Yes, we know we say "actually" a lot! It was a combination of getting used to being on camera and never having explained something in so much detail before lol Now accepting donations for a thesaurus 😅
We also loved the counter space it gave us too! We were able to pop it up and put our laptop there to watch shows from the bench ☺️ Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
I think this is one of the most visually appealing and fuctional van builds I've seen! Really great use of space and I think it would be perfect for long trips!
I have a small Mitsubishi Delica so am looking for creative camperization ideas. I'm stealing your flip up collapsible flip up sink! Great ideas everywhere! 😊🇨🇦
I love this practicality. SO many van lifers, even solos, have so many utensils and kitchenwares that take up lots of space. I'm still in my house until my build is done and I only have 2 spoons, 2 forks, etc.
I like what you 2 have done with your van. Im 58 and need access to go #1 thru out the night , so I have to have a potty area ready. Oh to be young again, 😂😂😂
I noticed it is what I eat and when I eat and how much. Going pee at night is sign of type 2 diabetes. Try to experiment at home and see how it works. If I eat raw vegan diet, do not over eat and do not eat late even raw vegan, no salt, then I sleep at night for 8 hours straight. Hope that helps. And of course no caffeine of any kind. It is all in our hands to be free.
Buckets, different colours, identical size for diferent usages, have so many uses, with a pale ones my shower, add a plastic bag ones my toilet, kitchen sink is another. Carrying water and surplies, storage when a lid is fitted. That's all I've used in my life time of alternative living. Good quility buckets that have lids. Saves a fortune on buying items made for certain jobs. Oval buckets fit easy in any large back pack yet again your never far away from a very useful item with its many usages.
Thanks for the tip! We will have to look into getting ourselves some good buckets, they definitely seem like they come in handy. Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
You are great! All done well. I have watched a lot of videos about makeshift motorhomes and your video is the first one where I saw a safe in a motorhome. I think this is a very important thing for any motorhome!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! The safe offers peace of mind when we leave our van, we highly recommend one :)
This van build (without the electrical wiring) is so simple but it works SO WELL. It’s just low-build enough for a newbie like me to be able to achieve with help from my dad, for weekend trips and stuff. My main expense that I’m preparing for is (other than the van itself obviously) is a jackery.
Perfect van build. Awesome. I'm single. So I'd use the passenger seat to store a foldable bike, inflatable kyack and snorkelling gear. I love your van . Good luck
That is a great idea, we have seen other people who are single with the same van do something similar! Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Love the functionality of your van and the shower setup. We have a high roof LWB transit. We don’t have a designated trash can. At the sliding door behind the passenger seat, where the seat belt is, we hang a bag that we chuck when it’s full. Above that door we have two hooks that we hang our jackets for quick access and out of the way when we sleep. Next to that, across the cab we have a washing line to hang any damp clothes, dish towels etc. Our fire extinguisher is at the entrance of the sliding door. Of course our van is bigger so we have permanent fixtures because we are much older and just want comfort, though we don’t have a full bathroom in the van. We have a permanent toilet and a shower in the back which is removable and the hot water system can be put on a tripod so we can shower anywhere. Thought you could use our tips on using your cab for more ideas.
Wow, your van sounds amazing! Thank you so much for the information! We eventually want to upgrade to a bigger van, we will have to keep all of your suggestions in mind when we do :) Thank you for watching as well, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing, you have amazing features which I didn't know so far like the solar shower, the collapsible sink and some more. Cheers from Ireland (I just bought a 5 year old Caddy, will collect it tomorrow)
Appa is beautifully thought out! Congratulations! I'd recommend rounding out all of those counter corners, especially where you pass by them around the side door. Nothing wakes you up in the morning like sleepily running into a sharp(ish) furniture corner.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You are right, rounding the corners is a great suggestion! We have unfortunately gotten our fair share of bumps from them haha we haven't gotten to fixing them yet and we regret it every time lol
I never understood the utility of a collapsible sink. I figured a portable sink would offer another storage element when not in use. But what you guys did was brilliant. You managed to put a drop shelf which EVERYBODY has to double function. I love it. Great ideas here and you two are a delightful couple.
Yep, that collapsible sink impressed me too and I started to think about making one. But then if I want to be totally stealth and if I cannot go out to empty it, it would be a problem. Because you cannot have it full when you drive…
I agree! Came here to say that was the best sink idea I've ever seen. It even has the removable top for another work surface when you're not using the sink. 👏👏
U can cook crispy pork belly poke a lot of wholes in it and cook it at air fryer. For 230 for an hour and scrap the oil off the skin till it’s crispy and the marinate is just 5 spice with water and rub it on the bottom.
@@carllubrin8518 Good to know! We are not very good cooks so we mostly heat up mozzarella sticks, fries and other frozen foods haha We will have to start trying actual air fryer recipes for sure!
