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My research lead me to the Pro Master. It’s wider than the other vans but it’s reliably is awful. So I chose a low roof Ford Transit . Immediately, after hitting my head numerous times, I needed to add a high top. I had Fiberine, in Long Beach, CA install one. Their service is great and each hightop is custom made. I love my van and travel in it full time. I believe it’s best to research throughly each van and buy the newest model within one’s budget. Thanks for sharing your process 🎈

This was so helpful. I’m retired and I plan to travel the country to my favorite sporting events. I have been doing my research for well over a year. Your post and others confirm my thoughts about going with Ford. I will buy a new Ford to build out. Again, this was very helpful because it confirmed my research.

GREAT ADVICE !!

If you skin the frame of a cabinet with 3/16” or 1/4” ply then the frame material can easily be as small as 3/4” X 3/4”. Glue EVERYTHING together. Use staples and glue to attach the plywood to the frame. Use any smooth cheap plywood for the skin and cover it with solid wood veneer. I did this for my build and three years later everything is as solid as the day I installed it. These cabinets so light that you can pick them up with one hand as well as super strong and beautiful.

A good list. Thankfully, I did everything you mentioned when I built my van

I agree with u in pre drilling

i have a 1994 ford e 150. took the seats out in the back. problem is now aaa will not tow me. surprise! so, you have to have the seats in for a free tow... i started with a 1971 vw van. sure- thing breakdowns. i like my size of van because i can go to denver and use the city parking down below. a little higher and i would not make it under the ceiling. also,I am thrown around enough on wyoming freeways so i dont want anything bigger. also, i can see all around me ! why block the view with showers, cabinets,seats? just one big queen size mattress,a 45 gal cooler, a gallon water to shower from warm in the sun. for over 30 years now i have traveled the usa parks like this. and with a girlfriend! she needs water more than i do. all things considered.... but like he says here...test drive.

I purchased a medium wheel base, high top VW Crafter and just love it. The medium base is the largest possible for a normal parking space. The high top allows for extra cupboard storage. I have a combined shower/toilet which is a must have for me. I love my van.

Most important think for all of us, where every you park, if they are trash right beside you put it in your trash bag, why all neighbors or anybody don’t want you around cause your taking their space, so they blame rv people throwing it out the window, yes you find out they don’t think highly you unless. It a work van, they are expert in knowing. That why if your sleeping over night in any neighborhood come in dark or almost and leave before 6: 00 you don’t want to be seen, they pay thousand in taxes and they don’t want freeloader. It reality , it the new rv guy young who think they got rights that ruin it for all. That why it like that, also the teen are also hanging out in cars nights and throwing their trash we’re picking up, than being blamed for it too.

Would've been nice to show the inside of your van

Hello new friend here

We've spent the last few years renting a variety of vans and rv's to see if we like them before committing to one. I thought for sure I'd love the Solis 59PX - turns out I hated driving it - the seat was so uncomfortable for me when driving more than a couple of hours. To my surprise, van conversions on the Ford Transit have been most easy to drive, and the Sprinter conversions are best for getting into back-country areas - the Storyteller Overland is best among the Sprinter models we've rented. We finally decided not to commit to one van, but to just rent as needed and get what's best for the trip we're taking.

Wife and I had the '79 Pinto wagon too. My son had been from Florida to Maine in it before he was two, including Mt Washington. Thanks for sharing with your down to earth tone, I think it shows respect. Your dad deserves a metal, even if it's just a wrench or something.

I’m just putting a platform on my XB to lift a bed. That was a VW Fox, not a Tercel. Love the little Fox. I’d go with a truck camper over a trailer. Less maneuvering issues.

I’m glad someone else notices this stuff. I have a 06 AWD Chevy Astro with a 16” fiberglass topper on it. I use it for a work van. One day I was packing it out for work and noticed with my tools loaded how low the van was. I became very aware of weight in my van. I built a box that doubled as a tool storage and part of my bed. I made it out of 3/4” Birch plywood. Yeah it was heavy. Needless to say I started researching lighter, strong build methods. Make fun of the RV industry all you want but they have some good ideas for making things light and strong.

I've been researching van builds for about 2 years and you covered topics few, if any others, have. Thanks for the insights.

Good advice and don't feel too locked in. You can always go up or down till you find the right fit. Cost can be an issue but remember, others a looking to buy and sell for same reasons you are.

`Very solid advice! well presented too. I am building an 18ft stepvan and the priority list starts with function, and then weight. How can I make it just as strong at 1/3 the weight. I will have A LOT of water tank capacity but am also plumbing it so the tanks can be easily emptied. I don"t need to haul 500 pounds of water around all the time. I can add a lot of rigity to a surface by samdwiching closed cell foam between 1/8" or 1/4" plywood . Thanks!

