Admittedly, my jaw actually dropped a few times during this video. I'm very much in awe of your craftsmanship and ingenuity! You have a new subscription from me.
Yikes! Who are you!??! Your ideas are genius. I just watched the prototype van and thought it was genius. This is beyond. I wish I had the mad skills you have. Love your presentation as well. Subscribed.
Gosh! You are making me blush! So heartening to hear you like the videos, that's what makes making them worthwhile. As for skills, Some I have been aquiring for a while (woodworking, etc) but others I have just pieced together from TH-cam videos as needed (12V electrical systems), So just keep watching and learning! Thanks for the comments, thanks for the sub!
thanks so much. I try to find ways to make sure things can't fly around if ever I have an accident. I'm guessing from your "name" that you ave a van too, any videos of your van layout? I had a quick look at your channel - looks like you have seen some cool places.
I think you have done a really good job with your build. You are able to get so much stuff in such a small space. That bug net idea is one I will look to borrow, its such a simple solution. You have good video skills, lovely pace, good images and a perfect narration. Well done 👍
Thanks - I really try to be as efficient with the space as I can. I like the small size of the minivan, but it is small sometimes! Yes the bug netting is a life saver when the mosquitoes come calling but a word of warning - the netting comes with 4 openings, with slight overlaps, which is fine in a decorative bed net, but I had to sew them shut and add zippers, which was quite the job! netting is not easy to sew - the thing is huge and keeps sliding around when you are trying to pin it smoothly!
@@averysmallcampervan Hello. Thanks for the video. I'm professional tailor and just want to add if next time you have to saw any net, it would be much easier to fuse by iron some fabric on the edges of the net. After all edges are treated they are ready to be pinned and stitched without sliding, and adding zipper would be just a piece of cake. You can buy it here 1" wide or 2", can cut it in half or less... that tricot interfacing is very thin and lightweight. www.wawak.com/Garment-Construction/Interfacing/fusible-tricot-roll-interfacing/?sku=FCW11BK
@@nataliswan8377 oh, thanks so much!!! I want to make some more mosquito screens for my side doors and I will use this tip! I wish I had known this when I was battling with that screen room!!
Great work! The piece of plywood that you made that fits into the seat hooks is wonderful. That one piece if duplicated would be the Keystone for so many of us that are using the same van as you. If you figure out a way to share that pattern many will be grateful, and probably pay for ability to have that pattern, plan, or what ever it would be called. Thanks again for you efforts and your skills!
WOW! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! A bed mosquito net! AWESOME! I could not tell you how long I have thought another way of doing the same and here it is! PERFECT! That aside, then there are all the other great ideas, like how to keep the rice warm while cooking the vegetables, where to store the solar panel, the sink, the TRASH receptacle, another great idea! WOW! Thanks for sharing!
@TheKnittedBrow First - great TH-cam user name! I am so glad you found the video useful. I still recommend the bed netting, if only as the least expensive way to get that much netting, but I have made a bunch of modifications to it, mostly sewing up the side openings and adding zippers to the others. Thanks for watching and and subscribing. More videos are on the way soon
Greetings from New York City 👋🏽. I just found your channel and all I can say is "WOW"! What an incredible van build. Please don't tell me you don't have any carpentry experience and that this is your very first time. That always bugs the heck out of me. LOL! Anyway, you did a great job and you have a new subscriber here 😃
Ya, I just picked up the tools yesterday! JK, I have been working making things for 30 years or more, and am enjoying putting all those skills to use on the van build. Thanks for subscribing and so, glad you liked the channel.
You have amazing carpentry skills! I noticed in this video, it looked like you were building a shelf.... I am interested in that part of your build. I am trying to build a shelf in my vanbuild without attaching to the van itself. Thank you for the great ideas!🤓
Great to have a new video from you. WOW that woodwork and design of the bed platform, along with the kitchen setup is amazing. Glad you had some time to get away and test everything. Lots of thought went in to your design and it really shows. 👏👏👏👏
Thanks for your support, it means a lot. Glad you like the video - I had to take a break from making the videos to concentrate on getting the camper ready for the summer. (That plus - after messing up the kitchen box build I figured I needed to focus on the building and not try to film at the same time - I don't know how some of these youtubers do it!)
