If you see something that you want to know more about, let us know. We couldn't go into much detail about any aspect without making a really LONG video, and we wanted to hit the highlights. Thanks for watching!
@@sissysu7550 Probably not selling for quite while, but don't underestimate your abilities. You can start very simply with a mattress over few plastic crates and some battery operated strip lights. There's a lot of good videos on youtube with very simple methods.
Kudos on a nice build, Doug. And thanks for giving me credit as you did - a class move! Glad to see you're enjoying your travels with the Sienna. Ours is still chugging along, helping to make happy memories.
@@BruceParks Thanks, Bruce! Currently winding out way back west from a remote, back-road tour through Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland (including St Pierre). Every trip ends with a list of minor tweets to improve the van. Glad mosquito season is nearly over! 🦟
It's very well done Doug. Thumbs up to you sir. I hope to share new ideas with you in the months to come. Start small and work up are my goals. Your basic is excellent to start with.
The bed platform is especially impressive. I can't imagine how long that must have taken to manufacture including all of the finishing and assembly. Also I like all the curves rather than 90 degree corners on the cabinetry.
Don't sell yourself short. There really isn't that much that is difficult or takes specialized tools. Just a lot of patience, time and contemplation. Every project in history had some trial and error involved.
Awesome van. You inspired me to build my 2005 Toyota Sienna. I used your idea for the cabinets, but I used Eric Enjoys Earth for his Rock and Roll bed. My wife and I toured the California Coast, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah this summer - 4000 miles in 22 days. Currently the wife is traveling in Canada with a friend in the van. We are having so much fun with the "Cramper Van" ('cuz it's cramped...;-) and I've got some improvement ideas when she gets back. Thanks for your ideas.
Glad it worked out for you and you were able to use an older Sienna. It’s always a work in progress. We find little (and big) tweaks and improvements that we make after every trip. It’s all part of the fun! Northern California, Oregon, and Washington coast is on our list for next year (or maybe this fall).
Thanks Shannon! We're glad you liked it. See the rest (including the latest, mentioning GBF at www.youtube.com/@dougmaryhittheroad Then click on "Videos" sort by "Latest"
Great stuff. I'm 71 now, alone, and contemplating a van conversation for lone fishing trips, etc. But you have shown me an alternative, as I don't like noisy desal engines, which most Vans are. So the Toyota Sienna looks good for my needs, as here in Ireland B n B's and cheap hotels, are not cheap, and Tents are a pain. Thanks Man.🧐
I looked at two 7 seaters in the last 2 days n walked away from them, because of bodywork issues. Apparently, in d UK, vans are dearer to insure than a 7 seater cos u can insure it as a car?Whereas, an 8 seater is automatically classed as a van. But my friend says you can insure a van cheaply as a social and recreational vehicle, as like a car? So I'm gonna check it out and may go for a Transit connect or similar or even explore removing the passenger seat in a car so I can stretch out and sleep there-in screened out as I will prob just go for overnight stays without all the camper paraphernalia and furniture etc.?
@@frankosmith6718 Always a good idea to go on a couple shakedown trips of at least a few nights. You'll usually end up making some changes that will improve things.
@@dougmaryhittheroad This is very good advice. I also recommend you do the same with your travel partners. Some personalities change. Especially when having to live in such close quarters!
King of the road , Mate ....loved your idea of the diesel heater , Tank on the top . Similar two - three pipes on the sides would make a good water tank 4 gallons each ...with a 4 inch 4 foot pipe . Can be used as drinking water storage Plus for a Shower outside the van. All the best brother ....... C U on the road .
Thank you! I have two Toyota Sienna minivans (2000 & 2020). I’m going to do a similar build on the 2000. Figure out what I like and don’t like and then do a build on my 2020. Thanks for the heads up on Bruce’s channel. I’ll check him out too!
Nice video. I've seen Bruce Park's construction and this gives me hope that someone else besides Bruce Park can build such a thing. Not me, but at least someone can!
Trish, don't sell yourself short. Everyone has their own method and tastes and their own skills. If there's a will, there's a way, and everyone's end result will be different.
Although have some really great features. I especially liked the furnace and ductwork. I’d like to know what type of fan you installed for air circulation. I’m assuming a computer muffin fan? That’s genius the way that was set up with the window. Thanks for posting
I used a stack of 4 computer muffin fans all zip-tied together and controlled with a tiny variable speed switch. Then there's a short piece of PVC pipe for the rest of the ductwork. The register is the same as comes with the kit for the furnace, and rotates directionally. The furnace is surprisingly cheap and reliable. Many versions available on Amazon, and I modified the ductwork a bit to reach beyond the front of the bed. Thanks for the feedback!
Just bought that exact fridge /freezer on Amazon prime day looking forward to receiving it. So glad you love your refrigerator/freezer. Just discovered your channel today. Looking to build out my Toyota sienna hybrid, very soon.
Nice job. I think we met at Little Red Wagon Winery in Quebec last fall. We were in the white Transit. I’m still super impressed that you could make such a long trip in a small van. Thanks for the tour!
Yes, we do remember you! Hope the rest of your trip went well too. We would love to be on the road right now, but duties at home call, at least for a few more weeks. Maybe this winter to the southwest or Baja. Little Red Wagon was just one of many out-of-the-way gems that we found. Eastern Canada is really full of them. We'll try to include as many as possible in future videos. Thanks for watching!
Always cool to meet another Trekker!!! Love your build! Would you consider doing a 2.0 version for me? And what would it cost with your improvements? Of course, I would let you film the build for your channel?
