Number one! Only one word for it, elegant! I have seen so many very modern, elaborate van conversions videos. But imagine if you have to fix something in those van. This feels doable, fits and functional. Robert needs a channel.
Problem after problem after problem SOLVED!!!!! Great tour !!!!! A one man travel van Everything you could possibly need. KISSified love it. Very inspiring. This video will save a lot of people Time money and a possible aspirin overdose by solving so many of the challenges of the civilized simple life.
I have been watching conversion videos for 2 + years. This is the best KISS build I have seen. This build actually looks like a van I could function in.
Robert you are a genius, your shower and air conditioning wow oh wow! Hats off to you for not only having the ideas for those things but man you made them work! The air conditioning that really is amazing cos I have watched many van life video's all saying that air conditioning can't work off solar, that your van has to be plugged in, well Robert you my man have proved those know it all's wrong, you are proof that you can run air conditioning off solar quite successfully. You are a genius and I love the look, the layout infact everything about your van! Well done you Robert well done you 🤗👏👏👏👏👌👍 Thankyou so much for giving us the tour, explaining everything and allowing us into your home! Thankyou I so really enjoyed it 🙏 Lisa UK xxxx
He has some great ideas for folks to utilize. I love his shower setup. His van setup is mostly what we call a no build build. Looks like the bed and ac are the only things really built in. It's really nicely done. I think I may be incorporating a few things from his build into mine. Thanks, Robert and Bill!
LOL you would think a couple days wouldn’t you? Would you believe about six months? There was a lot of trial and error even after coming up with the ideas. However having all the experience if I was to start from scratch today I could probably build it out in a couple of weeks.
@@me4654 I am not completely sure that I understand your comment about living in a bathroom. The I doubt if you have one either is a little confusing also since I showed everything in the video. Yes I have a bathroom and I have a living room and I have a kitchen and I have a bedroom. It’s not like a house where you have separate rooms for each, there is some adjusting and the van converts to the room that you need at the time, whether it’s a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen or living room. Also another thing to consider is that I don’t live in the van. I only use the van to travel, I have an incredibly nice house to live in. However that being said I would be perfectly comfortable living in the van just the way it’s set up. That’s not something everyone could do or would want to do but you certainly could if you needed to and there’s a lot of people out there living the van life style and loving it. Yes it’s certainly not for everyone but I always say to each their own. Live the life that makes you happy and let others do the same. Thanks for your comment.
I've been camping for 40 years off and on in almost every type of thing you can camp in. I started watching rv type video's for about 5 years now and enjoy how people create their own unique spaces! I'm also learning terms for types of camping that I've never heard of or use in my adventures. Always interesting and educational! Great video ☺️ Happy travels my friend 😊
Brilliant, simplicity! Great job, Robert! This is my first visit to this channel. I'm about to hit that subscribe button and check out more of your videos. Thanks.
Wonderful build!! In my Transit I have a blackout thermal curtain that I got at Walmart (under $20 for the set) and you will not believe the difference it makes! For those of us that don't build...
This was an excellent presentation. Robert gave great explanations to the various choices he made, his reasoning and application of the various systems. He has everything he needs. Great episode.
Very innovative 💡 👏 Have you looked into AWD systems which for van dwellers is wonderful. Takes the humidity from the air, filters that for cleanest drinking water. Takes care of all humidity dangers as well as gives you unlimited water without water source just need power.
I am barely familiar with what you’re talking about. From my limited amount of knowledge on the subject I think that the systems you’re talking about use a lot of electricity which of course if you’re on solar could be a problem. Also if you’re in the dry region say Arizona for instance it’s not going to work very well because of the dry environment. Bottom line however is that I just don’t know enough about the systems to give you an informed answer.
When we set our mini split on "dry mode" it literally eliminates all humidity in our 8 1/2×20 trailer. The results are evident at the drain tube. That being said, we don't see enough drainage to produce all of our drinking water, nor would we even consider drinking it without proper filtration. We researched the system you mentioned, and for a number of reasons, we fail to see the viability.
The bed mold is generally from the cooler closed off trunk area with a warm body/mattress on top of it. The temp difference creates condensation under the mattress and mold
The recirculating shower is awesome! I’m wondering about the brand and where he got those large bins? Thanks for the tour and sharing your build with us. 👍
The large bins are made by Contico. I purchased mine at Lowe’s quite a few years ago. I believe there a model 3725 and back then I paid somewhere around $80 each. I saw them at tractor supply and they run $125.
LOL, diet soft drinks. Someday when I’m dead and gone they’ll be saying yeah we told him he shouldn’t be drinking those diet soft drinks, see They got him. LOL
After looking on Amazon I found it that is absolutely doable. Thank you so much for the suggestion it’s something that I would’ve never thought of. I’m definitely going to implement that! Thank you thank you thank you!