Thanks for a very straightforward van build tour that I didn't have to mute or close caption because of all the unnecessary background music in most, if not all, the van videos. I still haven't figured out what the connection is and what one thing has to do with the other🤔. Honestly, I hope I never do.
This above and beyond! You are genius! Unbelievable !!! Extremely nice clean cut, well thought and organized! Really, who are you!!! This is THE best van build ... and I watched hundreds of these... Outstanding!!! Subscribed right away.... thank you!
Thank you so much! I am just trying to make the best van for me and want to give back to the youtube community, in thanks for all the great ideas and knowledge I got. and thanks for subscribing!
This is the best van build up that I have ever seen and I look at a lot of them .. but your design is beyond beautiful and convenient in so many ways. I wish I lived next door to you so you could help me duplicate this for my van .. God bless everything you do …
Wow, I am amazed at your build. I look forward to seeing more vids. I need ideas on a floor to ceiling shelf to cover one sliding door next to my cot that I can assess from inside or with one door open.
Single bed layout? Lots of options for organizing the space. I like the idea of the wall of shelves. Do you have a minivan too? Have you thought of using the handle over the door as an anchor point? Good luck with your build!
Fantastic ideas and presentation!! Thank you for sharing them, and I'm looking forward to more about your build and possibly of your camping adventures.
Thanks - and yes, doing my best to secure stuff in place. I see so many videos with knves on magnetic strips in the kitchen areas, and they are blythely saying that they never come loose!
Another brilliant video. Thank you so much for sharing. I think this type of build will be what I do when I get started. Thanks for the great inspiration.
Great build! I’m looking around for a van or SUV to convert. Don’t think I want anything bigger. I will be doing this solo. Love watching all these videos and getting ideas.
Yes, I have a minivan too and use a cot as my bed but need ideas for a shelf next to the cot covering the sliding door and a kitchette for the back. I removed all the stow and go seats. No tools to cut wood like you did. If I supply the wood and parts would you build my set-up? Your so talented.
Hi again Carol, Sounds like a fun project. I don't know what part of the country you are in, so it probably not feasible. Over the winter, when I would have more time, it may be possible for me to make you some plans that you could take to a local woodworker.
Great minds think alike😁, at least when it comes to creating a screen room next to your van. I've used my daughter's old circular bed netting for YEARS (my daughter is 42 now, so the netting is about 20)😂. I'm going to have to replace it soon I finally found a hole in it, but you are idea of getting a square king or queen size net covering is a good one! Your video just happened to come up in my TH-cam videos rotation. I'm going to be your newest sub & see what else you've been up to on your channel👍👍
Thanks for subscribing, I hope you like the rest of the videos. I tried a few things with a similar bed net from Ikea when first trying to bug proof the sleeping area. Got to use what is around the house!
Hi! I'm going to be filming some new videos about the build. Please let me know in the comments what parts of the build you would like to see in greater detail. (Sliding bed?, solar and electrical? Awning? or anything else)
I would definitely like to see the bed in action, how it looks in the couch setup and how it converts. I just discovered your channel by searching on window coverings for minivans. Imagine my delight to discover you are making plans and working in the same model vehicle I have. These are such popular vans, I would imagine you could compile and sell your ingenious plans to others, perhaps as a downloadable or printed book format? I know I am interested in implementing your ideas in my own van, and would be happy to pay for your designs so as not to need to reinvent the wheel!
@@suzysholar5151 Great. Keep checking back - it is one of the first ones I will do when the weather warms up (winter in Canada, don't ya know). And yes, back 2/3 of the bed transforms into couch and the front piece remains as a bench, so two can sit face to face.
Hi! Thanks for sharing all your brilliance! Although I see you have good details about your electrical system, I’d love to see a step by step from regular van electrical converted to complete off grid electrical. Didn’t see anything about your agm battery hookup to engine. Unless I missed it. I’ve watched quite a few videos, but they all seem so complicated to me. Your videos are easy to follow. Also, what did you do with that little cubby alongside the van in one of the shots?
