La Cabanita!
La Cabanita was born the day we felt the urge to explore even farther with our van. As much as we loved our faithful Nachos, the thought of crossing the United States, driving through deserts, and tackling long road trips with the kids in our trusty old Campwagon made us a little nervous.
We ordered our Ford Transit nearly a year before it finally arrived (thanks, pandemic!). At the time, buying a used one actually cost more than ordering a brand-new van. The long wait gave us plenty of time to dream, plan, and design what would eventually become our home on wheels.
While Oli spent his days scanning Marketplace for deals on materials and equipment, I filled mood boards with inspiration, layout ideas, and clever solutions for life on the road.
Meanwhile, Oli dedicated countless hours to watching YouTube videos about van conversions. Electrical systems, window installations, insulation, layout possibilities... he had become a true expert before the project had even begun. He also spent an incredible amount of time creating a detailed 3D model of our future van. We were then able to explore it in virtual reality using an Oculus headset (watch the video here!), which completely changed the way we approached the design process. Being able to walk through the space virtually allowed us to fine-tune every detail before cutting a single board.
We finally received the van in June 2023, perfectly timed with Nachos moving on to new adventures with wonderful new owners.
For us, the real work was just beginning.
The first step was installing the windows. Next came the kids' bench seat, a job that needed to be completed by professionals for safety and insurance reasons. Then came all the other stages of the build: insulation, electrical, flooring, ceiling, cabinetry, and all the small details that eventually add up to hundreds of hours of work.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Olivier and Max from Boréal Campeur, who helped us install the grey water tank and patiently answered our endless electrical questions throughout the project. A big thank you as well to our friends Cindy and Luc from Alternative Solaire for their valuable advice, feedback, and assistance with several parts of the installation.
In total, the conversion took nearly a year and a half to complete. It was a long and sometimes demanding project, but one that we are incredibly proud of today.
We finished La Cabanita just in time for our big departure to California: two months on the road through the American West, exploring national parks, breathtaking landscapes, and making unforgettable family memories. It was an adventure we had been dreaming about for years.
For those who enjoy the technical side of things, you'll find more detailed information below. And don't worry, we're working on a full van tour video that will give you a closer look at every corner of La Cabanita!
