're called BOCES - from Board Of Cooperative Educational Services.

High school kids from all over the county do a half day at their own school for English, History, etc.; then are bussed to BOCES for the other half day.

Most BOCES offer carpentry, electrical wiring, automotive repair, welding, etc. Some even offer Solar Install these day. Night classes are offered to adults as continuing education.

Anyway, consider checking out the voc school situation in Atlanta. Perhaps you could find some high school seniors who've trained in carpentry and house wiring who would like to make some money on the side on weekends.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

i dunno who you can get to do a conversion for you, but the time needed or even if you need someone depends on how you want it built. My brother in law, who was a carpenter, and me converted my van with bulkhead wall, paneling, bed, cabinets, and sink in one (very long hot) day. he was mostly blind, so i did all the grunt work, cutting and measuring under his supervision. it took about 12 hours. i think if he was able to see and doing himself it would take him like 4 hours lol

But, if you just need a baic setup you could do it quick, the bed is just some plywood and couple boards, a walmart desk can be counter and storage, and plastic shelving unit or wood dresser can be clothes storage, toss in some totes, a coleman stove, some spray water bottles or water container with spiget ( gravity pour into dish pan as sink) and boom done.

---

hell you can forgo building a bed and toss a walmart futon in there with a thick mattress pad on top.

 

[gypsychic]

Also Kat, as for the cost factor check the local freecycle and craigslist 'free' ads. I've been able to find quite a few things in my area listed such as:
foam mattress toppers
futon mattress
fire extinguishers
gas can
tarps
wood
and I've even scored some reflectix.
One person's trash is truly another person's treasure. With gas down now I don't even feel too bad about running around town. I also take the opportunity to check out new areas I'm unfamiliar with and look for stealth parking spots.

I'm also looking into joining some woodworking clubs to get some basics and see if I can find someone to help me do things I'm not familiar with. I'd do the grunt work, provide materials and watch and learn. Hopefully that will be the way it will go. I also don't mind paying someone but I will also see if bartering can work. I have a large organic garden that I grow food in year 'round. That may be worth something to someone. I've already found a garage that gives classes on auto mechanics-changing oil, doing tune-ups, etc. Classes are very inexpensive-$20 for 1, $40 for 2nd and scholarships are available for those who really can't pay.

Sorry to hear about your dog passing. That must have been hard. The loss of a pet can be really difficult.

Good luck to you. I hope you're able to find some ways in your neck of the woods that you can make some of these ideas (mine or others')work for you.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

sorry if this going offtopic.

if you want to go the plug and go route conversion, i made a list for around 700 bucks on amazon delivered to you in about a week (2 days if your prime). toss it in your van like puzzle pieces and off you go.
No tool easy van conversion under $700
Stick the aquatainer in the top of the crate storage and the pan under it. You can go cheaper than this list but i think these are good options for comfort.
Its an amazon wish list, so dont accidently buy them for me, its the only way i know to list all the stuff.

 

[gypsychic]

Nice list. That's a great idea to have a plug and play list. Could even do 2 or 3 versions, basic, medium and higher comfort. Could make it a sticky so when posters ask how much it costs to convert a vehicle into livable it's right there. Obviously you can go less expensive on some items and others would want different things but good advice for someone who couldn't/didn't want to build it themselves. Lots of options for someone. Only thing I would absolutely add is safety stuff like CO detector, smoke detector and fire extinguisher if have cooking items in list.

Maybe someone can split this topic off and start a new thread (maybe from Kat's post)because no one will ever find all this great info listed under current title.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

yeah just dont buy anything from a link in that list. im an amazon idiot and it will send it to me! ill make a list elsewhere with direct links...

cant edit the post so i made the list private...

ill add safety gear too.

 

[MikeRuth]

yeah just dont buy anything from a link in that list. im an amazon idiot and it will send it to me! ill make a list elsewhere with direct links...

cant edit the post so i made the list private...

ill add safety gear too.

One possibility is copy the links into a text file or word doc and then share it on drop box or the likes. Update and re upload as often as you like.
Mike

 

[akrvbob]

It'a all just simple carpentry until you get get to the electrical so any handyman can build all the interior stuff you want. Here is an extremely simple conversion anybody with even the most basic skills and yet it makes a comfortable home:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/convert-van-50/

But a cheaper option is you can do an entire conversion with stuff you buy at a thrift store or Walmart. I have a friend who did his entire conversion with dressors he got from thrift stores, including his bed.

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/c...stores-plastic-totes-drawers-build-furniture/
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/convert-van-thrift-store/

Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I made a thread in conversion forum, or the link in my sig if you are using web browser. Didnt want to derail topic or have some accidentally buy me a bed lol

 

[gypsychic]

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/convert-van-50/

But a cheaper option is you can do an entire conversion with stuff you buy at a thrift store or Walmart. I have a friend who did his entire conversion with dressors he got from thrift stores, including his bed.

Bob

I've referenced that blog post many, many times-the $50 conversion.

As I mentioned above I've been able to find a lot for free via CL and freecycle. Maybe I'll try to do my whole conversion from only thing I get for free. I'll at least keep track what I will put in for free vs. used vs. new.

As to whether to tell friends/family I said to my mom just a few days ago:you think it's perfectly normal to go camping for a week or two. Then why is camping for 52 weeks so weird? Had to tell her-we live together and she sees all this stuff I'm gathering for free. She was starting to worry I was becoming a hoarder. I was trying to explain it's almost the opposite, just needed some different things for this next phase in my life.

 

[BrowneyedKat3]

Well, you see I'll no time to do a thing once the spring semester begins~ TONS of homework; I have a job.

Funny, the friends that know, I tell them I'm camping. My point as well, whats the difference? I have a history of camping experiences whereas they do not. My vans interior I want it to look like~ I'm ready to go camping at any time; NOT like I'm camping 24/7. I want a clean, basic and open look.

I would like to simply to put the conversion into someones CAPABLE hands. I have enough to do already.
I don't want a bed built, cooking area, sink or potty
I DO want quality(reclines) benchseat installed: passenger by day/bed at night
Cealing vent in/out fan
Electricity ~ 2/3 batteries
Van insulated properly
Minimal storgage built for hanging clothes & other items
Dark tint and dark blinds/curtains that remain in back.

**van with side door that slides open and has a window

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I like what youtuber Dan Travels has said on his channel. Educate yourself to get things the way you want it. That means asking lots of questions (at places like this forum) do lots of reading, figure stuff out. Alternatively you will have to pay some one to do it for you. Hire a handyman off CL. Your ad could read like "Need Handyman for campervan conversion". It will cost you though. If you dont have the money and limited time, learn how to one thing and execute it. For example, the insulation. Then after that the floors etc etc. There are plenty of tutorial type vids on youtube. If you have no cash to pay someone and zero time to learn to do it yourself... well, I dont know what to tell you.

 

[BrowneyedKat3]

It's amazing once I actually write things down or say something out loud ~ what THEN comes to me.
So naturally ~when talking with the person I rent a parking space from on the topic of the holidays; he happened to mention his experienced, detailed (necessary criteria) craftsman that has the skills to do anything he needs (done right the first time). So, converting a van for me, he says, is definately within this mans skill set.

Thanks for all the advice! Yes, I still have a lot of research to do and do quickly!

Happy New Year!

 

[GotSmart]

I started with a van conversion, so the insulation was already done. By looking around you can find a unit with a bed and other essential items. Look on Craigslist at all the different vans for a couple days befor you make a call. Save "favorites" to compare.

There are a lot of vans out there to chose from.