Sliding doors are best for overhead cabinets. You won't need struts. You won't need a latch or lock on them because they wont open when your driving, You can't hit your head on them, and you can make them out of 3mm aluminium composite panel which is very light, doesn't need painting and comes in nice colours.
@@cali2752 cut a 3.5mm groove in the top & bottom frames with the top groove much deeper, cut a 3mm sheet tall enough to go into both grooves but short enough that when it's fully into the top groove it will come out at the bottom. Minimum 2 doors per aperture, with generous overlap. Most people just drill a 25mm or larger hole each end to operate it. Lubricating strips &/or rounded corners make the doors slide easier.
Thank you for this brilliant idea, I’m designing my build and I will be incorporating this! Brush aluminum will contrast my woods nicely and happy to reduce weight wherever possible. Wonder what else I could use 3mm aluminum composite for?
I think I have all the points covered, but your point about the clothes line is a good idea. There is still time for that one to be implemented and I think there is enough room under the roof racks to sneak in a couple of poles for a clothes line. I think you would be able to find a way to insert a broom stick or two into some loops just under your roof rack.
Your lines are so clean especially where walls meet the ceiling. Great video!! I'm in the process of converting a shuttle bus and finishing off a transit van and this definitely solidifies some of my decisions. I'm an overthinker, which usually leads to procrastination, and videos like this definitely help me focus and make decisions.
I’ve enjoyed all your build videos, this one included. I have dimmer lights, but I use my dimmable fairy lights (Amazon) even more. It adds a cozy feel to my rolling home, plus they can be bright enough to cook etc, but low enough to just be cozy. Second, I do have a laundry line in the van, again on Amazon, that is retractable. What I would do different on mine is to have a toe kick on the kitchen cupboards because now that the doors are settling, they are scraping the ground. Question - are you happy with all your door locks and securement devices? That’s been a big one for me and I wished I would’ve planned the locks when designing all the cabinets and pull out drawers
Brilliant idea with the clothes line. Slotting that one in to the memory banks. I'm going to be using 8020 for my construction so if it goes on the solar panel rack, then it can be done so easily.
Maybe stretch the budget to a paired gas strut to minimize the flexing ! Just noticed today that all Ikea wall cabinets have paired struts ! Thanks to your brilliant video, now I know why !
I'm not considering van life but I enjoy watching videos. I can tell you from "mistakes" you've discussed items I've not heard before. 1. Payload/weight 2. Clothes line and someone suggested a broom could be stored along side under solar panels. 3. Frig always too small but having a frig and freezer sounds good. Oh, Now I remember seeing someone who did have both. One person, one time. 4. Bright light when trying to be stealth and ideas to soften the problem. 5. Someone mentioned security locks. 6. Using boards that can become spears in an accident. 7. Knives on metal strips not taken down before taking off. Someone could be seriously hurt if an accident occurred Good job. I'm glad I watched. Edited bc I remembered more items.
Great video with lots of ideas and hints. Love the clothes line idea and yes I agree a secondary fridge/freezer in the back is a good solution. Thanks for sharing! Great sponsor too 😉 we definitely reach out down the track when building my own van!
Re stealth lighting, would you consider fairy lights. They're often used in vans and can either run off solar or batteries. I use them in my bedroom and the light they give off might do the trick for a van.
Glad it helped! The only way you learn and to find out these things is to do it any trail them firsthand. At least I did anyway and can share it with others so they don't make the same mistakes as me
Love your build! It's funny you were trying to remove the double seat upfront, we are trying to figure out how to add an additional seat so our pup can ride upfront with us LOL but it is good to know we might be able to replace the single seat with double!! Just have to figure out what to do with the parking brake lol
You should be able to source a double seat from the wreckers. The bolt holes are the same and the handbrake should also not be an issue as ford make the seats transferable.
I have single seats on my transit van. Used drivers seat base and a single suspension passenger seat van from a merc benz . Both drives and passenger seats have swivels installed and have been checked off by a engineer. This gives us an extra lounge area and room in the van which is a E350 transit
yes in Australia because I used original manufactures seat base and passengers seat from another van with air bags. The only thing the engineer wanted to check out was the engineering certificate for the swivel unit i used and check out the welding I had to do to adapt swivel to base and seat.
Ten !! The Insulation! Put a vapour barrier in and fill “every” gap with insulation. I look at your van and I think of the mould and rust that would be behind those walls 😖
Your a man of many ideas Marcel. You will find a way to overcome these minor issues. One thing I’d do is turn the rear platform into a fold up drying rack. Only if I didn’t use it. Or incorporate the rack into it so you have both. Regards, Mario.
Thank you so much for this information! I was planning a pull out deck like yours but I’ll scrap that idea now. The undercoat info just saved me a ton of headaches too. I seriously appreciate it.
Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely adding a power outlet exactly in the spot above the table you pointed out. I also thought that running the power cable from an outlet nearby isn't a problem, but adding an outlet is just so easy. The clothes line thing it's a precious tip too. Thanks! Not sure how I'm going to do that yet, but I custom-built the roof rack so it shouldn't be a problem to add a thing or two.
Our van is too tall so I couldn't find a simple way to add a clothes line that we could reach from the ground. What I'm going to do instead is adapt one of those wall-mounted aluminum folding drying racks on a piece of hardwood with two hooks and just mount it on the ladder whenever needed.
A cheap and excellent sealer to prevent resin seepage is Bondcrete. The old slogan. Bondcrete sticks to everything and everything sticks to Bondcrete . Also works on Aluminum as a sealer that you may want to paint.
