Skip to content
Gnomad Home Logo
  • Home
  • BlogExpand
    • Van Build
    • Vanlife
    • Gnomad Homies
    • Musings
  • Build Your Van
  • Van Life How To
  • AboutExpand
    • Meet Us
    • Our Rig
    • Press
    • Contact
    • Midwest Gathering
Gnomad Home Logo

Van Build How-Tos

Step-by-step instructions for building your own DIY campervan for vanlife.

Epic Guide to Van Life Electrical & Solar (How to Get Electricity in a Van)
Electrical & Solar Epic Guides Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Epic Guide to Van Life Electrical & Solar (How to Get Electricity in a Van)

ByJohn Serbell December 13, 2021July 12, 2022

Confused about installing electricity in your van? Check out our guide to everything electrical for tips, how-tos, and awesome diagrams.

Read More Epic Guide to Van Life Electrical & Solar (How to Get Electricity in a Van)Continue

Best DC-DC Chargers and Battery Isolators for Vanlife (How to Charge Your Van While Driving)
Electrical & Solar Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Best DC-DC Chargers and Battery Isolators for Vanlife (How to Charge Your Van While Driving)

ByJohn Serbell April 29, 2021July 12, 2022

Adding a smart battery isolator will let you charge your batteries from your van’s engine. Read on to see why you need an isolator and how to install one.

Read More Best DC-DC Chargers and Battery Isolators for Vanlife (How to Charge Your Van While Driving)Continue

Mounting an ARB Awning on a High Top Van (Without a Roof Rack)
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Mounting an ARB Awning on a High Top Van (Without a Roof Rack)

ByJohn Serbell August 27, 2018July 12, 2022

Trying to figure out how to mount an awning onto your van? We’ve got you covered. Read on to see how we mounted an ARB awning without a roof rack.

Read More Mounting an ARB Awning on a High Top Van (Without a Roof Rack)Continue

Vanlife Mold Prevention and Redoing Our Floor: Tips and Lessons
Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Vanlife Mold Prevention and Redoing Our Floor: Tips and Lessons

ByJohn Serbell June 26, 2018July 20, 2022

Dealing with mold is every vanlifer’s worst nightmare. Read about how we dealt with a mold issue on our subfloor with some easy mold prevention strategies.

Read More Vanlife Mold Prevention and Redoing Our Floor: Tips and LessonsContinue

Installing Our Water System: DIY Van Build Plumbing Made Easy
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Installing Our Water System: DIY Van Build Plumbing Made Easy

ByJohn Serbell October 2, 2017July 12, 2022

Choosing and installing the water in your van can be intimidating. Read on for instructions on how we installed a foot pump system in our DIY van build.

Read More Installing Our Water System: DIY Van Build Plumbing Made EasyContinue

How We Made Custom Kitchen Cabinets for Our DIY Van Build
Van Build Our Build Van Build How-Tos

How We Made Custom Kitchen Cabinets for Our DIY Van Build

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell June 26, 2017July 12, 2022

The kitchen is an essential part of any van build. See how we built multi-functional kitchen cabinets the look great and are fully customized for our van!

Read More How We Made Custom Kitchen Cabinets for Our DIY Van BuildContinue

How to Build an Easy Portable Solar Panel Mount Out of PVC
Electrical & Solar Van Build Van Build How-Tos

How to Build an Easy Portable Solar Panel Mount Out of PVC

ByJohn Serbell June 1, 2017July 12, 2022

Check out our guide on how to make a portable solar panel tilt mount out of PVC and zip ties. Complete with quick-connect wiring. Perfect for van life.

Read More How to Build an Easy Portable Solar Panel Mount Out of PVCContinue

How to Build a Plywood Battery Box for a DIY Van Conversion
Electrical & Solar Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

How to Build a Plywood Battery Box for a DIY Van Conversion

ByJohn Serbell May 15, 2017July 12, 2022

Modern AGM batteries are uber-safe, but there are still many good reasons for a battery box. See how we built a plywood battery box for our van build!

Read More How to Build a Plywood Battery Box for a DIY Van ConversionContinue

How to Fit a Queen-sized Bed in Your Van: Badass Pullout Bed Frame Design
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

How to Fit a Queen-sized Bed in Your Van: Badass Pullout Bed Frame Design

ByJohn Serbell May 1, 2017July 12, 2022

A queen sized bed? IN A VAN?!? Read our in-depth post to see how we managed to fit a big, comfy bed in our van build and still have plenty of space.

