How to build it right, the FIRST time!

[user 36026]

I like this gal's approach - live in it first, then decide what you need. To me, simple is best.

Solo Female Van Life - DIY Tiny House For Adventure On The Road​

 

[afblangley]

Curious on your bed price. What size/type of foam (and plywood) are you referring to? Didn't realize you could get it done for $125

My initial bed was a camping cot. My second iteration consisted of a pipe legs mounted on either end to a sheet of OSB and the plywood flood. The mattress was 6” furniture grade foam. Pricing as of today is $130.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HHWDBW5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VNBH1HQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oriente...578-in-x-47-75-in-x-95-75-in-691459/205821485

In a third iteration, the old bed became the couch, and the new bed (an upgrade in size and comfort) used a real mattress, $120.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083V83HMY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

.....I've now lived in that final design for three years -- in my real van -- and have never even thought about changing anything, for it was already perfected in my bedroom .....

IMHO I think it has more to do with how you are wired:

• if you are an artistic person you will plan your masterpiece, build your masterpiece, and be satisfied with the result.
• if you lean more to the technical side you will always see things that can be improved.

 

[user 22017]

My initial bed was a camping cot. My second iteration consisted of a pipe legs mounted on either end to a sheet of OSB and the plywood flood. The mattress was 6” furniture grade foam. Pricing as of today is $130.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HHWDBW5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VNBH1HQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oriente...578-in-x-47-75-in-x-95-75-in-691459/205821485

In a third iteration, the old bed became the couch, and the new bed (an upgrade in size and comfort) used a real mattress, $120.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083V83HMY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks. Just added that foam to my Amazon cart

 

[GoingMobile]

I'm an artist and enjoy the process of design and building. Part of the design process for me was to assess what functions I needed from the space I was designing, what I needed, what I wanted, and survey what others had done to solve those problems. Then draw a floorplan of the space I had to work with and draw a number of potential layouts for my build. I found a decent plan layout of my van interior on Sportsmobile's website, printed that out and used some tracing paper over that to make the drawings.

I do wish I had made a mockup out of cardboard or something as cheap and flexible to work with, and spent a bit of time with it as I think I would have made some modifications had I done that. Some pretty tight spaces that would have benefitted from a few inches more space here and there.

Living in it for the past 6 months I've found it quite comfortable for one person to live in. Everything I need is right there. But of course some things were not quite estimated right. Some I've been able to modify, but some I've had to learn to live with. And of course I wish it was just a bit bigger on the inside. But not on the outside of course.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it, especially considering that its the first time I've designed and built out a van to live in. The first time I've designed and built a solar electric system, a water system, a propane system, built cabinets with drawers, a lot of firsts. Not perfect, but functional and it looks great. Would I do things differently a second time? Definitely. So many things have to be multi-purpose in such a small space. And things need to be easy to use. It's not really a space for more than one person and at times I regret that. I'm just now getting around to trying to work on art projects inside and once the interior was built out for living in, cooking in, staying clean, going to the bathroom, storing clothes, tools, outdoor gear, and art supplies, there not much room to work on things.

I set out with the goal of getting it perfect, but of course got only part way there. Which is par for the course most of the time. I enjoyed the process of imagining, designing, learning how to do new things, There are reasons a particular layout seems to emerge when you look at different van builds, particularly from professional builders. Having done something different I now understand how practical many of them are for a typical person or couple. I had the luxury of an extended period of time to work on it. If I didn't I think I would have made some component pieces that provided some ability to move around while living in it, and been much simpler in my build. I think most of us have the tendency to bring too much stuff with us when we first start out.

 

[eDJ_]

There is nothing wrong with replicating existing designs that others have created. If only as a starting point and you can modify it to your own preference. Then a mock-up, even as a scale model, can save a lot of time and expense and is worth a novice's undertaking.

In my van conversion site below there is a check list of handy stuff to have in one's rig:

Check List of Handy Items & Materials to have in your Rig

 

[VanFan]

And of course I wish it was just a bit bigger on the inside. But not on the outside of course.

I think most of us have the tendency to bring too much stuff with us when we first start out.

So true! Every time I think how nice it would be to have an additional 2' inside, I take another look at a typical parking space and change my mind.

