You run your wiring in the upper edges. Then cover them with Crown molding. Usually 5-6".. That way you don't have to be perfect on the edges. And you can access the wiring if the need ever arises. And trust me. You will need to get at that wiring sometime down the road.
Good job! I have done bed popouts in T1 Sprinters the same way and like your method. I am about to start framing a Transit camper van tomorrow. I found your video thought provoking. It pained me to watch you doing all the sanding overhead! I usually sand and finish my wall/ceiling boards before cutting and installing them and use an 18 gauge finish nailer to attach them to the framing. The finish nails blend in pretty well, but you can putty and sand them for a seamless finish. Lately been using an all natural food grade wood finish they sell here in the States called Odie's Oil. I bet you can find something similar in OZ. Thanks again.
Yes it was a huge pain! I wouldn't have been able to get away with finishing nails at the front of the van as the boards are loaded up quite a bit to get the front curve so I needed some holding force through screws. Maybe at the rear I could have utilized them!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Hey, question for you. So you sanded once the boards were in? Did you add any kind of oil to them or leave them bare? Can you explain why you chose to do it this way?
Awesome, thank you! I did actually cut a whole bunch more detail out of the process as I thought the video was getting a bit too long and boring for some.
Its is a bit of a tricky area, especially making it look nice and not a hack. Watch this space though as I will soon be launching a van consultancy service for people to pick my brains and receive build support and ideas.
To mark your first wall board to mate to your curved roof line just use a compass/ scribe to draw the outline onto your wall board. Set pencil/needle to your widest point (75mm) and trace roof line onto wall board. Smoother than multiple reference points.
That is a stunning ceiling! I love cedar, used some to fill my shower tray when not in use. So light and smells so good, it is perfect in a van. Wish I had used more of it. My only concern with what you did here is the screwing in the metal. Surely that cuts the paint, exposes the steel to the air at each screw hole, making a potential rust point? I bolted the strips on the van instead, there are lots of existing bolt holes and you can make more with rivnuts. Cheers
Screwing the ceiling wood slats and later filling and sanding the screw holes is a lot of work, plus finish is rough.I suggest using a bradley nail gun and staple the tongue and groove edge. Bradley nails are invisible. Some areas will be difficult to nail I admit. Bradley nails come in various lengths, you will need to get right length. They also allow for a little contraction and expansion.
I agree it is a bit time consuming but it is far from a rough finish. A brad nailer also wouldn't have enough holding power to hold the boards that are under quite a bit of pressure at the front of the van where I have curved it around the van contours.
The problem i had was that the roof was not flat. As I forced the cedar panels down near the cab there was a hump of sorts at the front so it kinda had to be a custom job. I found this with my other vans too that the roof boards would never be straight.
Love it! First person I’ve seen really exploit the curves of the transit in an appealing way that looks deliberate vs a pure hack. Any possibility I can pay you for some informal feedback on my sketch up design for my transit conversion? building it around my motorcycle.
Hi Joseph, thank you. Yes the curves of the van and incorporating them into the design really does give it a unique and natural look. Send me an email saltyvanventures@gmail.com regarding your sketchup design and I’ll see what we can do.
These are awesome! Live in NZ planning to get transit and do same thing, so stoked to find these vids! 👌🏽 Can you do a plumbing or electrical vid? They’re the only parts I guess that catches people confused lol
Thank you! Yes I plan to do a plumbing and electrical video at some point soon. They can be a bit daunting at first but you learn pretty quick what works. If you have an specific questions are you falso ask them here too
I’ve come back to this video several times because your craftsmanship is so exemplary. Did you consider using rivets instead of sheet metal screws to attach the interior (skeletal) wood strips to the van body? I’m concerned about the sheet metal screws coming loose over time with off-road travel. Thank you again for sharing your excellent videos.
