Love the simplicity of your van build, do you have Pix of the bed, shelves, etc? Planning to begin a minimalist build p, no reason to reinvent the wheel. Thanks in advance!
I am looking for this a alternative to the 9-5 and rent with everything. I plan on having something like this with a planet fitness membership and saving as much as I can for a few years for college.
Insulation will keep the temperature of the van consistent. For example if you are running A/C the van will remain that cool temperature for longer than if there was none. With that being said it will also keep heat in and take longer to cool down. So it can work in both directions. My advice for you would be to lightly insulate, but to not worry about it too much because Hawaii has pretty warm consistent weather. Definitely installing a roof vent would be in your interest for air circulation. Thanks for watching
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo I got my van this week! I went to Home Depot but I wasn’t sure about insulation what do you think? How do I insulate the floors to make it level before I put the plywood on top? Or can I put the plywood just right down?
@@zachs2807 a lot of people frame out their floor with 2x2 and then fit the spaces with foam board. This provides some structural integrating to place the plywood on and secure to. Hope this makes sense.
Hello! Unfortunately I don’t have a video of this part of the build as I completed during a move, but regret it greatly. Essentially I have framing attached to the rib located in the center of that side of the van. I created a box to the dimensions that I desired. I built this out of 2x4 (would probably use 2x2 if I were to do it again). I then used metal U brackets to fasten the box to the floor. I covered the box with plywood including the top to act as a counter top. The height is right up to that rib I mentioned earlier. I hope this helped. Feel free to ask any questions. Shoot me an email and I can supply you with some photos if needed. Thank you for watching!!
It really was an awesome spot for dinner with a view! I found the van on offer up. It was up in Vancouver, WA and originally from Bend, OR. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
Great build! You’ve mentioned in other videos you used some plastic to fill the gap between the walls and ceiling. What product is that? Think that’s a great solution to those tricky areas
The plastic sheet that I got for my build is simple cabinet liner. It’s typically used to protect the interior of a cabinet from moisture etc. I picked this up at Home Depot and it was a 8x4 sheet. I hope this helps, thanks for watching.
You would think it would make a ton of noise but everything is SOLID. The cedar planks and furniture are mounted to my framing system that is mounted directly to the actual “ribs” of the van with self tapping sheet metal screws (Go back to my previous videos to see how I did this). So this essentially provides a ton structural support. I’ve heard stories of peoples “ceilings” falling down going over bumps in the road, but nothing like this has happened to any of my woodwork. I hope this helps. Good luck on your build, and if you have any further questions I will gladly answer them! Thanks for watching, and cheers! 🤠
Yeah the astros are a very small platform to work with. Probably one of the more challenging parts of building these vehicles out . Do you have a full build out in your 99? This was located in the pacific coast range between the willamette valley and the Oregon coast. Beautiful country. Look forward to more Van camping and exploration of this area! Thanks for watching 🤠
Hi STA, two questions for you and your build (looks great, btw) 1) what are you using to power your fan and your light system? The sink? 2) how long is the bed, how long is the cargo area? I'm a tall guy too 6'5 and am wondering if I could fit if I buy an astro
Hello Sam! In this build I was using a jackery 300 to power my fan, lights, and charge any devices. The sink is a rechargeable water pump off of amazon and a mixing bowl with a sink strainer cut into the bottom. The bed in this build was approximately 6ft long allowing me to fit perfectly with little room to spare. There may be an extra 5in or so available to accommodate your height. With that being said I wouldn't suggest an Astro at your height. They are quite small and considered to be a minivan. It may work for short periods of time, but in the long run you may feel too cramped. Id suggest checking out my most recent build videos of my 97 Dodge. In this van I have a complete solar set up, massive queen size bed, and overall much more space while remaining a small initial budget. Hope this reply helps your decisions, and thank you for commenting!
I have a 2003 AWD Astro van.. Love what you've done with your space. I have a fixed twin bed platform with 6 in mattress. I like the slat pull-out...not sure 6 in will fold like yours. What about power...are you running off vehicle battery? Again...great job...and love the tacos!!
