Ultimate DIY Camper Van ~ Pop Top, Bathroom & Shower Built In
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2017
- What do you all think of these longer videos? They take forever to edit but I thoroughly enjoy filming and editing these types of videos. Andrew and Katie are living and traveling out of these awesome DIY camper van exploring all the world has to offer. Be sure to check out their instagram below and talk them into doing a blog!
Their Instagram ~ / flakwagon
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0:17 "we quit our jobs" How i envy the life you choose guys.. And Andrew, being a handy man is perfect for this on the road life
Great setup, Kudos all around !
I have a shower setup, that works the best and costs next to nothing.
I bought a 1.5 gallon plastic pesticide sprayer. Any hardware store will have one. I paid 8 dollars at Walmart for mine, and it came with a 5 ft hose with the adjustable sprayer trigger tip.
I will normally heat up about 1/2 gallon of water and pour it into the sprayer and top it off the rest of the way with room temp water. Screw the top on and give it 15-20 pumps. And you can have a really good warm shower.
I find that when I adjust the spray to my liking, I'll get myself wet, then lather up and rinse all with that gallon or so of water.
Hope my two cents helps.
-Ray
Rafi Rosendo That shower sprayer is a great idea! Thanks for posting it.
I wash my car using a similar strategy so makes sense!! what a great idea.
Can you explain"15-'20" pumps ?
@@missculinary, I realize this is a year later, but you have to pump the weed sprayer to prime it... build up pressure... and then you can squeeze the trigger and the water will come out forcefully. Without pumping, no water will come out of the sprayer.
@@DazzlingDanaOfficial thanks for your response
This is phenomenal. Watch 40 minutes of TV and 7 outta 10 times you regret wasting that time. This was time well spent.
ya yaya I don’t think that van has that option.
2x
You said it, whatever.
Blah blah
She keeps looking like she wants to jump in and say something but he's just on a roll! Hahaha 💜 💛 💚 🧡 from Colorado USA 🇺🇸❤
I liked how well-spoken they are. They talk really fluidly and the technical know-how was remarkable. I wish them the best
Fernando Romera
And you yourself speak very eloquently.
Ha ha
Kind of an odd comment. Why wouldn't they be well spoken?
The fact that Japan has had excellent see-through solar panels meant to be used as skylights and windows since the 1980's, means you can put 2 or 3 skylight solar panels on the roof of your stealth van campers and not have to worry so much about running out of electricity, and you can have natural sunlight for light even while parked at most places, and still be a stealth van. Although a Wal-Mart or similar parking lot, MAY have security cameras mounted up high, looking down onto the parking lot, if the installation is professional enough it may not attract attention. Perhaps a rack mounted exactly around the edge of the solar panels could cinch the skylight solar panels not attracting attention. A manual and/or power covering mechanism for the skylight solar panels could be doable or even available from the skylight solar panel company, if you order the panels from Japan. 😀👍
Finally someone who talks to us and teaches what we need to know. Great job, Have safety and peace on your trips
Now THIS is what I'm talking about. Information on virtually everything. I love the detail. People aren't left trying to guess how this or that is done. And the helpful hints are awesome. The side window being for a flat surface and most vans being a curved surface is an excellent bit of FYI.... Love it Love it Love it.
This has got to be one of the most competent guys I’ve ever seen on any video in this genre
Exactly. Its great
bassically 'van life' I think he meant. or maybe DIY mobile/rv living
I agree wholeheartedly with your comment John Schneider. I've been watching travel vehicle, off grid, tiny house, simple living etc. videos for a long time but this one is astounding for its quality. What's interesting is she married a guy like her Dad - a competent, successful builder - that isn't a genetic thing that's a courage to try doing things, learning by doing type of person. Just goes to show what a benefit setting a good example in your life is to your children.
