DIY Camper Van Conversion | How to Install Subfloor in a Camper Van | Ford E-150 Build Series EP. 2

[@scottphillipy9831]

"Liquid" nailed it! That went pretty smooth, having the mat made it go really fast. Thanks for sharing your build with us. 👍👍

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Hahah nice one Scott! It took me only a few hours to complete. Couldn’t have been any easier, the mat was very key to success on this one. In my Astro van it took me hours of tracing with cardboard and making small corrections to my cuts. Thanks for watching friend, cheers! 🤠

[@mrabrasive51]

I put 1" ridgid foam insulation and then plywood subfloor.with all the walls and roof insulation the van is really warm and quiet at freeway speeds!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

That is ideal if you don’t mind missing out on an inch of head room. What kind of van did you do this in?

[@hawaiibikekahuna8204]

Sound insulation underneath is good too. Especially if you have noisy all terrain tires. If you have a passenger van you have to locate the anchor points. I painted mine with deck paint with sand for traction.

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I would agree that sound deadening could be beneficial to reduce road noise. Although this is one area to keep your budget low. Thanks for watching!

[@sandeedobberstine5591]

Great video. Never understood why people would toss those mats when they’re the perfect template. The only thing that I would change, is having the larger piece in front of the door. More strength where you step in and out of all the time.

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Yeah these mats are a key to success with this job! That’s a really great point and I appreciate your input. On the next build I will be following this advice. Lucky enough for me everything fit so snug that I don’t have to worry about the subfloor shifting too much. Been walking on it for the last few days getting in and out of the van and it is SUPER solid. Thanks for watching friend, cheers! 🤠

[@Terrilyn_Austen]

OMG saving the rubber mat is genius!!!!!!!!!!! I almost tossed mine!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

That’s typically what everyone does immediately and I don’t blame them!! They usually are pretty repulsive lol. Really glad you found my tip to be useful!

[@nicolegee4690]

I like your seize the adventure logo! Super cool. Can’t wait to see the next video 😀

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Thank you very much! Cheers 🤠

[@thomasmalone6654]

love the whole build, Rock !

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Thanks Thomas! It was really an interesting process completed in just under 3 weeks. Thanks for watching!

[@simonrooney611]

Looking good!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Thank you Simon! I appreciate you watching, cheers friend! 🤠

[@brenryan6019]

Cruising along fast!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Three weeks or less is the challenge. Thanks for watching man I appreciate it. Cheers! 🤠

[@robinbond8240]

Mannnnnn I was just about to throw that stinky thing away😂😂😂thank youuuuuuuuu❤❤❤❤❤

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I don’t blame you!! They are typically pretty bad 😂 such a useful tool. Thanks for commenting!!

[@vansnstuff6270]

SICK!!

[@JordanB-lc4oi]

Awesome...the ceiling must be difficult..

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

The ceiling isn’t too hard besides the fact you have to work over head. Thanks for watching friend

[@greatcesarsghost]

After u do the floor . Do u cut out where you are going to mount your things or just screw right thru your vinyl / wood floor ... Or that personal choice ...one good idea was a rubber coin mat ? .to edge where bed Ends and forward half wood or vinyl .. they say the mat can take ruff sliding of things in your " garage area "

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I mount the furniture directly through the floor. This allows for a more complete piece and good base to build upon. Definitely can be done differently as well I suppose. That’s a good suggestion. Maybe I’ll implement that into my current build 🤔 Thanks for commenting!

[@christate590]

Great simple vlog to understand and very neat, cheers. Is this type of board not heavier than standard plywood though? What's the thickness? And, are you gonna use a vapor barrier before vinyl or final finished floor. Cheers, looking forward to next video.

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Great questions Chris. The OSB board might be slightly heavier then standard plywood, but not by very much. It’s a lot cheaper and it’s commonly used for sub flooring in houses so it’s the right lumber for the job. It’s a 3/4 inch sheet which is plenty of thickness for a sturdy base to the floor. I did not use any type of vapor barrier because the vinyl flooring I use is “water proof” meaning it locks into place and spills etc will not penetrate through the floor. Although this is true I try to leave a very small gap around the edges of the subfloor in order for air to circulate through the van and allow evaporation of any moisture that develops. I hope this makes sense and answers your questions. Feel free to ask anything else you might think of, and stay tuned for future videos. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠

[@christate590]

@@SeizeTheAdventure Thanks for quick reply and yes it answers my questions. I'm wondering if you've decided to go super stealthy with this build and looking forward to finding out in the coming weeks. Cheers.

