Retired, widowed 66 year old female. Decided to buy a van and make it easier on myself when I road trip. Never worked much with wood, but I'm learning as I go, with advice from friends and family. Never too old to learn, but going pretty slow and second guessing too much. :) Thanks for the video, it helps.
Trust yourself! You'll eventually figure it out. A van doesn't have to be a complex piece of work. As long as it is safe and functional, you are good to go!
Thank you very much!! I am a 75 yoa DIY handy man and this is my first conversion. The words of a seasoned teacher (Sylvain) is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!!!!
Hello, Dom & Sylvain😊. No questions, just want to say I’m very impressed with the workmanship that goes into your van builds. Magnifique😉 Dom, glad you are sharing your family with us, they are a joy! Thsnks for the build explanation and the shenanigans, as always! Have a wonderful week, hoh-hoh! 🧡🧡
Absolutely love your videos. I have one suggestion and one request. Sylvain is not only a wealth of knowledge but has a wonderful presence in front of the camera and Dom, you draw him out perfectly. I'd suggest that in the new configuration of your channel, that Sylvain have an even stronger and more frequent presence. Most aspects of van builds (i.e. your first 7 steps) are pretty well covered on TH-cam. There are also lots of van tours on line that give people pretty good ideas about finishing (steps 9 and 10). I find there isn't a lot of content about the design and fabrication of trim and accessory structures (step 8). I would love to see an in depth episode (or more) on trimming and accessory structures. One good example of each, if well chosen and shown, would give us the basic principles and approach that could be applied to any finishing part of the build. Many thanks!
That's a very nice comment! It is true we could go deep into how to make specific pieces of a van that no one talks about. We had ourselves to figure out those trims more than once. We would have to think of other topics that people struggle with so we can be useful in the long term! Any ideas?
From just the perspective of expanding on step 8, an episode on trimming the slider or back doors would be excellent. Not sure what other aspects of the build people are struggling with.
This made the van building process much less daunting. Thank you 🥹 also as a Canadian who grew up in the prairies and wished that we learned French in school too - love the language lesson at the end!
Your humor makes these videos so enjoyable!! I have 2 questions: 1. Is a vapor barrier needed after applying insulation on the walls? 2. What is the best way to keep the grey water tank from freezing in the winter? Thank you and looking forward to the next episode =)
Thanks for your comment. Here are two answers for you: 1) No, you don’t need vapor barrier. We simply add those because we want the plastic from the barrier to work against water and humidity (not the wood itself) . The barrier is simply to give the wood a break, not to insulate the wall. 2. The ABSOLUTE best way to keep the grey water tank from freezing during the winter is to have it inside and to keep your van warm. With weather in Canada going below -40˚C many times this year, it’s an extreme environment to keep any tank of water (outside). Otherwise, there are some RV and Boat anti-freeze especially made for those tanks. You can also plan on installing a heat-pad around your tank to prevent it from freezing. However, like I said, temperatures here are extreme and those approaches aren’t guaranteed.
This is such a helpful video. I am very confident my wife will never jump in to the van life, so these steps man not be directly beneficial to me today, but it'll be one that I file away to remember when she bumps off and I hit the road. Of course she'll definitely live longer than I will...so there is that. LOL!
Love it! So far we’re following your steps. We’re waiting for our van to get pulled from paper to build. We ordered back in October and patiently waiting to hear back when our van will be made. 😀
This is fantastic!!!👏👏👏 Thank you for sharing your recipe, I appreciate it sooo much! A clear, logical way for me to organize the project! Creeping closer to the goal!! Thank youuuu!!!
this was so helpful and you are both so lovable. thank you for sharing!!! i'm currently in my 3rd van build, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and this helped a lot :)
THANK U THANK U THANK U! LOVE THAT UR A FATHER/SON TEAM❤I’m thinking of building out a van & I’m a beginner😂😂😂! I’ve learned so much from these videos🙏🏻U guys do beautiful work👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I always watch with interest, I ordered a new Promaster last March and am still waiting for it. Hopefully it will arrive soon so I can get started on my retirement home.
Your dad is amazing at building vans .. good quality finishes .. and u can tell he takes his time and is very thoughtful in his builds! .. my husband is 6’6” so we are limited in choices due to the interior height of vans .. I believe Ford has 1 van model that might be high enough for him .. not sure if the Sprinter has one? Anyways your dad is definitely a Master Van Builder !
Hi, and thank you for your comment! This height is high! Haha. Not a lot of options for sure. Remember the height diminishes once the ceiling and floor are installed. So I’m afraid he might have to lean a little in any cargo!
I have rewatched this video over and over again! Still picking up new things, it’s my bible for my new Van build! I’m curious, what size timbers did you use to make the ceiling? It’s a beautiful piece and I’d love to do something similar.
Dom! I feel like I seen a military 4x4 conversion at the beginning of this! What an epic build that would be! We build a bus but that would be the ultimate build when the kids are older!
Great video!!!! I bought a truck cabine with only a chassis and 4x4, will build a polyester box for expedition use ( to visit you guys in Canada🤪). The truck 5.5 TON will arrive this coming week, and we will start the build next week. So this video couldn’t be in a better time 🤪, greeting from the Netherlands 🇳🇱❤️🇨🇦👌✌️💪👍🥇
Excellent video. Some very good tips Using large square to scribe What Did he use for upper cabinets though. Don't think I saw anything I'm about to convert Fiat ducato (England) Also making ceiling on bench before installation
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Dad, you are great and amazing jobs on those builds. Thank you and your daughter for putting this checklist/ steps to plan a conversion. Talking with hands all through the video and showing sparkly fingers nails assume he identifies as a woman.