I so agree. I'm a woman, and if I was married to a guy like that, I would HOPE that I would make it a point to LEARN all that he knows, as he's doing things. I'd get books and read up on the basics, and then ask him a lot of questions to really understand , myself. However, I can understand that if you have a husband like this, it's probably awfully easy just to let him handle "all of that". My motto? "Learning is FUN-da-mental". : )
Wow! Great job! It’s a different world these days from the one I grew up in. My husband and I worked very hard all our lives only to get to retirement age and have the bottom fall out. So we sold but mostly gave away all our “stuff” and took our camp trailer put solar on it, took all the factory furniture out and made it our home. Less stress, lot less overhead, less housework and yard work and more time to enjoy our lives together. So happy to see young people being smart like you two! God bless and keep you safe!
Yes, they are blessed to have this mindset at a young age!
Yes, less stress that’s for sure. We decided to get out of the rat race early too.
So happy to see the young people out enjoying their lives while young and healthy...traveling and enjoying life instead of punching a time clock like my husband and I did for 40 years. IF ONLY we could go back..we would sure do things differently. Blessings to both of you. :-)
Jen Midwest you are among the few people that are courageous and willing to let the younger generation know that life is so short and it is unfulfilling to pursue things that are not lasting - we've been sold that big lie by advertisers such as the pushers of the - "Freedom 55" lie - what a crock!
@@TinyHomeTours "blessed", no. SMART, yes. Being open to living different lifestyles is very good for our mental health and relationships.
Andrew is really an amazing young man. His knowledge and talent really astounds me. I suppose he could make anything he put his mind to.
Nice job. One thing I want you to check: the carbonmonoxide alarm I suspect, needs to be mounted lower ( not at roof line) This killer is heavier than air so it hangs out at the floor level to 1 meter up from the floor. Byron Starr, Engineer
Engineer.
Wow. I'm impressed with the hard work, ingenuity and patience it took to achieve this build! This is the outside the box thinking that started "vanlife".
I LOVE the kitchen-in-door idea!! So much for sliding doors... this is really brilliant! I'd love to see an update :)
To visit not to live
Thanks for the longer video, and I too enjoy your sweet relationship. I agree with grammapat. You go to college, serve your country and work hard your entire life, accumulating "stuff" and a nice, large home, only to have it stolen from you and lose it all in your golden years. I don't know if I can even put together a van myself, but I am watching lots of videos and taking copious notes. Wish me luck!
Gamer O'Doyle I like you - and am in the same place in life - wanting to find the courage, strength and ingenuity of this young couple despite the many years I have on them. I encourage you to go for your dream - and luck won't do it but faith, hope and love will - God wants us to take our cloak and sandals and go on the road. We can't take any of the useless stuff with us, when He calls us, but we can soak in the beauty and joy he gave us in His marvelous Creation in the meantime. I'm to attached to stuff and this couple shows that we can divest ourselves and work hard to realize dreams.
Storage in the doors! What a brilliant design! I haven’t seen that done before. Thanks for sharing your process.
+Gypsy Belle>Customs agents at the borders have been seeing them for years! I suppose drug smugglers could give us all a lesson or two on storage tricks.
The Kitchen on the doors.? I Liked That Cook out side or in side..
Gypsy Belle n
Two gifted individuals with a lot of guts and a great relationship. Thanks for sharing.
As for longer videos, I'll let my thumbs up do the talking. Thanks for all your hard work Chris.
Nice, glad you enjoyed the video!
Love the point toward the end about why you picked the Ford van, lots of years for,parts.
Andrew and Katie deserve a lot of credit. They were so detailed and went out of their way in this video to make it very clear about what they did in their build. I learned so much. Thanks!!! May God bless you both for inspiring so many of us with our own builds.
This is a nice build!!! Love the pop top add on. Thanks for sharing...
I really like this van build, I've seen a lot of them however this one is so cozy and comfortable feeling
Wow! That poptop just made it awesome. Great work!
Such a smart build and talk. As a 2-year vanlifer, who has watched a LOT of van tours, this kept my rapt attention.
Thank you guys , we're floridians as well and alaska is our summer runs , we are so proud of you both .we did stewart too fun fun, you have to do homer spit and fish spend time with eagles ... we run 2006 express 3500 so we know about our strong older vans they speak volumes ... your both well a talented keep rockin the travels !
