Do not live full time in the van. We have a nice house on 5 acres. Van is for traveling. Video was taken on the property. Find it interesting that most of the negative comments are about the multipurpose shower enclosure. When you want a short van that can be parked in a normal city parking place then you have to make some compromises. That eliminates a normal shower. Hard to call what I built a shower but you can use it to get clean in an odd way. Much better than staying dirty but certainly not like a shower at home. Many concerned about the electrical on the side walls in the shower. Water simply does not get that high on the walls. The reason for washing hair when on knees and using a full flow (not spray) nozzle are to control the overspray. Almost no water gets out of the shower and onto the towel I place in front of the shower. Not for everyone but it works well for us.
Compromise & multifunction are the operative words. It is a very functional storage closet for 1425 minutes each day and a functional but not so comfortable shower for 10 minutes per day and a convenient toilet for 5 minutes a day. When you are sweaty and dirty and feeling gross, a not so comfortable 10 minute shower insures many hours of comfortable existence until you get dirty/sweaty/gross again. If you are squeamish and/or a germaphobe the system is not for you...actually camping in a van is not for you. Your limiting sensitivities buy you all sorts of inconveniences like driving 30 minutes or an hour or ??? to find a land based toilet or shower where who knows who last sat on it or bathed in it and what did they leave behind that has now been transferred to you?...now that's gross. So remember to bring your cleaning kit to sanitize that public toilet and shower before you use it and enjoy the drive back to your campsite. Pat, I think you have a brilliant set up.
Extremely impressive build! Those that comment negatively do not understand the purpose or the genius that went into this creation. I have wanting to do something like this for creating a mobile office/work shop. Having the ability to use it also for multi-day excursions would be a serendipitous extension. Thank you for sharing this!
I agree, maybe not for everyone..... In my opinion, it would be way easier to simply heat up a pot of warm. Use a washcloth and some soap. This is how I get clean on road trips and camping.
Pat. You're gonna get negative comments even if you built it out of solid gold. What you've done here is pretty much the definition of genius. Great build.
Finally a build which is not about just the heavy wood decorations and fancy design but practicallity. Thanks for the video, This vechicle is about camping, not insta photoshoot.
I am the current owner of Dave's former 2008 144 Sprinter. I felt some initial reluctance when I committed to purchasing a home-built van, but that reluctance was rapidly put to rest when I realized how many years of his life Dave put in to designing as much function in to a limited space as possible. Through disassembly and reverse engineering of nearly every major part of the van to make upgrades, I have continued to be impressed by Dave's pragmatic decisions and his straightforward construction methods. The elegant simplicity of his design choices make servicing the major components and making modifications painless. I have improved all the areas Dave was not personally happy with, and I look forward to continuing to enjoy it for years to come. I am very grateful you took the time to meet with Dave and tell a bit of his story. Thank you.
If you need any of the Cad drawings or other information just use the web site (ortontransit.info) email. I assume you got the large amount of files for the build. Be glad to help.
Sir, you obviously bought something ready to go anywhere...... Starting from scratch is sometimes a bit daunting.......I wish you many many years of fun .
I have to say, I love listening to people who know what they're talking about, and who speak concisely. Thank you so much for this. It gives me a lot of great ideas.
@@Osiwan960 I deal with them daily at work. Sending us designs that don't work. Why? They've never even seen the equipment we work on. So I usually end up sending them changes to their work which pisses them off cause they are smarter than us in their eyes. Then when they find out us high school educated guys are getting paid more than them they really hate us. I love it!
@@freighter109ha4 LoL....obviously, there are azzholes in every field...but yeah it takes a whole team to make a machine work, engineers may have good ideas but it takes someone great with their hands/materials to make it a reality. my hat's off to you sir!
@@corb5654 Sure ya do. They're the ones out there building the damn bridge. They're the ones out there building things. Not the other way around. At least in every job I've ever worked that is how things went.
Dave is a mainstay of the Sprinter forum (even though he is now a Transit owner) and has contributed tons of ideas and help to others. A top notch dude, even if your needs are different than his.
"You keep asking questions and you keep on reading and some of he things start making sense to you" Man, that statement is so profound and useful in my own growth...Bravo sir...Bravo.
I’ve seen literally hundreds of builds and this by far is the most sensible design that’s clearly thinking out of the box. Wow!! Thank you for sharing and much respect!
Dave is a legend. I have had the pleasure of meeting Dave on several occasions and he is one that loves to share his time and abilities with others. His first van helped inspire my current one. Great video.
In a tribute to life seeming to always go full circle... I own Dave's 2008 Sprinter now, and I watch your videos to help make modifications and changes to it :)
@valleywoodworker ......Sir, you are obviously some expert on building other people's weekend getaway vehicle's........That being said, I don't believe that you actually converted and own your own self-made campervan.
@valleywoodworker Not really, it was a labor of love for him, and those are the things he wanted it to be, to have. It covers aboout all the bases, with versatility and simplicity of use, while making the most of the limited space.
