6 Months in Our Self-Converted Van: What We Love And Hate About Our Ford Transit 350 HD Build

Join us as we share our experiences from the last 6 months living full-time in our self-converted Ford Transit van! We have a 2022 Ford Transit 350 HD EXT / Tall / AWD / Dually / V6 EcoBoost Van, here's how we spec'd it out: • $63,000 2022 Ford Tran...
In this video, we'll take you through the highs and lows of our van build, discussing what we love and what we wish we could change.
Whether you're considering van life or just curious about our journey, this honest review covers all the pros and cons of our DIY van conversion.
Tune in to see the realities of living on the road and get some valuable insights for your own van build adventure!
Find Us On The Internet:
- Website: katieandjoeonthego.com
- Patreon: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_Patreon
- Facebook: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_Facebook
- Instagram: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_Instagram
- TikTok: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_TikTok
- Twitter: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_Twitter
- Pinterest: bit.ly/KatieAndJoe_Pinterest
Links:
- Music: share.epidemicsound.com/412g3f
- Gear: katieandjoeonthego.com/camera...
Who Are We?
Hi y'all! We are Katie and Joey, two Coloradans who found their way home after 10+ years of traveling and working around the globe. We just finished converting our 2022 Ford Transit Van into our mobile home on wheels. We are now on a quest to see every US National Park. After that, we've got a lot more of the world to see but one step at a time!
What's happening in today's video?
00:00 Video Introduction
00:23 We are Katie and Joe and this is our Ford Transit Van
00:52 Our journey so far
01:08 Pathfinder Lights (Love)
01:44 Ladder (Hate)
03:00 Rooftop Deck (Hate)
04:20 Solar Panels (Love)
04:45 Internet (Indifferent)
05:31 Flatline Van Co Nudge Bar (Love)
05:42 Pathfinder Prowlr 9" LED Driving Lights (Love)
05:55 Adventure Prep Factory Windows (Hate)
06:28 Woo Montage
06:52 DIY Bench Cushions (Love)
07:20 Arctic Tern Window (Love)
07:42 Signs & Decor From Etsy (Love)
07:55 Factory Swivel Seats (Hate)
08:45 Vancillary DIY Headliner Shelf (Love)
09:38 Custom Storage Bench (Love)
10:15 Kitchen Layout and Design (Love)
10:37 Lack of Drawers in Kitchen (Hate)
10:50 Laveo Dry Flush Toilet (Love)
11:45 Shower and Full Wet Bath (Hate)
12:50 Planet Fitness Membership (Love)
13:10 FRP Wall Paneling (Hate)
13:30 Metal Backsplash (Love)
14:00 Storage (Love)
15:04 Bump-out Lighting (Love)
15:20 Bungee Cord Bedside Shelf (Love)
15:48 No Bug Screen on side door (Hate)
16:06 Dometic RTX 2000 Air Conditioner (Love)
16:15 Air Conditioner Location (Love)
16:30 Isotherm Cruiser 130 Fridge with Freezer (Hate)
18:25 Building Bed East To West (Hate)
19:20 Modular Bed with Pass Through (Love)
20:10 Complex Water System (Hate)
21:07 AUTO-VOX Rear View Mirror (Love)
21:20 Overbuilt Everything (Hate)
22:50 Was a van the best choice? Truck w/ bed Camper? Truck w/ Trailer?
23:02 Tripod Falling Over (Hate)
23:15 Woo in Frame (Love)
23:55 Lack of off-road capability (Hate)
26:15 We learned how little we actually needed in a van build
27:35 If we had to build a van again, this is what we would do
29:50 Bloopers

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Thank you for watching! All links and discount codes are located in this accompanying blog post: bit.ly/KAJOTG_6MIOSCV Make sure to Like This Video & Subscribe To Our Channel for more van build, National Park, and travel videos!