And you identify as someone that has fun writing stupid comments behind an account without name and picture because you’re bored AF.
12 วันที่ผ่านมา
@@vanlifesagas Wow, I said you and your dad did a great job! I would say you and your son but I wasn't sure if you identified as a woman. I apologies if you took as an attack. Take the emotion and stop being so defensive. Calling me a name because it seems as if that was your intension for your nails to be the focus. I truly thought that was your message. But excuse me for sharing a thought as an adults. "We should be able to disagree and not become disagreeable because we don't agree" I hope you and your father continue to make great videos.
Wow!!! So glad I came across your channel. I was asking myself these questions. I am a rookie-noskills-no experience mom who is currently building out my minivan and documenting on my youtube channel. I want to get my ceiling done but I am not sure how to do the wiring, max air fan etc. Thanks.
Bonjour, planning on converting a Ford transit van come summer 2023 in Gatineau. Will do most if not all of the construction by my self. Was wondering if Sylvain sells his knowledge and skills by the hour for help in planning or construction. Jean
You can actually book time with Dom to go through 90% of your answers. For advanced technical questions, Sylvain will jump in. You can write an email to us to book (dominic@vanlifesagas.com).
Nice video! I‘d love to see a video with you two about all the difficult parts like edges, corners, doors, above the sliding door etc. Would be aaaaawesooome! 🚐❤️
The accessory structures? This would be awesome. I'm actually thinking of opening a Patreon account or a subscription based account to put VERY specific content on there. That way, I wouldn't bother the larger audience, and I would give very precise information to people like you. What do you think?
Thanks so much for this video! I love the aesthetic of your builds, especially the ceilings. It looked like you attach the lengthways wood strips to the larger board (ply?) before you mount to the ceiling, is that right? do you make the ceiling out of one large piece of ply?
Hmmm I need some elaboration on the structural part.What joining / studs / beams are used to secure cabinets and make sure it can hold a certain weight
Elle vous permet de voir a quelle hauteur vos meubles vont se faire recouper par les murs de votre véhicule. Suffit de l’accoter contre la van et noter les hauteurs qui vont interférer avec le chassis!
Merci! Je suis une fan de Bromont! Je suis en attente de ma bête 😊. Est-ce possible de passer vous voir à l’atelier? Ce serait le fun de voir des photos de vos différentes conversions. Marie peux nous faire découvrir le Nicaragua😉
Do you mean doing the doors themselves, or the trims around the doors? The trims around the doors are a bit tricky to plan, depending on your vehicle. The easiest way to do accessory structures is to keep them as simple as possible (no curves, right angles, etc.) and to secure them against the chassis. What are you working on?
it's a transit high roof -- I plan to take the panels off the bottom, move the speakers, and insulate. I just wonder if there are any tricks to the cladding on the doors.
Bonjour Sylvain, Bravo pour vos vidéos ! Question about your stove (Gasland 2 burner), propane stove have a limitation on using them in altitude. Dometic doesn't recommend above 4500 ft, I was not able to get info from gasland , neither through the cabinDepot. What is (if any) your experience using it at an high altitude (in know you want to Colorado !)
And I have to add a question - where did you get the tambor door? Is it a finished unit you bought and just had to install or was it a kit you had to assemble or did you fabricate it yourselves?
Hello we just watching your video and subscribe. We just bought our van and we are starting it this week. We are only curious on how did you built your roof? Is the black behind your ceiling what is it? Thank you in advance for your answer.
Thank you for your reply. We watched some of your videos and it is interesting and fun, specially videos that you work with your dad And interesting info like you interview with you Accountant and van customs..
Good morning! Y'all packed a lot into ten minutes! I'd still like to see you build out a shuttle bus, or a box truck. (Because that's what we did with a '09 Chevy 11 passenger shuttle bus with rear/side wheelchair lift. Paid 6500$ for base vehicle, ended up less than 12k in finished camper.) Show us a budget build, without cutting corners round!
YES! Id Love to see a BUDGET build! bc honestly I dont think I can do this on my own, its seems very costley ,so I would love to see this done on a budget!
Sylvain, will a polyester box with 4 cm insulation be enough to visit the cold winter weather in Canada. I will add a diesel heater in the box. The box will be build behind the cabin and will be complete polyester all around with a bottom of 5 cm insulation. Thanks for your answer. Greetings from the Netherlands. PS. When my project is finished I will visit you Guyana’s Canada for sure.
Please come and visit. The trick to comfortable living in Canada will be to keep your van as heated as possible. With temperatures going down to -40˚C in the Winter, no matter how well you insulated your truck, you will need to heat it pretty much full time.
Dreaming of one day converting a compact van (for weekend trips but not to live in permanently) like a Transit Connect or NV200. My question: Is a ceiling fan absolutely necessary?
Hello Dom and Sylvaim, Thank you for your tutorial, very informative, very helpful. I had unsubscribed, because I found watching Dom and Marie sad because the equation has changed, but then I see Dom again with his father, and I have to subscribe. Anyway I am looking forward to finding the right van for myself and getting everything done to it that I want for the needs that I will require for long-term living. So I look forward to maybe even having your dad do the job. And would that be in Canada,That is,his location for services? Thank you in advance. It’s good to see you again, and hopefully Marie is happy, and maybe the two of you were still together, but I wish you both happiness together or not. Take care. Linda Luiacono
Thanks for subscribing again, and sorry for the sadness in the last episode. Marie and I are figuring things out and doing this partly public has its consequences. However, we always wanted to remain transparent with you guys so it's part of the game I guess. You'll have access to a ton of information on vanlife in 2022, so stay tuned! And thanks for being there!
