VAN BUILD SERIES 07 | What Is The First Step In Building A Van? 

I know from viewing your videos that you put a lot of thought into things, but that diagram mapping out the weight distribution, perfect, nice start. I loved that.

Solid👍🏼 That 3500 is a beast. Looking forward to the Olympic sized pool.

You are Awesomely SMART..... and humble, of course! Love your sense of humor! I always impatiently wait for your next video!

Hallelujah ......we’re getting started!

This note is a little late to the game but for anyone watching, you can cut Thinsulate very easily with a cheap rotary cutter from the Walmart fabric department. When I insulated my van, I tried scissors and boxcutter as seen here. After reading about the rotary cutter, I could not believe how easy it was. Like an exacto knife on paper.

LOVE the sink and sloped drain feature.

I didn't know you could put the rattled trap in spots. Very cool.

Thanks!

I really appreciate seeing the "under garments" you are putting on the van & "how" you are doing it! Thanks so much for sharing!! Be safe..Judie

I like your attention to weight conservation...it helps reduce overall weight to improve mpg efficiency and cargo capacity

Fiskars fabric scissors are amazing for this stuff!

It's all about the details isn't it. That's going to be one comfy abode when you are finished with it!

So excited for you George!

Great start and I so appreciate the time you give in explaning your moves. I really look forward to these vids.....Thank you very much

👍 i only used one tool to do my van build. A 5 pound sledge. Made everything install so easy. Quickly too! Course...finished product looks like crap...but hey...my dog approves. Just a little curvy humor for frivolity. 😝

I used to insulate Navy Destroyers and we used cheap dollar store SERRATED STEAK KNIVES to cut 2’x4’ insulation panels 1” - 4” thick.

🚐🚐🚐....and it's on! Yay!

Thank you for sharing. I look forward to following your tips as soon as I purchase a van.

Might have been a himia instead of a hernia. Hard to tell since they both are a pain in the tuckus. Another great video.

So excited to follow along and learn! Taking notes!!

Quality supplies & quality install

I definitely look into B+ Vans as we are keeping our home for a home base once we get started to see how it goes.

You're fun to watch and smart!! Glad you are starting the adventure..or maybe I should say the process.

We have had a van life for 40 years and I am now starting on the fourth conversion. So this time we are not wasting any space or money on insulation. For us it has never been something we missed after the first one which we did insulate. We live in Norway and even in the mountains at -25C or -10F we have not missed insulation. When we live in south of Spain or the balcans, we do not miss it either. The van cools down faster at night whithout it. We have stopped installing air-condition too. A diesel heater like webasto in the winter will suffice. As an old soldier I can say that it is not the temperature which is the problem, but the humidity. On manouvers in -30C, in a tent, you do not want to get humid, in an army crap sleeping bag. When it is to hot, we hang a blanket on the sunny side of the van and pour water on it, an hour before bed time. We have spendt a lot of time covering the windows when we go stealth, so no windows anymore. We have had vans without showers and others were we have over-focused on large shower cubicles. It has been a waste of space. So in this one we will have a washbasin with a shower curtain glued around the edge , with a ring in the top which is lifted to the ceiling. For water we will use a 20l/5 gallon can of tempered water and a small 12v drainage pump. This will be stowed away and used rarely. A spong bath is great. A garden watering can with tempered water is great for the ladies hair, and it is a bit romantic to give as helping hand. On the other hand some use the term "privy" for the toilet, and we have found that privacy for the toilet is important, because sometime one is using that facility while somebody else is trying to sleep. If you spend the whole days inside, you should probaly look for an appartment. In cities we are out and about and on campsites we have a pergola with chairs and table outside. The design will consider that couples are seldom both A or B, so a sitting arena should be away from the bed. And we will NOT have any solar panels. Gas is great.

LOVE your videos! I’m definitely going to be learning a lot through this build...pretty stoked to see it happen!

Thank you George!

I can't wait to watch this. Until later...

You research and find the best products, TY. Following at the edge of my seat, lol. Thinsulate 👍👍

I used a giant pair of fabric scissors for my polyester insulation, which is similar, but a bit thicker and stiffer than the thinsulate. I could cut it by sliding the scissors through the material, so it was pretty quick. They have to be sharp though. The scissors have been very useful for many other things too. I was shocked at the weight of the click lock vinyl I used, about 220lbs/100Kg total. In hindsight I would have chosen something else, even laminated wood would be lighter. But not as waterproof...

looking good! Keep up the good work, and stay humble!

man you make a clean rv. i wish i had the time to build. i learned from the best! blessings!

love love love your videos!!!