@@mikeandheather any time oh when u do the project belly make sure u have lots of air flow it could get smoky and it take 1 - half hours for ur pork to cook and rest it once u have crispy skin on the top and also check for remaining oil on the skin I like to scrap off the oil once in awhile then place it back in the air fryer :)
@@mikeandheather u can also cook chicken breast and ect try marinating soy garlic and vinegar and place a baking sheet of papper in that tray and air fry it for 45 min on 220 - 210
Great use of space and organization. I like how you placed your collapsible sink in the multipurpose folding board ( smart ) 👍 you two thought of everything that would make traveling a great experience. I wish you two the best and looking forward to your videos. Take care and God Bless
Wonderful build. Thank you so much for this very thought out presentation. I'm hoping to buy the same van this week so this is very exciting to see what you have done.
Thank you, we really appreciate it and you watching! Haha feel free to "steal" any ideas you would like, we watched so many van build videos ourselves and took ideas from all of them as well! There are so many ways to build out a van, you really can't go wrong. Best of luck in your van build!
Large throw pillow cases to store sleeping bags - what an awesome idea! I've never seen that before. It's also great for people who live in apartments and are short on space.
You are right! We never thought of that but yes, it would absolutely work well for small apartments too! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you! We cannot take credit for it though, we were inspired by some of the van life channels we watch :) Thanks for watching, we really appreciate it!
Since Mike is so tall, the kitchen on that side is really the only way we could have built it. The driver's seat needs to go all the way back for him to drive comfortably and building the bed on that side would have not allowed the seat to go all the way back. Thankfully it all worked out haha Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
You did really good job fitting the van out. I used to drive something similar. For a bin I just reused empty plastic shopping bags. One handle tucked in to the glovebox. Or you can have it hanging from head rest from the passenger seat. Amazon has waterproof trash cans to hang off the headrests. The airfryer is so cute , it would be handy
Hi. I also have a 2013 Connect and LOVE it. I also reversed the layout and for the same reason; I’m 6’1” (down from 6’3”…..the years will do that to you. 😂). Mine is not a slide out bed as I travel alone and don’t need the extra width. Thanks for the great video; it’s given me some great ideas for tweaking mine. 👍
That is awesome! It is funny how many tall people have stumbled upon these videos, we love hearing how everyone is still able to make a small van work for them. It sounds like you have a great setup, the stationary bed sounds nice- well the idea of not having to set up the bed after a long day sounds nice haha but it's not too bad :) Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Every van tour should have the tallest person say their height like these people did. So helpful to figure out how we at home would fit, I once watched a tour where they talked about how they had 4-5 inches from their head to the ceiling WITHOUT EVEN TELLING US THEIR height. Lol. Think of your Audience, Yo! They aren’t there with in in person!
Don't know if you will get this comment or if someone else has suggested this, but rather than the Mr. Buddy, which gives of a lot of moisture, what about a little 12 volt coupé warmer aka free standing window defroster. They do not use a lot of energy and per Dee at Lady Bug on TH-cam, she uses one to warm up her van if need be. And that is what we are hoping to do here in Norway, actually. I thought about a lot of things, but we have a 12 volt connection in the back of our van, and we have to keep the bulkhead wall in place for insurance/safety reasons, so I thought while driving, we can run the coupe warmer off the car's 12 volt and that will pre warm the back. And the use our little Jackery if we need to warm up the van in the morning before getting dressed kind of thing. Or in the middle of the night. Just throwing that out there. Lynne
Thank you for the suggestion! We really appreciate any feedback as we are new to van life. Do you know where you purchased your warmer? We tried looking on Amazon to learn more and the ones we found didn't seem to have good reviews haha If you could send us the link/where you bought it that would be awesome! Thank you once again for the suggestion and for watching, it means a lot to us!
@@mikeandheather I bought ours here in Norway and don't actually remember the store. It was the only one I could find that was 12 volt and used low wattage. But I will see if I can find the video for Lady Bugouts talking about hers. Ok channel is Lady Bugout and it is one of her oldest videos, 5 gadgets you should have. And she has a link, but it is currently unavailable. But may come back? And she loves hers. Maybe you could find that type online ie not via amazon? Hers was made by TKONG says the product info. She is also using it just to heat, not for actually defrosting. If that is why others are getting bad reviews, maybe they will work just to heat a bit?
@@mikeandheather and to be clear, I am collecting things for our build, so I have not tried our coupe heater, but Dee swears by hers. Mentions it in several videos. And I think it could work well for us. Prefer idea of electric to propane due to moisture. Another woman in Canada, who just sleeps in her mini van ie no build, she had a bigger power station and ran a small space heater on it, but slept with an electric blanket. So, those are other options too. I think a small space heater with a theromostat, set on low, could work and have the advantage of not running all night. But they tend to use more electricity. Hope you find a solution that works for you! Happy travels, Lynne
Loving this van! Lots of inspiration for me. You mentioned your smoke detector. It's probably fine but I'd consider putting it a bit higher for earlier detection.