Allo Dominic et Sylvain. My question is: I’m thinking to buy a van this year and looking for the E-Transit. What do you think about the electric van? I will go south in winter…meaning long hauling. Thanks a great work👏🏼
Gooood question!!! E-vans are definitely coming. Based on the little we know so far on these, they are currently built for a commercial market requiring relatively short range capabilities. So if your vanlife routine involves short ranges/routes, an E-Transit might be for you.
Hello guys. Great detailed video and humerous too. Im planning on buying a Step Van to build out. Would the same principles you have here apply to all types of van builds. Hope that made sense. Im just a girl with no building skills and a big dream to fullfill and confused too.
Bonjour Sylvain et Dom! Vos vans sont tellement belles et de qualité ! Avez-vous pensé offrir des projets clés en main incluant la van et le financement (ex.: avec Desjardins pour 10 à 20 ans) comme d'autres cies de conversion de van québécoises offrent ?
Nope. On fait ça pour le plaisir avec un grand focus sur la qualité (et non sur la quantité). On garde le processus le plus simple et agréable possible pour nos clients. Nous n’avons pas l’ambition de compétitionner les « vraies » compagnies de transformation (qui font déjà très bien ça d’ailleurs).
@@vanlifesagas j'adore votre réponse 😊et... à mon avis, vos vans compétitionnent déjà avec les autres cies de transformation québécoises 😉parce que vos vans sont superbes et que justement vous focusez sur la qualité👌🏻🤩 BRAVO !! J'ai déjà hâte au prochain vidéo dimanche prochain!
Gentlemen, I'm wondering if there is and EV van on the market? And if there is, would there be any benefit to having an EV Van? You guys made a super video!
Thank you so much Dom & Sylvain! petite question: où trouver les feuilles top view du van afin de dessiner l'intérieur? J'imagine que cela dépend du modèle?
I dont know if there are tight weight limitations in the us, so what i say might only apply to the european market. But over here, you basically must stay under 3.5 tons. Otherwise, everything gets more expensive, and you need a second license etc. So while it is a LOT easier to put in a whole floor and ceiling as shown here, and just mount furniture ontop, it adds weight (and you lose maybe half an inch storage space). So what i will do is add floor and ceiling after the furniture and only add it, where needed.
I still am most intimidated by planning and building out the electrical and solar. Can you suggest some additional resources to a fellow Canadian? We have a retro 1973 Dodge Tradesman we will be building out this year. Gutted and rebuilt all the mechanical in 2021. Now just have to wait for warmer temps to get going!
The best ressources for electrical we found was on the Far Out Ride website (faroutride.com). They literally show you how to plan, buy and install your electrical. You have a bit of reading to do, but it's well worth it. It's how we wire everything in our vans now.
Bravo, Sylvain! Mon mari, Sylvain aussi, vient de finir notre premier van. Il prend sa retrait dans 4 ans et il pense que ça serait un bon job/projet pendant la retrait. Sylvain, combien de vans est-ce que tu fabriques par année? Est-ce que tu fais un à la fois?
What would be a lighter material for interior? I would like to start one on my own and I am watching numerous videos at this point. This one have a lot of information :) Thank you :)
Why do you use vinyl instead of wood flooring? I love the tip to put the flooring down before the cabinets. If we're allowed 2 questions, is there room for a black tank under the floor of a Promaster? Would you ever build a van with a flush (black tank) toilet? Merci!
1) We use vinyl instead of wood because your floor will receive a ton of water, salt, sand and wood won't like it. Vinyl won't complain. 2) There is a grey water tank underneath that Promaster. We could probably fit a black water tank as well somewhere in the build. 3) We do not build vans with black tanks, unfortunately.
We do not manage the purchase of the van since our specialty is mainly the conversions - But a conversion price would be around 45,000-50,000 CAD depending on what you plan to install in the build. Add to this the price of the vehicle (ranging from 30 to 80,000) and you have your answer!
So a little-talked about aspect of van buildouts is the permanent blocking of basic electrical and other components that mechanics need to get to for repairs. I’ve seen this pop up a few times now. Thoughts? What do you do to make access to important components modular and accessible?
We make sure we're able to access the vehicle at all times. For example, all the lights are accessible from the back panels and the trimming. You just have to take out 4 screws to make the repairs on the truck.
Well, seeing is believing I suppose. In our case, it really makes a difference…more often than not. Why do I say that? As stated in their manual/instructions, weBoost will do wonders for you “if” it sees an antenna. The system works “line of sight”only (and the antenna can be relatively far) and it will really “boost” your signal…more “bars” on your phone. In our case, more bars mean faster uploads and downloads which is great for our work. If speed or staying connected is not important for you, obviously a weBoost might not be a good investment.
Love the videos, I was wondering what you did with the propane system? We are only going to run our two burner cooktop (built in) like yours :) I am planning to build a sealed box and am looking into regulators and components to make it happen. Any advice?
You seem like you are looking in the right direction. We recommend flexible piping for the distribution. The box for the tank can be easily sealed with silicon membranes (or any other compressible fabric that you can stick between the door and the box itself). You just have to lock it once the installation is completed. Don't forget to vent your propane box to the exterior and to add a net around the "exhaust" to avoid small animals or bugs getting inside.
Salut Dom, vous n'installer pas de KILMAT pour l'insonorisation ou j'ai manqué un bout de vos 10 steps ? Aussi quel type d'isolation vous utilisé ? Semble être de la laine de roche ? Plusieurs installe du thinsulate, plus dispendieux ,mais pour un usage 4 saisons est-ce mieux ? En passant, bravo et merci de partager votre passion. ;)
Kilmat? On utilise du B-Quiet. On en parle quec’part. Pour l’isolation, c’est réellement un choix personnel. Y’a des pour et des contre pour chaque type; prix, facilité d’installation, résistance à la moisissure, toxicité sont à considérer. On a même essayé du Havelock! Petite odeur et pas facile à couper. Thinsulate est définitivement un bon pari si on est prêt à mettre le prix.