One more thing, as other poster mentioned, I found you while searching window coverings for a minivan and wondered with all this great design and info you have and hundreds of videos I’ve searched on minivan conversations 1) why do you only have 300+ subscribers 2) why am I just finding you?!? I noticed in a couple of your video headings it says minvan instead of minivan...maybe that makes a difference in searches...?
@@judywilson8909 Noted! Things are a bit out of order - I have done an electrical update but never had time to film the original set up. But I can go over what I did and which components I used. The battery isolator, which charges the house battery when the car is running, is very useful, and I am glad to have it but DC to DC chargers are even better.
My best bit of van building advice is to build something quick and temporary, just to try out different layouts, to see what works best for you, before building a "final"version. Good luck with your build - it is a really fun way to see the country.
Really great design. Extremely well thought out. I am drawing a ton of inspiration and ideas from this. I am looking at trying to do something similar with a new Sienna hybrid, but I am not sure how that stacks up size wise to the van you have. What year and model is the van? Also I am wondering what the internal measurements are? How long is the cab (behind front seats)? How wide? How tall? How high is the bed platform off the floor in the side door? I am trying to determine if I can do a similarrear kitchen build like you did (although I need to have something I can easily remove from the left side of it to have access to spare tire located in the wall. Currently I am leaning to a side door slide out kitchen because I fear I do not have the length to have dedicated rear kitchen. Thanks you so much for your videos. You two have done some incredibly brilliant and well engineered work.
Ello, je suis tellement impressionnée que cela me donne le goût d’améliorer mon set up avec ce que vous avez fait.! Bravo pour ces excellents vidéos. J’ai un set up trop lourd à sortir seule et le vôtre serait parfait. Qu’est que vous employez comme outil pour faire les trous de ventilation et les trous pour faire de l’espace entre les boîtes pour pouvoir défaire la vis à main nue, est-ce le même outil? Merci Voisine, je demeure dans les basses Laurentides 😉🙏
Not sure, I have never added it all up, but I have tried to keep it to a minimum, using 3/8th plywood where I could. So probably around 150 lb of wood at least + mattress + kitchen stuff, etc.The biggest weight is the battery which is about 60 lbs just by itself.
Great van and videos. Looking forward to an inside tour of how the bed/bench/couch works. Does wind bother your awning? Do you have to stake it down with guy-wires, or does the 4 side frame make that unnecessary? Thanks.
Thanks! I'm going to be filming a bunch of videos in the next two weeks - and how the bed works will be one of them. As for the awning - it is quite stable but anything more than a breeze will necessitate using stakes and guy-wires. We were pretty luck with the weather last summer and didn't need them 99% of the time. Sadly the one time we should have used them the wind caught it and bent the little pegs at the top of the support poles. :-(
Is this a Dodge Caravan? If so are your seats stowed underneath? The reason I ask is the under the floor space you showed when you pulled out your clothing drawer. Thanks! This is all a great set up. That bed would be ideal to pull back during the day.
Yes it is a Dodge Grand Caravan, but mine came with a removable bench seat in the 2nd row, so it gets hauled out and stored in the basement when we are using the van as camper. That frees up the under floor storage for other good stuff. The 3rd row seats are folded down into the floor under the kitchen area.
I guess cause the birch plywood is so pretty, I want to see the grin of the wood. But I am finding out that it is hard to keep such light wood looking clean (a.k.a. clean). If I had it to do over again I would probably stain it a darker colour. (or paint it I guess)
Sadly, no, or at least not for a long while. I would have to draw up the plans in order to sell them to you and there is a lot of work in that, that I don't have time for for now.
At the moment I don't have my own wood shop, so it is a bit difficult to take on other peoples builds, but maybe one day. I would like to have the opportunity to plan and build other vans.