[@anonanons163]

What do you think about the idea of brushing on a few coats of rubberized undercoating first, between the wood and bare metal??? To hopefully prevent/encapsulate potential rust, plus add to insulation??

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I do think that’s a pretty good idea. I always put down a rust preventative paint on the metal and leave the channels open to allow the floor to ventilate. I do think a rubberized product would work great as well. The only problem I could see arising is potential off gassing at high temps. I applied a coat of bed liner to my first vans floor and later found out it off gasses and is harmful in inclosed spaces. With enough research you might be able to find the best product.

[@anonanons163]

@@SeizeTheAdventure yeah thanks, I watched your bed liner removal video right after I asked you this question I also searched the internet for non-toxic rubberized under a coating and found nothing at all 🤣🥴🥴

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

@@anonanons163 although that was an embarrassing situation, I wanted to keep it real and hopefully help someone out in the long run. Glad you were able to find it useful. Thanks for watching!

[@anonanons163]

@@SeizeTheAdventure yeah it actually helped because I was about to do that 2 mechanics and a bunch of other people told me to ...... The rubberized undercoating OR what you put on So thank you, glad I caught the video

[@sadietaylor37]

Any suggestions for someone who does not have the rubber mat? :) all flooring was ripped out of my 1995 E150 and tossed. I appreciate your videos!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I have a 2000 GMC Safari AWD that is my personal camper van. It didn’t come with floor mats so I had to improvise to put the subfloor in. I created cardboard cut outs of the shape of the wheel wells and all the odd angles of the floor and taped those together. This provided me with a template of the van floor where I was able to trace it on to the subfloor material. They also make tools for this job but this is the most cost effective method. I hope this makes sense. Thanks for watching

[@dragonman80917]

Just wondering why you didnt insulate under the plywood? Im trying to figure out if i need to insulate or not.

[@israelpacheco7670]

Very helpful quick concise video, no nonsense trying to sell us things… thank you sir!! ❤️🫡👍🏼

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Really appreciate this type of feedback. Thank you for watching!

[@gwglowstone]

Hello, like the guy who commented 11 days ago, I am also using this series as a reference for my Ford E-150. I have people telling me that metal to wood contact in the subfloor leads to heat transfer between the wood and metal resulting in negation of any insulation. How has the temperature of the lower areas of the van been? If you're a shorter guy in my case, what is your opinion on making a frame using some thin wood with insulation in between underneath the plywood? Thanks

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

This is a true statement. Direct contact will cause your insulation to be less effective. The three vans that I have built have all been without insulation in the floor to save space. I find that the floor will get cool at night during the winter. I find that a decorative small rug in the heavy traffic zone not only looks nice, but provides you with a layer of comfort. My current build is rigged with a diesel heater that puts out so much warm dry air that I don't find myself regretting anything when it comes to insulation. My answer to your question is this: if you simply want to insulate the floor and don't mind losing valuable headroom in a smaller van AND its budget permitting, I say go for it. You will save time, money, headroom, and have a floor that allows for air flow when ventilating by not insulating the floor. Hope this helps.

[@carsonyoung8667]

Hey man I am using this as a reference for my van build and was just wandering if you've had any issues with mold or whatnot? I have a 99 safari and am just worried about moisture due to living up here in the northwest.

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Moisture is a major issue and something you cannot avoid. Couple tips to minimize mold as follows 1) use high quality insulation that prevents moisture build up. I like 3M thinsulate. 2) allow your floors and walls to breathe. Condensation will build on the metal walls just from being inside. Make sure to allow air flow rather then making things too air tight. 3) avoid cooking inside the van if you are worried about moisture. I like to cook in the van so having a high quality air vent will help draw some of that out. I like the maxx fan. 4) avoid using propane heaters. They create a ton of condensation. Instead use a diesel heater that vents out of the living space or a wood burning stove. These methods are much more dry. 5) most importantly air it out as frequently as you can. Roll the windows down on hot days and keep doors open occasionally at camp. Hope these few suggestions help.

