- 6/16/2025
Our Australian Van Conversion Adventure Begins
Join us as we dive into the exciting world of van life by transforming our Toyota Hiace Super Long Wheelbase (SLWB) Hightop into a fully functional tiny home on wheels. This episode covers the essential groundwork - from proper floor insulation to effective sound deadening techniques.
Follow along as we tackle the technical challenges of van conversion while maintaining our ability to work remotely. We're building more than just a camper; we're creating a mobile lifestyle that supports our digital nomad dreams across Australia.
Key Build Steps Covered:
Strategic floor planning around engine bay constraints
Professional sound deadening application using butyl rubber
Smart storage solutions with repurposed freight cage
Solar system preparation for off-grid independence
Secure anchor point installation for long-term durability
Watch as we problem-solve common conversion challenges, including preserving access to the fuel filter inspection hatch while creating a seamless living space. Our methodical approach ensures a build that's both functional and comfortable for extended travel.
Whether you're a seasoned van lifer or dreaming of your first conversion, our hands-on experience offers practical insights into creating your perfect mobile home. From initial planning to execution, we share the real challenges and solutions of DIY van building.
Timestamps
0:00 Turning a Hiace into a Van Life Tiny Home On Wheels
0:17 Intro
1:31 Klaus ans Baxter
1:58 Rough Plan
2:41 Freight Cage Plans
4:21 Planning for engine bay rise in flooring
7:50 Floor Surface Prep
9:02 Our inital solar plan
12:10 Planning anchor points for flooring consideratons
18:45 Fuel filter inspection hatch flooring plan
21:51 Laying Butyl Rubber sound deadener
22:28 Flat battery
#CampervanConversion #ToyotaHiace #VanLife
Special thanks to @TorqueAndTakeoff and UGOKAWA!
Follow us on
🌐 Instagram www.instagram.com/lifewithnoanchor/
🌐 Facebook www.facebook.com/lifewifnoanchor
🌐 X (Twitter) www.x.com/LifeWifNoAnchor
Looking to become a Housesitter or a Petsitter? Want to connect with a Sitter?
To get 25% off your membership on Trusted Housesitters go to https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF582519/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friend
Join us as we dive into the exciting world of van life by transforming our Toyota Hiace Super Long Wheelbase (SLWB) Hightop into a fully functional tiny home on wheels. This episode covers the essential groundwork - from proper floor insulation to effective sound deadening techniques.
Follow along as we tackle the technical challenges of van conversion while maintaining our ability to work remotely. We're building more than just a camper; we're creating a mobile lifestyle that supports our digital nomad dreams across Australia.
Key Build Steps Covered:
Strategic floor planning around engine bay constraints
Professional sound deadening application using butyl rubber
Smart storage solutions with repurposed freight cage
Solar system preparation for off-grid independence
Secure anchor point installation for long-term durability
Watch as we problem-solve common conversion challenges, including preserving access to the fuel filter inspection hatch while creating a seamless living space. Our methodical approach ensures a build that's both functional and comfortable for extended travel.
Whether you're a seasoned van lifer or dreaming of your first conversion, our hands-on experience offers practical insights into creating your perfect mobile home. From initial planning to execution, we share the real challenges and solutions of DIY van building.
Timestamps
0:00 Turning a Hiace into a Van Life Tiny Home On Wheels
0:17 Intro
1:31 Klaus ans Baxter
1:58 Rough Plan
2:41 Freight Cage Plans
4:21 Planning for engine bay rise in flooring
7:50 Floor Surface Prep
9:02 Our inital solar plan
12:10 Planning anchor points for flooring consideratons
18:45 Fuel filter inspection hatch flooring plan
21:51 Laying Butyl Rubber sound deadener
22:28 Flat battery
#CampervanConversion #ToyotaHiace #VanLife
Special thanks to @TorqueAndTakeoff and UGOKAWA!
Follow us on
🌐 Instagram www.instagram.com/lifewithnoanchor/
🌐 Facebook www.facebook.com/lifewifnoanchor
🌐 X (Twitter) www.x.com/LifeWifNoAnchor
Looking to become a Housesitter or a Petsitter? Want to connect with a Sitter?