Sure you can buy cargo vans used. This van was empty, it was just a cargo van when I bought it but I did buy new. The cost of my conversion was very reasonable compared to what most people spend. I did all the work myself and for what’s inside plus all of the solar and batteries and the electronic components, for everything combined I only have A little over $6000. The final cost on the van from the dealer was about 44,000 so all together I’ve got about $50,000 in it. That’s not too bad for what I have, at least I don’t think so.
good video . does the 5000btu do good job on hot days? im trying to get the smallest ac possible for my van but want to make sure it can handle the job too. thanks
It’s done a great job for me however, I typically only use it at night because I’m out during the day. The days I have used it on has been raining and so therefore not that hot. Vans are really small spaces so I think that it would do a good job for you. It also depends on your camping style, if you’re in an RV park and have access to electricity, then you have nothing to worry about. If you Boondock then you’re trying to conserve as much energy as possible. The 5000 BTU seems to do a good job for me.
It’s a little late for me tonight but I’ll come back and add another comment and try to give you a better idea of the way that I put the bed together. It’s not hard to do and I don’t mind sharing.
OK let me go into some detail about the bed. First you want to select your mattress and it’s important that you only get a 5 inch thick memory foam mattress and you want to get it as close to the length and width that you need. If you can’t get exactly what you need and you have to cut it down the best way I found is to use an electric carving knife. On the frame of the bed the backboard near the wall that the hinges attached to is a 2 x 6. A 2 x 6 is 5 1/2 inches wide and this is why you only want the 5 inch memory foam mattress. The boards on each end and across the front are one by fours. You don’t want those quite as tall as the mattress because they’ll be in the way when you’re getting in and out of the bed. The boards across the bottom that are spaced with the gap in between are 1x4’s. It’s important that you put all of this together with glue and screws. Nails will work loose. After it was completed I painted it with an enamel paint. Enamel paint will take a couple of days to dry but it’s much more durable than any other paint you would probably use. Then I simply used hinges purchased at Harbor freight and I’m know you can get them at Lowe’s or Home Depot also and they’re normally used for gates. I put three of them on and they worked very well. Hope this is helpful.
Thank you so much for the reply! So the bed frame is only attached to the back wall by the hinges? Did you screw right into the metal skeleton of the van or did you put wood rails behind the walls?
@@MissyPippyCrafts I had to run some 2x6’s vertically on the sidewall because the spot where the hinges need to attach was hollow and nothing in the wall to attach to. I ran the 2x6’s from up along the top of the van down as far as where there was a horizontal metal rib in order to attach the 2x’6s and then was able to attach the hinges to those two by sixes. It worked very well. If you have any more questions feel free to ask and I’ll answer them the best I can. Thanks
I have watched too many van conversions to count and I swear this one right here is the first one that makes me believe that one day ( not too far off hopefully ) I can finally jump into this lifestyle myself. It just proves that everything doesn't have to be completely built in and tricked out at a very huge cost to be able to start living the van life. Robert is clearly brilliant and planned this out extremely well using ideas that I could have never come up with myself. However, after seeing his build I could copy many of his ideas and use them in a van for myself. I love this. Great video!! Sending my best to you all
You’re very kind, thank you so much! Hopefully not too far off, you’ll have your van and it would be great to be able to run into others that share the same dream. Best of luck!
#1 in my book, Robert's ideas & execution of van life camping has set a new gold standard for aspiring overland campers! What a wealth of ideas and methods of not only getting it done well, but getting in all in one small transportable package. This is a must watch, after at least one year's viewing of UA-cam overlanding videos, this will be my go to reference as we build our unit. Thank you Robert, happy trails & we look forward to your next installment, please don't be a stranger on UA-cam. As my father use to say "you are a gentleman & a scholar", my complements to you sir!
Wow, thank you Robert, he's the brain bank that I could sit and chat with for hours about ideas. He saved me months of research and untold money in trial and error. These are the builds I enjoy the most, people who apply their brains, insight, and skills instead of their wallet. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
I too!!! I think THE POWERS THAT BE (Corporate America) have us all SO TRAINED to HAVE TO live super fancy.... But WITH FOOD, GAS, HOUSING & HEALTHCARE PRICES, (all thru the roof).. and our govt NOT PROTECTING US... HEY,.... IT'S ALL ABOUT NEED... NOT WANT!!!!! YA GOTTA SURVIVE❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Everyone is broke these days so Roberts ingenious ideas are helping folks to SURVIVE in comfort, in a practical and simplified manner!!!!!!! THANK YOU, DEAR BROTHER ROBERT❣️
Such useful ideas, especially for those of us without the tools or knowledge to do a lot of building. I especially like the fact that his cab/driving space is protected by his wall and walk thru door. 1) if he needs to make a fast get away, he can slip into the drivers seat and go. And 2) I just learned of a woman that sadly lost her life due to a TBI, after being rear ended. Her refrigerator had been secured with a bungee cord, broke loose, and struck her, her injuries were too severe. I can’t stop thinking about her and all of us driving around with potential missiles in our rigs. I don’t know if his wall could keep those heavy drawer systems from breaking thru, but he possible has them secured, my gosh he gave us so much great information and couldn’t possibly cover every detail. Sure wish my brain was as common sense as his, but I have already saved this video. Sure enjoy your content, a truly great interview!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! About the wall, it’s made exclusively for that purpose. The manufacturer is weather guard and the wall is made for delivery vans. The intent of the wall is to be able to secure the back of the van with a locking handle which it has and also to keep any cargo in the back of the van from the driver or passenger in a sudden stop or an accident. Everything in the back of the van has been secured with the exception of the two large cargo boxes. The one that’s heavy sits right up against the wall so it wouldn’t gain any momentum and the one that I use for the shower weighs very little and so I don’t think there’s any concern with it. My big concern was the toolbox, that weighs at least a couple hundred pounds. I made sure it was very well secured! 😊
This was one of the most refreshing van builds! I loved his K.I.S.S. acronyms. His van was full of ideas that he kept simple, yet functional and aesthetically pleasing. He is truly an innovator. This gives hope for those who want to try van life without it costing more than some small homes. Thanks for another fantastic video!