You gotta love the pull out bed! Efficient on space with maximum comfort. For power I am using a jackery portable generator. I can charge it while driving. These systems are awesome because they are all in one units for solar. I plan on mounting two 100w flexible panels to the roof of the safari, and hooking that up to my jackery next summer. It’s a good option for someone who’s a beginner to solar. Thanks for your kind words, and for watching! 🤠 Email stadventureonline@gmail.com if you are in the pnw and want to do a van tour video of your Astro!
Hey! Awesome Build, well done! In the research phase of buying an astro/safari. What are your initial impressions in traveling for extended days in this small of a vehicle with 2 people?
Thanks friend! I think the Astro is the smallest vehicle I would consider traveling with two people. I wouldn’t go any smaller then this. My girlfriend and I feel like there is plenty of room for the both of us. We have a full size bed that sleeps us very comfortably. We can change clothes and do all of the necessary things inside of our van. Now with that being said we were frequent campers before we even had the luxury of this van. We have spent many nights in the Rocky Mountains camping out of a small two person backpacking tent. So you can say that we are used to being together in tight spaces. Our van feels like a luxurious mansion compared to all of the tent camping we have done in our past. So I guess it’s all perspective. In my opinion I believe the Astro is plenty of space for two adults to sleep and travel comfortably in. I hope this opinion helps. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
Good ol Mr buddy heater in this build, but my most recent build I had a Chinese diesel heater. Would recommend cutting the hole in your floor for a diesel heater the thing was AWESOME.
Question! Is this van insulated enough to live in it through the winter? I saw the insulation video. Just curious if you could survive through the winter with a buddy heater or something. I'm looking to live in a van this summer in CO and I'm thinking about the winter as well.
Hey Kurt I spent some cold nights in this van here in Oregon with a buddy heater. It’s possible but there is better ways to achieve your goal. Check out my current build where I use 3M thinsulate and install a diesel heater. The diesel heater has been a game changer for winter camping. It is a much more efficient and safe method. The buddy heater requires ventilation and also propane burns very “wet” creating a lot of condensation in your van. The diesel heater ventilates out from under the van and is a much more dry heat. Hope this info helps you. Thanks for commenting!
Sweet van! I recently bought a chevy astro with similar mirrors, but the guy I bought it from didn't remove the stock mirror mounts. it looks like you have some kind of mirror delete kit going on. Did you do that yourself? and if not, do you know where that came from?
Thanks friend! The van was formerly a FedEx fleet vehicle. I’m assuming that these mirrors were installed this way specifically for FedEx at the factory as there doesn’t seem to be any sort of modifications done to the mirrors. I wish I could provide you with more information about them, but it’s pretty much a mystery. Maybe if you look into how different fleet vehicles are set up you can find a place they sell a similar kit. I really enjoy these mirrors as it gives the van a unique look compared to other Astros out on the road. I would like to paint them black in the future to give them a clean new look. I hope this makes sense and possibly helped. Stay tuned for some massive projects coming to my channel. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have. Thanks for watching, cheers 🤠
You did a amazing job, all the way through. I am fascinated I’ve always wanted to do something like this I just lack the knowledge and imagination. Would it be possible to buy this van or would it be possible to provide the funds along with extra to do it again? I love your videos and energy.
Thank you, I appreciate your interest in my van builds! Shoot me an email: stadventureonline@gmail.com We can discuss what you are looking for, and I can help you out. Thanks for watching.
Hey there, Chris from Newcastle upon Tyne here over the pond. I love your build which is so simple yet very practical. I have only just discovered your channel so I haven't seen all your vlogs yet. I would love to know what size leisure battery you use and if you only charge it by split charge relay, or do you intend to get a solar panel on top. Great video thanks.