ONCE AND DONE MOBILE WELDING , CAPE CORAL FL 👊😎
This guy is a freaking genius.
Man this guy is a genius he can just open a business and makes tiny house on wheels
22 TCM ii
One biggie...he put the carbon monoxide detector up high & carbon monoxide falls to the floor....they'd be dead before it reached the detector. Just sayin....
Not a genius
He’s good for sure. But putting the detector in wrong place? Also propane can easily be done, just create a compartment that is not “inside” the living area and you don’t need a $500 tank. But everything must be done properly including detector. Everything else was very very good.
@@ursulaq3653 lol wow observant
I applaud you. As a couple this is a great way to live. Do it while you're young. Awesome!
Adorable, and I appreciate how honest you are about struggles and improvement ideas. Getting it to perfection must be a lot of hard work and thought. Kudos to you!
I watched the whole way through.
It was interesting and I appreciated your in depth descriptions of the mods you made plus insight into what you would do differently of you built another van.
Thank you Andrew and Katie.
People from Florida dream about going to Alaska. People from Alaska dream about going to Florida.
Only for the winter, but most go to Hawaii, or Mexico. They go back to AK for the magnificent summers!!
WaxFace Network ... the beauty of living in the U.S.! Such variety and no one stopping you from roaming through it all! ☺
And I wish I had curly hair 😊
WaxFace Network Those people should read Kristen Hannah’s The Great Alone. Gives a real picture of what it is to live in Alaska. One of New York Times top book for the year.
WaxFace Network people dream of going to Florida?
You kids are doing what a lot of people talk about. Good onya
Finally a couple that's not all trendy....great job.
Amazing job on the van! It was only until I started researching conversions did I realize how much work goes into a van for full time living/travel. You have clearly gotten the most out of the budget you were working with. Can't imagine the amount of time you've put into research alone, forget about the build. Bravo. Good luck in your travels and be safe!
It was about 50/50 work and research. So much of this was a learning process for me. Every system I installed was specialized to the mobile van application and needed special attention. I think building a house would have been easier. I often had to go back to the drawing board for unforseen circumstances. Working in van is like working in a bubble. Nothing is straight, your knees hurt and things don't often line up. I feel confident that I could do this again in only a 2 months if I worked full time at it. (This may or may not be happening if I sell the van)
I absolutely loved the Van and all of the planning and hard work that went into it. I wish I was as talented and creative as Chris! If you ever truly considered selling it please feel free to email me at Alexander.gil.90@gmail.com
Happy traveling guys, stay safe!
Carbon monoxide is a heavy gas. It fills a room like water would. Detectors need to be close to the floor, below sleeping level.
5 feet from ground.... Google it before you get people killed...
I love how thoroughly they explained everything about their van conversion.
He is very brilliant. I enjoyed watching this video so much that I subscribed to their channel.
Thank you both for this video tour. Very much in-depth details. We really enjoyed watching and listening. So happy for you!
Vantastic!
I like that you kept this video longer. If you had edited it down, too much would have been left out. Is there anything that Andrew isn't capable of? He did a great job on this build. Not many people would have paid attention to all the mechanical issues like they did on setting up their rig.
Pidasian Hippie the only thing he isn't capable of is ... looking at the camera for more then 5 seconds lol but that's probably it
Agreed - he's done an excellent and frugal build and knows the vehicle/home in and out. Considered all alternatives, priced things out, knows what is and isn't necessary, planned ahead (lol at extra switches built into the cabinets in case he wires future appliances - wow!). Wish I had this know-how!
Pidasian Hippie I
A thing he can't do: plumb a propane system
And letting the misses say more than two sentences
I loved watching this. It makes me so happy to see him show off all his hard work and take the time to explain each part. Lovely couple and lovely build.
Just starting my camper conversion with a van I've had for most of it's 30 year life. You've provided a lot of great information and ideas. Thank You!
