IS OUR VAN CONVERSION ALREADY TOO HEAVY!?

For some time now, Julie and I have been debating on whether we should repaint or wrap the exterior of our van.
Since we purchased the van used, it came with a few scrapes and dings that have started rusting over the past year so we've been discussing on how we should address it.
Should we spend an arm and a leg to have it repainted in a color of our choice? Should we roll the dice, rent a large bay and repaint it ourselves? Should we spend a kidney and an eye to wrap the whole thing? Should we just wrap certain touch up sections with a specific design to save money? Or should we snag some bed liner and spray it ourselves in the driveway before the weather gets too cold?
The last option had us thinking about weight because if we end up going that route we would inevitably be adding a few more lbs to or build. With that in mind we finally took the van to be weighed in order to see how many pounds we had left to work with. Sadly it wasn't as much as we had hoped...
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[@bchurchill3551]

Most self built vans do need to go on a slimming diet. We build ‘em tough, then panic about weight. I’ve added leaf springs on one van and Sumo Springs on another. Regardless of weather you are under/over weight, consider beefing up the suspension for a better (safer?) ride. DBVB.

[@dogcatmanvan]

It'll be one of the first things we do

[@mike123abc]

You could always go the route of sanding and using touch up paint matched to the vehicle. Does not cost a lot, but takes a ton of time to properly sand, prep and multicoat the touch up. Essentially what a body shop would do on a much smaller scale. My mom did it on an used van, worked on it about an hour a day for a month. Two of you doing it could probably knock it out fast.

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

This is the best way. Unless you hate the white color. In which case, this plus some hand painting decorations or stickers.

[@ronethridge9875]

sweet-nice/looking for next one/thanks much

[@jfxl1977]

As others have said, I'd beef up the suspension. Driving around with the maximum weight allowed will wear out the existing suspension quicker and, speaking from personal experience, could lead to a very sudden, very expensive failure. If that happens in the middle of nowhere, waiting for an appropriately sized tow vehicle is not a fun experience and is also very expensive. As for the paint, if you're not that worried about aesthetics, I'd just do touchup. It's the cheapest, lightest option. I also thought painting an entire vehicle with the textured liner might be a good option. It turned out not to be. Not only is it heavy, it creates air friction when driving. This will affect fuel mileage a little, but the worst part is the extra air noise it creates when driving on the highway. That said, I don't have as much insulation as you two do which may make a difference in the noise level inside.

[@dogcatmanvan]

I never thought about friction when it came to textured paint. I wonder if a smoother finish with a bed liner would create less friction and road noise. Thanks for the heads up!

[@timfalvai4212]

@@dogcatmanvan I have zero extra noise and no loss in fuel efficiency on my van that is 100% covered in Raptor.

[@nmartin5551]

@@timfalvai4212 - Glad you shared. I raptured my van. Havne’t been out in it yet. I didnt think it would effect performance.

[@pjsplace5665]

Racing stripes with it … 💁‍♀️

[@julietgolf3331]

Do some fancy arches on the side

[@philltwose4088]

I would go raptor either just below the side trims or at most upto half way up the side (where the crease is pressed in) those are probably the most prone to wear n tear 🙃 then touch up/rust proof then vinyl for highlights 🙃

[@dogcatmanvan]

That's not a bad idea

[@tjjones390]

Love watching your videos, you guys are great together. I suspect the dry weight of the textured paint will be a bit less than the wet weight, I could be wrong. I would go for it! Also you will likely never have fresh and grey full at the same time. I can't remember what you have on the roof besides the solar panels, keep it light up there, that will help. It's also another area that some van lifers don't realize has it's own weight limits. Your van is looking nice!

[@jenniferramsden3457]

My dog also loves collecting the burrs. A flea comb works wonders.

[@therugglet]

I’d go forward with the bed liner paint. I used Monsta Liner in white over a rusty utility cart and after 5 years it’s held up very well. Nice that you can drive off road and any branches won’t scratch, etc. does take some prep work, but worth it. Also nice that you can touch up down the road. It’s a good use of the remaining weight.

