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 third month of our van build. We are first time van builders and we are sharing this information to help you with your own van build.
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Tasks We Completed This Month
1. Installed Our Fan
We cut our first hole in our van! We installed this Maxair Fan. We did not buy the automatic fan because they were sold out in Canada and it cost around $300 more to get it shipped from the States. We figured the extra money was better spent somewhere else in our van!
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2. Installed Our Windows
We added 3 CR Laurence windows to our van this month! One to our sliding door and two sliding RV Bunk windows to the back sides- one on either side of our bed. We LOVE these windows. It really is a game changer when you can see outside. The van feels so spacious now! We took the time to make sure that both RV windows are located in the exact same position on either side of the van. To install the bunk windows we had to remove supports from the van we added in additional window framing to support the windows. This combined with using spray foam insulation creates a lot of structural stability.
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3. Ordered Our Solar
We finally found some components that weren’t sold out! We ordered our solar panels, controller and all the required components for connecting them. We will write a detailed blog post on our solar set up when it’s installed.
4. Ordered Our Lights
we ordered two sets of these LED puck lights! They have a 2 inch diameter so they fit nicely on one of our tongue and groove boards. We plan to have two rows of puck lights, all equally spaced on our ceiling.
5. Installed Our Ceiling
This was the first “finishing” job for the interior of the build, and we are SO PLEASED with how great it looks. We are using pine tongue and groove from Home depot for our ceilings and walls. The panels come in 8ft long planks so we had to cut our panels so we could stagger our seams, giving it a much nicer finished look. We coated our planks in polyurethane to provide a clear protective coat and still maintain the natural beauty of the pine. We then installed our planks using NoMoreNails adhesive and a blind nailing technique. This way our ceiling will survive any vibrations from driving.
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7. Ordered Our Toilet
We decided to go with this Thetford chemical toilet. It actually looks pretty fancy. It’s the height of a regular toilet, has an electronic flush and a TP storage pocket.
Thoughts On This Month
This was a busy month! We managed to tick a few major tasks off our list and we are super pleased with how the build is going so far. Thanks for following along with our build progress.