Hey Dear, I love your content, well explained and very detailed. I would love to know the name of the application you used in part 11:38 of this video?
Intéressant et amusant, comme toujours! En tant que chanceux nouveaux propriétaires d'une Promaster, nous débutons tranquillement notre aménagement. Des videos régulières avec "pepa Sylvain" seraient grandement appréciées pour nous accompagner 😊. D'ailleurs, j'aimerais savoir ce que vous utilisez comme matériau pour l'isolation des murs. Merci Dom et Sylvain!
Pour l'isolation des murs, on utilise du Roxull Wool (laine de roche). C'est facile à installer, c'est isolant, et c'est aussi facile à travailler. Toutefois, ce n'est pas une option super eco - Les gens de la ville où la laine est fabriquée nous ont dit que ça avait des effets assez dévastateur sur les travailleurs de l'usine et les habitants de la ville. La laine de mouton ferait aussi l'affaire (Haveloc). Plus difficile à installer toutefois. Il faut la maintenir en place avec des fils. Pour plus de vidéos du genre, je vous invite à visionner ce que Marie et Dom ont produit l'an passé. Ils ont fait une série de 20 vidéos complètes sur la construction de leur véhicule.
Amazing run through how to go about the whole process, everyone needs to watch this if they are thinking of converting a van!
Glad it was useful!!
p o 000 o 0 o 0😢😊😢😊
@@vanlifesagas 16:43 16:43 😢
Where should someone start to even learn all these skills?
This is such a cool job!
I would even pay to learn how to do all of this.
My plan is to find some local woodworking classes.
Get a job in construction you’ll figure it out FAST
Retired, widowed 66 year old female. Decided to buy a van and make it easier on myself when I road trip. Never worked much with wood, but I'm learning as I go, with advice from friends and family. Never too old to learn, but going pretty slow and second guessing too much. :) Thanks for the video, it helps.
Trust yourself! You'll eventually figure it out. A van doesn't have to be a complex piece of work. As long as it is safe and functional, you are good to go!
I am in my 50's and thinking to do a build as well. I would like to spend some time out in Cali and be able to travel. Good luck to us both!
I miss you both, your families and your adventures. Hoping you are living well and happy.
The Father-Son Combo is *chef’s kiss* perfection! So much knowledge and humor in 10 minutes!
Thanks! Should we do a couple more videos like this?
Yes please
Thank you very much!! I am a 75 yoa DIY handy man and this is my first conversion. The words of a seasoned teacher (Sylvain) is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!!!!
More to come. I’ll tell Sylvain.
Hello, Dom & Sylvain😊. No questions, just want to say I’m very impressed with the workmanship that goes into your van builds. Magnifique😉
Dom, glad you are sharing your family with us, they are a joy! Thsnks for the build explanation and the shenanigans, as always! Have a wonderful week, hoh-hoh! 🧡🧡
Thanks for taking the time to say hi! Glad you like the content!
Absolutely love your videos. I have one suggestion and one request.
Sylvain is not only a wealth of knowledge but has a wonderful presence in front of the camera and Dom, you draw him out perfectly. I'd suggest that in the new configuration of your channel, that Sylvain have an even stronger and more frequent presence.
Most aspects of van builds (i.e. your first 7 steps) are pretty well covered on TH-cam. There are also lots of van tours on line that give people pretty good ideas about finishing (steps 9 and 10). I find there isn't a lot of content about the design and fabrication of trim and accessory structures (step 8). I would love to see an in depth episode (or more) on trimming and accessory structures. One good example of each, if well chosen and shown, would give us the basic principles and approach that could be applied to any finishing part of the build.
Many thanks!
That's a very nice comment! It is true we could go deep into how to make specific pieces of a van that no one talks about. We had ourselves to figure out those trims more than once. We would have to think of other topics that people struggle with so we can be useful in the long term! Any ideas?
From just the perspective of expanding on step 8, an episode on trimming the slider or back doors would be excellent. Not sure what other aspects of the build people are struggling with.
Bring your Dad back n the road every once in a while for a day to r two!
This made the van building process much less daunting. Thank you 🥹 also as a Canadian who grew up in the prairies and wished that we learned French in school too - love the language lesson at the end!
Hahaha, glad you liked it. And glad we could help!
Your humor makes these videos so enjoyable!! I have 2 questions:
1. Is a vapor barrier needed after applying insulation on the walls?
2. What is the best way to keep the grey water tank from freezing in the winter?
Thank you and looking forward to the next episode =)
I am subscribing to those 2 qs :)
Thanks for your comment. Here are two answers for you:
1) No, you don’t need vapor barrier. We simply add those because we want the plastic from the barrier to work against water and humidity (not the wood itself) . The barrier is simply to give the wood a break, not to insulate the wall.
2. The ABSOLUTE best way to keep the grey water tank from freezing during the winter is to have it inside and to keep your van warm. With weather in Canada going below -40˚C many times this year, it’s an extreme environment to keep any tank of water (outside).
Otherwise, there are some RV and Boat anti-freeze especially made for those tanks. You can also plan on installing a heat-pad around your tank to prevent it from freezing. However, like I said, temperatures here are extreme and those approaches aren’t guaranteed.
This is such a helpful video. I am very confident my wife will never jump in to the van life, so these steps man not be directly beneficial to me today, but it'll be one that I file away to remember when she bumps off and I hit the road. Of course she'll definitely live longer than I will...so there is that. LOL!