There isn’t a paint in the world that will keep knots from transferring through paint long term. I have thirty years experience in high end residential construction. Use clear lumber if you don’t want to see the knots. The pre primed lumber is usually finger jointed and knot free which shows through eventually as well.
I have a the same van that I'm building For your cloths line I'm putting a curtain rod across the back doors when there open to hang cloths off plus I have a shower curtain for my out side shower at the back door
I was considering that but it would be nicer to be able to have the clothes drying and have all the doors closed at the same time. For instance if you wanted to go for a walk while drying your clothes
Great videos, although I'm not building a van. We do have a caravan. For your extra fride/freezer , you can buy draw style ones in the size you want, just make sure it can freeze as some don't. Also doing this you do away with the need for a separate slide.
great tips my dude, I'm working on making alot of things smart in my van using Home assistant. Its a ton of software setup but you can do some cool stuff with security camera, dimming LED strips, security contact sensors, etc.
@@saltyvanventures Using some Wyze V3 camera that are water proof and pretty discrete. We could create the ultimate van if we worked together! Im in NY in the states tho :/
Building the over head cabinet doors out of plywood, and then putting a frame on to that small sheet of ply, would solve the strut problem. Rather than making a frame with a plywood filling. 9-12mm sheet of plywood and frame on top of it with 4-6 mm ply, still pretty light and strong.
Wet clothes could go under your pullout deck? Just heavy bungees? Could you buy or make roll-top cupboard doors? I've seen a few old roll-top breadboxes I'm thinking of collecting for my future rig.
it's worth it to have 3 seats in the front. We keep our ice cream/berries in a separate 8L compressor fridge, keep a clothes dryer holder over the diesel heater.
Well this was quite confronting to watch. Kudos to you for making this clip. In terms of weight savings, there is a special plywood called "Falcata" plywood from Indonesia. I found a supplier in Lavington (Albury) "The Bunker". It was well worth the 4hr trip for me as the weight savings are impressive. It feels like half the weight of standard ply and is very easy to work with. Note; I took my own saw to cut the sheets down for transport.
It was quite confronting to film too 😛 I hope it sheds some light on the issues arising from our build. That plywood looks interesting. Do you have a price of what the sheet cost? What thickness did you go with?
Gas struts are a bit overkill for light weight cabinets… Down sizing to marine springs would probably do a lot of people a world of good. (And it’ll save some money)
i wanted a slide out deck for ours based on yours..hb said for the use it would get compared to the weight and space factor a firm no..not showing him this lol
I've been taking "van notes"....for about 15 years; 67 here....and still learning from others. But- what I see in most builds that doesn't resonate w/ me at all is: they TRY to make it LOOK like a "home" on wheels. As in: Too much on COSMETICS instead of a rawer aesthetic of Functionality, less cost, less weight. For me....I don't want a "condo" on wheels.
One to their own. If we are living in it full time you want to live in a space that in comfy as well as looks nice and reflects the styles you like. Some people like a more basic approach which is also fine
Sitting here with my 2023 transit jumbo dually still on the way. Best part of buying new? The abundant options ford Australia afforded me upon the contract. Option 1: Dual or single passenger seat? Option 2: There was no option 2. Not cosmetically, nor mechanically. buy a 470E transit and you have that ONE option. America have a 47-page document on their options. Fuck.
😂 oh no. That's a shame, I have heard that Ford Australia are pretty sad. I've actually had my own run in with them and I was not impressed. Did you opt for the single passenger seat?
@@saltyvanventures I absolutely did. $150 cost. I DID also see your pain about the seat about a month after I ordered. Lucky! I did originally have the 350L FWD on order, because it has the highest roof of any of the transits by 100mm. I couldn't get the extended body in that FWD though, so I had to lose 100mm in height (I'm 194cm) to gain 700mm in length. I saw your suspension video and thought 'fuck it, just get the dually'. Ford were good at changing the order for me, and I kept my place in the queue (as no VIN has been created for my contract yet). So yeah, 2023 470E Dually on the boat SOMETIME next year.
I’ve enjoyed all your build videos, this one included. I have dimmer lights, but I use my dimmable fairy lights (Amazon) even more. It adds a cozy feel to my rolling home, plus they can be bright enough to cook etc, but low enough to just be cozy. Second, I do have a laundry line in the van, again on Amazon, that is retractable. What I would do different on mine is to have a toe kick on the kitchen cupboards because now that the doors are settling, they are scraping the ground. Question - are you happy with all your door locks and securement devices? That’s been a big one for me and I wished I would’ve planned the locks when designing all the cabinets and pull out drawers
Fairy lights are so great. We sometimes use a battery fairly light in a pickle jar as a night light which works great also. We are happy now with our drawer holds but it took some trial and error. We don't have any drawer scraping through as we left a margin.
I’m really close to finishing my van build and I am glad to see that I haven’t made any of those mistakes. We put hammock rails on the roof that extend and I haven’t even thought about how handy it will be to use them for wet laundry! I’m sure though I made a bunch of other mistakes 😂 nothing is ever perfect, you live and you lern. Thanks for your video!
Thanks for the ideas about what to watch for. I'm far from being a carpenter, but I'm pretty good at solving problems. You said you framed your overhead cupboards with wood that is too thin. Well, why not make the entire cabinet door out of one piece of plywood, then glue and brad a thin veneer frame on top of the plywood. No worries about the miters separating because they sit atop a solid piece of plywood.
An alternative to the dimmer switch in the wall is bluetooth led light lights. You can set it up to control from your phone. And several have a variety of options including dimming, warm/cold light, scene lighting & colour sound lighting. You can also schedule tasks for it. MIrabella has a variety of them that you could look in at bunnings.