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

My 2$ tossed on the pile: raptor/bedliner bleh! Its accoustic 70s ceiling for cars. Dirt collecting, hell to clean, and shows every scratch. We're still trying to get it off the metal frame of our box truck. The last owner gave up and left us with a third to do. Wraps: a good scratch (like backing into bushes) and they start to peel in the weather. Out here in la-la-land, the brats like to scratch graffiti into wraps. And on an oldschool grandmother note, if you two decide to have babies, they will be so CUTE it would be a step up on the evolutionary scale!

[@617nurseratchet]

YAY new DCMV vid! ❤travelogue footage even if it's not in focus.

[@BdManus]

Just patch up the bad spots on the van, finish your build, then see how much wiggle room you have for the raptor liner. Your mustache makes you look debonair, keep it! Great video and content, loved the rock climbing.

[@ginavagabond]

1. If you're ever in West Texas, check out Huaco Tanks state park- lots of bouldering/climbing opportunities: but, dogs have to stay in the van- it's also an Indian burial / artifact/pictograph historical grounds area. 2. Alot of vans I see are doing routing designs/small holes in the cabinet vertical walls/doors to shave off wood weight. You might try that- or lighter options of wood or even aluminum shelving (saw one van that did custom aluminum built shelving)

[@J1mboB]

Why would your fresh and grey tanks ever both be full at the same time? Seems to me you can just assume fresh full and grey empty for the weight calculation

[@dogcatmanvan]

You're probably right. We were just trying to play out worst case scenario

[@outlaw7x77]

Good point.

[@timfalvai4212]

My wife and I are in the middle of a van build and just finished Raptor lining our Ford Transit 148ext high roof about 3 weeks ago. Can't recommend the Raptor liner enough, especially if you are going for a color change. We took ours from white to dark grey. It's a lot of work to prep and install, but I love the results. Regarding the weight, we had already upgraded both front and rear suspension so wasn't overly concerned with the additional weight. We really appreciate your videos! Would have been lost without your hydronic system install video. Happy to consult on your Raptor decision and install if you are still exploring it as an option. Just let me know!

[@dogcatmanvan]

Nice to see someone else on here has had experience with Raptor liner on a van conversion. Do you end up covering the entirety of your van as well as the roof? And how long did it take you in total to prep and cover the whole thing? Did you spray it yourselves? And were you able to pick how texturized the coat was?

[@timfalvai4212]

@@dogcatmanvan @DogCatManVan We did cover the entire van, including the roof. Most of the roof (area under our roof rack), lower plastics, and the painted area below the lower plastics are all black; then the remaining area - which is most of the van - is dark grey (tintable product). It took us 3 full days to get done (36 hours). First day was all prep: removing front bumper and grill, removing all lights, door handles, sanding (used a standard orbital and a few sanding sponges for curves and tight areas), cleaning the sanding dust, primer and adhesion promotion spray (UPOL spray cans for both), then we taped and sealed everything to start spraying all the black areas. Second day was spraying (this is the fun part) and more prep: the Raptor kit we purchased came with a spray gun (the upgraded/pro one) which has a two-piece adjustable nozzle. We controlled the texture with the nozzle, PSI, and distance we were spraying from. After spraying we removed all tape and draping and waited an hour for it to cure. Then we taped and draped the area we just sprayed so we could do the remaining (bulk of the van) on day 3. Day 3 really brought the van to life: We ended up spraying 2 coats plus some touchups at this stage. Some touchups were sprayed with a third coat and others done by hand (small brush used in tight areas). It's a lot of area to cover. Then we removed all the tape and draping and reinstalled everything we had removed. We did all this ourselves in our driveway. You will need some space to do this, but your recent videos look like that won't be a problem. You'll also need good weather if you are doing this outside. Wind is your worst enemy while applying drape and while spraying. The raptor needs to cure for 72 hours after spraying and it can't take rain during this period, so you really need 6 days of good weather to get it done outdoors. We weren't this fortunate, so we had to take our van to a covered parking area (airport parking) for days 5-6. Just something to keep in mind. Would I do it again? 100%! I have a lot more info to share if you decide to go for it and am happy to dive into those details with you, just let me know.

[@trudiswanson9855]

Yep, y need the second 'stash! Keep climbing guys. Oh the van? Nup, I know nothing of help. Always enjoy you two. 🇭🇲🐞 Qld Australia

[@ahrulered]

Julie is the star of the show this episode tbh haha I miss watching both of you!

