Need help with your floor plan? Check out our Van Layout Guide here and get access to our private community to connect with us & hundreds of others who are building their own van: saraandalexjames.com/van-build-layout-guide
I have just noted you have printed to apply the truck bed liner in bold text before cutting in holes in the roof YET you are saying After you have cut in the holes.....
I have chosen to eventually get a Ford Transit for several reasons; * Ease of driving * Ford trained mechanics are easy to find when you are traveling. Ford dealerships are close to highway exits. * Fords are not as expensive to repair as Sprinters, whose repair shops are few and far between- NOT a convenience when a breakdown happens.
Oh mannn I love you guys I would totally trust you to do my van build Im so glad I found you guys since I have this really crazy wonderful idea to live full time in a van. Im definitely checking out your links on how to get started dyammmmm you both are amazing .
Absolutely test driving all different the Vans before hand is absolutely important- We are renovating a vintage Roadtrek so placement is about rebuilding and it is a for now adventure snowbird escape Van.. Our Goal for full timing is a- Promaster build- your Van layout is on the mercedes- will you be doing a Promaster guide? We love the look and quality of your Vans- but we don’t want the mercedes - not wide enough for our family since we want to sleep in the back side to side (versus front to back) and turn the front legal seats into a transforming bed for baby.. and doggy as well .. Thanks for the tips.
Our Van Layout Guide has 2 different layouts specifically built in the Promaster. All of the layouts are easy to tweak for any Van you are building in.
thank you for posting this. It was really useful. Do you guys build vans as a business? Do you allow your customers to bring in their already purchased vans? Do you allow them to put in sweat equity? Do you work off the customers floor plans?
Hey! Love your vans, they’re beautiful! On your website you saw about doing furring and that way you can hide the fixings on the shiplap, how do you do that? I guess one fixing will go through the tongue at the top as that will be hidden by the next board but how do you hide the bottom one? Just a nail and a bit of filler afterwards?
I love y’all’s vans! I think after months of looking at vans yours are my favorite. I want a van but I don’t want to live in it. I want to drive it every day like I do my car. Some short trips. Mostly just me, occasionally my husband and of course my dog! Now I just need a big cash windfall 🤔
Instead of another row of seats, could you not fit hideable seatbelts on the chairs at the back? If you cut a third out of one of the chairs, then you'd have a rear and front facing safe seats?
Riding sideways is very dangerous especially if it’s children. We are big fans of safely installed seating to ride in versus installing seatbelts aftermarket or in the benches
Vanlifer for 10 years here. Building a shower inside is just a waste of space. If it's cold, the gym, a city pool. An Aquatic Ctr. Or a portable water heater outside surrounded by a shower curtain hung on a collapsible hoop works, too. The idea is to be able to park in a standard size parking spot to remain stealh. And have enough wheel clearance to boondock down NF Land dirt roads for a few weeks. Without getting stuck. Or in the middle of a city without being harrassed by cops or security.
In one of your UA-cam videos you showed us a plastic Barrier that went between the bed frame and the bed mattress . I can’t find the video anywhere and want to buy it for my own van build. Can you help me out?
Hi. I want to build a camper van and I already experienced a set back regarding the auto loan. Do you guys know what banks provide car loans for these vans or Do I need a RV loan?
At around 2:40 you say "apply the rest-prevention spray on the roof *after* you've cut in ..." but the graphic on-screen says "3. Apply truck bed liner on the roof *before* cutting in holes".
Thanks so much for your posts! So helpful! I will be doing a van build sometime in the future, so I’m in the researching phase. One problem is I need a space to do the van conversion and would like to do it indoors, not in my driveway. I was looking in garages to rent. We will also be doing a house reno and am looking into making a remaking our garage with a high roof and non conventional door. What are your thoughts? I really don’t want to park my van outdoors when at my house.
They don't have a high roof option, so you can't stand up in them. That limits what you can do and how comfortable you can be if you're doing full time.
I'm pretty far from doing a build, but have seen a ton of videos. I haven't seen one where a/set of full size windows were closed in. It's often included as a way to narrow down which van to buy (cargo v passenger van). I did see an ambulance build, where they removed a few of the exterior lights that were high up on the back wall of the ambulance box. The holes were smallish, maybe 6" x 8", and the patch was smooth. The guy didn't say how he patched it, tho.
Like your videos, and I appreciate the detail presented in this video, but realistically this video could have been 10 seconds long: Intro - You say "Use common sense" - The End.
Need help with your floor plan? Check out our Van Layout Guide here and get access to our private community to connect with us & hundreds of others who are building their own van: saraandalexjames.com/van-build-layout-guide
I have just noted you have printed to apply the truck bed liner in bold text before cutting in holes in the roof YET you are saying After you have cut in the holes.....
Step 6: Have Sara and Alex James build your van!!! Your vans are GORGEOUS!!!
Thank you!
I have chosen to eventually get a Ford Transit for several reasons;
* Ease of driving
* Ford trained mechanics are easy to find when you are traveling. Ford dealerships are close to highway exits.
* Fords are not as expensive to repair as Sprinters, whose repair shops are few and far between- NOT a convenience when a breakdown happens.
Great to see y’all!! Sara, you look great😊...you, too, Alex😄
Your builds are always awesome. Thanks for sharing all this insight. 🧡
I live in Seattle and am getting ready to take the plunge into Vanlife!!
Oh mannn I love you guys I would totally trust you to do my van build Im so glad I found you guys since I have this really crazy wonderful idea to live full time in a van. Im definitely checking out your links on how to get started dyammmmm you both are amazing .
Absolutely test driving all different the Vans before hand is absolutely important- We are renovating a vintage Roadtrek so placement is about rebuilding and it is a for now adventure snowbird escape Van..