Best to use knotting, a thick brown solution with a small brush in the lid to treat all the knots before using a standard primer. This is cheaper than a multi-purpose paint though you will have to wait for the knotting to dry. Good video, thanks.
Crazy! Thanks for taking the time to share this. I am less than half way through my transit build and taken so much from you videos. Up until about point 6, I had made those changes already and im so glad to hear these were the right decisions. I have even just purchased the 85L bushman haha. Thanks again mate.
Thats awesome to hear. Glad you made the changes early on in your build! he 85L bushman "must be nice" 😂 I think the freezer is bigger in that model too right?
Thanks for all your insights. Payload is such an issue with the Transit. We have the jumbo so even less payload and more materials required. Hopefully the Transit’s great ride will make all the hassle worth while. Happy Travels 👍
Well done! Weight of the wood or weight in general during building, is a very common forgotten element. I saw many vans build with these pinewood planks. Some owners definitely did not like the driving behaviour of the car. I believe 5 mm light multiplex for ceiling and 8 mm maximum for walls. For furniture also 5 to 12 mm and 15 mm for seats. Anyhow enjoy your van, it is beautiful.
Nice work, man! Just one thing that keeps coming to my mind: with long pieces of solid wood covering the length of the walls what might happen in case of a highway accident is they can crack and come flying towards you like pointed spears. Plywood avoids that danger. Also I see magnets for kitchen knives time and again in these vans and people don‘t seem to take them off when driving. I don‘t want to imagine having a crash with these blades swirling tthrough the car… But thanks a lot for sharing your ideas and mistakes, it helps me with my planning even though I will keep it way simpler. Anyway, there is no perfect camper van for everything. You always have to compromise. And that‘s perfectly fine.
I would say that would be highly unlikely with how they are all intertwined with the tongue and groove friction and attached. The knifes though would be a different story for sure!
I have a clothesline that I attach to the side with suction cups. Haven't used it yet, so haven't tested how functional it actually is.. You have done a good job covering a lot of issues you usually don't see before you live in the van for a period of time.. 😊 So thanks for the tips.
Great video and tips! For the lighting, have you thought about installing a battery operated LED strip light below the overheads? Could save you from opening the overheads when you want dimmer lighting.
Kinda, i really just need to install a dimmer switch i think 😂. I 2 have independently switched led down lights below the overhead cabinets for could for sure have a dimmer installed too.
I think that any novice could get some helpful things to think about from this video, no matter where they're coming from. I'm much older and disabled. (Just had another spinal surgery. Will absolutely need at least one more.) So pointing out that it's difficult to crawl through from the front to the back without enough space is 100% something that matters to me. The ice chest. OMG, this is something I missed and, for me, it's VITAL. I need ice packs. Lots and lots of ice packs. I can't believe that I didn't think about this. I've got a good 12v convertible fridge/freezer that I was going to use as our fridge, and now it's going to be a dedicated freezer and I'll find something else for the fridge. Cabinet strength: This is kind of an obsession of mine. I made the mistake of watching a ton of conversion crash aftermath videos... yeah. The wood turns into toothpicks and basically explodes. No plank wood ceiling for me. Lightweight plastic sheets, covered in a layer of high density foam, covered with a good quality jute carpet underlayment, covered in an exterior vinyl. I'm seriously considering a steel upper cabinet for the galley that's bolted (or welded) directly to the ribs. I'm trying to find the line between "hysterical overbuild and forcing everyone to wear helmets and kevlar" and "tossing the grandkids in a Final Destination death trap" and that line isn't as clear as one might think. smh Thanks for the food for thought. In many ways, the regrets are more important than the 'how to' videos.
Like you said. Use your 12VDC thing as a dedicated Freezer. Buy a fancy, well insulated Esky(ice Box) for everyday use. Put all you frozen stuff at the top of the Ice Box and let it chill what's underneath. With luck, everything should be thawed out within two days, ready for you to cook. Use a separate locker for non perishable vegetables. Avocados, bananas, apples, cucumbers, eggs etc. just look at the super markets how they store stuff.
Thanks Marcel, I love your videos. With regards to drying clothes I have seen some vans that have also vented their diesel heater into their shower so that it becomes like a drying space. Really good for wet days. And when sunny use a washing line.
Yes thats a great idea. If we were to build another van with a shower i would for sure be venting the diesel heater vent into the shower for that reason and i think it would work really well. I'd still also like some kind of outdoor drying rack too
Having done this myself: 1. Keep things SUPER LIGHT! No solid wood. No 2x1's. All frameless or thing frames epoxy glued together with a 'Coreflute' plastic insert (Bamboo for the Greenies). 2. Definitely align your work surfaces with your power needs. Use 12V to 19VDC(any laptop voltage selectable) adapters/chargers. 3. NO bright lights anywhere. Dimmable, everywhere. 4. Only have removable storage for the back slide outs. 5. Don't tamper with anything that might stop you from getting your Blue Slip (Road Worthy Certificate)[MOT]. Do all that afterwards. Make the car as stock as possible (engineering wise) 'just in case' so you are sure you will get it passed. (Only necessary if your van is not registered already or you need to get it reclassified. 6. Be VERY careful about the number and type of 'holes' you make in the side of the van. ie. Utility, LPG, H2O, Shore Power etc. Make sure these comply with the local Standards. 7. Don't over spec your 12VDC wiring unnecessarily. Understand which gauge can carry what current. 8. Use either wood glue or Locktite on every nut and bolt for rougher roads, including dirt. Avoid self-tapers like you avoid your mother-in-law. 9. RUST PROOF RUST PROOF RUST PROOF RUST PROOF 10. Take this guys advice about 'washing lines' and everything else he mentions, as it is spot on advice.
