After three months of building, countless lessons and a few setbacks along the way, it was finally time to look back on the journey.
In this final vlog, Mel and I reflect on everything we learned, the mistakes we'd avoid next time, and exactly what it cost to turn an old Toyota HiAce into the campervan we'd dreamed of.
One of the most intimidating stages of any van build is finally here.
In this episode of Mel's Toyota HiAce campervan build, we install the complete 12V electrical system—from planning the layout and building the electrical board to the exciting moment we power everything up for the first time.
This is the episode where the van finally becomes a home.
Join us as we build the kitchen, slide-out bed and custom cabinetry for Mel's Toyota HiAce campervan, sharing the design decisions, challenges and little details that transformed an empty shell into a functional living space.
The van is finally starting to feel like a home.
In this episode of Mel's Toyota HiAce conversion, we install the subfloor, tongue-and-groove pine ceiling and floating vinyl flooring-sharing the techniques, lessons and mistakes that helped us achieve a clean, professional finish.
The walls are where a van finally starts to feel like a home.
In this episode of Mel's Toyota HiAce conversion, we frame the walls, run the electrical cables, install stretch carpet, fit the wall panels and finish everything with our textured paint technique. Along the way, we share the mistakes we made and the lessons that'll make your own build much easier.
After weeks of grinding away at rust, we finally reached the stage where the van starts to feel like a campervan.
In this episode, Mel and I install insulation throughout our 2006 Toyota HiAce, explaining why we chose closed cell foam, how we installed it, and the practical decisions we made to create a warm, comfortable van without overcomplicating the process.
We thought fixing the rust on this 2006 Toyota HiAce would take a couple of days...
Three weeks later, we were still at it.
In this episode, we tackle one of the most underestimated parts of any van conversion and share the mistakes, frustrations and lessons we learned along the way.
Welcome to Episode 1 of our Toyota HiAce campervan build series.
Join Mel and me as we begin transforming an empty work van into a beautiful off-grid campervan, sharing the successes, challenges and lessons learned along the way.