Vansformation: The podcast all about self-build van conversions

Latest Episodes:

VF 20 5 Reasons for a Woodburning Stove in Your Van Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to Vansformation Episode 20!

Following up from VF 19, which explored 5 reasons NOT to put a woodburning stove into your vehicle conversion, this episode brings 5 reasons you should consider it. This episode features:

Safe installation and use of a solid fuel heater in a van conversion
What woodburner size is right to keep you toasty warm in a campervan
Considerations for the design of your space around the woodburner
Why I unabashedly love it and personally feel it can be a safe choice if approached with some precautions

VF 19: 5 Reasons NOT to put a Woodburning St Dec 12, 2018

Show notes

Merry Crimblewinter, the 2nd series of Vansformation starts today!

All rested up after the break, the show's theme for the next year is more: more solo episodes, more interviews, more of the time. Campervan builders self-builders, van converters and anyone who dreams of a land ship of your own making, welcome in. Almost a year after this podcast launched the podcast kicks off with one of two episodes on one of the dark arts of van conversion: wood burning stoves. Also known as woodstoves or multifuel heaters, they are beloved by some van self-builders and considered a sign of very poor judgement by others. But, what are the real considerations behind whether they are a good idea for your vehicle conversion or not? Today I talk about 5 very good reasons not to put a woodburning stove in your van. Time stamps (one of the many cool things starting in Series 2) :

Intro, including stating the obvious by way of a disclaimer - 1:36 Reason 1: Cost - 4:05

Reason 2: Monitoring and safety - 5:39

Reason 3: Fire fiddly-ness - 7:04

Reason 4: Weight 9:16

Reason 5: Campsite problems: 10:34 Stay tuned for the next episode for the opposite view – 5 good reasons it is to put a woodburning stove in a vehicle, plus installation tips and the science behind them. And, we all know science makes a holiday tipple and a figgy pud even better.

VF 18: Rob and Emily from The Road is Our Home Oct 14, 2018

Show notes

Rob and Emily are a young couple who just completed a beautiful self-built nautical style Mercedes Sprinter van conversion. Rob enjoyed the project so much he has started to take a few commissions to help others enjoy a custom campervan conversion.

Their van was designed for long-term use from the beginning. They plan to move into it this coming Spring for extended vanlife adventures as they travel the UK and Europe.

Tune in to hear about their most important features on a campervan designed for extended travel, how they worked through a major build failure and their preparations for vanlife.

Related Links

Rob and Emily's website, The Road is Our Home

VF Episode 18, Interview with Greg Virgoe on Insulation

Tomislav Perko's TED Talk, How to travel the world with almost no money

VF 17: Jon Shepherd, Owner and Builder of Sylvester Sep 23, 2018

Show notes

Jon is a graphic designer with a history of interesting mechanically oriented projects, including building a close replica of a 1953 MG TF (from a Triumph Herald base vehicle).

He's now on his third van conversion, a Vauxhall Vivaro purchased as an unfinished project. 'Sylvester' the van is now complete, and was recently featured in Campervan magazine.

Jon talks about making a medium size van feel spacious, adding upcycled vintage details to the conversion and his recent experiences renting out his van.

Tune in for creative conversion ideas with copper tubing, the charming awning his partner made and mounting solar panels on a pop-top roof.

VF 16: Pete and Alfie from Pete's Pizzas Aug 19, 2018

Show notes

No DIY Mojo, No Problem

Pete and Alfie are the dynamic duo behind 'Pete's Pizzas', a mobile catering business that brings wood-fired pizzas to events. Their wood-fired pizza oven is on a trailer towed behind a lovingly styled vintage aesthetic self-built campervan.

All of this despite: Pete nor Alfie being formally trained pizza chefs and Pete himself describing past DIY attempts as 'grim'

But, they took action, pulled in resources and knowledge from elsewhere and went after their van and pizza business with enthusiastic experimentation.

We talk about converting a van as part of a start-up enterprise, how they did it and a little about good pizza. Listen in to find out the mistakes they learned from the most and how you can do this too.

If you are ever in Suffolk, they often have their (delicious!) pizza at a farm café there, catch them on the socials to find out where they are going next.

Relevant Links

Pete's Pizza website Blue Rabbit Caféin Suffolk, England - where Pete's Pizza often makes an appearance Pete's Pizza: Twitter, Instagram, Youtubeand Facebook

Want to van converting articles direct to your inbox? Sign up for the Vansformation newsletter.