Great work!! The cedar looks really nice on the ceiling! The whole vans coming along great 👍 We are using pine T&G on our walls too. Hoping to get it installed in the next few weeks 🤙
@@SALTYVANVENTURES I like what you did with hiding the screws, but my wood is whitewaxed so I think I'd ruin it if I sand it down, any tips of how I can do?
you can try a more commercial hole filler which goes hard but may be more brittle. I think you can get flexible ones and use a plastic spatula to scrape the excess off flush so you don't need to sand it. You might need to do it a couple of times though as all fillers shrink quote a bit when they dry (hence why I add a bit extra when I do it and sand it flat)
I'm starting into a transit conversion and really appreciate the quality of your videos and work. I shan't deny there's going to be some blatant thieving of your ideas! I've built and fitted out a few boats with tongue and groove style finishes, and the one thing that has to be done on those is to allow for movement: I've seen so many that looked amazing for the first six months before cold winters or hot summers have given the structure a stretch/compression and everything starts moving and looking pretty grim. Are you confident that there's not enough temperature induced movement in a van to bring similar issues? Or is the Australian climate kinder to van structures than European ones to steel boats?
Our van has been in very hot 40 plus to negative temperatures and this is what I can recommend. Paint your cladding before going in the van . I did a mixture of both so on cold days where the wood shrinks we can see the paint like on the tongue of the cladding we painted in situ.
I haven’t no, but I did see this in a few bus conversions in New Zealand. If you plan it out, I don’t see why you couldn’t. I guess it’s just not as common in Australia as our winters are pretty short and the stove takes up quite a bit of space. Where as a diesel heater for instance is pretty small and discrete but also doesn’t get a whole lot of usage either
Hello salty vanventures! Awesome videos, super helpful. Ive noticed you haven't used anything like a layer of rubber between any of the places where your framing timbers contact the van's metal. Was this ever considered to help with squeaking/sealing/stronger bond? Or any thoughts on the idea?
Hi there, no i didn't. There is no wood squeaking either. I have done it like this in 3 vans and never had an issue so i wouldn't consider anything else from my experience.
Perfect job thanks for making the video - very helpful!! What kind of roof fan did you fit into your van please? Is it MaxxFan? If so, which one in particular, and are you happy with it? Thanks!
Thanks a bunch for the awesome video! I'm about to start on the ceiling process and planning to use cedar tongue and groove. Have you experienced any issues with warping since the unexposed side of the panels aren't sealed and moisture inevitably gets behind?
Such good videos. I bought my van a few weeks ago and designing the conversion now. One thing I havent seen anyone comment on is how they reach the backdoor latch to open the doors with high beds, do you have room between the bed and doors to reach down and open? thank you
@@SALTYVANVENTURES oh great! I’ve watched all your videos over and over but you’ve given so much great info I must have missed it! Thanks for replying!
How did you get the plywood battens on the ceiling to bend the corners of the van? Did you end up having to make some kerf cuts? If so, do you remember how deep and how many? Tia!
Well we tried to keep it natural but it was getting stained quite easily, don’t ask how your ceiling gets stained, it’s a small space 😅. So we ended up sealing it which took away the smell but really popped the colours
Good work on your build. Its looking really nice. What was your final bed length between the inserts? I'm 6'2 and a half. Wondering if this would work for me. Thanks!
Thanks! the final bed length is 189cm across and i'm very happy. I'm 6"3' and am comfortable. If you sleep on a slight angle you get a few more inches too!
Hi, just wondering how you made the back walling and what you attached the top run too? As mine is the the flimsy fabric and the passenger chair comes back further then I’d like?
Love these videos, doing the same for our transit van, been watching all your videos and your guys are doing a great job, I have picked up many hits and tips, just a question do you share you design file for this build ? I’d like to do the same for our van, think you have put every thing in the right spots.
I love your videos they are so informative, I just have one question...... I am using cedar on our ceiling and was wondering instead of using screws do you think I could use a nail gun and secret nail them?
Possibly. I went away from the nails as i was bending the cladding quite a bit and a didnt think the brad nails would have held. also the shortest nails my gun holds is 25mm which was too long for the 9mm cedar and 12mm ply
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thank you so much for your reply. I ended up using my nail gun as it uses 15mm Brad nails as well as bonding the boards so I’m presuming it will hold. Your videos are so helpful and I find your explanations so easy to follow. After I have finished the lining boards I’m looking forward to trying to build the cabinets. Fingers crossed 🤗
I screwed a think strip of ply wood to one of the metal roof supports on the front side of the bulk head and screwed it to that. The wood panels go past the bulk head as such
Great build so far - getting plenty of good ideas from you! Can I ask what the head to toe length of the bed is - I like the idea of taking some extra space from the van walls, does this give you enough space to lay comfortably sideways in the van?
