Then, it might be a good idea to attach it (because of the long lever when the bike rack is out). Read our “Second Thoughts” at the bottom of this page for more info! HAVE YOUR VAN BUILT BY PROFESSIONALS . Cavities on the plywood were filled with wood filler and then sanded flush. Free for personal use since 2007. What's Inside the Van Build Layout Guide Floor plans, What's Inside the Van Build Starter Guide, BUY THE BUNDLE FOR ONLY $75 (NORMALLY $94). 150 is capable of supporting 15 PSI, 200 can support 20 PSI and 250 is capable of 25 PSI. We’ve been on the road since then and every day is an opportunity for a new adventure; we’re chasing our dreams and hopefully it inspires others to do the same! the best resource for building your own van. Our original plan was to include our awesome portable 12v refrigerator in the mix and put it under the countertop behind the driver’s seat. This van layout includes a functional design with light wood features, lots of natural light, a full kitchen, full bathroom with a toilet and shower, and convertible bed/dining area. Http://www.IntoTheMystery13.com step by step how to install subfloor in preparation for laminate hard wood floor in stealth camper van dwelling. We'll discuss the pros and cons. No, this is not a step by step guide due to safety and liability concerns. For our floor plan, we’ve decided on placing the bed behind the cockpit purely because we didn’t want to have to build a platform. It helped making clean cuts on the insulation. The horizontal framing is fastened to the vertical pieces in several places. Floor Installation in a Camper Van Conversion. VENTILATION, HEAT & A/C: Thinking about air conditioning? Syncro supplies floor liners for all makes and models of van. For example, if using your 3-season, minicell only version above and placing the vinyl mat between the top layer of the minicell and the plywood, in order to provide a little extra insulation, without having to go the XPS route. We left a gap of about ½” all around the van wall to account for installation variations and to ensure there would be no squeaking noise. Yes! This is a Layout Guide - it will help you figure out your van floor plan and build a van with a layout similar to one of our vans. This gap will be filled later with Great Stuff. I would prefer not to use any screws if possible but I feel like they would add a ”hard wood” feel when walking. But it will require a lot more effort like following the weather and controlling heat through the windows. get instant access. Get the exact dimensions, van floor plans and instructions you need to simplify the entire van conversion process, and join a private community on Facebook where you can get your questions answered directly. The floor is still level and doesn’t squeaks . R-value, Space, and Expenses Living in a … This will be able to help you make a floor plan for your van conversion. Because the stair edging is only 1-1/8″ and our floor is thicker (we went for the "snow chasing" mode! Join 30,000+ followers via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, e-mail or Patreon: Hello! Indeed, it’s almost impossible that the vinyl will return to the same exact location after the glue is applied (because it will slightly move and stretch). We are also happy to work with you on your custom tiny house, schoolie, bus or other mobile dwelling project. We also include downloadable PDFs for all 3D renderings showing the dimensions of each aspect of the van build. We then used the templates we made for the Reflectix to trace and cut pieces for the sides and back of the van. You can live comfortably in a van without insulation. The vertical framing is attached to the van floor and upper metal “ribs” on the van with metal angle brackets and is also screwed into the shower pan frame. The first being insulation. This page gathers useful information related to the Mercedes Sprinter Van aimed at the DIY campervan builders in mind. We used ½” XPS (in pink) to fill the corrugations, but we would use Minicell if we had to start over. Hi guys, thanks for the wealth of info. But if it really does make a big difference for warmth, I probably should do it. PLANNING YOUR LAYOUT: What will be the most functional layout for your needs? In addition it should be resistant to wear, be able to withstand enough weight, not produce any squeak and … look good (yep, that counts!). Make sure that your van is ready to install the subfloor. WINDOWS & WINDOW PLACEMENT: Wondering if you should install windows? And now is the time to install a floor in our van conversion! we will receive a commission fee. We often say that our Ford Transit DIY camper van conversion is built around the mountain bikes, so a proper bike rack storage is expected! All things van life, making money on the road, van build tips and van conversion advice. Thank you so much for the quick reply! The price you pay remains the same, affiliate link or not. Cannot find any weight? That’s why we prefer Baltic Birch. It would seem to have a number