Looking to Optimize Your Van Build?
Go fully custom (Custom designed professionally built dream van)
Welcome!
Hi! I’m Abbe Minor.
After building my first van and traveling the country for 6 months, I found it to be a fun and lucrative value creation opportunity. Now, I’ve been buying, building, and selling artisan vans for nearly 6 years and sharing my processes across my social media.
From undertaking extensive van builds, to travel adventures, and stories from day to day, my approach to life is unconventional and documented for the world to see.
I share my building endeavors on my YouTube Channel @abbeminor and Instagram @a.bbe. Here you will find everything you need to convert your own van or buy your dream van turnkey! I look forward to sharing with you!
Check out my planning, building, and resource allocation guides
When it comes to a van, there’s more to think about than just how it looks, so I’ve developed a simple framework for designing my vans. In this guide, I’ll walk you through my approach, from layout decisions to must-have features and how to create a look that brings it all together.
Building profitable vans requires a wide range of skills across three major areas: carpentry, electrical, and plumbing. Each of these areas could take years to master individually, but fortunately, you don’t need that level of expertise to succeed in van building.
To maximize your margins on a van flip, you need to focus on the most efficient methods in terms of time and materials, so I put together a guide to my go-to optimized building methods.
Assembling a van can be a non-linear, intricate game of brainstorming, backtracking, and problem-solving. The process requires patience, attention to detail, and a clear vision. You must train yourself to think several moves ahead, evaluating all potential consequences of each action. If you install each piece of the puzzle in the wrong order, you can drastically harm the efficiency of the whole project.
When I built my first Sprinter, all I wanted was a clear, detailed order of steps I could follow; I couldn’t find one anywhere.
So, through years of trial and error and studying other builders, I’ve put together a streamlined order of operations for building a camper van. Though individual building processes can be highly nuanced, use this as your road map.
Building material recommendations
As you shop for materials for a build, you’ll quickly see there are endless possibilities. It’s not as simple as buying random wood and screws—within each category, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of options.
Knowing where to save and where to invest in quality takes time and experience. I’ve been through it all, so I’ll guide you through selecting the best materials for every step of your conversion and share my go-to suppliers for the best value.
FULL BLOG COMING SOON, for now:
Complete van build TOOL must haves
A starting point is to ensure you have your tools, accessories, PPE, and solvents in order. I recommend cordless versions of every power tool except for the table saw and miter saw, so choose one brand and stick with it so you can swap the batteries.