VAN BUILD SERIES: Fitting Our New Water Tanks! 💦

[@laikatravels]

Good work looks like it’s coming along nicely. Just a note about the Waxoyl you don’t need to wait for it to dry. The idea behind it is that it doesn’t set like a paint it stays waxy and creeps back if it’s scratched or damaged. It’s good stuff we used it on loads of cars in the 70’s/80’s. When you apply it in winter it’s a good idea to put the cans in warm water the heat softens the wax and it sprays easier. Apologies if you knew this already.

[@michaelbuckland2229]

safety glasses are underrated.

[@stevespencer9001]

You probably don t want to hear this, but a rubber strip between the metal straps and the plastic tank would be a good idea, and some between the top of tank and the van floor. This would stop a stress point especially when they are full of water, probably hold them in position more snugly as well. If you look at older cars with underslung fuel tanks with metal straps they usually have a rubber cushion - hope this helps :)

[@onemanandhisdog9]

Connect the leak to the new water tank, sorted.

[@FreedomStrider]

That scene when you're Infront of that electric heater 😂 that is us every single day right now building the van

[@OverlandingSophia]

Haha it’s so cold at the minute! We feel your pain, winter van builds are no joke 😭

[@aSC_na_kolenke]

It is interesting to look at the assembly. Good luck working in this cold.

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you! We need all the luck in the hope this cold snap passes 🥶

[@TREADtheglobe]

Hi guys - great to see it progressing the tanks underneath will save you loads of space - good plan. Thanks for sharing xx

[@eddvanlife7396]

Remodel is coming on nicely guys

[@MaxSophieinaVan]

Great job with the tanks, what a space saver! We know that feeling of cold hands and working under the van! Can't wait to see next week's video x

[@rachrach6499]

So happy to see the build coming along. Rachel xx

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thanks Rachel! It's getting there! 😊💛

[@Jakallibon]

Hey guys!! Very much enjoyed this video this week😄. You're making great progress! Ben, I used to be a mechanic so I know the pain and awkwardness of laying underneath cars/vans working with limited space in the freezing cold etc lol. I do NOT miss it😂. Hope you're all staying safe and well, have a great week xx

[@stvmrdch1]

Hi guys. Great to the see progress you're making! Sophia is going to be amazing when you're finished. Hope you are both well. Take care and have a great week ☺🐶

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you Tony, we’re getting there slowly! Can’t wait to get started on the interior, that’s where the big changes are gonna be. Hope you’re keeping well 💛 xx

[@always.wondering.wandering]

You might want to think about safety glasses when working under the van, eyes are precious. Doing a great job, I'm enjoying watching the build. Take care

[@OverlandingSophia]

I knew someone was going to tell us off for this! 🤪 Just glad it was you Adele! We should have been wearing glasses for sure, something we thought about halfway through the job 🙈 xx

[@5656Harry]

Safety glasses! It's pretty annoying to have to get a tiny shard of metal pulled out of ones eye and then having to wear a patch for days\weeks!

[@davidmuir2546]

Might be an idea of putting a rubber strip on the brackets between the tank and bracket to stop vibration when your on poor roads and save any wear on the tanks

[@markplenty2631]

Nice idea under slung tanks and some very inventive modifications to them.. shame about the leak on the roof.. glad you found it now rather than later on. Nice cup of tea and a heater always helps when you feel freezing 🥶 lol 👍☕️.

[@OverlandingSophia]

Honorary mention goes to the tea and the heater - the two things propping up this van build! I don't think we'd be able to do it without them 😂🥶

[@garymcafee5995]

I noticed you haven't used any form of shake-proof or locking washer on the hanging hook bolts those will vibrate loose, perhaps nylock nuts might be an idea just backed up to the nuts you have fitted

[@joerg_saxony]

Well done! 👍 Good decision to move the water tank to another place. Good job! Keep it up! 😉

[@mikeware4988]

Great to see your progress,well done guys...stay safe.