of advantages over XPS (more stable, breathability, less moisture retention, compressive strength). Learn how your comment data is processed. The plywood underlayment shall be moisture resistant, exempt of any warp, and the surface common with vinyl flooring shall be nice and smooth. Although we personally converted a Ford Transit Van, there are a lot of similitudes between any platform (Transit, ProMaster, Sprinter, Nissan NV) and most of what you'll find on our website is applicable to any camper build, really. If you’re bringing active gear with you on the road, this van layout is perfect for you. We will be adding the layouts of each build we do to this guide. “The Outdoorsman” van layout boasts darker, more natural looking wood features, a full kitchen, bathroom, shower, and convertible bed and dining area. basic 0 credits. Secure the plywood to the XPS using PL300 (remember, this is to prevent squeaks) and apply weight. Aug 12, 2016 - Camper Van Layout Ideas and Samples. There’s nothing prefab about our van conversions. Hope that helps! 7.3- Follow the instructions on the vinyl floor adhesive: use the appropriate trowel and the right amount of adhesive (not more). And don't forget to take your shirt off when using a circular saw. Try to differ the seams … Copyright 2021. The floor serves as the base of your build and an easy introduction to the basic principles of carpentry. Motor Trend 3 Row Odorless Rubber Floor Mats & Liners for Car SUV Van, Durable Heavy Duty Polymerized Latex Full Interior Protection, Extra-High Ridgeline Design, Black, Model Number: MT-773-801-BK. Thinking about just starting with a layer of 1″ XPS/ISO 3 Seasons = 0.25" thick Minicell. Your van life starts here. This is a lifetime membership site. How much does it cost to build a DIY Camper Van for vanlife? VAN BUILD KITCHEN DETAILS. In this blog post, we pose some questions to help you nail down your priorities for your camper van layout, as well as some important tips for making sure your get your floor plan right. We’re Isabelle and Antoine  In 2017 we sold our house (and everything in it), quit our engineering careers and moved into our self built campervan. Personally I think I would skip it. Hi, what do you think of re-using the vinyl floor mat that comes with a transit cargo van as one of the layers in the floor build? Each van build is complex and complicated, and no “step by step” guide is going to be able to accurately teach you how to build your van if you do not have any experience. 2.2- Install on the van floor using adhesive (3M 90 adhesive with Minicell). FINDING THE RIGHT VAN: Which van should you choose? Indeed,  it is sandwiched between the vinyl floor and the foam (XPS or Minicell), so it’s not exposed to high level of moisture or condensation. This floor plan features a full kitchen with sink, stove and fridge that will sit directly behind the driver seat, followed by a removable 3 person Mercedes bench seat (in the mid position on a crew van). 2- Wood is a good heat conductor, so the frames create thermal bridges (in other words, it’s bad for insulation. Since we had to install a bench seat for the kids to ride in while driving, we knew that this van build was all about maximum storage and functionality! We installed some carriage bolts for the undermount propane tank and the grey water tank that we plan on installing under the van. The “best” adhesive depends on materials, application context, use context, availability and cost. Good reasons not to do it: 1- frames are thick and vertical space in a van is precious. DEWALT Cordless Lithium-ion 20V, 7¼ with brake. Your $57 purchase gets you lifetime access to the Van Layout Guide as well as all future updates. But the section in the back where water had been leaking undoubtedly showed deterioration, and when we started ripping it up it was nearly falling apart. Believe it or not, there’s no need to secure anything; the floor isn’t going anywhere! The wraparound side & rear window design allows you to back your van up to any landscape and instantly live in natural luxury. Isabelle approves the result and the shirtless display. The large plywood sheets, combined with the weight of the cabinets (and others) will ensure the floor stays where it belongs. Build Your Van … I’m here to help you plan every bit of your conversion, share my story and how I did it, and give you tips on where you can save money if you’re doing it on a budget! Notice the extra material around the periphery: that will be trimmed to its final dimensions later. We initially went for ½” XPS to fill the corrugations and we would now go for Minicell (because it has exactly the right thickness). We completed our conversion in 2017 and our floor hasn’t move at all. Yes! Yes! To seal the gap and make a nice & flat surface for the vinyl floor, we overfilled the gap with Great Stuff (Gap & Cracks), let it dry and then trim it flush with plywood sheet (using an utility knife). And many people have use this technique with the same results. Syncro floor