The bed is 190cm end to end. yes it gives just enough to lie sleep side ways and i'm 6"3' or 191cm tall. If you sleep even just slightly in an angle you gain another inch or 2
Hey mate unreal build love your channel! Just a question with your pocket jig how does it go working with 12mm ply does it blow out at all? Just the kreg jig reckons 12.7mm is the minium thickness but you have obviously found a way around. Thanks cob
Works well, the whole build was basically put together with the tool using 12mm ply. Depending on weather you require a flush screw, you may need to shop around for smaller head screws
I didn't install the highly controversial vapour barrier no. I don't really think it's necessary as long as the insulation you use does not absorb moisture it wont get trapped behind the walls. Wood breaths unlike some other materials so i'm not worried about any issues.
Wish I coulda seen you do around the window. Do you remove the black trim and put up the plywood? Is the plywood wedged behind black frame or just flush ? And did you not use insulation? Thank you
Do you mean the wood cut out around the back window? The thin plywood is flush with the frame. That particular window is only one piece and doesn't have a trim. There is insulation between the plywood and the van panel.
I am in the early stages of a self build (VW T5 Transporter LWB Hi top) in Australia, and I love the look of the western red cedar you used on the roof. Can you tell me where you sourced it from? Cheers!
Hey Marcel, hope you are going well. We are about to start framing for the walls. We were thinking of going with 10 mm ply? Would that be structurally sound to hold the ceiling and side wall timber
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thanks for that we actually ended up buying 12 mm structural ply and went with the same screws as your. Thanks again mate you are a legend!
I bought them from a wood shop out in Blacktown which I cant remember the name right now. They were advertising it on Ebay for $6/m 86mm wide which is how I found them. This was half the price of the next best I could find.
Hello guys! Could you recommend me a garage or someone who can fit my side window, pop up roof or even lift my transit higher?Google does not want to help me for some reason.And i have no tools and skill at all to convert the body.I live in Cumbria. Thank you for your help guys
I extended the harness on two different spots so I could run it behind the wall. It was a mammoth effort cutting and re rejoining over 200 wires. Check the video I did on insulation where I show what I did. It’s near the end of the video
Mostly self drilling meal screws. Something like these www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-8g-x-30mm-galvanised-countersunk-head-metal-screws-50-pack_p2420546?store=7304&gclid=CjwKCAjw2ZaGBhBoEiwA8pfP_sd37DlF1qF7Nj9DJUoKar_RbVC928bsCPWnEjeVlOh-mAPGI_iB5BoCSVIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I'm 6"3' and am very very happy with how the bed turned out. I was a bit worried that it would be too short at first but after sleeping in it, it is perfect.
Thanks for sharing this - it's really great info! Can I ask what finish you used for the cedar roofing? (Probably not epoxy varnish if it still smells so wonderful!)
In the video I didn't end up finishing the roof with a varnish. We just did it today though as I realised that leaving it unfinished wouldn't be an option as it was getting stained very easily. We ended up sealing it with Cabots clear satin water based polyurethane varnish. It has come out amazingly after 3 coats. We didn't coat the cedar in the cupboard though so we get a little bit of the smell from the cedar still untreated.
@@SALTYVANVENTURES That makes sense. Oiling it would have helped a bit - but polyurethane sealing will be tougher wearing. Pity about the smell though! never mind, cedar is a great wood, very termite resistant!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES So, sealing the cedar kind of defeats the purpose of using cedar, does it not? Do you wish you'd just stuck with pine from the start?
I'm 6"3'. If you are asking to see how comfortable it is and if I fit, I'm very happy so say yes I do and it is comfortable and well worth the space saving for sure.
You run your wiring in the upper edges. Then cover them with Crown molding. Usually 5-6".. That way you don't have to be perfect on the edges. And you can access the wiring if the need ever arises. And trust me. You will need to get at that wiring sometime down the road.
Good job! I have done bed popouts in T1 Sprinters the same way and like your method. I am about to start framing a Transit camper van tomorrow. I found your video thought provoking. It pained me to watch you doing all the sanding overhead! I usually sand and finish my wall/ceiling boards before cutting and installing them and use an 18 gauge finish nailer to attach them to the framing. The finish nails blend in pretty well, but you can putty and sand them for a seamless finish. Lately been using an all natural food grade wood finish they sell here in the States called Odie's Oil. I bet you can find something similar in OZ. Thanks again.