Thanks for the offer. The total cost for the conversion was around $10K, but that included some trial and error stuff that didn’t pan out, and I could shave off some other items now with the experience, so materials would still be around $8K. The time could easily be several hundred hours, which would translate into an additional 15 or 20K for a skilled professional with a shop or working space. Personally, I don’t have the time to do another build, we’d rather be on the backroads somewhere. But once the cost of the van is added in, you’re starting to approach the cost of a pretty good quality higher end van like a Sprinter, as least on the used market. In my opinion, van conversions like this are more suited for people trying to do something themselves that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Even if you don’t have much experience, you can do a fairly nice conversion with basic tools and some driveway space, then make upgrades as you decide what you need. Start with the basics, start enjoying the travels, and start taking notes. You may be surprised at what you can do.
Outstanding! Real craftsmanship. I have an Odyssey, got ideas from Bruce for minivan but there are a some from yours that I will definitely include in my retirement fishing van starting on it this winter.
Very interesting conversion to a vehicle I’ve never thought about… I’ve thought about a Jeep for years just never pulled the trigger on one due to their high price and terrible fuel economy. No conversion will be perfect, they’re full of compromises. You just have to decide what you can live with so as to avoid overpriced motels as that really limits your ability to travel… Thanks for sharing your vehicle, it’s definitely given me a few more ideas. Subscribed as well.
Thanks! The tank is just 4” PVC pipe with end caps glued on. I drilled and tapped it for brass outlets, and drilled for a 2” PVC fill pipe with a cleanout as a cap. One thing that I would do differently is add a baffle in the middle. Something like a PVC floor drain cover glued in to the center of the pipe would work fine and eliminate sloshing back and forth when it is partly full.
hi Guys, Love your Van Tour, and I JUST SUBSCRIBED TO YOUR CHANNEL on today Wednesday : May 31 / 2023 , you Guys have a Amazing Setup , thanks for sharing, gave a well deserved thumbs up .
Super job. What is the brand of the metal storage box you use on the trailer hitch? Does it come with the swing arm? If not, what is the brand for that as well. Thank you.
The box came from Amazon, (DEE ZEE 8546B Tool Box), but I have seen them elsewhere since then, sometimes under different brand names. Northern Tool has a variety, as does Tractor Supply Co. Amazon’s price seems to fluctuate quite a bit, so it might be the cheapest, depending on when you buy. The hitch-mounted carrier is called a “Swingaway Hitch Frame” from StowAway Cargo Carriers. They make them specific for different vehicles. It has worked out beautifully, with absolutely no problems. I made a wood support of two pieces of larch, which is very strong wood for it's weight. Planed to 1" and 1-1/4" so the box would be level. My van didn’t come with a hitch receiver, so I had to add that too. Mine was from eTrailer, model # e98853, which is a 2-inch, Class III. It is the highest mount that I could find, so it didn’t change my ground clearance. There are some UA-cam videos about installation. The directions called for removing more parts than I actually needed to for the installation, so it took some time, but wasn’t too hard. It has been rock-solid too. The box blocks the back-up camera and the license plate, so I got a battery operated camera/ plate holder which works pretty well in conjunction with my GPS viewer on the dash. It was from Amazon (Garmin BC 40, Wireless Backup Camera, #010-01866-00)
How do u negate the powerful burst of power from the side air bag curtains, from front to third row, onto the wood structure you have built in. Like many great ideas!
Great videos, we enjoyed them all. We’ve wanted to put a diesel heater in ours Sienna but was hesitant about keeping the diesel tank inside the van, great idea putting it on the roof rack. Did you have to use special glues for the PVC tube&caps or just regular pvc primer& glues? Any leakage during your trips? Thanks
We had similar reservations about diesel inside of the vehicle, mostly due to the smell, even in a tightly closed container, plus the difficulty of refilling and reconnecting. Regular PVC primer and glue works fine, without any degradation of the plastic or the glue. PVC holds up very well to petroleum. I added epoxy putty around the riser/filler piece as well, just to add strength at that spot. There is a small breather valve at the top of the fill cap that I opened if we needed the heater, then closed in the morning before taking off again. That kept it sealed very well without any leaks. We needed to be extra careful filling the rooftop tank at the pump, with a delicate finger on the trigger to avoid spilling.
Okay this is definitely one of the best Sienna builds I've seen! I'm sorry if I missed it, but do you usually leave the mattress on the bed or is it tucked away somewhere?
While we are traveling the bed folds together (tri-fold) with the head and foot on top of the middle, then the rest of the bed platform slides in. It's pretty easy to make it up again at night, taking 5 minutes or so to set up and put the sheet and blanket on. Off-season when we're back home we pull it out and store it in an unused bedroom.
While talking about the bed, how easy is it for you to turn over in? What thickness of mattress did you use? Make up, air, memory foam? In some instances, I'll be solo in some with I'll need my partner in crime. Can the width be adjusted?
@@dewhittjames We bought a mattress from Amazon: Milliard Full Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover (73 inches x 52 inches x 4 inches). It works well for the first few months, but its probably time to look for something better quality, maybe a more dense memory foam. Mary makes the bed up in about 5 to 10 minutes while I'm downloading photos from the day in the front seat (out of the way).
It's stores folded together (it's a tri-fold type mattress) on top of the bed platform, which is about 12 inches, folded together. The sleeping bags and pillows next to it are about the same height. It doesn't obstruct my view out the rear window while driving.
How are you to establish a monetary value for your campervan if it were to be totalled? My wife wants to convert her old Sienna, but the work is a labor of love along with receipts for the parts. You have done a magnificent job on this van!