Hahaha. We will make a tutorial on how to convince your wife to do vanlife
I’m so happy I watched this video before starting, amazing run through guys. Big help
Have not even gotten in 1 minute and I am so happy!
Great choice for the video.
Glad you enjoy it! We do those videos for people like you!
Love it! So far we’re following your steps. We’re waiting for our van to get pulled from paper to build. We ordered back in October and patiently waiting to hear back when our van will be made. 😀
Thats fun!!! Let us know how that goes!
How is it going been a year
This is fantastic!!!👏👏👏
Thank you for sharing your recipe, I appreciate it sooo much! A clear, logical way for me to organize the project!
Creeping closer to the goal!! Thank youuuu!!!
Thanks Jane! Our pleasure!
Thanks for a Great Sunday Video....
I like that you explained WHY that Van Build Order works well....
It’s usually logic that you figure out while doing it!
this was so helpful and you are both so lovable. thank you for sharing!!! i'm currently in my 3rd van build, feeling a bit overwhelmed, and this helped a lot :)
THANK U THANK U THANK U! LOVE THAT UR A FATHER/SON TEAM❤I’m thinking of building out a van & I’m a beginner😂😂😂! I’ve learned so much from these videos🙏🏻U guys do beautiful work👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I always watch with interest, I ordered a new Promaster last March and am still waiting for it. Hopefully it will arrive soon so I can get started on my retirement home.
They take a while to arrive! But it’s well worth the wait!
Your dad is amazing at building vans .. good quality finishes .. and u can tell he takes his time and is very thoughtful in his builds! .. my husband is 6’6” so we are limited in choices due to the interior height of vans .. I believe Ford has 1 van model that might be high enough for him .. not sure if the Sprinter has one? Anyways your dad is definitely a Master Van Builder !
Hi, and thank you for your comment! This height is high! Haha. Not a lot of options for sure. Remember the height diminishes once the ceiling and floor are installed. So I’m afraid he might have to lean a little in any cargo!
I have rewatched this video over and over again! Still picking up new things, it’s my bible for my new Van build! I’m curious, what size timbers did you use to make the ceiling? It’s a beautiful piece and I’d love to do something similar.
Such an awesome video! Thank you so much for putting this wonderfully informative material and I love your characters! Such a pleasure to watch 🙏❤️
Thank you so much for watching! 😁😁😁
# 10, add stripes, yes! Always a joy to see your father, miss the unboxings.
Unboxings will be back!
@@vanlifesagas Yay!
Love seeing your Dad! Great video!
He’s good
👏 merci, merci, merci! J'avais de la difficulté à concevoir où commencer. J'adore vos ajouts de clips aidant à visualiser les étapes.
On est là si vous avez des questions.
Dom! I feel like I seen a military 4x4 conversion at the beginning of this! What an epic build that would be! We build a bus but that would be the ultimate build when the kids are older!
That would indeed be amazing!!!!
Wow! Love this video! Fantastic comprehensive list. I was looking for something just like this. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
G’day to Sylvian and Dom…. I’ve missed your videos! Thanks for an informative one!
Great video!!!! I bought a truck cabine with only a chassis and 4x4, will build a polyester box for expedition use ( to visit you guys in Canada🤪). The truck 5.5 TON will arrive this coming week, and we will start the build next week. So this video couldn’t be in a better time 🤪, greeting from the Netherlands 🇳🇱❤️🇨🇦👌✌️💪👍🥇
That’s amazing! Can’t wait so see this truck! We would love to work on something like that someday!
@@vanlifesagas thanks, when it’s ready I will organise a “roll on roll off” to Fairfax
Excellent video. Some very good tips
Using large square to scribe
What Did he use for upper cabinets though. Don't think I saw anything
I'm about to convert Fiat ducato (England)
Also making ceiling on bench before installation
Dad, you are great and amazing jobs on those builds. Thank you and your daughter for putting this checklist/ steps to plan a conversion. Talking with hands all through the video and showing sparkly fingers nails assume he identifies as a woman.
And you identify as someone that has fun writing stupid comments behind an account without name and picture because you’re bored AF.
@@vanlifesagas Wow, I said you and your dad did a great job! I would say you and your son but I wasn't sure if you identified as a woman. I apologies if you took as an attack. Take the emotion and stop being so defensive. Calling me a name because it seems as if that was your intension for your nails to be the focus. I truly thought that was your message. But excuse me for sharing a thought as an adults. "We should be able to disagree and not become disagreeable because we don't agree"
I hope you and your father continue to make great videos.
Wow!!! So glad I came across your channel. I was asking myself these questions. I am a rookie-noskills-no experience mom who is currently building out my minivan and documenting on my youtube channel. I want to get my ceiling done but I am not sure how to do the wiring, max air fan etc. Thanks.
Très intéressant comme toujours!! Excitant aussi car vous semblez assis dans notre van qui devrait nous être livrée sous peu 👏👏! See you guys soon😉
Pas du tout votre van. On voit pas de quoi vous parlez.
Awesome video guys! I actually saw some things I’m doing wrong so thank guys! Tell your dad he rocks!
What were you doing wrong? I will let him know! Thanks for your comment!
Loved this, saved it to watch again!
Great! I'm happy it was useful!
The French lessons are still my favorite!! ❤
When Sylvain said, “Duh!” LoL! Great tips and advice!
Haha, love it when he says that!
Bonjour, planning on converting a Ford transit van come summer 2023 in Gatineau. Will do most if not all of the construction by my self. Was wondering if Sylvain sells his knowledge and skills by the hour for help in planning or construction.