Your cabinet door problem could be solved with half lap joints. You'd need a router table or a table saw to create them but they would be a lot stronger than those mitered corners. Also, you don't need a gas strut to hold it open. You can use a hinged stick to prop the door open.
@@saltyvanventures I've seen another solution here in lieu of a gas strut - marine support springs. Depending on your application, it might cost a bit more, but depending on how secure the items are inside, you might not need the locking mechanism to keep the door shut. In my years of prep for my van build (was a dream turned van order) I've been storing away all the tidbits for a van build.
Also, re: weight - have you seen Nomad's use of foam? www.youtube.com/@falkornomad/about Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! The outdoor drying rack with extendable bars seems like a great idea too. Thank you for that. I'm going to see what I can do about having some bars extend from the back, maybe nested in or with a roof rack system. The plan earlier was an "outdoor" shower, extending out the back with the drawer slides, or something mounted to the trailer hitch as a platform to stand on to be off the ground. I can see how a solar awning with laundry hanging storage below could be super useful when parked!
I have a 9 metre bus with less hard furniture than your little van. Our bed is two single beds end to end which is our couch during the day, you dont need a double bed taking so much space and only gets used once a day. First mistake most people make is buiding way too much furniture.
Dimmable lights: Why dont you use one of these 12V LED stripe systems... you can dimm it and you got a remote controll you can use maybe from inside the bed ?
The best video I’ve seen and I’ve seen a lot 😂 I’m not interested in another “how to connect a bulb” video, I learn on mistakes. Being able to learn on someone else’s mistakes is just great 😁 Very helpful hint on plywood pine imitation, I’ll use that in my build for sure. I don’t understand why don’t you simply add USB sockets where you want now, or add the ceiling dimmer? your van is not made of concrete 😉 (even if it was, that’s not a problem). Anyways, thank you for such informative video.
This Video presentation was like hearing myself. I have to say i watched all your build vids whilst I was doing a very similar build. Thanks for some ideas for sure, but hey how come your concerns mirror mine well most of them. The freezer fridge bit is def need of upgrade like you say. keep it up guys, Salty as you need to be.
Planning on purchasing a van and having it build for me. Video gave me a lot of things to think about so I don't make the same mistakes. Didn't really think about weight of build being an issue.
For the dim light problem just install some LED fairy lights around the edges of the ceiling
Sliding doors are best for overhead cabinets. You won't need struts. You won't need a latch or lock on them because they wont open when your driving, You can't hit your head on them, and you can make them out of 3mm aluminium composite panel which is very light, doesn't need painting and comes in nice colours.
Hi! I'm very interested in the sliding doors idea. Do you have a good reference for it?
@@cali2752 cut a 3.5mm groove in the top & bottom frames with the top groove much deeper, cut a 3mm sheet tall enough to go into both grooves but short enough that when it's fully into the top groove it will come out at the bottom.
Minimum 2 doors per aperture, with generous overlap.
Most people just drill a 25mm or larger hole each end to operate it.
Lubricating strips &/or rounded corners make the doors slide easier.
3mm acrylic panels worked for me. Lightweight and opaque, lots of colour choice
Congratulations!!! Great info and help that you are giving us; especially accommodating a range of needs 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you for this brilliant idea, I’m designing my build and I will be incorporating this! Brush aluminum will contrast my woods nicely and happy to reduce weight wherever possible.
Wonder what else I could use 3mm aluminum composite for?
Yeah I noticed many people don’t think about weight . It does my head in especially with petrol costs .
I think I have all the points covered, but your point about the clothes line is a good idea. There is still time for that one to be implemented and I think there is enough room under the roof racks to sneak in a couple of poles for a clothes line. I think you would be able to find a way to insert a broom stick or two into some loops just under your roof rack.
I would highly recommend incorporating a clothes line in some ways shape or form for sure
These kind of videos are of the most value. Thank you for telling us like it is.
You're very welcome
Your lines are so clean especially where walls meet the ceiling. Great video!! I'm in the process of converting a shuttle bus and finishing off a transit van and this definitely solidifies some of my decisions. I'm an overthinker, which usually leads to procrastination, and videos like this definitely help me focus and make decisions.
I’ve enjoyed all your build videos, this one included. I have dimmer lights, but I use my dimmable fairy lights (Amazon) even more. It adds a cozy feel to my rolling home, plus they can be bright enough to cook etc, but low enough to just be cozy. Second, I do have a laundry line in the van, again on Amazon, that is retractable. What I would do different on mine is to have a toe kick on the kitchen cupboards because now that the doors are settling, they are scraping the ground. Question - are you happy with all your door locks and securement devices? That’s been a big one for me and I wished I would’ve planned the locks when designing all the cabinets and pull out drawers
Brilliant idea with the clothes line. Slotting that one in to the memory banks. I'm going to be using 8020 for my construction so if it goes on the solar panel rack, then it can be done so easily.
Hopefully it will work out for you!
I love the design and the skills you put in to your van, aluminium and plastic.
Thank you!
Maybe stretch the budget to a paired gas strut to minimize the flexing ! Just noticed today that all Ikea wall cabinets have paired struts ! Thanks to your brilliant video, now I know why !
I'm not considering van life but I enjoy watching videos.
I can tell you from "mistakes" you've discussed items I've not heard before.
1. Payload/weight
2. Clothes line and someone suggested a broom could be stored along side under solar panels.
3. Frig always too small but having a frig and freezer sounds good. Oh, Now I remember seeing someone who did have both. One person, one time.
4. Bright light when trying to be stealth and ideas to soften the problem.
5. Someone mentioned security locks.
6. Using boards that can become spears in an accident.
7. Knives on metal strips not taken down before taking off. Someone could be seriously hurt if an accident occurred
Good job. I'm glad I watched.