You are right! We actually moved the smoke detector after filming this because so many kind people like you let us know it wasn't in a great spot haha Thank you so much for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!
So, Only a few seconds in and already love the video. The intro was everything it needed to be and more. Subscribing and great job on the audio, VO, Intro and I'm onto the rest of the video :)
Another great video showcasing your awesome build! You two really did a great job and added some great ideas - love the collapsible sink/shelf idea!!! Can't wait for you to be able to go full time so I can follow.
Im thinking of buying one of these vans to make i micro camper, one thing thou. Have done a hard brake test and see if everything stays in place. Dont want lots of stuff flying in the car and hit the back of youre head if you need to brake hard
That is so exciting! We haven't intentionally done a hard brake test but we have braked hard unintentionally more times than we would probably like to admit haha We haven't had an issues with things not staying in place other than the pillow we keep on the bed will fall off. Best of luck in your van search and build! Thank you for watching!
We also converted a transit connect but I like looking at other builds to get additional ideas. I liked the way you set up the faucet and sink. I may do something similar. One question, though: where do you store your stuff? That doesn't seem to be nearly enough space under the bed. One thing we did differently is that our "counter" is a foldable desk, and we built some wood boxes to store our things. That way, to sleep, we move the boxes down to the "hallway", fold the desk and the bed extends 90% the width of the van making it just 2" short of a double bed. Funny thing, without ever seeing anyone do that, we also made a cushion cover to put our sleeping bags and bedding! It's the bulkier thing and it can serve a purpose when not sleeping. I also like what you did with the walls. We still have lots of exposed metal. Fun travels!!
Your bed build sounds great! Very clever! We also watched lots of other van build videos when we were building out our van. It is really neat to see/hear about other people's builds ☺️ Honestly, storage is limited in our van. Having a small van is great for many things but not storage haha Most of our storage is in our overhead shelf and below our bed. It isn't much but fits everything we need, and space for a few souvenirs lol Best of luck in your van build! Safe travels as well!
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching! Our spare tire is located underneath our van, you can see the process of getting it down better in this video here: th-cam.com/video/bTbTdo99Iug/w-d-xo.html Hope that helps! Thanks again for watching!
Love your van. I had a Transit Connect window van and loved it. But I’m going to be traveling extensively so I bought a Transit 250. I almost bought a Jackery but didn’t like their lack of customer support. Then I discovered the EcoFlo Delta. They have the most powerful inverter and the fastest charge time. Happy travels
Thank you! To be honest we bought the Jackery because we kept seeing it pop up in van build and tour videos when we were converting our own van. Before we saw the Jackery in the videos, we didn't even know power banks that large existed haha thankfully we haven't had any issues so far :) It is great to know that there are other alternatives! Best of luck in your new van!
Really great video. I’m really interested in the multi use kitchen utensils which slot into the same handle. I’m loving that. I’m not sure if we can get that item in the UK but I would like to try. If you could tell me what the make and model is I would appreciate it. Keep up the good work. 😎👍
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Unfortunately we do not know the brand name for the utensil set, we bought it second hand at a yard sale. Best of luck finding a set that works for you 😊
It may be pure myth, but old hikers tell young hikers - "don't fold your sleeping bag". The idea is that a randomly crammed bag won't get creases and pressure points in the same places every night, so the insulation stays more evenly distributed. That might even only matter for down-filled bags. Take it for what it's worth. Personally, I have no idea. I just cram mine back into the little bag it came in. :-) Also, very nice setup you made!
Really?! That is awesome! Thanks for passing down that advice, we will pretend like we knew that already and that is why we shove our sleeping bag into a giant pillow, that it is not at all out of laziness haha Just kidding! BUT there is always a little bit of truth in every legend so hopefully our sleeping bag will stay nice for longer :) Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi! Still don’t know if the trash can or lack there of is still an issue - however in case it may be - if you are willing to utilize the space on the back of the cockpit seating - and get an organizer - if you search Buzzed - there are some pretty good ones listed :) Anyhow, I hope this helps :)
When we use the outdoor shower we usually put a tarp to cover the back doors and then stand in the area in the back! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You are too kind! Unfortunately we are rather behind in our videos and have already passed through WI on our road trip a few weeks ago. If we find ourselves back in that area, we may just have to look you up :)
That's awesome, small world! Honestly, your Prius probably isn't much smaller than our van haha Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it! Oh, and GO BILLS!
Hi guys! I bought the exact same van a month after you guys did! I was actually going to name my van Appa till I saw your videos 😂 I went with Zuzu instead and have a cat named Momo 💛 Anyways, your build looks amazing and it’s really helpful seeing the same van being built with similar ideas to what I want to do!