Excellent concept of keeping things simple with plenty of space left. Other long term van life builds are fancy, which comes with a price tag and serves their purpose. Main thing is to build what ever fits your life style. Not all builds are perfect. As for simplexity this is a plus.
Okay, the 6x12 might just have to get a shower!!! This van is one of my most favorites also. Robert did an excellent job! Jan's looking up the Coleman water heater as I type!
Before you go with the Coleman H2O water heater I thought I’d let you know that I’ve decided to go a different route. The Coleman H2O did work well but it was a lot of work hooking it up and then putting it away afterwards. I have previously purchased a different unit from Amazon which I will add a description of. It was considerably cheaper, $43 and it worked just as well for me and seem to be easier to use. The big disadvantage was that you had to heat the water separately but the advantages were that you knew you weren’t going to run out of water or that the propane or the battery wouldn’t go dead, it was also much easier to use and put away afterwards. Here’s the description: KEDSUM Portable Camp Shower, Camp Shower Pump with Detachable USB Rechargeable Batteries.
Thank you. It was great seeing this in person when Robert gave us a tour at the rendezvous. He really made everything thing simple. It was wonderful meeting and talking with him. Thank you again. Blessings and stay safe 🤗🌞
Robert is 1 of the most creative & efficient van-lifers I’ve seen. Thank U for so many simple, doable ideas & still maintain comfort while living as a nomad
Awesome, have watched many builds and love the ones with the wall behind the cab, hate that curtain look , hot and cold spot even in sticks and bricks. A safe and practical build out weighs all the cute cabinets and counter tops. I watched many as I said and always worry about things not being more secured. I like being able to walk from front to back and just bedding down at night when needed. His build is very smart and to his taste. I love it!
It’s funny you should mention that. After looking at all of the ready-made‘s from a cost of 80,000 to over 200,000 not a single one of them was made for function. They’re usually made for two people and sometimes more than two and also made to look pretty. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone and with such a small space to work with it needed to be as comfortable and functional as possible. At least for me I think I’ve accomplished that. Thank you for your very kind comments.
@@Robertsramblings are you in the van full time or is this a getaway vehicle? You’ve definitely demonstrated a “function over form” design philosophy and it seems you’ve got everything you need. How is the tv powered and how do you get reliable WiFi? I’m also interested in the details of your solar setup- the products you chose for the solar panels, inverter, batteries (make & model of all that).
@@kacichristian I’m not full-time. It’s just a hobby, another toy. I power everything that needs AC off of a 2000 watt Renogy pure sine wave inverter. I now have 500 Watts of Renogy solar panels, a DC to DC Renogy solar charger, a Victron 115 V battery charger and 400 amp hours of lithium batteries. For Wi-Fi I use a Weboost Drive sleek. So far I have not had a Wi-Fi issue but I’m sure the day will come and when it does I’ll just watch videos downloaded off of UA-cam.
I have seen thousands of builds, but this one was absolutely spectacular! He is a genius and I love his organizational skills. I plan to watch this over and over again!!
I converted my wife Chevy Express 1500 handicap van into a campervan after she passed. Since I'm not a carpenter I also went to Harbor Freight and got too short rollaways, took the wheels off them and mounted them to the non-door side of the van. Secured the microwave to the top of one of them and put a two burner Coleman folding stove and the thin top drawer of one of the rollaways. Had a friend build an enclosure for the porta potty. And the very back seat electrically folds down into a bed. Works great for me. I would like to find out how to get in touch with his gentleman so he and I can swap ideas. He has done a fantastic build out with minimal effort. Thought he did a great job
I would definitely have reservations about putting my contact information out for everyone to see but if you’ll use Facebook to instant message me then I could give you whatever information you would need to contact me.