Yes it was a huge pain! I wouldn't have been able to get away with finishing nails at the front of the van as the boards are loaded up quite a bit to get the front curve so I needed some holding force through screws. Maybe at the rear I could have utilized them!
Ceiling and walls are looking great, my favourite van is white with white cabinets and the walls/roof/worktops in wood.
I think it’s the best combination too 😍
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Hey, question for you. So you sanded once the boards were in? Did you add any kind of oil to them or leave them bare? Can you explain why you chose to do it this way?
Very impressed with the ceiling to wall transition. Would have enjoyed seeing more detail of your process. Great looking ceiling 👍👍👍
Awesome, thank you! I did actually cut a whole bunch more detail out of the process as I thought the video was getting a bit too long and boring for some.
I need to buy a contour guide. Very useful tool. Your framing method is very clean and professional looking.
Yes they are very useful for when you want to do a nice neat job! Glad it was helpful to you
Cedar walls is a dream!!!
You will love them!
Excellent work and really well explained, seen loads of these help vids and this is one of the very best.
Great to hear!
I'm so overwhelmed by the walls and roof of my van. I wish I could borrow your brain for a few days lol. Ypu make it look so easy
Its is a bit of a tricky area, especially making it look nice and not a hack. Watch this space though as I will soon be launching a van consultancy service for people to pick my brains and receive build support and ideas.
@@SALTYVANVENTURES I'll keep a keen eye on the horizon 👀 😊
To mark your first wall board to mate to your curved roof line just use a compass/ scribe to draw the outline onto your wall board. Set pencil/needle to your widest point (75mm) and trace roof line onto wall board. Smoother than multiple reference points.
That is a stunning ceiling! I love cedar, used some to fill my shower tray when not in use. So light and smells so good, it is perfect in a van. Wish I had used more of it.
My only concern with what you did here is the screwing in the metal. Surely that cuts the paint, exposes the steel to the air at each screw hole, making a potential rust point? I bolted the strips on the van instead, there are lots of existing bolt holes and you can make more with rivnuts. Cheers
Great wood choice for the ceiling!
Honestly it’s still my favourite feature of the build
Great video mate well edited and easy to watch. You deserve more views
Thanks mate that's very kind of you to say.
Great job mate, I like the wood finish.
Thank you! Cheers!
Screwing the ceiling wood slats and later filling and sanding the screw holes is a lot of work, plus finish is rough.I suggest using a bradley nail gun and staple the tongue and groove edge. Bradley nails are invisible. Some areas will be difficult to nail I admit. Bradley nails come in various lengths, you will need to get right length. They also allow for a little contraction and expansion.
I agree it is a bit time consuming but it is far from a rough finish. A brad nailer also wouldn't have enough holding power to hold the boards that are under quite a bit of pressure at the front of the van where I have curved it around the van contours.
If the max gap is 75mm, you can ring a scribe line with a 75mm spacer along the roof so its fast and perfect 👍
The problem i had was that the roof was not flat. As I forced the cedar panels down near the cab there was a hump of sorts at the front so it kinda had to be a custom job. I found this with my other vans too that the roof boards would never be straight.
Really enjoyed your video just about to start my van , I got a few great ideas
Thanks
Kieran from Ireland
Glad you enjoyed it
I've watched this video like 10 times... Soon I will be ready to build!
Awesome! Hope your taking notes! haha
haha, us too. Getting ready to do this in the next couple of days!
love your video i love van life
Thanks so much!
Your uploads are so so informative! Thanks very much for all the tips and tricks,
Glad you like them!
Fantastic work! Thank you for the video.
Our pleasure!
Great work bros, worth every second to watch. Next video please many thanks
Thank you. The next video will be coming out in the next couple of days!
Quality work!! Can't wait for the next video 👏🤙
Thank you! So glad you are enjoying them!
Pretty amazing, especially doing it in the street!!! Nice job Bro.
Appreciate it!
Love it! First person I’ve seen really exploit the curves of the transit in an appealing way that looks deliberate vs a pure hack. Any possibility I can pay you for some informal feedback on my sketch up design for my transit conversion? building it around my motorcycle.
