So you bought a Van

You are excited and beyond thrilled. Ready to make that dream come true. The van is yours now. Time to start your build. Where do we start. What do we do first. So much to think about.

If you are anything like us you follow hundreds of people that build and live in a van. You watch youtube videos all the time. Stalking #vanlife on instagram is your new hobby. Work countless hours putting together a list of everything you want out of your new home on wheels. Where to start.

Our advice is start a list. Add everything to your list you could ever want in a tiny home. Think from the outside in. Yes you will probably eliminate items from your list after you find out the cost involved. My advice is to be prepared to have as many items on your list as you can. Adding items after you have started can, more times than not, be more expensive than if you had just done it from the start.

You will want to now choose if you will be the do it yourself-er or have a builder, like Wicked Cool Vans, build for you. Do you have the tools needed to do a quality job yourself? Tools can be expensive. Do you have the know how to do it yourself? Do you have the time to do it yourself? Time is money. Lots of questions to answer before you start.

Here at Wicked Cool Vans we encourage our clients to do things themself. We also encourage our clients to have Wicked Cool Vans do the jobs they don’t have the time or tools to tackle the job. We try to provide tips and list of how to do it yourself.

You will find below a list of basic items used in a van build. This is a suggestion list. You will definitely need more items not listed. If you find you need a suggestion send us an email wickedcoolvans@gmail.com we will try to help out if we can.

Exterior Cuts:

Aftermarket window https://www.vanwindowsdirect.com

Fresair air cooling system- Purchased through Wicked Cool Vans

Max air fan https://amzn.to/3tLGgCs

Max air fan with remote https://amzn.to/3lGURfN

External ports for 30amp power https://amzn.to/3vS36du

Internal Walls:

Sound Deadening https://amzn.to/31778k7

Wiring 

https://amzn.to/3f4y7oP 4 gauge awg amount of feet depends on plan

https://amzn.to/393Hnp6 10/3 wire for shore power set up, feet depends on plan

https://amzn.to/3se0RyT 14 gauge wire, feet depends on plan

https://amzn.to/3tNhWAq 16/3 shore power set up, feet depends on plan

Insulation 

Havelock wool 3-6 batts depending on van model http://havelockwool.refr.cc/russellb

Wood for framing of walls

Strapping

1×1

2×2

¼ inch Plywood for finish walls

¾ inch Birch plywood for cabinets and floors

Ceiling material

Countertop 

Paint or Shellac/polyurethane

Nails

Screws

Glue

Hinges

Drawer pulls https://amzn.to/3tJWPPd

Drawer slides https://amzn.to/319wSw8

Door hinges https://amzn.to/3vYu7fF

Magnetic locks https://amzn.to/3cPMOsQ

Lofted Bed – 2×4’s & strapping

Shower pan option 1 https://amzn.to/3vNzwG5 option 2 https://amzn.to/3cUSFxj more options are available depends on plan/layout

Water heater 4 gallon https://amzn.to/318n31G 

Plumbing supplies depends on plumbing plan

Fresh water tank 30 gallon https://amzn.to/394PqlL

Grey water tank  13 gallon https://amzn.to/3lDJ9m9 

Pump https://amzn.to/3sebBxg 

Pex pipe https://amzn.to/2NFTJMO

Sink undermount https://amzn.to/2QyE17v

Sink counter mount https://amzn.to/3f5E4lq 

Faucet https://amzn.to/3f1Cukp 

Shower walls

Shower fixtures

Toilet https://amzn.to/3f4AjMN

Composting toilet https://amzn.to/3f1CSzn

Refrigerators some choices it depends on layout for size restrictions

https://amzn.to/3c8svb0

https://amzn.to/3rexTxA

https://amzn.to/3r9b12r

https://amzn.to/396jKMO

https://amzn.to/2QlZ8cO

https://amzn.to/3rklwjT

https://amzn.to/3vPkz6r

Table mounts

https://www.lagunusa.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4feBBhC9ARIsABp_nbVNRqoVxg8LcbqyAianmDN3K-0-8ufkKWNILoP7bZHt1u8MJK1j7pMaAjV7EALw_wcB

https://amzn.to/3tY9uyn

Lights https://amzn.to/3tI6TIA

Solar Panels https://amzn.to/2PdsXvI 

Solar charger https://amzn.to/3vPZb0V size depends on plan

Inverter https://amzn.to/3vLkP6B size depends on plan

Battery https://amzn.to/2NFiVD6 amount of batteries depends on plan

Battery charger https://amzn.to/3raBtcd depends on battery type and plan

Misc electrical

https://amzn.to/395GKvq

https://amzn.to/397QZ2f

https://amzn.to/2P1m00V

https://amzn.to/2QugfcG

https://amzn.to/3r5lTyw

https://amzn.to/2OP5Esr

https://amzn.to/3vPjOdE

https://amzn.to/3d12WrN

https://amzn.to/3d1Zjlv

https://amzn.to/3189akc

https://amzn.to/3cco0MG

https://amzn.to/3vRq2th

https://amzn.to/2OOlfbH

Amounts and sizes of electrical components depends on plan of system

Heater https://amzn.to/3tLk6QV

Swivel Seats https://leisurelines.net/seat-swivels-83-c.asp

Roof Rack -at Wicked Cool Vans we make a custom rack for your van but some others are available at amazon https://amzn.to/317dK1V just make sure it is for your make and model van.

Running Boards tips on running boards is for them to be useful they need to be of a size your foot will fit. I prefer 7 inch ones at least. https://amzn.to/317e0xV

Trailer hitch https://amzn.to/3cbiYQt make sure it will fit your make and model

This list is a suggested parts list. Many other items are needed and will depend on layout,plan,make and model of van.

Wicked Cool Vans

*links are a part of an associate program Wicked Cool Vans takes part in.