OMG NO WAY! Great minds think alike :) Sorry for stealing your name idea but your van's (and cat's) name are awesome! haha Best of luck in your van build, you will have to keep us updated on how it goes!
Thank you! We purchased the cabinet from a home improvement store and tweaked it to what we needed. We didn't really trust our carpentry skills (or lack thereof) in building one from scratch haha but we think it turned out to be exactly what we were looking for! (and better constructed than anything we could do lol) Thank you for watching!
Wow👍🏼 This is awesome and thanks for sharing. This helps me know the little cubby areas and how to utilize & make the most of them 💖 Oh, did I mention you guys rock! 🤩
Thank you for a great video and giving us a full insight in to your van, I have lots of ideas from you I may well use, stay safe and Season’s greetings to you both 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎄👍🏻
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! We actually used an air wick room spray holder, it was just something that we had laying around our apartment haha Here is the link to our video showing how we installed it: th-cam.com/video/2UE4vU60jOc/w-d-xo.html Here is the link to the product if you are interested in the exact model: amzn.to/3HORLDu Hope that helps!
Yes, we know we say "actually" a lot! It was a combination of getting used to being on camera and never having explained something in so much detail before lol Now accepting donations for a thesaurus 😅
The popup sink is a game changer. You saved soooo much space!
We also loved the counter space it gave us too! We were able to pop it up and put our laptop there to watch shows from the bench ☺️ Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
@@mikeandheatherHow do you catch your gray water?
I think this is one of the most visually appealing and fuctional van builds I've seen! Really great use of space and I think it would be perfect for long trips!
Wow, thank you! That is a huge compliment, we really appreciate it and you watching!
@@mikeandheather q no q11q1111
I have a small Mitsubishi Delica so am looking for creative camperization ideas. I'm stealing your flip up collapsible flip up sink! Great ideas everywhere! 😊🇨🇦
I love this practicality. SO many van lifers, even solos, have so many utensils and kitchenwares that take up lots of space. I'm still in my house until my build is done and I only have 2 spoons, 2 forks, etc.
I like what you 2 have done with your van. Im 58 and need access to go #1 thru out the night , so I have to have a potty area ready. Oh to be young again, 😂😂😂
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! I (Heather) can relate, the portable urinal definitely comes in handy haha
Nico😙😘😍
I noticed it is what I eat and when I eat and how much. Going pee at night is sign of type 2 diabetes. Try to experiment at home and see how it works. If I eat raw vegan diet, do not over eat and do not eat late even raw vegan, no salt, then I sleep at night for 8 hours straight. Hope that helps. And of course no caffeine of any kind. It is all in our hands to be free.
Buckets, different colours, identical size for diferent usages, have so many uses, with a pale ones my shower, add a plastic bag ones my toilet, kitchen sink is another. Carrying water and surplies, storage when a lid is fitted. That's all I've used in my life time of alternative living. Good quility buckets that have lids. Saves a fortune on buying items made for certain jobs. Oval buckets fit easy in any large back pack yet again your never far away from a very useful item with its many usages.
Thanks for the tip! We will have to look into getting ourselves some good buckets, they definitely seem like they come in handy. Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
You are great! All done well. I have watched a lot of videos about makeshift motorhomes and your video is the first one where I saw a safe in a motorhome. I think this is a very important thing for any motorhome!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! The safe offers peace of mind when we leave our van, we highly recommend one :)
This van build (without the electrical wiring) is so simple but it works SO WELL. It’s just low-build enough for a newbie like me to be able to achieve with help from my dad, for weekend trips and stuff. My main expense that I’m preparing for is (other than the van itself obviously) is a jackery.
Perfect van build. Awesome. I'm single. So I'd use the passenger seat to store a foldable bike, inflatable kyack and snorkelling gear. I love your van . Good luck
That is a great idea, we have seen other people who are single with the same van do something similar! Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Love the functionality of your van and the shower setup. We have a high roof LWB transit. We don’t have a designated trash can. At the sliding door behind the passenger seat, where the seat belt is, we hang a bag that we chuck when it’s full. Above that door we have two hooks that we hang our jackets for quick access and out of the way when we sleep. Next to that, across the cab we have a washing line to hang any damp clothes, dish towels etc. Our fire extinguisher is at the entrance of the sliding door. Of course our van is bigger so we have permanent fixtures because we are much older and just want comfort, though we don’t have a full bathroom in the van. We have a permanent toilet and a shower in the back which is removable and the hot water system can be put on a tripod so we can shower anywhere. Thought you could use our tips on using your cab for more ideas.
Wow, your van sounds amazing! Thank you so much for the information! We eventually want to upgrade to a bigger van, we will have to keep all of your suggestions in mind when we do :) Thank you for watching as well, we really appreciate it!
I love it guys! Live your dreams instead of being a slave to evil system that drains your soul. Live WILD and keep on keeping on! Love the bed!
