I have to say, making the bed pull-out in 3 pieces was utter genius! Not just for the L shape, but I have seen so many people struggle to pull that whole 6 foot piece out in one shot. Plus the way she did the cutouts for storage underneath, *and on hinges*! BRILLIANT!
I once had a small very basic folding caravan and did a lot of work on that to make it suitable for full-time living in. Included a toilet and shower, built in gas stove and fridge, gas fired central heating and, of course, hot and cold running water - the constant constraint being that the entire interior had to be collapsible for the outer to fold ready for towing on the road. A very interesting experience in using one's head and creating different things and ways of doing things.
Amy is truly pretty amazing. I think she did wonders with the van. Great ideas and super use of space. Even her dog fits in perfectly. The only trouble is it makes you think "why didn't I do something liked that when I was younger". Super.
Good on you April, determination is the key. Even looks like the work involved in making it would be fun. Wishing you well with it. One super way to see the country.
I have been watching these types of videos for a couple of months now. It is really amazing how many women do this by themselves its really inspiring. It is such a bold move it really is good for them!
If you add a string or locking hinge to the two drop down doors under the counter, you would have a couple little tables to hold coffee cups or a place to put stuff you pull out to get to the items you want in the back. Love the tour. Thank you!
yup...humanity is alive & well, in dome places, not all, but then again, its been that way for centuries... cowboys, Indians, lions, tigers & bears. We just have to be determined not to get caught up in another persons woes, wars, & agendas, lest we forget that's how we lose the sense of who WE are. Just let the others be.. like bees & wasps...they have a purpose on this planet, but its best to not bother them, just keep a clear head & keen eye, wear shoes & avoid putting your hands or your butts on or near them😒 Stay out of their space & make discriminating adjustments to keep them out of yours & all will be well😒😉 or atleast better💕
My most favorite camper conversion! It simple yet I think suitable for country like lndonesia, less weight which is good for off roads. Hopefully anytime soon I'll hit the road like you do. Stay safe and happy xx
Wonderful build, the leaking doors can be fixed with a simple trim. Just use a razor knife and a marker. Close the door's trace where the seal touches and carefully trim off the excess. You might need to glue a few spots but it will be watertight and mold won't be able to grow on the carpet. Very nice van! You have an excellent living space. But please have your propane done properly. Velcro isn't a seal and there's a vent that needs to be placed in the lowest area of the storage box. We need people like you in the community and I would feel terrible not telling you about the propane problem. Happy travels! Beeps.
When tent camping a few years ago, we used a shower curtain with the rings, attached to a hula hoop, which was tied to the stand-up tent frame by four tightly-tied pieces of twine of various lengths. It worked great for a private bathroom. We had a five-gallon bucket, small garbage bags & a trowel to complete the ensemble. Blessings!
Ive recently bought one of these vans which im also going to convert in the next month or so, for weekends away, i previously lived in my bus for four years which i converted myself and travelled round the Uk, its a great lifestyle.
When you're young, it's not too bad having to slouch thru-out the van, but older-farts like me need to stand.....Terrific job on your conversion, I'm also a full-timer !
I dunno, I'm looking at converting a van/SUV for trips because it seems like such luxury compared to a tent, now that my back is hosed. I suppose it's all relative. This seems like a HUGE upgrade to crawling in/out of tents.
Yes, not being able to fully stand up is a problem for us older people, but it's a start for anyone, young or old and beats a tent anyday. I like that she has water and cooking facilities indoors rather than off the back end, which is difficult when the weather is bad. I very much commend this young lady for doing this, rather than like most her age, floundering around wasting their lives. She deserves a pat on the back for that and for having the courage to strike out on her own! It's a nice van!
Wow ... this is one of the better small van conversions I've seen. Nice job - and thanks for sharing. I just bought a Toyota Sienna to convert, and you've given me some good ideas.
