Design & Layout

The Vision

This van was designed as a full-time mobile home for over one year while traveling the western North American coast. Every decision flowed from this core purpose.

Four Core Objectives

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1. Stealth
The design avoids obvious recreational vehicle characteristics. No external racks, no visible RV features. The goal: blend into urban environments seamlessly.

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2. Full-Time Habitation
The space needed to support:

• Remote work activities
  
  • Three daily meals (full meal preparation)
    
    • General daily living requirements
      
      • Comfortable long-term occupancy
        
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        3. Year-Round Climate Control
        Integrated systems for:
        

        • Heating (Webasto propane heater)
          
          • Ventilation (MaxxAir fan, windows)
            
            • Cooling (air conditioning)
              
              • Insulation (Thinsulate throughout)
                
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                4. Activity Support
                The interior accommodates gear for:
                

                • Mountain biking
                  
                  • Snowboarding
                    
                    • Climbing
                      
                      • Surfing
                        
                        • Onewheel transportation
                          
                          

                          Design Development Process
                          
                          I employed a four-stage prototyping methodology:
                          
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                          1. 3D Modeling
                          Used SketchUp software to explore layout variations and material options without physical commitment. This allowed rapid iteration and visualization.
                          
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                          2. Physical Mockup
                          Tape-based spatial layout testing in the empty van. This revealed crucial insights:
                          

                          • Rejected: Fixed shower compartments
                            
                            • Rejected: Internal dividing walls
                              
                              • Embraced: Open, flexible layout
                                
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                                3. Component Arrangement
                                Layout planning after ordering parts, ensuring everything fit correctly before permanent installation.
                                
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                                4. Framework Construction
                                Structural building using 80/20 aluminum (detailed in separate Framing post).
                                
                                

                                Key Philosophy
                                
                                Start with why, then how. Understanding the purpose drove every technical decision. This wasn't a weekend warrior van

                                • it needed to be a legitimate home.