Van Build Top Tips

by Vaughn Dabney, Candyss Love and Noami Grevemberg

Enjoy this assortment of budget-friendly top tips covering some FAQs about buying and building a rig!

Identify why you’re doing this and what you need to operate efficiently, effectively and happily. Make sure you have at least a clear sketch of what you want to do before you start to help identify your goals.
- Limit yourself to 3 major priorities (i.e. off-grid capabilities, big bed, storage space) before you start building and focus your build around those. Try to take your rig out for some test trips throughout the build process to figure out what you want to modify.
Establish a budget before you start.
Do what’s best for you! Don’t get caught up with what’s happening with other people’s builds, or what you see on social media. Just do you!

Something to consider is that large majority of mechanics in North America will know how to work with American vehicles e.g. Fords, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge – some mechanics won’t touch a Sprinter van!
Older vehicles will likely require more maintenance and be susceptible to breakdowns but have lower maintenance costs whereas the inverse is generally true for newer, more expensive vehicles. There is no right answer – it comes down to your needs and your budget.
Look for something that has been well maintained, not necessarily just the lowest possible mileage.
Also, it can be worth sending a mechanic to look at your rig before purchase to make sure it is mechanically sound.
Identifying your goals, needs and budget will help you choose your rig. Consider paying a bit extra upfront for a rig that won’t give you any major issues – it can save you money in the long run!
Test driving is really important. Make sure your rig is safe & comfortable to drive for you and any travel companions.
Look for something with NO RUST!

Huge perk of DIY: it’s so much easier to fix/tweak/customize your rig – even if you don’t know what you’re doing when you start! Pre-builds generally mean you’re going to inherit some problems you may not immediately know how to fix. It depends on your priorities though: if you need to live in something ASAP, then pre-built could be a good way to go. You can also go somewhere in between and travel in a minimal build set up at first. Also, pre-builds will be more costly than shells!
You can do precisely what you want if you do it yourself. That being said, even if you don’t physically build it yourself, it’s good to be as involved with your build as possible. The more you know about your build, the better your ability to troubleshoot will be.
Top tip: reach out to local carpenters! They can do amazing work for substantially less than the bigger conversion companies, and it’s an awesome way to support a local small business!

Sketch out your ideas! Whether you are well versed with Sketch or Illustrator or you’re just using paper, it’s really important to have the core designs and measurements before you begin. You’ll save yourself a lot of time.
Maximize the space! It’s important to have your hands on your build to help you determine how much space you need for what you need.
Top tip: Go into the van and put down painters tape and/or cardboard boxes, cut to exact planned measurements. This is an amazing way to visualize your build inside your vehicle.

Electrical is the “heartbeat of your conversion” so if you can, save the money for the electrical first — that way you won’t have to troubleshoot nearly as much later. Definitely consider the costs when making your initial budget.
You can do electrical work gradually depending on your budget: it is totally possible to get by just on an isolator and house battery if you need a minimal electric set up (for charging phones, running lights — the minimum!)
- Even though you should install your system early, you can always add components later!

Insulating the entire van is very important – don’t skimp on the insulation!
If you’re spending time mostly in hot weather, ventilation and shade are the most important factors.
Standard roof fans, USB and 12V fans are budget friendly (you don’t need a Maxx fan/ Fantastic fan). Most important thing in ventilation is to create a cross breeze: somewhere for air to come in & somewhere to go out (create options for flow of air).

RV insurance is a great way to cover your vehicle and belongings. If you’d like to be covered as an RV (as your vehicle and home) you may have to shop around to see which companies will cover you.
Renter’s insurance on top of regular auto insurance is another option.

Top opening/chest style fridges are more energy efficient (allow less cool air to escape). Plus you can really stack stuff up in there.
Top Tip: You can get a small chest freezer and rig it with a temperature controller to run as a fridge which is a great budget option that can be done for under $200.
Some new budget fridges don’t advertise power draw/usage or don’t have warranties; can be an iffy proposition. So, if you go with an RV fridge, it’s better to go with bigger brands (with better warranties and customer support).

Super Budget option: have none! Have a poo shovel/pack out all waste and use a pee bottle or other sealed container. Many, many vanlifers get by on this when off grid, and by using pubic restrooms in cities and towns.
Budget option – casette toilet. You can find options for under $80 that actually have detachable compartments for holding water to flush, and for waste
If you are willing to pay a premium, there are compact, fully composting toilets that many vanlifers choose.

Find Vaughn on Instagram @tinyhometruck & @mrdabney, and get your home-on-wheels built by him & his business, Unoma Haus Van Conversions (unomahaus.com, and @unomahaus on Instagram)!

Find Candyss on Instagram @candyss.love to learn about her Emotional Healing business, and support her Natural Skincare business @sashaflowersskincare!

Find Noami on Instagram @irietoaurora, and support her Nomads at the Intersections Podcast (@nomadsattheintersectionspod)

Photos courtesy of Noami Grevemberg, Natalie & Abigail @letsplayrideandseek, and Mohit Kaura.

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