I'm planning on doing almost the same conversion on a Citroen Jumpy 2007. The dimensions are pretty much the same, so this video gave me a lot of useful tips and ideas on how to deal with space. Thank you very much.
This is AWESOME! I'm in the process of buying a Ford Transit Connect and can't wait to convert it simliar to what you did here. I wish you the very best in your safe travels.
Very nice van home. Thanks for sharing. You are a Very Brave, adventurous, self-confident, intelligent AND attractive, free spirit! What a sweet dog too..very relaxed in his environment & you enjoy & appreciate each others company😊 **Traveling with pets is not as easy when having to leave them for long periods of time in the closed up van, if they cant go with you. You are lucky if they don't chew up everything while you are away due to anxiety. 😒 They really are no different than children in that way...But chew toys, a special blanket & a teddy bear without small parts he can accidently swallow, are good to keep him company. Plus a full bowl of water & dry food to keep him from getting too anxious about when you will return. Also, Putting down a large puppy pad you can buy an inexpensive supply of at Walmart ...helps to curb accidents if your pup or kitty, knows that is where they can go ( & avoid punishment), if they cant wait for you to return for a walk😌💕 Happy & safe travels!!🌈💫🌲
for the Leak they have extra rubber gaskets that you stick on on ebay for like 10-20 bucks. For my apartment door i noticed Air and dust and rain water out coming in from the outside.
That's a very clever and creative conversion - I did similar in a Kangoo van some years ago. (I have concerns about the gas though - I think the locker needs to be fireproof, drop-vented and accessed from the outside of the van, not the interior. )
My phone decided to play your video while I was out turning off the generator . So i watched because you're so cute. Good build sister. Your fellow tribe member. PS I learned that part of Ireland sounds pretty American. Namaste.
Hadrian Smith; couldn't agree more. Living in Australia and don't necessarily want to go all out and buy a camper so thinking of doing something similar with a small van. Just going to go for the single (possibly king-single) bed and a small kitchen set up similar to this one. Great job, simple, very practical and easy to set up. [Edit] Sorry, the point about living in Australia was that I probably wont have to worry about the heavy insulation that is required in Northern Hemisphere. Not too many places that will get too far below freezing that often. ;-}
Full marks to you Amy! Such a practical approach to achieve a great result without spending megga bucks and getting the enjoyment at the end ! WELL DONE !!
Do you take the stuff off the magnetic strip while you drive? You've got no bulkhead and if you were ever in a crash you'd have knives flying towards the front cab at 60+ mph
Well done you. Live your life don’t get stuck with the mortgage and never getting the chance to do what your doing now Spending your youth travelling and climbing , superb. Good on you. I back packed for weeks when I was young and still have great memories . Enjoy, best wishes.
Definitely going to copy that bed set up but maybe only with 2 slideouts..the kitchen set up is just about perfect..love the sealed gas box..smart..but I still scare at the thought of a propane tank in my minivan..good job young lady👍😉
cool van, I van lifed for about 4 months and it was literally just a folded up futon in the back with some bins. My advice to anyone wanting to trying it, just do it, you dont need a working kitchen or anything, there are libraries/colleges/7-11 for that shit just put a mattress in and go, btw you dont need to buy really expensive material for window covers, just go to home depot, buy reflector strips and trace it to your window, go to michaels and buy some double sided Velcro and presto, easy and cheap, I think most van lifers over think it tbh
hmm i have mixed feelings about that. I always like to hear the "why" they choose to live like this. Was is for fun, is it a challenge you set for yourself, are you saving for something and is this just the cheapest way to still have a roof over your head. did you fall on hard times and this is the result, do you have a very active life and this is the midway between having a car and a caravan... I like to know that stuff.. but maybe that is just me.
