Once I knew I wanted a van, I started looking around at the available options and the vans that were built by the RV industry just had too much going on. They were trying to be everything to everyone and, in my not so humble opinion, ended up not really being just right for anyone. So I started looking at custom and DIY options and after a couple of false starts with builders, I settled on working with a tiny house builder and designed my own van. I was able to have him build drawers and cabinets to fit the things I needed, rather than having to fit my things in existing spaces.
In building custom, I was also able to choose materials with minimal off-gassing and environmental impact. I have just the things I need in my van and nothing more. The systems I chose are fairly simple and sturdy.
By using a marine fridge, diesel heater, and slam latches, my van has more in common with a boat than a typical RV. The marine fridge allows me to park just about anywhere and not worry about being level. Other than my heater, everything runs off my solar-charged lithium batteries. I opted to go without propane, mostly to avoid the smell and the condensation, and I don’t regret it for a second.
There are so many benefits to acquiring your rig this way, not least of all is the cost. My van was 10s of thousands of dollars less than a new class B off the lot. I have way more open space in my van, the components are of a much higher quality, I was able to choose eco-friendly options, and it works for me rather than me having to adjust to it.
The one downside to building custom is the time required. Time in figuring it all out, time in finding the right builder, time in building a one-off rig. And now, with #vanlife being so popular, it is getting harder to find a good builder who is available. Most have multi-year waiting lists. I do think the benefits are definitely worth the wait though. Besides, you’re going to need that time to downsize all your stuff!