I have a 22 ft step van,i sleep in it and i sell boiled P nuts,ripe tomatoes,lots of things to make money everyday setting on the side of a road,NO home,NO apartment,NO electric bill ,have 900 watt solar,air con with wood heather,,and NO LEASE,,just being free to make money everyday,am retired on SS,age 71,live alone,,,a nice life,,you have nice van,
Where do you park? I'm 18 and I'm looking into getting a used Uhaul truck to travel while I'm young, but I'm very concerned with parking anf the logistics of staying in one area for a while
How much approximately, would you say the entire build cost? Apologies if you've already answered this, or if it's at the end, I am typing this question about half way though.
Call it a class "Super C" motorhome. More rugged than any RV. Larger inside height advantage over school bus conversions. These uhaul trucks have a lot of RV potential.
+Will Burson Thanks Will! I'm going to have to look at some of your earlier videos showing how you made your sink. That's going to be one of my upgrades I think.
I SO appreciate all ur info.! I am a vry yng 74 old widow n l yearn t get box van t fix n get on the road!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE to travel ( alone) /// need t convence my 3 boys t help me get started😂☺.pls keep video s coming!!
Ok guy nice work on the van , few things that are a concern to me batt box not vented it can off gas , and the other is the propane area again wich didn't look vented .and kept indoors .
Yep....... Big must change on those two items. HUGE must change items actually. Propane can NOT be stored inside..... and must be vented LOW (Propane heavier than air. ) So completely air-tight seal the interior area around tank after installing outside access door. One disadvantage to that amazing rear door.... is you cant attach an exterior propane tank to the backside as many home build campers do to solve the propane storage issue. Maybe you can scrounge a chassis mount LP tank. Will take a long time to find but being dilligant you can find one.
gget a five gallon bucked and a lid to go on top and put some cedar chips and store where u keep water and there is your shitterl. I also see the need for a fantastic fan for the cooking area.
Hey Rick, you got some great features there, like the tilting table idea and those solar panels do fit perfectly. Nice looking cabinets too. I take it you built them all from scratch? Will catch up with the rest of your videos soon. Hope it's been going well for you.
Yes I kind of built it ad-hoc from scratch. The layout has worked very well for me after two years now of living in it. I am going to do a remodel soon an refine some of my ideas. When you live in a space you begin to see things that could be better. Thanks for watching. I really like your channel. You provide great content!
I enjoyed seeing the dimensions on that van. I live in a Semi Truck with a 60" sleeper berth. I have bunk beds and plenty of space for storage. The only issue with this truck is that it's not mine, first thing, and second it's a commercial vehicle and my job. So, I have to sacrifice many freedoms to live and work here. Since this is where I've been for years, living on a vehicle with as much space that you have looks luxurious. I'd love to redesign this interior, but once again, it's not mine. Congrats on the build!
With all of that "blank" wood, I wanna do woodburning stenciling. I'm artistic, as well, and I think I'd want the drafting table to be facing out the back. There's also some "can't see in, but you can see out" screening one video dude puts on the back of his rig. Didn't say where he got the stuff, but that would be a nice touch, keeps bugs out, as well. Clear view out that type of screening. Your idea of pins at "garage" door from inside is great, too. I would get on that, cuz you need to secure from inside AND be able to escape thru garage door from inside.
very nice job I've lived on and off in vans various rv so for 30 years you HAVE to have ventilation MUST have top fan or vent many solutions other than a fantastic fan like everyone thinks also in that rig floor vents that open and close the air you are pushing out the top has to come from somewhere or you are doing nothing but burning up your fan motor also floor vents are taking cool air (MAKE SURE THEre ARE NO EXAUST LEAKS) from the shade on hot days and are stealth hard to believe it's your first time there is lots of you tubers been doing it for years haven't done anything near that nice you gave me some ideas for my next build and that almost never happens thank you new fan
great job!!! I am going to put solar panels on my travel trailer, so I do not have to go to a trailer park, and pay $30 to $50 a nite. I have been researching solar panels on travel trailer, block the wind from getting under the solar panels and at 60 mph or 70 mph, will rip the panels off your truck.
