I'm in the process of building out my Chevy Express. I love the idea of using cedar for the walls. I don't subscribe to every channel I check out but I subbed to yours. I like how you explain things clearly and the camera work is 👌. Looking forward to checking out more of your vids!
I am purchasing my Chevy Astro this weekend with plans to convert it. And while I am going to use a lot of your ideas I will be using the platform bed in the back as I am 5 feet tall lol. Although your bed idea is super innovative. I love your videos. And I plan to watch all of your videos from here on out 😊
Hey there again. love the natural wood, and may I say that the grain not matching to me looks better. It gives it even more of a rustic feel. I also love the matt finish instead of the gloss look, much more natural. Just wondering though, does this coat of matt, or anything else used not hide the aroma of the cedar at all? Would be a shame to lose that fantastic scent. Looking forward the next video, cheers.
I think you are completely right about the mismatched grain. I tend to be a perfectionist sometimes, but after taking a step back and looking at it completed it looks amazing! To answer your question about the cedar aroma you are correct. The smell of the poly does overpower and seal in some of that terrific cedar smell. It doesn’t however eliminate it entirely. I unfortunately have to sacrifice some of that amazing aroma for protection of the cedar. It’s not cheap and I want to make sure it’s durable for quite some time. It also brings out the unique grains of each plank which makes it worth it. Let me know if you have anymore questions, and I really appreciate you following along with my channel. Only a few more episodes of this series and then we are going to be camping in my Safari van all over the PNW so stayed tuned for that content. Thanks again Chris, cheers! 🤠
Howdy! I am using cedar in a natural house build and was thinking I'd like to use it in my van because of bugs. I'm a building apprentice doing a straw bale and earth plaster build in southern indiana. Was curious if you ever thought about having an apprentice? I have a super cute 1997 dodge ram van with cool artwork on the outside that's sort of built out but could be much cooler
Does the poly urethane cover up the cedar smell? Great vids btw! Subbbed and currently rebuilding my 03 e350. Your uploads are extremely helpful. Keep on truckin'!
The poly does seal up some of that great aroma, but I think its an important step to create a more durable finish. At first the van will smell like poly but as it airs out the aroma of the cedar comes back through subtly. My Safari van still smells nice inside after over a year of camping! Thanks for watching the videos and subbing! Good luck with your build.
not sure if you mentioned it and i just missed it, but what thickness of tongue and groove planks did you use for this build? we're looking to do our GMC savanas walls soon :)
@@MyVanSnoopy they are 1/4in pacific knotty cedar planks from home depot they come in packs of 6 I’d highly recommend. Just put them in the 5th camper build of mine. Hope this helps and thanks for watching
@@deetrascott6944 get the 1/4in pacific knotty cedar bundles from Home Depot. They come in packs of 8 I think and the thickness allows for application in those awkward curve spots. Good luck
How did you get the horizontal furring strip in along where the door slides ? I tried and the screws went through the actual van😅 And also how did you get the vertical one by the back right door of the van? I think I may have the same problem in that spot. It’s a Chevy express I have
Oh no sorry you have had that issue. I would back the screw out and silicone the hole from the inside. My Astro came with a couple holes in it and I patched them this way. Never leaked. Maybe your screws are longer then mine and if you are building a Chevy express it’s an entirely different van so there’s potential for mishap because of that. To get the furring strips by the door I just cut them into small pieces to account for the awkward curve. Hope this helps, and sounds like you are making your way through the build. Keep it up, and feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for watching Zach.
How light weight are the planks? I used Luan on my walls to keep the weight light. How light does your full passenger side wall section compare to one 4x 8 sheet of luan?