Real good all round, lot's of helpful inside info. Andrew is like a younger me, capable, frugal, bearded and confident, oh, and paranoid!
This is probably the best build on the internet. Thank you for the super knowledgeable and applicable advise. Journey on my friends.
I appreciate you going into the mechanics of the build. Taking your time to do that is very important. Excellent job guys
I love this build and your approach to enhancing/modding things that are close to your desired Spec. Well done!!!!
Geez dude let the woman speak. She's obviously trying> That said , thanks for sharing.
You guys did a great job with this video and I also appreciated the relationship between the two of you. It is sweet.
Thanks for watching Katherine!
im looking into this while i intend to keep my job i am looking to releave myself of renting here in wisconsin what is the best van would you suggenst to start a build i keep seeing these sprinter vans all over in fact there is a dealer about 2 miles from my current home i would like the space but i like the option of a ford econoline and 4x4 options as well
Good call
Sweet? It's a dad daughter relationship, it wont last
Look at that view. Beautiful.
Very informative! Thanks for sharing. Hope your travels are proving to be life changing!
"You want to show them our shower?".. 'Pulls out hose with shower head and mounts it to the outside door'.. "We don't use it that much." LOL Priceless
Great video, nice couple, good one Chris!
Whoa! Randomly looking into DIY camper vans and I find you guys... Definitely inspiring and relationship goals. Hope you two make something out of this project because I definitely see this as a business... 👍🏽😲
This has to be my favorite setup I've seen on my TH-cam van life tour.
really love how you were concerned about safety and deciding what you could and couldn't do yourself. So impressive that you did the pop-up yourself. We choose to get a 92 VW country home camper because we did want head room but couldn't afford a sprinter van with the headroom and our country home camper came with the full kitchen. We were planning a sprinter conversion but end up getting our campervan for less than the conversion would have been. I like having the pop-up because it makes our camper more stealth than a sprinter conversion.
Genius! Love them!
I like the nervous laughter after saying, "we gave up our jobs" ;)
early twenties and one year not working to travel and live off grid. Heck might as well get that life experience with no kids and rat race to worry about. Besides after they are done they can sell the van and pay for a down deposit for a apartment and buy some work clothes.
Rich parents?
@@stevewalther2293 Rich parents ...or they saved slot of money really quick🥴
Longer is better because you get more detail on the truck/van set up.
Impressive! A Really Smart and Practical build ! The thought that went into selecting the proper Van make and model was critical and set them up for long term ease of parts/maintenance support. I'm glad they're selling their van because they now have the experience and the skills for a major upgrade. Being able to re-purpose a mechanical part is an enviable skill and extremely valuable....Having someone who enjoys and shares the adventures with you, is priceless !
Please Continue the Vids!!!! Helps me dream (PLAN) more of what I want whenever that "Day" of reality comes along!!!
I clicked on this thinking oh shit 40 min vid I’ll fast forward through it and I actually ended up watching the whole thing. Very good and thorough video. I am jealous you’re not only living this lifestyle but also found a girl who’s willing to do it with you. My wife would never even considerate it although this is my dream to go off grid. Keep doin what you’re doing I envy you.
guess you gotta leave the wife behind.
Same here, my wife's ideal vacation has to include the outlet mall.
DIvorce the wife. She is holding you back. If from this dream, I bet also she is styming others. Dude, you get one freaking life to live. Go out and live it. You will find a cool lady friend if that is what you want. Divorce is good!
Get another wife
Become single, and stay single. You got one life to live as you please.
My husband and I enjoyed all the detail you both provided. We spend some of our weekend coffee time reviewing campervan options - both DYI and manufactured. There are a lot of details to consider so we are taking our time as well. Thank you!
Well build, kept simple and functional. Great vid guys
Thanks for sharing your home with us.
We hope the best for both of you.
Super good job man. Thanks for the pro tips on moisture control pertaining to insulation. Happy Travels :)
Wow these two did a really excellent job with sourcing parts and being resourceful on their van build
Thank you so much for going into so much detail. Great info with a calm delivery that was easy to follow and not boring! Amazing work!
