VAN TOUR//SHORT BODY Design considerations//Full short body van tour with SHOWER and TOILET

[@raindanse8466]

This couple have the best setup I have ever seen. I mean they have everything covered primarily the bikes, showers, sink, stove, fridge, and toilet facilities. Superb settings.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Wow, thank you!

[@debsym62]

I love this van build, so many people claim to have a great build but I think yours is one of the best I have seen.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Wow! That's quite the compliment - thanks!

[@ruckinehround6965]

Yes I would like to agree, very well thought out.

[@Kimmielovesmusic]

We love seeing all the upgrades and so happy you helped us in making our dream come true♥️ you outlined all the reasons we also went with the 136 wheel base. Thank you so much for the shout out for the pictures! I loved sketching your beautiful fur babies. To see them hanging in your van just warmed my heart❤️❤️❤️ praying safe travels and good health to you our dear friends

[@ClarityOffGrid]

That's right! You know about the organic ice cream in Durango! We are loving our fur babies' sketches in our bed room bunk. Thanks again... and again...

[@Kimmielovesmusic]

@@ClarityOffGrid ❤️❤️

[@jess4mathews]

THE DRAWER SLIDE AT THE TOP...GENIUS 🤓

[@ClarityOffGrid]

😊

[@tomboooty]

Wow. Drum roll! A first for a van tour. Me like! 👍

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Glad you like it! Always trying to mix it up and make it fun.

[@patriciaburr4826]

You mean done for now. Vans are always evolving. Mine has several times and I don't even have one yet 😂 😂 😂. I just love all the little details you added.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

You're right. But, it is nice to have those little details complete. Looking forward to seeing your van.

[@asifadeni]

Many thanks for making such a wonderful video. One of the best camper vans we have seen so far

[@ClarityOffGrid]

We are so glad that you liked the video and our van build.

[@blueskies00]

Beautiful couple and amazing van. The best part is they love ❤️ rheir pup. Such adorable pics on the wall.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks for watching.! You are so kind!

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

I really like your design and build. The sheer curtain for a bug scrren is genius. And all the drawers under the sink are way easier to store and access. The shower is a little "iffy" for me. There are big gaps where the door hinges are and those would need to be covered in some way. I also think I would like a higher platform -- maybe a place to stand connected to a hitch -- so I wouldn't be so obviously taking a shower with my body exposed from the knees down. That would also allow me to easily get back inside to get dressed. Thanks for sharing.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! Glad you liked the tour and the design. Here's couple of ideas about the shower. I agree with you on the "privacy". As we used the shower set up, we realized that we could pull the drapes in the back end over the gaps in the door/hinges area. We just use magnets to hold the drapes in place. Also, you might consider simply getting a longer shower curtain that will go all the way to the ground, or mount the bar lower. That way you'll get full coverage! I think you'll find that climbing into the back from the shower is pretty challenging. We typically use a shower mat and change in the shower area, then slip on our sandals before leaving the shower "room". Hope that gives you some simple solutions should you decide on an outdoor shower. Good luck.

[@H.pylori]

Fantastic! A lot of planning went into this build. Happy journeys. Thanks for posting. Thumbs up.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks for watching! We have had many happy journeys in our van. Glad you liked the tour.

[@marilynmalberg5362]

No wonder we haven’t seen you. You have been busy. How nice.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Sorry Mom. We've definitely had a lot of irons in the fire.

[@adriankung1625]

Pretty damn AMAZING!! I thought it was dubious/ near impossible to pull off having everything I'd want/need for LT travel in a 136, yet you've proven it can be done and done really well! Kudos to you - and it really does look GREAT! Personally, I'm good at maneuvering a larger vehicle(s) in tighter spaces and would feel a little cramped in the smaller van - I'm looking for a 159 ProMaster - however I'm likely gonna 'steal' more than a couple of your ingenious solutions when I get around to my build. Thank-you for showing that it can be done well, as I feared I would need the 159 extended, but now I've seen I can make things work well and still keep things a bit smaller and lighter, saving on fuel - fuel = $$$ when on really looooong trips! I'll definitely be checking on your build videos -- Many Thanks!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks for your encouraging and supportive comment. Since the build I’ve learned a ton about building lighter! If you need any advice or support send an email with your phone and I’ll follow up. Upper cabinets I would probably do the same. Others I would use mostly light framing and 1/4” plywood with 1/2” ply drawers. Good luck with your build!

