VAN TOUR | Tons of Smart Ideas in this Spectacular Conversion | Our VANLIFE Tiny Home
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- Take a full tour of our spectacular self-built camper van! It's a Ford Transit conversion with a comfortable and functional bed that transforms into a couch and dinette, a swivel table, a compact kitchen, a toilet with a privacy wall, loads of accessible storage, a gas heater, solar power system, and more!
We built our camper in a 2015 Ford Transit van with a high roof and medium length. It was a used, secondhand daily rental van that had almost 100,000km on it. We added cruise control, insulated it, and built out the interior ourselves. It took almost 5 months spread over 2 summers to build this tiny house for our vanlife adventures around Canada and it was way more work than we thought it would be but we're super happy with how it turned out.
We'll be doing a couple of separate videos about how we built it, and about the natural building materials we used, but in the meantime, enjoy taking a look around our tiny home on wheels :)
PRODUCT DISCLOSURE
We received the Inergy Apex solar power generator, Inergy solar panels, Separett urine diverter, and the Oru Haven Kayak for review. Only the Inergy link is an affiliate link, which means we earn a fee when you make a purchase from Inergy.
Inergy Solar Power Products
glnk.io/p5q/ex...
*please note: a discount will be applied at check out
Separett Urine Diverting Toilet Seat
canadianecopro...
Oru Kayak
oru-kayak.kckb...
Whale Marine Foot Pump
whalepumps.com...
Desert Patrol 6 Gallon Water Container
relianceoutdoo...
MAXXFAN Deluxe Roof Vent
www.airxcel.co...
Dometic CFX-35US 12-Volt Fridge
www.dometic.co...
Berkey Water Filter
Canada: berkeywaterfil...
USA: berkeyfilterwa...
Hemp Oil:
www.homesteadh...
VIDEOS & BLOGS
Swivel Table by Back to Reality
• GGC - 61 - How To Buil...
Toilet Fan by Vanessa & Adam
• Video
Our Solar Power Setup Video
• Simple Camper Van Sola...
Our Cheap & Easy DIY Plumbing
• Cheap & Easy DIY Campe...
Far Out Ride Ford Transit Conversion
faroutride.com...
Thanks for watching!
Mat & Danielle
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STAY IN TOUCH!
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Blog: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: /exploringalternativesblog
Instagram: @exploringalternatives
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and our comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and to contribute. For this reason, comments that are inappropriate or hateful will be reported and/or deleted.
Please discuss and debate with respect, and report inappropriate or hateful comments directly to UA-cam.
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CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat of Exploring Alternatives.
Editing Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives
Filming Credits:
Mat and Danielle of Exploring Alternatives
Photo Credits:
Photos of Yurt Dweller Kodiak Solar Power Setup provided by Beige
This van design should be awarded as one of the best van design ever. Genius.
I agree 100%
A van with a toilet and without a shower? Very functional…
Totally ageee👍
Add an external shower easily with a standing-shower-curtain ring near the water tanks. Use foot pump to pump out water.
This van is still my favourite out of the 100’s we have toured. I love the way it feels and it is so cozy for a small space. The natural products you used from the insulation to the finishing oil make it one of the cleanest and eco friendly builds out there. All of the research and hard work paid off and we are so happy that you now can enjoy your beautiful home together as you share everyone’s stories through your channel! Miss you and hope to see you soon!
Hands down the best van build I've seen and most functional layout. The ART WORK is just icing on the cake . WOW
just love it all.
The rope/pipe idea is ingenious, and I’m stealing that table idea!
I LOVE that you built the frig into a countertop cabinet! They didn’t really didn’t lose countertop surface with that.
that looks like one of the *_sweetest_* van builds!
This sets the new standard, brilliant!
Agreed!
Bet you're happy to be one now with CoVid19.
I hope they know they’ve made the best van I’ve seen on UA-cam, I’ve put wellllll over 500 hours into vanlife videos
Just watching videos?
Ahh...that makes me like you guys even more thst you donated one of your solar panels to someone in need.❤❤
This is one of my favorite van conversations! Brilliant, well/thought design throughout. The only things I would change are: have a cutting board that fits the sink hole (easy fix), have a slider counter top to cover the fridge, and a composting toilet. I really love this camper conversion.
