Those who know me well know that I always need a project (or two, or three...) to be working on. The project need not be a big one, but I do like projects that require a moderate amount of design and planning. For me, that's half the fun. I've pretty much tackled all the big projects in the house, though there's always the potential for more. Even then, I am more and more inclined to hire someone to do the work, especially if it falls in the maintenance or repair category. As a result, I have had this inkling for a big project. But what would that be? I know, I'll build my own campervan!!!
The idea of building my own campervan first came to me while renting a campervan in Utah in the fall of 2020. That particular campervan was shoddily built, and after having to "McGyver" some solar system wiring back together, I thought to myself, "I could do better than this". But the idea of a campervan was simply a fantasy at that point. I enjoyed designing the van in my head while I drove around Utah, but I never seriously considered the prospect. About a year later I went to Oregon and rented another campervan. While this campervan (Nissan NV2500) was much better built than the one I rented in Utah (Ford Transit), I thought there were things that still could be improved upon. That's when I began to seriously think about building my own campervan, though it was still bit of dream. When I got home from Oregon trip, I started to do a little research. What kind of vans were the best to convert? How much did a conversion cost, and how hard was it? What kinds of things would I actually need to do to convert a van?
As the idea of making my own campervan became more palpable, I had to ask, can I (we) afford it? I ran the idea by Mary Jo, and, lovingly, she said to go for it! So the hunt for a van began. I wanted to buy a used van (mostly for cost reasons), and first step was to narrow down the make & model. There are three primary vans that people choose to convert:
- Sprinter (Mercedes/Chrysler) - The "Cadillac" (or more accurately, Mercedes) of campervans. However, they are diesel. Nothing against diesels, but if you are in the middle of Screwball, Iowa, good luck finding a diesel mechanic...and parts
- Ford Transit - Very popular for campervan conversions. However, biggest issue for me was that used Transits are harder to come by and more costly than what I wanted to spend.
- RAM Promaster - Quirky, yes, but but still a very popular van to convert. They are also more readily available at a price point I was willing to pay. And, they have the straightest sides and the widest width mid-height, which is an important specification if you want to have a permanent bed mounted crosswise, which I did.
So, a RAM Promaster it was. Then I had to decide on the wheelbase and suspension. While I vacillated a few times, I eventually decided I wanted a 3/4 tom (2500), 159" wheelbase. I started searching all the used car web sites, Carguru, Autotrader, etc., checking almost every day. I found 6 or so that I really liked, missing out on them by only or day or two in some cases. It seems these vans are in VERY high demand, even more so than used cars and trucks!
Eventually, I got lucky. I found a used Promaster in Toledo, OH (2.5 hrs away) that met my criteria. The dealership had just listed it, and it wasn't even prepped yet. On a whim we drove to Toledo and put down a $500 deposit to hold it (it was still at the company they had hired to remove the contractor decals on the exterior). About a week later it was finally ready, and we drove drove to test drive it and ultimately make the purchase!
Long story, short (well, not so short), Ansel was born! That's Ansel, as in Ansel Adams, the famous photographer. Since most campervaners (a.k.a. van-lifers) name their vans, and since the main driver for me wanting a campervan is for photography excursions, this seemed like a good choice for a name (and much better than Chad or Garth).
Anyway, below are a few "before" photos of Ansel before he begins the transformation into a full-fledged campervan. He's definitely a "diamond in the rough"...after all, he was owned by a contractor and well used. However, I am really excited about the challenge to cover up/heal his "blemishes" and transform (or resurrect?) him into a fully functional, but especially fun campervan!
In the next blog post, I'll talk a like a little more about the plans for Ansel and the design details. Subsequent posts will then detail his actual transformation, so please follow along!
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