liners come in aluminium tread plate or in 12 mm thick birch plywood with a rubber-coated or marble-look resin surface and protect your van’s original floor while also providing a tough, even surface for installing racking. We built this 2019 159” Extended Promaster Van for our clients Michele and David. We didn’t get a vinyl floor with our Transit, so I’m not sure exactly how it looks so it’s hard to advise. In fact, we lived in this van as a couple for almost 2 years. And now is the time to install a floor in our van conversion! Work with extra length and do the final trim AFTER it's glued. You should do these 4 things first before starting your van build. Whether you're a mountain biker, climber, hiker, digital nomad, full-time traveler or weekend warrior; we will build a van that is right for you. So we expected our floor to be constantly cold. -Is the initial layer of minicell/XPS necessary, especially if we can’t find anything exactly .3″ (meaning things will remain uneven anyway)? Vinyl Adhesive (Robert 6300) Technical Data Sheet, Great Stuff Gaps & Crack Information Sheet, Choosing a Van: Transit VS Sprinter VS Promaster VS NV, Total Cost and Labor: DIY Camper Van Build, How to Register and Insure your DIY Van in British Columbia, https://faroutride.com/store/interior-layout/, Preferred: Baltic Birch Plywood (½”, 4’x8′), Alternative: Exterior Plywood (¾”, 4’x8′). To protect the van walls when working with Great Stuff Foam. The 7" tall "mini-mini" garage between the two benches is perfect for sliding in these items. fast and easy! Any idea what adhesives would be used if it were substituted for XPS in your floor insulation plan? Home; Explore; For who; Pricing; Support; Partners; Log in Log out; Sign up for free. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click a product link and buy anything from the merchant (Amazon, eBay, etc.) Helpful how-tos & tips for Building your own DIY Van including: how to frame & waterproof your bathroom, how to install grey water tanks, etc. join the thousands using the van layout guide to build their own diy camper van. Sara and Alex James, also known as “40 Hours of Freedom,” are an internationally recognized travel, lifestyle and adventure brand. 4 Seasons = 1" thick XPS. Knowing that a human footprint is equals to approximately 16 PSI, it’s a good idea to choose XPS higher than 150 (15 PSI). Unlike acrylic, Silicone is permanent: it doesn't dry and doesn't crack, it's very flexible and it remains elastic from -55F to 400F. Enjoy! Thanks! We can build your camper van from start to finish, and help make your dream a reality. Building your dream van can be the most daring, difficult project you have ever taken on.. Leaving a bowl of food on top of the surface to be glued will inevitably attract heavy weight. 2.1- Cut the XPS (Minicell) using the utility knife. Get it as soon as Sat, Feb 27. The first of the insulation is fitted and the floor is finished! Put some of the leftover C-200 XPS strips in the blender with vanilla, protein powder, ice cubes and decorate with mint. CHECK OUT OUR WORK & LEARN MORE . In today's video we show you how I built and converted my van to live and travel in by specifically looking at the floor. PLUMBING & WATER FILTRATION: We'll share what plumbing basics you need as well has having filtered drinking water. See more ideas about camper van, diy camper, van. Do you know if I could use 3M 74 between my XPS and the metal van floor itself? This layout was inspired by our clients who needed a sleeping and seating solution for them and their two kids. Hi! If using plywood to fill the corrugations, that’s another story…, You’ll find XPS branded as “Foamular” 150, 200 and 250. Choose thickness in eBay store. Protects against liquid infiltration (and therefore, rust). This layout was designed to fit bikes and other gear in the garage accessible from the back doors. They are going to live in this van conversion full time so they wanted a full bathroom with a Nature’s Head composting toilet and shower as well as a full 3 burner stove and oven combo. They loved the convertible bed/table area that we incorporate into our builds as well as the full bathroom with a toilet and shower. Enjoy this van conversion guide, check out the videos and detailed blogposts and if you have any questions, feel free to comment! The adhesive doesn’t provide any kind of “structural” bond: its role is to keep everything where it belongs during the floor assembly & to prevent squeaks; especially with XPS. If using baltic birch, this step is not required as it is already smoothed. Note that we wouldn’t treat the entire plywood sheet: just the edges. All of that being said, we see a scenario where we would attach the floor to the van: if no cabinets are added to the van and a slide-out-bike-rack is installed. Private Facebook group where you can get answers from us directly & connect with hundreds of others building their own DIY camper vans. We’ll go ahead and say that, even if the underlayment is exposed to some moisture, it’s