“We did a $45,000 DIY renovation of our camper van and now we save thousands in travel costs thanks to van life.”
Dan Fletcher and Emily Langer's Sprinter van was used to transport bicycles.After a reno, you can live there for several weeks at a time.
Dan Fletcher, 30, a media server operator, and Emily Langer, 28, a youth worker, purchased a 2014 Ram Promaster from Kijiji in 2022. When they got it it was filthy and completely empty. But with the help of a friend and his YouTube tutorial, The couple renovated it themselves, Cut out new windows and install your own plumbing. They then lived in it for six weeks, road-tripping through the American West. Here, they talk about their DIY van modifications, hacks for a better vanlife experience, and how they build relationships in such close quarters.
Emily: Dan and I worked at the Young People's Theater. I was in charge of youth programming and Dan was the head electrician. We became friends and in March 2020 all of our company's programs went online. Dan came over to help me hang shelves in my apartment. While he was there, we learned that a group of our friends had contracted the coronavirus. Therefore, he never left because Dan was not allowed to by law. We had a fun quarantine together and our friendship turned into a romantic relationship.
Related: “I live in a rent-free van in downtown Toronto. This is how I live the van life.”
group: Meanwhile, Emily brought up the idea of buying a van.
Emily: I've wanted a camper since I was 12 years old. She remembers seeing an older couple traveling in a van during a summer trip to North Carolina. It looked so magical. They were kind enough to give me a tour, and when I got home that summer, I told my girlfriend's mom that I was going to buy a van someday.
group: Like everyone else in Emily's life, I quickly grew tired of hearing about it. So I said, “Okay, let's buy a van.” In a sense, it was a put up or shut up moment. It wasn't that far-fetched an idea to me. I've always been drawn to small houses and enjoy living in small spaces. I love watching her YouTube videos about how people live in shoebox apartments in New York.
Emily: I thought having a van would be a great way to travel and go camping. Although we live in Toronto full-time, we love getting out of the city on the weekends. We started looking for a van online and by April 2020 he found his 2014 Ram Promaster with a 136 wheelbase on Kijiji for $17,000. I met the seller at the parking lot and took Goose home.
group: A goose is a so-called van. This is kind of an inside joke, since we have a habit of calling ourselves stupid geese.
Emily: The van was completely empty as it had previously been used to transport bicycles. It was full of dirt and in pretty bad shape. It took several days to clean it.
group: Then I started building vans. As a child, his father taught me how to make things. Plus, I went to school for theater production, so I'm pretty handy.
Emily: I had zero experience with renovations. I think I used a drill twice in my life. To learn, I watched a lot of her YouTube videos. I also asked some friends to help me.
group: First, we worked on the framework along the exterior wall. Next, we installed a ceiling fan and cut out some windows.
Related: “Living in a van allows you to travel the world. Here's how to live the van life while working in Toronto.”
Emily: Basically, to cut the windows, you use a cardboard template to determine the shape and use a jigsaw to cut holes in the van. Next, add a wooden frame inside so you can secure the rest of the frame with screws. However, the wooden frame must be glued to the metal walls of the van. The first window worked, but the second window didn't. It was so cold outside that the glue I was using couldn't cure. There was a big hole in my van and I didn't know what to do. I definitely cried during the project.
group: I ended up using a two-part epoxy, which is a stronger adhesive, and sprayed it with a hair dryer for about 45 minutes. It worked like a charm.
Emily: From there, we spent a lot of time creating a bench area and a table that could double as a bed. We knew we needed space for four people, so we didn't have room for a bed that would always be in place.
group: The adjustable bed provides more space during the day. When it's time to go to bed, we pull down the cushions on the table. There are two rails on the sides that hold everything in place.
Emily: For storage, there is a garage at the rear of the van and space under the bench seat. That's where I store my camping gear, yoga mats, tools, and laundry bags. There is also a closet next to the kitchen where you can store your clothes.
group: Underneath the bench is stored electrical equipment: a 2,000-watt convertible charger and a DC/DC charger that connects to the vehicle's alternator and solar panels on the roof. All of this is tied to the main power source, a 200 amp-hour lithium battery.
Emily: We use a 200-watt solar panel to charge our phones, laptops, and kitchen appliances. Once the bench and bed are installed, you can see how the kitchen counter and sink will fit together.
group: The walls of the van are not straight, but slightly curved, making it difficult to plan measurements in advance. So we had to make some real decisions when we built it.
