We interviewed Wade & Dani to get the inside scoop on their DIY van build and get some behind-the-scene van build tips and tricks!
Explore what products they choose for their dream home on wheels and find out their #1 van build tip below!
We had been watching heaps of people living the vanlife dream on YouTube, and we really wanted to do it ourselves. At the time, Wade wasn’t happy in his job and started spending a lot of time researching how to build a van. Crazy enough, one day he looked at me and asked, “Let’s do it!” That was the moment we decided to go all in. It felt like the perfect way to combine our love for travel with the flexibility and freedom we craved. It was a big leap, but we knew it was the right time to make our dreams a reality.
The hardest part of the van build was definitely the ups and downs. There were so many moments of not knowing exactly what to do next and figuring things out as we went along. The process was overwhelming at times—there were so many decisions to make and tasks to complete, and the scale of the project often felt huge. But with each challenge, we learned and adapted, and seeing the progress made it all worth it.
The best part of the van build was seeing it all come together after months of planning and hard work. Having lived in our first van for almost three years, we had a clear understanding of what didn’t work for us, so we were able to fix those mistakes in this new build. The process of creating a space that was truly tailored to our needs and preferences was incredibly rewarding. It was even more satisfying knowing that we built everything.
Hardware & Appliances
Our #1 tip would be to plan, plan, plan— and then plan some more! Think about your priorities and how you want to use your space. Whether it’s a bigger kitchen, more storage, or a comfortable sleeping area, making sure everything is designed to fit your lifestyle is key. If you’re thinking about buying a van, we recommend first hiring one to experience vanlife and learn what you really need (and what you don’t) before committing to a purchase. Also, be prepared for unexpected challenges and delays, so flexibility is important. And don’t forget to have fun with it.