I didn't follow through with the bedside shelves because it would have made the bedside too claustophobic! but the plan was to have something that fit snuggly into one of the cupholders and slots in the top shelf that the seatbelt would slipped into to hold it.
Admittedly, my jaw actually dropped a few times during this video. I'm very much in awe of your craftsmanship and ingenuity! You have a new subscription from me.
Thanks so much!
You did a beautiful build on your van. Thank you so much for making & explaining your vidio.
😁
Yikes! Who are you!??! Your ideas are genius. I just watched the prototype van and thought it was genius. This is beyond. I wish I had the mad skills you have. Love your presentation as well. Subscribed.
Gosh! You are making me blush!
So heartening to hear you like the videos, that's what makes making them worthwhile.
As for skills, Some I have been aquiring for a while (woodworking, etc) but others I have just pieced together from TH-cam videos as needed (12V electrical systems), So just keep watching and learning!
Thanks for the comments, thanks for the sub!
Your bed design is SO clever! The way it locks into the floor is genius. I love how crafty and innovative this build is!!
thanks so much. I try to find ways to make sure things can't fly around if ever I have an accident.
I'm guessing from your "name" that you ave a van too, any videos of your van layout? I had a quick look at your channel - looks like you have seen some cool places.
Hi, I finally made a video specifically about the sliding bed frame, if you want to check it out: th-cam.com/video/BXTo1lIxpms/w-d-xo.html
This is by far the most brilliant camper mini van set up I’ve seen! Well done.
Wow, thanks!
brilliant.
thank you.
if you could show the lay out with the bed stowed and fully extended, that would be great.
You can see a lot more of the bed layout here: th-cam.com/video/BXTo1lIxpms/w-d-xo.html
@@averysmallcampervan thank you
I think you have done a really good job with your build. You are able to get so much stuff in such a small space. That bug net idea is one I will look to borrow, its such a simple solution. You have good video skills, lovely pace, good images and a perfect narration. Well done 👍
Thanks - I really try to be as efficient with the space as I can. I like the small size of the minivan, but it is small sometimes!
Yes the bug netting is a life saver when the mosquitoes come calling but a word of warning - the netting comes with 4 openings, with slight overlaps, which is fine in a decorative bed net, but I had to sew them shut and add zippers, which was quite the job! netting is not easy to sew - the thing is huge and keeps sliding around when you are trying to pin it smoothly!
@@averysmallcampervan Hello. Thanks for the video. I'm professional tailor and just want to add if next time you have to saw any net, it would be much easier to fuse by iron some fabric on the edges of the net. After all edges are treated they are ready to be pinned and stitched without sliding, and adding zipper would be just a piece of cake. You can buy it here 1" wide or 2", can cut it in half or less... that tricot interfacing is very thin and lightweight.
www.wawak.com/Garment-Construction/Interfacing/fusible-tricot-roll-interfacing/?sku=FCW11BK
@@nataliswan8377 oh, thanks so much!!! I want to make some more mosquito screens for my side doors and I will use this tip!
I wish I had known this when I was battling with that screen room!!
Wow! Were you a carpenter in a past life? Spectacular craftsmanship!
Not a carpenter but I have worked with wood for a while! Glad you like the build.
Great work! The piece of plywood that you made that fits into the seat hooks is wonderful. That one piece if duplicated would be the Keystone for so many of us that are using the same van as you. If you figure out a way to share that pattern many will be grateful, and probably pay for ability to have that pattern, plan, or what ever it would be called.
Thanks again for you efforts and your skills!
I'll see what I can arrange - just have to figure out a way to put it online somewhere.
@@averysmallcampervanpeople sell woodworking plans on Etsy!
WOW! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! A bed mosquito net! AWESOME! I could not tell you how long I have thought another way of doing the same and here it is! PERFECT! That aside, then there are all the other great ideas, like how to keep the rice warm while cooking the vegetables, where to store the solar panel, the sink, the TRASH receptacle, another great idea! WOW! Thanks for sharing!
@TheKnittedBrow First - great TH-cam user name! I am so glad you found the video useful. I still recommend the bed netting, if only as the least expensive way to get that much netting, but I have made a bunch of modifications to it, mostly sewing up the side openings and adding zippers to the others.
