What tools do I need?

[Rocket2hell1]

Hello everyone! I am currently in the process of saving money and researching to convert a van.
Let's get back to the basics. All these van conversion guides here, youtube, reddit, and the Web in general never address the issue of what kind of tools you need. Since I have zero knowledge on mechanical works. I mean I have installed locks and put up a TV brace without blowing the house up...

What kind of tools will someone need to install floor board, walls, carbinets, a custom bed frame, solar panels, and holes for wirings? Where can I get these tools? Rental from home depot? Which tools should I buy to keep in the van?
Rentals from home depot can get pricy.

Should I hire a handy man for this conversion and work with him/ her? The easy stuff I can do myself, like sanding and painting the wood. 
 
I plan to have $3,000-4,000 for the conversion or fixing up the van (new tires, new brakes, fluids change).

 

[Almost There]

Some of the people here who've done their own conversions have access to a full woodworking shop, others just have an empty garage where they can set up a table saw etc. Others have done their conversion in the middle of the forest with nothing more than hand tools.

I just finished the majority of my conversion with the only power tools being a jig saw and a drill. All my work was done out in the open on the driveway. I used the tools at hand and only bought a couple of things like a drill bit kit and a couple of new screwdrivers, others buy used tools off of Craigslist.

If you can reason, follow directions and have basic math skills you can do all the work yourself. YouTube and all the help here are absolutely invaluable. Anything you don't know how to do is a learning experience. Good handymen are hard to come by and most have no experience in dealing with all the curves and angles of a van anyways!

 

[VanDwellerMod]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Rocket2hell1!  We really like photos around here of the before, during and after of your build.  Here is a tutorial on how to post photos.

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.

 

[highdesertranger]

well where are you located? maybe you are close enough for someone to help out. basically you need something to cut material and you need something to attach material. now you can use hand tools but for these two things power is much better. highdesertranger

 

[sephson]

In the power tools department, I'd recommend at the bare minimum a circular saw for straight cuts, a jigsaw for curved or intricate cuts and a screw gun/drill.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Howdy Rocket

Welcome from Quartzsite, Az...home of the official annual RTR (Rubber Tramp Rendezvous presented by this very site

Me? Just one of the members down here early, waiting for you and everyone else to get here.

Our van is very basic inside...nothing fancy, but very serviceable for a couple with a small dog. We kept it simple since we'd rather spend for travel.
I have the skills, but laking some of the tools, I had the plywood cut and stacked, then went to the forest and whipped out my trusty cordless gun to put it together.

Tools? I don't carry more than what it takes for a side of the road fix. Wrenches, long and short sockets, a few extentions, rachet. (Gotta have metric and SAE these days). Some screwdrivers, allens, and some stuff like a couple sizes of vice grips, crescents, plier, wire cutter, neddlenose. There's a few other things in a canvas toolbag that fits under the front seat.
Then I have a smaller box of stuff for 12 volt and solar, like stripper, crimper, colored tapes, connectors and such.

Some folks carry enough to do a rebuild and I'm glad to know a few of them

 

[akrvbob]

As far as doing the build itself, the tool I wouldn't be without is a Ryobi cordless 18 volt Lithium drill-circular saw kit with one battery and charger. It's only $79 and it's astoundingly good tools for that price. I started with the blue tools 15 years ago and I swear by them. The current green tools are even better. If you can afford it get the cordless jigsaw for $50 (it uses the same batteries) and there is almost nothing you can't do on your build.

This is the cheapest kit and it only comes with one battery pack. You will probably want to buy at east one more.

These Ryobi cordless tools are a Home Depot exclusive, you have to get them there. You can buy better tools, but you can't buy anything that's anywhere near as good for the price. You will NEVER regret buying them.
Bob

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I've heard lots of good things about Ryobi, especially in the last few years. I heard an ad that said that the batteries will fit al their tools in the future. Some companies come out with a new battery case every time you turn around. Kinda hard to build a set buying one tool here and there as you can afford to.

I'm still using my old Craftsman 19.4 gun, but will go Ryobi next.

 

[Rocket2hell1]

Thank you so much everyone for replying!!!! The tools are going on my budget list now.

I live in northern Virginia. I will wait until winter is over before I buy a van and start working on it.

 

[GrantRobertson]

I've always found pawn shops to be good sources for inexpensive but heavy duty tools. Of course you gotta know your tools well enough to spot the good and BAD tools. Take a knowledgeable friend along with you.

I got my heavy duty drill for only $10. It has lasted over 20 years and I expect it to last 20 more.

Personally, I am not a fan of battery powered power tools. That battery will eventually go bad and need to be replaced. You may not be able to replace it when it does. Then you are stuck with a pile of expensive junk. If you are going to have 120v to charge that battery, you are gonna have 120v to run a "real" power tool.

Most of us are going to have generators or inverters to power that tool right at our rig. A power tool is gonna use the same amount of electricity for the same amount of work whether it is battery or plug-in. If the electricity to charge the battery is coming from your inverter or a generator then you are also introducing even more energy loss into the whole process with that additional battery. If you plug in the power tool battery charger in in the house, then you could have just used a long extension cord.

