How much of what you see in van build tutorials do you challenge? Not only did I challenge them, but I also ignored them, and after 4 years, I can now tell you what did and didn't work. Every year, thousands of people worldwide embark on a campervan build project, often learning from platforms like YouTube. This video details the complete van build process, providing insights for anyone interested in a DIY van build. It covers the essential steps for a successful camper van build, helping you create your own van life adventure. Is the Maxxair fan overrated? Floor insulation - is it really needed? Do you really need sound deadening and a vapour barrier? Do you need pods for sleeping sideways? Can you avoid framing out the walls and shower of your van? Are all-in-one electric systems viable? 00:00 Intro 00:51 Van build Myth 1 - Insulating your floor 03:10 Van build Myth 2 - Vapour Barrier 04:30 Van build Myth 3 - Framing your van walls with timber 08:00 Van build Myth 4 - Maxxair Ceiling Van Review 09:24 Van build Myth 5 - Sound Deadening your van 10:30 Van build Myth 6 - Side pods sleeping sideways in your van 12:57 Van build Myth 7 - Victron Seperates Review
ADVERTISEMENT
Great advice. The thing that I find funniest is people coating the whole inside surface in soundeadening even the ribbed panels like the floor. Thats just madness, a waste of money and adds so much uneccessary weight to the build. If I were doing a van I would make everything modular and removable to allow upgrades, replacement or repair as needed.
One thing I do disagree with is side pods. 100% necessary if you want to sleep flat and comfortable, really important for resale value too. Otherwise good advice to not spend effort and money unnecessarily. As for floor insulation. You should do it if you have space. But ofc if height of the van is limited better, better to not have it than be hunched over in your van.
Refreshing view on van conversions. I agree with the Victron. I see a lot of people using it because it's " The best " but it really depends on your requirements. I like to insulate the floor of vans with 25mm battens so I can also run pipes and cables under the floor. Agree that vapour barrier and sound deadening are a waste of money and weight. Nice idea with the shower.
Thank you for the most interesting and honest video I have seen to date. I love the shower idea, such a great use (or not) of space.
9:43 we did add sound deadening to our promaster and it does help. It’s not needed on Sprinter’s because it comes pre installed. It doesn’t make it quite, it just takes some of the high pitched rattle out. It’s not meant to take out echos, it’s meant to tamp down vibrations on large sheet metal panels. You only need 20% coverage to do the job, any above that is just wasted money. Drummers use a similar product for the same reason, it works.
I would add to the list with all terrain tyres, nudge bars, light bars, custom roof racks, fixed ladders and snorkels.
Just subscribed we have a medium wheel base Man van tge 4x4 everything you have said makes so much sense you have definitely answered my questions when we built our van we did a very similar build to you apart from your van looks loads better😂 but it works for us like you say 🙏.
It blows my mind the amount of wanna-be influencers who start a van build series and just copy what literally everyone else does without any real thought or science into the products they use or things they do. Just this sheep mindset of "everyone else does it so it must be the way to do it". Doesn't help half of the van conversion videos on YouTube are just glorified adverts (Dodo seems to be the worst for this). But the maxxair fan one really grinds my gears as its just a really poor quality product marketed and priced like it's the best, it maybe used to be like 20 years ago, but they have just been so lazy with not updating it and charging £300 for a fan with a brushed motor and a crap remote is insane, I have the new black NomadicArk Airplus one and it's a much better product for the money but I still think it's a little bit much for what it is, I'm more just glad there's competition for the maxxair fan so they might pull their finger out and actually make a product inline with their pricing instead of scalping their customers.
Im just starting my iveco MWB van conversion and have watched endless videos for advice and guidance. This one makes more sense than any of them. Great video pal. Thank you. 👍
Approved! Absolutely! When you cut a Hole in that Van, for a Fan, you will hear, the Outside World 50% more. It doesn't makes it better when you add Soundproving to the side. I made the Same Trick for the Bed, regular bed in-between Isolation with carpet on Top. It also Streched nice like ,,Filz". Gives you 180cm, enough to sleep Cofortably,.. I'm 170cm
Great Video, I've been telling people the exact same thing, build for you. Mine is Floor Filled the ribs spacing with 10mm ply - then a neoprene layer for soundproofing more than anything as open cab. No Vapor Barrier as van has drain holes at the bottom of each panel for a reason, so just insulation. No framing as Transit Custom L2H1, I built my own Furniture Pods lots of storage and also Kitchen unit (sink and solar hiding), Lagun Tables (x3 of them one on the door, one behind passenger seat, one as main table) turn in to the bad frame. I put some sound deadening on the larger panels, and then used Neoprene again on the walls again as I like a quite van. No Side pods as I'm short :) Renogy Solar 400W low profile panels on the roof, and one MTTP that does everything charging wise. Carpeted walls doors etc, Media panel Ceiling with Led Strips. C1000 for all electrics as it's portable and when it breaks I can just replace it. I loved my project :)
Great video. I'm in the process of building mine (early stages) and I am very glad to hear about the maxi fan; i'll reconsider getting one of those. Where did you buy the HPL with LVT on one side from please?
You can do floor insulation in at least half of that thickness. Mine is 3cm ... 1/2" ply with 1/2" insulation and 1/4" covering.
100% поддерживаю, цена, удобство, масса - важнее
More detailed video on the electrics system in my van.: The Problem Victron Never Solved? /KeOiQQrYwc0 My full van build video including every single costed item: Van Build Price Breakdown Will Shock You! /y4m6lPUnXkU
Good advice fella🫡🇬🇧
Awesome, great video! Thanks for making it.
Thank you for sharing this post ...so much useful information. Especially for us being on a very tight budget .Well this post alone is well deserved of our subscription so we pressed the sub button 🤗👍 Harry and Inna
Your van looks mint mate fair play
Great video thanks