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you Mike! We're getting there 😊

[@TheHondamayhem]

I get so excited to see a new video on this channel

[@OverlandingSophia]

Ah thank you Den! Means a lot to us! ☺️

[@snoman1999]

Very brave taking on such a technical task Guys.. Yr giving Greg Virgoe a run for his money 😉🚐💨😍

[@lindalawrie148]

Before hitting Africa, check out where to get fresh water and dumping grey water. I live in Durban, and I do not know anywhere I could dump any grey. I will make enquiries, but we're not like Europe or even America.

[@revyera]

Nice to see that the van is coming along. The leak must have been a shock! A very water themed episode indeed. Now that the tanks are in, what's the next step? A wish you a wonderful Sunday! 🥰 Jenny x

[@OverlandingSophia]

A very water themed episode for sure 😂And we're both glad it's over! Next week we're onto fitting the new fan for the ceiling. Trying to get as much of the outside finished so that we can get started on the new interior! Soo excited to see the changes take shape there 😊 Hope you're having a lovely weekend xx 💛

[@barbarapatterson5487]

Well done, Ben, that looked like hard work to me.......I'm worn out watching you!!! Look forward to seeing the finished build. Love to all three of you xx

[@OverlandingSophia]

Haha it was such a bigger job than we initially thought! Ben will just keep going and going until it's done, it's exhausting editing the footage! 😂😋Thank you for joining us again Barbara xx 💛

[@blondecardsncrafts]

Fab video, love seeing what you are at in the van. Hubby and I are converting a van and hopefully will do some weekend trips with our 2 doggos. Our water tanks will probably be in the van so it was cool seeing yours put underneath, however, I was concerned that you didn't wear safety glass?? They are so important. 😁 Looking forward to seeing another video next week. Take care and stay safe!😍

[@allandevaux4123]

Watching your build with interest. What are your plans for gas? Are you having an underslung tank?

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you Allan! Plans for the gas are to have an 11kg LPG tank in our kitchen like we had before ☺️

[@MGEE8572]

River looks like she could do with an extra coat

[@OverlandingSophia]

She’s pretty hardy! But if it drops much more we’d like to get her one ☺️

[@182britania]

Another brill video,next Sunday can't come quick enough 😁......Rivers's growling 🤣🤣🤣

[@thedestinationis9782]

Another great video guys. You keep us going over here. Someday soon we will be back out on the road The amount of room you save is amazing. Might have to do the same for our van now :)

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you for being a part of this adventure with us! Hope it won’t be too long before we’re all back on the road. And it saves SO much space! Literally don’t know why we didn’t do this before! 😂

[@DavidHaney1]

❤ GR8 VID ~ LOVED IT ❤

[@pawelkotowski2760]

Well done guys!! We have the same water tanks. So far they are very good. It is little bit difficult to fit without garage but you did and I did too... If you want to do something you will always find the way to do it :)

[@martincogley278]

Have you thought of fitting “nylock” nuts on your tank brackets? You wouldn’t want them to vibrate loose and have the tanks drop down. Just an idea. Great video!!!

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you Martin! You know Ben actually did talk about these but it didn’t make it into the final edit! So yes, he does plan on putting nylock nuts to stop them coming loose ☺️

[@gearlab734]

No ones doubting your DIY talents Ben, but please can you wear safety glasses when drilling metal!

[@ports100]

Just finished watching a re run of Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boormans The Long Way Down about their motorbike trip through Africa, well worth a watch ! Love from The 'Muff xxx

[@OverlandingSophia]

Ah that's one of our big inspirations for the trip! Hands down my favourite travel series ever 😍

[@paul91070]

Hello guys is it possible to word the stuff you are using on the screen and a rough cost. I’m at the start of build and little rings like that help loads. Or maybe a list and cost shot like a shopping list with Ben maybe narrating it? Just a suggestion Ben saying here’s a recap of materials 45 litre tank £37 Half inch pipe 1mtr £6 Sikaflex. £12.99 Brackets £9 Love the series and both down to earth. Stay safe keep up the good work 👍

[@nickthomas181]

Did any of my Ideas I suggested help the one on Egypt and the one for the respray? Hey, just ideas......I have many......there will be many more.... Great to see you both, your both doing a great job! Wishing the three of you well! Cheers for the vlog!

[@OverlandingSophia]

Yes, really helpful, thank you Nick ☺️ Keep ‘em coming! 💛

[@nickthomas181]

@@OverlandingSophia Wow seriously, please it's ok if not. More than happy to help any time.