Thank you for the kind words friend! I’ve designed this build around a small budget so simplicity was a major focus of mine. I use the Jackery 300 which is a very small portable solar generator. It does the trick for my style of short camping trips, and I can charge it with the cigarette lighter in the van while I’m driving. All I use it for is to power my 12V RV vent as well as charge devices so it is plenty. I have recently found a method to wire it up to just about any solar panel and I can’t decide between a roof mounted panel and a foldable panel. In the future I would probably go a full solar set up, but for the time being this is more than enough. Feel free to go back and check out the Adventure Van Build Series playlist on my channel as this is my first ever build. Stay tuned for some HUGE projects coming to my channel in 2022. Thanks so much for watching, cheers!
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo Thanks for your quick response. I myself, am currently designing my own small camper and have decided, after watching so many videos, to go with an Eco flow river pro. Believe me, I have done my homework. I've also decided to go with cedar although we over the pond don't have as much a problem with bugs as yourselves. I'm not a great cook so I don't need a huge refrigerator. Just a cool box will do. I do like my gadgets though, so that's why I'm deciding on 'ample' for my battery adding 100watt solar plus split charge. I look forward to watching many other vlogs you have produced and will keep in touch. Thanks again for your reply.
This is something that I contemplated during my build also. I even looked into buying the futon mechanism and installing it some way. There is a few reasons why I stayed away from doing this. First off space. Futons tend to lean back quite a bit, rather then sitting flush against a wall. The Astro is a tiny platform and I needed all the space I could get. Futons also need to be pulled away from the wall to be able to fold out in a bed typically. So I guess another “space” consideration. Another reason is aesthetic. I didn’t want to just throw a futon in the van and call it good. I was looking to do a completely custom job to provide a custom aesthetic. So by building a bed into my van I could optimize on space and accomplish the nicest look. Everything in my van is wood and I was going for a log cabin style layout. Now these are just my opinions and if you think a futon will work fine for you I say go ahead and do it! It will save you time and effort. I just did a video on re-designing my slat bed. It’s AMAZING now and I’m sitting on it as I type this message. I suggest going over and checking out this video before making your final decision. Thanks for watching, and I wish you luck with your build. Cheers! 🤠
@@vridlon that’s great! Thanks for watching that one I tried to make it as thorough as possible so you can follow along with me step by step. You’ll do great! 💪
There’s a few things that are common with these vans that people have to invest in. Overall the 4.6l vortec engine that is in these things is considered to be one of GM’s bulletproof engine. They are incredibly reliable from a general standpoint. With good routine maintenance it isn’t uncommon for these vans to last up to 300,000+ miles. With that being said with any old vehicle there will be problems. On the flip side if anything goes wrong there’s a plethora of parts out there for these vans including engines, and most mechanics can work on them with no problem. Feel free to ask any more questions you may have. I hope this helps your decision. There’s a massive following for Astro vans on the internet for a reason, they are awesome! Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
![VAN LIFE KITCHEN: Outdoor Kitchen Setup - Why I Do NOT Cook Inside [AWD Astro Camper] [GMC Safari]](/img/n.gif)
Thanks for taking the time to make your videos. I converted an E150 by following your videos.
@@TrekkerPlanet really glad you found my videos useful for your own purposes. Thanks for watching!
Best video yet
WinCo, Safari, and Tacos! Nice vid. Time-lapse at end was cool.
Love the simplicity of your van build, do you have Pix of the bed, shelves, etc?
Planning to begin a minimalist build p, no reason to reinvent the wheel.
Thanks in advance!
Yes I do!
Até agora vc e o melhor parabéns...
Thanks for commenting!
Looks sick!!
i loveee the bed, it's so easy to set up
It’s a nice set up! Thanks for watching 🤠
I am looking for this a alternative to the 9-5 and rent with everything. I plan on having something like this with a planet fitness membership and saving as much as I can for a few years for college.
That sounds like a great plan! This lifestyle is becoming more common everywhere. Thanks for watching
Dope video man!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching! 🤠
Your build videos are very thorough. And well done on the tacos.... for a gringo! haha Keep it up!
Hahah I appreciate it friend! Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
Nice job, man!
Thank you! 🤠
Awesome van build 👍
Thanks for watching! 🤠
I appreciate your ideas! I like the lower floor. Do I need insulation in warm weather in Hawaii? What are the cons if I go without insulation?