[@robertwade9238]

Thanks for sharing both sides of your choices in the build. I watch a LOT of van and trailer build videos just to get ideas and see how different people--especially couples--solved challenges. You're not the first to discover that a built-in shower wasn't all that you hoped it would be. Of course, there are others who extol the virtues. I also appreciate that you pointed out how much you could have really scaled back your build and have been just as happy (sometimes it's better not to over-think it). That was a challenge we had when we started retrofitting our 6x10 cargo trailer. We originally bought it so I could teach scuba diving classes out of (which I still do). But after Snowmageddon hit Texas I decided to add off-grid capabilities to the trailer. Many KZbin videos later, I began the self-education of installing a solar system, building cabinets, sink, fresh and gray water storage and a pipe berth bedding system (thanks, Gonagain!), refrigerator, etc. One thing I'm very grateful for was that we didn't feel like we needed to build everything at once. You made some GREAT points about simple vs complex. I tell people to prioritize what you need most to least, then as you go keep it simple enough to be functional and easy--but expandable. We started with a Renogy Deluxe Kit (dual 100w panels, 20a MPPT charge controller, 1000w inverter, and added a 100ah hybrid gel battery). We could just as easily gone with something like a Jackery power unit and Harbor Freight panels. Practical use made us realize we should just bite the bullet and get a lithium battery (200ah) and added 2 more panels (forcing us to upgrade our charge controller to 40a). But we COULD because our installation allowed for expansion. Also, people are often surprised to find how easily they could build things rather than buy, saving a lot of money. Lagun tables can be a little expensive, and don't come in very wide variety of arm lengths. We built our own for pennies on the dollar, and it fit our existing build perfectly. Ultimately, my caution to everyone falls along the lines of some things you guys thought long and hard about as part of your build: power and storage. I was very jealous of the storage capacity you guys have (of course, the size of your van presented you with options). Given that we had to find smart and innovative ways to shoehorn our off-grid living capabilities while not changing my setup for teaching scuba (the air compressor is the one immovable feature), storage is at a premium in a 6x10 compartment. As for power, you were smart to link your house battery system to your primary system, with solar being your backup. It's hard to do that with a trailer (though not impossible), so we utilized a 1000w pure sine wave gas generator that we relied on during Snowmageddon to power our home refrigerator, keep phones and tablets charged, and run our TV and Dish. It can be used to charge our trailer battery if needed. Again, great video that tells it like it is, including what you'd do differently. Fantastic lessons-learned presentation.

[@rowanke2]

I appreciate the honest commentary about the van build!

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We are so happy you found our video and our commentary helpful!

[@strawberi6257]

Thanks for all the good and bad!! I did the same with telescoping ladder, just got a taller one and no dent issues. Also got a windshield cleaner like at gas stations but with telescoping handle to clean my solar panel. I invested in a Unique (brand) upright solar frig and kept the tape on shelves to prevent rattle and sliding. I also got a plug and play solar power system with a single 400w panel for $1200 from Light Harvest Solar out of Portland, OR. Made the electrical work quick and easy. I went with 1/4" dry write paneling for walls and 1/4" wood paneling for ceiling. Wallpapered sleeping area. The metal siding for magnets is fabulous! I skipped the indoor shower figuring if I ended up wanting one, I could use a collapsible kiddie pool and hang a shower curtain. Love your bumper guard and all the outdoor lights! I invested in bug screens for slider and back doors which was a game changer. But they don't help with airflow when sleeping. You're absolutely right about non opening pre installed windows! I went with 2 MaxxAir fans and 2 gyro fans which are a great help with airflow but I may regret lack of A/C! I did get a Versatility Teardrop awning (like Moon Shade but much less expensive) which makes a huge difference. Your van turned out great and looks awesome! Thanks again!

[@Rafter242]

I would absolutely purchase a Junior Ranger Van Build badge! Love it! Such a great episode.😍

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Katie is already cranking away on something! Maybe a t-shirt? lol

[@ArtOfShredYT]

This was great! Thanks for sharing all the details. Surprised the shower never got used, but maybe more surprised that there are so many Planet Fitness locations haha

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We were okay with being a bit stinkier when living on the road than when we are home in Colorado. But yes, Planet Fitness locations everywhere!