@@Robertsramblings I too would love to have some sort of communication with you. I broke both hands a year ago and had to postpone my build. Thankfully, I had finished installing plusnuts in the ceiling. And used insulation board as a temporary ceiling. I covered the metal between the panels with strips of black poster board. Looking at your setup makes me anxious to start again. I will try to send you a Facebook message. Kt-KtzWorld
Bill you and Deb did a great job. We showed up for the last 3 days. and had a great time, even got to see you concert for free. Robert did a very good job with that van. Great ideas.
Love this tour and the details. Thank you for sharing you van build. Impressive! So nice and neat. Someday I’ll have a version of this. I like bed concept. Putting it up leaves room for my bike to travel easily too! Would like more details on the bed build for sure.
I totally like his KISS van built!! Simple and yet very practical. A van built that can bring him everywhere in all kinds of weather! I would really like to know what is the capacity of your battery and how long can you use it for that air conditioner and the frig.
I am using the adjustable, stainless stainless steel, restaurant shelf....I am only 5'3". The shelf has an open bottom for air and easily adjust to the uneven floor.
Super. Love this Robert. I'm building my Pro master to accommodate three lg dogs in crates and have been looking at the bed on the side vs the back to have two crates under it. Need the back for my solar hookup. I don't have a high top, unfortunately, but your bed design gives me a good starting point. Thanks and happy traveling.
This is a great build with great ideas. He is now my 2nd place favorite guest of your channel. Marvin & Mary are still #1 on my list. But Sir, you have done an excellent job with your van. Thanks Bill & Deb for showing other people's builds, looking forward to your next video.
Vanlife blesses the not so tall.
For a mimilist build this was done well.
👍
Number one! Only one word for it, elegant!
I have seen so many very modern, elaborate van conversions videos. But imagine if you have to fix something in those van. This feels doable, fits and functional. Robert needs a channel.
Robert did a great job
Problem after problem after problem SOLVED!!!!!
Great tour !!!!! A one man travel van
Everything you could possibly need.
KISSified love it. Very inspiring.
This video will save a lot of people
Time money and a possible aspirin overdose by solving so many of the challenges of the civilized simple life.
Thank you. A few small inconveniences but keeping it simple sure beats the Hampton Inn in my book.
I have been watching conversion videos for 2 + years. This is the best KISS build I have seen. This build actually looks like a van I could function in.
Robert you are a genius, your shower and air conditioning wow oh wow! Hats off to you for not only having the ideas for those things but man you made them work! The air conditioning that really is amazing cos I have watched many van life video's all saying that air conditioning can't work off solar, that your van has to be plugged in, well Robert you my man have proved those know it all's wrong, you are proof that you can run air conditioning off solar quite successfully. You are a genius and I love the look, the layout infact everything about your van! Well done you Robert well done you 🤗👏👏👏👏👌👍
Thankyou so much for giving us the tour, explaining everything and allowing us into your home! Thankyou I so really enjoyed it 🙏
Lisa UK xxxx
Wow! What kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed the van build and the video. Thank you!
He has some great ideas for folks to utilize. I love his shower setup. His van setup is mostly what we call a no build build. Looks like the bed and ac are the only things really built in. It's really nicely done. I think I may be incorporating a few things from his build into mine. Thanks, Robert and Bill!
the fact that this whole rig probably only took a day or two to put together puts it at 1# on my DIY no build lists!
LOL you would think a couple days wouldn’t you? Would you believe about six months? There was a lot of trial and error even after coming up with the ideas. However having all the experience if I was to start from scratch today I could probably build it out in a couple of weeks.
Okay I would have a panic attack living in a bathroom! I doubt if you have one either 😭
@@me4654 I am not completely sure that I understand your comment about living in a bathroom. The I doubt if you have one either is a little confusing also since I showed everything in the video. Yes I have a bathroom and I have a living room and I have a kitchen and I have a bedroom. It’s not like a house where you have separate rooms for each, there is some adjusting and the van converts to the room that you need at the time, whether it’s a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen or living room. Also another thing to consider is that I don’t live in the van. I only use the van to travel, I have an incredibly nice house to live in. However that being said I would be perfectly comfortable living in the van just the way it’s set up. That’s not something everyone could do or would want to do but you certainly could if you needed to and there’s a lot of people out there living the van life style and loving it. Yes it’s certainly not for everyone but I always say to each their own. Live the life that makes you happy and let others do the same. Thanks for your comment.
Great job 👏 Thanks for all the detailed information on your build. Iike your "KISS" way of doing things.
What a treasure trove of great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
👍💯Extremely educational, ingenious. Thank you.
I've been camping for 40 years off and on in almost every type of thing you can camp in. I started watching rv type video's for about 5 years now and enjoy how people create their own unique spaces! I'm also learning terms for types of camping that I've never heard of or use in my adventures. Always interesting and educational! Great video ☺️ Happy travels my friend 😊
Brilliant, simplicity! Great job, Robert! This is my first visit to this channel. I'm about to hit that subscribe button and check out more of your videos. Thanks.
Thank you
Excellent....thanks for sharing..
👍👍👍😊
Wonderful build!! In my Transit I have a blackout thermal curtain that I got at Walmart (under $20 for the set) and you will not believe the difference it makes! For those of us that don't build...