Thanks for the compliment. We just carry full auto coverage on the van, plus AAA for roadside assistance. We've never had a claim, so I don't know how it would turn out. I suspect that I would get book value if it was totaled. Barring a massive wreck, we would be able to remove everything from the interior and assemble it into a different Sienna (3rd generation) in a day or two. All of the interior cabinets and bed modifications are fastened to existing hard points, like hand grips and seat rails, so would remove and reinstall quickly. There are a few electrical modifications that wouldn't be too hard to replicate. The lift kit would take about a week, and I don't know if insurance would compensate for that or not. My concern would be that I would be unable to find another used van in the same condition. I haven't looked into RV insurance, so I don't know if that is a possibility. But if you have any information on how (or if) that would work, I would be interested to find out.
That does seem to be a topic this isn’t mentioned too often. In our case (and many others that we have met), we each have a pee jug, according to our specific need. Mary’s is a wide-mouthed type and Doug’s is an orange juice jug. Both are about 2 quarts or so and (thankfully) have tight-sealing lids. Emptied in the woods, at the nearest outhouse, or public bathroom and rinsed well. For #2 Some places had outhouses and rest stops frequently (like Yukon) while others were never seen (like Alaska). In the east, there were many more coffee shops and fast food places with bathrooms. Since nature doesn’t always respect a travel schedule, we also brought a “Luggable Loo”. Basically a toilet seat and cover that snaps onto a 5 gallon plastic bucket. In our case we switched it out for a 3 gallon bucket, which was a bit shorter. Kitchen sized trash bags and kitty litter, and double bagging kept everything odor free and sanitary. Dropped into the next litter receptacle or dumpster isn’t much different than disposing of diapers. When not in use, the Loo and bucket were a place to store TP, a bag of kitty litter, and the roll of trash bags. It often made a suitable chair too. All of this took a bit of patience to get used to, and we didn’t need the loo that often, but it was good to have when we did.
I saw a UA-cam video about how to remove the sliding carriages. Basically, the rear bolts are removed on the tracks and then they are slid off. Each one is done differently, some from the top some have bolts through to the underside.
The diesel tank on the roof is only for the heater, and gravity flows to the filter and small pulse pump. I have a valve at the outlet of the tank and a tiny air valve on the top of the tank. I open the air valve to equalize pressure before turning on the flow valve and turning on the heater. Since diesel doesn’t vaporize easily, I haven’t had problems, and I only use #1, which flows better in cold weather. So far, no problems, even if it hasn’t been used for 6 months or more.
@@dougmaryhittheroad thank you so much for the information. I did not see the air valve in the video. Keep up the good work I enjoy watching the videos
Seems good, but I didn't get the overall picture of your build. You didn't show us how you can sit on the bed to cook or dining etc. OR you may be still working on that.
On this trip we generally got around 30 mpg, sometimes a bit more. Keeping in mind that we almost always took the back roads and rarely drove more than 55 miles per hour. Some weeks we never exceeded 45 mph, like the part of the trip up to the Arctic.
You said it. You don't need a TV in a camper. The laptop computer is all that's needed. You can put movies and TV shows on a hard drive no DVDs needed to take up valuable space. You can also pick up local TV stations if you pack a small antenna. 73
How many people use them with popup canopies? Get one 10 feet wide, drive through so the back is open under the canopy. Take 8 feet of dryer vent and clamp to exhust and run it away. They canopies shrink down well.
Great question! There are only two good options that I know of. One would be using a hybrid vehicle, some of which allow for the AC system to operate without the engine running, but occasionally allowing automatically starting the engine if needed to charge the battery. Sometimes these are called "dog mode" since you can leave your dog in a parking lot in climate controlled comfort. Electric vehicles have this feature too. The other is to follow the seasons... Go north in the summer and south in the winter. Canada is a great place to visit, and you'll never run out of places to see. And it can sometimes freeze in July, depending where you are. Happy travels!
I like you wood working skills. What are the metal strips holding together the bed slats? Also like the metal strip that you bent against the ceiling holding the led lights
The piano hinges hold the slats on one end and at the front I added a couple pieces of scrap girder tie strapping as a stop. That was also used across the top. Its really just some scrap that I found at the local used building material store. Typically it isn't too uniform or straight, so I had to spend some time getting the right angle and profile. Home Depot also has an assortment of metal sizes and lengths that would probably work.
Just a bit under the carpet, but that was mostly to even out some imperfections, and we put coverings over the windows on cold nights or if we wanted it darker at night (or early mornings). My research led me to believe that additional insulation behind the existing panels would be extremely difficult, with minimal results. Since there is so much single-wall glass with no insulation value, adding extra in the non-glass areas would have little effect. That is why I opted to install supplemental heat in the form of of the diesel parking heater (furnace). Almost our entire trip was in a climate where the days were moderate and the nights cool. If we had traveled in a warmer part of the continent, maintaining a cool enough interior environment would have been more of a focus.
@@dougmaryhittheroad Make sense, thanks for the reply. I want to do the same with my wife in the sienna; they wanted 50k for the new sienna base model, unbelievable these days!
Hi Doug and Mary, What year is your Sienna and is it AWD? Also, would you be willing to answer some simple questions re. your electrical system. I have studied B. Parks system... but still have some questions.
It's a 2013, and front wheel drive only, not AWD. But we had no problems getting anywhere we wanted to go. I attribute much of that to the tires we had. And yes, I'll try to answer any questions you have.
That's great to know, since AWD is expensive and bad for gas mileage, and limits options for buying, so not needing it is a big plus. Is it equally fine in snow?
@@a.w.thompson4001I wouldn't say that it was equal in snow. That is where AWD really shines. We did better than low clearance cars with regular tires, but had to go slower and more carefully, and we didn't go on anything with more than a couple inches of unplowed snow on the road.
I’ve seen numerous reports of CV axle damage as a result of lifts on the Sienna. One person said they went through two factory CV axles in about 40,000 miles. That’s not cheap. Did your lift take this issue that is apparently Toyota specific into account somehow?