Very smart van build and owners. Great job! :))
Me and my girlfriend have been on the road for 6 weeks now and for whatever reason, I'm drawn more to the geeky technical stuff like this guy is and not so much the planning or finishing touches. Does that make me a mansplainer? I don't believe so. We both work together and there are many things that she is far more talented at than I am. This trip would not be happening without her, that's a fact. But if we were to make a video like this together, specificity about modifications we've done on our camper, I would probably do most of the talking just like this guy here did because I just happened to do most it along with the repairs as they arose. Thats one of my contributions to this trip. My girlfriend's contributions are of a different sort, but no less important than what I've contributed.
you felt the need to comment about how you don't mansplain on a van video? you have to see it, right?
Great build you guys! Really appreciate how you thought everything out.
You explain it all so well. Thank you!
the 40 min length was great, seemed very casual.
thumbs up from me...
I liked how well-spoken they are. They talk really fluidly and the technical know-how was remarkable. I wish you the best how much did it cost to make all this be
so realistic about the effort involved! great
You both are an inspiration to wannabe nomads like me! Andrew is so handy and innovated, saving you money at every turn. I'm truly impressed!
He's done great work and is very talented.
But I have to say that she's done her fair share too and she's not just pretty, she's very smart too. Look at all the sewing she did. I'm a seamstress and I know how difficult it is.
They're both intelligent people and because of their down to earth personalities, life will give them many great adventures.
There's truth and kindness in you
Yes, agree!!! Excellent presentation. I guess No. 2 went into a cup---since he left us guessing after informing "Potty" is for No.1 Only.
In order for this to "work" both parties have to contribute. I'd be surprised to find she objects to getting her hands dirty. The installation of that top for example would be almost impossible for one person. If one party has the skills and the other the willingness great things can be accomplished. And when helping you GAIN skills, maybe he learned a bit about sewing.
This young man is a college of information! Has he heard of the channel called CheapRVLiving? His skills would be a boon to a lot of folks who are trying to make a go of living in a van.
You guys did a fantastic job on your home. Really well thought out. Enjoy your journey!
Wow! Good job you two! Thanks for sharing with such detail. Looking forward to another
This is one damn smart guy who knows how to apply seemingly any of his knowledge in the real world. I'm curious what his educational background was.
That's a very smart guy! You better hold on to him.
Andrew is a good guy!
What's the saying ... behind a good man is a strong smart woman. He should hold on to her, and together they compliment each other very well.
Bern W Leave it to me to get it a bit turned around!! I was raised in a German household so sayings were always a bit off .... one of my favorites she used to say was “never look a gifted horse in the mouth”. That one still makes me laugh!
Bern W oh my goodness!!! That’s just too funny!! Take care and the next time I butcher an old saying .... feel free to just laugh at me 😊🤣😊
My old dutch college professor used to say "It's like a horse, barking up the wrong tree", and "The heart of the problem is the problem with the heart". LOL ;-)
What a great, in-depth and interesting tour. You both should be proud of your home. I loved it. Take care, and safe travels!
This guy is amazing. Such great attitude, commitment and thoroughness. Seems super smart too.
No oven, my suggestion would be to use solar cooking, you can solar cook everything except frying. Also, is it possible to use fabric boxes to store food and clothing in your open pantry/closet ? It appears you have thought about everything looking forward to the possibilities. Chris, once again, you have brought us a very interesting subject and people ..Thanks for sharing.
Not in Alaska...
My Dad made a solar oven and used to cook a lot in it...but he lives in CA!
Where did you find her. She's a real trooper, willing to put up with limited space, difficult cooking, no toilet, shower etc. It's easy for a guy to live this life but few women, especially cute ones, to put up with this lifestyle. Keep her happy!
Nice job on the van, especially the chassis mods. I always wonder why young people will spend hundreds of hours starting from scratch when they might work for a while, save a little cash and start with a 5 year old, heavily depreciated RV that they can just repair a few things and have a more complete, properly chassied vehicle. Heavily overloaded vans can be very dangerous in emergency situations. A 5 year old, small class C could be had for less than $10-30K, not much more than buying a used large van.