I have no idea the exact weight but it’s incredibly light. Cedar is a naturally a lifht material and these planks are ripped down to 1/4 or thinner. Thanks for watching
I buy them in packages of 6 for around a similar price at my local Home Depot. They can be pricey but are incredibly easy to work with, and look great. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
So I'm ready to do this step ...... Home Depot said they no longer sell this exact product ...... Lowe's was no help either In fact, one single 8 foot tongue and groove cedar plank (sold loose) is like $23 to $27 ...... I think I would need close to 30 planks total, which would cost about $750 ...... Maybe it's this weird rapid inflation, but I was only hoping to spend about $200 or $300 I'm all ears if anyone has any ideas In the meantime guess I'll keep scouring Facebook, Craiglist etc Just hate to leave something half finished
This is a strip of cabinet liner used to prevent water damage in a cabinet. I bought an entire 4x8 sheet from home depot and have used it in 2 different vans already. Cheap and easy way to solve that problem. Thanks for watching
The cedar does become sealed on the one side. I leave the other side unfinished which I believe still allows for some of that aroma to linger. That’s usually the first thing someone says when they get inside is “it smells nice in here”. It would be interesting to leave the cedar unfinished, but there’s just something about the Poly that gives the walls a more rigid and finished look. Thanks for commenting! 🏔🚐💨
Are those 1/4 in cedar planks? Have you found that those are sturdy enough? Im deciding between the 1/4in and 3/4in tounge and groove. Im using havelock wool so im a little worried about the gaps between furring strips as i wont have the solid r tech insulation behind the cedar.
Yes they are 1/4 inch, and they won’t be super rigid in those gaps using havelock probably. The 1/4 inch is nice to use because it can flex to the curvature of the van with ease. You could always put a thin sheet of plywood up to provide good mounting points for furniture and your 1/4 planks if that’s the route you wanted. This would definitely supply some support but not sure if it’s the most cost effective. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
If I’m not using insulation can I screw the panels right into the van? (Into the studs) Or is it worth it to just do the insulation even in warm climate
I would suggest a solid sheet of plywood across the walls to mount panels if you werent going the insulation route. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
Yes, I would suggest running all your wires before putting up the walls. In this case I had no wiring on this build so we skipped this step. Check out my latest build for more solar/wiring information!
I added framing to the van in all of the thick areas where a sheet metal screw could enter without puncturing through to the other side. This allows me to use small 1/4inch or so screw to attach the cedar to these framing points. Hope this makes sense. Thanks for watching
anyone doimng van builds and hiking etc.. start thinking about your security- more and more people are being robbed and tucson az-- very common to see the rear windows of vans blown out and robbed.. cage your glass and double your locks... keep the toys off teh dash board--- and a dog is useless against a burger with fentanyl
I'm in the process of building out my Chevy Express. I love the idea of using cedar for the walls. I don't subscribe to every channel I check out but I subbed to yours. I like how you explain things clearly and the camera work is 👌. Looking forward to checking out more of your vids!
That’s awesome! Thanks for subbing and helping me achieve my 1k subscriber goal
Looking super good! Can’t wait to see the floor and furniture!
Thanks for watching! Only a few more episodes of this series left before the final reveal/tour. This thing turned out AMAZING. Cheers friend! 🤠
Due to cost ill be using 1/4" plywood like i did in my 79 Dodge van build back in the 90s
That will work plenty well, and also be much easier in the long run. Thank you for watching!
Love the cedar, bro! Can’t wait to see more of this van!
Thanks Kyle! The build came out looking fantastic. Stay tuned for the rest of this series. Only a few more episodes to go. Cheers! 🤠
I am purchasing my Chevy Astro this weekend with plans to convert it. And while I am going to use a lot of your ideas I will be using the platform bed in the back as I am 5 feet tall lol. Although your bed idea is super innovative. I love your videos. And I plan to watch all of your videos from here on out 😊
That’s great! Good luck with your build, and I’m glad you found my videos to be useful. Thanks for watching
Is it going well so far
@@rebeccaeverhardt214 I actually didn’t get a van I converted my car and I spend 1-2 weeks a month traveling. It’s going well so far.
Use the canopy telescoping poles to hole the board up. Much easier.
That’s a greatly intuitive idea, thanks for sharing!
