Louth Motoring: Complete guide to converting a van

DIY. Some of us are great at it and some of us woeful.
I think I've identified the sole factor being, quite simply, motor skills.

A whole section of the population has never needed to use their hands mechanically and are therefore unaware of the principle of how a screwdriver works.

I am continually surprised at the amount of people who can't use a hammer correctly despite being a toy that every kid had access to growing up.

Yet despite this I see tons of videos of people converting vans for leisure and living. They all seem to have a good grasp of how to use tools so if you are tempted, hone your motor skills before embarking on a van transformation.

The screenplay is always the same - a standard van at the start of an Instagram video transformed into a beautiful roaming home at the end.

The Instagram algorithm dictates this only takes 15 to 30 seconds whereas the reality is it takes months from initial planning, to purchase, to fit-out to finish.

That's where this amazing book "Roaming Home" by Shane Monks O'Byrne is simply invaluable.

Shane is a 28-year-old Dublin man who has put six years of research into the book and is a full-time van liver, so he walks the talk.

The book covers in detail every step of the process with real examples, drawings, pictures and illustrations in a meaty 380-page tome.

The very start of the book contains a "Philosophy of VanLife" that frames van living and if it does not resonate with you close the book.

If it does then the book goes in depth into every aspect of converting a van. "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" is one of life's truisms and that's why there are 25 pages on planning alone.

It is the key to everything. What to buy, what you want to do and what you need are all covered, and I'd say this is the most important part.

We all have different aims and budgets, and this chapter will hopefully make you consider things you hadn't factored in to give you a realistic shot at success.

The eight chapters are laid out in the sequence you undertake a conversion – structural – electrics – insulation – carpentry – water – heating and finally furnishing.

The illustrations ladybird you through each step and being an electrician myself I was impressed at how the book explains this topic to a novice.

Being a novice in all the other aspects of van conversion if the electrics were explained so well then the other chapters must be of equal excellence to instil confidence.

There's even a final chapter on "How to live on the road".

Very useful stuff here and don't get caught out as we did arriving at a campsite in New Zealand without any provisions thinking there was a shop there.

We'd set up the van only to have to drive 25kms to the nearest shop and back and set it up all over again.
Rookie, but frustrating, mistake I know.

My daughter is studying her third year in university in Ljubljana and I travelled initially with her.

I stayed in an Airbnb where the owner recently completed a van conversion. He did it during lockdown for something to do.

What he showed me was truly a work of art and he said if he could do it anyone could.

He managed to convert a VW Transporter to sleep two adults for €15k all in. eBay, AliExpress and Amazon were his preferred providers.

So if you're tempted to convert a van for leisure or living, don't be afraid and this book is an excellent reference and guide.
Together with the middle aisles of Lidl and Aldi with all those DIY tools you never knew you needed; you'll have everything you need – I just hope you have those motor skills too.

Book is priced at €25 from www.thevanconversion.com