Ford Econoline with Custom Hightop. Vanbuild and Tour

[@kristapritz4862]

I've been reading and watching van conversion blogs and videos for over a decade.... and this is one of the most real videos yet. ❤❤❤

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you u I saw this comment as I was drinking my morning coffee

[@cookieflip6923]

this is probably the best vanlife video on youtube

[@imjasonflaster]

Hey thanks so much for watching and for your comment. I might make an update video sometime soon.

[@fieldofnightmares3012]

"You can't let society tell you where your roof ends. That's for you to decide." Thank you for the encouragement!!!

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks for watching and for your comment

[@simbamom452]

Jason, they broke the mold when they made you. Thank you for the van tour and info on a homemade high-top. I wish you nothing but happy trails.

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you thats so nice 😊

[@yowhatup1050]

One of the most interesting van tours I've seen 😀😊 and I've seen a lot

[@LayKSuccess]

love this build and your energy bro! God bless!

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank u

[@KennyDacko333]

Dude thank you! I get paid tomorrow and have been researching, meditating and contemplating for years and months and especially the last few weeks - about what new van to get. I have a 1997 ford econoline 250 extended that I got in October 2021 it was my 2nd van and my first was a 150 GMC during 2020 and just basically I learned how to drive a van in the 2 months I had it working... (I have loved the journey but cant stand up and stretch inside like your old van I HAVE TO STAND! haha- and it's getting worn down and hot here in Tampa/St Pete!. ) In February I was supposed to get a new van with a high top but the transmission fell through before the sale and I am still waiting on the final money to be paid back to me. It just made me appreciate my current van and make the best times I could in it to where I almost was too nostalgic to get a new one but that comfort reminded it was time to keep moving. Key word being 'Time". Life is always a movement and we must be one with the flow as we grow. YOUR VIDEO HERE after I watched and read for weeks and these final days of waiting....and talking to all these sellers... well your video helped me follow my heart and remember how much I love and want space and privacy like a lone wolf..(living with roommates at the moment for Band recording album's sake and its hot in the summer)..I was SO close to getting a Ford Transit Connect just because of the MPG and sleek look and Ive never had a vehicle as new as 2010! But I found a 2008 HiTop Econoline XL and am STOKED! This video is kickass and reminded me of the dream in my heart and how we can live SO MUCH MORE by being efficient and having less possessions. The Transit connect however was far too small for me at 6 foot 1 and my knees and neck were already taking a toll from the non stand up big van I have so I cant imagine 1/3 the space unless I was just using it as a vehicle and traveled here and there. ANd I Love having SPACE and comfort, it's important to me. I love having all my things in 1 safe place including a vehicle in and as my home. THANKS MAN! I know it will all work out and we are all one in the Universe and as the infinite energy !

[@imjasonflaster]

I'm really excited for you and your van. Thanks for your comment. I know your build will come out great. The responsibility that come with living in a van is actually fun and cool and applys to everyday life and can make you better and more well rounded. I hope you have a great time doing it. Thanks for watching

[@KennyDacko333]

@@imjasonflaster thanks dude! Means a Lot! I'm so stoked I didn't go for a Transit connect just to save on gas and then have No space! Haha almost did. Thanks for helping me remember the way as I use the force but without much force. Had to get still and hear my own heart and soul and I'm so happy. Meeting up tomorrow to look at the high top 2008 Ford Econoline..250 I think. Thanks again man ☮️🤘🎶🙏

[@KennyDacko333]

@@imjasonflaster also what you said is spot on exact man. Totally agree ☮️💫🎶🤘

[@KennyDacko333]

@@imjasonflaster absolutely. Better and more well rounded every day and definitely connects to everything as all is connected. Best wishes for you as well . Thank you

[@KennyDacko333]

@@imjasonflaster I'll let you know what I get! I am adaptable like water 🌊🙏💫☮️🤘

[@dungeonmastervenger]

You have inspired me to work on my low roof van and become one with the standing-inside-a-van people.

[@imjasonflaster]

Happy to hear it !!

[@Zenchanics]

ive thought about converting my vans top with one of those truck toppers also. Its refreshing to see someone that actually did it! Gives me some inspiration

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks, It's honestly so nice to have a high top. I'm writing this from inside the van rn

[@zonerflys]

Love the van build! I especially like how you reused the steel from the roof.