Also good to note sealing the cedar wood kills the aroma and bug repellent benefits
Hey there again. love the natural wood, and may I say that the grain not matching to me looks better. It gives it even more of a rustic feel. I also love the matt finish instead of the gloss look, much more natural. Just wondering though, does this coat of matt, or anything else used not hide the aroma of the cedar at all? Would be a shame to lose that fantastic scent. Looking forward the next video, cheers.
I think you are completely right about the mismatched grain. I tend to be a perfectionist sometimes, but after taking a step back and looking at it completed it looks amazing! To answer your question about the cedar aroma you are correct. The smell of the poly does overpower and seal in some of that terrific cedar smell. It doesn’t however eliminate it entirely. I unfortunately have to sacrifice some of that amazing aroma for protection of the cedar. It’s not cheap and I want to make sure it’s durable for quite some time. It also brings out the unique grains of each plank which makes it worth it. Let me know if you have anymore questions, and I really appreciate you following along with my channel. Only a few more episodes of this series and then we are going to be camping in my Safari van all over the PNW so stayed tuned for that content. Thanks again Chris, cheers! 🤠
I would have staggered the boards on the short side, and alternated long and short.
@@tonybucca5667 I probably would do that next time myself
Howdy! I am using cedar in a natural house build and was thinking I'd like to use it in my van because of bugs. I'm a building apprentice doing a straw bale and earth plaster build in southern indiana. Was curious if you ever thought about having an apprentice? I have a super cute 1997 dodge ram van with cool artwork on the outside that's sort of built out but could be much cooler
Send a portfolio to the email found on my channel page or in the description!
Does the poly urethane cover up the cedar smell? Great vids btw! Subbbed and currently rebuilding my 03 e350. Your uploads are extremely helpful. Keep on truckin'!
The poly does seal up some of that great aroma, but I think its an important step to create a more durable finish. At first the van will smell like poly but as it airs out the aroma of the cedar comes back through subtly. My Safari van still smells nice inside after over a year of camping! Thanks for watching the videos and subbing! Good luck with your build.
not sure if you mentioned it and i just missed it, but what thickness of tongue and groove planks did you use for this build? we're looking to do our GMC savanas walls soon :)
@@MyVanSnoopy they are 1/4in pacific knotty cedar planks from home depot they come in packs of 6 I’d highly recommend. Just put them in the 5th camper build of mine. Hope this helps and thanks for watching
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo amazing, i will definitely look into those! thank you so much!! 😊
I may have missed it, but how thick are the boards, and where did you buy them?
They are 1/4in thick. You can buy them in packs of 6 or 8 I believe from Home Depot
Nice mustache bro! 👨
Thanks for watching! 🥸
very very NICE CEDAR CONFIRMED that's what I needed to hear where did you buy yours from? I guess it's all the same huh?
@@deetrascott6944 get the 1/4in pacific knotty cedar bundles from Home Depot. They come in packs of 8 I think and the thickness allows for application in those awkward curve spots. Good luck
How did you get the horizontal furring strip in along where the door slides ? I tried and the screws went through the actual van😅
And also how did you get the vertical one by the back right door of the van? I think I may have the same problem in that spot. It’s a Chevy express I have
Oh no sorry you have had that issue. I would back the screw out and silicone the hole from the inside. My Astro came with a couple holes in it and I patched them this way. Never leaked.
Maybe your screws are longer then mine and if you are building a Chevy express it’s an entirely different van so there’s potential for mishap because of that. To get the furring strips by the door I just cut them into small pieces to account for the awkward curve.
Hope this helps, and sounds like you are making your way through the build. Keep it up, and feel free to ask any questions. Thanks for watching Zach.
How light weight are the planks? I used Luan on my walls to keep the weight light. How light does your full passenger side wall section compare to one 4x 8 sheet of luan?
I have no idea the exact weight but it’s incredibly light. Cedar is a naturally a lifht material and these planks are ripped down to 1/4 or thinner. Thanks for watching
Any possible way you can tell us where you bought the planks. Here in canada only 4 planks for $39.99 at lowes.
