Help with converting van

[pennic]

Hello everybody my girlfriend and I would like to convert our van so we can live in it full time.
The problem is we don't have the tools to do it.
So weird looking for a couple people that would help us convert our van we will provide all the wood and will provide a place for you to stay volunteers only and we live in Ohio.
Is there anybody out there that lives near Ohio or is traveling to Ohio that can help us convert our van for us please?

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[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums pennic!  You can do this yourselves with just a few tools even if you don't have a lot of experience. Check out some of the build threads especially this one - Almost There's van build

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started.   We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[John61CT]

While you might find someone willing to travel to you to do work worth lots of money in exchange for room and board, you are IMO better off offering to pay at least something.

Or indicating what dire straits would make you deserving of such generous charity.

Consider starting to travel, going to meetups where help with buildouts is offered.

 

[pennic]

While you might find someone willing to travel to you to do work worth lots of money in exchange for room and board, you are IMO better off offering to pay at least something.

Or indicating what dire straits would make you deserving of such generous charity.

Consider starting to travel, going to meetups where help with buildouts is offered.

Thank you for your input. We will look into that.

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[Weight]

Bob's videos and how-to blogs have many ideas that you can do yourself.

 

[jonyjoe303]

The easiest thing to do while there is nothing in the van is install the insulation. Install it everywhere including all the rear windows, you don't need any rear windows. Rtech foam is the easiest to work with (home depot has it 4x8 foot about 9 dollars) . Easy to cut and very fast to install with a hot glue gun. If you can't stay cool/warm in your van nothing else matters.

You can remove the original headliner on the roof and install the the rtech. Too much heat comes in from the roof to leave the original headliner on. But its better if you know if you will be putting roof vents/fans or solar panel on roof, that way while the roof is bare metal you know where to cut.  
I would only use wood for a bed or something load bearing. Too much heavy wood will weigh down your van. I been using the rtech foam for cabinets/doors etc. You can reinforce it with cardboard. 

hot glue gun, best tool for installing foam insulation. This is the one I been using but you can get a 20 dollar electric one at harbor freight but you need to plug it in.


rtech foam insulation, cheap easy to work with, you can cut with box cutter. You might need to add multiple layers to the hot spots, like the windows and the roof.

 

[DLTooley]

Figuring out what you want is the hardest part. Just getting going and camping will give you a sense of what is important. I like cooking off my tail, as opposed to inside - AND I try to avoid places at times of extended bad weather.

I think there is a better quality of life if you use the space outside your vehicle. I have a 5' Walmart folding table that turns my tailgate cook space into something competitive with a sticks and bricks kitchen. A good quality camp chair is also worth the small $.

You might not need anything more than a bed platform with storage underneath - including a spot for solar battery if you so choose. A method of privacy can be important, especially if stealthing. Lot's of folks like the reflectix method, which will be documented around here somewhere.

Seeing what other people do will help, and you can get good tips from folks on specific problems you are having. You can do a lot with hand tools, even a hand powered drill. There are 12v battery chargers for the portable power tools. Ryobi has some packages with pretty high value.

 

[DannyB1954]

To get started you don't need custom cabinetry. A couple of folding cots and some storage boxes. A few water jugs a cooler, a stove, a bucket to use as an emergency porta potti, and away you go.
If you can use a screwdriver you can build a bed. A lumber yard or home improvement center can make cuts in plywood to your specs. They may charge you a dollar a cut, but that will be cheaper than buying a saw and moving around a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood.

I seen your post last night and had to pause to think of a way to respond. I don't think most people will be in a hurry to take you up on your offer as they can stay for free elsewhere, and not have to work for you for free, but good luck with that.

 

[pennic]

The easiest thing to do while there is nothing in the van is install the insulation. Install it everywhere including all the rear windows, you don't need any rear windows. Rtech foam is the easiest to work with (home depot has it 4x8 foot about 9 dollars) . Easy to cut and very fast to install with a hot glue gun. If you can't stay cool/warm in your van nothing else matters.

You can remove the original headliner on the roof and install the the rtech. Too much heat comes in from the roof to leave the original headliner on. But its better if you know if you will be putting roof vents/fans or solar panel on roof, that way while the roof is bare metal you know where to cut.  
I would only use wood for a bed or something load bearing. Too much heavy wood will weigh down your van. I been using the rtech foam for cabinets/doors etc. You can reinforce it with cardboard. 

hot glue gun, best tool for installing foam insulation. This is the one I been using but you can get a 20 dollar electric one at harbor freight but you need to plug it in.


rtech foam insulation, cheap easy to work with, you can cut with box cutter. You might need to add multiple layers to the hot spots, like the windows and the roof.

Thank you so much...This helps

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[A Savage Adventure]

Welcome, pennic! I can't help you with you build except to offer one starting piece of advice...clean the stuff out of the van first!

I'm being funny, of course! Good luck on your build!

 

[pennic]

Yes, I thought about that also. But I could offer free room and board.
Thanks again for your input.

To get started you don't need custom cabinetry. A couple of folding cots and some storage boxes. A few water jugs a cooler, a stove, a bucket to use as an emergency porta potti, and away you go.
If you can use a screwdriver you can build a bed. A lumber yard or home improvement center can make cuts in plywood to your specs. They may charge you a dollar a cut, but that will be cheaper than buying a saw and moving around a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood.

I seen your post last night and had to pause to think of a way to respond. I don't think most people will be in a hurry to take you up on your offer as they can stay for free elsewhere, and not have to work for you for free, but good luck with that.

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[pennic]

Welcome, pennic! I can't help you with you build except to offer one starting piece of advice...clean the stuff out of the van first!

I'm being funny, of course! Good luck on your build!

LOL yes I agree. My roommate and I just got back from a camping trip and we was still cleaning out the van.[emoji4][emoji4]

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[A Savage Adventure]

Still, you might find it quite challenging, but equally as rewarding to attempt it yourself. There are numerous resources, especially on YouTube. And if you focus on one thing at a time you can ask for and get specific advice and or help with that part of the project. Everyone's different, but if it were me I wouldn't want anyone else involved as I would want it to be exactly the way I want. Tailored to my tastes and needs. Someone else can rarely anticipate those things to the details in such a small space that you then have to live in.

 

[pennic]

Thank you

Still, you might find it quite challenging, but equally as rewarding to attempt it yourself. There are numerous resources, especially on YouTube. And if you focus on one thing at a time you can ask for and get specific advice and or help with that part of the project. Everyone's different, but if it were me I wouldn't want anyone else involved as I would want it to be exactly the way I want. Tailored to my tastes and needs. Someone else can rarely anticipate those things to the details in such a small space that you then have to live in.

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