Lovely build Sir - I am an ex Royal Air Force aircraft engineer and i am on my third camper build. My last 2 attempts were 'usable' but not nice! So now for my last build (Im geting too old for this now) I bought a lovely base vehicle a VW Transporter high roof and it will be built to aircraft standards and luxury. I will be living in it as I will soon be homeless and I have nowhere to park up to complete the build after that, I will lose the use of the driveway I have been using and my rented room. So i shall be living in it an building AROUND myself. Im fitting solar systems and utilising every INCH of space under the van and inside. I will have a small shower/toilet in back. I already have 2 business jet seats I am fitting into aircraft seat track. Lets face it these are built to survive an air crash so stronger than bus seats!👍👏👏👏
This guy is really smart, and he was brave enough to make some unconventional, but very practical move. Like the stove. Or the curtain system. The multi function ideas. Great guy :)
Great and thought out non technical ideas in use. I love everything about this van. Mine is very similar. The thing most people don't get is that, when you're out, you're staying young. I love keeping it basic. It makes it nice to come home.
@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath hey im 18 no education looking into vanlife myself and i agree to a extent depending on what your doing i think it applies to other aspects of life not everything practical has to be ugly sometimes beauty comes from a perfect design that was built from practicality
You can tell he has the experience, background and took a ton of time to think this thing through. Great ideas in his build! All the way down to the electrical. I love that he points out the issue most ppl overlook. In a multi battery setup, you MUST have the same batteries across the board and you NEED a charge controller to balance the batteries. OR at least run a disconnect to charge the batteries separately. It can get quite costly if this is not done right.
@@04dram04 I have always thought that was what I would do also, but this particular van does not really look industrial to me. It might even draw more attention to it. I think it would have complicated the build unnecessarily. It looks like a passenger van. Maybe I am wrong. I still like the idea of those caged doors, though.
When I first saw this was going to be 30 minutes I thought I would be hitting the forward button to get to good content but this is possibly the richest van video I have ever seen!
I watched this video 6 months ago and revisited it again today. It’s just as fresh and informative as the first time. My own life of living in my unconverted work van for the last 6 months has been an education in itself and the reason for rewatching this video was to draw inspiration for converting my new van (when it’s finally delivered). Having watched so many videos and read article after article, this modular approach is about as close to how I will be when building my interior. Stealth is vitally important to me, as is allowing the use as a work van. I’d like to thank you for the video and pass on my admiration to Dave for revealing his thought process, his calmness and his honesty, which is all too overlooked in this modern world.
watch her other video's as well - she interjects only as required and she always interviews interesting people and things - this guy is intelligent and interesting - excellent video
I'm amazed! I've seen quite a few of these campervan conversions and this guy's ideas are so fresh. I also love his perspective - that he came into this with "his eyes open" not needing to do things like other people had done.
This build is a MASTERPIECE!! The world needs more people like Dave Orton! Absolutely brilliant ... and a lovely guy too. The perfect build for me. Great video. Thank you Dave.
@@flybeep1661 in particular, electrical appliances in the shower cabin that are not even tight - a few drops and this may be the last bath. Poor performance, inaccurate and anyhow.
@@flybeep1661 Actually the shower and shelving are excellent ideas. Since he has the long hose, he should just turn around and use the sink to wash his hair in. I often wash my hair in the sink.
Wow, the bed on the wall that resting on the table for sleep is brilliant! It is perfect, when you fold it to the side, unscrew the table and you have a lot of space to transport things. The hole in the bottom for ventilation as well as the heating system is awesome. And hanging the curtain far back into the van make it more stealth. Absolutely nice ideas.
Dave, your build is brilliant. You said it took you 2 or 3 years of your life. I see it as 2 or 3 years of fun. Most people don't get how much joy you can get from making something special for yourself. Enjoy your new toy.
His designs are brilliant. So many innovations that are ideal for stealth parking. I also loved the adaptable interior framing. Thoroughly enjoyed this tour.
Wow! I have watched a ton of van conversion videos and this is one of the most interesting. I think his design is a bit overdone as is, but I can see anyone being able to take the best of his ideas (hidden plug, hidden tank fillup, hidden solar, the 8-/20 connectors) and incorporating them into a less labor intensive conversion. Meaning, you don't have to reinvent the van to take a shower or use the bathroom. This is going to become one of those videos everyone watches before they do their first (or next!) conversion.
I agree, Rachel. I took copious notes. If and when I get another rig, I am going to use some of his ideas. Hopefully my electrician brother and mechanical engineer son will be able to advise. I think it's genius to multiply shower uses! Haven't you ever looked at your bathtub and thought about building a bench seat over it? My dad designed and built towel storage over the one in the house I grew up in. It was minuscule bathroom for family of 6!
About two minutes in he shows a swivel seat he built. Which is crazy in itself.... Then re-tracts and says he should have bought one already made. A true pragmatic engineer. We need more humans like him! Thanks for being awesome Dave.
Thanks it is great that you find people who are doing different adaptation in vehicle use. As with this young man setting up the shower in side. The way he allowed for being able to still use the van for moving things. Hiding his solar still on the top but not as easily seen. The info about the battery charging. Everyone has a little of there own take on what works for them. Like he said see what works for you and use it.
@@patorton7045 That was my Nana she kept going until she passed. My Mom and Dad kept going until mom passed. My Dad drove back east from AZ to NY and stopped to visit along the way. I have a first Grand baby so I slowed down to babysit. lol I think we should all keep going as much as our health allows and maybe a little more. Oh I forgot to say Good for You keep Going.
Very very nice. This is what intelligence, experience, and wisdom gets you. Simple, perfectly designed for a specific purpose, and neat and clean. Impressive build!
i dont have a van or live in a vehicle and likely never will. But I certainly did enjoy seeing a man able to apply a lifetime of experiences and his God-given wits to a full spread of problems and turn them into something amazing. Well done, sir. Enjoy!