Hi Joseph, thank you. Yes the curves of the van and incorporating them into the design really does give it a unique and natural look. Send me an email saltyvanventures@gmail.com regarding your sketchup design and I’ll see what we can do.
These are awesome! Live in NZ planning to get transit and do same thing, so stoked to find these vids! 👌🏽 Can you do a plumbing or electrical vid? They’re the only parts I guess that catches people confused lol
Thank you! Yes I plan to do a plumbing and electrical video at some point soon. They can be a bit daunting at first but you learn pretty quick what works. If you have an specific questions are you falso ask them here too
Looks good!
Thanks. Im pretty happy with it so far
I’ve come back to this video several times because your craftsmanship is so exemplary. Did you consider using rivets instead of sheet metal screws to attach the interior (skeletal) wood strips to the van body? I’m concerned about the sheet metal screws coming loose over time with off-road travel. Thank you again for sharing your excellent videos.
I think he said that he used Glue behind the wood as well as screws.
Looks so nice, well done
Thank you! Cheers!
11:18 You could save yourself all that measuring and use a compass to make that arc and then cut it. 🤔
Problem is that it's not a circular arc so that wouldn't have worked right? there were also small humps and troughs that I needed to contour
That's very nice carpentry
Cheers! It's definitely getting easier now with this 3rd build. The first time was a real pain figuring it all out
Great work!! The cedar looks really nice on the ceiling! The whole vans coming along great 👍 We are using pine T&G on our walls too. Hoping to get it installed in the next few weeks 🤙
Thanks guys! I'm very happy I splashed out with the beautiful Canadian timber! If I were building this in Canada my whole van would be cedar haha!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES ahah great choice! we are using cedar for our deck. we had it sitting in the van for a few days and it smelled sooooo good!!
Where did you source your cedar from
@van ad
Buen vídeo 👌 gracias.
Gracias
Awesome content! :D Getting my ceiling done tomorrow hopefully and it helped to see how you did!
Good luck! i hope the video helped you out. hola out if you have any questions
@@SALTYVANVENTURES I like what you did with hiding the screws, but my wood is whitewaxed so I think I'd ruin it if I sand it down, any tips of how I can do?
you can try a more commercial hole filler which goes hard but may be more brittle. I think you can get flexible ones and use a plastic spatula to scrape the excess off flush so you don't need to sand it. You might need to do it a couple of times though as all fillers shrink quote a bit when they dry (hence why I add a bit extra when I do it and sand it flat)
@@SALTYVANVENTURES alright, cheers! :)
Do like a stick of ceda .. yes sirree bob .😍😎😁
Yes its is by far my most favourite timbers. It just smells so wonderfull yes sirree bob!
I knew I bought a contour gauge 4 years ago for a reason
They are handy when you get an opportunity to use them!
U just added 100000 to the value of your van.
Hahaha!
I'm starting into a transit conversion and really appreciate the quality of your videos and work. I shan't deny there's going to be some blatant thieving of your ideas!
I've built and fitted out a few boats with tongue and groove style finishes, and the one thing that has to be done on those is to allow for movement: I've seen so many that looked amazing for the first six months before cold winters or hot summers have given the structure a stretch/compression and everything starts moving and looking pretty grim. Are you confident that there's not enough temperature induced movement in a van to bring similar issues? Or is the Australian climate kinder to van structures than European ones to steel boats?
Our van has been in very hot 40 plus to negative temperatures and this is what I can recommend. Paint your cladding before going in the van . I did a mixture of both so on cold days where the wood shrinks we can see the paint like on the tongue of the cladding we painted in situ.
Have you ever known anyone to put a roaring Meg wood fire in their camper in Australia? I have one and really really want to install it in my van
I haven’t no, but I did see this in a few bus conversions in New Zealand. If you plan it out, I don’t see why you couldn’t. I guess it’s just not as common in Australia as our winters are pretty short and the stove takes up quite a bit of space. Where as a diesel heater for instance is pretty small and discrete but also doesn’t get a whole lot of usage either
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thanks for your feedback 🙏🏼😊
Hello salty vanventures! Awesome videos, super helpful. Ive noticed you haven't used anything like a layer of rubber between any of the places where your framing timbers contact the van's metal. Was this ever considered to help with squeaking/sealing/stronger bond? Or any thoughts on the idea?
