Van Life Tour | Self-converted Sprinter Van | Van.There

A full look at our self-built 2013 Mercedes Sprinter Van 2500 170" wheel base.
We spent 5 months converting a used cargo van into a tiny home on wheels and have lived in this van since April 2017.
Have questions? Comment below and we'll get back to you.
To stay up to date with our journey, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to our channel on KZbin and FOLLOW us on Instagram and Facebook!!
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toilet: Nature's Head Composting Toilet
Cabinet Spring Stays: bit.ly/2FDbZ4e

[@VanThere]

Thanks for all the fabulous feedback! We will definitely be cutting back the music in our next videos. Appreciate all the kind words and your support as we continue to grow this channel! 💙🚐✨

[@EarthStory]

Great video guys! Love the channel. Are you guys using a mic? The audio was pretty rough, there's a $25 Takstar mic we've been using which is just as good as a $300 Rode. I definitely think it would add so much production to your content! Thank you guys so much for contributing to this community :) We got so many good ideas for our next buildout of our van!!!

[@nanchesca3950]

Brilliant! So many great ideas!

[@thyslop1737]

VanThere Did not say in your video. So, this is full time? Very nice. But I don't know seems kinda cramped, nonetheless, kudos to y'all.

[@jensheavavideos]

It’s perfect! Looks like you thought of everything!

[@frankestrada919]

Very nicely done

[@jenniferhill8776]

Somehow I am just now seeing this video after having been watching van build videos for nearly 2 years, almost every week. At least I finally found this gem!

[@DenisGreatens]

I'm absolutely fascinated with van conversions. I think your conversion is the best one I have seen...simple, well crafted, amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@VanThere]

Denis Greatens Thank you!

[@edbenson98]

Those springs on the cabinets and the composting toilet hidden away were awesome. Great design and craftsmanship!

[@VanThere]

Eddie B thanks!

[@pawlet]

That pergo flooring with aluminum trim is genius... My favorite part though is the overall interior design. The textures and colors are all so rich.

[@igotstoknow2]

Save money for expensive maintenance and repairs - much more than the Ford Transit with a nonturbo gas engine. The spring and Velcro methods are top ideas! Please no background music when talking. Well done van!

[@VanThere]

CauseAndEffect Ha! You forgot to add time for the parts being shipped over from Germany! We were homeless for month when our van was rear-ended this summer 😭

[@SouthernPatriot1]

CauseAndEffect my thoughts the same on the music...great tour otherwise. ✌️

[@stagesbookingandpromotions3548]

CauseAndEffect I don't agree with your OPINION on the music. My opinion, It's not invasive or offputting to me at all, in fact, I didn't even notice the music until I read your post ha! Don't forget all comments are our personal opinions not to be taken as fact or direction like yourve frased your comment

[@Makelifehappennow]

But that diesel torque with 20mpg is pretty hard to beat. My parts came in 3 days later after hitting a deer. Now I have a big bar on the front bumper.

[@Dischordian]

lovely clean build, the only one ive seen that makes me feel like i could just emulate the entire thing quite happily.

[@wandawas2]

Wait a minute...the closet door is amazingly nice. Wow! That was genius! Love love!!!

[@Lestothez]

I've watched a bunch of van tour videos....by far this is the best van build i have seen. You really should turn to making vans for a living. This van build is super impressive.

[@finnblu3002]

Clean design for an active life by a seeming chill couple and a wickedly cool 4-legged co-pilot. Perfection.

[@michaelzuro1916]

I have a California king and a tiny wife and I barely have enough room. Two adults on a double bed seems impossible. No shower, no privacy when crapping and smelling up the whole van? You seem happy. Keep loving and growing.

[@StacyForest738]

Composting toilets have a vent in the container area, no smell whatsoever, way better than a house toilet or God awful cassette or black tank toilet.

[@PositivelyNice]

this is so smart! love that spring and velcro method to secure overhead compartments

[@eamonandbec]

Great build out! Becca would love that flip out mirror....may copy that!

[@VanThere]

Eamon & Bec 😍Sometimes you gotta look like you don’t live in a van, ya know?!

