A little advice: Don't Wait!

 

The above picture was taken on July 17, 2022.  We took the very unfinished van, camping last year.  The floor was done, the walls were in but not finished, and the ceiling was started.  As you can see the angle iron was installed that would eventually become the supports for our bed.  But on that weekend, our bed was down on the floor with all of our camping stuff piled around us.  

Fast forward one year.

Exactly one year later we went camping in the same place.  This time it was a lot more comfortable but just as fun as a year ago.  We have a bed, the walls are finished, the ceiling is done, has touch reading lights, LED strip lighting around the ceiling, the Dometic cooler is installed, and the van is nearly complete (let's be honest it will never be completely finished).  We spent the past couple of weeks installing a cabinet, bug screen, rooftop basket, and other little things.  

So what's my advice to those of you planning a van conversion:  DON'T WAIT TO USE IT!  Use your van and go on trips during the entire process of the build!!!  We have revised our design because as we used the van, we realized there were some things that weren't needed, and other things that were.  Using the van also kept us motivated when we got frustrated with a build, or that nothing is level or square, and things didn't work. 

This is not like buying an RV off a lot.  In that case, it is already set up and you end up molding to make that design work.  This is a CUSTOM van that we are building!  We get to make the van mold to our needs.  So get out of the shop, wash off the sawdust, and use your work-in-progress.  Learn from experience, not theory, what you need and want.  

~ Carrie