To get 25% off your membership on Trusted Housesitters go to https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF582519/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friend
Category
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Off they go, bags in tow, Matt and Chrissy hit the road, maps unfold, stories told, adventures never getting old.
00:10Matt and Chrissy roam so free, through the city, past the sea, finding joy in every night.
00:17G'day, it's Matt here from Couple of Sitters and we are going to start working on the van.
00:23Got it just here behind me, I'm going to move out of the sun so there's not so much glare there.
00:26And what we're going to be doing is just tweaking a few things up initially.
00:32We've got it to the stage where we've gotten rid of the seat, so there was a three-seat bench seat thing sitting in the back there, which we've been able to sell pretty easily.
00:42The guy who bought it off us was stoked because he got the seat, he got the seat back, this decent-sized thing that came with it, and also the seat belts too.
00:52So it made it really easy for him to be able to go and kit out his van, because he's going to be shifting away from using it for work-related purposes, delivering parcels, now using it as a family vehicle.
01:02So good that there's someone who's going to get some value out of the bits that we don't need anymore.
01:05We picked up bits that someone else doesn't need anymore because we've got a way that we're going to be approaching it.
01:10And we're going to set this up as if it's a combination of a mobile home and a studio slash office, so there's a bit of work to do there.
01:20At the moment, we're set up in Brisbane.
01:23We are looking after a couple of little dash hands here, and they're a couple of little cuties, so just hiding down the bottom here.
01:31Hey, dude.
01:33So this is Klaus and his little brother, or his older brother, still little, Baxter.
01:39Couple of cool little pups.
01:40So we're looking after him for the next six weeks.
01:42While we're here, the owners of the home have said, yeah, look, guys, fill your boots.
01:47All the tools are under the house, start your conversion and get into it.
01:51So that's what we're going to be doing.
01:53Anyhow, I'm going to pop the back open and let's have a look at what we've got to work with.
01:58So we decided to go for 12 millimeter marine ply, and that's just going to largely do the floor.
02:05And we've picked up a secondhand cargo cage or a cargo barrier, and we're going to modify that so that it can be utilized
02:14as a wall partition as well as a frame for us to be able to attach the monitors that we use onto that.
02:23So, yeah, let's get into it and we'll see how it's going to work.
02:26G'day, Matt and Chrissy here again, and we are up to the second step, I suppose.
02:47We've been fighting with this freight cage, trying to figure out how the hell do we get this in,
02:51considering it didn't come with any instructions, just a bag of bits and the cage.
02:56And it was out of a commuter, which would have had different anchor points to what we've got.
03:01Yes.
03:02So anyway, Matt's original idea, because our van life might look a little bit different to some people's
03:11van life, because many people are doing it and not requiring to work.
03:16However, our van life is going to revolve around us living and working in the van.
03:23Yeah.
03:24So Matt's idea is that we would, originally he wanted to cut the centre out of the caddy.
03:32Pretty much from here, around, so that would give us a little entry-exit point.
03:38And then we are looking to mount our monitors for our computers up on there,
03:44which will have multiple purposes, obviously for work, as well as potentially entertainment.
03:51This has been entertaining.
03:52This in itself has been entertaining.
03:55However, on re-evaluation and putting it in there, we've now decided that we're going to hold fire on
04:02cutting out the middle and leave it intact and see how we go.
04:08Because in reality, it can stay like this and not be an issue.
04:13But once we've started chopping it to bits, that's it.
04:16There's no turning back.
04:17Yeah.
04:18Yeah, that is so true.
04:19So we have noticed that towards the front...
04:23I'm going to bring the camera up and shut it up.
04:24Yeah.
04:25Let's have a look at this bit.
04:28All right.
04:29So Chrissy, you want to talk us through this bit here?
04:31How are we going to tackle the fact that there's a rise here?
04:35Yes.
04:36So what we're thinking is we'll cut this portion out of where the wood is going to go
04:41and then we'll smooth it out underneath.
04:44And then when we put the vinyl in, the vinyl will come up to meet there.
04:48It's not an area that we'll be able to step on because the cargo barrier is going to be there.
04:53Yep.
04:53One of the benefits to using the cargo barrier as well is that there's obviously a lot of opportunity
05:00for us to use this to fix things too.
05:04Yeah.