Great set up, I myself have a 1999 F350 ex U Haul 14ft box truck, it's nowhere near as finished as yours or as good looking but it's been working for me so far, I've been living in it for about 7 months now straight even when it gets as low as minus 23 celsius outside I'm cozy inside, Cheers =D
+Totally left Field I just checked out one of your videos. Did you get some insulation into your rig? I used the 1 inch rigid foam with plywood over it. We have had some cold nights here in Washington State but not nearly as cold as other places. I almost got one of the 14 footers myself.
hey buddy I got 3/4 styrophoam insulation all on my ceiling but only scraps around here and there... mostly around my bed in the "moms attick area, I have a 4ft drop sheet about 4ft out from my bed area to help trap the heat, and the floor is not touched yet, because of the lack of funds so far.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!! how do u lock the van when you're inside it? also, maybe paint the outside black or dark blue, green, red....? I'mina minivan right now but I've often wondered if my next van would/should be a cargo, conversion, or small Uhaul.
+The Nomadic Natural Thank you! I would highly recommend a u-haul. I love being able to open the back door and turn the whole rig into a covered porch:) Plus most average people can stand up in them.
+The Nomadic Natural I guess I didnt totally answer your question. I lock the back door from the outside with a paddle lock. But I intend to install a lock on the inside as well. As far as paint. I may end up doing something to the outside, but I want to keep the stealth aspect for now. I am able to blend in with other trucks easy without standing out too much.
Do you find that the inverter burns out a lot? You did a great job building this. The worst part of these vans is that you can't easily get back into the drivers seat, but ou did a great thing by cutting a hole there. So smart, and the only way to do it!
No my inverter works great. It's never burned out. And yes it was important to me to be able to get in and out of the drivers seat without going outside.
Please do a video on the solar panels and battery. You need to use golf cart batteries. The battery for golf carts are made to deep cycle, and cheaper, and any town in USA has 10 or 20.
You can go to goodwill, they have a metal frame with a regular toilet seat, that you can put a 5 gallon bucket under. When we go hunting in the winter, we dig a hole in the ground and use one of the metal frame handicap seats.
Very nice craftsmanship and well thought out. I like how the rear door lets you open it completely up and lets you retain the ability to load cargo still. I kind of regret not building mine like that. Where did you get your solar setup? It's perfect.
You can make a shower, Lowe's has plastic pans to put under a clothes washing machine. buy a shower curtain that goes IN A CIRCLE, BUY A RV HAND WAND. drill a hole in the floor. When you finish your shower, move the plastic pan to a upright position, store behind a cabinet. Move the shower curtain out of the way.
great job. But please be careful, with propane inside, best to hide outside. Like the solar panels, great job, I want to do the same thing. My old corvette, has the battery behind the driver's seat. This lead acid battery does give off hydrogen gas. BUT GENERAL MOTORS USED A SPECIAL BATTERY THAT HAS TWO PLASTIC HOSES TO EXHAUST THIS GAS OUTSIDE. MY MOTORCYCLE, ALSO HAS HOSE TO VENT HYDROGEN TO THE OUTSIDE.
When you get a chance, make a video about the fabrication of those brackets for the solar system. Did you have to make any holes on the roof to route the electrical wires from the solar system to your charge controller or did you find a pre-existing holes from the manufacturer (trying to avoid roof leaks ??? Thanks for the awesome videos.
+GONEWILDFILMS Very good comment. That's a great idea for a video. The quick answer for you is that I did not put holes in the roof. That was one of my main concerns, so I routed the wires in through the aluminum rail along the top. But I will do a video to explain this in more detail. Thanks for the video request!
Great design and roomy too! Did you ever do the video on the "Luggable Loo" bucket? Also, do you want to drill holes in the boards under your foam mattress? Let's the humidity out / let's the foam pieces "breathe". Maybe you're in a climate where the humidity doesn't build up and help mold grow...
I have a video on How I poop in a van. If you check through my list of vids. The bead seems to breath fine. I haven't had any mold problems or moisture build up.
Great job ! Love the cabinets and the latching you built. Yup, build an enclosemt for generator, cuz "they" will see it and walk away with it. Creeps ! Do you have venting for when Heater Buddy is going? And what about the moisture those heaters generate? Do you have a little dehumidifier? You only run the Heater Buddy for a short time, but one day, up in the mountains (?), you may need to run Buddy much longer. Just wondering.
This looks like the setup for me. Really like the drafting/art table idea. I'm not sure about the solar though. I run my computer nearly 24/7 between work and entertainment. And it's a 250 watt.
That is a very nice setup! I love the table! A buddy of mine has a similar box used as a garage on the back of a home-made toy-hauler. I envy the insulation and "Square" construction! I makes for really neat and creative storage ideas!
Looking good. Not having widows on the sides is a good idea.I would put a car sunroof in the top for light and fresh air.They set flush to the top are water tight and can be opened.
