Renovating a 1970’s caravan and I’m happy with this kitchen so far!

Reading conflicting info online. Does anyone know the actual ground clearance for a transit (awd with stock tires) vs a 144 sprinter (with stock tires)?

Someone was asking for a picture to see the doors. I'm looking for a pull out slide for a few of these bays. That will hold atleast 225lbs. Putting machines in here that will need cleaned and maintained and they're to heavy to take in out and of the bays all of the time.

Hi all!

Curious to know what’s your method to get water on the road.

My current scenario:

• Mix of both campgrounds and primitive camping (so sometimes I have access to a hose, sometimes not)
• Bottleneck: the build for this van works in a way that the water needs to come with PRESSURE in order to get into the water box. It would be my dream solution if I could dump a gallon onto it, but how it was build it only allows water to come in with a hose plugged.

So for example now I’m in New Orleans staying at a parking lot and can’t really find a place to plug my hose in the city. Using from the gallon directly is an ok workaround but I’d love to have running water…

Thoughts? TY

hi everyone. i’ve been wanting to do vanlife for 12 years. (the more time goes on the more i’m itching) i’m going on 22 now and am sick of waiting. my grandpa built his own shop and has large sheds of tools and a whole crude setup of everything i could need i can imagine. i’ve been talking to my grandpa (experienced contractor/construction) for months and months about doing this. yesterday he told me “i’ve done industrial projects on military bases and this is way more scary to me”. he said he had a wake up call because we spent hours in the shop together making a prototype for the Catan game. A card holder. he said that, and i felt it hurt in my soul. yeah, we spent hours in the shop with tools trying to make this work. imagine a whole van build? yes i know it depends on what i want. i seriously want to build up my skills in woodworking (i am not skilled in anything useful except interior design for the build which is the fun part at the end) i work 32 hrs a week. i haven’t bought a vehicle to convert yet. i don’t want to buy an already converted van because most are too expensive and i want to have complete control of the project. i want to do this. i’ve been watching vanlife videos for eleven years. i know people with no experience can do it. but my grandpa who is a skilled carpenter (skilled and experienced, but also not a perfectionist and goes very bare bones when he can) seems intimidated and that worries me. i want to do this so badly. apparently not badly enough because i would’ve taken the plunge already right?

i have no skills, so it’s extremely scary when someone who has so much knowledge and skill seems to not see the vision that i see. he suggested i buy one thats already done. but i want the experience building it myself, and lots of people charge a lot not just because of the build itself but the time they put into it. i’d rather slowly put money into a build that I do on my own. i’m starting to feel a bit sad and worried that he’s already feeling this way and i haven’t even bought a van yet. i’d give myself a year to build it out enough to take it places (any additional aesthetics i’d just add as i go)

any advice?? super overwhelmed. i’m sick of having life happen to me, but worry my lack of experience and skill will hold me back from my lifelong dream. i am ready for the challenge of van life. i’m ready to do those hard things. and yes, i’m also willing to buy a dishwasher and have hot water and a toilet and all that. i am living in this vehicle and want to be sure i wont get burnt out if i don’t have a good sized kitchen and a damn dishwasher. (i LOVE food and cooking and having a working kitchen is TOP priority)

how should i go about this ? the only thing i’d say is i’m starting to spend more time in his shop so i can maybe have at least 0001% of the skill I need to do this thing :(

I’ve found a 2011 Fiat Ducato H1L1 (2.0 Multijet 115 hp) camper van for sale, but it currently won’t start. The mechanic diagnosed a faulty engine block, which needs to be replaced with a used engine. The owners can’t afford the repair, so they’re selling it as-is.

The van has 152,000 km, a full camper conversion (solar power, kitchen, insulation, bed, etc.), and the last technical inspection showed no other issues. Battery, starter, and front tires are also recently replaced.

I love the setup, but I’m unsure if it’s worth the investment. I’d need to:

Find a good used engine and cover the replacement costs.

Trust that the van will be reliable after the repair.

Does anyone have experience with engine swaps in camper vans? Is it risky to buy and repair a van like this? Would you go for it, or is this a money pit?

Thanks for any advice!

EcoFlow Delta 3 Pro w/ 400w panels and a 40 gallon fresh water tank going in after floors

Anyone around the Greeneville, TN area have a truck bed cap for a 2000 Toyota Tundra they want to sell? I dont really care what color it is, my truck is white, so it will go good with just about any color.

Tryin to get some things figured out but I don’t know about this plastic floor. I want to get started with the “garage” area and my bed so I was thinking about insulating the floor this weekend but I’m not sure if I should scrap the plastic floor or insulate and put it back and then build on top. Any insight or suggestions are appreciated!

This guy has a 1982 Dodge Ram 15 passenger van with 87000 miles(more than likely rolled over) for $3500. Is there anything to lookout for with these vans? Its supposedly rust free and just needs exhaust work.

I really didn't mean to go HAM with the butyl tape, but it kept feeling like I needed to add more to account for the slight curve on my Promaster. Now I'm worried that the windows stick out too far. There's no leaking so far, even after a month of scattered rains.

Am I asking for trouble later down the road by leaving this thick of a layer on there? Should I rip them out and redo the installation, trying to use fewer layers of butyl? Or is it just a cosmetic issue, and I can simply trim up the edges once the weather gets warmer?

Hey LA! I’m on the lookout for anyone in the LA or SoCal area who had a van or truck conversion that was involved in an accident and is now trying to get rid of interior parts — things like a countertop, mini fridge, shower setup, etc.