Edited bc I remembered more items.
Thank you 😊
Great video with lots of ideas and hints. Love the clothes line idea and yes I agree a secondary fridge/freezer in the back is a good solution. Thanks for sharing! Great sponsor too 😉 we definitely reach out down the track when building my own van!
Glad you liked it and we'll hopefully hear from you in the future soon!
Running two units uses too much power. Use a combination unit and Make It work. Your an engineer. I'm an IE
The issue with having a freezer in the back is you forget what is in it, unlike the frig we daily view.
Re stealth lighting, would you consider fairy lights. They're often used in vans and can either run off solar or batteries. I use them in my bedroom and the light they give off might do the trick for a van.
Thank you, it's very helpful to see where challenges can crop up, now I'm forewarned it will help immensely!
Glad it helped! The only way you learn and to find out these things is to do it any trail them firsthand. At least I did anyway and can share it with others so they don't make the same mistakes as me
Love your build! It's funny you were trying to remove the double seat upfront, we are trying to figure out how to add an additional seat so our pup can ride upfront with us LOL but it is good to know we might be able to replace the single seat with double!! Just have to figure out what to do with the parking brake lol
I saw another person build a box between the seats for their pup. Then the box can be pup food storage.
You should be able to source a double seat from the wreckers. The bolt holes are the same and the handbrake should also not be an issue as ford make the seats transferable.
Instead of remaking the doors just add another strut on the other side for equal pressure
I have single seats on my transit van. Used drivers seat base and a single suspension passenger seat van from a merc benz . Both drives and passenger seats have swivels installed and have been checked off by a engineer. This gives us an extra lounge area and room in the van which is a E350 transit
Was this in Australia? We have super strict guidelines we need to follow
yes in Australia because I used original manufactures seat base and passengers seat from another van with air bags. The only thing the engineer wanted to check out was the engineering certificate for the swivel unit i used and check out the welding I had to do to adapt swivel to base and seat.
Ten !!
The Insulation!
Put a vapour barrier in and fill “every” gap with insulation.
I look at your van and I think of the mould and rust that would be behind those walls 😖
I love your honesty. A fantastic design and build but always from for improvement. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hope it was helpful!
Just bought one, researching all aspects of fitting it out. I found your video super helpful.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad they were helpful to you
Your a man of many ideas Marcel. You will find a way to overcome these minor issues. One thing I’d do is turn the rear platform into a fold up drying rack. Only if I didn’t use it. Or incorporate the rack into it so you have both. Regards, Mario.
Interesting thought! I'll have to consider it.
Thank you so much for this information! I was planning a pull out deck like yours but I’ll scrap that idea now. The undercoat info just saved me a ton of headaches too. I seriously appreciate it.
Glad it was helpful and informative for you!
Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely adding a power outlet exactly in the spot above the table you pointed out. I also thought that running the power cable from an outlet nearby isn't a problem, but adding an outlet is just so easy. The clothes line thing it's a precious tip too. Thanks! Not sure how I'm going to do that yet, but I custom-built the roof rack so it shouldn't be a problem to add a thing or two.
Glad it was helpful! When we get a change i think i'm going to modify the roof rack to incorporate the clothes line for sure!
Our van is too tall so I couldn't find a simple way to add a clothes line that we could reach from the ground. What I'm going to do instead is adapt one of those wall-mounted aluminum folding drying racks on a piece of hardwood with two hooks and just mount it on the ladder whenever needed.
A cheap and excellent sealer to prevent resin seepage is Bondcrete. The old slogan. Bondcrete sticks to everything and everything sticks to Bondcrete . Also works on Aluminum as a sealer that you may want to paint.
thanks, good to know!
A folding table might be a good alternative. Lightweight and takes up little space.
Nice change from the common van build video. Good info.
Very common, Glad you liked it!
There isn’t a paint in the world that will keep knots from transferring through paint long term. I have thirty years experience in high end residential construction. Use clear lumber if you don’t want to see the knots. The pre primed lumber is usually finger jointed and knot free which shows through eventually as well.
I have a the same van that I'm building
For your cloths line I'm putting a curtain rod across the back doors when there open to hang cloths off plus I have a shower curtain for my out side shower at the back door
I was considering that but it would be nicer to be able to have the clothes drying and have all the doors closed at the same time. For instance if you wanted to go for a walk while drying your clothes
Use a Mortise and Tennon joint on the cabinet doors or a Rail and Stile router bit set in a router table.
Great idea
In the UK we use a product called Patent Knotting which is brushed onto knots prior to priming/undercoating.
I will know this for next time!
Great videos, although I'm not building a van. We do have a caravan. For your extra fride/freezer , you can buy draw style ones in the size you want, just make sure it can freeze as some don't. Also doing this you do away with the need for a separate slide.
Yes i have seen those!
It's important to be able access the cab if you free camp, we have had to leave during the night because of drunk 'locals'.
Loved your honesty and ideas ❤
Thank you so much 😊
great tips my dude,
I'm working on making alot of things smart in my van using Home assistant. Its a ton of software setup but you can do some cool stuff with security camera, dimming LED strips, security contact sensors, etc.
Oh wow thats pretty interesting. What security cameras are you using?
@@saltyvanventures Using some Wyze V3 camera that are water proof and pretty discrete. We could create the ultimate van if we worked together! Im in NY in the states tho :/
Please get the online courses ready. We have been waiting for ur courses for so long. Thank you
Working on it!
LOVE this video. Thanks for being transparent and giving us lots to think about. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are so welcome!
great video and thanks for sharing the mistakes the wooding frame and the passenger sit opened my eyes.