Our Goal for full timing is a- Promaster build- your Van layout is on the mercedes- will you be doing a Promaster guide? We love the look and quality of your Vans- but we don’t want the mercedes - not wide enough for our family since we want to sleep in the back side to side (versus front to back) and turn the front legal seats into a transforming bed for baby.. and doggy as well ..
Thanks for the tips.
Our Van Layout Guide has 2 different layouts specifically built in the Promaster. All of the layouts are easy to tweak for any Van you are building in.
Sara & Alex James - 40 Hours of Freedom will take a look then! Thank you
Hi, that is a very nice van! Great job!
Thank you!
Do you guys do buses?
This is video helpful information! Thanks!
Hi SarAlex, you are amasing. Is a Bluetti 2000wh enough for basic needs like a fridge , LED lights, water pump, etc.?
Hiya. Did I hear correctly '4. Split up all your furring strips' ? I'm not sure what this means? 🤔
thank you for posting this. It was really useful. Do you guys build vans as a business? Do you allow your customers to bring in their already purchased vans? Do you allow them to put in sweat equity? Do you work off the customers floor plans?
You are my alltime favourite!!!love you every builts!!❤❤
Thank you!
Hey! Love your vans, they’re beautiful!
On your website you saw about doing furring and that way you can hide the fixings on the shiplap, how do you do that? I guess one fixing will go through the tongue at the top as that will be hidden by the next board but how do you hide the bottom one? Just a nail and a bit of filler afterwards?
I love y’all’s vans! I think after months of looking at vans yours are my favorite.
I want a van but I don’t want to live in it. I want to drive it every day like I do my car. Some short trips. Mostly just me, occasionally my husband and of course my dog! Now I just need a big cash windfall 🤔
Hello Guys, I am finish carpenter and I am very surprise about your work how is done. Congratulations to you guys, amazing job on the van
Instead of another row of seats, could you not fit hideable seatbelts on the chairs at the back? If you cut a third out of one of the chairs, then you'd have a rear and front facing safe seats?
Riding sideways is very dangerous especially if it’s children. We are big fans of safely installed seating to ride in versus installing seatbelts aftermarket or in the benches
Vanlifer for 10 years here. Building a shower inside is just a waste of space. If it's cold, the gym, a city pool. An Aquatic Ctr. Or a portable water heater outside surrounded by a shower curtain hung on a collapsible hoop works, too. The idea is to be able to park in a standard size parking spot to remain stealh. And have enough wheel clearance to boondock down NF Land dirt roads for a few weeks. Without getting stuck. Or in the middle of a city without being harrassed by cops or security.
In one of your UA-cam videos you showed us a plastic Barrier that went between the bed frame and the bed mattress . I can’t find the video anywhere and want to buy it for my own van build. Can you help me out?
Bathroom on the left inside the sliding door and L kitchen behind front seats and down drivers side wall? Sprinter 170. Good or bad idea ?
Nice video. Are you guys still using wooden frames or have you transitioned to metal frames?
Hi. I want to build a camper van and I already experienced a set back regarding the auto loan. Do you guys know what banks provide car loans for these vans or Do I need a RV loan?
At around 2:40 you say "apply the rest-prevention spray on the roof *after* you've cut in ..." but the graphic on-screen says "3. Apply truck bed liner on the roof *before* cutting in holes".
That’s because the mistake is applying it BEFORE. This is a video about mistakes 😊
Did I hear that correctly? Ttruck bed liner spray on the roof?
Really good advice, thanks so much for sharing!
Great tips as always.
Always a thumbs up 👍
thank you!!
How do you feel about the Nissan? And..... where are you located?
Bedliner spray on roof?
On roof
Or underneath the roof (inside the van) (ceiling)?
stewart hart on top
Dani Adams thanks
Thanks so much for your posts! So helpful! I will be doing a van build sometime in the future, so I’m in the researching phase. One problem is I need a space to do the van conversion and would like to do it indoors, not in my driveway. I was looking in garages to rent. We will also be doing a house reno and am looking into making a remaking our garage with a high roof and non conventional door. What are your thoughts? I really don’t want to park my van outdoors when at my house.
If you can have a place to work on your van indoors it’s definitely worth it!
Why no Chevy/GMC? Bob Wells recommends them as having the best engines and even floors, yet I rarely see them discussed as an option.
They don't have a high roof option, so you can't stand up in them. That limits what you can do and how comfortable you can be if you're doing full time.
Hi are you taking any van builds on now?
hi!I really love your van builds I would love to do van life but am in Canada sad life I wnated to ask where you work
You are amazing!
I got a question is it possible to repatching / resealing the hole if you want to remove the windows
I'm pretty far from doing a build, but have seen a ton of videos. I haven't seen one where a/set of full size windows were closed in. It's often included as a way to narrow down which van to buy (cargo v passenger van).
I did see an ambulance build, where they removed a few of the exterior lights that were high up on the back wall of the ambulance box. The holes were smallish, maybe 6" x 8", and the patch was smooth. The guy didn't say how he patched it, tho.
I am planning on getting a Ford Transit 148WB (for solo traveler), is anything bigger overkill?
just depends on what you want to fit in your van layout wise! the 148 transit is a great size
@@SaraandAlexJames So if I will have a dog and a bathroom the 148 is still good? Or should I go for the extended?
Roughing in wiring after cabinetry and linings. seriously?
Like your videos, and I appreciate the detail presented in this video, but realistically this video could have been 10 seconds long: Intro - You say "Use common sense" - The End.
Hi SarAlex, you are amasing. Is a Bluetti 2000wh enough for basic needs like a fridge , LED lights, water pump, etc.?