How to (& how NOT to) install a SUBFLOOR in a Van Conversion (Ford Transit) | VAN BUILD #1 

Thanks for stopping by to see the beginning of our van build. A bit over 2.5 years later, we have finally "finished" it! Here are some related playlists and videos that might be of interest! - Timelapse of build from start to finish: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-agRMdep86-U.html - Official van tour: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-relQG6hyVYo.html - Van build playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PL7bb1Ftno7hhoqzCZ7kZUx2jL3pUVd6UZ - Van life travel (how we do van life & some of the places we've visited): ru-vid.com/group/PL7bb1Ftno7hhNuHOo8SYSTsaPmFd7o1zp

"Other RU-vidrs make it look so easy" - because they cut all that out! I much prefer seeing the mistakes as well as the successes.

Into every job, some fun must be had! Air guitar was neat.

Thanks for this video! We are doing our floors similar to yours only we did NOT glue anything down and likely wont. We are having the same issue with warped and noisy plywood using only the tiedowns... so your bolting secured method is something we WILL follow your advice and do it that way. Thanks again!

Great job guys. Thanks fir sharing.

Honesty is the best policy! I'm a big fan! Keep pounding!

One thing I highly recommend is using "Tongue and Groove" plywood. This will align the plywood and prevent the seems between sheets from rising at a later time.

I like that you show the problems. Great!

LOL loving your Van Conversion adventures...

We watched this a couple of times - thanks for the ideas guys!

You have answered a number of questions that I have had. Thanks

Great job on your first episode you guys are cute and fun. Excited to see how the rest of the build goes for you. Also glad to see you guys ran into some adversity and quickly found solutions because I have to say... That is what VanBuilds are about. Nothing is as easy as RU-vidrs make it look (ourselves included because nobody wants to watch the 200+ hours of us making small adjustments to get something perfectly right like you experienced with the plywood boards). You guys have great attitude, spirit and knowledge though so I am sure it will turn out beautifully!

Thanks guys! I found you on the Ford Transit Facebook page. PS I think you are both funny!

I like the bolt attachment style you used to secure the plywood. And spray foam the gaps to stop squeaking. Good stuff, cheers.

Good stuff 👏 👍

My guide! Appreciate this! Yes, everyone else makes it look like first-try if you're a bit detail oriented.

If you use marine grade ply on the floor it is less likely to warp like your cuts did. Also, it handles moisture better than standard ply. I used 3/4 inch marine grade ply, but it was before the crazy lumber prices.

Good to watching Episode. I will do make it mext month. Good reference.

Great video! Getting ready to do my subfloor too, we'll see how it goes!

Good job !

Very nice! For whatever reason some builders really freak out about drilling holes into the van. It’s as if a 14” hole in the roof is ok. Perfect use of T nut to secure the subfloor! Much better then simple sheet metal screws. Perhaps a lock washer and lock tite on the bolt. I would not worry about rust. You painted it. I would also paint the bolt head from the undercarriage with rubberized paint material to seal from air and water (you must have the two to rust ((oxidize)).

Okay. I subscribed. You guys are fun. But most importantly youre actually showing each step that the glampers arent showing. I learned something new in the videos I've watched so far. Thank you guys. Can't wait to see how this works out.

Just now finding your channel, looks like you're taking the time to do it right. Wife and I are in our early sixties and have the same idea to do some traveling. We'll be following you guys. Stay safe. Nan and Pop

This is exactly what I'm looking for! How did you choose your L-Track installation dimensions on your flooring?

Hi, just found your channel. I haven't seen anyone share the problems with installing a van floor the way you two have in this video. Thanks very much for sharing! I just had to subscribe. Just one question for your - do you think taping the edges of the insulation helped prevent squeaking or is that not an issue with the whole assembly being bolted to the floor? Happy travels!

so, we shouldn't use any glue between foam and plywood and just screw it down? We almost started following faroutride guide for our subfloor, and thankfully saw your comment on Facebook tread! Thanks!

Lol! Basically building out a camper is always double the work (AT LEAST) that you initially planned on doing. (: Happy building!

Phew you made hard work of that! Drill through the ply and the floor, countersink the ply, use self tapping screws screwing the ply to the floor.

I'm trying to put a floor in my cargo van with etrax do you guys no anyone in the north Carolina area

Hey HOW did you get a piece of wood that big? I’m stressing because I have a 2018 ford transit 250 and I measured the length of the floor at 127 inches and he width on the inside between the wheels to be 54 inches but nobody seems to have plywood big enough

Thanks for being realistic.

Set rivnuts in the floor from above to secure floor.

Looking good guys! And Steve still has all his fingers!

I'm a master wood krafter. I been making furniture guitars Houses cabinets and many other things out of wood for over 50 years..and I still made a 100 mistakes on my first build. and in the second one and third one..you always will make little mistakes but you learn from the mistakes you made

The foam will take a set very quickly, and all your bolt load will drop drastically. Check how much torque on all your bolts now, I bet they are very loose. Never try to compress foam. You should place some wood beams between foam panels.

At least you got thru it... I'm thinking of gravity holding down 1/2 inch foam and very heavy horse stall rubber floor... no cute homey feel. Bachelor camper w thro rugs indoor out door throw aways... ha wtf

The time spent getting the build right and the attention to detain has certainly worked out well. Also, when is Steve not goofing off?