Insulation will keep the temperature of the van consistent. For example if you are running A/C the van will remain that cool temperature for longer than if there was none. With that being said it will also keep heat in and take longer to cool down. So it can work in both directions. My advice for you would be to lightly insulate, but to not worry about it too much because Hawaii has pretty warm consistent weather. Definitely installing a roof vent would be in your interest for air circulation. Thanks for watching
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo I got my van this week! I went to Home Depot but I wasn’t sure about insulation what do you think?
How do I insulate the floors to make it level before I put the plywood on top? Or can I put the plywood just right down?
@@zachs2807 a lot of people frame out their floor with 2x2 and then fit the spaces with foam board. This provides some structural integrating to place the plywood on and secure to. Hope this makes sense.
BEST VIDEO🏆🏅🎖☕🌮
Hey! Any videos or tips on building the countertop side of your Astro?
Hello! Unfortunately I don’t have a video of this part of the build as I completed during a move, but regret it greatly. Essentially I have framing attached to the rib located in the center of that side of the van. I created a box to the dimensions that I desired. I built this out of 2x4 (would probably use 2x2 if I were to do it again). I then used metal U brackets to fasten the box to the floor. I covered the box with plywood including the top to act as a counter top. The height is right up to that rib I mentioned earlier. I hope this helped. Feel free to ask any questions. Shoot me an email and I can supply you with some photos if needed. Thank you for watching!!
I followed you on Instagram recently. Is it cool if I shoot you a dm on there?
@@josepliego5514 yes, go ahead!
I would love to build the same countertop side, could you help me with the dimension you used?
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo
Really nice view to go with those tacos, nice van build, we’re did you get the van?
It really was an awesome spot for dinner with a view! I found the van on offer up. It was up in Vancouver, WA and originally from Bend, OR. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
Great build! You’ve mentioned in other videos you used some plastic to fill the gap between the walls and ceiling. What product is that? Think that’s a great solution to those tricky areas
The plastic sheet that I got for my build is simple cabinet liner. It’s typically used to protect the interior of a cabinet from moisture etc. I picked this up at Home Depot and it was a 8x4 sheet. I hope this helps, thanks for watching.
That thing looks awesome! I want to do something similar with mine. Does the wood Creak when going down the road or on a bumpy trail?
You would think it would make a ton of noise but everything is SOLID. The cedar planks and furniture are mounted to my framing system that is mounted directly to the actual “ribs” of the van with self tapping sheet metal screws (Go back to my previous videos to see how I did this). So this essentially provides a ton structural support. I’ve heard stories of peoples “ceilings” falling down going over bumps in the road, but nothing like this has happened to any of my woodwork. I hope this helps. Good luck on your build, and if you have any further questions I will gladly answer them! Thanks for watching, and cheers! 🤠
Well done I have a 99 and just not enough room in it for everything I like to take along...
Thats some nice country where abouts is that?
Yeah the astros are a very small platform to work with. Probably one of the more challenging parts of building these vehicles out . Do you have a full build out in your 99?
This was located in the pacific coast range between the willamette valley and the Oregon coast. Beautiful country. Look forward to more Van camping and exploration of this area! Thanks for watching 🤠
Hi STA,
two questions for you and your build (looks great, btw)
1) what are you using to power your fan and your light system? The sink?
2) how long is the bed, how long is the cargo area? I'm a tall guy too 6'5 and am wondering if I could fit if I buy an astro
Hello Sam! In this build I was using a jackery 300 to power my fan, lights, and charge any devices. The sink is a rechargeable water pump off of amazon and a mixing bowl with a sink strainer cut into the bottom. The bed in this build was approximately 6ft long allowing me to fit perfectly with little room to spare. There may be an extra 5in or so available to accommodate your height. With that being said I wouldn't suggest an Astro at your height. They are quite small and considered to be a minivan. It may work for short periods of time, but in the long run you may feel too cramped.
Id suggest checking out my most recent build videos of my 97 Dodge. In this van I have a complete solar set up, massive queen size bed, and overall much more space while remaining a small initial budget. Hope this reply helps your decisions, and thank you for commenting!