I love all the conveniences, the foot pump for water at the sink, the toilet fan, the Berkey water stand, the versatile bed, the swivel table, the blackout curtains, the wall art... I love it all, and the fridge is the perfect size for two people. The storage is unbelievable!!!! .You two are awesome, you thought of everything.
after all the tiny alternatives you have featured you have done a great job taking all those ideas and making a beautiful home for yourselves:) a long way from the minivan!
Fantastic, Beautiful, well done everyone !!
I was a cabinetmaker my whole life, designed kitchens , closets , garage storage , laundry rooms , offices , etc .
This is without a doubt the best van build I’ve seen in the last yr that I’ve been watching videos on van conversions.
Looking forward to watching more of your videos , I’m retired now but reall want to build out a van and travel this country of ours.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful project and again well done everyone!!!
Tom, I hope you will be able to take the steps to fulfill this dream of yours.
This must be the smartest van that I have seen, everything was very thoughtful. Thumbs up!
Very clever, very well thought out I'm quite impressed! A bit too much plyewood to my taste.
Apart from the stove thats very unsustainable and disrespectful
Genius build
I noticed that too,@@lenniemargretheragnhof6174, but I wouldn't want it too broken up colorwise or busy. Maybe paint some of it one or more colors? And maybe include some area of design - some wallpaper, fabric, mural or include a few very lightweight pictures/ posters? Upholstered cushions? I would try to imagine and plan where I want what color or design to make a good balance with some places of color contrast.
What is the flooring
It was nice to give some credit to those that helped, and those who had had helpful advice, and ideas 💡
7:50 The table swivle with simple copper pipes is ingenious! They sell very expensive tables that do the same, but yours was really creative! Bravo!
11:10 that ridge that keeps the content of the wardrobe storage from pushing against the doors is a very smart move!
The art on the walls gives it a nice, young dreamy feel to it. Like it!
The interior is a work of art by itself ! But the artwork by Mat is truly beautiful
I've taken so many notes from your WOW! video. Brilliant. Creative. Ingenious. Absobloominlutely AWESOME!
Holy Guacamole! Now that's a great van! The artwork is insanely beautiful.
A water pump, water heater and outdoor shower would make this complete... Love the couch / bed combo
I agree, one of the BEST van designs ever! The wood and the art work are so warm...truly a beautiful space. Thanks for sharing all your tips.
As an older camper for many years this AMAZING! I could live here very comfortably 😆 💕 👍 Best Wishes
This system is really great for us
Brilliant! Just love these ideas! This is my corona-escape. Dreaming of van life.
I watch can live video every day
Same same!
I spend hours watching these van tours. Funny....I, too, call them my Corona Escapes!!!
Same!! 😄👍
Me tooo
this is honestly the best build I have seen yet and, iv seen a lot of conversion videos!
They are both brilliant!! They both designed and built it from scratch. The amount of innovation is insane. I wish I had that sort of talent because it removes you having to pay someone else to do it for you.
Paying for a membership at a gym in which can be found in most states is all so useful for showering options
M.T.A awesome idea if it’s a national chain....always a gym, shower, people, sauna... great idea
Mind Bender what is their annual fees ?
Too bad when a pandemic scare happens, those places get shut down. So, you end up having to use truck stop showers instead.
Also good for hooking up with other couples...
YMCA. I lived out of my car for fun and I paid for a YMCA membership. It was amazing.
Genius. Love the bed/lounge/work/dining table. Clever toilet too. Nice artwork. First time I've seen a kitchen not overdone! Awesome.
That is one beautiful and very well thought out van. I love the layout and the artistic touch. Well done !
Best wishes and godspeed to you !
Most brilliant conversion I've seen! But I expected nothing less from you two ;)
They both are able to waving, very interesting
I really like the elevated fridge. Most are pull on the ground and pull out, sure they may double as seating, but I like the idea of simply lifting it up and reaching in without bending over. Also you made it look like a nice countertop. Great idea! 👍😂❤ Screens are needed 100%; designs that don't have them bother me. Glad you have them!
Amazing bed idea as well! Multi-functional without a lot of rearranging. I've made mockups of some of my designs and found that when things can transform they often just stay the way they're used most, so the don't even need another form, but with your design it's simple enough it looks like it's worth the minimal transforming!