Reeeeemarkable! Thanks, Humble Road!

Weight distribution diagram? I knew there was a reason this is my new favorite channel! 😀

I like it ...... a lot !!!

Informative, clever, and as always entertaining.

There is a toilet that uses plastic bags.... automatically tying each new bag after it's use. That's the best method I have seen.

Great video. ..again. Did you know that Thinsulate was originally a sound proofing material ? Found its way into outdoor clothing and marine thermal insulation later. I got this straight from the tech folks at Thinsulate. I use it too. Best to double layer it. ..white sides in. And never crumple it up for example by forcing it tightly into recesses. Like lots of insulators it's the trapped air that does a lot of the work. Packing it tightly effectively creates a thermal bridge. It's not cheap but it's the dogs whatsits for both functions. Happy travels everyone. John

You have totally inspired me... I do not have a van but have been seriously considering and I don't have $100,000... I would much prefer to build a beast to my own specifications... I have the skills but I'm dumb as a brick when it comes to lay out or even selection of the proper than... I love how you explain the details of materials and their application please more detail as I'm seriously considering purchasing a van and working it out

Keep up the great work - I look forward to your updates! You've got a fan in New Hampshire!

I’m so excited about this build. Can’t wait to see the end result. I really like your ideas! Yes, the ones from your pea brain!

Mass Load Vinal. In my car audio days we use to refer to it as my 100lb supermodel. So just like real life she's added some weight over the years. 🤪

Sooo happy. Off we go!!! Enjoy yourself, but be careful, we can't have you getting injured. Can't wait for the one!! I can't see Joan using that electric knife at Thanksgiving!! LOL.

George, you rule! Love the videos!

And having seen collided vans, the steel/fire wall into the cabin will be kept, but will be strengthened, and a have a horizontal hinge so the upper part may be put down. When going stealth we are wary of car thefts. We will not waste any more money on swivel seats and we will keep the double shot gun seat. The cabin is like a separate room, when we are not on speaking terms (one day she may tell me why). I am also a naval architect and what you have to consider in a small boat is that when you look up from whatever you are doing, you are not locking eyes with somebody staring at you.

I have been waiting for this video few weeks! Nice work!

I enjoy the attention to detail re weight and where deployed along the van. George I would hope you do same w roof. Having two maxx fans leaves me wondering how much solar it will allow. Sketching this out would help me understand the trade offs necessary for that all important “roof space”, for electric production vs cooling vents. Looking forward to more ... Cliff

Welcome back!

Fantastic video! Lots of useful information to be had here.I love the humor mixed in also. Only wish there were links to the products you mentioned.

looking at you remind me of Al Pachino.

About to start the floor in our new 2020 Transit. I’d love to wait until you’ve done a Transit George, but we are itching to get started! Ordered our 4 x 8 sheets of cardboard from Grainger yesterday, starting next week on the Noico sound deadening work.

Love you. Your vids are informative and very funny. 😀

I'm glad to enjoy the adventure with you via the web (and dream). You make me smile and sometimes laugh. I had to chuckle when you mentioned your little pea brain. A few weeks ago I was talking to my granddaughter and I said something about my little pea brain. She looked at me and questioned what I meant and explained it's just a saying people use sometimes. Good luck with the build. Looking forward to the next installment :-)

Thanks for the smiles. When I saw the subject I thought "I hope he knows about Rattletrap" Duh, I'm just plain ashamed of myself, thought I was watching a regular channel. :-) Take care my friend can't wait for next upload.

Get yourself an electric rotary cutter for cutting through Thinsulate. It cuts clean like a hot knife through butter. You'll never go back.

Nice bike :) Cant wait to see more of your build :)

George, you do make me laugh.great video as always 👍

Hi George, I was hoping to see "the rest" of your video as to how you insulated the floor of the van. I can't seem to find it. However, what I know so far is, you are going to mount your 80/20modules through the heavy vinyl FIRST and then continue insulating after. Can you please point me to the follow-up video after this one? I appreciate all of your videos. If I hadn't paid cash for my new 2023 MB 144 Sprinter AWD Crew van last month, I'd be calling you to book an appointment. Alas, I am unable to afford your wonderful talent at this time. In no way do I expect to ever duplicate what you do, but I'm willing to learn! Thank you

The video preview looked like you had a can of gas. 😂

I love your content. I can't wait to see more. Move over Bob Vila.

