The floor is bolted to the van floor at three points where the seats used to be - I will show this in more detail in my next video which comes out in early November
I love this but would love for a tad bit of counter space for a brutane 2 burner stovetop. And what about wifi/internet as I would be LIVING and SLEEPING in van full time living/dwelling????(Stalth in and out of city).
In my Chapter 3 video I show how I increased the counter space by adding a sink cover and an outside counter extension. I also use the top of the fridge as flat kitchen workspace, and I often use my single burner stove there. In my first no-build version of this van, I had a two-burner Coleman stove, but it was just too big and too much hassle. My small electric pan and single butane stove are usually enough. Unless you want to pay big money for Starlink, internet is dependent on where you park. With good signal it’s enough to use my phone as a hotspot with my laptop for normal surfing and light streaming. I stay away from corporate public WiFi such as Starbucks due to privacy risk, but public library WiFi is usually safe and available
Definitely you are very talented on your setup, this is frustrated for me (Lol), because I don't have your talent. I loved your sofa/bed and shelves, sink solution. Enjoy your travels.
There are several ways to deal with this issue, and I use an “all of the above” approach. (1) I often camp near toilet/outhouse/porta-john facilities, so that’s the best option. (2) I am an experienced backpacker, so I have no problem digging a cat hole in appropriate nearby woods if privacy permits. (3) If no other option, I use a double-lined 5-gallon bucket inside the van as a toilet, and then seal and dispose of the bag appropriately.
For cheap coroplast, if you’re in the U.S., grab a few campaign yard signs of unsuccessful primary candidates! You’ll be helping your surroundings and saving money at the same time.
Bravo! Well built and your video is well narrated, quite impressive. May I ask....if I wanted the bed to sleep 2 people, would the best way to modify your design be to simply make the cabinetry narrower all over, or to forego the bottom portions? Thank you!
For the bed to sleep 2 people, the shelf unit would be deleted and the sink cabinet would be very narrow. However, additional storage would be available under the bed, so it could work. One of the things I like best about my build is that I can do complete meal prep without leaving the van, but this would be really tight with two people. If I was doing a new 2-person build, I would do a lot of RU-vid research to get the best ideas for that particular use
Thanks for sharing your build. I’m just now wrapping up our build and have incorporated much from your design and those of Eric’s. I also am using the same water pump and faucet. I originally got a larger pump, but I couldn’t get it to stop pulsating at low flow levels and got the pump you’re using which is perfect and much quieter. I originally mounted it above my water supply which did not work. That location caused me to have to prime again when it sat overnight. I got to looking at it and thought perhaps there’s a reason you placed it down low, so I tried that and “Voila” that got it.
Gump you're a genius lol. Priming the sink was so easy. I watched the first video and appreciate info on an affordable older Odyssey. I haven't lived in a minivan to know but like the roominess of your design and storage in the side and back. Very practical and you presented it all very well, thank you
I like your videos. It's all the way full of ideas with point by point details and data. And of course I never Saw a perfect mini van camper build like yours. Thank you for sharing your great and precious Ideas 🎉🎉
Confused. First, after watching every similar build I chose to follow yours most closely, so big thumbs up. The issue I'm having is that the angle of my seat back leans back a lot. I've read that 15 degrees is optimal, up to 20 degrees, but it seems that your design has the back reclining much more than that. Did I miss something? At a 20 degree incline I have about 14" between the edge of the front panel and the rear. So the seat back(s) create a triangle that has a 14" base with 19" sides. Thanks!
I measured the seat back angle on my build, and it's a 22 degree incline. When I was designing the bed/couch, I started with Eric's design, making sure it had equal size panels and seat cushions to fit the overall mattress length, then I adjusted the bed frame dimensions for an overall size and couch seat angle that seemed reasonable and comfortable for fitting in my van. The couch is very comfortable for me, but of course that's a personal preference decision. If less incline is desired, any of three modifications could be made, and will result in the front and rear panels being closer together in couch mode: (1) the bed frame length could be shorter in the front, (2) the frame piece that blocks the stopper could be moved further back, or (3) the front and rear panels could be made larger than the middle panels. However, option (3) may require the front and rear cushions being a different size than the middle cushions, and also may result in the seat being too large front-to-back. Anyway, if you think your seat angle is too large, you could slide the couch seat back to find the perfect angle for you, then modify either the frame or the panels to lock it in. Good luck.