[@chrismcmicking3719]

Go with your gut. If you feel it's worthless added weight for the bedliner material, forget it and just touch up the paint using the OE. You guys are awesome either way and my wife and I are rooting for yall. We love watching all your shit and we can't wait to see more. Keep up the antics. Peace and love

[@bchurchill3551]

Oh, welcome back to the KZbins! Great to see y’all.

[@Refinerii]

Too funny: we have all the supplies to do the Raptor Liner all out on the old van; black on the bottom, grey on top with changing out accessories for black. Just working on getting some orders out, but starting within a week. After much research, found this to be the best solution: same issue--some dings are starting to rust. And, we like the textured, more off-road look of the raptor liner.

[@dogcatmanvan]

You'll have to let me know how it all works out since we're still debating on what to do

[@robertjosephmurphyii4947]

Love the mustache comic relief!! LOL Honestly clean the rust up yourself and paint it with that paint you used for cutting holes in the van, it seems like the right color well from the videos it does. This way your saving weight and money. Glad to see you two are doing well..

[@christinachan9044]

Love the home movie feel of this episode. Gives me warm nostalgia vibes. 🍂☕️🛋

[@alexwyler4570]

next video: Do you have a spreadsheet of what weighs what? How did you end up with so much weight? How is the wool insulation and fan setup working out? did you guys stay cool in 100-degree weather this summer? And only Julie should have an opinion on the mustache. And maybe your boss if he pays well and gives you lots of time off. 😉

[@dogcatmanvan]

We didn't stay in it this summer since we're still not done with it so I can't report on how it does in the heat. We will most likely do a final spreadsheet of everything used and how much it cost at the end of the build. We could probably do an estimated weight breakdown, but breaking down the weight of the wood finishes might be difficult.

[@jeffsteinmetz7188]

It is common for van builds to go over weight or be bumping up against the max. Most people do suspension upgrades to deal with this. This makes the van safer at that weight and improves handling. I recommend you just accept this as part of your build plan. You will be happy you did especially if you do any dirt road adventures. You have probably already noticed the van does not drive the same as it did when you first bought it.

[@Digital_Notions]

Do remember that some states will weigh vehicles and if you’re over the GVWR (no matter what suspension upgrades you’ve done) you can get ticketed.

[@somewhat7]

@@Digital_Notions yup, because even though the suspension may be up to par, other things like the brakes now have to stop more mass and may not be up to the task

[@timfalvai4212]

@@Digital_Notions I don't believe any state weighs vehicles with a GVRW under 10,000lbs. This was a deciding criteria for me when I purchased my van.

[@Digital_Notions]

@@timfalvai4212 interesting. In NY, the highway patrol told us that if we hadn’t had a recent Cat scale receipt, he would have weighed our really small (

[@Digital_Notions]

Also note, in NY, you can register a 3/4 ton pickup truck as commercial and then you are definitely setting yourself to be weighed.

[@johnhoogestraat1001]

You say bad mustache, I say RAD mustache 🤘🏽

[@gregvittore5004]

Dont calculate fresh and grey water together, in a year of using my van i have never had the issue where both are full. Don't know how it is in the us, but here in europe they calculated the weight with fresh water only. Raptor or similar is of course super strong, BUT you won't be able to see new rust under it. Especially on our used vans that already are rusting. I would recommend, raptor only the plastic parts, do a good job of de rusting your van and use epoxy to close the pores after sanding. Apply standard color. Will save money, trouble in the future and weight. Some even exchange their spare wheel with 1 or 2 fixing kits..but... Nice job guys btw! Cheers from Lx ❤️

[@gregvittore5004]

Oh and btw, my van is rated for 3,5T. Fully charged the van weight is around 3,3T. I changed my suspension, they are rated for 4,2T. At least it wont tear up the suspension so much even at 3,5T. Cost me around 1500€.

[@dogcatmanvan]

I've thought about the potential of hidden rust underneath over time. Thanks for the tips!

[@shannonburg4515]

Great video! Glad to see you guys having fun!

