BEST VANLIFE CEILING / How to install a slatted ceiling into your van conversion / Citroen Relay

[@djangle67]

Followed this method for my own van and it looks great. One caveat...when using 50x25mm roof battens on the ceiling ribs adding 6mm ply then 12mm TnG the overall depth of the roof becomes around 80mm. The Maxxair deluxe flange cover has a max depth of 90mm which is fine however the internal flange cover on my Skymaxx rooflight has max depth of 60mm so I had to cover the gap with some white upvc strip and use longer screws.

[@LeonandDebbiefromRugby]

Great video thank you for this . I will do mine the same .can I ask you what paint did you use for the paint on the plywood. Thank you again very well done 😎👏👍

[@vanlifeconversions]

Thank you, we use mylands for the top coat if coloured or Dulux trade diamond white

[@soloseadog]

Hello again mate. Was just looking into campervans and came across your vids. Hope you and your family are doing well.

[@Yahoomediaclub]

Brilliant Job ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🚐⭐️⭐️🇬🇧

[@ToniReviews]

Thanks for this. I’ve just installed my slatted ceiling based on your design. Love it

[@vanlifeconversions]

Fantastic Glad it was helpful!

[@OIII-IOOO]

i’m really happy i recently found your site. i’m currently beginning building out a chevy express cargo van and your vids have been very helpful. thanks for posting them.

[@vanlifeconversions]

Thanks so much

[@gethappycyclingcampingoutdoors]

Excellent the roof looks great, I will be doing the same ✌❤

[@vanlifeconversions]

Great glad it was useful!

[@superbonoman]

Hi. Great video. What did you use to pin the slats up with? Thanks

[@aldo9564]

Love me a BOXER ! 🥰🐶 Unclear on routing edge. Adding the 9mm (Spacer) On only one side of fence .... maybe insert a still image of it resting against the plank edge mid-route ... ? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@aldo9564]

Great Tip (often ignored) is working from center-outward on planks !

[@notwaitingtolive]

Super helpful video.

[@spielraum1809]

very nice job, thank you for this inspiration!

[@vanlifeconversions]

Thank you that's great to hear

[@lloydwilliams2911]

Looks awesome!

[@veesventures4670]

Do you think something similar could be done using only 3mm ply strips on a 6/9mm ceiling?

[@flashbackactivator6565]

Great work!

[@InMotion-xy4ow]

What is the width of the planks

[@flyonthewall7026]

Really REALLY Appreciate you explaining that.... Honestly I mean it... THANK YOU 🙏 Just hoping I can get mine at least half as nice as how you do it 👍

[@vanlifeconversions]

Thank you! Good luck!

[@philipshropshire]

Well explained and great info given. Thanks

[@jodiearcher631]

Hi there...could you tell me how many coats of stain you use please? Many thanks

[@ItTakesaJourney]

Looks like a great job. We will be trying something similar.

[@LandoCampervan]

Hi mate, Fantastic job. Thanks for sharing it! How deep and how wide are the slats, please?

[@LandoCampervan]

12mm thick!

[@michaelsoker5160]

Thanks mate. Going with your idea on my van. But as I'm a clueless desk dweller, I can't figure out exactly how you trimmed off the sides of the slats with a router.

[@robertmuckle2985]

I'm trying to wrap my head around why anyone would want to trim off t&g in the first place! Talk about a 'make work' project, unless of course it's all you had and was free🤣

[@OIII-IOOO]

@@robertmuckle2985 perhaps because t&g is thinner and lighter than any pine dimensional lumber you can (easily) get?

[@bexnut]

Sorry a little confused about how you attached the pine strips to the plywood? There don't seem to be any fixings visible so curious as to how you managed it. Thanks

[@vanlifeconversions]

We use a nail gun

[@toddcoxheadfamily]

Can I ask why you use T&G then machine the T&G off rather than just source the material as PSE to avoid machining? If it's because it's cheaper as T&G, can anyone explain why? Thanks!

[@raytube918]

How did you attach your slack ? I don't know If I could do that good of a job squaring that wood. Can you by that type of wood already squared off?

[@vanlifeconversions]

Hi Raynard, The tongue and groove cladding was squared off using a table saw. I wanted to use cladding as it is thinner than the squared off PSE that you can buy from the timber yard. I have fixed the slats to the ceiling using a 25mm nail gun which fires the Brad's into thetimber roof battens. I hope this helps.

[@raytube918]

Thanks

[@paulstephens9274]

Hey hey. That’s a might fine piece of work. Good on you . I’m taking your lead starting mine. Burning cedar and testing hemp or walnut oil (got at grocery store) Do you think these would be alright? Or will stain but not wanting to dark. I’ll check if you showed what paint you used then go buy some. My cedar is 1/4” feather light weight 8’ lengths so plan to use double sided thicker Velcro tape stapled to planks to attach to ceiling. To make things more interesting and complicated .... what if I were to take the 3 or 4 center planks and to the backside of them paint a white reflective paint , then attach a thin 12mil wood strip and also a LED 5050 warm white/UV multicolor dimmable light strip along the length of the 3 or 4 planks. I would want to perhaps change the color of the ceiling behind those middle planks to a reflective shade of white (I don’t think black would work?). Being raised off the ceiling 12mil the lighting would shine upwards reflecting of ceiling creating a floating look with those planks and hopefully from both sides shine outwards over the outer planks highlighting grain patterns. ( just thought of perhaps putting some up tinting in the stain or oil hence when the black light is on the subtle tinting would be visible. Thoughts would be appreciated 🙏 forgot to say it’s 04 gmc Savana hitop with 1x4s embedded in fiberglass running lengthwise for screwing into, also because limited headroom @ 6’ my head touch’s ceiling in center I used 1/2” polyiso rigid insulation . Th3 ceiling is 48” x 98” up to cavity over the cab area I’ll need select a 4x8 lightweight material perhaps 1/4” or thinner. There is a acrylic shiny white board available - then could paint all black except the center portion.for lighting and the fan is located front center being 15” which would be approx 4 planks (including the 12mil gaps)

[@baronburch6702]

Great idea. I will try this out.

[@andrewpeak1124]

Great job. Where was the cladding from?

[@mitchalgate1071]

Dude what’s this little tune you’ve use in your edit ? Awesome job!!

[@christianscheibert304]

How did you fill the gap between the two background plys? Or is it simply visible when you look between the slats?

[@vanlifeconversions]

We ensure the joins of the ply board are covered by the slats

[@melissadoe2250]

Hi there, what did you screw the plywood to on the ceiling? We are in the process of exploring how to do our ceiling and are researching. Thanks, Melissa

[@vanlifeconversions]

Hi there, we run strips of plywood onto the roof ribs and then friction fit PIR insulation board between them. You can then use these strips to fasten the ply back board onto

[@SimonEarly]

any chance of seeing the finished van as a tour kinda thing?

[@vanlifeconversions]

Sure you can see all of our van tours here kzbin.info/aero/PL8VgFwipsW8xtyi8fKRRe1ZIkMr76LUtj

[@ok-ch5xr]

Which piece on the router do I need I bet he won't respond lol

[@goth_dude6874]

Did you just leave it pinned or were screws needed? Also what guage nails did you use thanks

[@jimmygray3452]

Which brand and type of stain did you use?

[@vanlifeconversions]

We used Ronseal Walnut wood stain and then a coat of danish oil