Very creative! KISS!!! Thank you for the detailed tour of the van!
Heeee, he sounds like home.
Great video and very well designed set up!
This was an excellent presentation. Robert gave great explanations to the various choices he made, his reasoning and application of the various systems. He has everything he needs. Great episode.
THIS GUY IS A GENIUS!! SIMPLE DESIGN BUT AWESOME...
Military I bet
@@keithpatterson9040 spy mobile
Thank you! 😊
What a wonderful build
Robert did a great job
Very thoughtful build. Thanks for posting.
Very innovative 💡 👏 Have you looked into AWD systems which for van dwellers is wonderful. Takes the humidity from the air, filters that for cleanest drinking water. Takes care of all humidity dangers as well as gives you unlimited water without water source just need power.
I am barely familiar with what you’re talking about. From my limited amount of knowledge on the subject I think that the systems you’re talking about use a lot of electricity which of course if you’re on solar could be a problem. Also if you’re in the dry region say Arizona for instance it’s not going to work very well because of the dry environment. Bottom line however is that I just don’t know enough about the systems to give you an informed answer.
When we set our mini split on "dry mode" it literally eliminates all humidity in our 8 1/2×20 trailer. The results are evident at the drain tube. That being said, we don't see enough drainage to produce all of our drinking water, nor would we even consider drinking it without proper filtration. We researched the system you mentioned, and for a number of reasons, we fail to see the viability.
So amazing great job. 👍
Robert did a great job
The bed mold is generally from the cooler closed off trunk area with a warm body/mattress on top of it. The temp difference creates condensation under the mattress and mold
I see a lot of good tips here for my build. Thank you.
He did a great job
You are the embodiment of less is more. I love it. Great work on the A/C too btw.
innovative build!
Wow. Never seen a shower or ac like this in a vehicle
A sweet genius right there. 👍🏻😍❤️
Awesome!! So intelligent
Great ideas! Awesome! Thank you.
Great stuff!
Thanks!
Great ideas ! Ty , I’ll be borrowing them for my travels 😀
Smart choices!
The recirculating shower is awesome! I’m wondering about the brand and where he got those large bins? Thanks for the tour and sharing your build with us. 👍
The large bins are made by Contico. I purchased mine at Lowe’s quite a few years ago. I believe there a model 3725 and back then I paid somewhere around $80 each. I saw them at tractor supply and they run $125.
@@Robertsramblings Thank you 😊
What did he say was his "one vice"? Great ideas overall here, I love keeping it simple, especially the ice-cooler-bottle thing and the shower.
LOL, diet soft drinks. Someday when I’m dead and gone they’ll be saying yeah we told him he shouldn’t be drinking those diet soft drinks, see They got him. LOL
Oh, okay, thanks 😄
Dr. Pepper
I think
He should buy a beddy bed set this way he doesn't have to make the bed every night.
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to do some research and see if I can find one the right size for the bed. Thanks for passing that along!
After looking on Amazon I found it that is absolutely doable. Thank you so much for the suggestion it’s something that I would’ve never thought of. I’m definitely going to implement that! Thank you thank you thank you!
I am loving this! What is the total cost? And can this type of van typically be obtained used for reasonable cost?
Sure you can buy cargo vans used. This van was empty, it was just a cargo van when I bought it but I did buy new. The cost of my conversion was very reasonable compared to what most people spend. I did all the work myself and for what’s inside plus all of the solar and batteries and the electronic components, for everything combined I only have A little over $6000. The final cost on the van from the dealer was about 44,000 so all together I’ve got about $50,000 in it. That’s not too bad for what I have, at least I don’t think so.
ROBERT IS UNDER-BUDGET & LIVING LARGE!
CLEANEST MANCAVE EVER!!!! Most guys are kind of "piggy"
Lol
Great !!!
good video . does the 5000btu do good job on hot days? im trying to get the smallest ac possible for my van but want to make sure it can handle the job too. thanks
It’s done a great job for me however, I typically only use it at night because I’m out during the day. The days I have used it on has been raining and so therefore not that hot. Vans are really small spaces so I think that it would do a good job for you. It also depends on your camping style, if you’re in an RV park and have access to electricity, then you have nothing to worry about. If you Boondock then you’re trying to conserve as much energy as possible. The 5000 BTU seems to do a good job for me.
@Robert Haas is there a way I can find out how you did your bed? I am looking to build mine the same way but I'm not sure how to go about it.
It’s a little late for me tonight but I’ll come back and add another comment and try to give you a better idea of the way that I put the bed together. It’s not hard to do and I don’t mind sharing.
