Hi Bobby,

I used a lightweight collapsable ladder stored in the back instead of fixing a ladder on the outside. This was to save cost and also to discourage people getting on top of my van.

I used elastic strap latches from Bunnings. It’s a simple “bungy” loop onto a button and is fixed on the outside of the cabinet.

Gas in Motorhomes in Australia is heavily regulated. You’ll have to pay extra when you sell the van, there are extra inspection processes when you register in some states. The installation is also tricky. You need to cut a huge hole in the side of the van in order to be compliant in most states. I’m also a big fan of DIY and didn’t want to fork out a lot more for the gas plumbing installation (Need to be a licensed gas plumber to do this). When I weighed up the costs, it was more economical to put the money into a bigger electrical system and just go all-electric.

Hope that answers your questions. Good luck with the build!

Hi Jo and Bryn, glad you enjoyed it.

Of course you can!

Good luck with the conversion

Hi Lisa,

Thanks! Hope you find the guide useful for your build.
I’ll check the links today to make sure all the products are still available.

Yes, the bed was built across the van, I got extra space by building in the niches on the side, which go all the way to the van steel, bar a thin layer of insulation (with 25mm air cap).
I believe the mattress length was around 188 cm or so at the longest, and maybe 182cm at the shortest (since there is a slight taper at the rear of the van).

I purchased a foam mattress from Clark rubber and just cut it to size myself with a sharp knife (very easy to do). I went for the thinner mattress but the premium quality and it was super comfortable. I also added an “eggshell” topper to it.

Hope that answers all your questions! Let me know if you have any questions for your build, happy to answer questions.

I can only second all the compliments, your design is fantastic, and pretty much exactly what I’m planning to do too. A few questions, could you check the shower head link please and also, your bed is set up across instead of lengthwise, right? What dimensions is the mattress and what kind did you choose to use? Thanks heaps and have the best time in the Americas!

Lisa

Thanks for all the kind words! Yeah I hear things are pretty bad in NZ right now. Really feel for you guys! I’m sure things will start opening up like the rest of the world soon enough.

I’m currently in Texas so it doesn’t really get freer than that haha. Planning to spend some more time in Central America over the nexts few months.

I just came back from Mexico which had no restrictions and life was pretty normal.

Thanks Will!

Hi Christian,

Don’t really want to go into specifics regarding price/sale info etc as I don’t think that’s what van life should be about.

I’m sure you can fit out and sell vans for a profit, but that was never our motive.

We sold the van because we went back to travel overseas as Australia’s Covid laws and border restrictions just got a bit too ridiculous for us.

Sorry if I wasn’t much help there.