I have not heard this, and have not had any problems (so far - knock on wood). The manufacturer of my kit did note the importance of sticking with genuine Toyota CV joints if they needed replacement.
In intake air plenum at the top of the window was make with 1/4 inch plywood and pine 1x lumber. Most or the lumber used was pine 1x (1x4, 1x6, or various cut pieces) since it is light, relatively cheap, and easy to work with. There is a lot of scribing and fitting, cutting and sanding, and repeating the process to get things to fit tightly. No surface in the original van is straight. Lots of cardboard templates were used too.
@@dougmaryhittheroad I think you have done a wonderful job with the conversion. You incorporated a lot of great ideas. VW should take notes. Did you investigate which wood or other materials were the strongest while also being the lightest so thinner pieces could be used and not add as much weight to the build? I am glad you mentioned that nothing is straight inside the van to use as a reference point. I am considering framing a squared rectangular frame of hickory 1x2's that could be just barely slipped thru the back in one piece or brought in from the sides in two sections to be used for reference starting points and maybe as the starting frame for the conversion. Do you think that would work? This would also allow the build between the outside of the frame and the interior walls to be built separately from the inside container and not have to be removed if the interior box needs to be removed for some reason like using the van to haul something. I like Taladay latex toppers for the mattress. The latex is heavier but it doesn't bottom out when sleeping on it. It also springs back when stored in a vacuum storage bag to save space when it is not being used.
In my experience in anything I build, wood species is always a balance between cost, weight, availability, workability and strength. In the end I used pine since it is easy to obtain, easy to work and inexpensive (at least where I live) Strength wasn't much of a concern, since pieces are short. It doesn't hold screws or nails as well, but everything is also glued, so that wasn't a problem. For plywood, I used A/C fir, again since it was cheap and available. I was considering birch or maple, but the top veneer layers are so thin nowadays that I thought it wouldn't wear well, especially once dinged up a bit. Everything was also varnished with water-based poly sealant, which proved to be very quick drying, which was an added bonus. I used a lot of material in test fitting and re-cutting, but most was able to re-cut or reused in other places. @@onebrightflash
You learned a lot in the build. Your sharing enables others to move forward faster based on your experiences and knowledge. Thank your guidance and for educating us. @@dougmaryhittheroad
If you see something that you want to know more about, let us know. We couldn't go into much detail about any aspect without making a really LONG video, and we wanted to hit the highlights. Thanks for watching!
Just one question: are you going to sell it? 😀 I am a single woman and not handy at all. Let me know when you want to sell.
@@sissysu7550 Probably not selling for quite while, but don't underestimate your abilities. You can start very simply with a mattress over few plastic crates and some battery operated strip lights. There's a lot of good videos on youtube with very simple methods.
@@sissysu7550 Or maybe you need someone handy around to help you with it?! ☺
Kudos on a nice build, Doug. And thanks for giving me credit as you did - a class move! Glad to see you're enjoying your travels with the Sienna. Ours is still chugging along, helping to make happy memories.
@@BruceParks Thanks, Bruce! Currently winding out way back west from a remote, back-road tour through Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland (including St Pierre). Every trip ends with a list of minor tweets to improve the van. Glad mosquito season is nearly over! 🦟
Wow! What a beautiful set up.....
Thanks!
It's very well done Doug. Thumbs up to you sir. I hope to share new ideas with you in the months to come. Start small and work up are my goals. Your basic is excellent to start with.
You too Mary.
The workmanship on it is fantastic. Good work.
Wow! That’s an amazing build. Thank you for sharing this! I’m planning a permanent build in my 2014 this summer and this gave me some inspiration.
There's a lot of different directions to go with a conversion. But, it can be a lot of fun to do. Enjoy!
I love your air plenum solution.
The bed platform is especially impressive. I can't imagine how long that must have taken to manufacture including all of the finishing and assembly. Also I like all the curves rather than 90 degree corners on the cabinetry.
Very nice camper layout! Concise and efficient! A lot packed into a small space.
Thanks!
This is fabulous! In my next life I want to come back as a handy person so I can do this sort of thing. Very nicely done!!
Don't sell yourself short. There really isn't that much that is difficult or takes specialized tools. Just a lot of patience, time and contemplation. Every project in history had some trial and error involved.
@@dougmaryhittheroad I don't know. Each area seems to require a lot of experience and knowledge, but you did an amazing job!! 😀
Having the right tools is paramount and expensive so look for used at garage sales, estate sales, C list, Nextdoor and get a good table to work on.
Very nice build! I recognize the similarities with Mr. Parks' build - he set the bar pretty high for design & quality.
Excellent video, with lots of helpful ideas. Thanks for posting this.
⭐💗⭐💗⭐ BRUCE PARKS ⭐💗⭐💗⭐ Great Shout Out !!!
Well thought through build. Enjoyed this. Happy and safe traveling to you both...🚐👏👏☘
Thanks!
Excellent Excellent Excellent!!! Real nice looking and efficient camper.❤❤❤
Thanks!
Wow!! That is really something!! Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy the open road! 🚙🌅👍👍
great job on this. im very impressed with the design.
Very nice! Thanks for sharing, definitely more than a nickel tour.
Awesome van. You inspired me to build my 2005 Toyota Sienna. I used your idea for the cabinets, but I used Eric Enjoys Earth for his Rock and Roll bed. My wife and I toured the California Coast, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah this summer - 4000 miles in 22 days. Currently the wife is traveling in Canada with a friend in the van. We are having so much fun with the "Cramper Van" ('cuz it's cramped...;-) and I've got some improvement ideas when she gets back. Thanks for your ideas.
Glad it worked out for you and you were able to use an older Sienna. It’s always a work in progress. We find little (and big) tweaks and improvements that we make after every trip. It’s all part of the fun!
