Plumbing / January 14, 2016 by Ray Phung

I was not super stoked on figuring out the plumbing. If you've ever done a plumbing project, you know it always takes a million trips to the hardware store to get all the right fittings. So I waited until the end to get it done. But having running water and a working sink is important, and in all reality, it wasn't super difficult.

Storage Shelving / January 8, 2016 by Ray Phung

Next to wiring the electricity, building cabinets was something I was really nervous about. I have not done a lot of wood-working, and cabinets require a lot of precise skills. The last thing I want are lop-sided cabinets with wonky shelves that don't stay closed. In reality, the cabinets only took a couple weeks to do, and for the most part, turned out pretty well.

Electricity / January 7, 2016 by Ray Phung

Electricity was a topic that came up early in the planning phases. We had a lot of hypothetical discussions of the type of amenities we would like to have and whether we would realistically use them. This is quite a large topic, but I will go over installing solar power, hooking the batteries up to the van's alternator, installing the fan, and other wiring and fusing issues.

Insulation and Sound Deadening / January 6, 2016 by Ray Phung

Insulating and sound proofing are an essential aspect of a camper van conversion, and I will talk about both in this article.

Cab Upgrades / January 6, 2016 by Ray Phung

Soon after purchasing the van, we decided to take a trip up to Squamish to climb and to test out its livability. But before we embarked on the 6 hour trek, I insisted on making some much needed upgrades to the cab.

Rust Abatement / January 6, 2016 by Ray Phung

Rust. It is the absolute worst. In this entire camper conversion process, the actual building out of the van (minus insulation, which is a whole other ordeal), probably only took about two months. The majority of the summer was spent on the tedious process of rust abatement.

Deconstruction and a New Beginning / January 5, 2016 by Ray Phung

The first steps we took in the van was taking all the old old stuff out of it, and strip it down to it's bare frame. In it's former life, the van was a fleet vehicle for a Philadelphia company called Kint Beverage Concepts, who I believe installs CO2 systems for bars, fountain machines, etc. Unfaded outlines of letters still exist in the paint of the van, and one can make out the website, email, and phone number if seen in the right light.

Big Purchase / January 5, 2016 by Ray Phung

I think its safe to say that the majority of climbers and/or adventurers out there have contemplated purchasing an adventure vehicle of some sorts, a mode of transportation to take you and all your gear to the ends of the Earth, in marginal conditions, and perhaps even provide some temporary shelter.