DIY CAMPER VAN KITCHEN BUILD: The Perfect Solution for Small Spaces

[@kvdme]

You do the most expensive stuff. You use victron stuff. I don't have room for a victron multi. Come on. Do a budget build someone really can afford.

[@EXPLORISTlife]

I don't really do 'the most expensive stuff', no: ◾I could have shipped in bamboo ply for this project, which would have cost 4x as much. ◾I also chose the least expensive Isotherm fridge (least expensive model of a high-quality brand, mind you) to make this more approachable for everybody. ◾I'm also saving money by doing these projects myself rather than hiring them out. If you want to do things differently than I do, that's totally fine. You should be able to use the information and education I teach on this channel to build within your budget. If you are looking for channels that build 'as cheaply as possible', they are out there, but... ❗this isn't one of them.❗

[@kbell101]

Some of us want to 'Buy once, Cry once' and have it work well, so we buy quality. I bought Victron Multi before I know who Nate was, because I didn't want it to break down on me on the road and cut my trip short or leave me in the dark for the rest of a trip. You can buy cheaper.... or smaller to save room, as you seem to indicate. I'm not following Nate's build directly, because I've already built most of my van my way. I'm watching him to get some new ideas, like I do from many other builders.

[@dodgeplow]

@@EXPLORISTlife You did a nice job. I don't think the choice of your materials is unreasonable. You can't please everyone. He can go to a budget builder channel if that's what he's looking for.

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

​@@dodgeplow I agree. You get what you pay for also. The other person should be able to use these videos to get an idea of what he wants and then he can go for the less expensive solar controller setups. But I do believe you get what you pay for

[@tomwilliam5118]

Building with quality products means you'll have quality performance and reliability. The way he assembles his cabinets they won't come apart after long term use. I think if we take the time and learn how to build something properly it will be only beneficial. learning something new will take time but afterwards you will be proud of what you have achieved. And who knows you may be able to get some clients and build quality items. It's not bad to learn a trade nowadays. Like Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs says "a four-year degree is not for everyone"

[@marlon7806]

Love the work! Just a little tip from a fellow wood worker. Always stain both sides of the wood. In this case the butcher block. Otherwise it likes to warp in the direction of the oil :)

[@johnsharpe2351]

😯I didn't know this. Thanks for the tip! Glad that I haven't installed the countertop just yet. Will flip it over and stain the other side as well.

[@marlon7806]

@@johnsharpe2351 great! Glad It helped. If it was mine I also would stain the sides that have been cut to make an opening for the sink. Protects the wood from any water that may gets trapped there when used

[@johnsharpe2351]

@@marlon7806 yep, I did stain the inside cut-out area.

[@BeCinema]

Thanks for showing your process. 🙏🏾💡

[@samnapier4594]

You guys should do a sketchup tutorial for van builds!! It would be so helpful.

[@sambarker1245]

Love this build. Having watched all of the past videos i love how all the ports and switched points are pre-planned and already in the right place.

[@timdunmyer4549]

Turning out nice. Can't wait to see what you guys do for a bed and table sitting. I'd like to see the rear doors covered like the sides with completely covered panels with smaller window openings.

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Hey Tim Dunmyer, Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@pau1phi11ips]

Impeccable build as always Nate! I'm a fan of making the toe kick a bit higher than standard and having that section as a draw to store canned goods. Makes good use of otherwise dead space.

[@manubisbee1]

Loved this one. Thanks for the details. Love the access of gray water from the back

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Hey @manubisbee1, Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@bikesbeersbeats]

Amazing build and beautiful quality. Unfortunately I dont have wood working skills or a workshop space and tools like this, it wouldnt make sense to acquire everything for a one off build. So that means it’ll be 8020 for me!

[@themcpeters]

Loving the timing on these videos. Ordering parts today to rebuild our drawers/cabinet build and am very thankful for these videos. Did you think about using push to open drawer slides vs. marine latches? I like the look of the latches, and I'm sure they are more reliable long term on the, "not flying open while driving down washboard" front 😅

[@Monstufpud]

I have been dreading doing the cabinetry in my van for the last year

[@brianchetelat6601]

Nate, are you up to sharing the make/model of your LED strips? There is a myriad of them out there.