Thank you for sharing, you have amazing features which I didn't know so far like the solar shower, the collapsible sink and some more. Cheers from Ireland (I just bought a 5 year old Caddy, will collect it tomorrow)
Hello how are you doing?
Very, very nice. It's amazing what people can do with these little spaces.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Appa is beautifully thought out! Congratulations! I'd recommend rounding out all of those counter corners, especially where you pass by them around the side door. Nothing wakes you up in the morning like sleepily running into a sharp(ish) furniture corner.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You are right, rounding the corners is a great suggestion! We have unfortunately gotten our fair share of bumps from them haha we haven't gotten to fixing them yet and we regret it every time lol
@@mikeandheather Thank you for sharing your beautiful home♥
I wish you safe travels and less bruises c:
Wow! Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but so functional! Love it!
Thanks so much! We really appreciate it and you watching!
Nicely done. I see a great space for trash. Hang a small waterproof bag between the seats from a hook. You can access it from the front and back.
Awesome suggestion! Thank you so much! We really appreciate it and you watching 😀
I like all the features that you have you give me a lot of work to try to figure out how to go about it.
I never understood the utility of a collapsible sink. I figured a portable sink would offer another storage element when not in use. But what you guys did was brilliant. You managed to put a drop shelf which EVERYBODY has to double function. I love it. Great ideas here and you two are a delightful couple.
Yep, that collapsible sink impressed me too and I started to think about making one. But then if I want to be totally stealth and if I cannot go out to empty it, it would be a problem. Because you cannot have it full when you drive…
They don't know what they have been doing.
I agree! Came here to say that was the best sink idea I've ever seen. It even has the removable top for another work surface when you're not using the sink. 👏👏
Use a cereal storage container for trash. Easy open/close, you can line it with plastic bag, hold scents well
That's a great idea.
Thank you for the suggestion, we really appreciate it and you watching!
You are right, it is a great idea!
I love the collapsible sink. Your van is so well thought of. Lots of real great feature for the size of the van. Love it a lot.
Unique and functional space!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Wow...perfect use of every inch of space! I love the trim molding...so elegant👍
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it!
Great video. What a awesome, organized, functional build. Love the desk/table. Looks comfy to sit at. Awesome use of the extra counter/sink.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Adorable air fryer! It is a game changer!
Right?! We love the air fryer in our apartment and knew we needed one in our van! (both of us are terrible cooks and the air fryer is fool proof haha)
U can cook crispy pork belly poke a lot of wholes in it and cook it at air fryer. For 230 for an hour and scrap the oil off the skin till it’s crispy and the marinate is just 5 spice with water and rub it on the bottom.
@@carllubrin8518 Good to know! We are not very good cooks so we mostly heat up mozzarella sticks, fries and other frozen foods haha We will have to start trying actual air fryer recipes for sure!
@@mikeandheather any time oh when u do the project belly make sure u have lots of air flow it could get smoky and it take 1 - half hours for ur pork to cook and rest it once u have crispy skin on the top and also check for remaining oil on the skin I like to scrap off the oil once in awhile then place it back in the air fryer :)
@@mikeandheather u can also cook chicken breast and ect try marinating soy garlic and vinegar and place a baking sheet of papper in that tray and air fry it for 45 min on 220 - 210
So simple/basic/organized...and the two of you so personable/efficient per your "tour..." superb!:)
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Great use of space and organization. I like how you placed your collapsible sink in the multipurpose folding board ( smart ) 👍 you two thought of everything that would make traveling a great experience. I wish you two the best and looking forward to your videos. Take care and God Bless
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it and you!
Tiny House Van well organized amazing
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Wow! Super tiny micro camper...You guys just fit in the bed. Genial!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Very functional Van Home
Thank you! We really appreciate it and the kind words!
Wonderful build. Thank you so much for this very thought out presentation. I'm hoping to buy the same van this week so this is very exciting to see what you have done.
Great van! Thank you for the video. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi you two are a match made in heaven fantastic work on your van looking forward traveling along with you God bless you both stay safe
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Excellent build guys, some really neat workarounds to give yourselves extra space. I love the narrow kitchen cupboard with the slide out tabletop!
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Amen girl I’m 40 and still can’t get a sleeping bag back in :) that gave me a smile ! You two enjoy :) stay young and smiling
Love it! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
This was an awesome video. Some fantastic ideas that I am going to steal when I finally get my van. Thanks guys and keep up the good work.
Thank you, we really appreciate it and you watching! Haha feel free to "steal" any ideas you would like, we watched so many van build videos ourselves and took ideas from all of them as well! There are so many ways to build out a van, you really can't go wrong. Best of luck in your van build!
Large throw pillow cases to store sleeping bags - what an awesome idea! I've never seen that before. It's also great for people who live in apartments and are short on space.