Glad it helped
Thanks for sharing your knowledge
you're welcome!
Building the over head cabinet doors out of plywood, and then putting a frame on to that small sheet of ply, would solve the strut problem. Rather than making a frame with a plywood filling. 9-12mm sheet of plywood and frame on top of it with 4-6 mm ply, still pretty light and strong.
Greetings from the UK. Great video and thanks for the inspiration. You have given me some good ideas for my self build.
Awesome! Thank you!
So glad you guys are doing this. 🙌😁
Us too!
thank you so much, please MAKE A SERIES OF MORE OF THIS KIND OF VIDEOS
We have another one in the pipeline
Wet clothes could go under your pullout deck? Just heavy bungees? Could you buy or make roll-top cupboard doors? I've seen a few old roll-top breadboxes I'm thinking of collecting for my future rig.
it's worth it to have 3 seats in the front. We keep our ice cream/berries in a separate 8L compressor fridge, keep a clothes dryer holder over the diesel heater.
nice idea with the fridge
Check out Stainless Steel Hatch Springs instead of gas struts. Easy switch-out to prevent further door damage. :) Great vid! Thank you!
Will do thank you!
Well this was quite confronting to watch. Kudos to you for making this clip. In terms of weight savings, there is a special plywood called "Falcata" plywood from Indonesia. I found a supplier in Lavington (Albury) "The Bunker". It was well worth the 4hr trip for me as the weight savings are impressive. It feels like half the weight of standard ply and is very easy to work with. Note; I took my own saw to cut the sheets down for transport.
It was quite confronting to film too 😛 I hope it sheds some light on the issues arising from our build. That plywood looks interesting. Do you have a price of what the sheet cost? What thickness did you go with?
@@saltyvanventures I got 3 x 9mm and 1 x 15mm sheets. Total cost was $235. It is also available in 24mm. It's closer to hard balsa wood than plywood.
Awesome, thanks so much for your videos. I've bought my van and just starting out and it's so overwhelming but watching your channel really helps!
Best of luck! Your can do it, but if you can't, don't be afraid to reach out for help
Awesome! Thanks for the update and suggestions ☺️
Our pleasure!
Thanks for your honest reflection. These are great tips
You're very welcome
Awesome video man!
Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it
12mmm panelling! That is CRAZY!
on the knot stains you should coat the knots with a solution called knotting
Great to know, thank you!
Great video and content!
Appreciate it!
Gas struts are a bit overkill for light weight cabinets… Down sizing to marine springs would probably do a lot of people a world of good. (And it’ll save some money)
I agree with that statement now. Trail and error in this game. Will know now for next time.
I have always thougt that camper vans are for a single person. Yours its amazing for a single person
It’s actually 2 of us living in here and it’s amazing for 2
Superb Video George U.K.
Glad you enjoyed it
OMG we can take out that arm rest. I didn't know. Thanks!!!
Yes its just a little clip holding it in
Good Man , Good job....🤓🤓😎
Thanks ✌
The stain will still come through. Gotta sand it down so the stain blocker soaks into the wood.
Interesting. I hope not. I’ll see how it goes then and keep and eye on it
bigger fridge and store kitchen pots with food in it?
Great idea!
i wanted a slide out deck for ours based on yours..hb said for the use it would get compared to the weight and space factor a firm no..not showing him this lol
Awesome vid thanks 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it
@@saltyvanventures I’m learning so much 🙏☺️
Thank you xoLove this video and found it helpful.
You are so welcome!
Very helpful thank you 🇨🇦
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks God you do not regret the insulation!! Coz I copy it!!
Do you have a feedback about the temperature inside the van please?
The insulation has been perfect for us. It’s warm in winter and cool on the hot summer days
Love the build ! What is the internal dimensions of your van ? Thanks 😊
The floor plan is about 3.4mL x 1.7mW and its about 2.05m high.
Why not use a non gas strut, I have had the same issue with fibreglass and gas’s struts
I surely will next time knowing this!
Bro getcha some fairy lights
We do actually have some but i would like a more permeant solution
12mm ? What were you thinking?
It’s actually all we have in Australia, paneling wise
I've been taking "van notes"....for about 15 years; 67 here....and still learning from others. But- what I see in most builds that doesn't resonate w/ me at all is: they TRY to make it LOOK like a "home" on wheels. As in: Too much on COSMETICS instead of a rawer aesthetic of Functionality, less cost, less weight. For me....I don't want a "condo" on wheels.
One to their own. If we are living in it full time you want to live in a space that in comfy as well as looks nice and reflects the styles you like. Some people like a more basic approach which is also fine
Which wheel base size is your van? Thanks 👍🏻
Long wheel base
Did you not insulate??
yes we did
Sitting here with my 2023 transit jumbo dually still on the way. Best part of buying new? The abundant options ford Australia afforded me upon the contract. Option 1: Dual or single passenger seat? Option 2: There was no option 2. Not cosmetically, nor mechanically. buy a 470E transit and you have that ONE option.
America have a 47-page document on their options. Fuck.
😂 oh no. That's a shame, I have heard that Ford Australia are pretty sad. I've actually had my own run in with them and I was not impressed. Did you opt for the single passenger seat?
@@saltyvanventures I absolutely did. $150 cost. I DID also see your pain about the seat about a month after I ordered. Lucky!
I did originally have the 350L FWD on order, because it has the highest roof of any of the transits by 100mm. I couldn't get the extended body in that FWD though, so I had to lose 100mm in height (I'm 194cm) to gain 700mm in length. I saw your suspension video and thought 'fuck it, just get the dually'. Ford were good at changing the order for me, and I kept my place in the queue (as no VIN has been created for my contract yet).