[@bonnieboyle2030]

Love. Composting toilet and location. Well organized. And I love your ease with each other. God bless you both in the trying times we are going through.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you so much! You too! Life is always better in a van.

[@tsungpaofangable]

Very nicely detailed information.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Glad it was helpful!

[@louisekancy4025]

Love your van! So we'll thought out and organized and comfy! Happy travels ❣

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@mbd6054]

You have built our ultimate dream van. The ingenuity and organisation are outstanding. We didn't think it would be possible to fit everything we wanted into our van, but now we know better, thanks to your generosity in sharing your knowledge. Thank you very much. Safe travels to you.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Wow! How nice. We are trilled that this information helped you. You are very welcome. Keep us posted on your van build. 🙂

[@mbd6054]

@@ClarityOffGrid I will keep you posted. Thank you. :)

[@ruthmcgill4612]

Well thought out. Love the under sink part of the van.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks - hope it helped if you're figuring out your van.

[@rebeccagrissett647]

Love how organized you guys are!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks. I'm a natural organizer - but living in a van... you have to be organized.

[@jackieforester2525]

Love this couple and their van!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

☺

[@susiesearle2219]

What a fantastic design! Well done and happy travels!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you very much!

[@cheryluhrig-rivard2963]

Very well designed and executed! Good job!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Glad you liked the tour. Hope it helped.

[@susanshaver912]

Thank you, thank you! So many people have told me that the small ones are too small! You have made every inch, or every centimeter, count! Love it. Sheer curtains for a bug screen - who would have thought:) The hanging wood pullout storage rack on upper slides is so functional. Never heard of soap in sheets. The thing I cannot do is the storage on top: my Drs won't allow me to even be on a stepstool, nothing off the ground as I have fallen and passed out so often. Thank you both Hope to get my van and see you on the road sometime!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Susan, Thanks so much for your lovely comment. We're very happy that you found it helpful and informative. I wouldn't worry too much about needing to store stuff on the top. We only use that for toys like the inflatable kayak and dog food when we're out of the country for an extended period of time. keep us posted - we'd love to see you out on the road.

[@kathleenhoward7070]

Wonderful van build. I hope you venture far and wide. Living my dream. :)

[@ClarityOffGrid]

I hope it can become your dream too - if you so desire. Thanks for watching. Hope to hear more from you and your dreams of vanlife.

[@drgranger2]

Man, you guys nailed it, thanks for sharing!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! What a nice thing to say. Glad you liked it.

[@tomboooty]

Done? Done?! That’s hilarious! No van is ever done. 🤣

[@ClarityOffGrid]

We can dream.. 😀😊

[@ginadillon2072]

Awesome!!!! I just love it so much.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Glad you like it!

[@c.m.303]

Great van build! Love it! And thumbs up on the HK dog food...expensive, but worth it for my furry friend.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks. Yeah the HK is the best. And we don’t consider it more expensive than quality dried dog food. You’re right. Having healthy dogs is worth it. ❤️

[@tjc1795]

Thank you sharing your very well thought out van build, LOVE it. Very nice!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Our pleasure!

[@trillibytes]

I love this van for it's size. In my top 3 favorite builds

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Awesome! So glad you like the build. Are you planning on building out a van?

[@trillibytes]

@@ClarityOffGrid Likely not any time soon, though it may one day be in the realm of possibility.

[@IowaVanMan]

Beautiful and thoughtful design! Amazing job!! 🚐

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you very much!