+Vapor Grande Yea I was thinking of that. Some sort of skylight might be good. I live in the pacific northwest where it rains all the time so it's difficult for me to justify cutting a hole in the roof. But I'm still considering something like that.
Very impressive!Your a remarkable person! Im jealous of your Solar setup. I was waiting for the part where you installed an air vent on the roof. Do you have one, and/or do you need one?
How's it going, Rick? I was wondering if the batteries you are using are lead-acid or AGM type? If they're lead-acid deep cycle, how did you go about venting the battery box? Oh...and I'm really diggin' that table!
Yeah, I'm missing windows. I'd wanna be able to watch the rain and snowfall ! I liked the comment abo.ut painting up "Diaper Service" to keep tattle tailers away. That always pisses me off when homeowners call the police. Society is so messed up/suspicious (pedophiles, which is understandable).
That's some steady footage you got. What kind of camera and stabilizer are you using? Very cool! Keep up the good work! Where do you park when you travel? Have you had any problems with police parking or camping in your truck?
I am enjoying your videos. I'm considering making a camper out of a similar style box truck. My weather conditions are similar to yours. With the roll up door do you have water running off it inside when it is wet from rain. I would expect that having a wet door above you would result in some drips, however I do like the porch mode. I guess you could remove the door and frame in a wall with a wide single RV type door.
Thanks for commenting. I don't have a problem with water leaking inside through the door or around the door. However, there is a seam where the roof metal is riveted to the steal frame on the top. I noticed some water dripping through when we had some serious driving rain conditions in the winter. So one of my maintenance jobs is to run a new bead of sealant across that seam before the rains come again. But 99% of the time it is dry even in rain. Also when I was looking at box vans I noticed some of them with leaks around the upper front of the box where people had run the corner into something. There were puddles of water inside from the leak. If there is a rivet that is rusted it it might indicate a leak possibility.
You must be a cabinet maker by trade. That latching system is off the hook. (pun intended). Lol. But it's very cool how you made the latches. You can use a metal version of that latch system to lock the roll up door from the inside as well. I'm new to your channel and this is the second video of yours that I'm watching so maybe you have already solved the rear roll up door lock issue but Incase you haven't that's a suggestion for you. I've only seen your one other video where you talk about figuring a way to lock the rear door from inside. I'll be going through your video collection now to see what you've done since then. Cool build.
I know this is an older video at the beginning of your van life but I have to say you are truly my hero and an inspiration. I'll be 33 next month and I think your box truck is the best, more reasonable design and choice out there and I plan to do the same summer 2018. Ive seen your other videos with you sporting the epic goatee you've procured and what I think of you older guys doing this is absolutely inspiring and puts a flame in my belly like no other. It just makes sense. Be happy with less and you will be rewarded in a greater aspect.
Nice conversion and great artwork! Was wondering about a refrigerator? I like the long counter top. For me, while the roll up door is great, it would let all the heat out as you come and go, so I think I would prefer a regular door and bug screen. Also a Fantastic Fan. I would want more water storage, but that's just me. Really nice conversion. One of the best I've seen so far.
I had a thought about what might be a handy solution to concerns about propane leakage and off-gassing batteries, combined with more light, and possibly stealth access to the roof to clean your solar panels. If you tapped the roof at the right rear of your truck bed (right over the head of your bed) and put a Fantastic Fan in, and on the left rear, put in a skylight trap door, you would avoid the area your door covers when rolled up, have much more natural light, a way to vent condensation and cooking fumes, and still be stealth. No one on the ground would be able to see them if you keep them flush mounted as much as possible. Then you can either bolt ladder rungs to your wall at the foot of the bed (maybe use them to hang things from when not climbing the ladder) or make a hangable ladder you can stash under the bed when not needed. Then when your solar efficiency drops, you can hustle up the ladder, wipe down the solar panels, and drop back through without ever having to open your back door. That will also avoid any security/liability worries with having an external access ladder. Food for thought.
Hi Rick, love your box truck, very well done. is ur solar panels 150 Watt each?can u please let me know whats the brand and where did u get from, thank u so much, take care
use 2 dowels one on either side of the table to hold it @ the 45 degree angle. Just drill appropriate size holes in frame to hold it all together. Great Job! Having been an Architectural Technician I appreciate design. Huggies make Baby Wipes.