Jean
You can actually book time with Dom to go through 90% of your answers. For advanced technical questions, Sylvain will jump in. You can write an email to us to book (dominic@vanlifesagas.com).
This is extremely helpful! Thank you so much
Nice video!
I‘d love to see a video with you two about all the difficult parts like edges, corners, doors, above the sliding door etc. Would be aaaaawesooome! 🚐❤️
The accessory structures? This would be awesome. I'm actually thinking of opening a Patreon account or a subscription based account to put VERY specific content on there. That way, I wouldn't bother the larger audience, and I would give very precise information to people like you. What do you think?
@@vanlifesagas that's a really smart idea. Your knowledge is literally gold and shouldn't be given away for free.
Thanks so much for this video! I love the aesthetic of your builds, especially the ceilings. It looked like you attach the lengthways wood strips to the larger board (ply?) before you mount to the ceiling, is that right? do you make the ceiling out of one large piece of ply?
The ceiling is built outside the van and then attached to the ceiling, yes. It's easier to build and to install that way!
@@vanlifesagas thank you!
Hmmm I need some elaboration on the structural part.What joining / studs / beams are used to secure cabinets and make sure it can hold a certain weight
Super vidéo! Je suis curieux de la grosse équerre en bois. Comment vous l'utiliser pour reproduire le profil des murs sur vos armoires?
Elle vous permet de voir a quelle hauteur vos meubles vont se faire recouper par les murs de votre véhicule. Suffit de l’accoter contre la van et noter les hauteurs qui vont interférer avec le chassis!
Merci! Je suis une fan de Bromont! Je suis en attente de ma bête 😊. Est-ce possible de passer vous voir à l’atelier? Ce serait le fun de voir des photos de vos différentes conversions. Marie peux nous faire découvrir le Nicaragua😉
On ne peut malheureusement pas recevoir de gens au garage! Mais si on se croise en ville, ça nous fera plaisir de discuter!
How are the cabinets attached? Rivet nuts? Self tapping screws?
Rivet nuts!
Sylvain, I am about to do my back doors in our transit.... I am curious how you go about doing the back doors...
Do you mean doing the doors themselves, or the trims around the doors? The trims around the doors are a bit tricky to plan, depending on your vehicle. The easiest way to do accessory structures is to keep them as simple as possible (no curves, right angles, etc.) and to secure them against the chassis. What are you working on?
@@vanlifesagas I mean the doors themselves.
it's a transit high roof -- I plan to take the panels off the bottom, move the speakers, and insulate. I just wonder if there are any tricks to the cladding on the doors.
Bonjour Sylvain, Bravo pour vos vidéos ! Question about your stove (Gasland 2 burner), propane stove have a limitation on using them in altitude. Dometic doesn't recommend above 4500 ft, I was not able to get info from gasland , neither through the cabinDepot. What is (if any) your experience using it at an high altitude (in know you want to Colorado !)
We did not see a difference in effectiveness, except maybe that the flames might not burn with as much force when we are at 6000 feet+
Thank you so much for sharing this wealth of information.. How long is Sylvain's waiting list? Not kidding 😊
Jan2023. So about a year.
What kind of wood would you recommand for the framing of the floor for my van ?
Thanks, Christine
Fantastic video! Love it! Thanks for sharing! 🤘🥳
And I have to add a question - where did you get the tambor door? Is it a finished unit you bought and just had to install or was it a kit you had to assemble or did you fabricate it yourselves?
There you go sir : www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/hardware/project-supplies/tambours/40161-tambour-door-kit
Thank you. Thought I'd looked there... but clearly missed it.
Hello we just watching your video and subscribe. We just bought our van and we are starting it this week. We are only curious on how did you built your roof? Is the black behind your ceiling what is it? Thank you in advance for your answer.
It's painted plywood! There is a full video on the ceiling in the previous series. I think it's called « Best Van Ceiling » or something like that!
Thank you for your reply. We watched some of your videos and it is interesting and fun, specially videos that you work with your dad And interesting info like you interview with you Accountant and van customs..
Really random, but what editing software do you guys use?
Adobe Premiere.
@@vanlifesagas thank you!
Good morning! Y'all packed a lot into ten minutes! I'd still like to see you build out a shuttle bus, or a box truck. (Because that's what we did with a '09 Chevy 11 passenger shuttle bus with rear/side wheelchair lift. Paid 6500$ for base vehicle, ended up less than 12k in finished camper.) Show us a budget build, without cutting corners round!
We would love to work and try other chassis, that’s for sure!
YES! Id Love to see a BUDGET build! bc honestly I dont think I can do this on my own, its seems very costley ,so I would love to see this done on a budget!
Sylvain, will a polyester box with 4 cm insulation be enough to visit the cold winter weather in Canada. I will add a diesel heater in the box. The box will be build behind the cabin and will be complete polyester all around with a bottom of 5 cm insulation. Thanks for your answer. Greetings from the Netherlands. PS. When my project is finished I will visit you Guyana’s Canada for sure.
Please come and visit. The trick to comfortable living in Canada will be to keep your van as heated as possible. With temperatures going down to -40˚C in the Winter, no matter how well you insulated your truck, you will need to heat it pretty much full time.
@@vanlifesagas thanks for the quick answer, there will be enough diesel in my tank to heat it the whole year.🤪🤪🤪🤪
Dreaming of one day converting a compact van (for weekend trips but not to live in permanently) like a Transit Connect or NV200. My question: Is a ceiling fan absolutely necessary?
No, but it helps managing humidity and temperature in your van!
@@vanlifesagas Thanks!