This has to be the best and simplest mini van conversion I've seen. I'm going to get a van in the future and this setup I'll follow up to a point. Thanks for sharing! 👍
Right..why not just trim the top carpet off around that area for a better fit?..it seems like such an ez fix there must be some legit reason she hasn't done that..👍😉
Nice conversion , well done . One thing do you have a carbon monoxide / smoke alarm ? I have done a similar conversion on a Citroen Dispatch . Main difference is single passenger seat with swivel and a curtain across behind seats rather than windscreen ... find better for stealth camping . Happy travels
Wow, some cool ideas. I am sure my friends are not going to come over, so that one will be easy for me. You are an inspiration, Interesting cover on the gas canister!
That sink tho!!! That is officially my favorite sink of all the ones I've seen in tiny builds. So personal. Beautiful van, Amy. Also your dog is hilarious... didn't even bat an eye as you were converting your bed haha!
I'm curious, besides locking the doors, what do you do for security? I spent 3 months in the woods on a trail by myself with nothing but a knife for protection.
Sweet n simple van for a solo/couple with minimal gadgets n no fancy/crazy/extra decor. People forget that one cannot get all comforts of house as one opts for a nomadic life......👌👍🌹
Just bought a awesome clean to the metal wall 1976 Chevy Van today.... Clean interior ready for a Reno for a basic Sleeping quarters and a fridge, storage conversion... Help...
I like the simplicity of her van. I used to have an old Ford Econoline van that I traveled in - just foam and carpet on the floor. I would like to go to Europe and travel, with my bicycle and kayak (flat water). How easy is it to find a van to buy on the continent? When I was there many years ago it was all VW buses.
I'd love to know what Amy did re: Ireland's frustrating vehicle registration/taxation/insurance requirements! Have been dreaming of doing a conversion, but short of importing a registered camper from the UK, I'm at a loss... I'm thinking of just doing a makeshift conversion of an estate car ... :(
I'm Cherokee/Irish, so obviously I am going with Native American Flavour with my Van, I dont use a whole lot of electric power, for the exception of my phone, so maybe one solar panel will do me. Though I might have a very small fridge/freezer, small sink with a water pump, hope that one solar panel will do, if not two, but I am not electrical savvy, so any ideas again Nate.
heh i bought the same van and am also doing a camper conversion in it. my design will also be able to be a 5 seater using 2x Ford (transit) Tourneo Custom 2010 on removable folding seats with built in seat belts that will fold flat to make the bed (or just remove them completely for camping trips). the original Tourneo seat runners will be bolted to the floor of the van the height will be my insulation and ply floor height. the seat runners will also have tie down points welded into them. modding these runners a bit more makes it so you can also make the seats rear face too. i also have the idea of using the seat runners for maybe the mounting of a hammock type seat or even bed if i can design a framework to slot into them. for insulation i am using reclaimed insulation from our other camper project (an iveco daily refrigeration van).. using the vans original refrigeration XPS insulation for my van. the cavities will be filled with polyester teddy bear stuffing as it does not hold moisture and is still breathable. both sliding doors should still be accessible with my layout design. however the vans right hand side sliding door will/may be half blocked off by a kitchen space. i am kinda crazy in that i will be using and installing a 48v leisure solar system i will do this by using a heavily modified APC UPS (SMT3000RMI2U) 3000kvA (2.7KW). i will be using this as the main power distribution unit for the van building in other electronics. this will be good as everything will be protected in a RF proof steel case. the batteries will be under the floor between the rear axle and the back bumper of the van in a cadge/framework i will weld up myself. i work in a scrap yard so am able to get all kinds of goodies to adapt to the camper idea. this inverter being one of them. i will be able to charge the 48v battery pack up using a 12v to 48v boost (at whatever amps, the solar array will be more than enough to keep the batteries topped up) that will only enable when the engine is running. the solar panels will be roof rack mounted and also be on pull out rails that will double up as a porch/rain covers for the sliding and rear doors. the roof rack will hold the spare wheel and maybe other storage. i will be doing videos of it and another camper project on my channel if you are interested.
