BEST VAN LAYOUTS: how to design your van conversion | VAN LIFE BUILD

Starting to plan for your van life build? One of the first things you'll want to figure out is which van is best for you. Next up, it's all about the best van layout for your lifestyle!

Today we're covering the best van layouts and how to plan your layout in your van conversion. We'll discuss things you'll want to decide before you plan your layout, and where to start first when planning your van layout.

➳ VAN LIFE ESSENTIALS:

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➳ VAN DETAILS

➳ WHO ARE WE?
We are Sara & Alex (aka "40 Hours of Freedom"), and definitely don't forget about our dogs - Bambi & Nugget - or else they might be a little upset. We converted our own Sprinter van and have hit the road for full time adventure and fun. Subscribe for new van life and travel videos every week.

We hope to inspire you to create the life you love - whatever that looks like for you! So get out there and start creating some epic content. We live by: Create more, Consume Less.

➳ CONNECT WITH US:

#vanlife #vanlayout #vanbuild

[SaraandAlexJames]

What van layout do you like the most?!

[dmp]

“You shouldn’t be able to take a crap and scramble eggs at the same time.”

Priceless!

[EJSmith-dkyg]

Just a tip:
When you're talking about the layouts, show the layouts. What I mean is that I can hear you talking and don't need to see you on camera. While you're describing something, I want to see what you're describing.
More van pictures, less people pictures!

[cutie-]

Finally, someone points out the true necessity and hygiene of a bathroom

[suzie_lovescats]

I’m so glad someone finally said what I’ve been thinking about the toilet situation in vans for ages 😂 it’s true it’s not hygienic at all to do a 💩 in your kitchen and I don’t understand the people who don’t have a toilet in their van at all I mean what if you were in the city and couldn’t do it in the woods 🥴 and because of this whole Covid thing public showers have been closed so what would you do without one of them 🤔 if I was living in a van I’d definitely have a wet bath 💯

[shrimptempuraasmr]

This is very generous of you two... Most people would charge for this information.... Thank you so much xo's

[michaellorimer]

I was really hoping she’d say “And there’s a big reason why we put a bathroom in every layout, number one .... and number two”

[samanthaking]

I'm probably years off getting my van, but I have a few of my favourite layouts on paper already. Im constantly adding bits, tweaking parts and re doing whole sections... hopefully by the time I have the van, I'll have it pinned down 😂 This video was really helpful 👍

[VampiraVonGhoulscout]

What you said about the bathroom being fixed is exactly why I have decided that I want a fixed bed. I plan to drive around Europe and if I am doing a lot of sightseeing and walking on cobbled streets in say, Rome, the last thing I want to do at the end of a long day is spend 15 mins playing Tetris with a futon and a table and then have to put the sheets on and shit. I want to come home and collapse on a memory foam mattress like I would if I were staying at a hostel on a regular holiday.

[shoshanae]

For us visual people, could you leave the visual representations a little longer. I would rather see what you are talking about than watch your faces the whole time. I hope that is understandable. I can't really see what you are talking about if you just flash one design for a few seconds. Thank you.

[andrewmetzler]

After perusing for many van outfitting videos, I must say that your videos are one of the most straightforward, insightful, and authentic out here. A pleasure to find!

[netteleverett]

I love you guys for bringing up the GROSS toilet in the kitchen no-no!!! Thank you much!!💥💥

[ida]

I TOTALLY agree with your thoughts on having a shower toilet combo space... I have seen enough youtube videos on van lifers who blabber in their van tour ... and then ... conveniently leaving out the issue of the missing toilet and/or shower... I mean, I have seen small vans that had it, so clearly, space is not the issue... priorities are. And I can not imagine, specially a single female van lifer, who does not have one or both! I rather sacrifice the oh so impt entertainment space... and have instead toilet and shower for the sheer reason of PERSONAL HYGIENE on demand ... With such a small relatively enclosed living space... you wldnt want floating around unwashed body smells even if they are your own ... and one wld think it is a given for most... that you wld want toilet convenience and hygiene even if you are living small and mobile ...

[stephencope]

All good advice.. As someone who copied a friends design and put the bed sideways in a Sprinter and had the bathroom and garage in the back.. My advice.. listen to these guys.. A build is a big big project..

[cigarmann]

I used legos to approximate the best layout for me.

[cathrynmiller]

I was so happy to find this YouTube this morning. My husband, of 41 years, and I rented a van last week to try out van life. We had a great time, loved it, but the lack of bathroom (in the middle of the night especially) made van life for us ridiculous! Imagine a couple of 60 year olds running around during Covid looking for a bathroom! Pathetic! We basically shelved the idea once we got home. Now, finding that you two young people find a dedicated wet bath a necessity (!) makes me want to open this whole project up again. Thank you for your voice of reason! My favorite layout, and I didn’t get a really good look at all of them, is your first one! Queen [long] bed that converts to a table and bench seats, kitchen, wet bath, and I guess closet space. Not sure what you call it. BTW, I love the kitchen sink with window behind the driver’s seat. Absolutely love it! ❤️❤️❤️ How can we get our hands on one of your used vans???

[larkendelvie]

The kids sleeping in a tent is what my parents did when I was a kid in the 70s. They had the van set up basic but made sure they had a comfy bed, a removeable camping kitchen and lots of storage. The layouts are great inspiration - thank you.

[kimhorton]

I’ve camped for most of my 74 years and now I’ve settled for three-four day trips in an ‘84 VW Vanagon to state parks or KOA spots where shore power is good and I don’t need a bathroom. I’m a solo camper and my biggest beef with the Vanagon is all the space set out for sleeping. I have spent many evenings inside whether it was cold or raining or buggy and I’d love to see better lounging for book reading and cooking. The one thing I like the most is the shelf above the kitchen that securely holds so much stuff. What’s up there is easy to find and it doesn’t rely on closed cabinets to stay secure and accessible. I never need the sleeping space above the roof but the standing room is so vital to spending time inside.

[aubrey]

I just saw someone who has the toilet in the kitchen with it facing a mirror no less..and when Sara laughed it was so on point. I felt the same.

[quepaso]

Knowing what's underneath your van to guide your build is great advise. Thanks for pointing that out.