Thanks for watching and and subscribing. More videos are on the way soon
Greetings from New York City 👋🏽. I just found your channel and all I can say is "WOW"! What an incredible van build. Please don't tell me you don't have any carpentry experience and that this is your very first time. That always bugs the heck out of me. LOL! Anyway, you did a great job and you have a new subscriber here 😃
Ya, I just picked up the tools yesterday! JK, I have been working making things for 30 years or more, and am enjoying putting all those skills to use on the van build.
Thanks for subscribing and so, glad you liked the channel.
Wow! 😮 That's a so smart construction with solutions i never saw before. Thanks for sharing. ❤ I like it very much.
Wow, what a talent. You did a super job, each piece is a work of art. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much! It is a labour of love!
That is the best slide out bed design I've ever seen.
Thanks! I am hoping to soon have a reason to set up the camper for actual camping and will do a better video about the bed. Soon, I hope !
@raksh9 the bed video is up now : th-cam.com/video/BXTo1lIxpms/w-d-xo.html
You have amazing carpentry skills! I noticed in this video, it looked like you were building a shelf.... I am interested in that part of your build. I am trying to build a shelf in my vanbuild without attaching to the van itself.
Thank you for the great ideas!🤓
One of the most clever minivan builds I’ve seen on TH-cam. Great job!
Wow, thanks so much!
Great to have a new video from you. WOW that woodwork and design of the bed platform, along with the kitchen setup is amazing. Glad you had some time to get away and test everything. Lots of thought went in to your design and it really shows. 👏👏👏👏
Thanks for your support, it means a lot.
Glad you like the video - I had to take a break from making the videos to concentrate on getting the camper ready for the summer. (That plus - after messing up the kitchen box build I figured I needed to focus on the building and not try to film at the same time - I don't know how some of these youtubers do it!)
Thanks for a very straightforward van build tour that I didn't have to mute or close caption because of all the unnecessary background music in most, if not all, the van videos. I still haven't figured out what the connection is and what one thing has to do with the other🤔. Honestly, I hope I never do.
Very nice woodworking and design!👍
Thanks so much!
That cabinet 8s genius
All I can say is you are the van design Boss Lady!
thank you!
This above and beyond! You are genius! Unbelievable !!! Extremely nice clean cut, well thought and organized! Really, who are you!!! This is THE best van build ... and I watched hundreds of these... Outstanding!!! Subscribed right away.... thank you!
Thank you so much! I am just trying to make the best van for me and want to give back to the youtube community, in thanks for all the great ideas and knowledge I got.
and thanks for subscribing!
This is the best van build up that I have ever seen and I look at a lot of them .. but your design is beyond beautiful and convenient in so many ways. I wish I lived next door to you so you could help me duplicate this for my van .. God bless everything you do …
Thank you! 😊
New subscriber here. You are bad ass!🙌🏽🙌🏽 wish I could do what you did with your camper build. Your skills are amazing. Great job!!
Thanks so much!!
I like it! You have given me some great ideas. Thank you.
Wow, I am amazed at your build. I look forward to seeing more vids. I need ideas on a floor to ceiling shelf to cover one sliding door next to my cot that I can assess from inside or with one door open.
Single bed layout? Lots of options for organizing the space. I like the idea of the wall of shelves. Do you have a minivan too? Have you thought of using the handle over the door as an anchor point?
Good luck with your build!
Superwoman!!!great build one of the best
I’m enjoying the creativity you have on your build. It’s well thought out.
Thanks so much Delfia.
It is exactly the finished version of what I envisioned for myself!
Have you started building your dream van? I am really enjoying mine and looking forward to the spring and camping again
Outstanding realisation of your design thinking.
Thank you very much!
Our daughter is starting to show interest in the van camping life. I'll have to show her your channel. Thanks for sharing.
That's very exciting for her! (and you) Good luck with the futur van build
I love the screen room idea.
It is great to have that extra bit of room when the bugs come out in the evenings
Nice craftsmanship.
