How To Remodel A Van Into A Mobile Tiny Home - Vol.286
Traveling down the highways and interstates, and even around town we have all seen the giant RV's or motor homes and thought to ourselves one of those would be great. Unfortunately many of these cost a large amount of money, even for a smaller one, not to mention the sheer size makes them difficult to store, and many of us simply cannot afford them. But what if there was another option for those of us who just want a small space for weekend camping trips or other short trips. Well there is, and you have probably never thought of it. Why not covert a Van into a small mobile home?
Why A Van?
That's A good question, there are other vehicles that could be used such as an old box truck, old buses, and others. Used vans can usually be picked up for a pretty low price, they fit in a driveway, and most parking spaces, and they only require a standard driver's license to operate. This makes the van the best option for many people, and is a great way to re-purpose these vehicles that many people don't drive any more.
How Do You Do it?
You may be able to find a shop that does this kind of conversion depending on where you live, but it will cost you considerably more than doing it yourself. If you are not that handy when it comes to things like this, don't get discouraged chances are you have a friend or relative that is and would be willing to help you. The first thing you will need, of course is a van, once you have a van and have it in proper and safe running order you are ready to start.
Preparation
Remove the rear seating to make it easier to take measurements and then measure the length, width and height of the space you intend to use. Right these down and use them to make a plan or blueprint, design it with the options you want, with the layout you want that still leaves space to move around.
Once you have a plan, remove everything from the area you are going to convert, carpet, trim, and anything else so that you basically have bare metal. After a thorough cleaning to remove dust and debris, close the doors and run some water over the roof with a hose to ensure you have no leaks. Once you are sure you have no leaks you are ready to start building.
Construction
Once you have a clean surface to work with and have purchased your materials, you just have to turn your plan into reality. The options you have and the things you can do are numerous, you can add a stove, sink, a bathroom and even solar panels for some electricity. It all comes down to the layout and how you use the space. Wood is the best option, it is easy to work with, can take virtually any shape and is typically the cheapest. Just start with the floor and work your way up, walls and ceiling, then start adding storage, counter space, a sleeping area or whatever else you have in mind. There is really no step by step guide because everyone will build theirs differently.
Turning a van into a motor home or a tiny house is a great idea. Many people from those looking for a fun weekend trip vehicle for college students for housing so they can save money while in school.
The cost for a project like this will vary depending on type of van, materials used, and options wanted, but in the end they are much cheaper than an RV or even a house for that matter.