OK let me go into some detail about the bed. First you want to select your mattress and it’s important that you only get a 5 inch thick memory foam mattress and you want to get it as close to the length and width that you need. If you can’t get exactly what you need and you have to cut it down the best way I found is to use an electric carving knife. On the frame of the bed the backboard near the wall that the hinges attached to is a 2 x 6. A 2 x 6 is 5 1/2 inches wide and this is why you only want the 5 inch memory foam mattress. The boards on each end and across the front are one by fours. You don’t want those quite as tall as the mattress because they’ll be in the way when you’re getting in and out of the bed. The boards across the bottom that are spaced with the gap in between are 1x4’s. It’s important that you put all of this together with glue and screws. Nails will work loose. After it was completed I painted it with an enamel paint. Enamel paint will take a couple of days to dry but it’s much more durable than any other paint you would probably use. Then I simply used hinges purchased at Harbor freight and I’m know you can get them at Lowe’s or Home Depot also and they’re normally used for gates. I put three of them on and they worked very well. Hope this is helpful.
Thank you so much for the reply! So the bed frame is only attached to the back wall by the hinges? Did you screw right into the metal skeleton of the van or did you put wood rails behind the walls?
@@MissyPippyCrafts I had to run some 2x6’s vertically on the sidewall because the spot where the hinges need to attach was hollow and nothing in the wall to attach to. I ran the 2x6’s from up along the top of the van down as far as where there was a horizontal metal rib in order to attach the 2x’6s and then was able to attach the hinges to those two by sixes. It worked very well. If you have any more questions feel free to ask and I’ll answer them the best I can. Thanks
@@Robertsramblings Awesome! Thank you so much!
❤
❤HOW MUCH $$$$ DOES THAT BEAUTY COST???
I have watched too many van conversions to count and I swear this one right here is the first one that makes me believe that one day ( not too far off hopefully ) I can finally jump into this lifestyle myself. It just proves that everything doesn't have to be completely built in and tricked out at a very huge cost to be able to start living the van life. Robert is clearly brilliant and planned this out extremely well using ideas that I could have never come up with myself. However, after seeing his build I could copy many of his ideas and use them in a van for myself. I love this. Great video!! Sending my best to you all
You’re very kind, thank you so much! Hopefully not too far off, you’ll have your van and it would be great to be able to run into others that share the same dream. Best of luck!
@@Robertsramblings best van built ever. Keep it simple.
Damn! I can’t wait to watch this now 😊 I’ve spent hours watching the same.
LOVE HIM
@@Robertsramblings how many hours/day does your ac run? Does that solar and battery bank still give you enough power or would you upgrade?
#1 in my book, Robert's ideas & execution of van life camping has set a new gold standard for aspiring overland campers! What a wealth of ideas and methods of not only getting it done well, but getting in all in one small transportable package. This is a must watch, after at least one year's viewing of UA-cam overlanding videos, this will be my go to reference as we build our unit. Thank you Robert, happy trails & we look forward to your next installment, please don't be a stranger on UA-cam. As my father use to say "you are a gentleman & a scholar", my complements to you sir!
Thank you! 😊
Wow, thank you Robert, he's the brain bank that I could sit and chat with for hours about ideas. He saved me months of research and untold money in trial and error. These are the builds I enjoy the most, people who apply their brains, insight, and skills instead of their wallet. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
Wow! I thought I would be bored with this one, but his design and how he figured everything out is fascinating! What a great job!!!👍👍
I too!!! I think THE POWERS THAT BE (Corporate America) have us all SO TRAINED to HAVE TO live super fancy....
But WITH FOOD, GAS, HOUSING & HEALTHCARE PRICES, (all thru the roof).. and our govt NOT PROTECTING US...
HEY,....
IT'S ALL ABOUT NEED...
NOT WANT!!!!!
YA GOTTA SURVIVE❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
Everyone is broke these days so Roberts ingenious ideas are helping folks to SURVIVE in comfort, in a practical and simplified manner!!!!!!!
THANK YOU, DEAR BROTHER ROBERT❣️
Thank you 😊
Same here
Such useful ideas, especially for those of us without the tools or knowledge to do a lot of building.
I especially like the fact that his cab/driving space is protected by his wall and walk thru door. 1) if he needs to make a fast get away, he can slip into the drivers seat and go. And 2) I just learned of a woman that sadly lost her life due to a TBI, after being rear ended. Her refrigerator had been secured with a bungee cord, broke loose, and struck her, her injuries were too severe. I can’t stop thinking about her and all of us driving around with potential missiles in our rigs. I don’t know if his wall could keep those heavy drawer systems from breaking thru, but he possible has them secured, my gosh he gave us so much great information and couldn’t possibly cover every detail. Sure wish my brain was as common sense as his, but I have already saved this video. Sure enjoy your content, a truly great interview!
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! About the wall, it’s made exclusively for that purpose. The manufacturer is weather guard and the wall is made for delivery vans. The intent of the wall is to be able to secure the back of the van with a locking handle which it has and also to keep any cargo in the back of the van from the driver or passenger in a sudden stop or an accident. Everything in the back of the van has been secured with the exception of the two large cargo boxes. The one that’s heavy sits right up against the wall so it wouldn’t gain any momentum and the one that I use for the shower weighs very little and so I don’t think there’s any concern with it. My big concern was the toolbox, that weighs at least a couple hundred pounds. I made sure it was very well secured! 😊
TBI??????
