About
me back in Germany, 2021
G’day, I’m Jake, the face behind Journey Van Builds.
Journey Van Builds didn’t start as a business idea or a content plan. It started with me, overseas, with no tools, no workshop, and a pretty wild idea that I could build a campervan anyway.
A few years back, I was on a working holiday in Germany. I was loving the travel, experiencing a new culture, and the freedom of being out on my own. Before that chapter wrapped up, I decided to buy a van so I could explore Europe properly. At the time, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I didn’t have so much as a driveway to work on.
I didn’t have any gear or tools.
And I definitely didn’t know what I was doing.
What I did have was a willingness to learn, and the determination to figure it out along the way.. (We probably have that in common)
Where it all began
That first van build was messy, frustrating, and full of mistakes. I questioned myself constantly as friends laughed at my perfectionism - I pulled things apart more times than I’d like to admit. There were moments I genuinely wondered why I’d started.
But slowly, piece by piece, it came together. I’d created something I was unbelievably proud of.
That build changed how I saw myself and what I thought I was capable of. And once I hit the road, the freedom that van gave me felt even better knowing I’d built it with my own hands.
A bit about my background
Van builds weren’t completely foreign to me. Before Germany, I’d spent close to a decade working in commercial construction back in Melbourne. And these days, I’ve added even more practical experience working hands-on building caravans.
So I sit in a bit of a unique spot.
I know what it feels like to be completely out of your depth on your first build - and I also know how powerful it is when things are explained clearly and done properly.
Journey Van Builds lives right in that overlap.
Why Journey Van Builds exists
I started Journey Van Builds because I know how overwhelming van conversions can feel at the beginning. There’s so much information out there, so many opinions, and it’s hard to know what actually matters.
This space exists to make that process feel clearer, calmer, and more achievable.
Everything I share here is based on real builds, real decisions, and real lessons learned the hard way. My goal isn’t to tell you exactly how to build your van — it’s to help you understand the process well enough that you can make confident decisions for yourself.
Because that’s where the real growth happens.
More than just a van
Looking back, the van itself was only part of the story.
The patience, confidence, and belief I gained from seeing that first build through had a bigger impact on my life than the travels that followed. It showed me what’s possible when you stick with something challenging and trust yourself to figure it out.
That’s the heart of Journey Van Builds.
Helping people build vans, yes — but more importantly, helping them experience that same sense of pride and confidence that comes from finishing something you once thought was out of reach.
You don’t have to do it alone.
And if you’re going to take on the journey, it might just end up changing more than you expect.The Why
Building my first van was just as life-changing as the adventures it took me on. Journey Van Builds exists to help you through the ups and downs of your own journey, so you can grow through this process and walk away proud—not just of your van, but of who you became building it - Just like I did!
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