You are right! We never thought of that but yes, it would absolutely work well for small apartments too! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
By the way great build I'm glad I found you and can now follow
We are glad you found our channel too 😊
We really do appreciate you watching, it means a lot to us!
The dual purpose bedding stowaway and pillow is an amazing idea!!! Love the van!!
Thank you! We cannot take credit for it though, we were inspired by some of the van life channels we watch :) Thanks for watching, we really appreciate it!
This is a really great build. Thanks for posting !
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
i like the kitchen on that side in those. ive seen them built the other way around and it doesnt feel right.
Since Mike is so tall, the kitchen on that side is really the only way we could have built it. The driver's seat needs to go all the way back for him to drive comfortably and building the bed on that side would have not allowed the seat to go all the way back. Thankfully it all worked out haha
Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
Nice seat covers!!!
Thanks! We bought them from Walmart 🙂
Thank you for watching as well, we really appreciate it!
I love this build.Thank you.I got lots of ideas.
Great video. Great build. 👍
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
The beginning is epic
It's a little jumpy haha we were and are still learning how to edit! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it!
You did really good job fitting the van out.
I used to drive something similar. For a bin I just reused empty plastic shopping bags. One handle tucked in to the glovebox. Or you can have it hanging from head rest from the passenger seat. Amazon has waterproof trash cans to hang off the headrests. The airfryer is so cute , it would be handy
Hi. I also have a 2013 Connect and LOVE it. I also reversed the layout and for the same reason; I’m 6’1” (down from 6’3”…..the years will do that to you. 😂). Mine is not a slide out bed as I travel alone and don’t need the extra width. Thanks for the great video; it’s given me some great ideas for tweaking mine. 👍
That is awesome! It is funny how many tall people have stumbled upon these videos, we love hearing how everyone is still able to make a small van work for them. It sounds like you have a great setup, the stationary bed sounds nice- well the idea of not having to set up the bed after a long day sounds nice haha but it's not too bad :) Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Every van tour should have the tallest person say their height like these people did. So helpful to figure out how we at home would fit,
I once watched a tour where they talked about how they had 4-5 inches from their head to the ceiling WITHOUT EVEN TELLING US THEIR height. Lol.
Think of your Audience, Yo! They aren’t there with in in person!
Don't know if you will get this comment or if someone else has suggested this, but rather than the Mr. Buddy, which gives of a lot of moisture, what about a little 12 volt coupé warmer aka free standing window defroster. They do not use a lot of energy and per Dee at Lady Bug on TH-cam, she uses one to warm up her van if need be. And that is what we are hoping to do here in Norway, actually. I thought about a lot of things, but we have a 12 volt connection in the back of our van, and we have to keep the bulkhead wall in place for insurance/safety reasons, so I thought while driving, we can run the coupe warmer off the car's 12 volt and that will pre warm the back. And the use our little Jackery if we need to warm up the van in the morning before getting dressed kind of thing. Or in the middle of the night. Just throwing that out there. Lynne
Thank you for the suggestion! We really appreciate any feedback as we are new to van life. Do you know where you purchased your warmer? We tried looking on Amazon to learn more and the ones we found didn't seem to have good reviews haha If you could send us the link/where you bought it that would be awesome! Thank you once again for the suggestion and for watching, it means a lot to us!
@@mikeandheather I bought ours here in Norway and don't actually remember the store. It was the only one I could find that was 12 volt and used low wattage. But I will see if I can find the video for Lady Bugouts talking about hers. Ok channel is Lady Bugout and it is one of her oldest videos, 5 gadgets you should have. And she has a link, but it is currently unavailable. But may come back? And she loves hers. Maybe you could find that type online ie not via amazon? Hers was made by TKONG says the product info. She is also using it just to heat, not for actually defrosting. If that is why others are getting bad reviews, maybe they will work just to heat a bit?
@@mikeandheather and to be clear, I am collecting things for our build, so I have not tried our coupe heater, but Dee swears by hers. Mentions it in several videos. And I think it could work well for us. Prefer idea of electric to propane due to moisture. Another woman in Canada, who just sleeps in her mini van ie no build, she had a bigger power station and ran a small space heater on it, but slept with an electric blanket. So, those are other options too. I think a small space heater with a theromostat, set on low, could work and have the advantage of not running all night. But they tend to use more electricity. Hope you find a solution that works for you! Happy travels, Lynne
Absolutely the finest build & darling decor to meet all your needs while Road tripping & Camping safely. Hope to see you in Minnesota 🥵
Love it! Even though it is so small, it doesn't look cramped and stuffed. Enjoy your travels!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Love the safe such a great idea! I have I small lock box for cash and other small items but a safe would be such an upgrade
Thank you we really appreciate it and you watching! A lock box is a great idea as well :)
Loving this van! Lots of inspiration for me. You mentioned your smoke detector. It's probably fine but I'd consider putting it a bit higher for earlier detection.