[@greatcesarsghost]

Can u use 3/8.wood or does it only come in 1/2 INCH yeah I understand bout the height thing ..so it's Ok to set wood on floor bare to minimize height ..

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

You could use what you have available to you. I’d suggest 1/2 or thicker to lessen the chances of the plywood bowing down into the channels over time if you aren’t insulating. Yes you can put it straight on to the metal. I always treat the floor with rust preventative paint in case water builds up below the floor. And ensure there’s a gap somewhere to allow for air flow. Thanks for commenting!

[@greatcesarsghost]

I have found vinyl sheet of fake flooring but they are all a dull finish .. I found a white marbliesh finish but again dull finish .. I found stick n peel tiles they are glossy but stick tiles 😐 .. there a way to make the others glossy

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Hmm yeah not entirely sure there is a product that you can use to make vinyl glossy. I wouldn’t add any wood finish to it. The only thing that may work is some type of furniture polish/cleaner that may provide a temporary shimmer. Other then that I would just continue to look for the perfect flooring for you. At the end of the day the floor will get scratched up likely and become warn down over time. Hope this helps and thanks for your comments

[@ricksmith7631]

aw man, i spent a whole sunday cutting filler strips and sticking them in place when all i needed to do was cut a template and install the subfloor directly. what size osb did you use, 7/16???

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Its a great method that makes the process much faster. maybe next time. Yes that is what I used.

[@wilsonlynds8768]

Would sound deadener work in place of liquid nails?

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Sound deadener would decrease vibration and road noise but liquid nails is the adhesive to hold the floor in place. I’d suggest using both sound deadener and liquid nails if budget permits.

[@jamestaylor8860]

The trade off is your base is filled with formaldehyde. A better quality and more expensive choice would be better. This isn’t the place to save money.

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I’m quite sure that OSB board is commonly used in household applications of subfloors and is low emitting of off gasses. Thanks for watching, cheers! 🤠

[@Realdreamcherry]

unfortunately my van doesn’t have a mat so i’m wondering how to pull this off

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

This can be done by getting a huge roll of construction paper and creating your own template. I’ve done this in two vans that didn’t have a floor mat and I still got the job done and looking professionally. Check out my other builds for inspiration.

[@greatcesarsghost]

U don’t put anything on the low slots on the floor .. don’t the empty gaps let cold thru ??

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Actually air is a better insulator then if you have plywood directly touching the metal floor. In fact the floor of this van isn’t insulated at all. This was to leave as much head room as possible in this low roof van. Another great reason for doing this is to have a “breathable” floor. Air is able to circulate and any moisture is more easily evaporated. I hope this makes sense. Thanks for commenting 🏔🚐💨

[@ljhop945]

Did you caulk or spray foam or tape the edges of the subfloor and is that necessary?

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

I used caulk around the outside perimeter to seal the floor as what most people do. I once saw a video explaining that leaving the subfloor breathable is the way to go so if moisture gets beneath the subfloor there’s enough airflow to dry it. There’s no real science to it, but I think you can’t go wrong either way 🙂 hope this helps.

[@ljhop945]

@@SeizeTheAdventure thanks for the feedback I will give it a whirl and see what happens 😃✌🏻

[@gunsnstuff4040]

Good job!

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

Thanks for watching!

[@gunsnstuff4040]

@@SeizeTheAdventure I wanted to ask, how long did it take you to get the plywood down?

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

@@gunsnstuff4040 this entire job probably took 3 hours. Then another 24 for the liquid nails to adhere.

[@gunsnstuff4040]

@@SeizeTheAdventure Sweet! Thanks for the reply!

[@luismorales4751]

good morning how thick is the wood panel /

[@SeizeTheAdventure]

This is 1/2in plywood. Seemed to be enough for a solid base to build upon. You can take it a step further and use 3/4in plywood if this is something you can budget. Thanks for commenting!!

[@scottphillipy9831]

"Liquid" nailed it! That went pretty smooth, having the mat made it go really fast. Thanks for sharing your build with us. 👍👍