Every month, we are sharing everything we accomplished in our van build in hopes of helping other first time DIYers figure out a realistic timeline for converting a tiny home on wheels. The summary below includes the tasks we completed, the tasks we started and the items we purchased during the second month of our van build. We are first time van builders and we are sharing this information to help you plan your own van build.
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Tasks We Completed This Month
1. Our Framing
We framed our floor, walls and ceiling this month! we used 1/2″ fir plywood and cut it into 2″ strips. The plywood was secured to the floor and ceiling using No More Nails construction adhesive and tape. For the walls, we used 1/4″ cross nuts and Grade 5 1/4″ bolts to attach our plywood to the van utilizing the pre-existing holes. Promasters have both hex and round holes. These cross nuts and bolts are sized for the larger hex holes. We drilled out the circular holes using a 3/8″ drill bit, and painted the exposed metal using tremlad. Crossnuts can be installed using this tool. If you don’t want to purchase the tool, watch our van framing video to learn how to install the crossnuts without a fancy tool!
Tip: Crossnuts were out of stock on Amazon when we wanted to purchase them. Instead of waiting to buy them, we called the dealership we bought our van from, asked for their suppliers contact information and then purchased our crossnuts directly from the supplier for a cheaper price.
| Item | Size | Quantity Purchased | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Nuts | 1/4″ – 20 TPI | 100 | Attach plywood to van frame |
| Flat head Counter Sunk Bolts | 1/4″ x 20 TPI x 1 -1/2″ Length | 50 | Anywhere we want our bolts flush with the surface |
| Grade 5 Hex Bolts | 1/4″ x 20 TPI x 1-1/4″ | 100 | wall framing |
| wood screws | 1-1/2″ | 20 | Wood-wood attachments |
| No More Nails Adhesive | 300 mL | 5 | Floor and ceiling framing |
| No More Nails Mounting Tape | – | 2 | Ceiling framing |
| Tremclad (white) | spray can | 1 | Paint exposed metal |
2. Ran Conduit And Electrical Wires
We are spray foaming our van, so we ran conduit before spray foaming so we would have channels to run electrical wires after we insulate. We also ran the wires in our ceiling for our lights. We ran our wires so that we have two circuits, one for the bed area and one for the living area.
3. Removed Wall Supports For Windows Install
We are installing two sliding RV windows on the back sides of the van at the ends of our bed. We removed two wall supports on either sides of the van to accommodate the windows. We removed the supports using a chisel.
We didn’t install our fan or our windows before the spray foam because our appointment was a very last minute squeeze in. Instead, we cut cardboard to match the fan and windows sizes and taped them to the walls where we planned on installing them. This way, there was no spray foam on the parts of the van we planned on cutting.
(click here to watch our van framing and insulation video for the details).
From the Future: We were a little worried about compromising the structural integrity of our van by removing the vertical supports, but after installing the spray foam and the windows, the van walls feel fine and there is no rattling when we drive. We plan on adding additional framing around our window to provide some extra support.
3. Insulated Our Van
We chose to get our van professionally spray foamed by VanGo Conversions based in Squamish, BC, and we are extremely pleased with the results. We decided to pay a little extra and get it spray foamed by someone who has experience insulating vans. We have peace of mind that the installation was done correctly and safely. We have closed cell spray foam on the ceiling, floor and side walls. We will use either wool or Thinsulate for the sliding door, rear doors and bulk head (we will decide later). We love our spray foam! We can maximize insulating properties while minimizing the thickness of insulation used. It also acts as a sound deadener. We have noticed a significant difference in the van walls stability where we removed our wall supports, and the van’s internal temperature is a lot nicer, even without our fan and windows installed.
4. Started Planning Our Plumbing
We are designing a recirculating shower for our van. We’ve completed our preliminary design, started spec’ing out all the parts and have been working with a certified pipe fitter to ensure it is designed correctly. Stay tuned cause this system is going to be SWEET!
5. Kept Our Eyes Peeled For Solar Kits
We are still researching what components will be right for us. We are leaning towards purchasing a complete solar kit; however, all the sizes we want are currently sold out. When we finalize our design we will let you know!
6. Purchased Our Ceiling And Wall Panels
We purchased 12 packs of 6×4″x8′ “Knotty Pine Tongue And Groove” panels to use on both our ceiling and our walls from Home Depot. We also picked up some wood conditioner and Arborcoat from Benjamin Moore to stain our ceiling panels, and 3/4″ finishing nails for the installation.
Thoughts on This Month
We’ve finally started building out our tiny home! We are really excited to be rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.
We hope you find this helpful! If you have any questions, please leave us a comment.
– Hayley and Jake