The Open Road Is Calling: How To Convert a Van Into a Tiny Home
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Photo by Andrew Balcombe / ShutterstockWhen selecting a van to live in, there are several popular options. One of the most popular and iconic vans to live in is the Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon.
With the right type of van and some creativity, you can easily turn a camper van into a comfortable mobile home. Remember to draw your layout ahead of time and build out your van so you have the furniture and the space you’ll need to stay comfortable. Downsize the things you no longer need and gather the most important essentials before you hit the road. With a bit of planning, you’ll be able to live your dreams and explore the country in style. If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your job and hitting the open road, the dream might be easier to achieve than you think.
Install the Grooming Table and Storage
The cushions are a bit dense, so I would recommend a six-inch futon cushion for most. For now the platform is tethered down with zip ties, which I can easily cut to remove the entire rig and it’s very secure. Last night I drove 10 hours from New Jersey to Indiana, and the bed didn’t budge an inch. And I managed to get 24 miles per gallon despite a lot of hilly driving, a full 10 gallon solar shower, and enough BPA-free cans of beans to build a small house. Some of the most important tools you’ll need include a jigsaw, a quality drill with several different sized drill bits, a hammer and screwdriver, and your insulation and cladding materials.
If so, you need to determine where they will be located as well as the proper water supply and drainage for each. In the kitchen, you may choose to have a cooktop, refrigerator, and even an oven. When you look at these amenities, you also need to begin looking at the fuel and power supplies for them.
The basics 1: Power
From Interrailing through Europe to backpacking in Southeast Asia, I’m slowly working through my bucket list and I set up this blog to help you do the same. It’s a good idea to have an external fill up point so you can fill up with a hose instead of having to remove and carry the tank each time you need to fill up. We didn’t want to end up with a damp van or one that was unpleasantly hot in the summer, so we thought it was worth investing in the Maxxfan. We opted for a LWB Fiat Ducato (same as a Peugeot Boxer/ Citroen Relay) to give us maximum space to build everything we wanted to. Myakka River State Park is one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida. The river meanders through 58 square miles offering habitat for a variety of wildlife.
This may seem like a silly question to ask, but it is imperative. When a vehicle is in an accident, the integrity of the frame can be compromised. Because you are going to be removing and adding several things to the van, you want a solid structure.
Step 8 – The Kitchen
You will also want to consider counter space if you’re going to use more than just a fold-down table. Fold-up table – If you are familiar with campers, you know that all campers come with a table. Because the space is so limited in a Transit van, you will want to install a fold-up table that will stay out of the way when not in use. You may be questioning the exact title by which to register your camper van.
Photo by oksana.perkins / Shutterstock Everywhere you look, it seems more and more people are jumping on the van life trend. I deliberately bought the longer wheel base Ford Transit Connect XLT, which has no infrastructure in the back and enough height and length that I and others can sit comfortably on a raised platform. Since I’ll be living out of the van for several months at a time and entertaining guests along the way, it was important to me to keep everything super tidy. Whatever van you choose to buy, be sure to test-drive it, check for recalls on the model, and get a car history.
You may find yourself in need of other tools that, while not required, could make the job easier to complete. Some of those tools may include saw horses, electric sander, stapler, or even smaller precision type saws. You are drilling through a variety of materials, so you need to make sure you have a durable drill that will handle the task. A circular saw and jigsaw would work best for a project like this because you will be cutting different kinds of materials such as flooring, wood for walls, and boards for cabinets, etc. Therefore, you will want an area where you can leave materials out so you can easily access them. Before you can begin your conversion, you must figure out how to proceed.
Figure out where you plan to stay overnight or park your van in advance. Then, when night falls, you’ll already have a plan in place and a secure place to sleep. When it comes to grooming trailers, how do you know which one to choose? A grooming trailer is pretty similar to a grooming van, but it does offer a little more space. You'll need a car capable of towing, though, or you’ll wreck your transmission.
Trailers might be a cheaper option if your car can already tow. In this case, you’ll just need to install a towing package on your vehicle. Of course, launching a mobile pet grooming business does have some start-up costs, but they’re significantly lower than jumping into a business with a physical location. There’s no rent or mortgage, but a mobile grooming van can cost between $10,000 and $100,000. You can save some cash by building your own mobile grooming trailer and hitching it to your car for appointments or building your own mobile grooming van out of an existing cargo van.
It may cost you more in terms of money, but it will certainly save you a lot of time. Talk to your local dealership or go online and browse the different vans that are available. A bus is another alternative that gives you a lot more space for a lot less cash. The trending hashtag #vanlife refers to living in a van either full or part-time. You can convert your vehicle into a residence that includes everything you need like running water, a comfy bed, a small bathroom, and a place to cook your meals. When you live the van life, you’re getting a range of benefits that will make your life more exciting and fulfilling.
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