@@JEvrist TBI= traumatic brain injury.
@@jenniferwise8515 thank you!!!! I was wondering what that meant!
The way he configured his AC is nothing short of brilliant!
Wow, I'm saving this one! I already planned to use the Harbor Freight toolbox in the kitchen, but the air-conditioning and shower ideas are brilliant!
Not only is that air-conditioning great, but the best part is its pointing right at that toilet for when the business gets a little tough ahahahah
Perfect! My dog & I could live quite comfortable in this van! I sincerely look forward to 1.3 tour. Thank you both! The AC puts him #1 in my book 👍
This was one of the most refreshing van builds! I loved his K.I.S.S. acronyms. His van was full of ideas that he kept simple, yet functional and aesthetically pleasing. He is truly an innovator. This gives hope for those who want to try van life without it costing more than some small homes. Thanks for another fantastic video!
Robert did an awesome job
As simplistic as his build is so far, it fantastically shows you don't need a full-blown build to start out 👍👍👍
Robert has a great van
Great video thank you so much Robert and Bill for filming and posting. Lots of good ideas. For KISS We say “Keep it super simple”.
Oh that’s great! Keep it super simple, that’s probably politically correct. No one’s ever accuse me of being politically correct lol
Wow..a UA-camr that actually ask a question...then allows the person to answer without rushing him ..enjoyed..thank you..
I still get a little carried away from time to time, but I'm working on it. 😃
And complementarity
Love all his great ideas!! BRILLIANT shower system!
Excellent concept of keeping things simple with plenty of space left. Other long term van life builds are fancy, which comes with a price tag and serves their purpose. Main thing is to build what ever fits your life style. Not all builds are perfect. As for simplexity this is a plus.
Some of the most ingenious vanlife solutions I've ever seen. Great job sir!
Thanks 👍
This was jam-packed with lots of good ideas, so I've also saved it for future reference. Thanks! Kir (and Ron)
Wow! What an ingenious conversion van build this gentleman came up with!!!
Okay, the 6x12 might just have to get a shower!!! This van is one of my most favorites also. Robert did an excellent job! Jan's looking up the Coleman water heater as I type!
Woo-hoo
Before you go with the Coleman H2O water heater I thought I’d let you know that I’ve decided to go a different route. The Coleman H2O did work well but it was a lot of work hooking it up and then putting it away afterwards. I have previously purchased a different unit from Amazon which I will add a description of. It was considerably cheaper, $43 and it worked just as well for me and seem to be easier to use. The big disadvantage was that you had to heat the water separately but the advantages were that you knew you weren’t going to run out of water or that the propane or the battery wouldn’t go dead, it was also much easier to use and put away afterwards. Here’s the description: KEDSUM Portable Camp Shower, Camp Shower Pump with Detachable USB Rechargeable Batteries.
@@Robertsramblings good deal. What brand dehumidifier do you have. I know they're probably all made in China...
Thank you. It was great seeing this in person when Robert gave us a tour at the rendezvous. He really made everything thing simple.
It was wonderful meeting and talking with him.
Thank you again.
Blessings and stay safe 🤗🌞
Mr. Robert is such a smart guy. This is a van build I've been looking for. So simple but well-thought out. Love it. Thank you sir for sharing!
Robert is 1 of the most creative & efficient van-lifers I’ve seen. Thank U for so many simple, doable ideas & still maintain comfort while living as a nomad
This is the first video that has such a simple shower set up that I know I could do it myself. Very nice, thoughtful design of the entire van!
Awesome, have watched many builds and love the ones with the wall behind the cab, hate that curtain look , hot and cold spot even in sticks and bricks. A safe and practical build out weighs all the cute cabinets and counter tops. I watched many as I said and always worry about things not being more secured. I like being able to walk from front to back and just bedding down at night when needed. His build is very smart and to his taste. I love it!
It’s funny you should mention that. After looking at all of the ready-made‘s from a cost of 80,000 to over 200,000 not a single one of them was made for function. They’re usually made for two people and sometimes more than two and also made to look pretty. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone and with such a small space to work with it needed to be as comfortable and functional as possible. At least for me I think I’ve accomplished that. Thank you for your very kind comments.
@@Robertsramblings are you in the van full time or is this a getaway vehicle? You’ve definitely demonstrated a “function over form” design philosophy and it seems you’ve got everything you need. How is the tv powered and how do you get reliable WiFi? I’m also interested in the details of your solar setup- the products you chose for the solar panels, inverter, batteries (make & model of all that).
@@kacichristian I’m not full-time. It’s just a hobby, another toy. I power everything that needs AC off of a 2000 watt Renogy pure sine wave inverter. I now have 500 Watts of Renogy solar panels, a DC to DC Renogy solar charger, a Victron 115 V battery charger and 400 amp hours of lithium batteries. For Wi-Fi I use a Weboost Drive sleek. So far I have not had a Wi-Fi issue but I’m sure the day will come and when it does I’ll just watch videos downloaded off of UA-cam.