As for stuff, my trajectory has been the opposite. I have added things to address different needs in various environments. Every now and then, I have to reassess and lighten my load. It's a labor of love, though.

 

[CosmickGold]

Every time I think how nice it would be to have an additional 2' inside, I take another look at a typical parking space and change my mind.

Yeah. I have the extended (20-feet-long) Chevy Express 3500, and realize they couldn't put the engine up front under the hood where you could reach it because the long hood would make the van too long. And if the cabin were any shorter, I'd loose some of the furnishings I need, like my clothes washer.

But having the engine buried under the dash is the one thing I don't like about my van. You can't even see the entire engine from anywhere, much less reach all of it. Since they couldn't put the engine out front like on a car, I wish they had tucked the entire engine back between the front seats, as they did on this 1965 Ford Econoline. Take off the shell, and there's the entire engine -- all of it, starting with the radiator -- everything you need to see or reach to keep it healthy is right there.

 

[user 22017]

My dad had one of those. The engine was the middle front "seat".

 

[bullfrog]

I had a 1966 baby blue one with Dodge wheels, 144 cubic inch 6 cylinder with “3 on the tree” manual transmission. Curtains behind the walk through front seats and crossways rear bed. Had just enough room to put my extended front fork motorcycle diagonally through the side doors. Backpack, cooler and Coleman gas stove. Built it all out of junk yard parts in 1974 for $900 and drove it all through the Ozarks till I sold it after a year or two. Lots of fond memories. Didn’t need a shower, plenty of rivers and lakes to go swimming in summer and college dorms in winter if you could get one of the girls let you in.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

.....I wish they had tucked the entire engine back between the front seats, as they did on this 1965 Ford Econoline.....

Can't.
That design doesn't pass federal crash standards.

Had a good friend that had one in high school. Installed a 427 behind the front seats. Went like a bat out of he'll.

 

[CosmickGold]

Can't.
That design doesn't pass federal crash standards.
. . . .

Glad to know what the sad truth is. Frustrating, but now I can stop searching for who still does it.

 

[user 423]

I'll vouch for the fact that most vans are hard to work on. I'm trying to trace a misfire on my '93 E150 and it's a royal pain accessing stuff. I will say that the older Dodge vans were a bit easier because the engine sits farther back than on the Fords (and I guess Chevys,too). Doing a tuneup or working on the fuel injection was pretty easy.

I've been wanting to go to a pickup and cargo trailer or standup camper for that reason as servicing most things would be a little easier. Plus it 'should' be a little less labor cost if you ever need an engine replacement.

One option that might work for some is a hightop on a Suburban. Not for a full standup solution but for me it wouldn't be any worse than my mid-high TV top. Less total cargo space than a van though. I'd have to maybe tow a small trailer for stuff that's not used a lot.

 

[bullfrog]

^^^I replaced my 1966 Ford Van with a 1965 Chevy Panel Truck (pickup in the front/cargo van rear) which had two main disadvantages. First it was an old milk delivery truck so geared extremely low. Second because it sat so high in the rear when empty and had no rear windows it was difficult to back up and merge into traffic even with good mirrors. After finishing building it out with an all wood interior and bucket seats and having to repaint the rear quarter twice from backing into things I sold it as well! Lol!!! It was really easy to work on other than being heavy when jacking it up. I now have a 1987 Suburban and pull a homemade 24’ toy hauler which I hope to get on the road soon.

 

[CosmickGold]

^^^I replaced my 1966 Ford Van with a 1965 Chevy Panel Truck (pickup in the front/cargo van rear) which had two main disadvantages. First it was an old milk delivery truck so geared extremely low. Second because it sat so high in the rear when empty and had no rear windows it was difficult to back up and merge into traffic even with good mirrors. After finishing building it out with an all wood interior and bucket seats and having to repaint the rear quarter twice from backing into things I sold it as well! Lol!!! It was really easy to work on other than being heavy when jacking it up. I now have a 1987 Suburban and pull a homemade 24’ toy hauler which I hope to get on the road soon.

My parents briefly owned a Panel Truck around 1958. I've been wishing I'd been smart enough to find a way to get one to live in during my college years when I was thrown into a dorm where the endless chatter and confusion through the night was driving me nuts. But I wasn't that imaginative or creative. Instead, I escaped it all by dropping out of college.