Northern California, Oregon, and Washington coast is on our list for next year (or maybe this fall).
Congratulations, a very thoughtful, beautiful build!
Very neat and professional job
A masterpiece! Well done, Sir.
Nice craftsmanship.
As far as my tastes go, you have the near perfect build (and a new sub). I have a Town & Country that's begging for this!
I've just to chime in and say: what a smart and beautiful camper conversion you've done! Enjoy all the great features and enjoy your ambitious trip.
So inventive, Doug and Mary! Beautiful craftsmanship, too. Thanks for the tour!
Thanks Shannon! We're glad you liked it. See the rest (including the latest, mentioning GBF at www.youtube.com/@dougmaryhittheroad
Then click on "Videos" sort by "Latest"
Great stuff. I'm 71 now, alone, and contemplating a van conversation for lone fishing trips, etc. But you have shown me an alternative, as I don't like noisy desal engines, which most Vans are. So the Toyota Sienna looks good for my needs, as here in Ireland B n B's and cheap hotels, are not cheap, and Tents are a pain. Thanks Man.🧐
Converting the van can be fun, and enjoying the fruits of your labor are more rewarding. Best of luck and thanks!
You have the option (unlike in the USA) of buying a new/recent VW Transporter. Though they probably cost twice as much as a Sienna!
I looked at two 7 seaters in the last 2 days n walked away from them, because of bodywork issues. Apparently, in d UK, vans are dearer to insure than a 7 seater cos u can insure it as a car?Whereas, an 8 seater is automatically classed as a van. But my friend says you can insure a van cheaply as a social and recreational vehicle, as like a car? So I'm gonna check it out and may go for a Transit connect or similar or even explore removing the passenger seat in a car so I can stretch out and sleep there-in screened out as I will prob just go for overnight stays without all the camper paraphernalia and furniture etc.?
@@frankosmith6718 Always a good idea to go on a couple shakedown trips of at least a few nights. You'll usually end up making some changes that will improve things.
@@dougmaryhittheroad This is very good advice. I also recommend you do the same with your travel partners. Some personalities change. Especially when having to live in such close quarters!
Great build! I live in my 2011 Sienna and it looks just like home. :)
That's cool!
Insane build
King of the road , Mate ....loved your idea of the diesel heater , Tank on the top . Similar two - three pipes on the sides would make a good water tank 4 gallons each ...with a 4 inch 4 foot pipe . Can be used as drinking water storage Plus for a Shower outside the van.
All the best brother ....... C U on the road .
@@sun6v546 Thanks! Happy travels!
God bless you and your family
Form and function, what a great build. Wish you many happy miles ahead. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks
Awesome setup, man. Thanks for sharing 👍
Very nice! Thanks for sharing!
Hello again! Love your diesel heater set-up! Wow, you guys did an amazing job!!! 💙Terry and Terri
Thanks. That was a case of 90 percent planning and 10 percent doing!
@@dougmaryhittheroad I love to just go but some planning does need to be done! 😳
Excellent design and details. You and Bruce make a good team!
Thank you! I have two Toyota Sienna minivans (2000 & 2020). I’m going to do a similar build on the 2000. Figure out what I like and don’t like and then do a build on my 2020. Thanks for the heads up on Bruce’s channel. I’ll check him out too!
Genius. Nice work
Nice video. I've seen Bruce Park's construction and this gives me hope that someone else besides Bruce Park can build such a thing. Not me, but at least someone can!
Trish, don't sell yourself short. Everyone has their own method and tastes and their own skills. If there's a will, there's a way, and everyone's end result will be different.
It will take an unskilled person with almost zero tools 100 years to construct this. A matress and some bungees will do. @@dougmaryhittheroad
@@jotsingh8917I wish I had those skill, so admirable.
very well thought out, bravo!
Thanks for sharing your van build. It's remarkable and very well done.
Beautiful creation! Let me know if you decide to sell it one day 😊 Meanwhile, safe travels and God bless!
Nice setup! Thank you for sharing. P.S. I also was inspired by Bruce Parks to start thinking about minivan based camper.
That is truly amazing
Hyper-functional with such thoughful design and beautiful woodwork. Really splendid.
Thanks for the tour.
Subscribed.
Great camper conversion!
Awesome set up. Hope you have many safe and happy travels.
Thanks!
A great and interesting build, but i think Eric of 'Eric Enjoys Earth' has nailed the build out of this particular van,.
Eric has some great videos. His build is a bit less stealthy, but we used a few of his ideas too.
What a nice build, makes me jealous 🤣 thanks for the tour of your van
Thank you , very good engineering solutions! Hope to have this built with my husband one day
Although have some really great features.
I especially liked the furnace and ductwork.
I’d like to know what type of fan you installed for air circulation. I’m assuming a computer muffin fan?
That’s genius the way that was set up with the window. Thanks for posting
I used a stack of 4 computer muffin fans all zip-tied together and controlled with a tiny variable speed switch. Then there's a short piece of PVC pipe for the rest of the ductwork. The register is the same as comes with the kit for the furnace, and rotates directionally.
The furnace is surprisingly cheap and reliable. Many versions available on Amazon, and I modified the ductwork a bit to reach beyond the front of the bed.
Thanks for the feedback!
Very nice setup Sir
Just bought that exact fridge /freezer on Amazon prime day looking forward to receiving it. So glad you love your refrigerator/freezer. Just discovered your channel today. Looking to build out my Toyota sienna hybrid, very soon.
Great! Plan for change. It's always a work in progress, and you will find ways to improve constantly as you use your camper.
Incredible build! Thanks for sharing!
Fabulous job! Thank you for sharing! Safe and Blessed Travels!