Emily: It took about four days to complete the kitchen. The 65 liter refrigerator can hold about 5 days worth of groceries. There are also four cupboards and a pantry for dry goods. Our instant pot is the most commonly used household appliance. We always make soups and stews with it.
group: It took about a day to assemble the sink unit. We drove to a nearby hardware store and did some plumbing work in the parking lot. This was the most efficient way to get the last parts throughout the day. It has two 10 liter freshwater tanks for water supply and one gray water tank to store waste. All these are stored behind the sink.
Emily: We knew installing a toilet was a necessity for us. I want to be able to go camping in the city and not have to worry about finding a bathroom every time I need one.
group: I did a lot of research on what kind of toilet I should have. I ended up buying a chemical porta potty because it was so easy. Uses AA batteries for cleaning.
Emily: The waste from the toilet is sent to a holding tank stored underneath, which contains chemicals to break it down. When you're ready to throw it away, use the lever on the back to remove it and empty it. We installed a drawer that can be slid in and out, so you can hide it when not in use.
group: We quickly stopped worrying about using the restroom while others were in the van. However, it also presented some challenges. It has leaked 3 times. I don't know why yet, but I've become more careful about properly locking the compartments.
Emily: We don't have a shower. Instead, find a campsite or hostel where you can shower occasionally. There is a spray hose in the back of the van for rinsing off, but there's no water heater so it's quite cold.
group: When traveling in the US, aim to shower once per state. It's not as bad as you think. Almost no maintenance required.
Emily: Use deodorant and baby wipes to keep it clean.
group: To keep your van smelling fresh, we offer a rechargeable oil diffuser. It's convenient to turn it on after preparing dinner or returning from a long hiking trip.
Emily: We also use magnetic hooks that can be hung anywhere on the van. Suitable for clothes, keys, and projector screens used when watching movies in bed.
group: We spent about $40,000 to $45,000 on repairs and refurbishments to the van.
Emily: We finished work in November 2023 and set out on a 6 week trip. We traveled to Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. We hiked, camped, and visited museums and art galleries. For most of the trip, we were able to pay for a campsite overnight and park the van there. Sometimes we would park on the streets of the city all night. Luckily, we didn't have any problems with parking enforcement.
group: On our first day in Arizona, the van was stuck in the sand for about 24 hours.
Emily: We spent about 12 hours trying to get rid of it before accepting that it wouldn't work with just the two of us. So I called a towing company. It took four and a half hours to free the van. It was a crazy day.
group: We've been living together since the pandemic, so we're used to roommates. Emily is definitely prettier than me. I love messing around. Luckily, vans are small, so you can be intentional about where you put your stuff. Everything has its place.
Emily: It takes up very little space, so even if it's a mess, you can clean it up in less than 10 minutes.
group: We call it Ten Minute Taylor. I put on his 10-minute version of “All Too Well” and start cleaning. Usually that's 45 minutes of cleaning and listening to Taylor Swift songs. Highly recommended.
Emily: The division of roles within the van was very natural for us. There's nothing I hate more than doing laundry, so that's Dan's job. But I like cooking, so I make the meals myself.
group: You will also be responsible for miscellaneous tasks such as electrical work and cleaning the toilets.
Emily: Vanlife provides us with a familiar and easy way to travel. We're both home-based people, so we built a house on wheels that makes us feel comfortable wherever we go, whether it's in the big city or in the middle of the woods.
group: I'm really happy with the fact that I built the van from scratch. We can look around and remember how we did it together. Additionally, being able to travel without having to worry about booking accommodation gives us a lot of freedom.
Emily: We are a large campervan so booking sites can be expensive. With a van, you save money just on gas and insurance. Of course there is food, but you will buy it wherever you are. All in all, you could potentially save around $4,000 by traveling by van for long trips.
group: A van makes weekend getaways so much easier. You don't need to carry much luggage. Due to my busy schedule, I haven't traveled much yet, but I plan to travel more on the weekends once the weather warms up. Emily Sleeps She would love to visit Giant Provincial Park and other locations in Northern Ontario.
Emily: It is also our main vehicle. I put my groceries in this and park it on the street in the annex when I'm not using it.
group: If we both work remotely, we would love to go to Baja, Mexico for the winter. However, we still don't have a diesel heater, so we can't prepare for the long drive to Mexico in cold weather. This will be part of future renovation work.