This man's design is very impressive - you can really tell that he's thought about everything. As others have said, it's quite sad that there are laws against sleeping in your car. Good on him for getting a nice way around that and being able to stay comfortable. Genius!
Ingenious. Inventive. Amazing. I absolutely love this. I love the practical functionality and how he improved on what he didn't like in his first build. Many things I haven't seen in other van conversions and many ideas to learn from. Refreshing. Thank you for sharing! God bless you :)
I have watched what seems like 100's of van conversion videos and van walkthroughs and van how-to's and I was getting very jaded by the experience. There are a lot of very pretty, "5 star" vans, out there. But to me most don't appear to be designed with function and practicality in mind. This video came like a breath of fresh air. This combination of stealth and practicality is exactly what I had in mind for my own build and I have taken on board many of your ideas. Thank you. BTW I am in Australia, retired and also have an engineering background and want a van for travel not as a home.
I really like a lot of his concepts. The 80/20 slotted aluminum idea is great. It means he can play around with designs, like Lego, and change his layout if he's not happy with it. Simply having a heated blanket for sleeping is another great idea, for most environments. I used to used one in an apartment to significantly reduce heating costs. It's crazy how little tolerance, or spacing, he has between his head and that upper shelving, but it works so well!
There should not be a need for a heated sleeping pad if you use the proper camping accessories: insulated sleeping pad underneath and properly selected sleeping bag.
It's a living example of the old software engineering adage 'Plan to throw one away'. Build a Sprinter van; it's gonna suck; THEN you can build an awesome Transit van.
Lots of great practical advice in this video. I agree about making the stove portable, better to cook outside of the van whenever possible. My favorite comment, "You can't have a shower outside if you're parking in downtown Carmel". The thermal breaks he mentioned are super important with regards to insulation. Yes airflow is also important. Pat is also testing things and improving upon them several times. He learned quite a bit from his first build that he applied to this build. The fact that this is a very nice looking van, he's able to park it in very nice neighborhoods without it looking too much out of place.
I can't resist adding my own 'flipside' opinion pertaining to hygiene in Carmel🎈I've called Carmel my lifetime home..and since the mid 70's. At times I've rented, yet the majority of these decades my homes have rested over 4 tires..VW Westfalias, a 49 Chevy. panel,& the more recent 20 years a Ford Econline tricked out interior similar to a sailboats. My solar heated shower seldom gains a heat level exceeding 65 degree's F, yet coping measures & a hard ass attitude, have allowed outdoor showers ..streetside in Carmel😉
Key take away from another engineer, build your van not like an RV but a (sail)boat. I'm sure 80/20 (just west of Fort Wayne, IN) appreciates the plug as well :)
I love 80/20 I use it a lot at work. We keep a bunch of it in our material crib. Most of it has been recycled many times for different uses. I will say it can get pricey. I can't imagine how much he has invested in rails and fittings for this van.
I need to figure out where to buy it. I have an 84 Toyota Bandit with a sagged fiberglass roof. Dave just showed me the light, in solution, weight, and material.
I thought he said he was using "AV 20" lol; actually, it's 80/20 T-slot aluminum bars, that have channels used to connect other bars and parts. This is so helpful to know. I'm modifying an old travel trailer for use as my man-cave; now that I'm aware of this product, my project has become easier. Kristen, thanks for all your posts. I look forward to each video.
Compact living. Shows us how much space one really needs. He has everything in this van. Shower, toilet, bed and kitchen. Very ingenious. Thanks for this Kirsten.
Fellow engineer. Not ever likely to own a camper van but massively impressed by the practical thinking and the development engineering from Sprinter to Transit. Well done; wish you a long life to enjoy it all.
The framework building tips are awesome. Thank you! Understanding how those pieces fit together will really help many make custom builds instead of paying alot of these new startups 100k for something that should only cost 10k
Hi, would you know, how he attached the 80/20 to the floor? The video shows the polyiso, than fiberglass and gymmat. The 80/20 should not be screwed onto the floor?
"Stealth" is a misnomer now that so many people know about van life. Whenever I see a box truck or Transit/Sprinter or minivan or even a conversion van, I figure soneone is living in it.
My 20th time watching this. I've seen a lot in 4 years and this is still the gold standard for camping or stealth van lifing. Thanks for sharing Kirsten and Pat!
I was given the same set up about three years ago. I still use it today. It works really well for me as I often go off fishing by myself so I only need one small bed but need storage space for the fishing tackle.. I also use the heating pad set up..... Works for me.
Exactly not like other youtuber's who believe they need to be funny or spend so much unneeded dialog on spewing B.S. I need the Baby not the labor! No stupid music. I have 100 other videos to watch! I'll watch your content if you stop spewing bullshit! Otherwise you will become irrelevant quickly.
Why is that ridiculous? The United States is the epitome of a police state. Just take a loan for more land than you need, build a bigger house than you require on that land, hook up electricity from the grid at an unreasonably high price, then let your neighbors dictate what you do on your land and in your house. The police will leave you alone since you're contributing to the unsustainable system of capitalism.
This is one of the best van conversion videos I've ever seen. Anyone thinking about a van build should watch this video and copy some of these ideas. Brilliant engineering and really well done on the camera work, audio and editing. High five.
I have seen a fair share of van builds but the halfbed-upfold Idea I think actually is new/yours! And I really do like it, awesome use of space. Also, having an option to have one person sleeping in bed, 2nd sitting at the table is really nice... good work! (I am an engineer myself so I might not be objective ;-))
Nice set up. Somebody else built a shower in the walk through area. They put up walls and a shower curtain and take the shower in the middle of the van, so they don't use up much van space for the shower.