I have a 2003 AWD Astro van..
Love what you've done with your space. I have a fixed twin bed platform with 6 in mattress. I like the slat pull-out...not sure 6 in will fold like yours. What about power...are you running off vehicle battery? Again...great job...and love the tacos!!
You gotta love the pull out bed! Efficient on space with maximum comfort. For power I am using a jackery portable generator. I can charge it while driving. These systems are awesome because they are all in one units for solar. I plan on mounting two 100w flexible panels to the roof of the safari, and hooking that up to my jackery next summer. It’s a good option for someone who’s a beginner to solar. Thanks for your kind words, and for watching! 🤠
Email stadventureonline@gmail.com if you are in the pnw and want to do a van tour video of your Astro!
Hey! Awesome Build, well done! In the research phase of buying an astro/safari. What are your initial impressions in traveling for extended days in this small of a vehicle with 2 people?
Thanks friend! I think the Astro is the smallest vehicle I would consider traveling with two people. I wouldn’t go any smaller then this. My girlfriend and I feel like there is plenty of room for the both of us. We have a full size bed that sleeps us very comfortably. We can change clothes and do all of the necessary things inside of our van. Now with that being said we were frequent campers before we even had the luxury of this van. We have spent many nights in the Rocky Mountains camping out of a small two person backpacking tent. So you can say that we are used to being together in tight spaces. Our van feels like a luxurious mansion compared to all of the tent camping we have done in our past. So I guess it’s all perspective. In my opinion I believe the Astro is plenty of space for two adults to sleep and travel comfortably in. I hope this opinion helps. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
What do you do for heat in cold weather?
Good ol Mr buddy heater in this build, but my most recent build I had a Chinese diesel heater. Would recommend cutting the hole in your floor for a diesel heater the thing was AWESOME.
Question! Is this van insulated enough to live in it through the winter? I saw the insulation video. Just curious if you could survive through the winter with a buddy heater or something. I'm looking to live in a van this summer in CO and I'm thinking about the winter as well.
Hey Kurt I spent some cold nights in this van here in Oregon with a buddy heater. It’s possible but there is better ways to achieve your goal. Check out my current build where I use 3M thinsulate and install a diesel heater. The diesel heater has been a game changer for winter camping. It is a much more efficient and safe method. The buddy heater requires ventilation and also propane burns very “wet” creating a lot of condensation in your van. The diesel heater ventilates out from under the van and is a much more dry heat. Hope this info helps you. Thanks for commenting!
Sweet van! I recently bought a chevy astro with similar mirrors, but the guy I bought it from didn't remove the stock mirror mounts. it looks like you have some kind of mirror delete kit going on. Did you do that yourself? and if not, do you know where that came from?
Thanks friend! The van was formerly a FedEx fleet vehicle. I’m assuming that these mirrors were installed this way specifically for FedEx at the factory as there doesn’t seem to be any sort of modifications done to the mirrors. I wish I could provide you with more information about them, but it’s pretty much a mystery. Maybe if you look into how different fleet vehicles are set up you can find a place they sell a similar kit. I really enjoy these mirrors as it gives the van a unique look compared to other Astros out on the road. I would like to paint them black in the future to give them a clean new look. I hope this makes sense and possibly helped. Stay tuned for some massive projects coming to my channel. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have. Thanks for watching, cheers 🤠
You did a amazing job, all the way through. I am fascinated I’ve always wanted to do something like this I just lack the knowledge and imagination. Would it be possible to buy this van or would it be possible to provide the funds along with extra to do it again? I love your videos and energy.
Thank you, I appreciate your interest in my van builds!
Shoot me an email:
stadventureonline@gmail.com
We can discuss what you are looking for, and I can help you out. Thanks for watching.
Hey there, Chris from Newcastle upon Tyne here over the pond. I love your build which is so simple yet very practical. I have only just discovered your channel so I haven't seen all your vlogs yet. I would love to know what size leisure battery you use and if you only charge it by split charge relay, or do you intend to get a solar panel on top. Great video thanks.
