Van Build & Design

What did I learn from van #1? What did I change and what did I keep the same in van #2? Here’s a summary of my considerations while designing van #2.

Van 1: Vanna

2006 Sprinter, 170WB
September 2017 - November 2018
Traveling with partner
Starting mileage: 120,000

Van 2: Avo

2015 Sprinter, 144WB
May 2019 - current
Traveling Solo
Starting mileage: 44,000

I can not emphasize enough that designing a van is SO MUCH easier after having actually lived in one for over a year. The key to every van build is maximizing efficiency + space while still getting enough comforts to make it feel like “home”. It was helpful going into this process having a pretty good idea of what I wanted.

Key design decisions - my priorities:

Shorter wheelbase
- I am more comfortable driving a shorter van and like to be able to easily move through busy cities and park in regular parking spots.
High roof
- This was a priority because I would be living in the van full-time. I don’t think this would be as high of a priority if this was a weekend adventure mobile.
Permanent bed platform
- Maximize “garage" storage underneath
- Didn’t want to setup / take-down sleeping area every day
Seating area
- A comfortable area to work from when needed
Kitchen
- Gas stove and a kitchen that I would be EXCITED to cook in on a regular basis

What I learned from Van #1:

I did not take any part in designing or building van #1. I loved this van and always felt like it had everything I needed. It had lots of storage and was very homey during the time I spent living in it. However, I always thought it was poorly designed to maximize the space of a 170 long wheelbase sprinter and enjoyed dreaming up ideas about what my “ideal van” would look like.

The Pros :

Longer wheelbase has more living space
Tons of storage
The bus doors gave serious style points when doing airport pickups. The automatic open also made it really easy to stealthily climb inside.
I loved the “nook” seating area (despite it feeling uncomfortable after more than 1 hour)
Permanent bed platform
Shore power hookup option
“garage” access from the living area
Carried 3x 5-gallon water jugs which were easy to fill up anywhere
Propane tank and water storage in back under bed to not waste front living space

The Cons:

The longer wheelbase is harder to maneuver and drive
The windows and doors made it hard to regulate the temperature inside the van. No additional insulation outside of factory walls.
The sink was way too small!
The “toilet room” at the front of the van was a large waste of space
The bed was very tiny (in width and length)
Older van with more miles did require more maintenance
Bike storage outside on rack on back of van
$100 dorm fridge from walmart was cheap and did the trick but not energy efficient

Intentional changes made in Van #2:

Bigger bed! New bed is 60w x 70l (as wide as a queen but 10in shorter)
Higher bed platform in order to store mtb bike underneath
More discrete and efficient toilet storage (under bench seat)
Windows with ability to open for ventilation
Webasto diesel heater under passenger seat (to make winter living more comfortable)
Shorter wheelbase for easier maneuverability / driving / parking
Newer van with less miles to ensure reliability while traveling solo
Better insulated to deal with high/low climates
Outdoor cooking area
Outdoor shower with water heater
Still have lots of storage and added overhead shelf
More efficient fridge (still front door open style)
Larger/deeper sink (11w x 13l x 8d) and faucet with pull down
Larger water tank (16 gallons) - requires a hose to fill up but lasts longer
Grey water options to 1) go into tank or 2) go straight through pipe in floor