6:21 ... THIS is your problem .. beinig "Detail Oriented" means you tried to hard to make it fit perfectly .. If you jus went a1/2 Smaller on all the cut lines, it would have drop right in first try :) The like you said just, use filter, or foam in the gaps.

I think your videos are the only van videos which actually make me laugh out loud. In all reality, our sub flooring took FOREVER, and there was no “simple solution” like some others would try to show. Glad to see you guys struggled but got it finally as well!

I would cut the insulation to fit and put it *between* the wooden strips. But then the strips would probably have to be a little bit thicker. Also, I wouldn't drill holes in the metal of the van floor if I could help it. It kinda defeats the whole purpose of insulating if you have metal going through from the sub-floor to the outside of the van 🤪

Aren't you supppose to like coat the trims with water and mold resistance before you glue it unto the floor?

I know I'm late to the party, but I just wanted to thank you for the honest video. It's a nice breath of fresh air. Of course most (if not all) of the other vanlife videos cut all the difficult parts out, or the stuff that didn't quite work out as planned. They need to keep up appearances, you know. It needs to appear easy or they can't get the views (that, or getting their wife/girlfriend to pose provocatively in the thumbnail, that's guaranteed at least 50k bonus views right there). Anyways, you'll be glad you bolted down the floor. I've seen too many videos in which the floor was only glued down, and then they have their counters/cupboards just screwed into the plywood. I'd hate to be in that van cruising down the highway and someone bumps into you and you end up rolling it over. A van in a tight rollover with pieces of plywood flying around is not a very nice place to be. So I would not call what you first attempted a mistake, it was a blessing in disguise. Me? I'd be screwing straight down through the plywood and foam insulation and the metal floor with self tapping metal screws. Just make sure to get the screws long enough to bite into the floor, and that's far enough. The screw will seal the hole through the van floor from rust, but you can get underneath the van and spray the ends of the screws with rust prohibitor if it makes you feel better. I'd put a screw about every 6 inches on opposite sides of each seam.

That’s styrofoam, not xps. Big difference. If gluing to floor the floor paint must be grinded off down to bare metal for long term adhesion. All joint should be tongue and groove if possible

Pre planning is very important 👌 1st Put it on paper 2s assemble it On your mind 3d repeat the process..never cut a single pcs or screw a single screw wit out this 3 steps 🚶‍♂️..and even so you make some mistakes. But the biggest mistakes you could make is get exited and rush the van conversion

Sooner or later unless you bolt it on that subfloor is coming loose. So screws is the solution 🤔

Bolting to the floor seems way safer than glue. I liked a lot of your tips and tricks along the way that I wouldn't have thought of. You all have earned a subscriber.

😂🤣😂😎very good yes

Why didn't you any sound damping material?

You actually don't need to use anything to hold down the insulation or subfloor. Yo have a tight fit as far as the cuts, and once you have the rest of the build in, it will not move.

Tapcons & counter sink in plywood to hold floor down could be another solution

Sorry about your flooring headaches. Quality materials ARE costly, indeed. However, it's wise to avoid building solely on the principle of "saving money"; an invaluable lesson I'd needed to learn for myself. Ouch!

You two are great but one does not use squeaky Styrofoam and ordinary plywood for a sub-floor. Styrofoam, as most plastics do, emits toxic gasses and its highly flammable. You created a death trap. You were correct to make a template but paper is not accurate. Use the Styrofoam, the cheap white stuff, to make a one piece template. Locate fastening points on template. 1st You need to completely paint the entire metal van floor, Do not patch paint. POR Epoxy paint is an excellent choice. Rustoleum is not. 2nd Install Kilmat or Dyna mat to entire floor. Two layers on wheel wells. This stops road noise. 3rd Run any wiring. 4th Install a clear polyethylene thick vapor barrier 1-2 " up on all sides. #80 Spray glue in place. 5th Install SUB-FLOOR: Use a waterproof and non-flammable sub-floor material such as 3/8" fiberglass board, or flame retardant 3/8" Tongue and groove marine grade 8' x 10' plywood. 1/2" is too thick and heavy. Glue any plywood - plywood seams with epoxy. Drill 3/4" holes in the sub-floor for the recess cups every 12-16". Do not use flat head screws. Fiberglass requires no painting. IF Plywood: Paint both sides and edges of the plywood with POR. Sand between coats. At least two coats. Should resemble steel when done with no wood grain. Use self drilling pan head or hex head stainless steel fasteners #8 x 3/4 with recessed cups to hold it all down every 12-16". 6th Install a vinyl 9ft x 11ft single solid vinyl floor. The thin lightweight stuff. IT is important to use only a single seamless piece of vinyl flooring. The vinyl will that goes up each side 1-2" . This creates a waterproof "bowl" to contain any spills. Glue edges and center only using Mastic or #80 3M Spray adhesive. #90 will not work. Install electric heating mats under the Vinyl if desired. If carpeting then install electric heating mats under the carpet over the vinyl. Then carpet over this if desired after installing cabinets. Add metal edge thresholds in doorways. Now you have a sound dampened, nonflammable quiet waterproof lightweight (heated ???) floor that you can build on. Now cover this floor with rugs, cardboard and Rubber runner mats to protect it during the floor during the rest of the build. Plus the floor will never rust out. Next do all electrical in wall wiring. Now insulate the van with Areogel blankets (highly preferred) or Rock wool or great stuff (sparingly). Do not insulate with Styrofoam.

DON'T !! use spray foam ..

What purpose does the plywood sub-flooring serve? Why not attach the finish flooring directly on top of the foam boards?