Thank you for the kind words friend! I’ve designed this build around a small budget so simplicity was a major focus of mine. I use the Jackery 300 which is a very small portable solar generator. It does the trick for my style of short camping trips, and I can charge it with the cigarette lighter in the van while I’m driving. All I use it for is to power my 12V RV vent as well as charge devices so it is plenty. I have recently found a method to wire it up to just about any solar panel and I can’t decide between a roof mounted panel and a foldable panel. In the future I would probably go a full solar set up, but for the time being this is more than enough. Feel free to go back and check out the Adventure Van Build Series playlist on my channel as this is my first ever build. Stay tuned for some HUGE projects coming to my channel in 2022. Thanks so much for watching, cheers!
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo Thanks for your quick response. I myself, am currently designing my own small camper and have decided, after watching so many videos, to go with an Eco flow river pro. Believe me, I have done my homework. I've also decided to go with cedar although we over the pond don't have as much a problem with bugs as yourselves. I'm not a great cook so I don't need a huge refrigerator. Just a cool box will do. I do like my gadgets though, so that's why I'm deciding on 'ample' for my battery adding 100watt solar plus split charge. I look forward to watching many other vlogs you have produced and will keep in touch. Thanks again for your reply.
@@christate590 sounds like a great approach, cheers to you and good luck! 🤠
Was thinking about just buying a used futon instead of the build for my Sienna. Thoughts?
This is something that I contemplated during my build also. I even looked into buying the futon mechanism and installing it some way. There is a few reasons why I stayed away from doing this. First off space. Futons tend to lean back quite a bit, rather then sitting flush against a wall. The Astro is a tiny platform and I needed all the space I could get. Futons also need to be pulled away from the wall to be able to fold out in a bed typically. So I guess another “space” consideration. Another reason is aesthetic. I didn’t want to just throw a futon in the van and call it good. I was looking to do a completely custom job to provide a custom aesthetic. So by building a bed into my van I could optimize on space and accomplish the nicest look. Everything in my van is wood and I was going for a log cabin style layout. Now these are just my opinions and if you think a futon will work fine for you I say go ahead and do it! It will save you time and effort. I just did a video on re-designing my slat bed. It’s AMAZING now and I’m sitting on it as I type this message. I suggest going over and checking out this video before making your final decision. Thanks for watching, and I wish you luck with your build. Cheers! 🤠
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo Thank you so much for the input.
@@vridlon I’m here to help! Cheers! 🤠
@@SeizeTheAdventureCo I just watched your video and I agree. Wish me luck, I'm going to try and do it in my Sienna.
@@vridlon that’s great! Thanks for watching that one I tried to make it as thorough as possible so you can follow along with me step by step. You’ll do great! 💪
Nice
How reliable do you find the van to be? I’m considering an Astro/Safari and was curious to know what kind of maintenance it needs as it gets older.
There’s a few things that are common with these vans that people have to invest in. Overall the 4.6l vortec engine that is in these things is considered to be one of GM’s bulletproof engine. They are incredibly reliable from a general standpoint. With good routine maintenance it isn’t uncommon for these vans to last up to 300,000+ miles. With that being said with any old vehicle there will be problems. On the flip side if anything goes wrong there’s a plethora of parts out there for these vans including engines, and most mechanics can work on them with no problem. Feel free to ask any more questions you may have. I hope this helps your decision. There’s a massive following for Astro vans on the internet for a reason, they are awesome! Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠
Where did you find the faucet?
Here is a link to the exact faucet! amzn.to/3LIRfHy
Where can I get that electric water pump
Seems like you found it before I could
Get you a link. Like I said works great and rarely needs a charge. Thanks for commenting!
thanks man 100%
Really glad you enjoyed this one friend!
I'm a lucky gal
Your IG don’t exist
You’re right! Simplified things recently @stephanfogsi
@seizetheadventureyt for the channel insta. Cheers friend!
High 5
High 5 right back
That was really cool how you made your van
@@ernie4880 Right on Ernie! If you liked this one be sure to check out the other vans on the channel!