Read More How to Fit a Queen-sized Bed in Your Van: Badass Pullout Bed Frame DesignContinue

How to Make Your DIY Van Build Easier with Pocket Holes
Van Build Our Build Van Build How-Tos

How to Make Your DIY Van Build Easier with Pocket Holes

ByJohn Serbell March 20, 2017July 12, 2022

Want the strongest, lightest furniture for your van build? Try pocket hole construction! Check out our guide on using pocket holes in your van build.

Read More How to Make Your DIY Van Build Easier with Pocket HolesContinue

Creating Our Mobile Log Cabin: Easy Steps to Staining a Van
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Creating Our Mobile Log Cabin: Easy Steps to Staining a Van

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell January 30, 2017July 12, 2022

Stain really enhances the natural beauty of wood and makes the grain pop. Check out how we stained the inside of our van and made it feel like a log cabin.

Read More Creating Our Mobile Log Cabin: Easy Steps to Staining a VanContinue

DIY Van Conversion:  Awesome Cedar Plank Ceiling Installation
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

DIY Van Conversion: Awesome Cedar Plank Ceiling Installation

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell January 16, 2017July 12, 2022

The ceiling is one of the most visible and customizable parts of any van. Follow along as we hang some great-looking cedar paneling on our van’s ceiling.

Read More DIY Van Conversion: Awesome Cedar Plank Ceiling InstallationContinue

DIY Van Conversion: Installing Plywood Walls in Our Van
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

DIY Van Conversion: Installing Plywood Walls in Our Van

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell January 7, 2017July 12, 2022

A van interior isn’t complete without walls. Check out how we measured, cut, and installed 1/4″ plywood paneling in our van in this step-by-step post.

Read More DIY Van Conversion: Installing Plywood Walls in Our VanContinue

Installing Laminate Flooring in Our Conversion Van
Van Build Our Build Van Build How-Tos

Installing Laminate Flooring in Our Conversion Van

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell December 19, 2016July 12, 2022

Read on to see how we laid down a subfloor, installed beautiful Tarkett T-Lock laminate flooring and amped up the awesomeness in our van!

Read More Installing Laminate Flooring in Our Conversion VanContinue

Installing a Vent Fan on Our High Top Conversion Van
Heating & Cooling Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Installing a Vent Fan on Our High Top Conversion Van

ByJohn Serbell December 12, 2016July 12, 2022

Ventilation is essential for van life. Follow along as we cut a hole in our roof and install a Fan-Tastic vent fan in our high top conversion van!

Read More Installing a Vent Fan on Our High Top Conversion VanContinue

How We Mounted Solar Panels on a Fiberglass Van Roof
Van Build Electrical & Solar Our Build Van Build How-Tos

How We Mounted Solar Panels on a Fiberglass Van Roof

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell November 28, 2016July 11, 2022

Mounting solar panels to the curved fiberglass roof of a high top conversion van isn’t exactly simple. Read on to find out how we did it.

Read More How We Mounted Solar Panels on a Fiberglass Van RoofContinue

Insulating Our Conversion Van: Tips, Tricks and Step-by-Step
Heating & Cooling Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Insulating Our Conversion Van: Tips, Tricks and Step-by-Step

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell November 14, 2016July 12, 2022

Insulation is an important part of any van build. Here’s how we insulated our van, including tips, tricks, photos and step-by-step instructions.

Read More Insulating Our Conversion Van: Tips, Tricks and Step-by-StepContinue

Gutting Our Conversion Van and Removing the Wheelchair Lift
Our Build Van Build Van Build How-Tos

Gutting Our Conversion Van and Removing the Wheelchair Lift

ByJohn & Jayme Serbell October 31, 2016July 12, 2022

The first step in our van build was gutting our van and taking out the wheelchair lift. Find out how we did it and hear the tricks we learned along the way.

Read More Gutting Our Conversion Van and Removing the Wheelchair LiftContinue

Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Epic Guides

  • Build Your Van
  • Solar & Electrical
  • Insulation Guide
  • Van Life How To
  • Rent a Campervan

Navigation

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Disclaimer
  • Contact

Affiliate Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Most outbound links are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no cost to you (thank you!). However, our opinions are entirely our own. Learn more

© 2022 Blue Mesa Creative LLC

>
Scroll to top
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Van Build
    • Vanlife
    • Gnomad Homies
    • Musings
  • Build Your Van
  • Van Life How To
  • About
    • Meet Us
    • Our Rig
    • Press
    • Contact
    • Midwest Gathering
Search