@@Robertsramblings thank you!
Very impressive! I'm 70 Years old and dreaming to find van life or tiny house living. Thanks for your channel! God bless!
I love this build! So clean and simple yet comfortable and complete. Great job!
Robert did a great job
Excellent ways to make living in a Van easier, I am impressed. Thank you!
Thank you Robert. You explained things so that I could understand how to make it work in my build. Wonderful. Safe travels
I have seen thousands of builds, but this one was absolutely spectacular! He is a genius and I love his organizational skills. I plan to watch this over and over again!!
Couldn't agree more!
I converted my wife Chevy Express 1500 handicap van into a campervan after she passed. Since I'm not a carpenter I also went to Harbor Freight and got too short rollaways, took the wheels off them and mounted them to the non-door side of the van. Secured the microwave to the top of one of them and put a two burner Coleman folding stove and the thin top drawer of one of the rollaways. Had a friend build an enclosure for the porta potty. And the very back seat electrically folds down into a bed. Works great for me. I would like to find out how to get in touch with his gentleman so he and I can swap ideas. He has done a fantastic build out with minimal effort. Thought he did a great job
I would definitely have reservations about putting my contact information out for everyone to see but if you’ll use Facebook to instant message me then I could give you whatever information you would need to contact me.
@@Robertsramblings I too would love to have some sort of communication with you. I broke both hands a year ago and had to postpone my build. Thankfully, I had finished installing plusnuts in the ceiling. And used insulation board as a temporary ceiling. I covered the metal between the panels with strips of black poster board. Looking at your setup makes me anxious to start again. I will try to send you a Facebook message. Kt-KtzWorld
This was an awesome interview and showing of his van build. He and I process problems to solve very similarly. Thank you so much for sharing
Awesome build! I follow a guy up in Canada and I’m going to suggest this video to him, his channel is “Sharing the Wild”!
Love Joseph's channel! He amazes me with his outdoor skills.
I’m sure you enjoy Chrome w his Cruz too then 🥰
I do, and Emi, Mark the paint guy, Jeffie Bear... the whole clan of weirdos. ❤😁
My new favorite van build.! Lots of great ideas.!! Thanks for sharing.
I love how streamlined everything is inside!
I'm Not into vans but that's a Pretty Simple , Funtional Build for 1 person.
Bill you and Deb did a great job. We showed up for the last 3 days. and had a great time, even got to see you concert for free. Robert did a very good job with that van. Great ideas.
We are so glad we met you!
Love this tour and the details. Thank you for sharing you van build. Impressive! So nice and neat. Someday I’ll have a version of this. I like bed concept. Putting it up leaves room for my bike to travel easily too! Would like more details on the bed build for sure.
WOW! OUTSTANDING build indeed! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing! ALL THE BEST, and Cheers! :)
I totally like his KISS van built!! Simple and yet very practical. A van built that can bring him everywhere in all kinds of weather! I would really like to know what is the capacity of your battery and how long can you use it for that air conditioner and the frig.
is the bedframe metal or wood or something
else
Wood
Amazing set up. He one smart fella. I am impressed!
I love his K.I.S.S. methodology and the efficient simplicity of his buildless build! Well done!
This build and this man are a goldmine of ideas, great video.
The idea that I'm definitely keeping with me is the slats for the bed. Well done build.
I am using the adjustable, stainless stainless steel, restaurant shelf....I am only 5'3". The shelf has an open bottom for air and easily adjust to the uneven floor.
Super. Love this Robert. I'm building my Pro master to accommodate three lg dogs in crates and have been looking at the bed on the side vs the back to have two crates under it. Need the back for my solar hookup. I don't have a high top, unfortunately, but your bed design gives me a good starting point. Thanks and happy traveling.
This is the most ingenious yet simple set up I have ever seen. Good job!
OMG ! Wow! Very impressed with this van tour. Thanks for showing this.
Finally that has a sink like I want to do!!!!
Wow! What a fantastic van! Such wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing!
He did a great job
This is a great build with great ideas. He is now my 2nd place favorite guest of your channel. Marvin & Mary are still #1 on my list. But Sir, you have done an excellent job with your van. Thanks Bill & Deb for showing other people's builds, looking forward to your next video.
Thank you so very much! Those are very kind words.
BRILLIANT ..rotating frozen water bottles..
I love my Ryobi fan!! Ur super cool Robert!! Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant van build! Great video, Always thumbs up from the 641...
He did a great job
My favorite item is the freezer cooler combination.
What an amazing job you did with this Van. There's so much that I like about it. And, you explained it so well. Wow
Awesome… I love the water heater & the AC unit 🤙🏼😁🤙🏼
I just love how stealthy this conversion is..really neat and tidy too! Nothing flying around n that van!
Very good video. I think I might incorprarate the freezing method. Thanks for sharing.
Yes that was a great idea, I never thought of it.