[@OldRopeSalvage]

Really enjoy watching you two. You are a fab team. Depending how bad the damage is on your van, maybe you could go the route of repairing the rust damage yourselves? Maybe use a satin paint finish rather than gloss which is more forgiving of a less than perfect finish. It's all in the prep really and lots of very careful sanding. Any rubbish areas could then have decals if necessary. Hope it goes well, whatever you decide. Sure you'll do a great job as you have with the rest of it.

[@denisecafferky2248]

Love you two ✌

[@morgananderson9647]

So great to hear from you both again. Hope you find a good solution to your van weight issue. Cheers, Mo-

[@curcapsicum]

Bed liner! bed liner! bed liner!

[@alisaschroder7742]

No helpful tips...but enjoy the content! Keep putting it out!!

[@Miles_To_Go]

I agree, maybe do Raptor liner on the bottom--less expensive, less weight. But if you can get a car painted for cheap in Mexico, could you also get it wrapped for cheap? Then maybe you can make it look exactly how you want!

[@karenfranz7262]

👍

[@todomenosleer]

Awesome honest video, as per usual 😜

[@susantosi695]

I think your very good climb ers…

[@Moosealini]

What about a 'vinyl camo kit'? ...it is not a full wrap, but same vinyl material. It comes on sheets of camo shaped pieces that you can DIY peel and stick, you choose 2-3 colours that complement the van's base colour and can apply partially or fully, strategically covering the 'repaired' rust areas. Reasonable price, lightweight, removable and easy to apply (especially with a slide glide application fluid). I got mine off Ebay ...3 colours for just over £100 in the UK, (you may have already noticed the correct spelling of the word colour). 🙂

[@dogcatmanvan]

We will have to check that out

[@MarkEMiller]

casting a vote for #stashstays

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha thanks Mark

[@rachelhmeltzer]

I appreciate you guys 😅🥰

[@vanlifebiker]

Love the videos kids. I just went thru this & I added Sumo Springs & Super Springs to my Sprinter. Did it he the weight no but it took alot of sag out the rear & it handles alot better. Honestly you're probably not going to reach your legal weight because you have the long Sprinter. I have the mid Size Sprinter & I struggle with it myself. Most cops won't ticket a driver if they are less than 10% over in the commercial world. Weight in a personal vehicle weight doesn't matter really unless you were in a bad accident & got sued & it was proven that the weight caused it. Do what you can & I would definitely add SUMO Springs & Super Springs. Handling of my van is way better & it's definitely safer. Good luck. 😎👍

[@michaelberman2402]

You need to beef up your suspension, add a leaf spring, heaver shocks air bags sway bar springs all these things can change the GVW and your good to go, I suggest you use a reputable suspension shop !!!!

[@dogcatmanvan]

We're looking into it!

[@MilesVanlife]

Hmmm. Your max weight is determined, if I’m not mistaken, by how much your undercarriage can handle not to mention what the engine is rated for. You have several options as I see it that are not mutually exclusive > 1.) slim what you already have and start pulling out some stuff that you clearly don’t need anymore. Hint > WOOD PANELING. 2.) As others have mentioned upgrade your suspension. However that won’t necessarily solve all your problems. You still have the max capacity of what the engine can handle which you don’t want to come anywhere near as you’ll end up burning it, if it’s constantly being pushed to its limit just by carrying you around. 3.) Upgrade your engine. If you do all of that, you might have a chance of squeaking by.

[@dogcatmanvan]

Thanks for the tips and advice!

[@HybridBattery]

Your engine should be the same as the 3500, so you can use it’s gross weight capacity to calculate what the engine can handle (9500lbs?) The suspension can be beefed up with new leaf springs.

[@Digital_Notions]

If your van has a trailer hitch and you won’t use it, you can take it off to save a few pounds.

[@dogcatmanvan]

Yeah we've got a hitch so I plan on pulling that off for the time being

[@outlaw7x77]

I used my hitch today...it's a camper but it's also a utility vehicle...my hitch stays...plus I want to be able to tow my utility trailer with perhaps my Harley and dirtbike or a side by side. I love the ability to hook up and tow something...anything...towing does not necessarily add to your gross vehicle weight. It does but not all of it dies. I think the Sprinter is limited to towing 5000 lbs but it gets tricky figuring this all out.