What a well designed and implemented design. Kudos
thanks!
Wow... i am floored. Just wow ! 👏
Thanks - so glad you liked it!
Wow, a craftsman and an engineer.
or just someone with access to a wood shop!
@@averysmallcampervan You are too modest!
Fantastic ideas and presentation!!
Thank you for sharing them, and I'm looking forward to more about your build and possibly of your camping adventures.
Thank you very much! More videos are in the works and hopefully some genuine travels!
I love your design all around, especially the kitchen part. I am a new Sub, and will be looking out for more videos.
Thanks so much Misty, I am finally getting the time to do some filming and editing, so more videos will be coming soon.
That is a great build out, well designed and well crafted.
Thanks!
I'm extremely envious 😍 you are a very talented person
Thank you so much 😀
Whoa! What a perfectly well integrated build! Serious respect to you!
Thanks! It is the 3rd iteration, so had a bit of time to fine tune it.
Amazing, we are off to get a mini van, no joke. We are making plans on how to convert it all. Your video was great
Awesome! Good luck with the minivan, it is a good way to travel if you are not trying to live in it full time. We have been very happy with ours!
this brilliant! so well thought out ; and you addressed securing the frame to the van which I thing too many people neglect (dangerous). thank you!
Thanks - and yes, doing my best to secure stuff in place. I see so many videos with knves on magnetic strips in the kitchen areas, and they are blythely saying that they never come loose!
Another brilliant video. Thank you so much for sharing. I think this type of build will be what I do when I get started. Thanks for the great inspiration.
Glad to help and best of luck with your future van build!
Very well done!
I sure like your build that's very professional
Thanks!
Brilliant design!
Glad you like it!
Very clever and convenient!
Thanks!
Nice build.
Fantastic design!
Thank you very much!
Excellent build! Happy Trails
Thanks! 👍
Very nice design, travel well!
Thanks Kelly! Good travels to you too!
So underrated! This build is unreal
Thanks so much!
I love it! you're very meticulously organized. impressive.
Thank you! 😊 That's one of the things I love about staying in the van; we have just the minimum of things and everything has its place.
I absolutely love this one!
So glad!
Great build! I’m looking around for a van or SUV to convert. Don’t think I want anything bigger. I will be doing this solo. Love watching all these videos and getting ideas.
I find minivans have all kinds of advantages, especially if you are solo!
Awesomely Smart- GENIUS even! Extremely well presented!
Thanks so much Lydia, I and so glad you liked it
Hi, very thoughtful build, one of the best on the internet. Wish u a lot of subscribers.
Thanks a lot 😊
Very good! You thought of everything
Thanks!
Very clever build.Thanx i may steal your ideas
Steal away! That's what they are there for :-)
Yes, I have a minivan too and use a cot as my bed but need ideas for a shelf next to the cot covering the sliding door and a kitchette for the back. I removed all the stow and go seats. No tools to cut wood like you did. If I supply the wood and parts would you build my set-up? Your so talented.
Hi again Carol, Sounds like a fun project. I don't know what part of the country you are in, so it probably not feasible.
Over the winter, when I would have more time, it may be possible for me to make you some plans that you could take to a local woodworker.
Out of curiosity, what part of the country are you in?
Where did you learn all that electrical stuff? Very handy !
Very nice build & practical.
Glad you think so! Thanks
This is a great job. I love how organized you are. Where are you located?
Great minds think alike😁, at least when it comes to creating a screen room next to your van. I've used my daughter's old circular bed netting for YEARS (my daughter is 42 now, so the netting is about 20)😂. I'm going to have to replace it soon I finally found a hole in it, but you are idea of getting a square king or queen size net covering is a good one!
Your video just happened to come up in my TH-cam videos rotation. I'm going to be your newest sub & see what else you've been up to on your channel👍👍
Thanks for subscribing, I hope you like the rest of the videos.
I tried a few things with a similar bed net from Ikea when first trying to bug proof the sleeping area. Got to use what is around the house!