You are right! We actually moved the smoke detector after filming this because so many kind people like you let us know it wasn't in a great spot haha Thank you so much for the suggestion and for watching, we really appreciate it!
So, Only a few seconds in and already love the video. The intro was everything it needed to be and more. Subscribing and great job on the audio, VO, Intro and I'm onto the rest of the video :)
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Very well planned out! Love all you’ve done! 🤗
Thanks so much! 😊 We really appreciate it and you watching!
Great Design, you guys did a great job at organizing all your necessities!
Another great video showcasing your awesome build! You two really did a great job and added some great ideas - love the collapsible sink/shelf idea!!! Can't wait for you to be able to go full time so I can follow.
Thank you so much for the kind words and your support, we really appreciate it! We also cannot wait to get on the road again haha
I really liked yours interior design and I wish you a lot of fun in using it
Thank you! We really appreciate the kind words and you watching :)
Im thinking of buying one of these vans to make i micro camper, one thing thou. Have done a hard brake test and see if everything stays in place. Dont want lots of stuff flying in the car and hit the back of youre head if you need to brake hard
That is so exciting! We haven't intentionally done a hard brake test but we have braked hard unintentionally more times than we would probably like to admit haha We haven't had an issues with things not staying in place other than the pillow we keep on the bed will fall off. Best of luck in your van search and build! Thank you for watching!
Nice and comfortable campervan, you inspired me to make something like you made 😀
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build!
Hey🤗 nice neat build ,very organized...new subscriber, looking forward to following safe travels🌻🇯🇲
You are too kind! Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it and you subscribing!
You've done an amazing job in a small space. Well done and enjoy your travels.
Thank you! We really appreciate it!
We also converted a transit connect but I like looking at other builds to get additional ideas. I liked the way you set up the faucet and sink. I may do something similar. One question, though: where do you store your stuff? That doesn't seem to be nearly enough space under the bed. One thing we did differently is that our "counter" is a foldable desk, and we built some wood boxes to store our things. That way, to sleep, we move the boxes down to the "hallway", fold the desk and the bed extends 90% the width of the van making it just 2" short of a double bed. Funny thing, without ever seeing anyone do that, we also made a cushion cover to put our sleeping bags and bedding! It's the bulkier thing and it can serve a purpose when not sleeping. I also like what you did with the walls. We still have lots of exposed metal. Fun travels!!
Your bed build sounds great! Very clever! We also watched lots of other van build videos when we were building out our van. It is really neat to see/hear about other people's builds ☺️ Honestly, storage is limited in our van. Having a small van is great for many things but not storage haha Most of our storage is in our overhead shelf and below our bed. It isn't much but fits everything we need, and space for a few souvenirs lol Best of luck in your van build! Safe travels as well!
Excellent job, humbly done! Congratulations 👍🏻
Thank you! We really appreciate it and you watching!
You showed us where the jack is on your van but I'm curious, where is the spare tire? Love your build!
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching! Our spare tire is located underneath our van, you can see the process of getting it down better in this video here: th-cam.com/video/bTbTdo99Iug/w-d-xo.html
Hope that helps! Thanks again for watching!
Love your van. I had a Transit Connect window van and loved it. But I’m going to be traveling extensively so I bought a Transit 250. I almost bought a Jackery but didn’t like their lack of customer support. Then I discovered the EcoFlo Delta. They have the most powerful inverter and the fastest charge time. Happy travels
Thank you! To be honest we bought the Jackery because we kept seeing it pop up in van build and tour videos when we were converting our own van. Before we saw the Jackery in the videos, we didn't even know power banks that large existed haha thankfully we haven't had any issues so far :) It is great to know that there are other alternatives! Best of luck in your new van!
Really great video. I’m really interested in the multi use kitchen utensils which slot into the same handle. I’m loving that. I’m not sure if we can get that item in the UK but I would like to try. If you could tell me what the make and model is I would appreciate it. Keep up the good work. 😎👍
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Unfortunately we do not know the brand name for the utensil set, we bought it second hand at a yard sale. Best of luck finding a set that works for you 😊
If you change hinged doors to sliding doors you may have better access. I love your use of every space.
Maybe use Tambour doors.
It may be pure myth, but old hikers tell young hikers - "don't fold your sleeping bag". The idea is that a randomly crammed bag won't get creases and pressure points in the same places every night, so the insulation stays more evenly distributed. That might even only matter for down-filled bags. Take it for what it's worth. Personally, I have no idea. I just cram mine back into the little bag it came in. :-) Also, very nice setup you made!
Really?! That is awesome! Thanks for passing down that advice, we will pretend like we knew that already and that is why we shove our sleeping bag into a giant pillow, that it is not at all out of laziness haha Just kidding!
