Hi, I'm Shaun
I build things, then I write down what I learned because I always wish someone else had done that before I started.
The Story
In 2019, I wanted a mobile home and office that could handle real travel, real work, and long stretches away from a normal house. The catch was simple: I had zero tools and zero van-building experience.
I bought an empty white Ford Transit cargo van and started learning one problem at a time. Cut the roof. Build the floor. Figure out the batteries. Make the cabinets fit. Redo the things that did not work.
"Every system, cut, and wire was new to me. The only real method was to slow down, read a lot, ask better questions, and keep going."
What followed was a 400-hour build spread across 4 years. I worked weekends, nights, and spare afternoons. I made mistakes. I cut things twice. I learned to solder. I learned about battery chemistry. I learned that spray foam expands a lot.
The build moved with me: Colesville, MD; Bend, OR; Leesburg, VA; and Nashville, TN. The van became less of a project and more of a very patient teacher.
The short version
How I approached it
Go slow when it matters
Four years is a long time, but vans punish shortcuts. I would rather spend another weekend on a system than live with a bad compromise forever.
Take more photos than seems sane
The photos are not just pretty pictures. They are how I remember where the wire runs, where the bolts landed, and what is behind a finished wall.
Thoughtful Design
Every decision had to survive actual living. Not a weekend setup. A tiny home that happens to move.
Fix what does not work
The build changed as I used it. The good ideas stayed. The annoying ones got rebuilt. That is part of why the van feels lived-in instead of theoretical.
How I Learned
Three resources taught me (almost) everything
FarOutRide
Comprehensive guide for nearly every system in the van. My electrical and plumbing knowledge came from here.
EXPLORIST.life
Essential for understanding electrical systems. Their wiring diagrams and battery guides saved me countless headaches.
Orton Travel Transit
Go-to resource for 80/20 builds and critical systems. Their floor design inspired my modular approach.
Where it happened
Where the Van Was Built
Colesville, MD; Bend, OR; Leesburg, VA; and Nashville, TN.
Want to Connect?
Questions about the build? Thinking about starting your own? Send me a note.