SURF VAN CONVERSION / High Top Econoline

* instagram username change: liammconrad *
The current username ^
Hi - My name is Liam Conrad. I am a 21 year old Photographer and avid surf enthusiast. This is a van tour of my 1988 Ford Econoline e150 v8 5.0L high roof camper van that I custom built in my garage.
Some of the Specs on the van:
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56k original miles from ‘88.
Vans in excellent condition.
6’7 standing height inside
Beast on the highway - V8 has no trouble with steeper grades at highway speed
I bought it in November as a brown handicap van - stripped it to the sheet metal - and custom built everything by hand in my garage.
Van is extremely functional.
Equipped with:
20 gal under chassis water tank
Sink
Outdoor shower (from full to empty shower can run for about 15-20 minutes on constant high pressure)
Auxiliary battery system
Charged by solar and battery isolated
1000 watt inverter
12v fridge
New sound system
Pioneer stereo
Kicker speakers (speakers in front, middle, and facing out back of van when doors open - all wired with switches.
Bed setup is two opposing benches with storage underneath (huge bed sleeps 2 easy - between cal king and queen) mattress topper and 3 inch folding foam underneath for either bed or bench setup.
5ft large dinner table pops up in pick nick table style format
Interior surf rack (holds up to 3 board in the roof - and two short boards beside bed) optimized for board safety while camping
Hardwood flooring
New leather swivel seats (both)
Power windows and locks
New paint job (in March)
New fiberglass reinforced roof installed (through fiberine co. in Long Beach)
Recently installed spare tire carrier - and ladder to access roof (surf check)
Countless hours and nights pouring a lot of elbow grease into this thing.
Runs like a dream.
Have tons of photos and videos of the build process and current condition

[@rohdesoda1152]

Solid work my dude!

[@liamconrad]

thanks boss!

[@BroderJ]

dude just jumped straight to the point haha, love it

[@liamconrad]

lets get into it

[@user-fz3vx6tu4z]

The only strangers van i’d get in

[@larryfulmer]

Cool enough. Enjoy.

[@masondunn50]

this thing is sick. my parents just got me a 75 dodge tradesman for my first car and it's so badass. needs a little work but it's coming together

[@fadnanoor5121]

Good job

[@shrimp406]

This is sick. In the process of renovations on my van, thanks for the inspo! Can't wait to be a ski/surf bum 🤙

[@liamconrad]

yew haha the dream

[@annag467]

Nice door panels! Great overall system for your lifestyle 👍🏼👍🏼✨️

[@dclif1080]

Yea this van is perfectly laid out

[@liamconrad]

thank you!

[@robinp9047]

Awesome!

[@chugoneallday7373]

This is the best van I’ve ever seen!

[@liamconrad]

Thanks!

[@joeydrumstix]

Super chill bro

[@liamconrad]

thanks bro

[@McKennagins]

I really like the dry food drawer: peanut butter, baby wipes, princess first aid kit and beats speaker.

[@liamconrad]

i put a-lot of thoughtful planning into it!

[@nightnday6675]

Those shorts are legit

[@liamconrad]

@ripcurl please sponsor me haha

[@Locd4life707]

YOU DID A GR8T JOB ON YOUR VAN! 👍 ❤

[@liamconrad]

Thank you !!!!

[@adventureswithrick8032]

Amazing van build

[@liamconrad]

thanks Rick!

[@Antomulakupadam]

So cute

[@someroob7915]

Did a lotta travelling in my 61 Kombi last century😁. Really like your build. I hadda be a lot more weight conscious coz it wasn’t a 5 litre v8, it was a 36hp 4. But that was half the fun. Onya🤙

[@darrellfort1668]

awesome video

[@DavidHaney1]

Loved the vid. GR8 DIY. Damn you're tall .. HAHA !!!

[@liamconrad]

thanks! I appreciate it, yes planes and vehicles are hard to fit in! haha but all is well

[@1oldvato782]

Very cool.

[@liamconrad]

thanks!

[@krislieroxas8165]

Just came across for some ideas and this helps.

[@liamconrad]

awesome, happy to help!

[@plus-vf1re]

I like your van

[@sitansusekharpanda3431]

grt work brother 👍👍works for u great ❣️❣️

[@liamconrad]

thank you for the awesome support

[@sendingunit]

Yyewww!

[@theflyingcandleguyme6144]

You need an E350🤠

[@liamconrad]

I know... its got a v8 5.0 but I would be nice to have some more horses in there with the hightop

[@MyFriendlyPup]

So cool. Do more content man

[@liamconrad]

Soon, I sold this van, and will be bulding some canoes and boats in the future. as well as sailing on boats more

[@kookpatrol7490]

Nice set up I’m doing the same thing I surf in SLO county if you are ever out there

[@liamconrad]

hell yah man - hmu on instagram @liammconrad

[@BenjaMin-ju4ji]

That’s rad van

[@liamconrad]

thanks man

[@odieahiligwo7618]

Tuffffff!

