Six Weeks in the Garage My DIY Campervan is Finally Coming TogetherSix weeks. That is how long I have been completely consumed by this van build. If you have ever tackled a heavy DIY project, you know exactly how it goes. Your hands are constantly covered in glue, your garage is a disaster zone, and your brain is perpetually calculating measurements. But standing inside the rig today, it finally feels like the massive gamble is paying off.We are officially transitioning from a raw construction zone to a functional, livable space.The biggest win this week was getting the main cabinetry framed and secured. I wanted a layout that felt open but packed a serious punch when it came to storage. The long kitchen console is officially in, complete with custom drawers on heavy-duty sliders. When you are driving down rough mountain roads or navigating tight city turns, you cannot have your gear flying open. To fix that, I spent yesterday installing heavy-duty magnetic latches on every single drawer to keep everything locked down tight."In a space this tight, structural integrity is everything. If it moves while you're driving, it's going to break."Nicole and I also managed to get the wall panels mounted, which instantly changed the entire vibe of the interior. Gone is the chaotic look of exposed wiring and raw insulation. We are using sustainable sheep's wool for our insulation, which is incredible for temperature control, but seeing it finally covered up by clean, white paneling makes the space feel like a real home.AdvertisementAdvertisementOpposite the kitchen, the bench seating is taking shape. This is actually where that incognito slide-out drawer for the fridge lives, hiding completely flush inside the woodwork. There are still a few exposed patches of wool near the ceiling where the upper storage cabinets and a custom shelf will go next, but the ceiling fan is wired, the LED puck lights are functioning, and the vision is finally alive.If you are staring at a blank cargo van and wondering if you can actually pull off a build like this yourself, take it from me. It is a slow, methodical grind. You will make mistakes, you will redo panels, and you will spend way too much time looking for your tape measure. But when you finally see those walls go up, there is no better feeling.
