In 2023, I needed a break from the fast-paced life of the city of Phoenix, AZ. I was craving nature and needed a senes of adventure and new experiences in life. So I bought a 1995 Dodge Ram Van, planning to convert Ol’ Bessie into a fully-livable camper and hit the road. 

Start

From the start, I had to strip it down to the bare bones. I removed the previous owners van-life setup and got to work renovating the place.

Floors

First step was an insulated laminate floor. I carved out 1/2” ISO foam board panel insulation to fit snugly around all the crevices of the van, layered on top with 1/2” plywood, a layer of acrylic glue, and then a nice sheet of laminate wood flooring, capped off with some matching trim around the edges at the doors. A layer of caulking around all the edges sealed everything off from moisture and debris as well. 

Walls

Next up was the walls. A thick layer of Rockwool insulation was shoved in as many cavities as possible, then sealed off with a layer of Reflectix and foil tape to keep it all in place. 

One of the hardest parts was making the wall panels. Each one had such a unique shape and required very specific measurements. After cutting down 5mm plywood to size and shape, I applied 3 layers of polycrylic protective finish over them to prevent any water damage or mold from the buildup of any moisture in the van. 

The absolute hardest part was figuring out how to make these very thin wood panels fit around the two rounded back corners of van. After a lot of trial and error, I ended up figuring out a proper kerfing technique that allowed the wood to bend perfectly along the corners.

I also painted the plastic panels on the upper half of the van white in order to make the space feel brighter and more open. 

Ceiling

For the ceiling, I simply cut out and installed appropriately measured foam ISO board, and then reinstalled the 5mm plywood panels that the original owner of the van had used. 

Wheel Wells

Next up came the wheel wells, which would double as nightstands. I made 2 boxes to go over top of them and stuffed them with Rockwool insulation, bolted them to the frame of the van, and sealed them off with some caulk.

Bookshelf

One thing I knew I needed was a place to store all my books, so next up was a bookshelf. There were 3 existing screw holes above the back door of the van that would be the perfect place to mount the shelf. Accounting for some awkward angles, I made blueprints for the assembly. I used 2×4’s and leftover 1/2” plywood from the floors to assemble everything, coasted it with sealer, and bolted it into the frame. I used eye hooks and bungee cords that the previous owner of the van left behind to keep the books secure when braking and stopping.

Bed

Comically enough, the bed took the longest to plan out, yet it ended up being the simplest thing to put together.

As I was drafting blueprints, I was constantly trying to figure out the best way to make the bed frame structurally sound, able to handle road vibrations, and as uncomplicated as possible. This whole process took about 3 days until finally I had a major breakthrough while on a FaceTime call with my dad.

He noticed my futon in the background and asked me what the width of it was. It was 68 inches. The width of the inside of my van? 68 inches. Game over. Bolted in a small support to the floor, threw my futon in and called it a day.

Kitchen

I knew I wanted an outdoor kitchen and the swinging side doors was the perfect place for a flip-up counter and some storage. I cut out a counter top that would fit my Coleman camping stove perfectly, coated it in polycrylic sealer, and bolted it to the door with some flip-up hinges. Underneath the counter I mounted a mailbox to store my cooking utensils and stored my propane fuel in the door compartment. I strapped my stove to the counter with some bungee cords, housed my pots, pans, plates and whatnot in a tote under the bed adjacent to the kitchen and voila. Fully functional kitchen.

Desk

Last major construction project was the desk to go along the side wall. With some treated 2×4’s, 2×2’s and 1×4’s, I put together a desk that was a comfortable height and deep enough for ample storage and walking space. I cut out a non-obtrusive drawer handle and chiseled in some magnets to keep the drawer shut. I was able to fit my many notebooks, drawing supplies, laptop, and tons of miscellaneous items in the drawer. I coated it with a couple layers of sealer, bolted it to the frame, and used my cooler as the desk chair. I made sure the desk was perfectly wide enough so that my water supply would fit snugly between it and the back of the drivers seat. 

Final touches

After all the major construction as done, all that was left was to make it feel like home.

I lined the interior roof of the van with solar powered string lights, put a couple battery powered puck lights along the ceiling, added a banana hammock above the desk, and put some bins below the bed to store the rest of my clothes. 

I added a cargo net on the back door to store miscellaneous camping supplies, stuffed all my pillows with sweatshirts and sweatpants to maximize closet space, draped a water bag over the back of the passenger seat for the kitchen’s water supply, and lined the door compartments with a fun black and white zig-zag fabric. 

The Journey

All of this work took around 3 months of nonstop labor while also working a full-time job. I did all of it from my apartment’s balcony with just a jigsaw, drill and a circular saw. After everything was done, I moved into my van in April of 2023. Crazily enough, the transmission went out on me about 3 weeks into my travels and I had to sell it. 

The Experience

Overall it was an amazing learning experience and I learned a lot about what I am capable of doing in life. The whole experience living out of the van changed my entire viewpoint on life and allowed me to see the world from a completely different perspective. It made me beyond grateful for the common comforts we take for granted – warmth, hot meals, endless water from a faucet, a roof over our head every night, a place to call home, community, family, and so much more. It made me realize who I am and who I want to be in this life.