So yeah, 2023 470E Dually on the boat SOMETIME next year.
Re wetsuit/swimmers...there is someone on TH-cam who hangs their wetsuit up on a hook and sits a basin/square bucket underneath
I take it you shit in the woods or go full commando, squat drop push wipe into 1st gear and it’s someone else’s problem.
No, We use public toilets for #2's 99% of the time and use our chemical toilet for the remaining 1%
@@saltyvanventures ok and were are all these 99% of the time loos ?
@@pigswillbepigs literally everywhere we go...public toilets, service stations, McDonalds just to name a few.
@@saltyvanventures if you say so, but you been rumbled.the places you name arnt places that van dwellers really frequent on a daily’s basis.
@@pigswillbepigs In Australia it's literally all places vanlifers frequent daily
I’ve enjoyed all your build videos, this one included. I have dimmer lights, but I use my dimmable fairy lights (Amazon) even more. It adds a cozy feel to my rolling home, plus they can be bright enough to cook etc, but low enough to just be cozy. Second, I do have a laundry line in the van, again on Amazon, that is retractable. What I would do different on mine is to have a toe kick on the kitchen cupboards because now that the doors are settling, they are scraping the ground. Question - are you happy with all your door locks and securement devices? That’s been a big one for me and I wished I would’ve planned the locks when designing all the cabinets and pull out drawers
Fairy lights are so great. We sometimes use a battery fairly light in a pickle jar as a night light which works great also. We are happy now with our drawer holds but it took some trial and error. We don't have any drawer scraping through as we left a margin.
I’m really close to finishing my van build and I am glad to see that I haven’t made any of those mistakes. We put hammock rails on the roof that extend and I haven’t even thought about how handy it will be to use them for wet laundry! I’m sure though I made a bunch of other mistakes 😂 nothing is ever perfect, you live and you lern. Thanks for your video!
Exactly, learn by mistakes. or learn by my mistakes 😂
Learn, you did so well until that lern 😊
Thanks for the ideas about what to watch for. I'm far from being a carpenter, but I'm pretty good at solving problems. You said you framed your overhead cupboards with wood that is too thin. Well, why not make the entire cabinet door out of one piece of plywood, then glue and brad a thin veneer frame on top of the plywood. No worries about the miters separating because they sit atop a solid piece of plywood.
An alternative to the dimmer switch in the wall is bluetooth led light lights. You can set it up to control from your phone. And several have a variety of options including dimming, warm/cold light, scene lighting & colour sound lighting. You can also schedule tasks for it.
MIrabella has a variety of them that you could look in at bunnings.
I do not have a phone
Best to use knotting, a thick brown solution with a small brush in the lid to treat all the knots before using a standard primer. This is cheaper than a multi-purpose paint though you will have to wait for the knotting to dry. Good video, thanks.
great to know, cheers. Ill keep it in mind for next time!
Crazy! Thanks for taking the time to share this. I am less than half way through my transit build and taken so much from you videos. Up until about point 6, I had made those changes already and im so glad to hear these were the right decisions. I have even just purchased the 85L bushman haha.
Thanks again mate.
Thats awesome to hear. Glad you made the changes early on in your build! he 85L bushman "must be nice" 😂 I think the freezer is bigger in that model too right?
Thanks for all your insights. Payload is such an issue with the Transit. We have the jumbo so even less payload and more materials required. Hopefully the Transit’s great ride will make all the hassle worth while. Happy Travels 👍
Thank you. They do have a great ride don't they! good luck with your build
Well done! Weight of the wood or weight in general during building, is a very common forgotten element. I saw many vans build with these pinewood planks. Some owners definitely did not like the driving behaviour of the car. I believe 5 mm light multiplex for ceiling and 8 mm maximum for walls. For furniture also 5 to 12 mm and 15 mm for seats. Anyhow enjoy your van, it is beautiful.
Nice work, man!
Just one thing that keeps coming to my mind: with long pieces of solid wood covering the length of the walls what might happen in case of a highway accident is they can crack and come flying towards you like pointed spears. Plywood avoids that danger.
Also I see magnets for kitchen knives time and again in these vans and people don‘t seem to take them off when driving. I don‘t want to imagine having a crash with these blades swirling tthrough the car…
But thanks a lot for sharing your ideas and mistakes, it helps me with my planning even though I will keep it way simpler.
Anyway, there is no perfect camper van for everything. You always have to compromise. And that‘s perfectly fine.
I would say that would be highly unlikely with how they are all intertwined with the tongue and groove friction and attached. The knifes though would be a different story for sure!
Great vid mate. Don't be hard on yourself. Your van is awesome.
Thank you, I wont 😊
I have a clothesline that I attach to the side with suction cups.
Haven't used it yet, so haven't tested how functional it actually is..
You have done a good job covering a lot of issues you usually don't see before you live in the van for a period of time.. 😊
So thanks for the tips.
Exactly and let us know how your clothes line goes!
Great video and tips! For the lighting, have you thought about installing a battery operated LED strip light below the overheads? Could save you from opening the overheads when you want dimmer lighting.
Kinda, i really just need to install a dimmer switch i think 😂. I 2 have independently switched led down lights below the overhead cabinets for could for sure have a dimmer installed too.
I think that any novice could get some helpful things to think about from this video, no matter where they're coming from. I'm much older and disabled. (Just had another spinal surgery. Will absolutely need at least one more.) So pointing out that it's difficult to crawl through from the front to the back without enough space is 100% something that matters to me. The ice chest. OMG, this is something I missed and, for me, it's VITAL. I need ice packs. Lots and lots of ice packs. I can't believe that I didn't think about this. I've got a good 12v convertible fridge/freezer that I was going to use as our fridge, and now it's going to be a dedicated freezer and I'll find something else for the fridge.
