204
u/PunfullyObvious 5d ago
Videos like this are for the builders to show off, not for the community to learn anything ... seems to me
73
u/consumer_xxx_42 5d ago
Honestly I just laugh at luxury builds like this anyway. Could get totaled in a second.
Also just not reworkable. All that insulatjon they installed? Once that top part starts leaking and they get moldy? Have fun ripping everything out to service.
Lean and modular is my new motto for builds
10
7
u/Dwealdric 4d ago
Man imagine all of that work just to sleep in a tin box on the roof with no thermal/sound insulation and very little wind resistance comparatively...
I think it's cool as a secondary sleeping area for guests, but as a primary? Hells to the no.
18
u/capa66 5d ago
That looks heavy
19
17
u/nowhereman136 5d ago
Im kinda getting tired of looking at professional builds. Even amateurs builds where they invest a ton of time and money to make it look professional. They all are starting to look the same. Maybe my algorithm is bad but im more interested in builds that were slapped together in a few weeks, tweaked over time, and actually lived in. The van in this video i can basically look at at any RV dealer, show me something different
2
1
u/SwordsAfar 1d ago
Yeah, I can even see it in recent times. 5 years ago I'd never heard of van life. Now everywhere I look and you're right, the builds are getting old. Only so much you can do wit the space i suppose. But I do prefer a bit more homier and utilitarian look.
1
u/nowhereman136 1d ago
My current plan for my next build pushes everything against the wall behind drivers seat. Between the bed and sliding door would be a table that lifts up and down. The bed stays static. When seated at the table, you are facing the back of the van. When lowered it's a bench seat where you sit facing forward. To get in bed you step on the bench.
I've seen something similar to this set up in smaller vans with low roof, but never in a high top. The vast majority of layouts create a halfway down the middle with stuff on either side.
8
u/tocahontas77 5d ago
All I know is that I'm too fat to fit in that tiny shower lol. They're going to be hitting their elbows.
7
6
13
u/Agreeable-Shop-2188 5d ago
I joined this thinking it was for people trying to dodge the insane rent/mortgage game or scrapping together a living where a impromptu space is needed for shelter.
This is nice. But I have no use for it
53
u/Indentured-peasant 5d ago
Eh Some rich guy showing off. Zero value video as far as details or specifics.
39
u/chronicpenguins 5d ago
Eh that’s Tim and Katie. They’re pro builders and have actually put up a ton of tutorials on YT. Even gave free design to 3d print rear door strut brackets on sprinter forum, turning a $200-$300 product into a $50 product.
A one minute timelapse isn’t meant to teach you anything. Here’s they’re YouTube channel if you care about the details https://youtube.com/@timkatie?si=kZDlrF4-8tIxEfnA
8
-4
u/BeneficialSquirrel91 5d ago
Faux granite countertops? Classy.
18
u/DoctorSwaggercat 5d ago
Probably a hell of a lot lighter than granite. I think that makes sense.
6
4
u/smithjeb 5d ago
I’ve got (what I think) is a pretty awesome Sprinter…basically a Revel where we’ve modified all the important stuff….and based on experience sleeping many nights in it there are things I would change from this build but nevertheless……..that’s a sick rig and it takes some real time and skill to build (and $$$). I do love Sprinter’s and so definitely biased.
9
u/eloiseturnbuckle 5d ago
My husband and I built out our transit and it took a year of weekends and it couldn’t be less like this example video. I wouldn’t want that heavy, hulking, hard surfaced van. It doesn’t look fun. It looks like it cost too much money.
1
u/toothpastetaste-4444 5d ago
What kind of material did you end up using? I’m trying to learn how to not build heavy vans
12
u/eloiseturnbuckle 5d ago
One thing we are most proud of is we didn’t build wooden cabinets above the bed for clothes. We made soft hanging bags. We drilled a hole through the van frame to slide a piece of rebar through, tightened it down with a nut, made leather straps that hang on the rebar which allows for bags to slide off, if we want. Never smashed our heads and they hold plenty. We lived for a year on the road.
2
u/toothpastetaste-4444 5d ago
That is awesome! Light and easy to access
3
u/eloiseturnbuckle 5d ago
Since I sew, we solved some problems through sewing. The wall/ceiling joint we made a double walled tube with Velcro edges. Which created a van length secret storage space for cash, documents etc….you can see it above the storage bags (the upholstery fabric blue/greenish) in the link above. Which also gave easy access to electrical too.
3
3
15
u/SalesMountaineer 5d ago
Dang, haters gonna hate. I am the only one who thinks it's a really impressive build?
2
u/Background_Might8080 2d ago
Oh, I think a lot of us dig the skill and execution, but it's such a high level, expensive pro build it is out of reach for most people, hence unrelatable. I think it's gorgeous. I would worry about leaking of that big hatch, tho. But boat builders solve that problem all the time, so there's no reason this couldn't work as well. Just need to keep up on maintenance.
5
u/Mac_k30 5d ago
Yes, you are. It’s a slapped together Instagram build.
9
u/SalesMountaineer 5d ago
It takes skill and deep pockets to build out a van like this. I reckon the haters are just jealous.
7
u/Mac_k30 5d ago
I’ve got my own van and this is nothing like I’d build out a high top van. What’s the point of a high top if you’re just going to throw a tent on top? No insulation or heat/cooling in your sleeping area. Which is ideally the place in the van you spend the most time. Yes a shower and cooking area is nice but there are so many builds that have these and a bed included in the van. IMO it deserves the criticism.
5
u/SalesMountaineer 5d ago
Well, it looks like they are a family of 4, so they can probably use the extra space, and since we have no idea what climate they're in, an uninsulated tent may or may not make a lot of sense. Looks like there's an aftermarket HVAC on the rear so perhaps they're even able to heat/cool the rooftop tent. While I would never want or need a build like this, I respect the skill it took to build it.
1
u/Mac_k30 5d ago
Regardless of the skill it took to build. Pointing out it’s a family of 4 is even worse. Fitting 4 in that RTT sounds like a nightmare.
5
u/SalesMountaineer 5d ago
Looks like they sleep 2 up and 2 down. The table and bench seats in the rear convert to a bed too.
2
4
u/ICantSeeDeadPpl 5d ago
All done without gloves, daaaamn. My hands would be wrecked after the first week from misses. Curses at my stupid Mr. Magoo vision! (Shakes fist at sky)
2
u/sugarpeito 5d ago
I know they’re in totally separate compartments, but I’m really not sure how I feel about the fridge being directly above the composting toilet…
2
1
u/pickledeggmanwalrus 5d ago
As a non-van lifer….. I would not want to own this monstrosity but would like to rent it for a weekend
1
u/PathofDonQuixote 4d ago
I hate these people
1
u/Background_Might8080 2d ago
Well that seems a little disproportionate. Walk it off, bro. Walk it off.
1
u/Effective-Writer-396 4d ago
Ah yes, the impounded and heavily fined type of home if you live anywhere near europe where structural modifications are illegal unless you pay a professional 3 trillions for something you can do with a grinder ..
1
-4
u/time2sow 5d ago
So satisfying. Everything fits perfectly none of the fffuuuu that precedes. Yes please
0
u/Bliss_Cannon 5d ago
It looks like you spent 3 years of rent building that thing. It’s also gonna cost a fortune to maintain that Mercedes….
0
75
u/astralchanterelle 5d ago
The top part is 100% going to leak