[@RoadsofLife]

Great and detailed video! You are so right about knowing what your needs and wants are before you build... but how difficult that is to do when you don't know what you don't know! Good luck with all your future travels... be seeing you!

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Thank you for the comment! Before we jumped into the build, we had a few friends (van builders) who recommended building things piece by piece, and figuring out what we needed on the go. Unfortunately, that did not work with what we needed in a van as we had one large trip planned and not a bunch of small trips. In the long run, maybe that would have been the better route but with weather, timing, etc... it was not something we could have swung. It's okay, hopefully our video and our thoughts will help others with their van build in the future! Happy Travels!

[@kimkullberg4479]

Hi guys! We have exactly the same size Transits here in Europe so don´t worry, you can fit on our roads. There is also authorized Ford service here, but in Europe we are more specialized in the diesel engines or EV in the Transit, however, there is knowledge and help to get with the petrol engines as well. It is true that finding parking and navigating terrain with a larger vehicle is more cumbersom. Have a good one! Best regards from Finland.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Appreciate the thoughts!! We go back and forth with shipping the van over there, we want a place but also love the idea of buying an old G-Class from the 80s with a roof top tent and explore that way.

[@PlantbasedSilvi]

In Europe there are many narrow roads, e.g. Italy, also in Italy you have to have a good safety system, the van should not be longer than 6 meters and higher than 2 meters. It's colder in Europe and you can't shower everywhere. I have seen different ways of showering without wasting space. For example, the shower was built into a wall cupboard and there was a drain at the bottom of the floor (if you're not standing, it's better to have several outlets). But there is also the possibility to shower with a shower bag in the back by clamping a process between the two doors. In Nordic countries it is an advantage if you have a 4x4 or retrofit air springs. But if you want to go to Australia one day then 4x4 is definitely better. Greeting from Europe

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Yep yep, we've lived in Europe for about 5 years (Germany) and know all about the smaller roads. Fantastic for motorcycles, but not so much for vans. Our van is closer to 7m long and is 3.3m tall. Our van is AWD since no brands make a 4x4 as an OEM option anymore (MB was the last and has now switched to AWD) - but the system paired with the dually rear wheels has not failed us yet. If we were going to ship to Europe, we'd be looking at a truck with a soft sided truck camper. But, right now that's just a pipe dream. We almost bought a 87 G-Class when we were over there and kept in touch with the dealer, we might go that route with a roof top tent.

[@annieoakley5075]

Thanks for your honesty.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Of course! We put out this video in hopes that people learn from our wins (just as much as our loses). Building a van is not cheap, and we know it first hand. We wish more videos were out there that gave the full scope of it all!

[@crowlsyung]

Loved watching this : ) Thanks for sharing.

[@rustythornIXI]

thanks for the video, helpful stuff. one note: bed on the floor; while i like the spirit of the idea, getting up and down off the floor would get real old real fast and make you feel real old too

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Agreed, bed on the floor is definitely a “quick fix” but not useful. There is so much storage under it that we could not live without.

[@AreYouMyPeople]

Love this video! Thank you for the info. Not sure if you follow Curt & Snow but they have an extended Sprinter and have traveled the entire Pan American Highway and shipped their van over to Europe and it's working just fine. It can be done if you decide to!

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We don't follow them (but now we do!) - Good to know, we'll check out some of their videos where they talk about the process and life over there.

[@walwalka]

Don't worry, my dometic fridge is the exact same way. It's just all of them, ice packs are the only way I can keep it consistent with 80+% humidity on the daily.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Interesting, we never thought about adding ice packs to our fridge. Does it help keep things more constant?

[@walwalka]

@@katieandjoeonthego Yep! I have to keep on top of them and swap them out for frozen ones regularly. I carry 4 medium sized rubbermaid brand plastic packs, whatever you want to call them. But they actually freeze, which is important as the gel ones do not and make zero difference.