Has June seen what you do under the vehicle after inhaling the left over adhesive fumes? 😂😂😂

A bit off your speed and style, but, have you ever looked into the possibilities of installing a stowngo (full seat folds into a floor bin) seat into the promaster vans.

Great info - but ! A major distraction in the background called - the Bike :)

I decided to subscribe within 30 seconds

The B E S T . . . . 💟☮️

Your the first Ive seen to talk about a thermal break in the van world but you have so many windows that I bet aren't double glazed which will be a much bigger heat loss than any thermal breaks....

Looking good G-man, you definitely know your sh*t. I think your brain is more like a garbanzo bean than a pea. Looking forward to next video.

Love the "beard" on your mask lol

Oh my Humble...what a joy to watch your videos! That creeper scene made me laugh at the end of a challenging mod day. Thank you! 😂 as always I wait with baited breath to see what products you choose for a build. Would a Roxul “knife” have cut the thinsulate? I am currently finding that many household (lower toxicity) don’t work very effectively with my vintage trailer especially when faced with heat build up in our hot summer weather here in Ontario...yes it melts the igloos! Lol. Are you planning a road trip with the new beauty so your fans can oooh and ahhh over both of you? 🙏

Why doesn't this have 300k views?

Yeah another episode. Love that sink you shared. Also TWO max air fans. I’m so excited to see how this build progresses. Will you be using lizard skin on this build?

To thermal bridge or not to thermal bridge…. That!

do you know what this is ? YES A HERNIA ,WAITING TO HAPPEN

LOL!!! I love your videos. But.....you so crazy. LOL. It's the roller cart for me.

A carpet knife might make cutting the Thinsulate easier.

#1K+. Thanks for sharing

Would be interesting to see a thermal loss/gain and air infiltration comparison between the finished product of your approach versus a closed cell spray foam approach.

Cool here we go, I've got my coffee God I'm glad I'm here you would weigh too.hahahahah ByeBye until next time.

Please add more details like the R-value of the materials used for insulation and whether your method used in installing the materials reduces or maintains the R-value. (For the newbys out there, materials with a high R-value resist heat conduction. Compared to radiation and convection, "conduction is the most common form of heat transfer and occurs via physical contact. Examples would be to place your hand against a window or place metal into an open flame." [Carlos Gonzalez, MachineDesign])

Not to late to decide on a Murphy bed vs futon, providing a place to eat also.....ha.

Would putting the MLV on the bottom trap moisture in there? Some people on Reddit suggested a rubber mat on the floor might do that. Was thinking a rubber mat might also be similar to MLV but maybe less dense and more absorbant as far as sound goes?

'Just subscribed. Now yer gunna make me watch ALL your other videos so I won't miss a thing. ;>

Can you notice a difference in the sound from the rattle trap material? I would think the thinsulate would dampen the sound.

Would you consider posting links to the products you use?

Loving your videos! I am actually postponing my purchase to watch your build😇 very entertaining! Do you prefer white over the beautiful silver/grey? I love the grey, but concerned about the heat. My van will mostly be in Florida, Coastal Alabama. Thanks again for awesomely entertaining content😇

Great stuff and so addictively entertaining. I'm curious about the choice of thinsolate for the insulation

Buying a Van, obviously.

💜

So as not to put the cart before the horse hahaha could you give me your opinion on a selection of vans pros and cons

The journey starts. I'm waiting to see the item most "van life" people ignore, actual plumbing.

A quilter's rotary cutter would have been useful to cut the thinsulate. :-)

I understand that the mass of vinyl provides a thermal break between the body of the van and all the 8020 . But you still gotta put the screws through the 8020 through the mass violent to the van body is there a way to stop thermal transfer through the screws ?

Hi George, is it not iseful to put a anti moisture membrane over your insulation? I prefer to not having to do it but lot of people tell me it’s needed. So with your experience i wonder why you don’t ... thank you! Greatings from Belgium

Wait... you have a "playbook"?

Hello Humble Road fans... Wen you like his videos,! gif George his credits by put on a 👍 BTW great video George... Thanks.

Question. I am going to build a bulkhead with sliding door for my Sprinter and keep the door closed while driving. Does that mean I can skip the sound deadening material altogether?

getting ready for a build. What is the vinyl product on the floors? Can source the other items needed but would like to find the vinyl flooring and up the half walls. thanks

George, what brand of seat swivels?

How do you insulate the places you can't get insulation into? do you ever use expandable foam in those places?

Brother G: And here it was I thought only us females who SEW knew what THINSULATE is !