[@liamconrad]

thanks brodie

[@Golfsmithin]

What kind of prep work went into the exterior paint job, like sanding priming and what kind of paint. It’s a great color.

[@weeklybmxnews5731]

The license plate my guy! Yewwwww! Only surfers, skaters, bmx riders and other xtremen sport people know about that haha! I have a van as well bro @shredvann on IG ! Loving your build bro

[@roberttretsch8794]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Two questions: 1) do you experience any road handling issues at highway speds, if you have how have you addressed it; and 2) what tire rack did you use, and are you satisfied with its strength and ease of installation.

[@liamconrad]

Hey, thanks for your questions! around 65 mpg and under it handles super well just like a normal F-150 from back then would, high top doesn't seem to have a big effect at that speed. If your pushing it 70+ and its windy or gusty you might want to be careful with steering play since the van is pretty tall it catches more wind, but overall I have had no issues for a year now and it drives very nicely, I usually just set cruise control around 65 and relax a bit. for the tire rack I bought a Surco branded tire carrier for Econoline vans off amazon pretty cheap ($125 I think) / they have different model so make sure you look at the right one. Its pretty sturdy, depending on what tire size you throw on there it can be a little wobbly, but for mine its all good. It clips into the door hinge and I bolted it nicely through the back door and water sealed it. Gets the job done for that price, but if you have larger tires for off roading or something you might want to explore a different option.

[@roberttretsch8794]

@@liamconrad thank you very much for your response

[@kalilorna3065]

I’d love to know the deets on your hi-top replacement. Please share.

[@liamconrad]

Fiberine Co in Long Beach CA... They are awesome people ... when i bought the van the current roof situation had look like someone drove it into a parking garage that was slightly too low haha. It had a crunched front starboard side corner that didn't hold water ... so I was initially wanted to make my own and was doing sketches and plans/research... but to be completely honest at that time in my life i was not confident with my fiberglass and waterproofing capabilities... I wanted to leave that for the pros back then. that being said the roof replacement was by far the costliest part of the build ( it actually cost more than what I paid cash for the van)... I think it was around $4k total because I had an older van so they had to find a special mold... as well as i got the highest version since 6'6 and wanted to "go big or go home" so I could stand and change out of my wetsuit in there when its cold... but yah um thats about it to be honest ( call Fiberine Co. in LB if your thinking about it... from my research they were the best option and were relatively close to my home base at the time) If I were to do it all over again, I would not hesitate to use them... however, nowadays with my current knowledge i would probably try to build something myself... with fiberglass and wood... or maybe even a metal design potentially with a welder friend.

[@justrachelle9361]

I honestly love this van! I’m gonna pull so many ideas from you channel thank you! Also! Where did you get the floor Matt for the front?🤔

[@liamconrad]

I bought a 4x8 ft roll of rubber matting from home depot I believe!

[@ellbob2424]

Good van

[@user-fr5pe7io7h]

Отличный вэн! Мечтаю о таком! Привет из России!)

[@liamconrad]

спасибо, надеюсь, твои мечты сбудутся

[@sutherlandbrook3205]

nice. I have a 1977 van with a 5.0, it's lifted and 4x4 but nothing going on on the inside yet. recent purchase

[@liamconrad]

dang !!! so sick, the 5.0 are great if you keep good maintenance..I haven't had any issues, but mines low miles too. 4x4 is a dream lol maybe one day haha

[@sutherlandbrook3205]

​@@liamconrad haha im back watching this tour again. i like your van. I recently got suuuper carried away with the welder and made my van wider so i can put a bed accros + insulation and still have 80"... which i i think you'd even fit in, but it's spacious for me at 6'0. my ceiling is only 6 foot, but i couldnt go any higher cause my van already stands at 9'3.25" - which on a flat bed tow truck leaves a quarter inch of legal height where i live. i had it towed home 330 kms (caa. free=wayy cheaper than the gas haha) and the tow truck driver was sooo sketched out about the height and going under bridges once we got to my town.

[@karlkachele4851]

Nice setup! Curious about your water setup if you wouldn't mind elaborating. Where is fresh water tank, where does sink drain too, how is the pump setup?

[@liamconrad]

I have 40 tank strapped underneath - running next to the drive shaft... far enough away. Jabsco 5 gal per minute water pump hooked into the electrical system with switches. I have that sink so waters pulled up through the facet into there - there's a small grey water tank below or ability to just drain out if need be - can empty when convenient. Theres a fillip intake with vent through back ... can hook a garden hose up. Don't usually drink that water... just for cleaning dishes or washing hands etc - drinking water I buy depending on where Im going and what my needs are.