[@cathietonkin5577]

Your choice of length is wonderful…. my hubby wants the small like yours, while I just want comfortable with the needed essentials! Sadly we are still hunting for ours 2 years now! Dang C-19! Wish I could hire you both to build us one!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks. You'll find just the right van. We were lucky we got our van early in the pandemic and it gave us something positive to work on while staying home. Now, we feel very safe traveling and having our home on wheels whereever we go. Good luck with the van search.

[@myatv7195]

Lovely setup! Great ideas!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks so much! 😊 Hope it helped.

[@anneparrish2247]

Love your van! You have thought of everything.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks Anne. Glad you like it.

[@dougal9439]

Thanks, nice changes. In our 136. I so find the 136 easy to drive and maneuver plus has more than enough room for two including an enclosure for our composting toilet. Thanks and happy traveling. doug in the tan van

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Right on! Always nice to hear from you Dan.

[@wendyauwerda4831]

awesome thanks

[@ClarityOffGrid]

You're welcome. Hope it helped.

[@kimprice1864]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

☺❤

[@laurahouck5435]

Brilliant build!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks for watching!

[@jess4mathews]

WOW YOU REALLY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ORGANIZING AND UTILIZING EVERY INCH OF YOUR VAN HOME. FABULOUS QUALITY CABINETRY, WELL THOUGHT OUT ELECTRIC AND WATER SYSTEMS ... ENJOY THE RIDE! 😁 MY MOM HAS MACULAR TOO BIG HUGS TO YOU BOTH

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate your comments.

[@debbiebryant7212]

I am so in love with y'all and your van. And I am so jealous. God bless and keep you in your new adventures. I have subscribed and look forward to seeing more. 😍

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Awesome! Thank you! And we look forward to getting to know you. So glad you found our channel. We're currently in Mexico, and making videos - hope you enjoy the journey with us.

[@celesteautokier]

Love the new upgrades. My husband Rudy spoke with you yesterday. Hope we can catch y’all on your way through south central Texas. Thanks for the advice so far. It’s much appreciated. Safe travels.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! We hope to catch up with you! Keep plugging away on that van build. 😊

[@rose8662]

So many fabulous new ideas. Thank you for sharing them with us! ❤

[@ClarityOffGrid]

You are so welcome!

[@mikeecker146]

This van is genius!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! We put a lot of thought into it.

[@Justkisha]

Genius cabinets

[@ClarityOffGrid]

They are pretty cool. Grateful that Matt is so talented.

[@rebeccafritz320]

Very nice van ad looks very homie\ thinking of living the van life soon.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Awesome! Good luck with van life1 We love it.

[@sueanntweet3941]

Such great ideas

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Glad you like them! Thanks.

[@fadnanoor5121]

Good job

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks!

[@bonnieboyle2030]

You are self-contained. ✌️❤️🙏

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Indeed!

[@patmalone77]

Great build so organised, have fun !

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks, will do!

[@OurRetiredLife]

Such a cozy van! Love all the use of space. Enjoy your travels ☺️

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you! Will do! We're enjoying watching your van build too. Awesome!

[@kimprice1864]

Best van build I've ever seen. Where do the dogs sleep?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! We're so glad you liked it. Lily, our Golden Retriever sleeps between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. And Jessie, the black dog sleeps at the foot of our bed. Luckily we're not very tall!.

[@eva-britthjalmarsson9811]

Beautiful van, so thought thru!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks!

[@blessedhomesllc2849]

💘 this vid! My husband and I live vanlu Iife also!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Tangoisinthesouth]

Great job!!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@snormand8636]

Hi Matt!!!! Wow…..super super great job!! I love this and how you two have sorted out a wonderful off the grid living situation in both your van and home. Would like to see your home video too! Soooo happy for you two….you always were a pretty darn smart guy!! You both look super happy…love it and love. That after all these years I can follow you. Would love to keep in touch….perhaps you can message me through fb messenger as I’m not active on the actual fb app for some time now. Hope to hear from you and share some stories. I have been a repurposed artist for many years and have transferred this to my home living as well. Love love love this and so great to see you! Blessings always my old friend☺️ Sunny Normand🌻

