I'm so incredibly happy to see the entire story of this chapter in our lives told and documented so well. So much thanks to everyone that helped make it happen, the community that came together and rallied around us, and to you Seth for putting together this amazing legacy video of what I believe to be a massively pivotal point in my life. I will be coming back to rewatch this for many years to come. PS. I am currently driving the van Westward with my sights set on the Colorado Mountains!!🤘
The Singletrack Sampler Dora looks sweet, Alex! ;) Huge congrats to getting it finished. It’ll be interesting to see what, if anything, you change as time goes on.
Van Team ASSEMBLEEEEEE! Such a killer video man, and such a fun project. Gonna miss Alex being around, we need to go visit him and all ride together at some point!
I watched all the vids of the build as they came up, and only now did I realize that it's a Ducato! Great choice, incredibly versatile platform that. My grandpa had an RV based on this exact model, though he recently sold it and bought a SWB version instead, with a wheelchair ramp/lift (don't really know the word for it) so he and grandma can go places more easily. It's a pretty pleasant vehicle, regardless of which spec it comes in.
Why not put the pipe carrier on top? Also, a quick attach shower system off the roof rack would be easy if that's an issue. Hold soap and shampoo get a window cup holder for in cars and watch some quality magnets.
This looks awesome! The bike storage is a definite highlight. BUT, its imperative you have a carbon monoxide alarm in an enclosed space with fuel + camping stoves like that
Wouldn’t you need an (incomplete) combustion to produce carbon monoxide? I think the greatest gas-related dangers would be camping gas leaks or suffocation due to silent fan failure during the night. I think the first issue would be detectable because smelly chemicals are added to the gas and for the second issue I think a van is not air-tight enough (otherwise sleeping in a closed car would be highly dangerous).
@@Mike-oz4cv not sure really, but I've heard of it happening to a lot of people on another RU-vid channels comments. They're cheap and light so no reason not to get one really
I wish I had friends like that. I'm about to become homeless and would love to live in a Van. Can't afford to buy a Van and I'm somewhat disabled, so can't work a regular job to save money for a Van either. Next week Thursday is my 60 birthday and instead of possibly going on a cruise for the first time in my life I am going to be homeless.
That is so sad to hear! Take good care of yourself and I hope things will improve soon. I also wish that you do meet people like that and that you become friends with them.
@@plsdontdoxme2644 God has been so good to me, thanks for asking and yes, I was blessed with a Van and everything I needed to live out of it. I've been living in my new home on wheels for about a month now and I'm loving it I did loose my job and looking for work now. I would love to go traveling but need to find work. Thanks for your concern ❤️
😂 right in the middle of watching this video I had to stop watching it because my son just said "I wish we had a van like this. Then I can pee, sleep and stop anywhere!" He's 5 and very much right about this.
I have watched a lot of van conversion videos in the last year, but this one is by far my favorite. Great job all around. I have downloaded all related videos to try making my own in the future. Amazing job guys!
That is so nice. It's great having friends who have some of the skills needed to make something come out nice and functional. Getting a small trailer or van to live in is so appealing, but I'm also reticent because it seems like such a big change and commitment. Also, I have a lot of stuff and although I could part ways with most of it I wouldn't want to get rid of some things like my kayak. Seems that Alex is a little more confident about it than I am seeing as he had already been living out of his car.
Thanks for giving Alex some slack for "not doing any work''. It was clear that he tried his very best. It was also VERY clear that you enjoyed it just as much as Alex was scared of it. :) Great job to all of you!
I'm not a Biker the only time I did downhill riding I flew off the bike into a barbed wire fench in rural Wales and tore my shoulder out of joint so I figured I'd stick to rugby but now I'm a 39 year old overweight guy who fishes to keep sane. I enjoyed this build I wish you guys well on future adventures.
@@gdevansh It's just a software setting on windows and Linux to protect your battery. On by default on windows and off by default on Linux (install TLP). Even better would be to stop charging at ~60% and run only off the charger as keeping a laptop fully charged is almost as bad for the battery as keeping it low all the time.
Hi Seth, my name is Colin and I'm 15 years old. I live in Germany and I ride since I'm 8 slopestyle and of course Enduro, downhill and what ever. I have been watching your videos for some time with much joy. I like your 10 bike hacks series a lot and I worked out a bike hack when I put together a backpackless setup. I took a bicycle tube and tailored it to the length of my Patchkit . I have also cut two grooves on the sides so I can thread a velcro strip. Now you just have to put the Patchkit in the tube and thread the velcro strip, and then you can mount it under the saddle without fear that it will peel off
This is such a cool van. Nice job lads. Alex is gonna have such a good time with it, and go on some cool adventures too. A much needed upgrade from the car
The one thing I'd add to that electrical system is a mains hookup with earth trip (mine is in a fake tail light) and a big mains -> 12 volt "smart" PSU to keep the battery topped up, run all the 12 volt stuff and provide straight thru mains to separate mains sockets labelled alongside the mains sockets from the inverters. I have this arrangement in my van as it sits (in use) on driveways for several months sometimes so "proper / native" mains in the van is nice. I also have a cheap (£12GBP) amplifier with FM, SD & USB MP3, Line In and bluetooth so I can bluetooth the audio from a TV (with plumbed in antenna amplifier), tablet, laptop, smartphone, etc. and some nice, mounted wooden Monitor bookshelf speakers. An echo dot is useful for voice activated music selection, fact googling, etc. while driving too :) Lots of high amperage cigarette lighter style sockets for SatNavs, etc. Nice job on the conversion and DIY skills :)
This is the same van I'm planning on getting. I wish you guys did this professionally. I would hire you asap. You guys did pretty much the exact things that I wanted personally. I can understand how Alex feels. I'm leaving my job and traveling full time. I keep pushing it off not wanting to leave a good job, but I'm finally leaving at the end of this year.