[@FSUvinny]

Did you guys rent a room at BigYellow? I wish we'd found a place like this. We started in late summer and ended up finishing our van in early December, so a lot of our last weeks were cold and wet. We could have really used that sort of garage. I'm excited to see your trip to Cape Town! So rad. We're in Spain currently enjoying the sunshine. Cheers!

[@lindalawrie148]

Don't use thread tape, rather use liquid silicon.

[@leesarahvanlife2297]

Well done you two, looks like a was a right faff, you got there in the end though. Lee is excited to be toolbox fwends!! 😂😉 Honestly thought at the beginning it was a man in the background but it was river growling 😂😂😂 give her a cuddle from all of us in Devon! Looking forward to seeing you lovely faces when restrictions allow 😄 lots of love ❤️ xxxx

[@OverlandingSophia]

Fwends 😍 hahah never noticed river growling, must be used to all her strange noises now! It was a bloody faff! Especially in the cold when your hands don’t work right. But so glad it’s done now. Just feels amazing to tick something else off the list, ya know?! 💛 xx

[@leesarahvanlife2297]

@@OverlandingSophia awww I don’t mean growling in a bad way more of a hello I’m here you know the weird talking that dogs like to do. Yep we absolutely know what you mean - we finally got our window fitted and are so chuffed it’s been in the box since November hahaha ! Xx

[@VanTasticTraveling]

Cool hoodie you’re wearing Ben! Is that your own design?? Nice to see the build is coning along 🤗 good luck with the cold! 🥶

[@OverlandingSophia]

Good spot guys, yes it is! Just a sample at the moment 😉

[@theintrovertinitiative]

Take a shot everytime Ben says "manhole" 😁

[@OverlandingSophia]

It's not even the right word 😂

[@gearlab734]

lol

[@havemotorhomewilltravel1154]

Forgot to mention last week we thinned the raptor done and used a normal spray gun so we have a finer texture not the rough looking finish..

[@tacitus101010]

Hey at least you didn't cut it too big!

[@OverlandingSophia]

One of the times in life it’s better to be on the small side 🤪

[@Scud_and_thesTig]

Good progress 👍💙❤️💙❤️

[@OverlandingSophia]

Thank you! Glad to tick something new off the list ☺️🙏

[@changeofplantravel115]

Hey Chesca and Ben...I know this is an old one from your rebuild, and I may have missed this info somewhere in between, but did you do any winterising of the tanks at all ?

[@OverlandingSophia]

Hello! No, we didn't winterise the tanks at all. When we were in Turkey in -12 in Cappadocia the pipes froze solid! If we want to go to colder weather for longer we'd need to do something about that 💛

[@changeofplantravel115]

@@OverlandingSophia Thanks so much, by chance we have the same set up, so thought we'd check ! Hope you're all enjoying things Stateside !

[@joshsilk1680]

Where did you get the waste and fresh water tank openings from?

[@OverlandingSophia]

Hey, we picked them up off Ebay 😊

[@barrywatler7482]

Good morning Chesca Ben and River, the apprentice van builder, thanks for sharing, do the tanks have any sort of stone guard ? Take car stay safe, we have a cyclone building in Nth Queensland so we will probably get some rain but it wont be cold, cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@andrewthompson2380]

Are the tanks insulated

[@leow_se]

What kind of a unit did you use to carry out the work? I am starting a conversion soon but I live in a flat, will be nice to rent a unit like that.

[@OverlandingSophia]

We've rented a unit at a local storage place. It's an outdoor unit with unmanned, 24 hour access. They're happy for us to work on the van while we're there which is awesome. Highly recommend finding a unit like this as it's been a godsend for us!

[@mokshpatil3316]

haha, Ben reminded me a funny joke I had heard years ago... "What day of the year is Brits' favourite?" "Summer"

[@OverlandingSophia]

😂 So true! 😭

[@graemeowen9109]

Coming along nicely. Sorry to sound stupid but how will you empty the waste and fill the fresh water?