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Oh sweet to hear, Sunny! What a sweet thoughtful note! I’m almost never on FN either but decided to post our channel. So glad it reached you. I’ll check in on messenger

[@Chillynn2]

We really appreciate your videos. They have been very helpful and entertaining while we convert our short Promaster. I am very interested in the exterior video cameras and interior monitor you mentioned. Can you direct me to a link about your experience and purchase? Thank you!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank. We’re so glad our videos have been helpful. I’ll have Matt get back to you about the monitor. He had some upgrades made at an Axxis Audio, but I don’t know the details. Feel free to email us through our Contact Us form on our website at SustainableHomeResource.com.

[@Chillynn2]

@@ClarityOffGrid Thank you.

[@ashokpatel9902]

U personally know perfectly everything .... That ...How to need & Contain in Tiny Van .... And ... therefore all set up in place very .... perfect & Meticulously ... WoW... Fully Enjoy ... YR ... Mexican Tour.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks. We're glad you found us and our videos. Welcome!

[@chianghansen951]

Any mechanical issues of Promaster?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

No mechanical issues yet and we've traveled over 35,000 miles - much of that on rough Mexican roads.

[@1019buster]

Very informative video. How do you keep safe on the road, especially when boondocking in remote areas?.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. We've been very fortunate in our travels and felt safe most places. When we're in Mexico, we stay away from the cities and border towns. We trust our instinct - if it doesn't feel right, we don't stay. If we don't feel safe, we look for a secure campground. When boondocking, we usually lock the van and having a good sized dog is added safety. Hope that helps. Are you considering boondocking or remote camping?

[@kimberlygarland2842]

I love your build. I have a question. I'm just 5'3". Will I be able to comfortably drive the van with the swivel driver's seat?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! That’s a really important question. I would definitely test drive one and take a cushion or seat pad to lift you up to see. Matt and I are close to the same height. He can comfortably drive it, but I have trouble adjusting it so that I can reach the pedals without being too close to the steering wheel. We did a short tour of our friends Ford Transit. You may want to test drive that van. It looks a lot more adjustable and way more comfortable. Here’s the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaSbeo2Als93pKc Let’s us know what you ended up with. I think our 5’3” followers would love to know.

[@ChrisW228]

What is in the egg carton up on the shelf? LOL @ “The scoop on poop”

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Eggs! 😊

[@ChrisW228]

@@ClarityOffGrid I’m clearly about to learn something new… 😀 They don’t have to be refrigerated?

[@hrhplease9119]

Very cool 👍🏻

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks!

[@gregg9135]

Hello. You certainly have a wonderful van. Do you have trouble closing the sliding door when you are inside the van? I'm thinking of having a closet like yours though I 'm concerned about being able to close the door. Cheers

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks. The closet doesn’t impact closing the sliding door. We haven’t had any issues. Good luck with your build!

[@gregg9135]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I didn't ask my question well. How do you reach the handle to pull the door closed with the closet in the way? Do you step outside to close it partially and then hop back inside to close it all the way?

[@kwankamsheung1901]

Newly subscribed. Nice built. Where are your doggies sleeping?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks and welcome aboard! Lily sleeps between the driver's and passenger's seats. Jessie sleeps across the end of our bed. Not ideal - but it works for us.

[@BJo4230]

Cozy 🥰😍🥰😍🥰

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks.

[@ryanoleston7136]

new sub here! my wife and I just started to research possible van builds. This is exactly what we need! About how much did you spend in your conversion? Did you have a company install your windows or do it yourself?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Welcome! We're so glad you're along for the journey. Matt built out this van in 2020 and we spent about $15K on the materials for the build. Things have changed a lot since then. We've since sold the Promaster and are currently building out a new 2022 Sprinter 4X4. We're doing a similar build, and the price for the materials has more than doubled! Matt has installed the windows in both vans. We did a whole video on that if you want to check it out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ_TZHtsoJlmbtU We loved the build in our ProMaster, but we found living in the mountains of Colorado, we couldn't do without 4-wheel drive. We have also found the Sprinter to be far more comfortable to drive. If you have any questions, please let us know. We love to connect with other van builders.