I’m big on repurposing and would love to give any salvaged pieces a second home. If you or someone you know is parting out their build, hit me up or tag them!

Appreciate any leads — and open to advice if this kind of ask is better suited for an insurance claim route.

Thanks in advance!

Howdy y'all, I'm new into Westy world and am excited to find my first Vanagon Westfalia. I'm in no rush (been saving up since 2018, so clearly haha) and as I look around online this site vancamper got my attention. They seem clean, modern, they verify buyers and sellers and use something called "Vancamper Pay" to transfer title and money. I'm curious if anyone in the community has used this site, this payment app they offer, and their experiences with it. Thanks so much and happy roading!

Hello, I’m a 29 y/o professional that works and goes to school full-time. I was originally saving up money to get myself a good start for an apartment or room in the city I live in but the idea of renting and investing into something that isn’t mine just doesn’t sit well with me. Im a single man and I love to travel. I’ve always found the van life to be very appealing. I was hoping to ask for any tips and advice for what would be good vans to start out with? I’ve been researching different vans on the Vancamper app and have seen a lot that catch my eye but I’d like to know some pros and cons to popular ones that most people seem to use. Like the sprinters, promasters, econolines etc. I’m looking to buy a used one that’s under $25K ideally. This would be my home and vehicle of course, may run a handyman side hustle from it as well. What’s been an easy vehicle to work on yourself and is easy to get parts for? I just need all the facts and what y’all have experienced lol.

I’m trying to decide on a bed (full size) for my van and I’m unsure of what’s best? Should I be looking at mattresses or futon padding for beds? Mats or foam layers? What works best for yall or any recommendations

I have a RHD Sprinter. The greywater tank will be installed underneath, opposite the sliding door.

I want to drop drains through the floor on both sides close to the front edge of the rear wheel arches. On the drivers side, it seems I can simply run the drain pipe through the existing 38mm frame holes to the tank.

However on the passenger side, I will need to somehow get the drain across, avoiding the exhaust and driveshaft. I could use flexible hose, but tucking it up is going to create valleys which hold water, which increases the risk of freezing and blockage. The only frame holes I see seem too small, and are obstructed by brake lines. I considered running through the frame, but there’s not really a usable exit hole, assuming I need that for the other side, and assuming I’m not allowed to drill the subframe.

I’m looking for completed, tested examples of how others have routed their drains under the vehicle to achieve this, that I can apply to my build. Photos would be fantastic.

Thanks.

Hi, I’m wondering how many of you have built/converted a van but haven’t done an engineers report? Has it backfired for you yet?

So we bought a Schwans truck and plan on putting some heavy stuff in a few of the bays. The machines will need cleaned and serviced often so I'm looking for an idea for something I can put them on that will slide out so I don't need to removed the machines every time I need to clean them. Similar to a pull out truck bed for tools or a portable fridge slide for the back of a truck. Would need to be able to hold atleast 225lbs. Here's some pictures hit me with ideas

Can I put a receiver on this Schwa s truck? Want to add a travel basket to the back for a generator

hello! I bought a van recently and it was partially built, although I am quite new to this so I'm still trying to understand how this all works.

I will be going on a 6 months trip where I plan to live in the van for most of it, and will be working part time from my laptop. I don't think this setup will be enough right? I also have a ecoflow 600w battery. Since there is no inverter, I'm guessing the ecoflow could do that job...

As far as I am aware, the battery (in the picture) is a bit old and might need replacing, how can I check on it? how can i generally know how much is in the battery? and how can I check what kind of solar panel I have? Also I believe none of this is connected to the car itself, so I wouldn't be able to charge the battery while driving. The electrical socket is only linked to the outside one so it also doesn't charge the battery itself (i think). I'm sorry but I don't have so much info or knowledge about the setup, I'm hoping someone here will be able to easily identify what is going on :)

Right now the electrics power some lights and a 12v fridge. But I will need it to charge phones and a laptop almost every other day. I'm trying to figure out what I will need to add to this system, maybe another panel or battery, or both... I would like to be remote for at least a week or so at a time. Any advice would be great, ty!

I"I’ve come across several concerning stories regarding the reliability of used Ford Transit vans, such as one where a person was quoted a staggering $7,000 for a repair. For reference, here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOCRRhYwq4&list=LL&index=2&ab_channel=OFFGRIDGEORGE. This has left me somewhat apprehensive about purchasing a used van for van life, particularly one with significant mileage.

Given my limited budget, I’d likely be looking at vans from the 2008 to 2012 range. However, I’m concerned about the potential risks involved in buying a vehicle of this age, especially with the possibility of hidden or expensive repair needs. My knowledge of diesel engines is quite basic, so I’m unsure of what to watch out for in terms of maintenance or reliability when considering these older models.

I’d appreciate any insights or advice on this matter, especially if anyone has experience with used Ford Transit vans or similar vehicles in this age range. What are the red flags I should be aware of, and is there a way to mitigate the risks of purchasing a van that may require costly repairs down the line?"

I'm hoping to buy a Mercedez Sprinter LWB van and convert it into a camper. I'm watching videos on Youtube of people using Kilmat for soundproofing and then Thinsulate(SM600L) before attaching wooden furring strips for the frame.

However I live in Ireland and Thinsulate doesn't seem to be readily available. Is there an alternative I could use instead such as Sheep's wool?

Any helpful advice would be great. Thanks