The only problem I have wth car camping is the heat and cooling issues. I only camp a few months out of the year. Otherwise my purchase of a 2008 Sienna was a great purchase. Serves me camping and use as an easy access “truck”
I agree, temperature control is a challenge, especially cooling! That's why I like my bedding system, which is comfortable when the outside temp is 30-75 degrees. When the nights get hotter, I struggle to to keep the inside cool enough for good sleep, so I'm working on a simple ventilation system which provides a lot of airflow while keeping the bugs out; I'll make a video for it.
Great video, great presentation style! Clear, concise, no stupid graphics or music, no unnecessary background noises or distractions, and no pandering or begging for "likes" or subs. Well done.
. Lovely clean efficien well done.where do you hang out?I need someone like you to work on my caravan,which is complete I need to make a few changes. Greatidean, so clean.
Thank you for the updates! After watching parts 2 & 3, you answered a lot of questions. This a very simple and robust design. I'm still curious on total build costs, if you have an estimate.
I just finished watching all of "Eric Enjoys Earth." It's a very robust design and I like it a lot. I have a small enclosed trailer to build out in a similar style. Can I ask a few questions: Was it hard to adapt to the Honda Odyssey? Do you have an estimate on total cost? Have you had any issues since the original build? Any suggestions for improvements? Thank you!
The floor is bolted to the bed frame, which is bolted to the 2x4 board attached to the van rear seat anchors. The floor is also bolted to the sink cabinet and to the shelf unit. Nothing moves, wiggles, or squeaks
@@travelswithrob4970 I see, so it’s not directly bolted to the second row seat anchors, just the other components. I was trying to figure out the best way to get my floor fixed without drilling through it for a bolt or something. I like your way better.
I also have an Ecoflo Delta battery.. I have found that by using a 12v ,300watt full sine wave inverter you can charge the battery much faster than the 12v charge cord that came with the unit..I use a Bestek that cost me $40.. Great build..
Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Ecoflow changed the firmware on my unit to limit alternator charging to 8 amps, but I’ve found that it really only charges at 6 amps even though the outlet is rated for 10 amps. It’s pretty slow, so your idea sounds faster
My cost was based on prices from almost four years ago, so I’m planning to do an updated video describing the total build cost using current post-inflation prices. My guess is that it will come in at $1500-$2000. Some big-ticket items have actually gotten cheaper, such as: power station, fridge, solar panel.
Wow i never heard anybody say they need their feet covered the entire time they sleep. I gotta slip em out regularly for some air. Most people I know are the same. You just can't hang them over the edge. You know, cuz of monsters. Even in your fifties those under bed gremlins can still getchya 😂
How would you suggest cutting out the window covers? This has plagued me for a while now. Yours look perfect and I could never ever come close. Share your secret? Also, this is a brilliant build.
I made a paper template for each window shape, then traced it onto a 4x8 sheet of coroplast, then cut the pattern with a sharp x-acto knife. After a bit of fine tuning with scissors, they fit really well. I also stapled short strips of nylon webbing onto each panel so that I have something to hold onto to pull the panels out. I really appreciate how they store away as a short stack of semi-rigid panels, it makes the morning routine fast and easy
I think that most of my weight burden on the van is actually all of my gear, not so much the material of the build. The wood parts of my system weigh less than 200 lbs (floor, bed frame, sink cabinet and shelf) which is about the same as the weight of van seats I removed. It’s the total of all the other stuff that weighs even more, including the mattress, 10 gallons of water, camping and hiking gear, clothing, food, refrigerator, roof cargo box, screen tent, camp chairs, power station, solar panel, etc. For more elaborate builds I can see how saving some pounds on the build material might help, but for me, saving weight is mostly about bringing less stuff
Wait, I thought my income taxes fund National Parks. This makes me part owner, like every other income tax paying American. Why do I have to pay for a permit? How can I be fined and/or jailed for posting content? More proof government agencies and departments eventually morph into self-serving, money grabbing thugs far removed from the intended mandate of public service.