Nice custom jobs. Have you done much research on security cams and security boxes for this type of build using a mini van?
Hi! I'm going to be filming some new videos about the build. Please let me know in the comments what parts of the build you would like to see in greater detail. (Sliding bed?, solar and electrical? Awning? or anything else)
I would definitely like to see the bed in action, how it looks in the couch setup and how it converts.
I just discovered your channel by searching on window coverings for minivans. Imagine my delight to discover you are making plans and working in the same model vehicle I have. These are such popular vans, I would imagine you could compile and sell your ingenious plans to others, perhaps as a downloadable or printed book format? I know I am interested in implementing your ideas in my own van, and would be happy to pay for your designs so as not to need to reinvent the wheel!
@@suzysholar5151 Great. Keep checking back - it is one of the first ones I will do when the weather warms up (winter in Canada, don't ya know).
And yes, back 2/3 of the bed transforms into couch and the front piece remains as a bench, so two can sit face to face.
Hi! Thanks for sharing all your brilliance! Although I see you have good details about your electrical system, I’d love to see a step by step from regular van electrical converted to complete off grid electrical. Didn’t see anything about your agm battery hookup to engine. Unless I missed it. I’ve watched quite a few videos, but they all seem so complicated to me. Your videos are easy to follow. Also, what did you do with that little cubby alongside the van in one of the shots?
One more thing, as other poster mentioned, I found you while searching window coverings for a minivan and wondered with all this great design and info you have and hundreds of videos I’ve searched on minivan conversations 1) why do you only have 300+ subscribers 2) why am I just finding you?!? I noticed in a couple of your video headings it says minvan instead of minivan...maybe that makes a difference in searches...?
@@judywilson8909 Noted! Things are a bit out of order - I have done an electrical update but never had time to film the original set up.
But I can go over what I did and which components I used.
The battery isolator, which charges the house battery when the car is running, is very useful, and I am glad to have it but DC to DC chargers are even better.
Nice set-up.
Thanks!
Awesome job you did converting your van. I have a older model 2005 Dodge grand caravan I am thinking of doing the same.
Good luck with your build - Grand Caravans are a great base for a small camper
a very small camper van Thank you. I have plenty different designs and plans already
New sub don't be sadist will get better. Love you build; I hope to build and start my journey the summer of 2020. God bless her with more subs.
Thanks! and so exciting that you are starting your build. What are you planning? Sprinter? Cargo van? Minivan?
Mini van
My best bit of van building advice is to build something quick and temporary, just to try out different layouts, to see what works best for you, before building a "final"version.
Good luck with your build - it is a really fun way to see the country.
just beautiful!
Thank you!
Nice build!
I'm glad you like it
Love this. Helpful as I'm working on my own minivan build.
glad to be helpful.Good luck with the build.
Nice work.
Thanks!
beautiful job!
Thank you so much 😀
Very nice
Thanks, I am really enjoying building it!
I love this compact van 👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks
Really great design. Extremely well thought out. I am drawing a ton of inspiration and ideas from this. I am looking at trying to do something similar with a new Sienna hybrid, but I am not sure how that stacks up size wise to the van you have. What year and model is the van? Also I am wondering what the internal measurements are? How long is the cab (behind front seats)? How wide? How tall? How high is the bed platform off the floor in the side door? I am trying to determine if I can do a similarrear kitchen build like you did (although I need to have something I can easily remove from the left side of it to have access to spare tire located in the wall. Currently I am leaning to a side door slide out kitchen because I fear I do not have the length to have dedicated rear kitchen. Thanks you so much for your videos. You two have done some incredibly brilliant and well engineered work.
Hi, I keep reading your comment and then not having time to go out and measure anything. But I will do it eventually!
Love this! So well thought out...
Thanks - It is a year of two of trying stuff out and improving it.