05:05So we don't quite know what that looks like just yet, but that's kind of where we're at for now.
05:12I think that the fact that we're going for a solid floor and we both enjoy being comfortable when
05:19we're working, having the capacity to have a decent chair in here, not just to fold our bench,
05:25which is going to be very limiting with probably poor lumbar support over a normal work day.
05:31So getting a normal, like proper office chair, maybe one that doesn't have casters so that it's stable.
05:38I'm thinking maybe the flat feet would be better.
05:44But I don't love the idea of being in a vehicle that moves around and having wheels going everywhere.
05:51Well, even like a slight two or three degree incline, if we're slightly on a hill,
05:56you'll feel like you're constantly having to pull yourself towards the desk.
05:59So if it's on feet instead of casters, that's going to be a huge help.
06:03Part of the reason why we've gone for this solution is Matt's six foot tall.
06:08I'm five foot five.
06:09And so obviously we need to be at different heights when we're working.
06:13So what Matt's idea was, and I think this will work really well, is we get a table that has hooks
06:18on it and we can then choose how high we want our table.
06:22So Matt may need his further up.
06:24I may need mine further down.
06:26And that way we can just position it to our needs.
06:30So that's kind of where we're sitting as far as having our laptop table.
06:36I think airline like fold down table sort of set up, but not permanently fixed.
06:41But that fold down capability where there'll be a support that will run from the bottom up to the
06:48base of the table.
06:49So on a 45 degree angle, maybe.
06:51And that just acts as a support for the table.
06:54So imagine the end of the table is here and the cargo barrier is here.
06:57So an angle that comes down that provides that support, it's not going to get caught and
07:02trapped under our knees and cause issues like some of the other ones that we've seen.
07:05But towards the back end, it's more about having a hook mechanism that bolts onto or latches onto the
07:14current frame of the cage.
07:16And that then gives us the ability to step up by about three to four centimeters.
07:21In fact, they look like maybe closer to 45 millimeter differences from one step to the next.
07:27So I think that's still pretty generous.
07:28So it gives us enough scope to be able to adjust the height for our individual needs reasonably.
07:34Yep, I agree.
07:37So next step is we're going to start working on the floor design and figuring out how we're going
07:45to cut our timber so that it fits nice and snug.
07:48Yeah.
07:48So we'll keep you posted.
08:04Bye.
08:34Hi guys, Matt and Chrissy from Couple of Sitters, with a wobbly camera, hanging it from the
08:48strap at the back of the van with this cool little octopus mount thing, which does a good
08:53job as long as we're not dancing in here, which, not a lot of head space for me.
08:59No, no there isn't.
09:01So what are we doing today?
09:02Today we have already gone and met with a few people about the solar, trying to figure
09:09out how we're going to do things, and we haven't got much in the way of costs as yet, but there's
09:17a lot of calculations that need to be done in regards to how much wattage we're going
09:23to be using, and where we want things installed really, yeah, the wiring's going to be a big
09:28thing for them.
09:29So they need a schematic from us, detailing what we're wanting to have fitted where.
09:36And we're thinking roughly where Chris is sitting is where the batteries and most of the install
09:42is going to go.
09:43Yep.
09:44And then pretty much where I am, apart from the bed obviously being here, we're thinking
09:49we'll have a pull out kitchen on this side so that all the electronics are all on the
09:54same side.
09:55Yep.
09:56And then we have the monitors and stuff up the front there.
09:59So we've already crash tested the freight cage, that's being put up there, and today's project,
10:06on the back of yesterday's where we were cleaning the base of the van, we're going to get the
10:10rubble down.
10:11Rubble?
10:12Rubble?
10:13The rubble down.
10:14The bubble.
10:15We're going to get the rubber down.
10:16The rubble.
10:17We're going to start insulating.
10:18Yeah.
10:19What did you get?
10:20I've got four rolls of this doodle rubber, two millimetres.
10:27It's got a silver finish on it and the adhesive side just here.
10:32That is eight metres long and 50 centimetres wide and we've got enough to do this van and
10:38maybe yours.
10:39Yes.
10:40So there's quite a bit.
10:42Does that include up the walls and the roof and everything?
10:45Yeah, I think our calculations showed that we're going to need 3.2 rolls and we will have
10:52ample to be able to do additional bits and trims and stuff.