BUT there is always a little bit of truth in every legend so hopefully our sleeping bag will stay nice for longer :)
Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi! Still don’t know if the trash can or lack there of is still an issue - however in case it may be - if you are willing to utilize the space on the back of the cockpit seating - and get an organizer - if you search Buzzed - there are some pretty good ones listed :)
Anyhow, I hope this helps :)
This video was so well done and extremely helpful. I look forward to watching more. New subscriber.
Thank you so much! And thank you for subscribing, it means a lot to us!
Thanks for sharing. I'm in the process of converting my Transit Connect 2020 and wow I got a lot of info here👍🏽
That is awesome! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your van build :)
How do you cover yourself for a shower? You can get the shower toga.
When we use the outdoor shower we usually put a tarp to cover the back doors and then stand in the area in the back! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
you guys inspired me to do a camper out of smaller van!
That's great! Best of luck in your van build :)
Thank you so much for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Thanks for sharing your exciting 😀 life with us all. Nice camper Ford, good luck with it . God bless you always.
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Clever build, sensible mods ☺
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Very nice Van Build!!! Enjoy your travels and stay safe!!
Thank you, we really appreciate it and you watching!
So clever. My favorite thing was how you mounted the collapsible sink... genius : ) Happy travels : )
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
You picked the perfect name!!
Nicely done build and presentation.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really do appreciate it!
Rig looks great. God bless on your adventures. If you get to Milwaukee, WI., look me up. We could get dinner and I could show you sites.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! You are too kind! Unfortunately we are rather behind in our videos and have already passed through WI on our road trip a few weeks ago. If we find ourselves back in that area, we may just have to look you up :)
Using that collapsible tub for a sink is a great idea!
Thank you! And thanks for watching, we really appreciate it!
Great design tips, thank you.
No problem! Thank you for watching, we really appreciate it :)
Whoop whoop! Fellow Buffalo, NY traveler!!!!! I’m in a Prius though! Go BILLS!
That's awesome, small world! Honestly, your Prius probably isn't much smaller than our van haha Thank you so much for watching, we really appreciate it! Oh, and GO BILLS!
This is excellent. You're really good at this. ❤️👍👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Hi guys! I bought the exact same van a month after you guys did! I was actually going to name my van Appa till I saw your videos 😂 I went with Zuzu instead and have a cat named Momo 💛 Anyways, your build looks amazing and it’s really helpful seeing the same van being built with similar ideas to what I want to do!
OMG NO WAY! Great minds think alike :) Sorry for stealing your name idea but your van's (and cat's) name are awesome! haha Best of luck in your van build, you will have to keep us updated on how it goes!
I have a cat namedMomo
Love the build! Great use of space..
Thank you, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Sleep on top of the electric blanket. Cute build.
Thank you for the suggestion and kind words, we really do appreciate it and you watching!
❤ Beatiful Build. Great solutions ❤
Like your channel and build fellow van lifer.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! Best of luck in your travels!
@@mikeandheather you guys are very welcome, cold and snowy here in denver area tonight. Stay safe in your travels!
Very smart design.
Thank you! We really appreciate it and you watching!
So thorough and helpful! The links are great too. Now I need to go van shopping since you two inspired me.
Thank you! We really appreciate it and you watching! Best of luck in your van search :)
Great job with the build, very functional
Thank you! We really appreciate it and you watching!
Very nice build 👍👍
Nice kitchen cabinet ideas here.
Thank you! We purchased the cabinet from a home improvement store and tweaked it to what we needed. We didn't really trust our carpentry skills (or lack thereof) in building one from scratch haha but we think it turned out to be exactly what we were looking for! (and better constructed than anything we could do lol) Thank you for watching!
Love your van build. You have a lot of great ideas. I particularly like how you extended your bed and your storage solutions for your side table.
Thank you for the kind words, we really appreciate it and you watching!
Wow👍🏼
This is awesome and thanks for sharing. This helps me know the little cubby areas and
how to utilize & make the
most of them 💖
Oh, did I mention you guys rock! 🤩
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it!
Very neat, so neat and organized. Thanks for sharing. 🤗🤗
Thank you! And thank you for watching, we really appreciate it!
Thank you for a great video and giving us a full insight in to your van, I have lots of ideas from you I may well use, stay safe and Season’s greetings to you both 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎄👍🏻
Thank you! Glad we could help haha best of luck! Happy holidays to you as well :)
Lovely van, congratulations! Can I ask you what did you use as your eletric tap holder??
Thank you for the kind words and for watching, we really appreciate it! We actually used an air wick room spray holder, it was just something that we had laying around our apartment haha
Here is the link to our video showing how we installed it: th-cam.com/video/2UE4vU60jOc/w-d-xo.html
Here is the link to the product if you are interested in the exact model: amzn.to/3HORLDu
Hope that helps!
Great video. Really enjoyed watching. Safe travelling.....🚐👏👏☘