[@OverlandingSophia]

Not at all! We'll be filling the fresh water through a hose inlet we'll be fitting to the outside at a later date. The waste water tank has a tap which we haven't fitted yet. The piping etc still needs to be done, we've just installed the tanks this week 😊

[@clivetaylor27]

Wow, so much room? Like having a basement. Just asking - will the brackets hold the weight 200Kg? Agony aunt as I am. You could put a small storage under there too, bikes / boards /safe - but I know you have to be there to see.

[@OverlandingSophia]

Haha yeah, it's surprisingly roomy underneath the van! The brackets will hold the weight no problem. The tanks are tried and tested by lots of van lifers 😊Probably wouldn't fit storage beneath there as it's just too exposed and access would be a pain. But we like your thinking Clive 😊💛

[@stuartwallace7841]

Haha, well done guys, it should make a big difference, lets hope African potholes dont give you a problem in the future.! Really looking forward to you starting the adventure, it will be mega ! BTW, do you have a target date for starting the trip? BTW, IMO, Raptor paint would be brilliant.!

[@OverlandingSophia]

Haha we hope so too! With the lift kit these tanks should be well out the way of any damage (famous last words!) Yes our target date to ship to Egypt is October, but we will be leaving officially about July time, if all goes to plan. And thank you for raptor paint weigh in, we honestly have no idea which way to go 🙈 xx

[@stuartwallace7841]

@@OverlandingSophia Pearlescent Pink Raptor paint - i dare you !

[@stephencraigie6771]

Hi, which company did you get your lift kit from, thanks.?

[@OverlandingSophia]

Hey, we got it from Black Rock Outfitters 😊

[@normahalliburton2908]

Hi guys really enjoyed this video, been waiting all week and it has flown by. Anyway I was just wondering the larger outlet you cut into the waste water tank, is that not meant to be at the bottom of the tank, or am I being stupid. I hope it isnt as that would mean you will need to turn it over. Take care guys, Oh and River is looking more cute every day xx

[@propertybuyerspaincostabla7427]

Are you putting a toilet/ shower in the van this time, Regards Andy in Spain

[@OverlandingSophia]

Hi Andy! Yes, we are having a composting toilet and hopefully a shower out the back 😊

[@uptowndisco2]

How to burst a guy's bubble , 12:20 Is it in ? lol

[@markg6jvy135]

👍👏👏

[@samipsarkar2979]

Come Nepal If possible? ❤️❤️

[@OverlandingSophia]

We'd love to one day! Maybe on our way back from Cape Town?!

[@roamforloam7917]

HANG ON!!!!!.... I Spy a tyre change to KO2's and no mention or shots of them????........

[@OverlandingSophia]

Haha next week, we promise 🥳

[@mokshpatil3316]

Am I seeing a merch on the way??😏

[@OverlandingSophia]

Maybeeee 👀

[@briancollis9352]

Interesting Video. However, I am worried that you are not wearing any eye protection...

[@abeach5420]

Hiya . . . looking forward to following your upcoming roadtrip and am unsure if you have already upgraded the horrible Sprinter locking system etc, but I've learned how bad the break n' entries are and one cple who were completely changed over the locks. Just thought to share as you are heading back out into the big world and may need extra security. On the video it says' HEO Safe Locks from Expedition Upfitter', but of course would be something different your way I imagine as this cple is in Canada. In anycase just sharing... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHralYacopV-ZqM

[@Ayersiex]

Why does cheska not do anything?

[@OverlandingSophia]

While I’m working on jobs like this that take one person, she spends hours filming and editing the videos, organising logistics for our trip behind the scenes, running our business. Ches then helps on the build on top of that, as you’ll see in our other build videos ☺️👍

[@brianfd622]

Do me a favour please, wear eye protection, metal swarf in the eye is extremely painful.

[@janeingram7331]

This guy seems to rush through projects without thinking and not using protective eye wear or gloves is remarkable that he still has two eyes. He would scare me to travel with because he's too impulsive. Africa has many dangerous countries. I have unsubscribed a while ago. I was just checking in to see if he's improved. He isn't.

[@OverlandingSophia]

What a damming judge of character! I’m sorry but I have to wholly disagree with you! Ben is anything but impulsive and these tanks took 3 days to fit rather than 1-2 like most people. He is level headed, fun to be around and there is no one else I’d rather travel the world with. I’m just sad you can’t see this too!