Day 12: Giving Van Builders Information for a Successful Build
I’m going to see the van today for the first time since I dropped it off four months ago. I’m thrilled with the progress pictures I’ve received for the interior and am interested to see how the pictures compare to the actual feel.
I wasn’t excited about living and traveling in a van until I read Mike Hudson’s book, created an intention, and started receiving pictures of the living space. I wanted the living space to draw inspiration from some of the builds by Outside Vans but have a warmer and more open vibe. I also wanted to leave space for my own tweaks, which is why I didn’t prescribe overhead storage on the passenger side.
In addition to the talented, kind team at Elevation Road, one big reason I’m pleased with the progress pictures is because I gave the van builders enough information to draw inspiration from.
Van building document
Before reaching out to van builders about build times, quotes, and sample builds, I put this document together and shared it with the van builders I was considering working with.
This was an evolving document that changed a lot as I spoke with van builders and learned more about the pros and cons of each feature or specification. For instance, I wanted an enclosed shower and toilet in the van but decided not to move forward with that feature. Many builders didn’t recommend it, it would be $5k to $10k more, plus it would take up a lot of space.
Below are the three key parts of the document.
Part 1: Overview
This part gave the van builders a general idea of what I wanted. This is important because, as a custom build proceeds, every detail will not go to plan. However, a van builder can make good recommendations for alternative details and features based on the contents of this part.
- About Me: Tech marketer and screenwriter who loves animals, sunlight, and easygoing people
- Purpose: Casual traveling in warmer climates while working remotely
- Users: 1–2 adults, 1–2 dogs
- Owned Vehicle: 2021 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 Gas High-Roof (144in) in Tenorite Gray
- Floor Plan: Convertible dinette w/ kitchenette
- Budget: Market rate is $30K for a template build (example). Aiming for $40K w/ custom build, not including accessories and A/C listed below.
- Timeframe: Built by November/December 2021
Part 2: Specifications
This is an important section for building out the purchase order with the van builder and getting a quote. Some things I added to this part were not actually added to the final build and purchase order, such as the ladder, swivel passenger seat, and lagun table. This is fine as this is mostly a document for inspiration.
Finish
- Walls and ceiling: light gray fabric (example)
- Floor and counter/table tops: Natural wood stain
- Kitchenette cabinets and dinette frame: Tenorite gray paint or similar
- Upper storage cabinets: walnut wood stain
- Note: Let’s mimic this color scheme, replacing light green with the color of the vehicle
Main
- Convertible dinette w/ lagun (example A, example B, example C — 15:04): Example C is my favorite as it allows for a dual bed/desk.
- Recess and low-profile mount for 43” Samsung QLED TV on passenger side
- Note: A large bed and seating area is important. Example A is too small. I’m thinking a queen-size equivalent.
Light
- Recessed cabin lighting w/ dimmer
- Windows: large sliding door window
Kitchen
- Fridge-freezer combo (stainless steel)
- Single-burner Induction cooktop
- Deep sink
Bathroom
- Dry flush toilet with cabinet slide-out (example)
- Backdoor shower (example)
Climate Control
- 12v Nomadic A/C
- Note: Six batteries can run the Comfort Cruise for 18 hours, as shown here.
Power
- 4 or 5 lithium-ion batteries
- 300/400 Watt 12 Volt Solar RV Kit
- Two 110-volt outlets
- Shore power
- Alternator charger
Plumbing
- Large water tank (30 gal)
- Note: Hot water is not needed.
Storage
- Cabin area overhead
- Driver-side cabinets across full length of van
Accessories
- Ladder
- Awning
- Bike rack (example)
- Living/driving separator
- Window shades
- Swivel passenger seat w/ lagun (i.e. additional workspace)
Part 3: Sample Builds
I didn’t need to build out this part much because Elevation Road understood what I was going for after looking at part two above. Also, the minimal build van I found below was very similar to what I wanted. (The link to that build is no longer live.) A good way to find samples is to go through rvtrader.com.
- Replace kitchen cabinet w/ slide-out dry toilet
- Upper handles not needed
- Too much wood
The document verified my decision
In addition to helping van builders understand what I wanted, creating an inspiration document like this verified that I wanted to travel in a van for my own joy, not for the sake of realizing a traveling trend.