[@maggiebrattoli383]

👍 I’m terrible with math, so the use of spacers makes perfect sense to me. Thanks for explaining everything in so much detail.

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Glad it was helpful. Cheers!

[@TylerMillieWood]

Looking to do something similar and was curious about approximate weight of the unit not including sink and fridge? Thanks! Looks really nice!

[@TheUnstoppableMoron]

Hopefully you see this one Nate! Got any tips for installing the slam latches? My measuring for doing these in the past has been sporadic and mostly guess work.

[@madisonbusman7688]

Nice! Taking a lot of notes as we are getting ready to build out our skoolie kitchen. Thanks for making us a well documented video!!

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@lylestavast7652]

nice work result and production video, as always...

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@madcow3417]

This is a question for Nate, or anyone else. I'm looking for a built-in induction cooktop. The one in the video is the perfect size. My question is whether or not it pulses at low power. The cheap portable one I have now pulses max power for lower power settings: 1000W on for 1 second and off for 9 seconds at level 1. on for 2 seconds/off for 8 seconds for level 2... This is weird to see while cooking, water boils for a second, then stops for a while. It can't be good for the inverter, or other adjacent electronics whose input voltage probably varies because of this. The really expensive induction cooktops don't do this. No manufacturer documents whether or not they do this. So, my question is: Does this Empava cooktop pulse on/off at low power settings? Does anyone else know of a single or double built-in cooktop that does not pulse? Thanks!

[@davecutherell6346]

Where did you get your butcher block countertop??

[@yduRteKh]

I like it about you, that everything is so cleanly worked, professional. We have something to learn, this is also your goal.

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!

[@GeorgeLavrov]

Hey Nate, nice work! But I noticed - your floor shows some air bubbles? I am asking because I started to get the same issue on my build and trying to figure out how to fix it without removing my cabinets. On another subject, the cabinets you installed, have you ever did the math on the relationship for the cabinet weight, dynamic force and strength of those wood screws to the floor brackets? I am curios because there are some eye opener youtube research videos shows impact effects in even 20-30 mph crashes, especially for wood based cabinets. Knowing your thoroughly style for everything you do, interesting to know if you had some numbers before the build. Thanks and god speed :)

[@johnsharpe2351]

Great job as always! I hope one day you guys would make DIY kits for these cabinets and sell them in your online store. Surely there is a market for this service! Thanks for all your videos!

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Thanks! So... we sorta already do. We have the 3d models and cut lists available in our store (link in video description). This will give you everything you need to get going on this project. The cut list lets you go from 4x8' sheets of plywood down to individual pieces of wood with just a circular saw.

[@johnsharpe2351]

I saw those plans and was getting ready to hit the "buy" button but then saw they were sketch up files. Is there any way you could add pdf files to your store? Don't know if the sketch up file can easily be converted to pdf, but it would save those of us who are "sketch up illiterate"😁

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Well, the cut list is a PDF. The 3d plans have to stay as a sketchup file since a PDF can't really be a 3d view. Looks like a good time to learn a new skill around navigating sketchup?

[@Phil-dg1yg]

nice job , love plywood construction nicedone! not the case for some other guys

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Hey Phil, Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@josephwhitty7245]

Another great project; thanks for sharing. As a matter of fact I just bought one of your electric plans. Very nice-thorough. I am liking this cabinet build and have the same refrigerator. Can you provide the overall dimension ie. L x W x height. Thanks in advance.

[@quinkrisik3278]

Great build and video! Wondering if you did anything to account for the fact that the L track sits proud of the flooring a little bit. Placing a cabinet on top would only contact the L track and not the floor? Thank you!

[@sPGgwUxYrSd7Cf5H]

You do amazing, high quality, well though out work! Keep it up. Do you offer build out services?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Thanks! We don't offer build services, no. Making these videos is our full time thing.

[@dorsetrocks]

hi! question im really hoping you can help me with! so the grey water tanks you have seem to have tose great caps that the water pipe connects directly into. our current tanks just have the cap taken off and the sink pipe dangling in which i really dont like. cannot seem to find your ones anywhere! please you you put a link for us or just let us know the name of the manufacturer! thanks so much, great build quality all round in this video. attention to detail is mesmerising!

