Understanding the build: Installing the Minivan Camper
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Here is the install for my minivan camper conversion. Its a removable install, takes about 30 min. I plan on putting together some construction videos, but thought this would provide a some good understanding of how it's all put together. Maybe it will spur some of your own ideas. Feel free to ask questions. I didn't show the outside features, that will be in a future set of videos. Incidentally, this is in a 2014 Kia Sedona, but the design will work in most minivans. I have an alternate similar design I built for a Nissan NV200 Let me know if you use any of these ideas, keeps me motivated. Stay tuned for more. @minivan.man www.smallvanlife.com
Exceptional. I have zero skills but quite the desire. This is the only build that I have ever considered to be perfect and with no need of modification. I would kill for a set of plans. Well done.
Your woodwork is amazing! This is one of the best diy minivan builds I have seen. What a inspiration
This is amazing! I wish you were selling them.
This was the best minivan conversion I have ever seen.
Wow. I've seen a lot of buildings, but I think this is the best yet. I've wanted a back kitchen and a side area for storage, sink with a little counter space.
The rear pop-up kitchen has become a favorite feature of mine, The advantage of the kitchen that drops down into storage is it leaves space at the front (foot of bed) when the bed is set up. Comfortable when waking up and getting started in the morning if you can sit on the foot of the bed. Not to mention the toilet is accessible in the middle of the night if you have it inside.
Wow I wish this was a kit I'd definitely buy it for my 2022 Chrysler Pacifica touring L. I've seen kits but none as well designed as this. I'm currently doing a no build with a cot 12 volt refrig freezer but I'm ready now to remove all the seats and have someone build me a true mini camper. As a solo senior woman I don't need even the front passenger seat unless I turn it around as a recliner but with a layout like yours I would use that front space for the frig. Thanks for the idea wish me luck now finding someone to do it.
A no build is not a bad way to start to get a feel for your space. In this design I had a few initial flaws that I had to go back and fix. I posted this so people could get an idea of how its all put together if they wanted to use some of the ideas. I have flipped a seat around on an NV200 in a build I did. It worked well because the seat would fold down flat like a table. I think that would be difficult in a minivan because the seats don't drop down flat. The minivan seat would like be blocking your view to the right. I was thinking I would add a few additional construction videos. Would you find something like that helpful?
Yes most definately 😊
I think there is someone who does offer kits. Not as great as this one, but it wasn't half bad.
I really like how the compact sink and rear shelf bolts together and to the base. You could add a laguna table and still have plenty of room
Thanks, if you check out the 5 minute van tour on my channel you'll see what might be called a poor man's Lagun table. It's a swivel table more similar to what used to be used in the old Westphalia campers. It is removed easily, but the only thing lacking on my table setup is the easy height adjustment. However the table top can be moved outside onto a fixed base. That's what I do most when couple camping.
Nicely, put together.
Wow! The functionality and woodwork are amazing. Now I want to see the setup for the NV200.
@@LifeinThirdPlaces Iol, I don't claim to be a master carpenter. Just a good enough carpenter.🤠. I do pride myself on design though. I was just looking over my old NV200 stuff to try to pull a video together.
@@mini.vanman I will definitely keep an eye out for it!
I’m so glad to see how this actually works!! TY for all the detail 😊
Hello from England, UK. What a fascinating video. Just watched it three times. My husband and I are thinking about doing something similar.
Really interesting to for me to see the scenery too.
Thanks, I’ve subscribed!
Thanks, I'm currently working on a Nissan NV200 camper conversion video that I should have finished soon. It's a small City type cargo van. The city cargo vans seem pretty popular in the UK. In this video you'll be able to see a lot more detail of the design planning and build.
Awesome build!!!
Great install video Gustav👏 Everything fits so seamless. I love how modular & removable everything is. Thx for sharing
Great build, sir. I imagine its comfy for two. I built my camper furniture also. Regards.
Thanks! 👍
Great design! And some unique ideas 😊 I look forward to your build videos. Have you ever considered writing up plans for this?
It's a thought, actually doing is another matter.🤠. I'm thinking a good way to get it started is to start writing it up on my smallvanlife.com website. I've had a hard time getting it off the ground. Maybe go along and add filler for UA-cam content I get up.🤔
@@mini.vanman I would love to purchase the plans for this build. It's just perfect the way it is, no tweaking of the design needed!
Awesome design and video!❤
Beautiful
That's great 😊 3:35
Lol, I had to look at what was at 3:35. The shelf/storage was a later addition built about the same time I added the popup kitchen. I consider it essential now. I like it a lower shelf for perceived safety reasons. Doesn't block airbags also lower than head level.
Awesome!
fantastic job❤love it
Big thanks
Awesome! Thank you for sharing.
Great video! Wow!
It's beautiful and functionable. Looks so professional. Did you take any video of the NV200?
I did, lots. I was thinking the NV200 walkthrough would be good to add to the editing queue.🤠
Very impressive
Holy cow! Fantastic💕💕👍👍
I'm keen to learn about your hot water system design. Where can I watch this?
I have a backlog stuff I'm trying to get up. Maybe I could get up a short for an intro.
How long does the setup take?
In the description 😉
That was amazing 😊 can I ask a question where did you get that faucet ( we call it a tap here in Scotland 🏴 ) ?
You can get the tap off Amazon or AliExpress. The magnetic base you have to make. I have full instructions for making it on my web site . Here 👉www.smallvanlife.com/2023/10/08/usb-rechargeable-water-dispenser-pump-hack/. I laugh because the pump is one of the few things I've actually gotten around to writing up. You'll need to find your own metric equivalent parts. I have noticed a pump with a base already on it now being sold. I haven't tried one to see how hard it is to magnetize it. Oh and Dometic sells one for about 10x the cost. I don't recommend this. I'm going to claim Dometic copied me since I posted about it almost 3 years ago on my Instagram page.🤠
@mini.vanman thanks very much , we have something like that in oot wee van but it's sitting over a wee block of wood I cut that fits inside it lol
This build is similar to that of UA-camr Eric Enjoys Earth
The folding plywood on the bed top is of the style used by Eric, however I would add all of these builds (including Eric's) are derivatives of the mid-1970s VW Westfalia campervans which use a Rock and Roll bed design. If you will watch the credits in my 5 minute minivan camper tour, I added citations and pictures for the source materials (including VW and Eric). You'll see how much of the VW look I and many others use. If you are looking around another interesting build, one I like dates from 2011. It doesn't get much airing because it's from a Blog not UA-cam (thegroveguy.blogspot.com/2011/06/toyota-sienna-van-conversion.html). While writing this I did also just recall another source I forgot to mention. The rear kitchen box design was initially modeled after the Biberbox setup that comes from Germany (www.biberbox.de/diy-box). It was heavily redesigned though, so not a direct copy by any means. I like a box style design because it contains things well. An added plus to the box design is it divides up the support of the bed plywood top. This is how I am able to get away with using a 12mm (1/2") ply. That is the biggest issue I see with the open frame design (as used by Eric and many others). In order to cover the large span you need to use a 3/4" ply. I started with 3/4"ply and quickly got rid of it because it made the bed top that folded too heavy for my taste. I'll go into the box design for minivan use in another video. The design differs from a standard City cargo van, because a minivan has a sloped floor. Since a minivan floor is sloped, it takes a small trick to level the bed without being obvious that is what you are doing. All of these sources I just cited are excellent for people getting started making their own setup.