[@ericsassaalders1079]

Perhaps you could find or buy an old exterior car piece, and try to touch up the scratched spots with some simple spray cans, and see what the result is, and if that is satisfying for your standards. There are some great diy spray can paint video’s, that you can watch before you start trying. Cheers Ps i would wait with the paint, and see how the total weight turns out, and only then make the choice for bedliner paint.

[@my_van_apartment]

Sexy mo vibes 👍🏼 One day I’ll have to paint my van after some rust repairs thanks to COVID and having to park up by the beach for 6 months last year so keen to see what you guys decide to do. I’m in Australia so going south to Mexico is not an option - I’d end up in the ocean - now there’s a different idea 😆. I hadn’t thought about it adding weight so thanks for the video ✌🏼

[@DougOrDouglas]

bed linear at least for the lower part

[@outlaw7x77]

All very good information...Keep in mind that the max vehicle weight Mercedes recommends is the MAX and although they deemed it safe...(I.E. your brakes will stop you, and you springs won't snap, et...)...you'll be driving around putting MAXIMUM load, and wear and tear and leaving minimum potential for higher MPG. I'm in the same boat as you. You are a bit ahead of me in my build but I do really value your examination of what ifs in your design and build. Great Job. I'm looking back already wondering if I perhaps should have used 1/4" plywood for cabinets instead of 1/2"...It'll be interesting to see what mine weighs when I get it more complete. I have a 30 gallon water tank...12 gallons Grey water...no shower...porta-potty. We'll see...

[@philltwose4088]

Don’t know the dealio with the US but over here you could get the van up plated to 4 tons or more if you have the right driving licence of course with some mods I.e springs and such

[@AngelaResseguie]

I would go for it Bedliner wise :)

[@HybridBattery]

As your gray water tank fills, your freshwater tank empties. So you only have to count the weight of the fresh water. There! I just saved you probably 200 lbs!😊

[@philltwose4088]

As for water/weight I tend not to drive with full tanks and just top up when I’m where I want to be 🤪 or close to it

[@philltwose4088]

A lot of people over here use airbags suspension, I’m undecided on that one 🤔

[@HybridBattery]

I’ve heard that the frame can crack above the airbag mounts.

[@philltwose4088]

@@HybridBattery I’ve also heard that, I have also heard that’s not the case 🙃 I suppose it depends on the kit used, that’s why I’m undecided

[@HybridBattery]

@@philltwose4088 you’d have to see what is directly above the bag mount and how it can be reinforced.

[@pjsplace5665]

How much was your solar and battery set up? Do you do solar set ups for others? Seems you’d be great for doing mini yacht rehabs from those storms down south. Lots of people like to live out of them along the warmer coasts (cali). That would be an interesting Reno to watch too … maybe? 💁‍♀️ have you thought of an episode for hanging hammock chairs from the roof rack? I think that could be cool.

[@dogcatmanvan]

We were sent our entire solar and battery setup in exchange for video content so I can't tell you how much that cost us since we didn't buy any of it. I've seen the hammock chairs you're referring too. Maybe one day we'll rig something up like that.

[@MrRamkulov]

i would do touch paint

[@roannathephoenix8561]

Good morning! I'm excited to watch but I've gota come back to you in awhile. 😁 Wow! That took a long time to get back to you. I say go with the bed liner paint and stay at clothing optional camps then you can wear the same clothes and save weight.

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha there's an idea.

[@Ben10twentytwo]

Don’t know if it’s a thing in the US but in the UK we can “up plate” the gross weight limit of a vehicle, within the limits of the axle weights. I have VW T6 T28 (2800kg) and from what I gather, as long as I’ve got sufficiently load rated wheels and tyres, it’s just a paper exercise to have the weight limit increased by 200kg. 🤷‍♂️

[@dougburle6949]

Just a thought, but are there any autobody repair schools in or near your area? Because sometimes schools will paint your vehicle for cheap or even free as practice. And if you simply go white I don’t think they could hurt it even with little experience. My friend used to work in that industry and they were always looking for cars and parts to practice on. But I do think a nice hippie 70’s style design with colors would look good and match your interior. Also as far as the weight goes, I would replace the suspension with aftermarket parts which will help with wear and tear and also provide a smoother ride if you get a higher weight rated parts. Also I can imagine the constant weight is a strain on your engine so perhaps a chip for more HP. Just thoughts though IDk the ins and outs of extra weight just things I’ve read.