[@imjasonflaster]

Hey thanks for watching! and yea I was surprised by how the origional roof plus the truck top were the perfect amount of materials to do the job

[@naturalhairdiscovery]

I think you did a great job!!! And your also very good looking! I hope your van life journey is amazing!!!🥰🥰🥰

[@chwayde2295]

This is the most sensible set up I've seen so far, space wise. Id still go the route of a hammock bc id rather have some space for entertainment, than a bed. Also sold me on the roof extention too. It just won't be comfortable at all without it. It won't save me money at first but man, it'll save me so much the next year around. I've had a few nice apartments & I'm realizing I really don't need it rn. Id rather do this & save money for property to build my home.

[@DavidHaney1]

This was so great, loved it. Your DIY VAN ROCKS and your video & narration was fabulous.

[@Falaughful]

The one dislike on this video is from the guy with a huffy bike under his bed.... The insulation song is great ,lmaoo !

[@imjasonflaster]

I'll tell u who the dislike is from when I see u at the next mic lol and thanks for watching dude. Insulation song was fun to record 🎭

[@ex-engineer6657]

Love your budget build, I've watched it at least 4 times, this last time at 1/2 speed with frequent pauses to see the progress. Thanks for producing this and sharing it.

[@imjasonflaster]

That's so kind, thank u

[@liezu1558]

that hightop is the sickest hightop ive ever seen

[@grandpasmountain]

Loved your video. Great job not over-talking stuff, and l loved your ingenuity. Thankyou!

[@higherdrivingiq3849]

I'm in the process of building out my 2007 E-250 extended hightop van and this is by far the greatest van build video I have watched so far... and I have watched hundreds of videos. Your personality, perseverance, and the functionality of your home is awesome. And yes, because you can put something down inside the van, doesn't mean you should. I believe what you are speaking of is clutter. I hate clutter and being in a small space makes it that much more undesirable. Cabinets are a thing I am dealing with as well. They are functional, but do take up space, and yes, I fully understand the "door in face" issue you speak of. I am thinking of a minimal amount of cabinets fitted with sliding doors, as opposed to swinging doors.

[@imjasonflaster]

Hey cabinets can be fun sometimes. A few here and there are nice sometimes. And thanks for watching my vid. I really appreciate your comment and I hope your build comes out great. I'm sure it will 🤙🤙

[@imjasonflaster]

Sliding doors, that's a really good idea 💡

[@higherdrivingiq3849]

@@imjasonflaster I'll let you know how it turns out.

[@olive9521]

Hey Jason! love the idea of the board storage on the outside! My husband and I are getting ready to tackle converting a pop up top to a hard top on our van and we were just talking about storing our surf&snow boards on the outside. Your design has inspired us for sure.

[@imjasonflaster]

That's so cool. I hope your build works out great !

[@lilmissdaydreamer4741]

Lots of great ideas! I'm getting a high top addition on my van soon and need good ideas and tips. Thank you for sharing!

[@Mike__james]

Love the channel and the way you built it .

[@drleo2641]

I like the mad scientist build. You're keeping it real to suit YOUR needs. Looking forward to checking out your channel. That's a crazy power plant you got on top too

[@grandpasmountain]

My favorite van build video! Love it!!!

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you

[@milkpire]

This was really inspiring and I loved the editing/style of the whole video. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks !

[@MannyWC]

I am crying this is so awesome and funny at the same time. Just keeping it real~

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks so much !!

[@civilsocietyprivateinteres1711]

Nice van upgrade man, got a 81 20ft odyssey I've been living in for 6 years. The struggle is real

[@imjasonflaster]

Oh sick thats really cool. I've been thinking about doing that one day. And thank u 😊

[@tonysshadow]

Fantastic storage solution. As an old former US Marine..enjoyed life and my stuff...but emphasis on old now. Im refitting a van and it just seems almost absurd to mimic a "house". At the most its a room, but more like a tent built by the three little pigs, the brick pig. I want to stretch my creaky bones, not knock a hole in my shin everytime I move around. P.S. It also has a bit of a nautical feel to it....which I love. Kudos from smack dab in the middle of Georgia

[@mellowllow]

That roof is genius I would prefer this over a sprinter any day stay you brother you’re rad

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks for watching and for saying that. It started as an idea in the back of my mind years ago and im really glad it worked out and that I can share it

[@ramborambles5755]

I’m so happy I found this video!! It just crossed my mind to build an extended van roof with metal sheets… I was discouraged by someone but now I’ve seen what you’ve done and my confidence and excitement are restored! Please lmk how it’s been, anything you feel may be worth sharing before I delve into the same project!

[@imjasonflaster]

Na go for it. Pop the top. Everything has worked out great !!

[@theodordomuta3199]

Super cool brother... Can't wait to meet you when I come back to California...