not required to used treated plywood as it is “protected” by the vinyl floor and the foam (XPS or Minicell). This number relate to its compressive strength. Our team of specialists are here to work with you every step of the way. Not from the floor, but we get some from cabinets and walls…. We'll go over what's really important when it comes to insulation. The raw sheets of plywood will be smaller than the floor of your van. -For the subfloor, we can’t get baltic birch here…is any plywood okay, or should we stick with pressure treated at a minimum? The Loft layout features a full-time platform bed with a full bathroom, kitchen, closet and seating area that converts into a secondary sleeping space for guests. If you are wondering how tall your countertops should be, the specs of our bathroom, how big to make a bed, etc - this Layout Guide is for you! Learn more . Laminate is cheap, works well, looks good, and we were happy with it overall. Therefore, the resulting plywood is less dense and warp more easily. As a final touch, we added an aluminum stair edging at the sliding door, passenger/driver seats and at the back of the van (garage). -You mentioned if you did it over again, you’d use minicell. Also, we’ve been able to take incredibly beautiful pictures with this layout! Save when you buy both the Van Layout Guide and the Van Starter Guide. The van was formerly a UHaul and I bought it from a certified pre-owned Truck & Van dealership. As a result, ½” should work well. Learn more. FREE Shipping by Amazon. For Minicell quantities, follow recommendations in product description (eBay store). There can be some exceptions to this (we personally drilled a few holes for the Webasto & Propex heaters, composting toilet exhaust, grey water drain, propane locker vent and floor vent), but the bare metal of each added hole/cutout should be primed + painted to prevent corrosion. Brandcraft LLC. Check out our “Insulation Guide” for more.). Our focus is premium quality and craftsmanship that will last for years to come. VAN FLOOR PLAN DETAILS. This van layout is our personal favorite. We are currently shipping and installing Two Stage Hydronic Heating kits (Radiant Floor + Air Heat) for the T1N, NCV3 & VS30 Sprinters, Ford Transits and Ram Promasters. If you are wondering how tall your countertops should be, the specs of our bathroom, how big to make a bed, etc … Our team includes experienced journeymen carpenters (over 40 years combined experience), builders, draftsman, and journeyman mechanic. Guest . ), we added a wood trim that we painted grey to match the van magnetic grey. 7.1- We bought a sheet of 8'x13' vinyl and trimmed it as follows: The goal is to have the "planks" oriented lengthwise and to have the seam "hidden" under the bed: TIP: We were told not to trim the vinyl to it's final dimensions right from the start and that was a GOOD TIP! The floor in your van will be put together with a few components. Floorplanner. 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,382. 1 Use floor template to cut plywood subfloor. We started by laying down a full sheet and glued it down with High Strength 90. Adding insulation will be one of the first steps in your van build process. That’s why we went for large vinyl sheets (2), instead of multiple vinyl tiles (to minimize seams). Two Stage Hydronic Heating System. We initially install a layer of MLV (mass loaded vinyl) for soundproofing, but we feel it was superfluous. It is laminated with exterior grade adhesive, it’s straight, the surfaces are smooth (no wood filler needed) and it’s very dense (screws grip better in it). Is this for a winter (skiing) adventure van? 3.1- Isabelle crafted a template from some random brown left overs. I’ve just learned about GPS foam insulation. The wood trim is screwed into the plywood layer of the floor (the screws are hidden by the aluminum edging). This allows you to enjoy your full size flare bed with plenty of storage underneath. 2D & 3D floorplans. However, we discovered that the ARB fridge fits perfectly between the two front seats. Nope! But to help answer that question, we tracked and categorized the cost of our entire DIY camper van conversion. But that proved to be a little too cramped for our space, and it left no room for kitchen storage. Indeed, a proper floor installation prevents water infiltration (= rust), provides thermal and noise insulation, and serves as anchor for the cabinets. Quantities shown are for our van (Transit extended-length) and may varies according with your van model. 