[@sherrieventuri5124]

My norcold freezes up or won't run. Freezing up fan be prevented with making sure the door is adjusted to seal tight (paper test) and using a rechargeable fan. Norcold has this safety feature that it will turn off if the electronics get over 110 degrees. Have a Roadtrek with it mounted high and it gets over that so two usb computer fans attached to the grill (one out one in) solved that issue. HTH someone

[@CeeJayKay]

Hi. We're watching your video & re. fighting mosquitos you might want to try peppermint essential oil which repels them well. Just put a drop or two on your skin.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We will definitely try that, thanks for the advice.

[@kwong6884]

I’ve recently been on a camping trip where I put a few drops of lemongrass essential oils around the doorway of my tent and it kept a lot of bugs away. But be careful because too much also deters people too

[@kwong6884]

Super informative and thanks for sharing your feedback

[@kwong6884]

Also it’s really good to know that simple is always best and you didn’t need all the bells and whistles

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Lol, learn from our mistakes! Simple is better!

[@igoslomo]

Loved the video..building my own van and I found the info helpful. What device did y'all use for internet and what is the t mobile product you referenced??

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Super happy that you found our information helpful! Check out our accompanying blog post -> Under internet! We laid out our entire internet system and what we know of the T-Mobile system: bit.ly/KAJOTG_6MIOSCV

[@terrysandiego]

Good video. Transit Trail info was mentioned by another commenter. It has had problems.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We've seen they had tire issues (being too big from the factory) but besides that, nothing unique to that platform vs. ours. Have you seen anything else?

[@bobaloo2012]

Your first build you overbuild everything, your second you watch every ounce that goes into it. Weight is the killer, it loads the shocks, it loads the suspension, it loads the engine and transmission. More isn't better when it comes to a van build.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Yep, something we learned along the way. Our van is definitely overbuilt but we are still well under the max weight for the van. If we did it again, it would be much simpler and lighter. That being said, not sure we would ever want to build another van again.

[@patriciasmith4464]

Love the dog

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Lol, same! Now if we could get her to hike more than 1/2 a mile before deciding to lay down and stop taking the majority of the bed.

[@bwbrady8372]

If you can make such attractive cushions, you can make a bug screen. Amazon,

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Thank you! We went camping last night and dealt with a lot of bugs, I think a bug screen will be in the works soon. How did you attach it to the interior of the van?

[@bwbrady8372]

@@katieandjoeonthego It comes with a stick-on Velcro edge. (Magneted opening in center.). I removed the Velcro and cut the screen to fit the door opening and sewed the Velcro back on. When not in use, we store it under our mattress.

[@Bluebelle-Sprintervancon-wc5br]

Hello Katie and Joe, Thankyou for straightforward and honest review 6 months on. Two questions. The Laveo dry flush is about $1.50 per flush? Have you found that to be affordable? How often are you emptying the grey tank under your sink? I have bought an Isotherm Cruise 200 for my build. I was disappointed to hear about your experience with the 130. I plan on a 24v hook up with an extra ventilation fan running behind and across the dual fridge/freezer compressors when needed on a thermostat. The 200 has a separate freezer from the fridge. I believe that will really help with the temperature fluctuations as Isotherm told me that voltage fluctuation can be problematic with maintaining constant reliable temperatures. Your thoughts?

[@katieandjoeonthego]

The price per flush is 100% worth it for us vs. dealing with the alternatives. We just don't have it in us to dump pee jugs and poop wood chips. We've not looked at the Isotherm Cruise 200 but it sounds like a much better set-up than ours. If we ran a 24v system, that might have helped our fridge but not sure. We have pretty good airflow behind the fridge but adding an extra fan to suck/push air around it might be the golden ticket for the future.

[@SherylKatz]

My van is at the builder’s now. If I were younger, I would have had a blast building it myself. I am curious about the cooking in your build? Do you have an oven and stove? I will have a partition from the cab to the house part. Installed a screen door etc. About the toilet where did you store the cartridges? I am torn between incinerating and the wrappon which self aeals each go. Thank s for the information!!

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We do not have an oven and have never wished we had it honestly. Anytime you cook in your van, it heats up quick + we don't have propane/natural gas to power it. We have a 2 burner induction stove top that works fantastic since our battery system is quite large.