Nice job ❤
Nice job. I think we met at Little Red Wagon Winery in Quebec last fall. We were in the white Transit. I’m still super impressed that you could make such a long trip in a small van. Thanks for the tour!
Yes, we do remember you! Hope the rest of your trip went well too. We would love to be on the road right now, but duties at home call, at least for a few more weeks. Maybe this winter to the southwest or Baja.
Little Red Wagon was just one of many out-of-the-way gems that we found. Eastern Canada is really full of them. We'll try to include as many as possible in future videos. Thanks for watching!
You did such a good job on this! Seeing someone else implement a lot of ideas from Bruce Parks makes it less daunting.
This is brilliant! Well done sir!
Always cool to meet another Trekker!!! Love your build! Would you consider doing a 2.0 version for me? And what would it cost with your improvements? Of course, I would let you film the build for your channel?
Thanks for the offer. The total cost for the conversion was around $10K, but that included some trial and error stuff that didn’t pan out, and I could shave off some other items now with the experience, so materials would still be around $8K. The time could easily be several hundred hours, which would translate into an additional 15 or 20K for a skilled professional with a shop or working space. Personally, I don’t have the time to do another build, we’d rather be on the backroads somewhere. But once the cost of the van is added in, you’re starting to approach the cost of a pretty good quality higher end van like a Sprinter, as least on the used market.
In my opinion, van conversions like this are more suited for people trying to do something themselves that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. Even if you don’t have much experience, you can do a fairly nice conversion with basic tools and some driveway space, then make upgrades as you decide what you need.
Start with the basics, start enjoying the travels, and start taking notes. You may be surprised at what you can do.
What wood did you decide on? Popular? Ash?
Very practical and neat. Thank you for sharing.
Outstanding! Real craftsmanship. I have an Odyssey, got ideas from Bruce for minivan but there are a some from yours that I will definitely include in my retirement fishing van starting on it this winter.
Thanks!
You'll have a great winter project!
Great work! Thanks for sharing this with us.
Incredible build !
Very nice!
Very interesting conversion to a vehicle I’ve never thought about…
I’ve thought about a Jeep for years just never pulled the trigger on one due to their high price and terrible fuel economy. No conversion will be perfect, they’re full of compromises. You just have to decide what you can live with so as to avoid overpriced motels as that really limits your ability to travel…
Thanks for sharing your vehicle, it’s definitely given me a few more ideas. Subscribed as well.
Thanks!
VERY NICE. I want order all of it.
Looks like a well thought out build, thanks for sharing !!
What year is your Sienna?
Its a 2013 (considered a 3rd generation Sienna).
Amazing!!
Very nice job!
Awesome Van! I’m working on getting the lift and solar too. Your the first person I have seen using a diesel heater I like the tank on the roof. 🙏🏽👊🏽
Thanks!
The tank is just 4” PVC pipe with end caps glued on. I drilled and tapped it for brass outlets, and drilled for a 2” PVC fill pipe with a cleanout as a cap.
One thing that I would do differently is add a baffle in the middle. Something like a PVC floor drain cover glued in to the center of the pipe would work fine and eliminate sloshing back and forth when it is partly full.
Thanks got the info! Good idea the baffled tank!
Agree I had not thought of that. Would like to see more of that procedure.
hi Guys, Love your Van Tour, and I JUST SUBSCRIBED TO YOUR CHANNEL on today Wednesday : May 31 / 2023 , you Guys have a Amazing Setup , thanks for sharing, gave a well deserved thumbs up .
Thanks!
Super job. What is the brand of the metal storage box you use on the trailer hitch?
Does it come with the swing arm? If not, what is the brand for that as well.
Thank you.
The box came from Amazon, (DEE ZEE 8546B Tool Box), but I have seen them elsewhere since then, sometimes under different brand names. Northern Tool has a variety, as does Tractor Supply Co. Amazon’s price seems to fluctuate quite a bit, so it might be the cheapest, depending on when you buy.
The hitch-mounted carrier is called a “Swingaway Hitch Frame” from StowAway Cargo Carriers. They make them specific for different vehicles. It has worked out beautifully, with absolutely no problems. I made a wood support of two pieces of larch, which is very strong wood for it's weight. Planed to 1" and 1-1/4" so the box would be level.
My van didn’t come with a hitch receiver, so I had to add that too. Mine was from eTrailer, model # e98853, which is a 2-inch, Class III. It is the highest mount that I could find, so it didn’t change my ground clearance. There are some UA-cam videos about installation. The directions called for removing more parts than I actually needed to for the installation, so it took some time, but wasn’t too hard. It has been rock-solid too.
The box blocks the back-up camera and the license plate, so I got a battery operated camera/ plate holder which works pretty well in conjunction with my GPS viewer on the dash. It was from Amazon (Garmin BC 40, Wireless Backup Camera, #010-01866-00)
@@dougmaryhittheroad - Super info. Thank you very much.
You brought a lot of part numbers to the table and again I appreciate the time it saves me in selection. Time is money.
How do u negate the powerful burst of power from the side air bag curtains, from front to third row, onto the wood structure you have built in.
Like many great ideas!
I suppose that the same thing could happen if carrying cargo an the back. We ride in front while driving.
Great videos, we enjoyed them all. We’ve wanted to put a diesel heater in ours Sienna but was hesitant about keeping the diesel tank inside the van, great idea putting it on the roof rack. Did you have to use special glues for the PVC tube&caps or just regular pvc primer& glues? Any leakage during your trips? Thanks
We had similar reservations about diesel inside of the vehicle, mostly due to the smell, even in a tightly closed container, plus the difficulty of refilling and reconnecting.