Cabinet strength: This is kind of an obsession of mine. I made the mistake of watching a ton of conversion crash aftermath videos... yeah. The wood turns into toothpicks and basically explodes. No plank wood ceiling for me. Lightweight plastic sheets, covered in a layer of high density foam, covered with a good quality jute carpet underlayment, covered in an exterior vinyl. I'm seriously considering a steel upper cabinet for the galley that's bolted (or welded) directly to the ribs. I'm trying to find the line between "hysterical overbuild and forcing everyone to wear helmets and kevlar" and "tossing the grandkids in a Final Destination death trap" and that line isn't as clear as one might think. smh
Thanks for the food for thought. In many ways, the regrets are more important than the 'how to' videos.
Like you said. Use your 12VDC thing as a dedicated Freezer. Buy a fancy, well insulated Esky(ice Box) for everyday use. Put all you frozen stuff at the top of the Ice Box and let it chill what's underneath. With luck, everything should be thawed out within two days, ready for you to cook. Use a separate locker for non perishable vegetables. Avocados, bananas, apples, cucumbers, eggs etc. just look at the super markets how they store stuff.
Thanks Marcel, I love your videos. With regards to drying clothes I have seen some vans that have also vented their diesel heater into their shower so that it becomes like a drying space. Really good for wet days. And when sunny use a washing line.
Yes thats a great idea. If we were to build another van with a shower i would for sure be venting the diesel heater vent into the shower for that reason and i think it would work really well. I'd still also like some kind of outdoor drying rack too
Having done this myself:
1. Keep things SUPER LIGHT! No solid wood. No 2x1's. All frameless or thing frames epoxy glued together with a 'Coreflute' plastic insert (Bamboo for the Greenies).
2. Definitely align your work surfaces with your power needs. Use 12V to 19VDC(any laptop voltage selectable) adapters/chargers.
3. NO bright lights anywhere. Dimmable, everywhere.
4. Only have removable storage for the back slide outs.
5. Don't tamper with anything that might stop you from getting your Blue Slip (Road Worthy Certificate)[MOT]. Do all that afterwards. Make the car as stock as possible (engineering wise) 'just in case' so you are sure you will get it passed. (Only necessary if your van is not registered already or you need to get it reclassified.
6. Be VERY careful about the number and type of 'holes' you make in the side of the van. ie. Utility, LPG, H2O, Shore Power etc. Make sure these comply with the local Standards.
7. Don't over spec your 12VDC wiring unnecessarily. Understand which gauge can carry what current.
8. Use either wood glue or Locktite on every nut and bolt for rougher roads, including dirt. Avoid self-tapers like you avoid your mother-in-law.
9. RUST PROOF RUST PROOF RUST PROOF RUST PROOF
10. Take this guys advice about 'washing lines' and everything else he mentions, as it is spot on advice.
Your cabinet door problem could be solved with half lap joints. You'd need a router table or a table saw to create them but they would be a lot stronger than those mitered corners. Also, you don't need a gas strut to hold it open. You can use a hinged stick to prop the door open.
The lapped joint would be much stronger yes I agree
@@saltyvanventures I've seen another solution here in lieu of a gas strut - marine support springs. Depending on your application, it might cost a bit more, but depending on how secure the items are inside, you might not need the locking mechanism to keep the door shut. In my years of prep for my van build (was a dream turned van order) I've been storing away all the tidbits for a van build.
Good work mate...
Thank you! Cheers!
Also, re: weight - have you seen Nomad's use of foam? www.youtube.com/@falkornomad/about
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! The outdoor drying rack with extendable bars seems like a great idea too. Thank you for that. I'm going to see what I can do about having some bars extend from the back, maybe nested in or with a roof rack system. The plan earlier was an "outdoor" shower, extending out the back with the drawer slides, or something mounted to the trailer hitch as a platform to stand on to be off the ground. I can see how a solar awning with laundry hanging storage below could be super useful when parked!
I have a 9 metre bus with less hard furniture than your little van. Our bed is two single beds end to end which is our couch during the day, you dont need a double bed taking so much space and only gets used once a day. First mistake most people make is buiding way too much furniture.
Dimmable lights: Why dont you use one of these 12V LED stripe systems... you can dimm it and you got a remote controll you can use maybe from inside the bed ?
The best video I’ve seen and I’ve seen a lot 😂 I’m not interested in another “how to connect a bulb” video, I learn on mistakes. Being able to learn on someone else’s mistakes is just great 😁 Very helpful hint on plywood pine imitation, I’ll use that in my build for sure. I don’t understand why don’t you simply add USB sockets where you want now, or add the ceiling dimmer? your van is not made of concrete 😉 (even if it was, that’s not a problem). Anyways, thank you for such informative video.
Glad it was helpful to you. I can for sure add more sockets I just haven’t gotten around to it yet! As for the dimmer, I haven’t found one I liked yet
Would red lights fix the lighting issue for stealth ?? Like military field lighting
This Video presentation was like hearing myself. I have to say i watched all your build vids whilst I was doing a very similar build. Thanks for some ideas for sure, but hey how come your concerns mirror mine well most of them. The freezer fridge bit is def need of upgrade like you say. keep it up guys, Salty as you need to be.
That's awesome and no problem! Maybe they are just common problems 😂
I don't think we want to do the same.😁
Planning on purchasing a van and having it build for me. Video gave me a lot of things to think about so I don't make the same mistakes. Didn't really think about weight of build being an issue.
Yes it’s a big issue a lot of people don’t realise and it can really cause major issues later down the track.