Hello Dom and Sylvaim,
Thank you for your tutorial, very informative, very helpful. I had unsubscribed, because I found watching Dom and Marie sad because the equation has changed, but then I see Dom again with his father, and I have to subscribe. Anyway I am looking forward to finding the right van for myself and getting everything done to it that I want for the needs that I will require for long-term living. So I look forward to maybe even having your dad do the job. And would that be in Canada,That is,his location for services?
Thank you in advance. It’s good to see you again, and hopefully Marie is happy, and maybe the two of you were still together, but I wish you both happiness together or not. Take care. Linda Luiacono
Thanks for subscribing again, and sorry for the sadness in the last episode. Marie and I are figuring things out and doing this partly public has its consequences. However, we always wanted to remain transparent with you guys so it's part of the game I guess.
You'll have access to a ton of information on vanlife in 2022, so stay tuned! And thanks for being there!
Where are you guys located please I’m looking at getting a van renovated and I love you guys 😊
We are near Montreal!
I’m in Australia bessos
Allo Dominic et Sylvain. My question is: I’m thinking to buy a van this year and looking for the E-Transit. What do you think about the electric van? I will go south in winter…meaning long hauling. Thanks a great work👏🏼
Gooood question!!! E-vans are definitely coming. Based on the little we know so far on these, they are currently built for a commercial market requiring relatively short range capabilities. So if your vanlife routine involves short ranges/routes, an E-Transit might be for you.
Hello guys. Great detailed video and humerous too. Im planning on buying a Step Van to build out. Would the same principles you have here apply to all types of van builds. Hope that made sense. Im just a girl with no building skills and a big dream to fullfill and confused too.
Bonjour Sylvain et Dom! Vos vans sont tellement belles et de qualité !
Avez-vous pensé offrir des projets clés en main incluant la van et le financement (ex.: avec Desjardins pour 10 à 20 ans) comme d'autres cies de conversion de van québécoises offrent ?
Nope. On fait ça pour le plaisir avec un grand focus sur la qualité (et non sur la quantité). On garde le processus le plus simple et agréable possible pour nos clients. Nous n’avons pas l’ambition de compétitionner les « vraies » compagnies de transformation (qui font déjà très bien ça d’ailleurs).
@@vanlifesagas j'adore votre réponse 😊et... à mon avis, vos vans compétitionnent déjà avec les autres cies de transformation québécoises 😉parce que vos vans sont superbes et que justement vous focusez sur la qualité👌🏻🤩 BRAVO !! J'ai déjà hâte au prochain vidéo dimanche prochain!
Hi! Could we get how-to video on the BIG right triangle? please and thank you
It’s about 3-4 feet high.
Gentlemen, I'm wondering if there is and EV van on the market? And if there is, would there be any benefit to having an EV Van? You guys made a super video!
Yes, the Ford has an EV van now! Thanks for the comment!
Informative... and fun like always, it would take me at least 10 months just for the insulation, but definetely possible to do... Someday, someday.
Haha, you just need a little patience!
@@vanlifesagas isn't all what we need... Just a little Patience... Say sugar take it slow.....
Thank you so much Dom & Sylvain! petite question: où trouver les feuilles top view du van afin de dessiner l'intérieur? J'imagine que cela dépend du modèle?
Sur Sportsmobile si vous en cherchez des simples!
Nice short but very helpful video m8 cheers.
I dont know if there are tight weight limitations in the us, so what i say might only apply to the european market.
But over here, you basically must stay under 3.5 tons. Otherwise, everything gets more expensive, and you need a second license etc. So while it is a LOT easier to put in a whole floor and ceiling as shown here, and just mount furniture ontop, it adds weight (and you lose maybe half an inch storage space).
So what i will do is add floor and ceiling after the furniture and only add it, where needed.
Ive barely used a hammer and will be going at this project..alone.. advice??
Hmm. Do you still need advice?
I still am most intimidated by planning and building out the electrical and solar. Can you suggest some additional resources to a fellow Canadian? We have a retro 1973 Dodge Tradesman we will be building out this year. Gutted and rebuilt all the mechanical in 2021. Now just have to wait for warmer temps to get going!
The best ressources for electrical we found was on the Far Out Ride website (faroutride.com). They literally show you how to plan, buy and install your electrical. You have a bit of reading to do, but it's well worth it. It's how we wire everything in our vans now.
@@vanlifesagas Beauty! Thanks so much for this.
Really good vidéo! Thank you for that :)
Is it possible to have the Price (or an idea) for this van customization?
This van was around 65k CAD to modify, without the vehicle!
Love what you're doing!
Thanks for watching!
J’ai une toute petite question : Peux-tu tourner la caméra de bord svp? 😜
You guys are the best!
Impossible.
Good morning Dom and Sylvain ☀️
Gooooood morning.
Thanks for the video. Very informative.
Thanks! 😎
Bravo, Sylvain! Mon mari, Sylvain aussi, vient de finir notre premier van. Il prend sa retrait dans 4 ans et il pense que ça serait un bon job/projet pendant la retrait. Sylvain, combien de vans est-ce que tu fabriques par année? Est-ce que tu fais un à la fois?
On les fait un à la fois, et on en fabrique 3-4 par année.
What would be a lighter material for interior? I would like to start one on my own and I am watching numerous videos at this point. This one have a lot of information :) Thank you :)
A lighter material in terms of colors? Or in terms of weight?
@@vanlifesagas Thank you for the reply. For both,please. I'm getting so much ideas,and I'm getting a bit confused.
When do you install plumbing and electrical?
Why do you use vinyl instead of wood flooring? I love the tip to put the flooring down before the cabinets. If we're allowed 2 questions, is there room for a black tank under the floor of a Promaster? Would you ever build a van with a flush (black tank) toilet? Merci!