Regular PVC primer and glue works fine, without any degradation of the plastic or the glue. PVC holds up very well to petroleum. I added epoxy putty around the riser/filler piece as well, just to add strength at that spot. There is a small breather valve at the top of the fill cap that I opened if we needed the heater, then closed in the morning before taking off again. That kept it sealed very well without any leaks.
We needed to be extra careful filling the rooftop tank at the pump, with a delicate finger on the trigger to avoid spilling.
Clever build! 👍
Nice job, but for me the fridge is too inaccessible. Every time you want to get at something you have to get out of the vehicle and go digging.
Not a problem if you have a small refrigerator up front for soda pop water etc. 73
Okay this is definitely one of the best Sienna builds I've seen! I'm sorry if I missed it, but do you usually leave the mattress on the bed or is it tucked away somewhere?
While we are traveling the bed folds together (tri-fold) with the head and foot on top of the middle, then the rest of the bed platform slides in. It's pretty easy to make it up again at night, taking 5 minutes or so to set up and put the sheet and blanket on. Off-season when we're back home we pull it out and store it in an unused bedroom.
While talking about the bed, how easy is it for you to turn over in? What thickness of mattress did you use? Make up, air, memory foam? In some instances, I'll be solo in some with I'll need my partner in crime. Can the width be adjusted?
@@dewhittjames We bought a mattress from Amazon: Milliard Full Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover (73 inches x 52 inches x 4 inches).
It works well for the first few months, but its probably time to look for something better quality, maybe a more dense memory foam. Mary makes the bed up in about 5 to 10 minutes while I'm downloading photos from the day in the front seat (out of the way).
Thanks for sharing. Where do you store your Mattress?
love your videos and your build
Where do you store the mattress. Like all your ideas.
It's stores folded together (it's a tri-fold type mattress) on top of the bed platform, which is about 12 inches, folded together. The sleeping bags and pillows next to it are about the same height. It doesn't obstruct my view out the rear window while driving.
Very nice setup! Ok for Wolf 359! :-)
How are you to establish a monetary value for your campervan if it were to be totalled? My wife wants to convert her old Sienna, but the work is a labor of love along with receipts for the parts. You have done a magnificent job on this van!
Thanks for the compliment. We just carry full auto coverage on the van, plus AAA for roadside assistance. We've never had a claim, so I don't know how it would turn out. I suspect that I would get book value if it was totaled.
Barring a massive wreck, we would be able to remove everything from the interior and assemble it into a different Sienna (3rd generation) in a day or two. All of the interior cabinets and bed modifications are fastened to existing hard points, like hand grips and seat rails, so would remove and reinstall quickly. There are a few electrical modifications that wouldn't be too hard to replicate. The lift kit would take about a week, and I don't know if insurance would compensate for that or not.
My concern would be that I would be unable to find another used van in the same condition. I haven't looked into RV insurance, so I don't know if that is a possibility. But if you have any information on how (or if) that would work, I would be interested to find out.
Anything on a potty? Love the workmanship.
Scroll down to effspoehr1757. I left a good description there. Low-tech works just fine for us.
That does seem to be a topic this isn’t mentioned too often. In our case (and many others that we have met), we each have a pee jug, according to our specific need. Mary’s is a wide-mouthed type and Doug’s is an orange juice jug. Both are about 2 quarts or so and (thankfully) have tight-sealing lids. Emptied in the woods, at the nearest outhouse, or public bathroom and rinsed well.
For #2 Some places had outhouses and rest stops frequently (like Yukon) while others were never seen (like Alaska). In the east, there were many more coffee shops and fast food places with bathrooms. Since nature doesn’t always respect a travel schedule, we also brought a “Luggable Loo”. Basically a toilet seat and cover that snaps onto a 5 gallon plastic bucket. In our case we switched it out for a 3 gallon bucket, which was a bit shorter. Kitchen sized trash bags and kitty litter, and double bagging kept everything odor free and sanitary. Dropped into the next litter receptacle or dumpster isn’t much different than disposing of diapers. When not in use, the Loo and bucket were a place to store TP, a bag of kitty litter, and the roll of trash bags. It often made a suitable chair too.
All of this took a bit of patience to get used to, and we didn’t need the loo that often, but it was good to have when we did.
Beautiful rig ! Reminds me of a VW Westfalia
Hi, great stuff. How did you remove the rear seat attachments for the seats. They really get in way
I saw a UA-cam video about how to remove the sliding carriages. Basically, the rear bolts are removed on the tracks and then they are slid off. Each one is done differently, some from the top some have bolts through to the underside.
Nice set up.
Thx for the video.
Bruce has some great ideas and details.
bill C
Can I ask how you stop vapor lock from the fuel tank on the roof??
The diesel tank on the roof is only for the heater, and gravity flows to the filter and small pulse pump. I have a valve at the outlet of the tank and a tiny air valve on the top of the tank. I open the air valve to equalize pressure before turning on the flow valve and turning on the heater. Since diesel doesn’t vaporize easily, I haven’t had problems, and I only use #1, which flows better in cold weather. So far, no problems, even if it hasn’t been used for 6 months or more.
@@dougmaryhittheroad thank you so much for the information. I did not see the air valve in the video. Keep up the good work I enjoy watching the videos
Seems good, but I didn't get the overall picture of your build. You didn't show us how you can sit on the bed to cook or dining etc. OR you may be still working on that.
This was way more detailed and sophisticated than I expected. What kind of gas mileage do you get with your van?
On this trip we generally got around 30 mpg, sometimes a bit more. Keeping in mind that we almost always took the back roads and rarely drove more than 55 miles per hour. Some weeks we never exceeded 45 mph, like the part of the trip up to the Arctic.
@@dougmaryhittheroad That's still impressive. Thanks much.
Does your bed convert into a sofa? Interested to see how that works.