Hi there, no i didn't. There is no wood squeaking either. I have done it like this in 3 vans and never had an issue so i wouldn't consider anything else from my experience.
Good job
Thanks
Hey! Awesome build. What screws do you use for the cedar boards on the ceiling??
Just wood screws, maybe around 20mm
Could you wait till later in the build I.e after walls to put up the ceiling? Wanting to see how it looks before making my pick for ceiling material
Don't see why not
Perfect job thanks for making the video - very helpful!! What kind of roof fan did you fit into your van please? Is it MaxxFan? If so, which one in particular, and are you happy with it? Thanks!
Not a max air fan but similar. The link is on the description
Thanks a bunch for the awesome video! I'm about to start on the ceiling process and planning to use cedar tongue and groove. Have you experienced any issues with warping since the unexposed side of the panels aren't sealed and moisture inevitably gets behind?
No issues what so ever!
nice job.
Thanks!
how did you measure the roof panels at a curve?
Why skip insulation and vapour barrier in such a beautiful build ? 😖
It’s going to mould and rust 🤦♀️
Such good videos. I bought my van a few weeks ago and designing the conversion now. One thing I havent seen anyone comment on is how they reach the backdoor latch to open the doors with high beds, do you have room between the bed and doors to reach down and open? thank you
I think this may answer your question beautifully 😊 I designed an extension lever th-cam.com/video/62bG1u7FvOE/w-d-xo.html
what is the dimensions of your bed? currently contemplating width ways or length ways bed for our build!
The bed is 190cm long and 150cm wide
Hey Marcel! Curious as to what you used at the back of the van where there is no support beam to attach into? Thank you!
Check out the video i created on making the rear look good. I used small thin fearing strips to screw the tongue and groove on to
@@SALTYVANVENTURES oh great! I’ve watched all your videos over and over but you’ve given so much great info I must have missed it! Thanks for replying!
How did you get the plywood battens on the ceiling to bend the corners of the van? Did you end up having to make some kerf cuts? If so, do you remember how deep and how many? Tia!
Yes i did some kerf cuts on the battens around the corners. Pretty much deep enough to bend and not snap
How long did the cedar keep smelling nice? The whole time you were living in the van?
Well we tried to keep it natural but it was getting stained quite easily, don’t ask how your ceiling gets stained, it’s a small space 😅. So we ended up sealing it which took away the smell but really popped the colours
Paulo costa is smart
Good work on your build. Its looking really nice. What was your final bed length between the inserts? I'm 6'2 and a half. Wondering if this would work for me. Thanks!
Thanks! the final bed length is 189cm across and i'm very happy. I'm 6"3' and am comfortable. If you sleep on a slight angle you get a few more inches too!
Hi Salty very nice job, and just a question what thickness battens do you use for the walls and roof. thanks
12mm ply
Hi, just wondering how you made the back walling and what you attached the top run too? As mine is the the flimsy fabric and the passenger chair comes back further then I’d like?
have you checked this video th-cam.com/video/36YFNH5u35Y/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=SaltyVanventures It might answer your question
Love these videos, doing the same for our transit van, been watching all your videos and your guys are doing a great job, I have picked up many hits and tips, just a question do you share you design file for this build ? I’d like to do the same for our van, think you have put every thing in the right spots.
Hi, thanks you. Ye i will have it for sale very shortly on our new website (currently being built) so stay tuned!
I love your videos they are so informative, I just have one question...... I am using cedar on our ceiling and was wondering instead of using screws do you think I could use a nail gun and secret nail them?
Possibly. I went away from the nails as i was bending the cladding quite a bit and a didnt think the brad nails would have held. also the shortest nails my gun holds is 25mm which was too long for the 9mm cedar and 12mm ply
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thank you so much for your reply. I ended up using my nail gun as it uses 15mm Brad nails as well as bonding the boards so I’m presuming it will hold. Your videos are so helpful and I find your explanations so easy to follow. After I have finished the lining boards I’m looking forward to trying to build the cabinets. Fingers crossed 🤗
Hey, this video has been super helpful for me, thank you. I am just wondering how you attached the ceiling panels at the front where the bulkhead is?
