Oh, the realities of doing a van build.

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.

We didn't complete any van build projects this month. Oh well, I'm sure we will next month.

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What I learned from this process:

USING POWER TOOLS IS EXHILARATING

I have always enjoyed using power tools. There’s something about them that makes me feel indestructible. During the build process, I learned how to use new tools like a chop saw, table saw, and brad nailer. It was exhilarating!

COLLECTIVE BRAIN-POWER ALWAYS WINS

In the Ford Transit, the wiring harness runs along the driver side van wall. Our wet bath was positioned up against where the wiring harness transitions between the cab and the wall. The Transit walls taper in at the top. We had to not only taper the wet bath wall to match the curvature, but also we had to pull the wall forward enough to bypass the wiring harness. It took our collective brain-power to figure out the best path forward.

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How much did it cost?

$ 580 – Rich Solar Mega 250watt Solar Panels

$ 12 – Solar Double Cable Entry Gland

$ 60 – Solar Isolator Disconnect

$ 173 – Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller (Bluetooth) 100 | 50

$ 32 – 10 awg Solar Extension Cable

$ 9 – Waterproof Cable Gland Connectors

$ 24 – Solar Panel Z-Brackets and T-Nuts

$ 36 – MAPEI Waterproofing Liquid Membrane

$ 30 – 18-gauge Brad Nailer

$12,568 – Month SIX Subtotal

$13,524 – RUNNING TOTAL

Let me know in the comments what questions you have.

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