Yes, it does with the rear section lifted and a couple pillows added. Works well for watching movies on the laptop during rainy evenings.
You said it. You don't need a TV in a camper. The laptop computer is all that's needed. You can put movies and TV shows on a hard drive no DVDs needed to take up valuable space. You can also pick up local TV stations if you pack a small antenna. 73
How many people use them with popup canopies? Get one 10 feet wide, drive through so the back is open under the canopy. Take 8 feet of dryer vent and clamp to exhust and run it away. They canopies shrink down well.
I was thinking of swimming pool hose it's at least 25 feet long. 73
Great setup! What do you recommend for inexpensive ac cooling for hot locations at night?
Great question! There are only two good options that I know of. One would be using a hybrid vehicle, some of which allow for the AC system to operate without the engine running, but occasionally allowing automatically starting the engine if needed to charge the battery. Sometimes these are called "dog mode" since you can leave your dog in a parking lot in climate controlled comfort. Electric vehicles have this feature too.
The other is to follow the seasons... Go north in the summer and south in the winter. Canada is a great place to visit, and you'll never run out of places to see. And it can sometimes freeze in July, depending where you are. Happy travels!
I like you wood working skills. What are the metal strips holding together the bed slats? Also like the metal strip that you bent against the ceiling holding the led lights
The piano hinges hold the slats on one end and at the front I added a couple pieces of scrap girder tie strapping as a stop. That was also used across the top. Its really just some scrap that I found at the local used building material store. Typically it isn't too uniform or straight, so I had to spend some time getting the right angle and profile. Home Depot also has an assortment of metal sizes and lengths that would probably work.
Any insulation done to the interior body of the van?
Just a bit under the carpet, but that was mostly to even out some imperfections, and we put coverings over the windows on cold nights or if we wanted it darker at night (or early mornings). My research led me to believe that additional insulation behind the existing panels would be extremely difficult, with minimal results. Since there is so much single-wall glass with no insulation value, adding extra in the non-glass areas would have little effect. That is why I opted to install supplemental heat in the form of of the diesel parking heater (furnace).
Almost our entire trip was in a climate where the days were moderate and the nights cool. If we had traveled in a warmer part of the continent, maintaining a cool enough interior environment would have been more of a focus.
@@dougmaryhittheroad Make sense, thanks for the reply. I want to do the same with my wife in the sienna; they wanted 50k for the new sienna base model, unbelievable these days!
Thanks for the inspiring practical van tour! You do bear a resemblance to Chevy Chase!
Oh no! My cover is blown!
Do you have building plans
Hi Doug and Mary, What year is your Sienna and is it AWD? Also, would you be willing to answer some simple questions re. your electrical system. I have studied B. Parks system... but still have some questions.
It's a 2013, and front wheel drive only, not AWD. But we had no problems getting anywhere we wanted to go. I attribute much of that to the tires we had. And yes, I'll try to answer any questions you have.
That's great to know, since AWD is expensive and bad for gas mileage, and limits options for buying, so not needing it is a big plus.
Is it equally fine in snow?
@@a.w.thompson4001I wouldn't say that it was equal in snow. That is where AWD really shines. We did better than low clearance cars with regular tires, but had to go slower and more carefully, and we didn't go on anything with more than a couple inches of unplowed snow on the road.
I’ve seen numerous reports of CV axle damage as a result of lifts on the Sienna. One person said they went through two factory CV axles in about 40,000 miles. That’s not cheap. Did your lift take this issue that is apparently Toyota specific into account somehow?
I have not heard this, and have not had any problems (so far - knock on wood). The manufacturer of my kit did note the importance of sticking with genuine Toyota CV joints if they needed replacement.
Where did you find the air plenum? Great build!
In intake air plenum at the top of the window was make with 1/4 inch plywood and pine 1x lumber. Most or the lumber used was pine 1x (1x4, 1x6, or various cut pieces) since it is light, relatively cheap, and easy to work with. There is a lot of scribing and fitting, cutting and sanding, and repeating the process to get things to fit tightly. No surface in the original van is straight. Lots of cardboard templates were used too.
@@dougmaryhittheroad I think you have done a wonderful job with the conversion. You incorporated a lot of great ideas. VW should take notes. Did you investigate which wood or other materials were the strongest while also being the lightest so thinner pieces could be used and not add as much weight to the build? I am glad you mentioned that nothing is straight inside the van to use as a reference point. I am considering framing a squared rectangular frame of hickory 1x2's that could be just barely slipped thru the back in one piece or brought in from the sides in two sections to be used for reference starting points and maybe as the starting frame for the conversion. Do you think that would work? This would also allow the build between the outside of the frame and the interior walls to be built separately from the inside container and not have to be removed if the interior box needs to be removed for some reason like using the van to haul something. I like Taladay latex toppers for the mattress. The latex is heavier but it doesn't bottom out when sleeping on it. It also springs back when stored in a vacuum storage bag to save space when it is not being used.
In my experience in anything I build, wood species is always a balance between cost, weight, availability, workability and strength. In the end I used pine since it is easy to obtain, easy to work and inexpensive (at least where I live) Strength wasn't much of a concern, since pieces are short. It doesn't hold screws or nails as well, but everything is also glued, so that wasn't a problem. For plywood, I used A/C fir, again since it was cheap and available. I was considering birch or maple, but the top veneer layers are so thin nowadays that I thought it wouldn't wear well, especially once dinged up a bit. Everything was also varnished with water-based poly sealant, which proved to be very quick drying, which was an added bonus. I used a lot of material in test fitting and re-cutting, but most was able to re-cut or reused in other places. @@onebrightflash
You learned a lot in the build. Your sharing enables others to move forward faster based on your experiences and knowledge. Thank your guidance and for educating us. @@dougmaryhittheroad