I screwed a think strip of ply wood to one of the metal roof supports on the front side of the bulk head and screwed it to that. The wood panels go past the bulk head as such
@@SALTYVANVENTURES makes sense. Thank you very much
Great build so far - getting plenty of good ideas from you!
Can I ask what the head to toe length of the bed is - I like the idea of taking some extra space from the van walls, does this give you enough space to lay comfortably sideways in the van?
The bed is 190cm end to end. yes it gives just enough to lie sleep side ways and i'm 6"3' or 191cm tall. If you sleep even just slightly in an angle you gain another inch or 2
@@SALTYVANVENTURES That's awesome thanks!!
How did he join the pieces of ply together when framing the bed?
pockets screws and liquid nails
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thanks!
Where did you get your sliding windows from cheers
Check out the video I made on installing the windows. The link is in the description where to buy the windows I used
Do you have anything holding those planks going to the curve in the front? I put 2”x2” on the front.
From memory i think i used a thin bit of ply to screw them into the front most cross member like i did with the rest of them
Hey mate unreal build love your channel!
Just a question with your pocket jig how does it go working with 12mm ply does it blow out at all? Just the kreg jig reckons 12.7mm is the minium thickness but you have obviously found a way around.
Thanks cob
Works well, the whole build was basically put together with the tool using 12mm ply. Depending on weather you require a flush screw, you may need to shop around for smaller head screws
@@SALTYVANVENTURES you beauty thanks cob
I see you haven’t done a vapour barrier would you say it’s not necessary? I’m in early stages trying to figure out what to do. Also in Australia
I didn't install the highly controversial vapour barrier no. I don't really think it's necessary as long as the insulation you use does not absorb moisture it wont get trapped behind the walls. Wood breaths unlike some other materials so i'm not worried about any issues.
Was your cedar ceiling tongue and groove?
Yes it is
Hi just wondering how you held the roof up while you screwed it on?
Cheers
Im tall enough that I could pin it with a srcew while still holding it up
Wish I coulda seen you do around the window. Do you remove the black trim and put up the plywood? Is the plywood wedged behind black frame or just flush ? And did you not use insulation? Thank you
Do you mean the wood cut out around the back window? The thin plywood is flush with the frame. That particular window is only one piece and doesn't have a trim. There is insulation between the plywood and the van panel.
@@SALTYVANVENTURES yes I need to insulate and put plywood but was thinking the ply would stick out not flush with the window
Hey love it!
Just wondering what finish, if any, that you put on the ceiling after? Water based / oil based?
Thanks in advance :)
Water based clear satin
@@SALTYVANVENTURESdid you find that the stain robbed your van of the cedar smell?
@@echocampbell4644 indeed it did, we tried leaving it unsealed for a while but it was getting easily stained.
Hey, What's the thickness of your cladding? I want to do something similar with my build.
The cedar is 9mm, and the pine is 12 which is the thinnest I could find in Australia.
I am in the early stages of a self build (VW T5 Transporter LWB Hi top) in Australia, and I love the look of the western red cedar you used on the roof. Can you tell me where you sourced it from? Cheers!
Same question here. Great vid.
I picked it up from a timber sales place called GREEN FOREST TIMBER in CLYDE
I picked it up from a timber sales place called GREEN FOREST TIMBER in CLYDE
Hey Marcel, hope you are going well. We are about to start framing for the walls. We were thinking of going with 10 mm ply? Would that be structurally sound to hold the ceiling and side wall timber
As long as you can get screws to hold in it then yes.
@@SALTYVANVENTURES thanks for that we actually ended up buying 12 mm structural ply and went with the same screws as your. Thanks again mate you are a legend!
Hey bro awesome job. Where did you get the cedar boards from? I'm trying to find a good supplier in nsw
I bought them from a wood shop out in Blacktown which I cant remember the name right now. They were advertising it on Ebay for $6/m 86mm wide which is how I found them. This was half the price of the next best I could find.
Hi 👋🏻 are you still doing the van consultancy? Thanks.
Hi, Yes I am! Although I’m currently spending the majority of my time creating my online van build course which will be available soon
@@SALTYVANVENTURESoh that’s awesome… I want to start my build but am so overwhelmed… will keep an eye out! Thanks
lower music level pls.