10:55Most of this is going to be covered with a final timber look sort of finish.
11:00And you can see there we've lifted the vinyl up and we're going to do along the back there,
11:08the headboard, I think you'd probably call it.
11:10So that's going to get done.
11:12The inside of the step is going to get done.
11:14We're going to use this everywhere.
11:15We're going to put it in the glove box as well.
11:17Hello.
11:18Maybe the cup holders.
11:22It was interesting today because obviously we've taken the floor up and we went for a
11:26drive and the noise to us sounded like it was louder.
11:33But when we put the decibel reader thingy.
11:36That thing.
11:37Yeah.
11:38Decibel reading.
11:39It's got to be reliable.
11:40It's an app.
11:41Oh totally.
11:42It showed that the noise levels was actually not too dissimilar to when the mat was down.
11:50So that was interesting.
11:52I think it came in at 78 decibels from memory or 77.
11:56And it was about 80.
11:58And I think the high end is low 80s and that's like if you're going over kettle grids and rumple
12:06strips and stuff like that.
12:08So I suppose the first thing that we're going to do because we're going to be mounting a 12mm marine
12:14ply to the floor here we need to make sure that we map out where these ridges are.
12:19So that when we are planning for the timber to go down we're screwing into the peaks not into the
12:26valleys.
12:27So for anyone who's installed corrugated iron roofing or laser light we've got here in Australia
12:33it's got like a ripply crinkle cut sort of look to it.
12:37It's the peaks that you want to screw into not the valleys because you end up with drainage related
12:41issues and water leaking through.
12:43Similar sort of thing with this we want to make sure we're maintaining it but it's more so
12:48these raised sections there's an additional maybe 8 to 10mm of space between this bit of metal
12:55and the metal underneath so we're not actually drilling through to the bodies of the vehicle.
13:01Hey dude!
13:03We're still at the same house seat.
13:07These people walking up the road and the dogs are very slow too.
13:10Yeah, one's barking that way, one's barking this way.
13:13They have no idea what they're barking at.
13:16House, cut it out.
13:18Come on dude.
13:20So we're going to use some masking tape and we're going to line up where we want the screws
13:25to go through the floor into the base of the vehicle.
13:30Thankfully there aren't too many voids that we need to worry about backfilling.
13:34A lot of this is raised along the edges which is perfect.
13:38There are some sections like just back here behind Chris's leg and near our foot and just here
13:43where it's sort of double width but 12mm marine ply it's got some real body to it.
13:49We're not really going to need to worry about bulking that up I think because
13:53that'll be fine.
13:54What we do want to make sure that we plan for is when we lay the timber we want to make sure
14:01that one of these ridges acts as the point at which the two pieces of timber go down and they
14:09meet because there'll be one on this side that'll come roughly 1.2 meters across and one on the other
14:14side that'll act as the backfill.
14:16So we use the straight edge on both of them to be able to make sure they line up.
14:20But key thing I think this strip here is probably going to be the one that we'll line it up for
14:26to make sure that that is the foundation for the join so that we're not stepping on a join that's
14:33over a void and having potential flexing and separation.
14:37Yeah for sure. So the first piece of timber is going to take up a lot of the space that Matt's
14:44actually in so approximately a little bit further over so probably not quite halfway to the
14:51here are your emergency exits kick that window out.
14:56About halfway to the rear hub there and it'll obviously come across here and it'll probably take
15:03up as Matt said up to this join here and go all the way to the front.
15:09Yeah. The second piece we'll have to cut into multiple pieces and that'll take up this length
15:15along here up to midway of this hub and then the next part will take up the back.
15:22So given that it's 1.2 meters, 1.2 sits on this ridge here
15:27and that ends up with a void up ahead there which I'm not really very happy about so we'll aim for
15:36this one here. That's going to be our center point for our two pieces to join over the top of.
15:44So what's the distance between this wall and that ridge approximately?
15:51All right we are looking at
15:52if we aim for the middle of the ridge about 620 millimeters.
16:00All right so that's what we need to cut for the thinner piece and then the other side we have
16:05Yeah, I think 100.