Great recap of your adventure journey to now a van.

What i learned from this talk is you want what u dont have. U r never happy with what anything, always trying new things and once u obtain what u dream of owning, then its still not perfect. His future videos discusses that even the van he currently owns, has still limitations

How has your van's body and insulation held up to condensation over time?

Thank you

These are absolute pearls of wisdom. Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately those Kreg screws cost a small fortune 😮

I'd like to know who has the money to try all the different vehicles to see which one they like,come on,most of us are doing this cuz we can't afford to pay rent and utilities,lousy advice!

thank you for the perspective and your positive attitude!

Great advice; thank you.

Had to sub to rid the 666 lol 🍀

Thank you

Good information

Yes comfort with the driving aspect is important.

Great video, thanks! As someone who has van-camped far, wide, and very remote, I can tell that you speak from real experience.

Forget the smelly hose and tank, composting toilet works with no smell. You can easily build your own.

Hello from Lethbridge 😊

Just an FYI ...many new(er) vans are wrought with issues. This includes Mercedes Sprinter ($150k) was left 500 miles from home to be fixed. And ProMasters are TERRIBLE. My local ambo service bought a fleet of ProMasters.. NIGHTMARE! I know the mechanic that service the 75 vehicle fleet. I have bought every old E Series for the last 10 years (only about 10 vehicles, 4 left in the fleet), the Promasters are so bad they are scrapping two 2019s, and selling 4 for peanuts ...just to start the process of getting away from them. You can have a unit with 110k miles be on engine #2 and third transmission. Just terrible service factor and parts are unavailable. So new isnt always best. They do have some Transits, they are near as bad, but arent even close to the E Series. The rear Dana 80 is mounted to a sheet metal box assembly forward of the rear axle and in our climate that is NOT good. Mechanically they are far better than the Promaster, but still muxh more difficult to work on than the E Series. It takes a LOT longer to swap out transmissions , like 2x. So, you gotta be selective. I do know the Chevy 6.0 is solid engine, but avoid the express 4x4 as its selenoid controlled, give me levers and linkage (Quigley)

I just "issued" my 21 yo son and his buddies two of those green Eureka Timberline2 tents (:41) for their road trip. I started camping in my Subaru wagons. ..weve had 18 of them over the years. I have settled on E Series ...we have fleet of them.

I feel that folks who enter VanLife with a history of car camping have a far better chance of success than those who start camping life in a van.

Thanks for sharing 👍

I think this clip is way more opinion than fact. This fellow offers no data to support his claims.

Sad to see earthcruiser shut down. Definitely innovators in the space.

Food for thought. Thanks for sharing 😊

👍🏼

Thanks for your insight !

Dude. Small box truck next. So much easier..

Thanks for the wise advice. Starting a simple DIY "build" on my minivan to see if I enjoy travel in it. If yes, I may upgrade later to a midroof van and will ponder whether I want an insurable professional style build or not. It really pays to do one's research especially with inflation and the economy challenging the consumer and business operators.

I have the same van as you do only a 2019. I have a 2 1/2 gallon hot water tank I don’t winterize it I just blow all the lines out and leave them open and I don’t live in my van in the winter yet but I do use it often. I have a wall between my back doors and my bed And I’m thankful for that. My next van will be longest and a higher roof. I want more storage and a sitting area if I’m gonna be living in it full-time but I’m just not there yet. I also have double the size of fridge you have, and I love it. Barely uses any power. I don’t need a shower and I do have a porta potty that I move around. Works for me .. Thx for the vid

Traveling is expensive. Unless u got the money to do van life or rving. It better to buy yourself a small piece of land with road u can use. Build a small cabin. Most apartments are around 300 to 600 hundreds square feet. Dont put small windows in it or ones that don't open. Make sure u insulation well. And u can live your life in peace.

People living in vehicles in the US is growing, not because people are choosing to, they’re being forced to by rising prices and the lack of affordable housing. I know I wouldn’t be living in my van except for having limited/no other options.

Safety is key. I built out my van with safety in mind and an exit plan. Smoke and propane alarms properly placed and 2 fire extinguishers by the doors and a self regulating fire extinguisher inside my electrical cabinet. Will start to practice getting out the door just to be sure I can . Thanks for the tips.

In this video, you mentioned a follow up video to the subject… I have looked through your video list and I don’t see it. Can you post a link?

It would be difficult to put a shower in a small van unless oyu buy a van that cost over $100,000