[@Falaughful]

Love the video! Great work Jason, keep them coming

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks Ali 🤙🤙

[@michaelzitt7754]

Yes! I love it Jason! Hahahah, the insulation song is still the best!

[@imjasonflaster]

🎵 🎵

[@fabriziomanfredi5206]

Good job man, I liked.

[@SlowlanelivingwithPaulaRandy]

great job!! When you do your own build you can use all your imagination to create what works best for you!!

[@thetommygexperience5038]

Looks great. Thanks for the video.

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you for watching 🎬

[@nythanorayvri]

Love your van great work

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you 😊

[@motorboater5686]

Awesome Build!!! Come visit!

[@imjasonflaster]

I definitely will. Maybe we can all surf sometime this summer. Thanks for watching 🎬

[@daniels1st]

I have a similar van and I love it

[@danamccarty4542]

I'd like to know step-by-step how you raise the roof and with what

[@imjasonflaster]

Ya I wish i did that too. Sorry for the late response by the way. The whole process of raising the roof was uncertain and difficult which is why I lack the step by step instructional video. In short tho, I cut the roof off with and angle grinder-- leaving a 2x4 width uncut around perimeter so that the wooden 2x4 can be secured to the remaining roof perimiter. I attached with screws and liquid nails alone however bolts are better. From there I attached the truck top with the same method. The remaining unclosed roof-- as in the truck top didn't cover the entire roof-- was covered with the remmenent original roof repurpsed as seen in the video. Hope this helps and good luck on your van project.

[@joeblow1942]

Funkadelic! What kind of oven do you have?

[@imjasonflaster]

I can't remember the name but I have a video on it where I go I to more detail and I think I say it, bit it's not the camp chef it's.something else

[@mikelloyd4564]

Hilarious! Love the van and the edit.

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks dude. Great to hear from you 🤙🤙

[@Golfsmithin]

Incredible creativity, did you paint the outside of the van as well. Looks totally unique.

[@imjasonflaster]

Ya one day I was wearing those colors and standing next the van and decided to go for it

[@supdawgie]

This is the best way to surf Malibu

[@kevinobrien239]

Good stuff man

[@badassyuta]

Hey Jason. Liked your video. I'm also considering the E250. Do you know if it's wide enough to put the bed along the width direction? I'm 5"11. Thanks!

[@imjasonflaster]

Regarding a bed at the height sideways if that's what u mean it won't fit our height.

[@samlovescars34]

Hey there. I'm about the same height and I lived in a 10 ft. box truck for a year. They're wider than vans and can fit a mattress width-wise. I eventually just switched to a small mattress on the floor which I would flip against the wall in the daytime for more room. It was fantastic. Plus a box truck has flat walls!

[@badassyuta]

Are box trucks stealth enough to blend in the communities and park overnight outside Walmarts? @@samlovescars34

[@samlovescars34]

@@badassyuta Hey! Sorry I'm just getting back to you. If anything, they are more stealth than a high-top van, since those 100% clearly are being used as a house. There is more plausible-deniability with a box truck, since almost any type of business would likely utilize one. There are few downsides, aside from the thin metal/fiberglass roof either making noise (metal when heating/cooling) or allowing condensation to permeate it during snow. A nice 10/12 ft. box truck is hard to beat, especially for the price. I often miss living in mine. It was basically a small apartment with a Chevy v8 up front.

[@flowrob6861]

Dude Sweeet build . my wife had a few comments 😮 but she's not that adventurous .

[@MannyWC]

Holy guacamole you have built the Taj Mahal! What do you not have?!

[@BreakerInc]

I have my AC unit in the same spot as yours is, though it isn't fully secured (Which of course means I'm not driving anywhere, that would be insane), so I'm curious how you secured yours? So many AC videos out there, but none of them give any idea on how to secure a window AC unit like that, at least not that I've been able to find. LOVE your van, and I can't wait to see what else you do to it!

[@imjasonflaster]

Great question. After I cut the hole for the unit I secured one 2 x 4 alongside the left side of perimeter as well as one on the bottom. Afterward I put the unit in the hold and held it with one had. With the other hand I began to screw in another 2 x 4 on the opposite side perimeter, and than finally the top. I applied pressure while doing this. Then I glued the in between the wood and the unit as well as in between the van and the 2 x 4s

[@BreakerInc]

@@imjasonflaster I can't watch videos in high quality, so I'm curious what that metal brace looking thing is coming up at an angle, attached to the rear of the AC? But thank you very much for the info, it's very much appreciated! This has been driving me nuts, lol.