16:06We have a bit of play which is great because of course on that side we are planning to use some of
16:14that step area as an area to build a box where we can put our shoes and a few knickknacks and just
16:21keep them out of the way. Also we don't really want to be wearing shoes inside, it reduces us having
16:26to clean all the time. So that's the plan over there and because that side there's lots of
16:34curves and bumps and the doorway obviously it does give us some stuff to play with which is excellent.
16:41That's great, yeah. So we'll work on getting that stenciled out a little bit later.
16:46We'll have our measurements sorted out and we're going to start off I think by using masking tape,
16:52some little tabs and lining up where we want our screws to go so that we're drilling through,
16:57as I said, into those ridges, into the peaks.
17:03We're going to train the dogs how to howl at the ambulance when they come past.
17:08So we're going to drill into the peaks, not into the valleys. So there'll be some measurements to do,
17:13we'll figure it out. But for now we're going to fart. We're going to fart.
17:19Oh my god, not in this confined space. Don't wish that on yourself. No, thank you.
17:24We're going to fast track this a little bit for you so you don't have to sit there and watch us
17:28like physically measure all this stuff out because that'd be boring. Yeah, boring.
17:33We'll speed it up. So get ready for possibly a montage, definitely you know 1500 times speed,
17:39all that sort of stuff. It looks like I'm moving fast and working fast. Trust me, I'm not superhuman.
17:45I don't move that fast normally. Dang. You should be grateful for that.
17:50Some things need to be done slowly. I agree. All right, we're going to get into it.
18:04All right, we're going to get into it.
18:18G'day, we're back again and we are an hour in. My god, we've got two strips down in an hour.
18:39This takes a bit of time. We've been playing with the dogs in between.
18:42Yeah, Klaus is definitely willing to play. So what we have in our next part to consider is
18:51the fuel filter. There's a hatch here, little inspection hole. We need to make sure that's
18:58not covered so it's accessible when it needs to be dealt with, which according to one of our friends
19:04who is a mechanic, worked with Toyota for quite a long time, is roughly at about the 100,000 kilometer
19:09mark. So to save us, because this vehicle currently has 56,000 k's on the clock.
19:15And the future. And the future owners, because we will be selling this down the track.
19:20So if you like what you see, keep your eyes open. That's going to need to be accessible.
19:26So we're going to make sure that we only put the deadener over the body of the plate, not over any of the
19:34nuts, the bolts that cover that. And our floor is going to have a little inspection hole cut into it
19:39as well. That'll be suitable for being able to access that. So thinking forward.
19:46Make sure you plan ahead. We did speak with one guy who does these conversions.
19:52He charges a pretty fair price, I suppose, compared to what there is out there in the market.
19:57But that was one thing that we noticed with his builds that he didn't do.
20:00And after having a chat with him about it, he's redesigning his brooch and he's planning in
20:07that little inspection hatch. Yes.
20:09So glad we could add some value. And Dommo, thank you for bringing that to our attention,
20:14because that could have been a very, very expensive mistake. And one that would be
20:19quite challenging to come back from. Yes. So just to catch you up on that one. Normally,
20:25when they need to get into that inspection filter area, it'll take about 15 minutes for them to go
20:31and do everything they need to. Via that? Via this top rail. However, if they can't get to it,
20:37and they need to go underneath, it could take three, four, five hours. They don't know.
20:43Yeah. Well, you've got to drop the fuel tank out. There's wiring and all sorts of stuff going on down
20:48there. So, oh yeah. It's probably $120 an hour. Plus part, plus blah, blah, blah. So those of you
20:57who have gone and bought a converted camper van and there is no hitch to be able to get to the fuel
21:03filter, get ready for it. It could be very expensive. Yep. Sorry. We did this as soon as we could.
21:11So, well, we did it as soon as we knew about it. So hopefully whoever's done your fit out has thought
21:17about that and done the right thing by you. Yeah. And unfortunately, the people who are doing these
21:24fit outs, they're not knowledgeable with the mechanics in a lot of cases. They're knowledgeable
21:29with tarpentry and cabinet making and that's their niche and they're great at it. But maybe check a few
21:37bits and pieces like this because it could end up costing you. Yeah. Cool. We're going to get back into it.
21:44Yes. Lots more to do. Ready for fast forward again.
22:14Okay.