1) We use vinyl instead of wood because your floor will receive a ton of water, salt, sand and wood won't like it. Vinyl won't complain.
2) There is a grey water tank underneath that Promaster. We could probably fit a black water tank as well somewhere in the build.
3) We do not build vans with black tanks, unfortunately.
@@vanlifesagas thanks much!!! In a future vid, I'd love to see how you would do a grey tank (or black tank, if you decided). This was a great vid.
Great video, guys!!
You Make Canada Proud 💯🇨🇦❤
Oh, nice! That's a hell of a compliment! Woaw!
Great information. If someone is interested in commissioning a van build, what is the general fee including the purchase of the van?
We do not manage the purchase of the van since our specialty is mainly the conversions - But a conversion price would be around 45,000-50,000 CAD depending on what you plan to install in the build. Add to this the price of the vehicle (ranging from 30 to 80,000) and you have your answer!
Silly question perhaps... how necessary is the insulation if you're not going to be sleeping in your van for example? Thanks
Insulation helps the van in general, but you can keep it relatively simple.
amazing video thank you for it, it really helped a lot
Just wondering if it is safe to run all those electrical wires in the van; can a short circuit or other problems cause a fire?
Valid question - The wires are usually surrounded by material that won’t catch fire.
What would you suggest for ceiling/walls besides wood the save on weight?
What about installation? Or soundproofing, humidity, and rust garding?
Looking good! Do you use sound deadening when you insulate?
I'm hooked by the background music.
Love it too.
what inverter are you using in a build like yours?
So a little-talked about aspect of van buildouts is the permanent blocking of basic electrical and other components that mechanics need to get to for repairs. I’ve seen this pop up a few times now. Thoughts? What do you do to make access to important components modular and accessible?
We make sure we're able to access the vehicle at all times. For example, all the lights are accessible from the back panels and the trimming. You just have to take out 4 screws to make the repairs on the truck.
Thanks so much for this. Love that is it so clear and concise. Do you really believe in the Wii-boost for a much much stronger connection?
Well, seeing is believing I suppose. In our case, it really makes a difference…more often than not. Why do I say that? As stated in their manual/instructions, weBoost will do wonders for you “if” it sees an antenna. The system works “line of sight”only (and the antenna can be relatively far) and it will really “boost” your signal…more “bars” on your phone. In our case, more bars mean faster uploads and downloads which is great for our work. If speed or staying connected is not important for you, obviously a weBoost might not be a good investment.
@@vanlifesagas thank you.
super helpful! thanks for the cheat sheets :-)
👍🏼
Love the videos, I was wondering what you did with the propane system? We are only going to run our two burner cooktop (built in) like yours :) I am planning to build a sealed box and am looking into regulators and components to make it happen. Any advice?
You seem like you are looking in the right direction. We recommend flexible piping for the distribution. The box for the tank can be easily sealed with silicon membranes (or any other compressible fabric that you can stick between the door and the box itself). You just have to lock it once the installation is completed. Don't forget to vent your propane box to the exterior and to add a net around the "exhaust" to avoid small animals or bugs getting inside.
Merci Beaucoup!
Cool les gars. Avez-vous travaillé avec un Nissan NV 200?
Pas encore!
Hi 🙂 Dom and Sylvain! Do you insulate the floor or ceiling? Thank you
Yes we do. We insulate both with foam!
Salut Dom, vous n'installer pas de KILMAT pour l'insonorisation ou j'ai manqué un bout de vos 10 steps ? Aussi quel type d'isolation vous utilisé ? Semble être de la laine de roche ? Plusieurs installe du thinsulate, plus dispendieux ,mais pour un usage 4 saisons est-ce mieux ? En passant, bravo et merci de partager votre passion. ;)
Kilmat? On utilise du B-Quiet. On en parle quec’part. Pour l’isolation, c’est réellement un choix personnel. Y’a des pour et des contre pour chaque type; prix, facilité d’installation, résistance à la moisissure, toxicité sont à considérer. On a même essayé du Havelock! Petite odeur et pas facile à couper. Thinsulate est définitivement un bon pari si on est prêt à mettre le prix.
Bonjour, j aime beaucoup vous suivre. Combien de temps pour construire une van, pour Sylvain ?
Ça prend 3 mois!
Hey Dear, I love your content, well explained and very detailed. I would love to know the name of the application you used in part 11:38 of this video?
Intéressant et amusant, comme toujours! En tant que chanceux nouveaux propriétaires d'une Promaster, nous débutons tranquillement notre aménagement. Des videos régulières avec "pepa Sylvain" seraient grandement appréciées pour nous accompagner 😊. D'ailleurs, j'aimerais savoir ce que vous utilisez comme matériau pour l'isolation des murs. Merci Dom et Sylvain!
Pour l'isolation des murs, on utilise du Roxull Wool (laine de roche). C'est facile à installer, c'est isolant, et c'est aussi facile à travailler. Toutefois, ce n'est pas une option super eco - Les gens de la ville où la laine est fabriquée nous ont dit que ça avait des effets assez dévastateur sur les travailleurs de l'usine et les habitants de la ville.
La laine de mouton ferait aussi l'affaire (Haveloc). Plus difficile à installer toutefois. Il faut la maintenir en place avec des fils.
Pour plus de vidéos du genre, je vous invite à visionner ce que Marie et Dom ont produit l'an passé. Ils ont fait une série de 20 vidéos complètes sur la construction de leur véhicule.
@@vanlifesagas J'ai déjà regardé la série complète 😊, mais je demandais si vous aviez fait des changements. Merci beaucoup!
Great video!!! More please ❤ Hi Papa🤗⭐
Hiii!