[@ZillaYT]

How far back (or front) is you shower? Judging from you "not using the shower" or "not needing water tank system" you don't boondock at extended period of times? Also, the Transit Trail had recalls so you're lucky that you didn't get it.

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We spent about 75% of our nights on the road in BLM camping, Basically the only time we were not on BLM was because there was none nearby 😂 We did not use our shower so our water system wasn’t used as much. I’m sure if we showered more than a quick rinse (which we usually did with the kitchen faucet outside) we’d be very happy for the 37 gallon water tank. Everything has a recall nowadays. We’ve got 3 outstanding right now.

[@ZillaYT]

@@katieandjoeonthego yeah how long did you stay off-grid in one place?

[@katieandjoeonthego]

@@ZillaYT Due to some tight timelines on our trip, we never stayed more than 3-4-days in a single location. For our second portion of our National Park trip, we are slowing down dramatically.

[@juniper617]

Have you tried superglue for keeping the rubber pieces on the ladder? They don’t need to be able to come off, do they?

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Super glue for the win!

[@SuperMjennings]

You two are cute ☺️- subscribed!

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Ohhhhh, thank you!! ☺☺☺☺

[@bfdee1603]

What is the make n model of that water system that u mentioned that is simpler and cost about $200? I will b buying a van to convert soon as I plan to travel when I retire and my van set up will b all simple. Simple plumbing, electricity from a power bank like Blueti, bucket system toilet, portable shower heating system etc. less complicated means less to break n probably cheaper. Thanks

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Great question! Check out our blog post under "Complex Water System" katieandjoeonthego.com/what-we-love-and-hate-about-our-self-converted-ford-transit-van-build/#complex-water-system for the much simpler water system recommendation. The only thing you need to make sure of is that the water you use is filtered as this has no filtering system.

[@strawberi6257]

I'm doing the same! I went with an igloo 6 gal jug under my sink and bought one of the rechargeable faucets that fit on a 5 gal water bottle people used to get from the Culligan Man 😂 I did need to buy a longer hose to reach the bottom but it works great and charge lasts a long time. I think it was around $75 for container, hose and faucet. Good luck!

[@chrisward5314]

About to start a conversion. Do you have heat? I didn’t see skimming old videos. You happy with doing the explorist life electrical?

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Yep! We had an ESPAR AIRTRONIC B2L AS3 12V Heater. We did not make an installation video since we did not install it ourselves (had the owner of RexOverland in Colorado do it for us): kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2q2gqlrfpJ3gKcsi=X00072A7b8RTf4W4

[@jaymcintosh2918]

Great video! I am finishing up a 148 Transit that we have been using as we build. We have no toilet or shower and I am considering your toilet for the second time due to your videos. Our water system is just 5 gallons under the sink with a 5 gallon grey under the sink. I have been contemplating putting a grey tank under the van (with the ability to go #1 in it) with a electric drain valve so that we can have two 5 gallon jugs of water under the sink. My question is, do you use the electric drain option on your gray tank or is that something you would also not do?

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We did not want anything under our van as we live in Colorado and are already afraid of things freezing. Our current grey tank is the 4 gallon jug under the sink and we dump it about 1x a week (depending on fresh water use). For our shower output, it drops straight out of the van with the ability to connect it to a grey tank if we wanted to but since we've never used that shower it is bone dry right now.

[@sharonsegal9784]

I can't rap my head around showering in public places! I would absolutely use my shower all the time! You are the 1st van lifers to mention how the shower smells. Maybe you should have done more research when building your shower

[@katieandjoeonthego]

We did tons of research and found almost every van builder used RFP. I think there are either very few people who go to destination with temperature above 110* or very few people are bothered by the smell to the degree we are or very few people are honest / making videos about the aftermath of their installation.

[@allanjay4983]

hey look another van couple... just what we all need, I'm sure this one will be "different"..

[@katieandjoeonthego]

Thanks for watching & your comment (even though it was rude) it still helps us in the algorithm 😉

[@strawberi6257]

Nobody's making you watch anything 🤨 Have a great day! ✌️