[@dogcatmanvan]

I'm not sure if there's any sort of schools near us that might want to us it as practice, but I think we're going to look into that and see what we find. It sounds like everyone is recommending a suspension upgrade at the very least. I'll have to do some research on a chip for more HP if that's a thing.

[@Biffmin]

Yeah man, I'm already overweight too. I get it.

[@chrisssmith4]

Engagement

[@rojergrison3752]

You are just so friggin cute together , sorry no ideas but best wishes for you both .

[@neowave777]

Geez have you been working out? Your arms look amazing in the thumbnail

[@dogcatmanvan]

Haha I exercise regularly, but that's just what my skinny arms look like when flexed. It's an optical illusion i believe.

[@themcgeefamily7514]

💚💙

[@bchurchill3551]

Comment for the algorithm. “Engagement”.

[@stevesy707]

Love it! Do the raptor paint worth it!

[@SanchnDstroy]

Hocking Hills :) are you two still near Cleveland or back in Indiana?

[@dogcatmanvan]

We're back in Indiana. It was just a quick little trip

[@philltwose4088]

“Oooof”

[@campbellsoup27]

Vinyl wrap perhaps!?

[@xXxY0UR_M0TH3RxXx]

Oh I'm sorry did you say you needed engagement? *Insert marriage joke here* Jk lemme go comment on all ur videos 🤭

[@xentrik1]

Knowing what you know now is it worth it to build your own vs buying a van already outfitted

[@chrisdaniel1339]

You also need to consider that GVWR includes the two of you, food, the dogs if you plan on traveling with them, clothing, toiletries, pots, pans, coffee maker, knifes, everything you plan to use to live in the van. I think you might be over your GVWR already before you even consider paint options. Just think of the weight and space savings of using 10 series 80/20 vs the 15 series and especially the 1530 yikes. If I remember correctly all your extrusions weighed 468 lbs, just for some down and dirty math reduce that by 1/3 and you would have saved 156 lbs+. 10 series is 2 * 0.5" = 1", 15 series is 3 * 0.5" = 1.5" so 15 series is 1/3 heavier. I know from wearing wool sweaters that wool has some weight to it, how much did the wool weigh compared to using lightweight polyisocyanurate R-7 per inch foam board?

[@dogcatmanvan]

We are considering all of that. I feel like we said that in the video, but maybe I cut us listing everything out for time. We aren't going to be able to go back through and replace all of the 15 series, but out of all of the extrusion, we used a little less than 3/4 of what we bought since we removed a lot of it around the kitchenette area and ditched it for all of our cabinets and shelves. Maybe in a future build we can try 10 series. The wool probably weighs a bit more than the polyiso foam board, but we got all of it for free with the brand deal we had with Havelock and I've been very happy with it's insulation and sound deadening qualities. I've used polyiso before, I wanted to try wool. I've also done some research on larger companies doing these van conversions like storyteller and the majority of them end up over the GVWR causing the rears to sag a bit and bottom out the suspensions on the bump stops. We still have a good 2 1/2 inches of clearance on our bumps and don't have signs of full travel on the suspension. Now by the time we're done, we're really going to be close to that GVWR with all of our belongings and what not, but we had to try in order to learn. We also had to learn what to say no to when it came to free products haha.

[@chrisdaniel1339]

@@dogcatmanvan This guy on YT (VanTripping) is building a true overlander on a Mitsubishi Fuso 4x4 chassis with a fiberglass composite habitat on the back, his build inside is all 10 series 80/20, you should check it out to see how crazy strong it is.

[@dennisshay9449]

Update the suspension

[@philltwose4088]

And not to sound like an old fart but “No Helmet?” Tut tut

[@LucGendrot]

The mustache works, actually. -- A gay man

[@jacarajc]

raptorliner is trash. and you do have to be an amazing sprayer for it to work and look nice. trust me get it don't professionally, herculiner is better than raptorliner.