Lot of great innovation here, although sticking my face next to the toilet to wash my hair would be a back-to-the-drawing-board moment for me, if I were the missus.
Melissa Jordan a hinged shelf could be attached to the wall that could fold down to cover the loo and also serve as a shower seat. Resting on the toilet like the bed halves rest on the dining table.
@@rickhoran I didn't either, but I think it might have to do with protecting the fabric backing that is just above the stall itself, and therefore at head level. (But I'd still take my chances standing.)
This is still the best van tour ive seen. The audio is amazing. The editing is damn good. On top of all that...this is probably the best van build ive seen. Great job Kirsten.
Back in 2009 I lived "stealth mode" in a Toyota Previa for 2.5 yrs in LA, CA. Orton's van is just insanely perfect. Sadly a van this size is not as "stealth" as one would assume.
For those opposed to kneeling while washing your hair and showering, you could place a board (cover) over the compost toilet and sit. He fit standing in the shower, he’d fit sitting. Remember people, it’s used rarely. Only when in traveling and needs to spend a night in the city. I think his designs are brilliant. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
Engineer: Top kitchen drawer for utensils, the rest for wires and circuit boards. In my home, my kitchen is like this too! Love how weight reduction has been on your mind in every step of the process.
Do not live full time in the van. We have a nice house on 5 acres. Van is for traveling. Video was taken on the property.
Find it interesting that most of the negative comments are about the multipurpose shower enclosure. When you want a short van that can be parked in a normal city parking place then you have to make some compromises. That eliminates a normal shower. Hard to call what I built a shower but you can use it to get clean in an odd way. Much better than staying dirty but certainly not like a shower at home. Many concerned about the electrical on the side walls in the shower. Water simply does not get that high on the walls. The reason for washing hair when on knees and using a full flow (not spray) nozzle are to control the overspray. Almost no water gets out of the shower and onto the towel I place in front of the shower. Not for everyone but it works well for us.
Compromise & multifunction are the operative words. It is a very functional storage closet for 1425 minutes each day and a functional but not so comfortable shower for 10 minutes per day and a convenient toilet for 5 minutes a day. When you are sweaty and dirty and feeling gross, a not so comfortable 10 minute shower insures many hours of comfortable existence until you get dirty/sweaty/gross again. If you are squeamish and/or a germaphobe the system is not for you...actually camping in a van is not for you. Your limiting sensitivities buy you all sorts of inconveniences like driving 30 minutes or an hour or ??? to find a land based toilet or shower where who knows who last sat on it or bathed in it and what did they leave behind that has now been transferred to you?...now that's gross. So remember to bring your cleaning kit to sanitize that public toilet and shower before you use it and enjoy the drive back to your campsite.
Pat, I think you have a brilliant set up.
Extremely impressive build! Those that comment negatively do not understand the purpose or the genius that went into this creation. I have wanting to do something like this for creating a mobile office/work shop. Having the ability to use it also for multi-day excursions would be a serendipitous extension.
Thank you for sharing this!
I agree, maybe not for everyone..... In my opinion, it would be way easier to simply heat up a pot of warm. Use a washcloth and some soap. This is how I get clean on road trips and camping.
Great build! I enjoyed the tour.
Pat. You're gonna get negative comments even if you built it out of solid gold. What you've done here is pretty much the definition of genius. Great build.
Finally a build which is not about just the heavy wood decorations and fancy design but practicallity. Thanks for the video, This vechicle is about camping, not insta photoshoot.
I am the current owner of Dave's former 2008 144 Sprinter.
I felt some initial reluctance when I committed to purchasing a home-built van, but that reluctance was rapidly put to rest when I realized how many years of his life Dave put in to designing as much function in to a limited space as possible.
Through disassembly and reverse engineering of nearly every major part of the van to make upgrades, I have continued to be impressed by Dave's pragmatic decisions and his straightforward construction methods. The elegant simplicity of his design choices make servicing the major components and making modifications painless. I have improved all the areas Dave was not personally happy with, and I look forward to continuing to enjoy it for years to come.
I am very grateful you took the time to meet with Dave and tell a bit of his story. Thank you.
If you need any of the Cad drawings or other information just use the web site (ortontransit.info) email. I assume you got the large amount of files for the build. Be glad to help.
Your a good guy and you did a great job on +he van thanks for sharing your baby.
You've done a fantastic job Dave! 👍 You thought of everything. Hope to see more...
Sir, you obviously bought something ready to go anywhere...... Starting from scratch is sometimes a bit daunting.......I wish you many many years of fun .
Do you live in IF? I swear I've seen this van before lol
I have to say, I love listening to people who know what they're talking about, and who speak concisely. Thank you so much for this. It gives me a lot of great ideas.
"You keep asking questions, and you keep reading, and finally some of those things start making sense to you"
Life advice by Dave Orton
I've watched a bunch of these videos. This is the best stealth camper I've ever seen.
I agree, love the aluminum framing work and not having cabinet doors all over.
You can still see fan and solar panels clearly
I agree
I was going to say the same thing!
Him being an ex engineer, that's what I expected
once i saw retired engineer i knew it would be good
exactly! can't imagine a world without engineers!
@@Osiwan960 I deal with them daily at work. Sending us designs that don't work. Why? They've never even seen the equipment we work on. So I usually end up sending them changes to their work which pisses them off cause they are smarter than us in their eyes. Then when they find out us high school educated guys are getting paid more than them they really hate us. I love it!