[@ddesemblyftw]

How much did you build out cost?

[@ezracohen8247]

Hey Liam, how much was the fiberine high top, looking to get the same. Thanks, nice video

[@matthewtrujillo3712]

Message them on Instagram. They are really good about replying

[@evanmonsma3928]

Love the high top! I’m also super tall so I’m thinking of doing something similar, but I’m hesitant because of fuel mileage. Have you notice a drop in mpg since raising the roof?

[@liamconrad]

yes adding height will lower your mileage so be careful

[@75lihogk]

How much did the hightop cost installed.

[@zaneemery9064]

I've been looking at Fiberene tops and also making my own. They say ~300lbs tops on the roof, does it seem stable walking up there? If I made my own I would try to use extra layers so I could have a deck. Cheers, sweet get up!

[@liamconrad]

They are stable enough for me, I wouldn't bring more than myself up there personally. They are nice people and make a quality top, but the nature of the materials they use I'm not sure is designed for a-lot of weight as they say. Potentially could reinforce them, they make everything custom so if you bug them enough they might do something extra. hope this helps

[@declanwalsh3098]

how did you make the board carrier in the van, need that in my van right now

[@liamconrad]

I screwed some small U-shaped brackets into the roof paneling making sure I have a short screw to not go through the roof. Then I just ran some surfboard roof rack straps through them and can slide boards in and hoist them to the top of the roof

[@northernwindcreations]

Hey! I'm considering buying a Ford Econoline or something similar to convert and I would love to do a roof topper on it. So far I only know of Fiberine in Cali that does it and Tufport. Where did you get yours from? What was the cost of the topper and of the install?

[@liamconrad]

Fiberine did mine. It wasnt cheap. I bought my van for $3k, the topper new with the option I wanted was another $4k installed I believe. It was the biggest expense, but was necessary as the orginal fiberglass roof was compromised. I would recommend Fiberine / they do great work.

[@itravel24]

Very nice build! How much was the roof top ?

[@zachcharlot5026]

i want to know too

[@dcomstock760]

2k plus 1k install

[@madisoncrawford7975]

How did you panel the roof??

[@liamconrad]

nail gun!

[@vincenzopromedia]

I like the van so I don't have any questions but dude why are you so tall?

[@liamconrad]

haha thanks man 🤙🏼 don’t know!!!

[@kyleblevins1532]

If you don’t mind me asking, how much was it to get a custom high roof installed? that’s what i’m wanting to get but i’m not sure where/how much!

[@OneManiBand]

Prices vary, because there are lots of options for your top, but base price is just about $2k for a tall top with no windows or reinforcements

[@blahmcblah7994]

@@OneManiBand I'm also someone interested in a hightop. Do you know where to get one? I don't live near california so it'd be a lot to drive down to get one from Fiberine

[@OneManiBand]

@@blahmcblah7994 gotcha. Fiberine in California is the most common place, but for other places I would say check out local junkyards because you can get one for $70 if you are willing to pull it off and install it yourself :)

[@blahmcblah7994]

@@OneManiBand Thanks! I'll check it out

[@meomity]

Dope! Did you insulate the roof?

[@liamconrad]

I did not as I live in southern ca, its often too hot here rather than too cold!

[@joseambriz5897]

@@liamconrad for real. In winter blankets are enough

[@baylievandyke9831]

How did you create the wall frame for your van?

[@liamconrad]

Hey, im not sure I completely understand, my van is pretty curved, and I paneled it straight with insulation and wood to metal. as for the upper top part panneled using two cross beams from stern to bow - then plywood ontop to level, then cedar planking tongue and groove as it was a bit thinner and fragile.

[@fuertep2do]

Good job men hey what tha name or link for tha showers system

[@liamconrad]

dura faucet is the one i have www.amazon.com/Dura-Faucet-Exterior-DF-SA184-BK-DF-SA187-BK/dp/B0854DG21J

[@fuertep2do]

@@liamconrad thank's so much

[@deanemerson4068]

Serrrrk

[@liamconrad]

so serkkk

[@jesseleon4501]

Do your seats swivel?

[@liamconrad]

yes they both do!

[@jesseleon4501]

@@liamconrad I put a quick release on my steering wheel so I can spin the drivers seat 180 degrees. Total game changer.

[@liamconrad]

@@jesseleon4501 woah - thats amazing

[@i.m.7710]

Are you buying another rig? Or traveling? Or?

[@liamconrad]

traveling, this van is currently for sale in california.. going to build another down the line after my overseas travels

[@fuertep2do]

If do it tha favor ti guve me

[@shandelebroyles1099]

Sorry I don't agree that your short cabinet looks better. Especially since you have a high top. Even vans that don't have a high top doesn't look good with short cabinets.

[@liamconrad]

yah i feel just wanted to keep the window free to open :)