[@bheard9742]

Wow isn’t it. Check a similar video from Create Wndr’s Channel they have a great set up as well - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4Xbdn5vhrx4Z6s

[@MandyJArt]

My new fave van conversion. Music was fine. I've been looking at van buildouts for literally years now, and you've still managed to give me new ideas!

[@VanThere]

Zachy Zoo thank you! We’re new to KZbin so we’ll have everything fine tuned soon enough. Appreciate your patience and happy to hear we’re still able to give you new ideas!

[@tikilee7172]

Stunningly clever use of space. Love that you scored polycarbonate sheets to create tambour doors. Ingenious

[@VanThere]

tiki lebby thanks! It was a real mental challenge to find a good solution for that space

[@886jules1]

Great design! I love how you make use of every centimetre of space without sacrificing style at all. Congrats.

[@determineddiva5402]

I seriously like what you guys have done, however the music is very distracting and makes it hard to hear what is being said. Overall, this is a wonderful build and the closet solution is fantastic!

[@silvermonk13]

agreed. not sure why people like putting music in a video while people are talking

[@VanThere]

Thanks for the feedback! We’ll tone it down in future videos.

[@beaulah_califa9867]

Beautiful van. Somewhere I could see myself living. Your van is one of my top 4 faves. So clever and artistic. I can't believe all of the different solutions you thought of. Love how wide your floor space is.

[@queenlorea2094]

I love your van layout; it’s different and very feasible for your needs; especially the toilet design. I hope to see you guys real soon. Many blessings❣️💞🌲🎁♥️💜🤩

[@caseychan6909]

Really great design in terms of space economics, down to earth but creative solutions. thanks for sharing all these genius design ideas.

[@TSShay]

Omg the magnets for the window covers! Brilliant! It seems so simple but I don't think I would have ever thought of that. Wonderful van!

[@balbe117]

You're my fav #vanlife account on Instagram, nice to get the full tour here on KZbin. Thanks for posting so regularly on Instagram. I've become obsessed with vans lately and I know I can always count on you two for some fresh content, haha!

[@ReligiousZombie]

The icing on the cake is that adorable doggy.

[@DobbyandHarley]

Been watching van videos for several months now getting inspiration for my own, and your van has got to be one of my favourites!

[@VanThere]

DobbyIsAFreePoodle wow, thank you!! 💙🙏

[@DobbyandHarley]

Are you going to camp quirky this year? Would love to look round your van!

[@VanThere]

Is that in the UK? we are in the US... Our friends went this past year and had great things to say!

[@DobbyandHarley]

Oh yer, sorry, as I said watched so many videos its hard to keep up! Will wait eagerly for the blog post.

[@lajoycestewart3278]

Lots of planning great build love the pull out extra counter space above the drawers in the kitchen-I couldn’t miss this my dad always did this for my mom.

[@motopolak]

The "Van Accessible" sign is an awesome touch. Thoughtful and well-designed build!

[@yeyay]

i love the camera work. showing things that are being explained. most times, other van tour vids dont show what is being explained and it reaaaallly irks me!! like, i want to see the switches janet!! the inside of the cabinets!! the ports! and everything

[@mobilehomelife4028]

The canary (sp?) monitor answers one of my questions, and the hotspot. I am looking at RV life, in a few years. In my case I have two cats that will be with me so the temperature is very important to watch for.

[@longhairmullet]

These van builds are getting better and better, this is a great conversion. Van dwellers are uniquely clever figuring out lay out, electrical, plumbing.. geez where to begin? Kudos on the ‘Sketch up” skills, not my strength. Ugh, wish I could just pay someone already. Cute couple, though kiss at the end was little awkward. Maybe it was cute and I’m just awkward. Lol

[@forsbergmicah]

Unbelievable Genius!!!! I’ve been watching van conversion videos for a long time and this is the most amazing engineering use of space I’ve ever seen!

[@Ariel-mo3om]

40 hrs of freedom is also a good channel.