@@freighter109ha4 LoL....obviously, there are azzholes in every field...but yeah it takes a whole team to make a machine work, engineers may have good ideas but it takes someone great with their hands/materials to make it a reality. my hat's off to you sir!
@@freighter109ha4 And yet, when we need somebody to build a bridge we don't go to guys with high school education. You sound like a typical smartass.
@@corb5654 Sure ya do. They're the ones out there building the damn bridge. They're the ones out there building things. Not the other way around. At least in every job I've ever worked that is how things went.
Dave is a mainstay of the Sprinter forum (even though he is now a Transit owner) and has contributed tons of ideas and help to others. A top notch dude, even if your needs are different than his.
That forum is where?
Cool
he's on the transit forum too! many thanks dave...
where can we meet him
"You keep asking questions and you keep on reading and some of he things start making sense to you" Man, that statement is so profound and useful in my own growth...Bravo sir...Bravo.
This is the most logical person I have ever seen. Everything is placed logically.
I’ve seen literally hundreds of builds and this by far is the most sensible design that’s clearly thinking out of the box. Wow!! Thank you for sharing and much respect!
Dave is a legend. I have had the pleasure of meeting Dave on several occasions and he is one that loves to share his time and abilities with others. His first van helped inspire my current one. Great video.
In a tribute to life seeming to always go full circle... I own Dave's 2008 Sprinter now, and I watch your videos to help make modifications and changes to it :)
AND he has a PBR if the fridge!
@@ChadLowers Nice! Richard appeared to have done some nice modifications to it as well.
@@Madmun357 - PBR in the fridge? Yes. Someone should send him a case of Blue Moon.
@@logmeindangit Ha, ha, ha! I agree. Blue Moon is the best. But then I am part Belgian!
You can tell he put a awful lot of thought into every detail and it shows. He did an incredible job.
@valleywoodworker ......Sir, you are obviously some expert on building other people's weekend getaway vehicle's........That being said, I don't believe that you actually converted and own your own self-made campervan.
@valleywoodworker Not really, it was a labor of love for him, and those are the things he wanted it to be, to have. It covers aboout all the bases, with versatility and simplicity of use, while making the most of the limited space.
Lovely build Sir - I am an ex Royal Air Force aircraft engineer and i am on my third camper build. My last 2 attempts were 'usable' but not nice! So now for my last build (Im geting too old for this now) I bought a lovely base vehicle a VW Transporter high roof and it will be built to aircraft standards and luxury. I will be living in it as I will soon be homeless and I have nowhere to park up to complete the build after that, I will lose the use of the driveway I have been using and my rented room. So i shall be living in it an building AROUND myself. Im fitting solar systems and utilising every INCH of space under the van and inside. I will have a small shower/toilet in back. I already have 2 business jet seats I am fitting into aircraft seat track. Lets face it these are built to survive an air crash so stronger than bus seats!👍👏👏👏
Incredible conversion!! This is the most carefully planned and executed conversion I have ever seen. Great job, Dave!
Thank you for finding this man and showcasing his stealth van its simply stunnning and amazing. He is a genius. I want one.
This guy is really smart, and he was brave enough to make some unconventional, but very practical move. Like the stove. Or the curtain system. The multi function ideas. Great guy :)
Like put the Electrics in the shower. Not very smart if you ask me.
Great and thought out non technical ideas in use. I love everything about this van. Mine is very similar. The thing most people don't get is that, when you're out, you're staying young. I love keeping it basic. It makes it nice to come home.
"engineer" a key word for a great build! There's no youtube vanlife BS in this build - is as practical as it can be :)
Is a retired structural engineer with a degree in architecture I can assure you that you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for function.
@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath hey im 18 no education looking into vanlife myself and i agree to a extent depending on what your doing
i think it applies to other aspects of life not everything practical has to be ugly sometimes beauty comes from a perfect design that was built from practicality
You can tell he has the experience, background and took a ton of time to think this thing through. Great ideas in his build! All the way down to the electrical. I love that he points out the issue most ppl overlook. In a multi battery setup, you MUST have the same batteries across the board and you NEED a charge controller to balance the batteries. OR at least run a disconnect to charge the batteries separately. It can get quite costly if this is not done right.
I have never seen a better van conversion than this one. This guy is a genius! Well done indeed!
I like it too. He has really done the work to figure it out.
Hanging the black-out curtain further back in the van made a lot of sense. It draws less attention and you really only need a small nook to sleep in.
Installing an industrial caged door to the cockpit would completely cover the cargo area, and make it look like an industrial cargo van
@@04dram04 I have always thought that was what I would do also, but this particular van does not really look industrial to me. It might even draw more attention to it. I think it would have complicated the build unnecessarily. It looks like a passenger van. Maybe I am wrong. I still like the idea of those caged doors, though.
One thing I do wonder about: what about the issue of human breath steaming up the windows from the inside?
@@IHateUA-camHandles615 You can tell from the inlet and outlet how the air flows. Virtually none of their breath will find its way into the cab.
When I first saw this was going to be 30 minutes I thought I would be hitting the forward button to get to good content but this is possibly the richest van video I have ever seen!
I watched this video 6 months ago and revisited it again today. It’s just as fresh and informative as the first time.
My own life of living in my unconverted work van for the last 6 months has been an education in itself and the reason for rewatching this video was to draw inspiration for converting my new van (when it’s finally delivered). Having watched so many videos and read article after article, this modular approach is about as close to how I will be when building my interior.
