When you’re converting a van into your home, finding different ways to use every day items goes a long way. It helps to be constantly looking around and asking yourself ‘what can I use that for?’ or ‘how can I adapt this to make it work in my van?’
That’s what Phil did. After 5 months his van is finally ready to travel Europe. So let’s have a tour of his van…
This van used to be a minibus
He bought it for £900
5 months ago it looked like this
But now it has a kitchen
The cooker was donated from an old 1980’s campervan
The sink was salvaged from a skip
The units were £10 from gumtree
This cupboard was an old drawer
And here’s extra seating… and a child’s bed
The seat folds down
Into a bed
There’s good storage above the cab
And storage underneath the bed
It has solar power
He’s got 1x175W panel on the roof going into 2x120Ah batteries
With built in USB charging
It has what every van needs (including mine)
7.5kg of LPG gas storage – Safefill cylinder
And here’s the shower
He modified one of these rain showers (this one) to hinge on the back door. Although, it’s probably best used in Spain rather than the north of England.
The cost
£900 for the van and just under £1600 for the conversion. That’s not bad at all. Phil has managed to make use out of all the things around him to keep costs down whilst still managing to have a conversion that is of decent quality and that will last a long time. Great job!
Thanks for showing us your van, Phil
You can follow his Instagram @campervanbuuren
It’s always interesting to see how other people do things. And hopefully for the people who want to convert a van these ‘van tour’ posts give you some ideas and inspiration – everyone solves problems differently and uses space differently and no 2 DIY campers are the same.
What do you reckon? Comments below
And please share this post if you enjoyed it.
Also see other vans posts: Van tour: 10 day campervan and Van tour: this bus will make you want to live in a bus
Amazing camper!! very creative with the storage solutions..
Thank you Stephen. 🙂 @campervanbuuren
I put in all my payment info and hit the button to pay for it twice, but all it did was scroll to the top of the payment page?
Hey Mike, what are you trying to pay for? the ebook? you just go here: http://vandogtraveller.com/van-conversion-book-from-van-to-home/ click ‘Buy now’ and it’ll take you to a standard Paypal page. After you paid you’ll have an email with your link to download the ebook. I’m here if you need any help with it
Love the shower! How do you install the tube and shower without leaking back in de door?
Hello Marijke, The shower head comes with a pipe attachment, you can then connect a portable shower pipe between the boiler and shower head, you can also get the pipes that reduce the flow of water to save water. The boiler has a pump in it.
Amazing camper!! very creative with the storage solutions..
Thank you Stephen. 🙂 @campervanbuuren
I put in all my payment info and hit the button to pay for it twice, but all it did was scroll to the top of the payment page?
Hey Mike, what are you trying to pay for? the ebook? you just go here: http://vandogtraveller.com/van-conversion-book-from-van-to-home/ click ‘Buy now’ and it’ll take you to a standard Paypal page. After you paid you’ll have an email with your link to download the ebook. I’m here if you need any help with it
Love the shower! How do you install the tube and shower without leaking back in de door?
Hello Marijke, The shower head comes with a pipe attachment, you can then connect a portable shower pipe between the boiler and shower head, you can also get the pipes that reduce the flow of water to save water. The boiler has a pump in it.
Great conversion! Especially love that shower!
Thank you Kat 🙂 @campervanbuuren
Great conversion! Especially love that shower!
Thank you Kat 🙂 @campervanbuuren
That shower is genius!
That shower is genius!
I’ve been struggling with the shower thing the whole time I’ve been planning mine, but I think this solves it 🙂
You’re welcome
I’ve been struggling with the shower thing the whole time I’ve been planning mine, but I think this solves it 🙂
You’re welcome
Nicely done. I have those USB sockets too 🙂 My wife needed the 12v socket for her straighteners!
I’d be trading in the wife LOL – next it will hair dryer and leckie tooth brush.
Hi Jeff. Yeah I thought I would need these to charge my phone and iPad though the night and it works a treat, so glad a laid the wires in the walls at the start of the conversion.
Nicely done. I have those USB sockets too 🙂 My wife needed the 12v socket for her straighteners!
I’d be trading in the wife LOL – next it will hair dryer and leckie tooth brush.
Hi Jeff. Yeah I thought I would need these to charge my phone and iPad though the night and it works a treat, so glad a laid the wires in the walls at the start of the conversion.
Awesome! Love the ?
???
Really cool shower, solves my problem on a boat project…
Nice. Would look cool on a boat. Need to add me on Instagram and send me a picture when you’re done @campervanbuuren
Will do!
Awesome! Love the ?
???
Really cool shower, solves my problem on a boat project…
Nice. Would look cool on a boat. Need to add me on Instagram and send me a picture when you’re done @campervanbuuren
Will do!
Love the innovation a great way to live simply brilliant, use public loos, library perfect for retirement in 10 years wondering how much will be needed on the engine and maintenance therein lies the unanswered question. Great job thanks for posting.
Love the innovation a great way to live simply brilliant, use public loos, library perfect for retirement in 10 years wondering how much will be needed on the engine and maintenance therein lies the unanswered question. Great job thanks for posting.
I think the shower is my favorite thing about this camper!!
Yes, Great shower isn’t it, I hope they have got a MASIVE water tank, as it would use lots of water I would imagine. But what a bit of luxury WOW..
I think the shower is my favorite thing about this camper!!
Yes, Great shower isn’t it, I hope they have got a MASIVE water tank, as it would use lots of water I would imagine. But what a bit of luxury WOW..
Thank you Jessica ??
Thank you Jessica ??
Hey Phil,
I used to have an old Transit riot van with my partner, but I lost custody when we separated. Tempted by another, just not sure whether to go for a panel van and insert the windows, or a minibus. Any tips?
Emily
Hi ya Emily,
I would go with Panel van, Then you have the option of fitting windows as the chosen fit out progresses. Just gives more options on Size n Shape.
Good Luck though.
Paul
Hey Emily, hope you’re well. Just seen this comment sorry. Well i’ll be travelling in warm climates and not very cold places. I have tinted the windows now for more privacy. The windows are good to get good natural light in which I love. Also lose heat very quickly if these windows aren’t covered protected. Go with a van and fit your own windows around your own design…. 🙂
Hey Phil,
I used to have an old Transit riot van with my partner, but I lost custody when we separated. Tempted by another, just not sure whether to go for a panel van and insert the windows, or a minibus. Any tips?
Emily
Hi ya Emily,
I would go with Panel van, Then you have the option of fitting windows as the chosen fit out progresses. Just gives more options on Size n Shape.
Good Luck though.
Paul
Hey Emily, hope you’re well. Just seen this comment sorry. Well i’ll be travelling in warm climates and not very cold places. I have tinted the windows now for more privacy. The windows are good to get good natural light in which I love. Also lose heat very quickly if these windows aren’t covered protected. Go with a van and fit your own windows around your own design…. 🙂
I’m curious as to how they have the water pressure to run into the shower? Is there a massive tank in or on the roof of their van?
I’m curious as to how they have the water pressure to run into the shower? Is there a massive tank in or on the roof of their van?