@@mike-bp2tq No worries. I'm extremely lucky/blessed. I have a house that bought and I can rent out. After the property tax/insurance I should net around 1,000 a month. Plus I have a really big emergency fund just in case. I've just been saving like crazy cause I work overseas for the past 10 years. So now Im at the stage where I feel like I need to go out and explore more before I get too old. I know a lot of people are struggling worldwide, so I really do feel guilty taken this for granted. However, I'm just tired honestly. Sorry for the long response. Haha
@@Food4thought1234 I'm 16 and I think it would be nice to have mtb friends and traveling in a comfy van around the world, they are so lucky they have friends like these who help each other. I would like to have that kind of friends too.
Loved the van tour. Love Alexs’ beard. Love your friendship and humour. I think Dora is here to stay. And the bed converting to couch is genius. Just have me an idea for my van build. Thanks.
I just binge watched this and it is an awesome van. I love the simple solutions that will last ages and can easily be repaired if they break. Totally brilliant.
I'm off to the Army soon but after I've done my time of servitude, I plan to save during my time there and leave to live a life like this. It's a dream, just gotta leave the UK and get to the States/Canada! Awesome van absolutely love it!
Just a few suggestions: 1. move the solar panel 3 to 6 inches forward and build/install a custom luggage rack in between the panel and the rear fan for extra/guest storage. 2. upgrade suspension and new/wider wheelset. 3. upgrade radiator and battery. 4 external lights/lighting. and, 5.(maybe) an awing/shade off the passenger side...plus some camping chairs for good measure.
Good job fellas, this van looks superb. I just bought a promaster 1500 and as far as electrical goes that's as exactly watt I had in mind. Thank you for the inspiration and detailed videos. when I was in florida your videos came in handy to find the sweet spots. love that zebra drop! seth's bike hacks rocks.
Awesome video Seth, is just fantastic to see the whole process in one video,, and because you said first, from now on DORA shall be the name haha,, cheers
I have two campers...one is a 36ft family camper and the other is a converted work trailer ( enclosed of course ) and your van projects have given me tons of ideas to do to the small camper ...
Dude the end of Alexander's video when he announced the van and Brian popped up had me in tears, it was great! Y'all knocked this whole thing outta the park
I have got a bike hack, when setting the sag on your suspension, put on all your riding gear to ensure you get the perfect sag for your complete weight including your tools ect.
@@iainstenhouse8399 Not really. But some manufacturers do these things to save money. Like the Subaru and Toyota (and one more?) GT86 or whatever they call it. The only thing that comes close to this is like when VW builds a common platform for several cars to be built on. Like Golf/A3/Leon etc.. even from the same company, some of them still only share like 60% parts.
This may not be the fanciest or most extravagant camping van, but it seems to be the most well thought out and user-friendly I've ever seen. Everything is functional exactly as he needs it.
I am SERIOUSLY considering converting one of these sprinter vans. Traveling all over isn't really why I would do this.... Just having the ability to live comfortably and go where ever I wanted long or short term. ESPECIALLY NOW A DAYS WITH THE WORLD BEING THE WAY IT IS.... This is the smart move
Should drill ventilation holes in board beneath the mattress. Also, install a product called Aire Flow ventilation pad between mattress and the board it sits on to add even more ventilation. Those mattresses can easily absorb any excess moisture in the van and create a mold problem on the bottom of the mattress and the wood deck it sits on.
This is a great van and I really like how it looks inside and it goes to show that each one is concentrated on the needs of its owner which is right. Mine will have a bathroom and a shower!
It's great to see the build in stages, brilliant idea to use the tool chest for storage and kitchen work top. About that white tube underneath the van - you could paint it matt black and it would become virtually invisible. Go well!
This is awesome and inspiring on many levels🗝thanks guys for putting this together I am in the process of going from a Ford van to a newer van and this video helps a lot 👍🏼 great build and great time capsule 🎬
Seth, I enjoy your storytelling style. It is very clear why your channel has such an astronomically higher subscriber count than many of the other MTB channels out there. I only wish your videos were longer, but in the scheme of storytelling I could see how that could be counter-intuitive. Have you thought about having a separate channel for vlogging? I bet so many of your subscribers would watch it. I can see it now. 1 mil for your main channel and 500k for your vlog channel.
BJ Kizzle i agree but he spends a lot of time filming/editing these videos so he probably wouldn't be able to cope with vlogs. Maybe if the weren't daily
Much better editing it down - The internet needs better content, not more content. I'd rather have the video creator spend their time cutting a video so only the good stuff is left than posting random thoughts unedited and expecting every potential viewer to wade through hours of crap in the hopes of getting worthwhile content. Though given the number of people apparently willing to spend hours watching 'celebrities' sitting around like stunned cattle while their minds struggle to form some sort of coherent thought on 'reality' TV, I may well be in the minority here at this point...
21PineNuts, you're definitely right. Multiple channels would take a toll. I think I remember Seth being interviewed by Pink Bike and he was mentioning that certain strategies needed to be prioritized and certain strategies being scrapped for the price of sanity and balance in life.
peglor, I am in complete agreement with your comments. There are way too many channels where creators throw mud on a wall, and expect subscribers to filter through their ridiculous mess of incoherent trash. Some of the creators that vlog regularly fall into the "Cookie Cutter Pit" of using Casey Neistat's formula for storytelling which becomes too apparent, and they end up looking like copycats with no originality so I can understand where you're coming from.
Seth and Alex, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your care in posting so much detail about this van build out. For one it is totally inspiring, amazing and just flat out cool. I have showed this video to friends and have directed others to it. Excellent work. Thanks