Stealth is vitally important to me, as is allowing the use as a work van.
I’d like to thank you for the video and pass on my admiration to Dave for revealing his thought process, his calmness and his honesty, which is all too overlooked in this modern world.
watch her other video's as well - she interjects only as required and she always interviews interesting people and things - this guy is intelligent and interesting - excellent video
I'm amazed! I've seen quite a few of these campervan conversions and this guy's ideas are so fresh. I also love his perspective - that he came into this with "his eyes open" not needing to do things like other people had done.
This build is a MASTERPIECE!! The world needs more people like Dave Orton! Absolutely brilliant ... and a lovely guy too. The perfect build for me. Great video. Thank you Dave.
It's far from a masterpiece, the shower is one of the worst implementations I've seen on a van build.
@@flybeep1661 in particular, electrical appliances in the shower cabin that are not even tight - a few drops and this may be the last bath. Poor performance, inaccurate and anyhow.
@@flybeep1661 Actually the shower and shelving are excellent ideas. Since he has the long hose, he should just turn around and use the sink to wash his hair in. I often wash my hair in the sink.
Wow, the bed on the wall that resting on the table for sleep is brilliant!
It is perfect, when you fold it to the side, unscrew the table and you have a lot of space to transport things.
The hole in the bottom for ventilation as well as the heating system is awesome.
And hanging the curtain far back into the van make it more stealth.
Absolutely nice ideas.
Floor ventilation is so obvious now that he said it! Air is cooler under there. Brilliant.
Can tell this guy is an engineer. Attention to detail and ideas is the best I've ever seen.
Dave, your build is brilliant. You said it took you 2 or 3 years of your life. I see it as 2 or 3 years of fun. Most people don't get how much joy you can get from making something special for yourself. Enjoy your new toy.
His designs are brilliant. So many innovations that are ideal for stealth parking. I also loved the adaptable interior framing. Thoroughly enjoyed this tour.
If they’re brilliant then he should be taking out patents
Terrific ideas! I love how differently, this gentleman innovates his van. Thank you, Kirsten!
@valleywoodworker whatever that's supposed to mean..?..... We're all not you.
Wow! I have watched a ton of van conversion videos and this is one of the most interesting. I think his design is a bit overdone as is, but I can see anyone being able to take the best of his ideas (hidden plug, hidden tank fillup, hidden solar, the 8-/20 connectors) and incorporating them into a less labor intensive conversion. Meaning, you don't have to reinvent the van to take a shower or use the bathroom. This is going to become one of those videos everyone watches before they do their first (or next!) conversion.
I agree, Rachel. I took copious notes. If and when I get another rig, I am going to use some of his ideas. Hopefully my electrician brother and mechanical engineer son will be able to advise. I think it's genius to multiply shower uses! Haven't you ever looked at your bathtub and thought about building a bench seat over it? My dad designed and built towel storage over the one in the house I grew up in. It was minuscule bathroom for family of 6!
About two minutes in he shows a swivel seat he built. Which is crazy in itself.... Then re-tracts and says he should have bought one already made. A true pragmatic engineer. We need more humans like him! Thanks for being awesome Dave.
The most enjoyable 30 minutes of watching UA-cam videos. Thanks a million everyone..
Thanks it is great that you find people who are doing different adaptation in vehicle use. As with this young man setting up the shower in side. The way he allowed for being able to still use the van for moving things. Hiding his solar still on the top but not as easily seen. The info about the battery charging. Everyone has a little of there own take on what works for them. Like he said see what works for you and use it.
80 years old but still active.
@@patorton7045 That was my Nana she kept going until she passed. My Mom and Dad kept going until mom passed. My Dad drove back east from AZ to NY and stopped to visit along the way. I have a first Grand baby so I slowed down to babysit. lol I think we should all keep going as much as our health allows and maybe a little more. Oh I forgot to say Good for You keep Going.
Wow! Dave did a fantastic job with his van. He put a lot of thought and TLC into everything. Very, very nice.
Thank you Kirsten! Your channel is one of the most addictive and satisfying to watch. When your videos end, I keep wishing there was more. Best!
Me too. More More ha ha
wish she would make vids more often lol or point us to similar youtube channels
Y'all can always go back to the beginning. She's got hundreds of videos!
@@ryefry I know I started with her First documentary about the Tiny House People. I so like the way she does her videos.
Wise old mans teaching is blowing away younglings!
Very very nice. This is what intelligence, experience, and wisdom gets you. Simple, perfectly designed for a specific purpose, and neat and clean. Impressive build!
i dont have a van or live in a vehicle and likely never will. But I certainly did enjoy seeing a man able to apply a lifetime of experiences and his God-given wits to a full spread of problems and turn them into something amazing. Well done, sir. Enjoy!
This man's design is very impressive - you can really tell that he's thought about everything. As others have said, it's quite sad that there are laws against sleeping in your car. Good on him for getting a nice way around that and being able to stay comfortable. Genius!
As soon as he said "Navy shower" I knew he was an alright guy!!!