I buy them in packages of 6 for around a similar price at my local Home Depot. They can be pricey but are incredibly easy to work with, and look great. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
Just after I posted the comment I did find them at home depot. Excellent build!!!
So I'm ready to do this step ...... Home Depot said they no longer sell this exact product ...... Lowe's was no help either
In fact, one single 8 foot tongue and groove cedar plank (sold loose) is like $23 to $27 ...... I think I would need close to 30 planks total, which would cost about $750 ...... Maybe it's this weird rapid inflation, but I was only hoping to spend about $200 or $300
I'm all ears if anyone has any ideas
In the meantime guess I'll keep scouring Facebook, Craiglist etc
Just hate to leave something half finished
Where do you buy nearly so many cedar tongue and groove planks for under 1000?
Home Depot is where the cedar was purchased. Everything for the van was indeed budgeted to remain under $1,000. Thanks for watching
What's the plastic covers you referred to for between the walls and ceiling?
This is a strip of cabinet liner used to prevent water damage in a cabinet. I bought an entire 4x8 sheet from home depot and have used it in 2 different vans already. Cheap and easy way to solve that problem. Thanks for watching
Curious… How much did adding polyurethane to the cedar planks effect the aroma of the cedar, if at all? Van looks great!
The cedar does become sealed on the one side. I leave the other side unfinished which I believe still allows for some of that aroma to linger. That’s usually the first thing someone says when they get inside is “it smells nice in here”. It would be interesting to leave the cedar unfinished, but there’s just something about the Poly that gives the walls a more rigid and finished look. Thanks for commenting! 🏔🚐💨
Are those 1/4 in cedar planks? Have you found that those are sturdy enough? Im deciding between the 1/4in and 3/4in tounge and groove. Im using havelock wool so im a little worried about the gaps between furring strips as i wont have the solid r tech insulation behind the cedar.
Yes they are 1/4 inch, and they won’t be super rigid in those gaps using havelock probably. The 1/4 inch is nice to use because it can flex to the curvature of the van with ease. You could always put a thin sheet of plywood up to provide good mounting points for furniture and your 1/4 planks if that’s the route you wanted. This would definitely supply some support but not sure if it’s the most cost effective. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
If I’m not using insulation can I screw the panels right into the van? (Into the studs) Or is it worth it to just do the insulation even in warm climate
I would suggest a solid sheet of plywood across the walls to mount panels if you werent going the insulation route. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching
Don't you need to run wiring before the cedar?
Yes, I would suggest running all your wires before putting up the walls. In this case I had no wiring on this build so we skipped this step. Check out my latest build for more solar/wiring information!
Just wondered why you alternate short/long on the ceiling strips?
I didn't alternate because I didn't want to waste any materials! thanks for watching
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo very good point. Thank you answering back.
How did you attach the cedar planks to the van at the back door?
I added framing to the van in all of the thick areas where a sheet metal screw could enter without puncturing through to the other side. This allows me to use small 1/4inch or so screw to attach the cedar to these framing points. Hope this makes sense. Thanks for watching
Do they click with each other??
They snap right into eachother with a male and female end!
Hi, love your Channel. Where are you located?
I’m in Oregon! Thanks for watching
Yes that's correct!
Quiero saber qué cantidad de madera compro
Thanks for commenting!
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo I want to know how much materials you spend in the van please so I can buy it.
@@angeldelrosarios1679 I spent $1,000 in raw materials at Home Depot. Including lumber, insulation, adhesives, and hardware.
anyone doimng van builds and hiking etc.. start thinking about your security- more and more people are being robbed and tucson az-- very common to see the rear windows of vans blown out and robbed.. cage your glass and double your locks... keep the toys off teh dash board--- and a dog is useless against a burger with fentanyl
These are all good pieces of advice. Thanks for sharing
DOh! Putting polyurethane over cedar will reduce the cedar aroma!
Yes it does seal the cedar up! I leave the backside of the planks unfinished and it does have a little bit of an aroma still 😁 thanks for commenting!
ok, sorry , didn't see them.
No worries friend! I’m always willing to answer any questions. Thanks for commenting.