I am here looking to live this live....so there is a lot of US OUT HERE lol...:)
Absolutely fabulous!
"On those nights when you're Walmart camping" hahahaha. Love this couple and their wisdom. Thanks for the video and I wish you both good fortune in your continued adventures!
change the springs to hydraulics. you could open it with the touch of a button.
I like the idea. However, if I ever make a camper, I'll make everything as simple and non electric as possible 🙂
Agreed; even passive gas pneumatics fail. In an outdoor car I don't want to think about it.
Exactly. I've seen Porsche manuals that actually recommend you don't operate the convertible top in the cold. A good engineer would know this.
I would avoid hydraulics to avoid having to power them, but you could also use a manual crank trailer jack to avoid the complexity of the springs and everything.
Hydraulics are heavy, take up space, expensive, weather sensitive, and can leak. Pneumatics are lighter, take up space, expensive, weather sensitive, and can leak.
Trailer jacks are manual, have limited range, and where would the crank go? Up, inaccessible. Down? Protruding into the interior and smacking the wall. Out? Taking up room.
The SMB spring system works and is adjustable. He just needs to preload his another link or 2.
You guys are wonderful ,enjoy life God Bless.
Your top of the van was the best part of this conversion....i love it.....
You made an awesome camper Andrew. Kudos!!!!
Damn, they must have ended their adventure. Sold their van and haven’t posted on their IG since March 2018. That’s unfortunate, hope they’re doing well.
they actually had an update on august 2019. they went back to florida, adopted a dog, got married! now katie is going to nursing school and andrew is building tiny homes for sale
Sel Y. Thats AWESOME 👍
Sel Y. Nice
They probably broke up or had a reality hit🥴
@@kellydunn4344 that's such a positive thing to say, I'm sure you're just great 👍
Hopefully they're doing well, and will have awesome stories to tell their future kids. Now that they are living a more "generic" life, maybe they don't feel the need to share their day to day with the public. Especially when it's full of people so ready to drag you down. (Wink)
So do you work? How do u pay the insurance or van pymt?
Great video with lots of detail! I appreciate that you left it longer.
Fantastic job! You put LOVE into this van! Amazing!
This guy is rediculously mechanically inclined. This is one of my fears in jumping into this lifestyle, I don't have 1/8th the knowledge he has. I'm alone, so if something was to go wrong while traveling, I'd be at the mercy of good people and or my checking account. Nice job on the video.
Join a caravan!
Same
Ya, I kept watching for her and to see if she ever got to talk.
Jamez0117 absolutely ... She must have the patience of a saint ... haaaaa
She looks unhappy. 😐 in the beginning of the video, she balled up one of her fists and you can see her white knuckles. Probably wants to punch her bf for talking soo much. LOL 😂😂😂 damn
Jamez0117 Americans are trained to allow women to overpower a man in conversation. This man has the knowledge and is sharing that.
Your comments are a reflection of the disgusting effects liberal feminism is having on our nation.
Right, and everything with him is "my van" "my refrigerator" "I wanted". It was pissing me off and I am dude that is pretty far from any SJW type of personality.
John Johnson go home John.
Aww, they're in love. So great.
I seen this video a long time ago I guess about four years ago and I still think, genius. Great job! One of my favorites
I can't believe it took 16 minutes for her to tell us she is vegan LOL
when your gf calls you 'he'.
Geoffrey Currie Haha, yes! I’ve heard men do this, too! By calling one another by name, it communicates respect and recognition of their identity. Please! Lol
Kudos to you both for getting out and about for a year on the road! One idea came to mind. You mentioned the clothes and food will sometimes dislodge from the shelves by the bed. By installing the same marine snaps you used around the windows on the shelving unit, you could use the blackout curtains while on the road to keep items in place.
Watched all the way through. You guys are amazing. Keep up the great work!!