I built a fully fledged home on wheels inside a 2017 Chevy Express 2500! I built this van with the goal to blend aesthetics, powerful components, and ease of use/repairability at the forefront. This accessible yet compact build has just about everything to live full time in any season.
Here's the van tour! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkjobsb9M3k
Here's the carfax info: https://www.carfax.com/Service/garage/5076952426?s_id=c-1%7Cp-1%7Cmt-18%7Cst-3&x_id=db-nv%7Cdc-nv%7Codc-nv%7Cmo-20&et_id=20685836&ar=details1#registration
Her name is Gloria EsteVan and she used to be my partner’s camper and it was in need of some fixing. The original plan was to do a quick budget build for another friend in a bad situation, and after she decided it wouldn’t work for her, I decided to make it a feature rich rig and gift them part of the sale to financially support her. I hope I can give you this home on wheels so I can help you, me and my friend all at once!
Here’s a quick list of what’s inside:
– 81k miles, passed inspection
– 12v Victron solar electric system with updated UI HUD
– 800w solar, 600ah lithium batteries
– alternator charging and a retractable shore power cord
– 120v roof mounted AC and underseat gas powered heater
– Electric floor heater
– 2 ceiling fans and a hangable portable battery fan
– Security camera systems, front and rear 24/7 recording
– 32 gal. fresh water tank, 8 gal grey tank, 2 gal hot water tank
– 7 stage water filtration
– Side and rear outdoor shower access
– 12v fridge, microwave/air fryer, single infrared burner
– Hideable sink and TV compartments
– Slatted slide out bench transforms into a bed
– Large underseat storage, various storage compartments
– Slide out desk
– Spray foam/wool/reflectix lined walls for maxium R value
– Custom insulated rollable cloth walls
– Swivel passenger seat
Whether there are drawbacks are a matter of opinion, but there are some potentially less ideal things to know about this van:
- It’s a regular stock cargo van, which means you can’t stand up inside.
- Stock means 2 wheel drive, so it’s more of a city van unless you got funds to upgrade the drivetrain to 4 wheel drive, which I wish I had the budget for but I didn’t have an extra $15k laying around.
- This is a Rebuilt vehicle. It sustained damage to the driver’s middle body, no part of the drivetrain was damaged in anyway. The vehicle’s cost is so low that rebuilding a section of the frame and body exceeded the vehicle cost.
- Something I felt was necessary that I sadly didn’t have budget to install was a cell booster or Starlink, but was unable to. You could run a wire/glad directly above the electric fuse area and run a cord that way, otherwise it’s a huge task running a new wire.
- I meticulously installed/inspected all the wiring etc and for some reason the lights will flicker slightly when using higher power appliances, the dimmer can be set to a certain level that seems less annoying. When I contacted victron for solutions they said ‘sometimes that happens.’ Thanks Victron!
- Speaking of victron and their wiring system, apparently their systems sometimes don’t like being plugged into gfci plugs and will trip breakers, and almost every outside 120v outlet is gfci. Apparently this only happens with US electric grids.
- The floor is 3/8″ rubber, which means its bulletproof, but not chemical proof and will sometimes swell in direct sunlight. It will return to normal when in shade, and the floor has been thoroughly double sided taped down to help alleviate this. I might’ve chosen a different floor in hindsight, but I wanted something so strong that i could drop a hammer on the floor and not worry about it leaving a mark.
- The AC unit is a little loud, but it works and it came with the van!
- Backdoor sometimes sticks, but it still opens and closes fine.
Money transfer etc is fine but would love if it was paid for in cash.
About me: My name is Avry and I’m a 35 y/o builder and artist. I’ve been woodworking/doing carpentry for 15 years, made custom foam larping weapons for 16 years, illustrator for 25 years and was obsessed with mobile living since I was 7 years old playing a game where you flew around in a house ship. I have lived full time in my van for 5 years and I don’t think I can ever go back. I’ve had to live in a vehicle mostly out of necessity for my disabilities and chronic fatigue. Turns out landlords and bosses don’t like it when you’re body doesn’t work on their time. I’m looking forward to a day when I can live the same vanlife that a lot of others live where they travel and make memories on the road. Shout out to Bob from CheapRVLiving you changed my life for the better, and to all those out there posting on youtube showing others there’s another way.