[@davidmcdowellactor]

Hi Nate (and gang)! If I have skipped the large fancy power system and wanted to plug my mini fridge into the Ford supplied 400W inverter... oh, it sucks, NOT pure sine! - Do you sell a Victron Phoenix 500VA (375W) which could potentially replace that inverter under the passenger seat? And would you?

[@bpersons14]

How much does this kitchen setup weigh?

[@zupp.social]

what is the length of the drawer slide did you use? can you please give us the link.

[@amythinks]

Damn son, where'd you get all the birch? That's like flashing salt in the ancient world, chocolate in the 1500s or toilet paper in 2020.

[@dodgeplow]

Can an induction top be counter sunk a bit to make the surface level?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Sure!

[@csteutterman]

Do you have an affiliate link for the drawer slides you used? I'm overwhelmed with all the different options, so hoping to piggy back on your research.

[@MrBrohoward71]

Did I miss the part that shows the cabinets attaching to the floor track ?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Yep. It was in there. 😉

[@batukeskinbora7257]

Fancy video , can you share the sketch up sketch up drawings and the sizes for Sprinter ?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Yeah, those are in the video description or pinned comment.

[@batukeskinbora7257]

@@EXPLORISTlife can you share again , I did not find.

[@ArturZagaj-Izraelita]

47 kilogramowa kuchnia do busa/kampera to za dużo? Myślę że tak, ale czy ciepło nie jest tego warte?

[@vinceocratic]

What did you use on the walls?

[@coreyscysen1705]

Curious why you used super glue for the sink instead of silicone?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Super glue was for the stove so it could be removed if it broke. Silicone would have made it much more permanent.

[@coreyscysen1705]

@@EXPLORISTlife thanks for the quick response. Coffee hadn't kicked in yet.

[@donnaknox4111]

Where can I find the plans and parts list and where to buy them from thanks

[@EXPLORISTlife]

In the video description.

[@gattaca5911]

nice work as always...butcher block is worth the extra weight...how many people helped you get that into the van without dinging your beautiful work...?

[@timf6916]

Nice

[@unimog404]

Such a nice kitchen unit. But why a 20L jerrycan as graywater tank? With this level of build I expected a different solution. I put a 36L graywater tank under my camper and made an easy dumpvalve

[@EXPLORISTlife]

A built-in tank means we would need to be able to find an RV dump any time we needed to empty. With a removable tank, we can empty into a toilet as necessary. A built-in tank under the van also means a drain holt through the floor, which we were trying to avoid for the sake of making the kitchen modular and easily removable.

[@unimog404]

@@EXPLORISTlife also true. I can easily dump my tank into a bucket if I need to dump it. I think interior space is premium and under the floor by the chassis you have some space. So everything that can go there is great. ☺️

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Neat! Sounds like you've found a great solution for your own personal wants and needs just like I have. 🙂👍

[@EXPLORISTlife]

...and the cool part about these DIY projects is that is my needs/wants change and I want to add a tank underneath and mess with keeping it from freezing in the winter, I can do just that. We had this similar setup in our sprinter we lived in for 4 years and it worked well enough to do it again.

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

Gosh you guys are great

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Hey Vince Badovinatz, Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@VinceBadovinatz88]

@@EXPLORISTlife My pleasure I really enjoy your videos and all the help

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

hello, your video is very interesting and clear, and I thank you. I wanted to know what type of plywood you use and how thick it is, I think it is 18mm?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

It's 1/2". So whatever that is in mm.

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

@@EXPLORISTlife thank you very much, I can handle the conversion to mm

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

hello, can you also tell me what wood the plywood you worked with comes from (e.g. beech, birch?) thank you.

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Birch

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

thank you very much

[@JogBird]

how do these hold up over time or with heavy loads, there is no internal frame/skeleton

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Holds up great! 👍 I cannot imagine a frame and thinner panel type of construction being stronger.

[@oscardyremyhr1800]

IS there a reason why you did not install a water filter for the sink?

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Not really. Would probably have a hard time getting it to fit.

[@billcoleman7316]

What a great job. 💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Thank you! 😊

[@OnRappel]

Nice work!

[@EXPLORISTlife]

Thanks!