[@llwscott5720]

Very nice! Love the tambour doors. If you ever need to replace them, wood tambour doors attached to a sturdy cloth backing can be bought online. The finished van is so sleek and professionally done. I love it! Could live in this with no problem.

[@airvilleleenmae]

Wow it's amazing inside everytime that kind of van pass by me I always say "I want one of those one day" lol

[@safeharbor7]

This is the best van build I've ever seen, so well thought out and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Very impressive... I will be starting my van build in Feb. I have been watching van build videos here on youtube for months, taking notes. I will definitely be using a lot of your ideas , thank you so much... Big help. Big thumbs up + new subscriber.

[@VanThere]

safeharbor7 THANK YOU!! 🙏Good luck on your build and let us know if you have any questions as you get your hands dirty

[@safeharbor7]

I will, thank you...

[@t-msandbekk7394]

This is the best converted sprinter van iv'e seen so far! Brilliant, practical and really cozy looking too! I'm amazed too be honest.

[@koogles8]

Great design and a true artisan touch! Where did you get the springs for the cupboard doors and what guage were they? Where did you get the roll up/down panels for the bedroom closet doors? And was that bungee or shock cord for the innovative closet storage. How did you do the swivel cab seats? Great design and execution. Well explained video too!

[@zonalenhart6954]

Best van conversion I have ever seen. Incredibly well thought out.

[@memefeed2147]

great idea with the padded wall on the bedside, have you ever considered using a sailboat awning? they can withstand hurricane winds and looks like railing for a ladder when rolled up and often automatic.

[@rhch]

Great build I could copy cat....FYI....pls turn down the music...can’t wait to see what’s next. .....From Houston Texas

[@VanThere]

rhonda chevis thanks for letting us know about the music!

[@texedwards3039]

wow!!

[@zhenzhunaichaoo4750]

Love the flooring u guys used on the front of the cabinets. Clever and durable.

[@neilsalmon5900]

Great van build , very creative use of space , perfect for a cozy couple .

[@janh.4479]

Fabulous build you two!! Love all the finishes, and well-thought out items, esp your composting toilet!! So many stealth vans are way too dark and your windows let in so much light and air. Hope we can someday build a van like yours!!

[@garyabc]

Very nice design. Very well done. Love that you made it stealth.

[@joeframer9642]

Beautiful van and woman. Very clever design ideas.

[@DutchAussieProductions]

Thanks for the video. The van looks very comfortable. I have not seen springs to hold overhead cabinet doors open. What a good idea.

[@monkeytoothpodcast919]

Nicely done! The Tambour doors on the closets were a great solution. I'm sorry to see so many people dissing the music on your video...our van video is only music, with no narration. Some folks are just tough to please. Keep doing fun and interesting things!

[@ericp7393]

Outstanding! You two deserve an award for your hard work. I bought a ready made PW Plateau because I have no talent or ability.

[@ritabroils6190]

Consider 'Packing Cubes' for you clothing. Cool door solution for your closets.

[@dodoughboi]

This is the best-designed van I have seen so far!!!

[@VanThere]

Doyoung Lee 💙💙💙

[@JesusCliment]

This is this, that is that... Our *Burning man* costumes... LOVE IT!

[@ruthanne6150]

Ughhhh! This van is soooooo cooolllll! Love the build & alternatives & the interiors! Love you guys!

[@melissahankoff4034]

This is the best van build that I've seen on KZbin (I've watched a ton over a year)!!! CONGRATS❣

[@AudeKhatru]

I will be interested to see how the springs hold up over time. That is really the only question mark I can see. It looks brilliant and if they are still working well after...what...8 months, then maybe they will hold up. I would love to see an update at one year and two years. Of course, depending on how cheap they are, you may be able to replace them after a year or two and still save money. Oh, and I agree with rhonda. The music is both too loud, and it gets annoying after 18 minutes of it. Also, you may want to consider going to a dedicated microphone with wind cover for those outdoor scenes. Aside from the annoying and too loud music, the wind noise while talking about the back is about the only other fault.