I wonder what would be the equivalent van available in Australia? Deb from Oz
Good job
Thanks
Ello, je suis tellement impressionnée que cela me donne le goût d’améliorer mon set up avec ce que vous avez fait.! Bravo pour ces excellents vidéos. J’ai un set up trop lourd à sortir seule et le vôtre serait parfait. Qu’est que vous employez comme outil pour faire les trous de ventilation et les trous pour faire de l’espace entre les boîtes pour pouvoir défaire la vis à main nue, est-ce le même outil? Merci Voisine, je demeure dans les basses Laurentides 😉🙏
Merci pour les beau compliment! J'ai utilisé une perceuse avec une mèche Forstner, ça donne des beaux trous très net.
Merci!
Very neat.
Thanks!
Great informative video. How much weight did you add to the van with this van build?
Not sure, I have never added it all up, but I have tried to keep it to a minimum, using 3/8th plywood where I could. So probably around 150 lb of wood at least + mattress + kitchen stuff, etc.The biggest weight is the battery which is about 60 lbs just by itself.
Very Nice !
Glad you like it!
Great van and videos. Looking forward to an inside tour of how the bed/bench/couch works. Does wind bother your awning? Do you have to stake it down with guy-wires, or does the 4 side frame make that unnecessary? Thanks.
Thanks! I'm going to be filming a bunch of videos in the next two weeks - and how the bed works will be one of them.
As for the awning - it is quite stable but anything more than a breeze will necessitate using stakes and guy-wires. We were pretty luck with the weather last summer and didn't need them 99% of the time. Sadly the one time we should have used them the wind caught it and bent the little pegs at the top of the support poles. :-(
Hi, I finally made a video specifically about the sliding bed frame, if you want to check it out: th-cam.com/video/BXTo1lIxpms/w-d-xo.html
Is this a Dodge Caravan? If so are your seats stowed underneath? The reason I ask is the under the floor space you showed when you pulled out your clothing drawer. Thanks! This is all a great set up. That bed would be ideal to pull back during the day.
Yes it is a Dodge Grand Caravan, but mine came with a removable bench seat in the 2nd row, so it gets hauled out and stored in the basement when we are using the van as camper. That frees up the under floor storage for other good stuff.
The 3rd row seats are folded down into the floor under the kitchen area.
Great build thanks for sharing. This might be a no-brainer but why doesn’t anyone paint the wood?
I guess cause the birch plywood is so pretty, I want to see the grin of the wood. But I am finding out that it is hard to keep such light wood looking clean (a.k.a. clean).
If I had it to do over again I would probably stain it a darker colour. (or paint it I guess)
@@averysmallcampervan yeah makes sense less toxic too
Fantastic!!
Thanks!
Subscribed. I have a dodge caravan also and I absolutely love your build. Would you sell me a copy of your build plans?
Sadly, no, or at least not for a long while. I would have to draw up the plans in order to sell them to you and there is a lot of work in that, that I don't have time for for now.
Wowwwww!!! Amazing!
Thanks!
Excelente trabalho, muito inspirador.
Gracias
love this what cast iron pan is that
It is from Lodge. I think I got my through Amazon. It is 10-1/4 inches with the two small handles. The lid was bought separate from the same company
@@averysmallcampervan Thank you
OMG, genius. As always. ;)
Thank you! Cheers!
Would you consider making a set like this for my Nissan nv 200
At the moment I don't have my own wood shop, so it is a bit difficult to take on other peoples builds, but maybe one day. I would like to have the opportunity to plan and build other vans.
None of your links are working for me..ill come back n keep trying..love the way you made the bed..
Hi, I just checked and they don't work - that was the first time I put that kind of link, must have done it wrong. Thanks for letting me know.
Really nice build. I also just found you. What kind of van is this please??
It is a 2012 Grand Caravan
Nice !
How did you make the little table that's on the 3rd row seat arm rest? I see the 2x4s in the front, is there anything on the window side of it?
I didn't follow through with the bedside shelves because it would have made the bedside too claustophobic! but the plan was to have something that fit snuggly into one of the cupholders and slots in the top shelf that the seatbelt would slipped into to hold it.
You should vacuum your car. It’s so dirty. But That aside. The work you did, was good.
Well thanks for the advice (?)
Genius❤
Thank you so much !