Vanlife Mistakes I 10 things we'd CHANGE about our NEW campervan (2021)

Van builds are never-ending projects! Here are 10 things that we already need to change, add or modify on our most recent build. Sometimes they're the most basic stuff. Some other time, we (Dom) literally made some mistakes while building. Lettuce know if you have ideas for some of our fails, especially for the wall deco and the shoebox.

Enjoy!

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WHO ARE YOU? WHAT’S WITH YOUR ACCENT?
We're Dom & Marie, a French Canadian couple who love Nutella toast and live in a van. Marie is the brain (Ph.D student) and Dom's the dreamer (Creative director). We have spent the last 2 years travelling around North America in our Promaster 136'' named Vanessa. In 2020, after a 12-month trip that was cut short because of Covid, we decided to sell our van to start a new project: a BIGGER van.

Our goal is to inspire others to start #vanlife​​ and to help build their very own home on wheels while living and enjoying a balanced online and offline life.

[jwjustinwatkins]

Dom, your video editing is hilarious! Laughed so hard at this one, especially Marie's box design. The edits and humor are one of the top reasons we keep coming back =)

[JaYoeNation]

That bit while Marie was describing her box idea and Dom was making the graphics had me laughing.

[cathypham]

Maybe like a utility cart type thing with tiers? Bottom for shoes, middle for camera, top for snacks, it moves to make an extra seat.

[timdunmyer]

Truckstops sell these seat organizers that hang off the back of your seats to give you place for shoes.

[susanscovill]

LED overhead strip for the lighting issue. On dimmer switch
Shoes - Your wooden slot idea but in canvass
Lagun table - Add another piece of wood to hold it farther from the wall. Or just flip the slats to the left side with the outlet and USB.
Ottoman seat box - make it moveable. Just move it to the back when necessary. Can also be used as outdoor seating.

Cheers from Vancouver eh!

[cherylkruisheer]

You are very fortunate that your problems are so easily corrected. Really good to hear about your pet peeves though. Sometimes it’s the small things that are easily overlooked but are a pain in the ass, also easily to record the issue and then maybe the solution. Can’t wait to hear your “best things”.

[MissMarieGrows]

Hello Marie & Dom. I’m an international flight attendant based in the US and I have so much fun watching your journeys! The kind of center console Marie is imagining might work well with a flight attendant cart idea. Our carts are on sturdy lockable rollers with a boat style ridge/frame on top that could be used as a holder for dividers or swapped out for a cushion to be used as extra seating or a foot stool. Obviously the design would need to be modified and shortened to fit your space but please keep in mind that it would be wise to make the mobile utilitarian box “bottom heavy” as to ovoid tipping. Hope this helps. Cheers🥂

[FadiHamoud]

You guys never fail to amuse. Love, love, love.

[DaltonsFriendswood]

What about a pretty wooden cutting board that hangs over the stove. Serves as a backsplash but can actually be used if needed.

[dayz]

Walls are changing colour probably due to using oil/solvent based paints/varnish. Try a water based paint.

Another idea build a shoe rack/storage inbetween the front seats with usable storage on top for when your driving. 2 birds 1 stone.

Great build guys :)

[caliemm]

Solar lanterns, solar lights on their stick in a vase for the table. I love them.Unscrew the top part in the morning. Let them sit on the dash during the day.

Yeah francophoners....c'est formidable!

[leopoldobayol]

For number 5: You can put cork at the bottom of your glass! Hope it works! 🦾

[paris]

I don’t know why, but I like the sound of both of you guy’s voices.

[rachelfrossard]

I've been watching thousands of regret videos and you guys are definitely the most funny one. 😂

[CandycaneBeyond]

AC outlet is a simple fix. Cut a board the size of the bracket and place it on wall with screws, then reinstall the table. Depending on the thickness of the wood will give you greater distance from the wall.

[bairdnuckolls]

Two suggestions: for the shoes, Ikea makes a fold out shoe storage cabinet (Trones) that could be installed on the wall of the cabinet. They don't take up much room and they close to keep things neat. For the box in between the seats, we like to use a large Ghanan Bolga market basket. It is studily woven and has a leather covered handle. The sides are flexible, which helps protect equipment and the wide flat bottom allows you to put a great deal of stuff in it. The handle makes it easy to move out of the way when you want to get through and you can just set it on one of the seats.

[CandycaneBeyond]

Get a straw beach bag for shoes. It will be firm enough to hold off shoes, flexible enough to bend, and durable enough to wash with hose to rinse off.

[pumpkin]

You said one of your priorities was to have space as you entered the door...if you put your shoe storage attached to your counter you are encroaching on that space. Maybe build your shoe storage into the box that you want in between your seats. Put that box on rollers so you can move it in and out as you need to access the front or turn the seats around. SUCH a beautiful conversion. Love watching your videos. You always make me laugh.

[mastermoko]

You guys are what we call in Portugal "cromos". it's such fun to watch your videos

[LiveToFly-Br]

Marie's box explained was one of the best things on YouTube ever. Really funny.