[@ryanoleston7136]

@@ClarityOffGrid oh wow! I didn't realize prices have gone up that much!

[@ryanoleston7136]

if you don't mind sharing what was the selling price of your promaster? where did you have it listed? I'm thinking it would be much easier for us to buy a promaster already converted

[@ClarityOffGrid]

We sold Clarity I for $80K with 70k miles on it in July 2023. Van builds take can take a lot of time and expertise, so I would understand you looking for one built out. The folks who purchased our van had looked at a lot of vans that had poor quality builds. Not all build are created equal, so make sure you look at the systems and details. We wish you luck with our search. Please reach out through our Contact Us form on our website if you want to talk with Matt about details. He says he's be happy to help. We also have video chats available for our Patrons who are building out vans or off-grid homes. Details on our website at www.ClarityOffGrid.com

[@luguy8347]

What a gem, subscribe, thumbs up.

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thanks! Welcome to our channel.

[@gina50gina]

I really appreciate the fine workmanship that went into your van build. Did you mostly use 3/4" plywood? Is the wood stained, or only varnished? I love the golden color. I'm my van, I'm considering some Faraday type fabric to put between me and the solar components to reduce EMF. Have you considered this. I'm interested in your opinion as I'm not sure it would have the protective effect that I'm looking for. Thanks! Super nice van build!

[@ClarityOffGrid]

If Matt had to do it over again, he would use as little 3/4" plywood as possible and use as much 1/4" as possible to keep the van lighter. We used non-toxic oil and finish over alder plywood. I have links to these product in the description in this video. The oil is Heritage Oil and the clear coat is Safecoat. We also have links to the hemp insulation, etc. Hope that helps. EMF is not a concern with DC power. EMF is only a concern when AC current is flowing. Matt wasn't concerned about it in our van. If you want a thorough conversation about with us, contact us through our Contact Us form on our website. at:www.sustainablehomeresource.com/ We'd love to chat with you about it. It's a topic of conversation and I couldn't do it justice in a comment.

[@gina50gina]

@@ClarityOffGrid Thank you, I will send you an email through your Web site. Sorry I didn't notice the links below the video, I'll go take look. Talk to you soon!

[@tmcqueen7848]

Hello Matt. May I ask where you mounted the fresh water tank? Is it beside the wheel well or on top? I'm doing a build on my 136 promaster based on your build. Thank You

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Kristina here - The tank is beside the wheel well. Thanks for reaching out. Good luck with your build! We look forward to hearing about your progress.

[@tmcqueen7848]

@@ClarityOffGrid Thank You!

[@popatop75]

Did you say how long from the back door to the back of the seat was and how wide inside wall to wall, I'm thinking your size might be better thank you

[@ClarityOffGrid]

The cargo section is 122" long. And we chose the RAM because the rear section where the bunk is is 75" - enough space to build a full size bed across the back. We used our double futon without having to cut it down. Also, for reference, the van is about 10" shorter than our Tacoma truck. Hope this helps.

[@Sarahdrybones]

Where is your frig and cooking?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Kitchen at 05:36. Fridge follows.

[@BeniSedano]

Beautiful 😍

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Thank you! 😊

[@deemoreno5069]

Can you tell me the brand of dog food please

[@ClarityOffGrid]

Sure! It's Honest Kitchen, dehydrated raw food. Here's a link: www.thehonestkitchen.com/

[@1019buster]

Hello Do you ever encounter wild animals while boondocking?

[@ClarityOffGrid]

I'm assuming you are referring to dangerous wild life... We actually see more bears, mountain lions, and bobcats on our off-grid property than we do traveling. Hopefully we'll be making a trip to Alaska in the future and change all that. This spring we had a herd of elk parade through our camp. If you want to check it out it is in the Cloudcroft video we did.