The bed rope idea,the lid wire idea,so many more are ingenious ideas,beautiful build guys,you should be proud of that,I am jealous!!!!
Everything, every detail in this van is SO clever and well thought out, I'm amazed.
I love all the little details and especially the Artistic touchs. 💕
This is the best designed van that I have ever seen.
This van conversion is freaking brilliant! I can actually imagine living in that. I saved this so I canwatch again and I'm totally stealing that table idea.
I have watched quite a few videos now and there are some brilliant ideas here .. Many of which do not require spending out a lot of money ; very encouraging.
Looks like an easy to convert bed/ table and seats. Much more practical than pulling the whole bed apart every day
It looks absolutely fantastic! Love the animal designs ;-)
Thanks so much David :) :)
Love your website too; I was on it this morning!
Ha! Fancy seeing you here David 🇬🇧😉👍🏻
This is excellent. You guys did a great job. I'm also glad that you donated that battery to that girl. Her story was great as well 👌🏿
This was a great self-build and Thanks for sharing it! The multi-purpose bed/recliner/desk/dining area/storage access and the beautiful art really set this van/home apart!
Absolutely brilliant. Love the way you used plain pipes and easily accessible materials. Thank you for sharing!
I have been looking at van for well over a year now. I have a friend that is offering up some land. Putting the house up for sale. This is the best van I have seen in a year. Thank you
Yay I’m so happy for y’all. I just bought a van and currently am transforming it! You too are such and inspiration. Don’t stop!
I can’t imagine a more perfect layout! I could see myself living very comfortably in this van. Great work!! 👍
Watching for the second time to pay more attention on the bed design, that is just THE BEST I've ever seen! Great work, thanks for sharing!
Honesty is the word that comes to mind.
The frescos are mesmerizing, faint ( ? ) and yet so powerfull.
Wow! You two should start designing vans! You utilized the best spaces possible for your van size! It looks huge and still lots of room to walk around! I want one just like it! It's truly awesome! Great job you two! Very impressive! I agree with Nadra! I also have watched a ton of van conversions! You have EVERYONE beat! Seriously!
Wow; love it! I could totally see myself living in this type of set up. Very clever and tidy.
Some of the BEST designs I've seen in following vannies for over 3 years now - thank you for sharing! Also one of the most beautiful - the paintings and the light surfaces are spectacular!
I absolutely love this van. The thought that went in to every detail for a small space and the craftsmanship. Thanks so much for sharing. Bed design is awesome.
This is just perfect. Peace and love
Spectacular build! Absolutely the best I have seen ANYWHERE!
This was unusually beautiful, functional, and exceptionally well thought out.
This is the most gorgeous van I've ever seen! You put so much thought into every detail. Amazing!
This is the BEST build that I’ve seen since watching UA-cam for over 2yrs❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
And the artwork is BEAUTIFUL 😍 Way to go U2😎🤩😍
Thanks so much Melissa, happy you enjoyed the tour :) :)
I just love your van and the artwork is so peaceful ❤. I'm looking forward to watching the build.
💯 agree‼️
Yep!
@@ExploringAlternatives very very smart functionality - WOW
Watching your build video I so wanted you to save the sink cutout and then mount it back in place to increase counter space when the sink isn’t in use.
Well done project. Your artistic sketches make it 100% unique and yours.
Agree with so many others. This build is amazing. This is the first build visually looks nice but also very approachable. Even though so many of the solutions are simple, which is lovely, they didn't detect from the look of the van. So many others builds look nice but also look very expensive and therefore not really obtainable. Nailed it
I love this. One of the best conversions I’ve seen. The animal paintings make it perfect
Hooray! FINALLY, the perfect conversion. That table! The bed design! A beautiful aesthetic throughout. I love your choices in materials and low tech approach. Congrats you two. 👏👏
Excellent, you Incorporated lots of ideas in such small space
Elegantly simple but sophisticated! After dozens of vids...this is my fave!!
Some of the most simple, basic but elegant van build solutions. Each minute is a treasure trove of valuable information. Intelligent, clever ideas. Very well done guys, thankyou so much for your timely video. Safe travels. Cheers from Michael. Australia.
That's the coolest so thought out. Love how the holes in the cabinet exposes light.