Basically, I can think of no time when a battery powered "power" tool is a better plan for a vandweller or RVer. If you have to work on your rig really, REALLY far from any outlet and you don't have a generator, then get a generator. You are gonna need one anyway.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I live in northern Virginia. I will wait until winter is over before I buy a van and start working on it.

It took me 6 months to find the vehicle I really wanted.  It was a frustrating six months, I wanted to get started NOW!  I would be start keeping my eyes open for the right vehicle now.  You can always just leave it parked until spring to start working on it.

Regards
John

 

[SoulRaven]

Still others of us prefer to buy window vans with factory finished floors, walls, and ceilings. Just move out the seats, and move your furniture in. Using this method, once you have your furniture and supplies, you can simply move them in and have a fully functioning camper in a matter of hours with practically no tools or skills required.

Futon sofa/beds are move in ready, so are plastic drawer sets with a wood shelf on top to make a great kitchen counter, with lots of storage. Add a portable toilet & shower, a camp stove, cooler, and dishpans for sinks & a couple of water jugs.

Add a house battery which can be charged while driving or via generator, and your new home can be move in ready.

 

[B and C]

Battery operated tools are good for tight places and being lighter in weight, are easier to carry.  Having said that, the one battery operated drill I had, the battery was always dead when I needed to use it or it ran out of juice just short of finishing what I was working on.  Two batteries are required as one can be charging while using the other one.  Sometimes you just have to be patient for the battery to charge before you can start work...

All my power tools are now 110V but I still have a S&B to store them.  I do not carry them with me.

Small set of sockets, wrenches, pliers, screw drivers and some lightweight electrical tools.  Stuff to get me out of a jam to where a better repair can be made later (by someone else hopefully).  I am getting older and do not enjoy working on stuff the way I did when younger.

 

[eDJ_]

Hello RTH1 

At the very basic,  a jig saw and blades for cutting 3/8" or 1/2 ply wood for your floor. It may take two or three pieces to cover the Van floor from the front seats back.  You can get layout paper and go around the walls to
make an exact paper template of the floor.  This can transfer to the pieces of ply wood and carpet.   You can cut
your plywood and test fit it to the floor and make any fine adjustments.   You may find pieces of carpet that
you can lay together and use the template to cut them out to place over the top of the plywood.   I've duct taped pieces together for my own.  It is nice to keep as much as you can one piece from the seats to the back
where the bed would be (if you run the bed across the rear axle of the Van)   That way you won't have issues
with the carpet coming apart in a high traffic area. 

The plywood can be held in place with a few flush head screws placed into the elevated ridges of the metal floor.

Having a comfortable floor in place is a first step in making it livable.  You can create a very elaborate Van or a
basic one.   I use a basic one so that if I have to pull the interior out of it I can and then I have a Van to use
to use....as a cargo Van if I have to. 

Below in my signature line is a link to my website that shows a simple set up for a regular Van.    Take a look.

If you aren't skilled with carpentry or tool use....it may be best to have this done by a "moonlighting" carpenter.   You could show the website to the carpenter who may offer to set it up for you for a small fee.
This is an entry level "bug-out" Van that you could take on the road for week end camping or vacationing.

I offer this website to help new people get a rig set up quickly to go have some fun with during fairly nice weather.  You can get yourself a start and some experience for a  little cash outlay with this.

Good luck !

 

[GotSmart]

I am able to run mt power tools off my inverter, or recharge my batteries for the cordless from my house system.  I find the cordless works best in just about everything I need. 

Every time I go through my tools I find another 100 lbs to get rid of.  :s

 

[GrantRobertson]

I am able to run mt power tools off my inverter, or recharge my batteries for the cordless from my house system.  I find the cordless works best in just about everything I need. 

Every time I go through my tools I find another 100 lbs to get rid of.  :s

Send some of those my direction. I had to drastically purge all but one RoughNeck tub of tools when I moved to the Bay Area in 2012ish.

 

[GrantRobertson]

Rockwell makes a nice looking 4.5", worm-drive circular saw. That will be the next addition to my power tool collection. I also have a RotoZip that serves as a jig-saw, router, and angle grinder. Then my variable speed drill. All 120v. With a few accessories (bought or hand made), I will be able to turn these into an entire wood shop in a box. If I find a good, compact, acetylene torch cheap, then I will be completely set. Sure, arc welders are nice but you can do so much more with a gas torch and it takes up less space.

 

[akrvbob]

I wouldn't even consider being without a set of cordless tools. I bought my first Ryobi cordless set in in 1999, I've built several cabins, many decks, and built and re-built many vans.

I'll say it again, I wouldn't even consider being without a set of cordless tools and those tools will always be Ryobi 18 volt.

One thing that sets Ryobi apart from all the others is they maintain backwards compatibility with all their tools and batteries. Every 18 volt battery they ever made will fit every 18 volt tool they ever made. You do have to buy a new charger to charge the newer Lithium batteries, they old chargers will do it wrong--nothing Ryobi can do about that.
Bob

 

[offroad]

here is the link to the home depot set that bob mentions

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Starter-Combo-Kit-2-Tool-P825/203466900

 

[wagoneer]

I find the Milwuakee 12 volt set to fit my needs, and a small skill circ saw (110) to round out my power tool needs . Craftsman suitcase mechanics set. Assorted hand tools in a small box.