7.4- The vinyl was stretched and bubbles removed using a rolling pin. Kids will be on the bench and across the front seat or outside in a tent. We'll break it all down. When building out your van, you want to resist heat conduction by insulating the ceiling, walls and floor with materials that have a high R-value. So, why are we recommending to use adhesive anyway? As it turned out, this made the van seem more spacious with the kitchen the rear! 2.2- Add the XPS or Minicell and secure in place using the adequate adhesive (XPS = Silicone II, Minicell = NONE). Doubt it? SOLAR, ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING: Avoid costly mistakes by following these electrical basics. FEATURED PRODUCT. Tim, 76in is the clearance after installing the floor and the ceiling I believe. Exterior plywood commonly found in hardware stores are glued using exterior grade adhesive and some of them are also treated for protection against fungal decay, rot and termites. Like it or not, there’s no perfect “universal” adhesive (because CHEMISTRY). He didn’t need as much space so he opted for the 144” wheelbase Sprinter Van but still wanted to have a full bathroom since he is living in it full time. Trust us, spills WILL happen! Each screw added to the metal of your van is a potential ignition point for rust. Unfortunately, because of the wheels in the back, a platform is necessary to fit a bed. Initially, I am thinking just 3 season, due to some health issues; but I would LOVE to take it out for a winter skiing trip eventually, so that’s why I was considering more insulation. get the details. This thing is HEAVY and sandwiching it among the floor layers is not how it’s meant to be installed to be effective. A few notes: – Installation hardware cost is included in major components below. Why that over XPS or ISO? No picture of the seam, sorry . VAN BUILD ESSENTIALS: Don't skimp on these essentials! The inside of a van is far from being square, so keep in mind that the dimensions might vary depending on where they're taken (e.g. I am currently living in it with no build whatsoever in the Arizona desert, so trying to do the floor under those circumstances is challenging, that’s why I was leaning away from the winter floor you laid out, because it seems a little harder to manage building that layout in my current circumstances. Home > Floor Installation in a Camper Van Conversion. Turns out the Webasto placement is perfect, as it blows hot air parallel to the floor. At first glance, I don’t see a problem with it, except maybe its availability/price. See more ideas about van, van life, camper van. You can find all the dimensions in our interior layout pdf: https://faroutride.com/store/interior-layout/. Each van build is complex and complicated, and no “step by step” guide is going to be able to accurately teach you how to build your van if you do not have any experience. Most people do insulate their vans. We'll discuss the benefits of windows and where to put them. BUT you can’t let that stop you because it’s also SO much fun and a huge part of the journey to you being on the road. I done my research and have found conflicting results and worry about it being too weak or melting my foam board. This is an optional decision. Join 25 million registered users worldwide. This van conversion guide is perfect if you want a hands-on guide that takes you through the whole conversion in 12 steps. If you still have a flawless floor template from insulating you can use it for this step. We weren’t the biggest fans of this option at first for a few reasons: About the Van. Whether you're a mountain biker, climber, hiker, digital nomad, full-time traveler or weekend warrior; we will build a van that is right for you. But I’m not super keen on adding several extra layers; will it squeak? You’ll get instant access to the Interior Build Dimensions for 6 different van conversions. Would you recommend it or am I missing some significant advantage to XPS? We used exterior plywood and left it in the sun for some time… It warped the plywood big time. The Seaside layout is perfect for those who want to store longer items like surfboards, skateboards or skooters inside. So we ended up coming up with a convertible bunk bed solution by utilizing a HappiJac bed lift. $43.90 $ 43. Have a great day. Vanlife Customs builds one of a kind Dodge Promaster, Ford Transit, and Mercedes Sprinter camper van conversions. Your #vanlife starts here. This isn’t required but I do think it’s worth putting at least some insulation in your floor to decrease the cold from coming up through the ground in the winter. That being said, it might not be the case for different layouts… If your “living area” is in the back and your Webasto in the front, the floor might be cold in your living area. Minicell thickness: Transit = 0.40″, Sprinter & ProMaster = 0.30″. Otherwise, make a new one. Everything is completely custom and crafted to you. If you didn’t hear the big news, we now have a Van Conversion Shop in Boise doing custom builds for clients. TIP: Use the foam (from layer 2) as a template, it'll save you some time! Then, your Rossmönster designer will deliver a specialized and detailed floor plan for your van’s interior, and begin sourcing materials for your build. This includes details like: A Components/Materials List for each floor plan. Whether you're looking for a permanent fixture, or something with more flexible storage we've got you covered with inspiration from the simple and practical to …