VF 15: Van Conversion Insulation with Greg Virgoe Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

Mechanical Services Engineer Greg Virgoe and the Facts About Van Conversion Insulation

Greg Virgoe is a engineer and designer with over 30 years of construction experience with a speciality in heating and cooling systems. He's also just finishing a campervan conversion to travel Europe for a year with his partner, Lou. The couple are setting off this August, be sure to follow their real-life accounts of extended travel in the campervan. This episode is a in-depth exploration of the technical and practical side of insulation, and the reasons behind what really works.

Listen in for:

What is the K value, R value and what do they mean to a van conversion self builder?
All about vapour barriers
What is the truth about foil lined bubble wrap, is it any good, and why?
How can I choose the right materials for insulating my van conversion?
What I learned the hard way about using expanding foam in a van conversion

Relevant Links

Greg's Youtube channel Greg's Youtube video"The Facts About Campervan Insulation" Vansformation planning guide blog essay Part Iand Part II so you put the holes in the right place before the insulation. Like SketchUp? It's big at Vansformation too, and Greg has made some cool plans in the 3-D Warehouse.

VF 14: Professional Food Truck Converter Andrew Cole Jul 16, 2018

Show notes

Professional Food Truck Converter Andrew Coe

Today's guest is the affable but very knowledgeable Andrew Cole, from FoCo Food Trucks in Fort Collins, Colorado.

We talk base vehicles, regulations, sealing leaks, keeping a food truck cool and a fairly offensive sandwich (that I would definitely eat). If you are planning or dreaming of converting a vehicle for use in catering, this episode is a must listen.

Relevant Links

FoCo Food Trucks Twitter, Facebook and Website Wikipedia article on my favourite frozen dessert: gelato! Foodtruckr website (started by the same person who ran my podcast course #smallworld)

VF 13: Live and explore fully with your van conversion Jul 01, 2018

Show notes

Anthony Bourdain was an top level flaneur, willing to wander and risk a long trip back for the rewards of discovery. He showed us the world, and still dictates how I wash-up nonstick cookware.

There is wisdom in his writing, travel programmes and general hijinks for those of us creating self-built vans, for both the building journey and the journey after.

Show notes for Vansformation episode 13

VF 12: 8 Real-Life Ways to Save Money on Your Self-Built Van Conversion May 21, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 12 of the Vansformation podcast!

In this solo episode I discuss 8 practical ways to save your hard-earned cash on building the van conversion of your dreams. These apply to your van conversion project no matter the type: motorhome, food truck, mobile studio, live-in campervan or any other. I know these because have experienced the benefits of following this advice myself, and the consequences of not always applying it. Consistently following all 8 of these would have saved me at least £2000 on my current van.

It actually would have saved more, but I stopped keeping close records of expenses at a certain point because it was a little too painful to watch. They are definitely lessons which will be with me on all upcoming projects. Listen in for all the details. Where to find the van building tips in the podcast: 8. Buy secondhand 4:10 7. Spread the build 5:19 6. A critical eye for forum advice 8:42 5. Borrow, responsibly 11:36 4. Resist buying too much, too soon 13:14 3. Use domestic 15:36 2. Minimise exterior paintwork 17:54 1. Practise (and yes, that's spelled correctly.) 19:09

Relevant Links

Vansformation blog on top tools to invest in VF Podcast Episode 10, featuring Simon and his van, Finn Gone with the Wynns video on adapting dishes for 'RV' use

VF 11: Interview with Kate Powell from The Errant Stage Apr 30, 2018

Show notes

Today's guest is Kate Powell, one half of the duo behind The Errant Stage, a mobile performance venue with drop down stage build on a bright red Iveco Luton van base. Kate is a puppeteer and theatre facilitator who has done the van conversion herself, along with several friends and family.

The Errant Stage will be doing the Big Red Poetry tour at Wandsworth Fringe Festival next week, featuring live and pre-recorded performances as well as a creative writing workshop and open mic session. Kate talks about building a dual purpose van conversion which incorporates a public facing activity and private living quarters. She also shares how she painted the van and gives behind the scenes tips on using crowd funding to enable a van conversion as part of a larger innovative service or arts project.

Vansformation Episode 11 shownotes: http://vansformation.com/11/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Vansformation: The podcast all about self-build van conversions

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected