I moved into my tiny home on wheels!

Welcome to my van build series! In each video, I'll walk you through the projects we started each month (and, hopefully finished). I'll share details about the challenges we faced, what we learned, and how much everything cost.

I purchased a 2021 Ford Transit 350 extended high roof cargo van in August 2023. We spent 8.5 months converting it into my dream tiny home on wheels.

In last week’s video, I mentioned that my mom and I left my dad alone to finish the van build. Why? I had a $1,200 flight credit that I had to use before it expired.

When we returned, Dad gave us a tour of everything he accomplished. He built a second upper cabinet, he attached the doors on both upper cabinets, he attached the faces on the drawers, and he installed trim to hide the gap between the wall and the ceiling.

We had a few more things to accomplish:

• Install Screen Doors

• Starlink

• Move In

• Test Run

• Starlink 12v converter

• Kitchen Backsplash

• Large Drawer Organization

What I learned from this process:

STIR BEFORE APPLYING A COAT OF STAIN

Upon our return from California, we cut and attempted to stain the doors for the upper cabinets. I noticed immediately that they were darker than the other kitchen cabinet doors. Because I never stirred the stain, oops! We tried sanding them but it didn’t work. I ended up painting them white and they look beautiful.

TAKE YOUR VAN ON TEST RUNS OFTEN

I quickly learned that the Starlink Gen 3 uses a lot of power while plugged into 110 volts, especially on back-to-back cloudy and rainy days. I spent hours seeking out a 12v option and even delayed leaving town until the converter was installed. Always take your van on an overnight camping trip or a short drive to test for noises or battery usage from newly installed components. That way you can make some modifications before you hit the road.

---

How much did it cost?

$ 250 – Lagun Swivel Table

$ 17 – Shower rod

$ 18 – Shower curtain

$ 46 – Toilet paper holder

$ 385 – Trelino Evo M toilet

$ 13 – Paper towel holder

$ 17 – Velcro straps

$ 57 – 25' 30 AMP Power Extension Cord

$ 108 – Power Watchdog 30 AMP Surge protector

$ 18 – 30 AMP to 110 Volt Adapter

$ 20 – Water filter

$ 60 – Peel + Stick tile

$ 20 – Monitor wall mount

$ 16 – Shovel

$ 30 – Fire extinguisher

$ 20 – Smoke detector + CO2 detector

$ 27 – Puck lights

$ 65 – Screen doors

$ 644 – Starlink Gen 3

$ 209 – Starlink TRIO Flatmount with magnets

$ 14 – Starlink Router Mount

$ 115 – Starlink 12v Converter

$ 172 – Lucid 6" Full Mattress

$ 194 – Cushion covers + 3" high density foam

$ 82 – 2nd key fob

$ 200 – Programming of 2nd key fob

$ 1,107 – Michelin Agilis CrossClimate DT

$ 2,646 – Catch-all

$14,819– Month Eight Subtotal

$21,389 – GRAND TOTAL

Let me know what questions you have down in the comments.

*Post may include affiliate links