Hey man love your channel, what vent did you get?
Hi there, the link for the vent i got is in the description!
Hello guys!
Could you recommend me a garage or someone who can fit my side window, pop up roof or even lift my transit higher?Google does not want to help me for some reason.And i have no tools and skill at all to convert the body.I live in Cumbria.
Thank you for your help guys
What about insulation?
Oh I see you do insulation in an earlier video
What type of wood have you used for the roof?
Western red cedar
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Did you stain it or leave it bare?
What did you do with the big wiring harness that runs along the back walls of the van?
I extended the harness on two different spots so I could run it behind the wall. It was a mammoth effort cutting and re rejoining over 200 wires. Check the video I did on insulation where I show what I did. It’s near the end of the video
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Thank you
How did you reinforce the 12mm ply battens. I've just started doing mine and found them too flexible
Which battens are you talking about? The vertical ones?
Yeah the vertical ones that sit between the main frames. Just seem to flex in the middle with no support behind it
@@Mattgrenotgolf they will stiffen right up when you install the frames for the bed and the cupboard
Did you just layer the horizontal ply behind the vertical ones?
And did you just screw the tongue and groove straight to the ply battens?
What kind of screws did you use to drill into the metal?? Great vid man🤙🏾
Mostly self drilling meal screws. Something like these www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-8g-x-30mm-galvanised-countersunk-head-metal-screws-50-pack_p2420546?store=7304&gclid=CjwKCAjw2ZaGBhBoEiwA8pfP_sd37DlF1qF7Nj9DJUoKar_RbVC928bsCPWnEjeVlOh-mAPGI_iB5BoCSVIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
hey man, @@SALTYVANVENTURES what screws did you use for the 12mm panel onto the 12mm plywood batten?
@@rileysohier5965 I think I used small 16mm-20mm countersunk screws. Just enough to penetrate and hold though 12mm.
How tall are you to be able to stand up inside the van?
Yes, i'm 6"3' and there is still about 3 inches of room above my head.
how tall are you? i want to make my bed with wise in my transit also
I'm 6"3' and am very very happy with how the bed turned out. I was a bit worried that it would be too short at first but after sleeping in it, it is perfect.
Can you ring me when the van is finished and ready for the tour ........pleez not interested in the building part ...cheers ...
Haha sure!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES I,ll keep tuned in really want to see finished van build ....cheers from Melbourne .....
How did you attach the ply on the ceiling?
16mm screws into the ply strips
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Only 16mm into 15mm ply then metal?
What wood is that on the ceiling? its really nice!
Just seen in comments below!
Yes the cedar is so nice. Really makes the van POP!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES - Are you able to provide a link to where you got the wood from please?
What CAD program did you use bro? Is that Isketch?
Sketchup
@@SALTYVANVENTURES Thanks Mate!!!
Nice ; Insulation ?
yep! check the video i did on insulation for warmer climates!
No insulation ?
insulation video here th-cam.com/video/SbfoZ5sl7z4/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for sharing this - it's really great info! Can I ask what finish you used for the cedar roofing? (Probably not epoxy varnish if it still smells so wonderful!)
In the video I didn't end up finishing the roof with a varnish. We just did it today though as I realised that leaving it unfinished wouldn't be an option as it was getting stained very easily. We ended up sealing it with Cabots clear satin water based polyurethane varnish. It has come out amazingly after 3 coats. We didn't coat the cedar in the cupboard though so we get a little bit of the smell from the cedar still untreated.
@@SALTYVANVENTURES That makes sense. Oiling it would have helped a bit - but polyurethane sealing will be tougher wearing. Pity about the smell though! never mind, cedar is a great wood, very termite resistant!
hopefully termites will be the least of our worries haha!
@@SALTYVANVENTURES So, sealing the cedar kind of defeats the purpose of using cedar, does it not? Do you wish you'd just stuck with pine from the start?
@@wanderingzythophile9083 Well not at all as it still looks about 10x better than pine ever could.
I know it smells nice but unless you want lung and breathing problems you should wear a respirator
Omg thank you so much. My very first THANKS. What a legend.
How tall are u?
I'm 6"3'. If you are asking to see how comfortable it is and if I fit, I'm very happy so say yes I do and it is comfortable and well worth the space saving for sure.
Needs English subtitles