[@imjasonflaster]

@@BreakerInc It's a piece of wood. 1/4 inch underlayment. The only purpose of it is for looks. I just liked the way the slope looked.

[@steadmanuhlich6734]

Jason, enjoyed this video. Your build is creative. I am considering something similar (vehicle, hightop, build). Please share what gas mileage you get on highway, given your full build as shown (with loaded inside) and please mention the engine type and year of vehicle. Thanks!

[@imjasonflaster]

Thank you.. and okay ill check that in the next few days.

[@imjasonflaster]

I'm getting anywhere between 14-17 mpg with city and hwy driving

[@TheArtofRepair]

Curiously, do you remember the model truck topper you used on your initial back end of the roof? I was looking into this idea, gave up on it, then discovered this video after it gave up. lol. so. I'm ungiving up! it worked out for you and I'm excited, I was even thinking to do the spoiler also, but maybe some actuator mounted solar on both sides as "wings" that can be mounted up when parked. Great channel! awesome content, hope to see more! good luck!

[@imjasonflaster]

Hi there, thank you. Your project sounds cool. The camper shell i used was from an old Toyota Tacoma-- it was one of the standard metal ones.. back on the outside and bare metal on the inside. Not sure of the model number or anything tho. When I did it, I put wooden studs between the roof and camper shell for extra height but if I were gonna do it again I'd have used two instead of one for more height.

[@fishface6247]

Ok. A/C so like how much solar is it using? How often do you run it?

[@imjasonflaster]

500watts of panels

[@fishface6247]

@@imjasonflaster man idk if I could fit that on the top of a small Chevy express. It looks like they have 400 watt panels but for sure not cheap

[@BobWelch-w8n]

I got a 2006 E350,,I love to fix it like yours but I'm too busy traveling,,time for me is everything,I'm 60 yrs old, I do have a bed ,2 bicycles inside,on the roof I got a kayak and a paddleboard,,I save my money for gasoline to travel,,

[@imjasonflaster]

That's awesome. Happy to hear you're out there. Sometimes I look back on the build and think about how much work it was. I'm 33 now. I'll probably keep updating this van as I go. Its easy to want to considering I know all that's been replaced. Thing is I rented a minivan a few weeks ago for a trip and wow those things drive so much easier. Enjoy the travels and thank u for watching

[@nancyrepp9323]

You were brave! Did a GREAT Job!

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks. I was definitely nervous about cutting the roof to raise it-- but it certainly worked out-- and im writing u from inside the van standing up. I hope that anyone with a van wanting more standing room pops their top. It works! Thanks for watching

[@shawntucker7674]

I really dug the style of this and enjoy the DIY hightop. Did you ever have trouble with rain leaking in?

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks Shawn. In the beginning I did but now its water tight. I used silicone in/and around the screw holes and connected the gaps between the solar pannels with aluminum tape and coated them in flex seal.

[@precisiont5188]

Do you live in the PNW?

[@imjasonflaster]

Socal

[@tourra21]

Where did u get ur oven from?

[@imjasonflaster]

Hi there. I got it from Amazon. Its called the the "hike crew camping oven" I love it and I use it all the time.

[@sebastianslife91]

Im new!! Come to our van meets!!

[@jamesblackwell703]

Lol a thumbs up

[@dennis.teevee]

😂👍

[@imjasonflaster]

🤙🤙

[@UnsolvedComedy]

Palatial

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks for watching

[@ronnjerremy5796]

You driving that around while talking shit about your friends not having surround sound??? You've got bigger problems 😂😂😂😂😂

[@tomasbutner4943]

The point is I will not watch another video of yours big is a comment you made towards other can you have an attitude problem

[@tomasbutner4943]

You have a bad attitude talking smack on other builders that is disrespectful I will not watch another video of yours

[@imjasonflaster]

If i came off as negative or seeing my video brought you down I apologize. My chanel is just my opinion but it doesn't mean it's the correct option. However, my perspective and my build is what works best for me-- and this video was meant help others, regardless of their building decisions

[@rafaelsolis2508]

Good job!!

[@Chubbydippin]

Kind of a Sanford and Son Frankenstein build. I like how it's tailored to your needs. You repeatedly mention what you don't like and what bothers you. And yet that seems to motivate you. Hope you find happiness and one day are driven more so by what makes you happy instead of the opposite. Love the insulation song and capturing the creepy ice cream truck passing by. Best of luck on your travels.

[@dirtydogvideo]

Nice job on the van. I like some of your ideas.

[@imjasonflaster]

Thanks