2 camera back-up system with small monitor would enable constant surveillance from inside. One mounted above the rear door and one near the rear view mirror. I have used baby monitor for audio. Transmitter can be mounted underneath (near rear bumper) if you run a power supply. It is affixed after arriving at a destination and removed when traveling. A snoopy cop or park ranger can be watched with this audio/video arrangement.
ive only just started looking at converting box trucks. the fantasy started with vans. but before i invest in that i think ill go ahead and do this. more space. your very personable in this video. thank you for showing me ur space. I'm gonna do this. you've got me convinced. thank you. from me and mine.
how long is that bed, I mean are you able to fit in it comfortably? I like the fact that you kept the original Rolling door no one knows what you have inside or that it's a conversion van. Great idea! It blends in with other trucks and a great way to keep the cops away, and from harassing you!
You never got to the door, and that is where my biggest problem with the box van conversion is. The rollup door like that locks on the outside. And, as far as I know, there is no way to undo the the big hook locking mechanism from the inside. Do you have a way to ensure that you cannot be locked inside?
Hey who was that panting and breathing heavy at the end of the video!!!! : 0 Seriously!!! everbody listen!!! there is somone else in there with this guy who is talking in the camera.. and who ever it is, theyre breathing heavy and panting.. and it wasnt a dog or an animal!!!!!
How much condensation do you build up on your walls and ceiling without having a roof vent or windows? also do you have to leave the overhead door cracked because of the heater?
its wider than it looks. It's about 6' 6" across on the inside. I am 5'9" . plenty of room to streatch. Go to a uhaul place and measure it for yourself. you'll be suprised.
Hi Rick, I think this was the first video I saw of a small box truck conversion. Practically every other one is a larger box. Did you ever actually bolt your generator to the bumper? Did you do the same thing on your second build? Hope you're well. :)
I never did bolt the generator to the bumper. It needs to be out of the rain and I was always afraid it would get stolen. So I carried it inside. I may not carry a generator on the new build.
Nice and cozy,well built . Im thankful when I bought my bus everything was built in and all I have to do is update the upholstery and curtains. New subscriber I will stay tuned :)
+2000talon Thank you. Its an ongoing process. I will probably be changeing a few things. You always find out what you really need when you live int it a while.
Not bad DSO, I liked many of your details for the small size. I would have done a few things dif', but in the end its what works fore you. I've built three (MBOO) as I like to call them so far in my lifetime. Planning on my fourth within the year. I'll be going with the 20' box, and GMC DT vs Ford. I need the extra space. Have Many Wonderful Adventures!
Very nice setup you put together. I really like your wood work simple joinery looks outstanding. I subscribed as your very well rounded in all you've done.
Very nicely done. As already stated, the cabinetry is very simple yet classy. The simplicity of it, combined with the functionality is a big plus in my book. If you ever leave the off-the-grid life, it will still make for a very comfortavle camping rig.
Just found your channel and subscribed. Very nice van build. Looks like you took the time to take care of even the minor details. Thank you for a couple of ideas as I progress through my van build ^_^
I absolutely love your van. I'm 6' so relate well with your desire to "stand up". I didn't see any potty. I have a friend who uses a portable hospital type chair with a five gallon bucket, plastic bag and kitty liter. then just have to find place to properly dispose of bags of soiled litter.
I've admired your set up for some time. I like the sliding door a lot and have actually been thinking of doing a box truck for my first mobile home, with roughly the same set up. Big plus for me is not having to bother setting up or taking a bed down every night. Something I thought of doing is painting some fake construction company logo or something on the side so then you can justify putting a vent or two on the side or roof. Sometimes they make mobile work stations with equipment set up inside a van like this so they don't have to worry finding power on a job site. With that idea I would get a friend who can weld and help me create a box underneath the van for propane storage like a lot of bigger RV's do. I'm not an artist, well not one that requires a table like that, so I'd probably do away with that table set up and put shelves there or a simple fold down table.
How much is a uhaul truck? Was yours brand new?you he one such. Beautiful job on your wood working! I have wondered people do if they need to get to their drivers seat in a hurry... your doors are awesome!
It might be possible to have someone come and cut window holes out for you and install some windows on the van so you can see outside. I won't do that since I am a teenager, but people in your town might be willing to help... By the way, your U-Haul mobile house is awesome.
that's a pretty cool looking UHaul truck I would love to do something like that so you are going to be living in it full time? How does one go about vehicle registration without a permanent resident address I was just curious about that.
+VT X Yes I will be living in this full time as soon as I am out of my apartment. I am using a family estate residence for now. I park there sometimes but will be on the road in another county where I am employed.
Hey Rick what about refridgeration - all the van guys are getting those 12 volt fridges and are a little pricey but with solar they are very efficient. Also what about a/c it can get hot as hell in the summer here is south florida but in the north west maybe not so much ?