[@kenk2345]

...very cool window covers with magnetic attachers

[@RealEstateOttawa]

You guys are lovely dog too :) great layout one of the best ive seen beyond practical .. Could you please go into more detail on the roller doors you made , they are beyond brilliant, Gotta love how they open completely. BB in Canada

[@cav3man82]

Can you go in to specifics on how to empty the composting toilet? How often and where? It's not the most pleasant thing to go into, but probably one of the most imperative issues in living the van life.

[@maidelie]

Love the tambour doors for the cabinets by the bed!

[@bigjohn7932]

Great build. Simple, smart and practical. I appreciate your authentic vibe. Great job with the explaination of the details of your functional design and hardware. You two have a good chemistry.

[@bonniepwtf]

That's one of the best transformations I have seen yet. So thorough.

[@elleryjqueen1712]

Fantastic job, at the start I thought it looked plain, but its brilliant with one surprise after another, only complaint is the annoying music that droned on often making your voice fade away, especially when your outside. Stay safe and enjoy that vehicle. regards from the uk

[@frankgreco4292]

Great job on the van! You guys seem so happy and make it look so easy! My wife and I have the killer camp spot on our property in Lake Tahoe. If you’re ever interested in spending any time here let me know. Happy Trails!

[@dylanbaeza1691]

This is a great build! Definitely gave me some solid ideas to incorporate into mine. Stay safe out there!

[@esra2146]

The best conversion I have seen so far.I would use the same plan without changing a single thing.well done!great conversion..have lots of fun. P.S any chance of uploading the same video with no background music?

[@salmbach]

Really nice conversion. Well done! ----but please kill that background music, gave me a headache.

[@TheBossNitaRay]

The third great toilet idea that I've seen.

[@vickimartin2215]

Suggestion for your dematic wrap it in the reflectix put a sheet across the top and wrap it up or all the way around it I saw someone else who had theirs done that way and they said that it really cut down on the power usage

[@VanThere]

Vicki Martin Fam member oh that is a good idea! We’ve seen some vanagons use this technique

[@lynnescaddan8919]

What a brilliant idea those windows are. !!!! I love the blinds. I love your veg/ fruit baskets but I priced them up & £10 each is too expensive for me. I love your home.

[@crv20051]

Really great work, thanks for posting, bedroom closets are brilliant :-)

[@VanThere]

Northstar7 Thanks! We went through several ideas before landing on the roll down option, and we’re still very happy with them

[@leaw]

Hey guys! Nice videos! We are Luca & Sara an Italian couple living and traveling in an old truck camper. We will be leaving Canada soon and traveling south, 3 months through the US. We would love to meet you guys on the way. We wish you all the best! Safe travels ;)

[@judygipson3517]

this is the most fabulous van build I've ever seen. You say you are an artist? That is pretty obvious from this well thought out design.

[@roberttosa2560]

Burning Man costumes?? Awesome! Great van build. Thanks for sharing.

[@mantaniu]

My wife and I just purchased a sprinter and we have been watching a TON of build video and reading articles. So far your build has been the closest thing to what we are looking to do! You guys did a really great job! Can I ask if you used a certain template in Sketchup to start the plan? Or did you just start from scratch? If you used a template would you mind sharing which one? Or, even better, would you be open to the idea of sharing yours? We would be making bunch of changes but it would be an awesome place to start!

[@danielking33]

Yeah same I would love to know if they would share their sketchup

[@donbvs]

Wow! Very impressive! Excellent use of limited space. Great design work and the actual build (closets, water system, electrical and choice of materials and hardware) seems impeccable! Congratulations on a job very well done. Wishing you both safe travels and success with your business. If that becomes boring, you could earn a living building custom vans!

[@VanThere]

donbvs thank you thank you thank you!

[@PretiumLibertatisEstVigilantia]

Just awesome video. I wish you good luck with the drawings, they look great. Do what you love.

[@SceneryChanges]

Love your use of space! Great design and features. May have to use some of these ideas if we convert. Thank you!

[@VanThere]

Scenery Changes thanks!

[@biologistjim4905]

What a great skill to have, great craftsmanship !