Vs. "navel" shower? Well it wasn't a "waist" of time. Okay I'm all no half wet. Great video
As soon as I saw the pabst blue ribbon in the fridge 😆
Ingenious. Inventive. Amazing. I absolutely love this. I love the practical functionality and how he improved on what he didn't like in his first build. Many things I haven't seen in other van conversions and many ideas to learn from. Refreshing. Thank you for sharing! God bless you :)
I have watched what seems like 100's of van conversion videos and van walkthroughs and van how-to's and I was getting very jaded by the experience. There are a lot of very pretty, "5 star" vans, out there. But to me most don't appear to be designed with function and practicality in mind. This video came like a breath of fresh air. This combination of stealth and practicality is exactly what I had in mind for my own build and I have taken on board many of your ideas. Thank you. BTW I am in Australia, retired and also have an engineering background and want a van for travel not as a home.
Some camper builders need to take notes. This Man is a genius. Trial and error is the most efficient way to build.
I really like a lot of his concepts.
The 80/20 slotted aluminum idea is great. It means he can play around with designs, like Lego, and change his layout if he's not happy with it.
Simply having a heated blanket for sleeping is another great idea, for most environments. I used to used one in an apartment to significantly reduce heating costs.
It's crazy how little tolerance, or spacing, he has between his head and that upper shelving, but it works so well!
Like a little Lego.
@@williamstewart7399 like a life sized Lego!
There should not be a need for a heated sleeping pad if you use the proper camping accessories: insulated sleeping pad underneath and properly selected sleeping bag.
We need more this kind of mind and brain in our society.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
It's a living example of the old software engineering adage 'Plan to throw one away'. Build a Sprinter van; it's gonna suck; THEN you can build an awesome Transit van.
Starting my first Sprinter and counting on making mistakes.
One of the smartest most efficient and also economical builds out there. 👌🏼
Lots of great practical advice in this video. I agree about making the stove portable, better to cook outside of the van whenever possible. My favorite comment, "You can't have a shower outside if you're parking in downtown Carmel". The thermal breaks he mentioned are super important with regards to insulation. Yes airflow is also important. Pat is also testing things and improving upon them several times. He learned quite a bit from his first build that he applied to this build. The fact that this is a very nice looking van, he's able to park it in very nice neighborhoods without it looking too much out of place.
Ya the Carmel comment got me as well. If one has never been to Carmel it doesn't mean a thing.
I can't resist adding my own 'flipside' opinion pertaining to hygiene in Carmel🎈I've called Carmel my lifetime home..and since the mid 70's. At times I've rented, yet the majority of these decades my homes have rested over 4 tires..VW Westfalias, a 49 Chevy. panel,& the more recent 20 years a Ford Econline tricked out interior similar to a sailboats. My solar heated shower seldom gains a heat level exceeding 65 degree's F, yet coping measures & a hard ass attitude, have allowed outdoor showers ..streetside in Carmel😉
Key take away from another engineer, build your van not like an RV but a (sail)boat. I'm sure 80/20 (just west of Fort Wayne, IN) appreciates the plug as well :)
Hoosier here watching too! lol
Hoosier here too!
I love 80/20 I use it a lot at work. We keep a bunch of it in our material crib. Most of it has been recycled many times for different uses. I will say it can get pricey. I can't imagine how much he has invested in rails and fittings for this van.
@@bg45420 : Looks like several thousand dollars to me. Aluminum extrusion (8020, Bosch...ect) is an excellent product though.
I need to figure out where to buy it. I have an 84 Toyota Bandit with a sagged fiberglass roof. Dave just showed me the light, in solution, weight, and material.
YES! I often theorized about having such a floor vent, and here is a guy who did it! I love this RV van, it would be perfect for me. GREAT JOB!
The folding/expanding bed/table is so clever!!
All of the van conversion companies can learn a lot from his innovations. Well done, young Jedi 😎
What a fantastic build hats off to the guy no space is wasted and just how he likes it
I thought he said he was using "AV 20" lol; actually, it's 80/20 T-slot aluminum bars, that have channels used to connect other bars and parts. This is so helpful to know. I'm modifying an old travel trailer for use as my man-cave; now that I'm aware of this product, my project has become easier. Kristen, thanks for all your posts. I look forward to each video.
This guy is livin, screw retirement homes. I'm sure I will live like you do to see as much as I can and just live freely.
K H I couldn’t agree more!
Compact living. Shows us how much space one really needs. He
has everything in this van. Shower,
toilet, bed and kitchen. Very ingenious. Thanks for this Kirsten.
love the 80/20 frameworks
Fellow engineer. Not ever likely to own a camper van but massively impressed by the practical thinking and the development engineering from Sprinter to Transit.
Well done; wish you a long life to enjoy it all.
Was skeptical when I saw the thumbnail but fair one, this guy is a good engineer and thought a hell of a lot about this.
The framework building tips are awesome. Thank you! Understanding how those pieces fit together will really help many make custom builds instead of paying alot of these new startups 100k for something that should only cost 10k
Hi, would you know, how he attached the 80/20 to the floor? The video shows the polyiso, than fiberglass and gymmat. The 80/20 should not be screwed onto the floor?
"Stealth" is a misnomer now that so many people know about van life. Whenever I see a box truck or Transit/Sprinter or minivan or even a conversion van, I figure soneone is living in it.
N ssns
Yeah at this point you might have to get the fake business magnets for the side of the van.
Man and Ingenuity go together like soap and water. Brilliant build, your back ground as an engineer lets you think outside the box.
My 20th time watching this. I've seen a lot in 4 years and this is still the gold standard for camping or stealth van lifing. Thanks for sharing Kirsten and Pat!
The flipping panels for the bed is a great idea:-)
I was given the same set up about three years ago. I still use it today. It works really well for me as I often go off fishing by myself so I only need one small bed but need storage space for the fishing tackle.. I also use the heating pad set up..... Works for me.
