By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, the team behind Sandy Vans, a group of seasoned van builders, engineers, carpenters, and adventurers who build custom camper vans, set out to do something they had never attempted before. They challenged themselves to do a 24-hour van build.
That’s right, they completed the van build in the video below in just 24 short hours, from a barebones empty cargo van to a fully outfitted camper van ready to hit the road.
OK. Almost empty. They had already added a subfloor when the van build began.
The team consists of five guys plus our host. They had their work cut out for them to do all this work in such a short period, but they had every step of the van build planned out and organized before beginning (these guys do this for a living).
The video intersperses a countdown timer along the way so that you can see just how much progress the team made at certain points in time. For instance, after the first hour in the beginning or after 19 hours near the end.
It seemed like everyone knew exactly what they should do and when to do it, and the build almost ran like clockwork.
They ran into a little bit of a problem toward the end that needed last-minute adjustments. The center section of the U-shaped dinette did not quite fit properly, which in turn threw off other interior elements of the build. Time was tight, but the team powered through.
Lest you think this is just installing a bed in a van, think again and watch the video. This is a full van build with plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, and more.
Not surprisingly, at 19 hours into this marathon van build, the team was starting to slow down.
In the end, they just made their ambitious goal—but it wasn’t easy. Take a look at the video to see how. [You gotta see it to believe it!]
##RVDT2313
This was a great vid. The one thing that stood out to me was that I didn’t see any staple guns. Only screws. That means this van might last. Quality materials and parts too. Nice find, Cheri!
With staple guns and bubble gum they may have cut their time to 10 hours.
Curious! How much weight did the inside add to the van. Only watch a minute. Can’t do all those flash pictures
I have trouble watching videos too when the camera action is not smooth. Most are made with a cellphone bouncing and jerking all around. When it makes me dizzy, just like being sea sick, I must stop watching too. It is nice a group of men can build a class B RV in 24-hours. But most would have to ask themselves if they would like paying well over $100,000.00 for one that only took 24-hours to make when they might pay for it over 10 to 20 years?
Thank you, Cheri! That certainly was impressive. Did I read the clock correctly and they actually finish in 20 hours?!?! Whatever it was, it WAS in less than 24 hours!?! I doubt that we’ll travel in a class B, but I do want to know more about them. I likely will know, or meet someone who wants a class B. These guys appear high-level. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Just what I would want. A complete van conversion that 5 guys hopped up on energy drinks and bravado through together in 24 hours. AHHHH…..no thanks.