[@SuperRhondasue]

I really really like your van. You have turned it into a little home. Ha.....even a garage!

[@alanhudson8718]

WOW,WOW and WOW,now i have seen the best van plan and build,safe and happy travels to you.

[@rocdiver809]

Your van setup is nicely laid out. Bungee strategy is awesome. Love your computer. My guess, Linux? Does the batteries require to have ventilation?

[@menoyuno8430]

This guy is one very talented artist

[@rvlee8577]

What a great couple you guys are and the kiss was a unique touch. Very impressed with the magnetic window shade cases. The flooring on the ceiling and cabinet faces is super cool. A brilliant design with the corragated plastic closet doors too. Oh, and sweet garage with roll out bike stand. Happy Trails

[@VanThere]

rv Lee Thank you!! 💙🙏

[@ReggieTime]

Designers are doing that cabinet style alot lately, dark wood below & white ones above, or shelves....l like your stylio!!!

[@andys623]

would like to see the actual build going together, very nice and thought out.

[@Eksands]

Lol floor paneling for roof, drawers, floor. Pretty cool

[@VanThere]

Alex Pacheco panel all the things!!

[@PS_on_youtube]

Awesome video! I really like the way you used the space in the closet for the mirror (very creative). Overall a great layout and great use of space.

[@twowander2470]

You won me with the black box hidden next to the water... I need to hook up a black box faucet in our van!!!

[@ElaineToombs]

The Van is beautiful, you guys did a very good job! I love it. Your build has given me some great ideals. And the music is a nice touch!! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@Anna-lw2ox]

How much did everything cost you two????

[@sammospencer8641]

Amazing can build. Best one yet.

[@kevinnash837]

Awesome looking Van! thumbs Up! Would loved to have seen some links in the description, of things you installed inside the van.

[@VanThere]

kevin nash Great idea! Thanks for feedback. We’ll put together a linked list soon to share with you

[@gsparky8153]

You are both awesome. I'm so jealous of your creativity and capability.

[@mauricecardinal6352]

Exciting. Thanks for sharing your world! Have fun!

[@1832pro]

Nice work. I am a few steps behind you. I like the cubby space in the rear doors for your phones... I've been searching for vented windows/pocket windows for there with no luck. But this is a great idea!

[@VanThere]

Nate Traiser we were searching for a similar product! We almost put in a small passive vent there to help with air circulation but we never fully baked the concept. Good luck on your build!

[@mikkosuperman4191]

Nice van. Like the magnet shower and blinds. I have the propane tank in an airtight cabinet which is vented. The most probable leak would be the joint between the bottle and the gas hose. Have the bottle secured on place and hopefully you have an emergency gas cut off double valve in a case of a collision. Have a safe and adventurous trip! :)

[@harrygoerl7404]

Well thought out

[@catemistruzzistaff7155]

Such a practical and intelligent design....well executed! Enjoy!

[@debslifesimplified6406]

Nice build. Love the window coverings, and the padded walls gave me an idea for the back wall of my bus.

[@Errror404]

One of the nicest, well thought out, builds I have seen. Great job!

[@VanThere]

Errror404 🙏🙏🙏

[@theexPAWers]

Nice van guys! Very roomy and open..... lots of nice big windows to check out the views on your future adventures! We have just started our big adventure around Europe in a smaller van with our 2 doggies! Loving the Lifestyle!🚐👫🐕🐕

[@VanThere]

the exPAWers a European adventure!! So cool! Have you checked out @mrandmrsadventure yet? They are on their 3rd tour through Europe now!

[@oreo8373]

Such a well designed van build, one of the best one's out there. You guys thought of nearly everything. There is one van dweller out there featured on another channel who has similar design skills and managed to find and fit a small stand up shower. Youguys did great and covered all the bases and basics. Loved the windows, that was a great modification. The corrugated plastic was also a great idea. All the good craftsmanship was impeccable from the locking drawers to the mirror to the charging port & compost toilet. Well done. Cheers and good luck on your new business!

[@VanThere]

Oren Palomares really appreciate all your kind words!