Yeah, he said he didn't think anyone else did that. But I've seen it done by others, too. : )
@@nojnoj3069 - so, the heating pad setup - 120VAC, or 12VDC? And does it cover the area of a sleeping bag?
@@logmeindangit , I imagine it's only necessary at the foot area. If my feet are warm, I'm usually able to sleep if it's still cold in the room.
He wasted not one word great speaker.
Exactly not like other youtuber's who believe they need to be funny or spend so much unneeded dialog on spewing B.S. I need the Baby not the labor! No stupid music.
I have 100 other videos to watch! I'll watch your content if you stop spewing bullshit! Otherwise you will become irrelevant quickly.
@@johnwayne2103 Does your name refer to the great American icon?
Very clever sir.
He is an engineer....that's how they roll.
that comes with age and maturity
It's ridiculous that you have to worry about the police harassing you for sleeping in your vehicle in a "free country".
Sadly the U.S. has not been free for a LONG time.
Why is that ridiculous? The United States is the epitome of a police state. Just take a loan for more land than you need, build a bigger house than you require on that land, hook up electricity from the grid at an unreasonably high price, then let your neighbors dictate what you do on your land and in your house. The police will leave you alone since you're contributing to the unsustainable system of capitalism.
Decompyler unfortunately this country hasn’t been free for a long time 😔😔😔🥺
Policing for profit is what they do best
That’s California for you
Give this eloquent man a nobel prize for engineering.
Thanks for sharing. The presenter/builder/owner has very good vision of how to use items more efficiency and effectively. LOVE it.
This guy did a great job on the van I like the way he's got everything hidden
This is one of the best van conversion videos I've ever seen. Anyone thinking about a van build should watch this video and copy some of these ideas. Brilliant engineering and really well done on the camera work, audio and editing. High five.
I have seen a fair share of van builds but the halfbed-upfold Idea I think actually is new/yours! And I really do like it, awesome use of space. Also, having an option to have one person sleeping in bed, 2nd sitting at the table is really nice... good work! (I am an engineer myself so I might not be objective ;-))
Michael Seemann The double side rack idea is old. Boats have used it for decades & I’ve seen it in other diy vans.
Nice set up. Somebody else built a shower in the walk through area. They put up walls and a shower curtain and take the shower in the middle of the van, so they don't use up much van space for the shower.
Some nice ideas (and some I don't like - but that's to be expected). Helps take me another small step towards doing my own build.
This man is a practical genius. Awesome, inspiring video. Thank you.
Brilliant van build! So many simple and clever ideas... thanks for sharing Dave!
love this guys energy, and thought process.
His knowledge needs to be handed down to others. Wow AND baskets no DOORS which in a tight space get in the way. Finally a true genius.
There is a web site with a lot of information on the build. Go to: ortontransit.info
Occidental! Nice little town just down the road.
I know I’m being redundant, but this man is amazing!
Lot of great innovation here, although sticking my face next to the toilet to wash my hair would be a back-to-the-drawing-board moment for me, if I were the missus.
Melissa Jordan a hinged shelf could be attached to the wall that could fold down to cover the loo and also serve as a shower seat. Resting on the toilet like the bed halves rest on the dining table.
I would go with an extra large kitchen sink and wash my hair there....while standing.
Actually, I don't see any reason why you couldn't just wash your hair standing up as part of the navy shower Dave described.
@@rickhoran I didn't either, but I think it might have to do with protecting the fabric backing that is just above the stall itself, and therefore at head level. (But I'd still take my chances standing.)
@@melissajordan8679 Me too!
I’m so glad he asked
“how tall are you sir?”
Thankyou
Mr. Orton you did a great job. I love how the bed is made. Great idea. Thank you for showing your Van.
I pray that my brain is still as pristine as this guy when I'm his age. What an intelligent and honestly badass old dude.
Thanks. Part of the reason for doing the build is to stay active and use the brain. Hard to stop playing engineer.
This is still the best van tour ive seen. The audio is amazing. The editing is damn good. On top of all that...this is probably the best van build ive seen. Great job Kirsten.
Very impressed with the bed design and the floor vent. Haven't seen either of those on any other van builds. Thanks for sharing.
Floor vent is genius !!
Great design ideas. Very innovative. I gotta learn more about that 80/20 extruded aluminum. Really versatile stuff.
That is one of the best conversions I've seen. Love the lower vent, the framework, the bed/table ...fabulous
This is the best, most intelligent DIY large van conversion I have ever seen. In a word, "elegant."
Beautiful part of the country! Great ideas: my favorite was the simplest, which was the floor vent. What a great idea to cool the inside down quickly!
Thanks guys great job on the van real professional work .definitely a reference guide for me .well taught out super stealth in and out .
Back in 2009 I lived "stealth mode" in a Toyota Previa for 2.5 yrs in LA, CA. Orton's van is just insanely perfect. Sadly a van this size is not as "stealth" as one would assume.
Definitely a bit more stealth then the usual builds.
For those opposed to kneeling while washing your hair and showering, you could place a board (cover) over the compost toilet and sit. He fit standing in the shower, he’d fit sitting. Remember people, it’s used rarely. Only when in traveling and needs to spend a night in the city. I think his designs are brilliant. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
Engineer: Top kitchen drawer for utensils, the rest for wires and circuit boards. In my home, my kitchen is like this too! Love how weight reduction has been on your mind in every step of the process.