This video is a full timelapse of my first ever campervan build — a VW T5 conversion I tackled while living in Germany on a working holiday.

At the time, I had no idea what I was doing. No background in van builds, no clear plan, and plenty of mistakes along the way. But I started anyway — and somehow turned an empty van into a camper that completely changed the direction of my life.

This build pushed me harder than anything I’d done before. It taught me problem-solving, resilience, and confidence I didn’t know I had. Looking back now, it’s wild to see how much this one project shaped everything that came after — including Journey Van Builds and my mission to help others feel capable of building their own vans too.

In this VW T5 build timelapse, you’ll see:

• The full conversion process from empty van to finished camper

• Early DIY mistakes (and lessons learned the hard way)

• Subfloor, insulation, framing, walls and ceiling installs

• Electrical rough-in and final 12V system

• Bed, storage and kitchen coming together

• The final reveal that made it all worth it

If you’re thinking about your first van build, this video is proof that you don’t need to know everything before you start. You just need to start.

👉 If you want clearer guidance than I had back then, check out my Van Conversion Guide, where I break this whole process down step by step to make your first build far less overwhelming.