Certainly one of the most well thought-out designs in Vanlife. I'm shocked by how much is fit in there, especially storage-wise.
I would love a deeper dive on how you built your bed, though this was already a good explanation! I want to make a similar one for my bus!
Emma Levine how about buying a used futon and convert the slatted platform to suit your needs? You should be able to find one at a repurposing store like Habitat’s Restore...and the purchase goes to a great cause!
Everything is really low profile that is so important. You don't want lots of knobs sticking out or doors that swing open sideways. The simple fix to keep the cabinet shut, and to keep things from sliding out, perfect.
One of the top 5 van builds I've seen!!!
The interior is very well designed, excellent space management .looks beautiful.
I love the design of this van! Personally, the only thing I would need additionally is a way to take showers. The van has so many ingenious storage ideas that are unique to this vehicle and video! Thank you so much for sharing! You have me thinking outside the box now! It is the best van design I have seen as yet and so well thought out!
You two did a great job. I'm so happy you finally got a home.
Have a great day,
Chris from Missouri
Lot of terrific inexpensive options without compromising quality. Well done.
I really appreciate that your build is budget conscious and simple. So many videos feature darn near professional builds that it gets disheartening. Thank you!
Congratulations on completing the van build. It looks amazing!!! 😍
Great patience in assembling the van!
You are one of two I was certainly impressed with! Way to go!
This is one of the most amazing, ingenious builds I’ve ever seen! Marvelous!
WOW, finally I found the Van so eloquently designed and still practical. Everything in it is so perfect !!! Thanks for sharing....
This is the best thought out plan I've seen. The ventilation holes are an amazing idea.
Love your van, love how you share what you know and learned from others.
Get a planet fitness membership for your showers, there are locations everywhere. great job on the van by the way.
What a cool idea, very cheap and accessible and great alternative, and less expensive than campground fees on the regular!!
utub333 you can workout too
A good idea..the shower was also my concerne. The toilet scares me though. ..but otherwise everything is brilliantly figured out and acomplished. ..especially the bed.
Best van build by far I have seen! Love the art touches. Love also the use of pipe for the table. Saved this for future reference. Great job. Have fun.
i thought the pipe table looked like it would be really wobbly which would be really annoying. I could be wrong!
Artwork is mesmerizing. (Choice of wood included.) Can't stop looking.
How have I never seen this before?!?!? This is a spectacular build!!!!! Everything about it is perfect. Genius design and use of space. The time you put into planning is very obvious, and the craftsmanship is fantastic. I hope you're still enjoying this van 4 years later.
This is my fav so far . It is just so well thought out and beautiful
This bed arrangement is so well done my wife and I are wondering if we should change our own design when we build this summer. Very very clever. I can’t say the bucket works for me. I like a simple porta potty but we were sailors before composting was fashionable!
Wow, you have really Incorporated the best features of everything you have observed and shared in your travels. I am so happy for you and can't wait to see what you do next😁
You guys just totally changed my mind about my dream van. Your low-tech alternatives are remarkable. Thank you for sharing.
I keep back to your video because it still astounds me how well you all did!
The wood stencilling is lovely
Very nice build, well thought out!
Really does look perfect.
I'd add something to shower
I just watched the building of your van and totally forgot to say how beautiful the art work is. I think it amazing
Excellent storage and ideas, I could just never live in such a small place. You must really love each other!
this is one of the best van builds I've seen and I've see ALOT! Well done!
LOVE THE ARTWORK!🙌🏼♥️
Extremely smart with your toilet system; love the fan!
that bathroom fan is a genius idea i've never seen in other van build!!
My favorite thing about this van is the fabulous whale! Beautiful job with a unique design that works well. Congrats!
I love how Peaceful and artist it looks!🥺❤️ Maybe I can get some tips on how I can get my future van to look like that! Well done U2!!!💪
I've been waiting for this van tour since the marine pump video! Thanks for the update you two. :D
Mat, you’re really gifted. The only reason I clicked on the video was the thumbnail of your painting. I hope somewhere in all the storage stuff you have some Art supplies.
WOW I'm so impressed... you guys are clearly artists. The attention to detail is phenominal... I hope you both enjoy your journeying and have a lovely life together. Thank you so much for sharing.👍
🌈🦋
Loved the video guys, I can't wait until you publish the ones for the whole built!