 

[WanderingRose]

In my van conversion site below there is a check list of handy stuff to have in one's rig:

And don’t forget to use vertical space, with hooks, suction cups, etc.

Those plastic suction cups on sale right now for Christmas wreaths adhere really, really well to smooth surfaces, and are great for holding all manner of things.

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

I was thinking about it last night and all I really need at this point would be propane, water, a potty and the vehicle for a really rough setup. I think I have everything else I would need. Then there is want. Insulation and covering over it. Heating and cooling, somewhere between a want and a need. Actual cabinets and drawers instead of just totes. Lots and lots of solar because I really want to bring my desktop computer with me. In the meantime I am going to do that bedroom setup thing. I don’t want to build just to tear it up to rebuild. But I honestly think a fair amount of my arranging is going to depend on weight and balance of vehicle. If I have a 50 gal fresh water tank I don’t think I am going to want it on the same side as my fuel tank.

 

[afblangley]

I don’t want to build just to tear it up to rebuild.

I didn't think in terms of build, tear up, and rebuild. I thought in terms of the simplest solutions that would meet each of my wants. I didn't "want" a specific size fresh water tank, I wanted running water. I didn't "want" propane, I wanted to the ability to cook food and heat the cabin. I didn't "want" solar, I wanted to run my gadgets. My initial build fulfilled all my initial wants, and that didn't change, but some of the execution evolved over time. And new, unanticipated desires develop that need to be incorporated into the build.

Without knowing needs based on experience, it's hard to determine the best implementation. For example: solar panels may be great for boondocking days on end in AZ, but no not so useful for urban van dwellers in WI. Another example: a 50 gal water tank may be great if the nearest refilling and dump station is 20 miles away, but a 7 gal tank that can be carried into the laundrymat, grocery store, or restaurant down the block may be more convenient in a different environment.

There will inevitably be mistakes on a first build. If it's conceptualized in the head without the benefit of experience, there will inevitably be revelations that will occur after being on the road. If the initial build was "all out" the choice will be to either live with it or make costly corrections. In my opinion, it's better to do a build in the simplest way that achieves the desired result.

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

I didn't think in terms of build, tear up, and rebuild. I thought in terms of the simplest solutions that would meet each of my wants. I didn't "want" a specific size fresh water tank, I wanted running water. I didn't "want" propane, I wanted to the ability to cook food and heat the cabin. I didn't "want" solar, I wanted to run my gadgets. My initial build fulfilled all my initial wants, and that didn't change, but some of the execution evolved over time. And new, unanticipated desires develop that need to be incorporated into the build.

Without knowing needs based on experience, it's hard to determine the best implementation. For example: solar panels may be great for boondocking days on end in AZ, but no not so useful for urban van dwellers in WI. Another example: a 50 gal water tank may be great if the nearest refilling and dump station is 20 miles away, but a 7 gal tank that can be carried into the laundrymat, grocery store, or restaurant down the block may be more convenient in a different environment.

There will inevitably be mistakes on a first build. If it's conceptualized in the head without the benefit of experience, there will inevitably be revelations that will occur after being on the road. If the initial build was "all out" the choice will be to either live with it or make costly corrections. In my opinion, it's better to do a build in the simplest way that achieves the desired result.

I think those are excellent points. I also like the idea of creating a space in a room or garage to simulate a van or box. We all evolve and end up wanting something different or easier, bigger or smaller. You are correct that what seems to work out at first may over time no longer be optimal. Especially as we age or add partners or children.

 

[tamino]

One of the things I didn't anticipate until I actually got my van (Chevy Express) was just how curved the sides are. I was thinking of everything in terms of rectangles. I knew the measurements... but I was assuming (naively) that I would have that many square feet, extending in a straight line up and down.

I have plastic storage tubs, and they're stackable, but they only stack in a vertical pile, straight up and down. You can't stack them in a way that conforms to the curved shape of the wall.

Also: I knew about the wheel wells. I knew I was gonna have to subtract that space. But I wasn't counting on the thingy for the gas filler. You can't shove anything flat against the drivers side where that gas filler is.

What conclusions can you draw from that? I dunno. I think my calculations ahead-of-time were "mostly" correct. But when I got the van, everything seemed even smaller than it did when I was measuring everything and planning everything.