Ford E-Series DIY Van Build

Here you will learn how to frame, wire, and install walls on your Ford E-Series Van, transforming it from an empty shell into a versatile space that’s ready to be personalized according to your unique style and requirements. With these essential skills, you can create a comfortable and functional interior that perfectly complements your needs, whether it's for travel, work, or leisure.

How to Insulate your E-Series Van

Today is the first step of the build gutting out the sprinter. We went with 3M insulation due to ease of install. Also, we have this product in our current build and think it's amazing so we wanted to pass on high-quality materials to the next owner.

Here are a few products we used in this build.

Thinsulate Insulation - https://amzn.to/40BbnBg

Reflectix - https://amzn.to/3oV2Tlo

3M Adhesive Spray - https://amzn.to/3acQ0zo

3M N95 Respirator - https://amzn.to/3ad54gm .

How to Frame Your Ford E-Series Van

In this episode we are going to show you how to frame out your van so you can put your interior walls in the van and have a safe and secure van construction to last you for years down the road.

Here is what we used to frame out the van

Firing Strips - (Home Depot or Lowe’s)

Self Tapping Screws - (Home Depot or Lowe’s)

Kreg Jig - https://amzn.to/2ZFG9N7

Kreg Screws - https://amzn.to/3gFFwt7

Impact Driver - https://amzn.to/3eAOOo4

Speed Square - https://amzn.to/2XROoD9

Tape Measurer - https://amzn.to/2BrIi57

Table Saw - https://amzn.to/3gJzo32

Mitre Saw - https://amzn.to/3eJcGpY

Counter Sink Bit - https://amzn.to/2AxTDQh

Wiring a 12 Volt System In Your Van

Now, we are going through a complete guide on how to wire a 12 Volt Solar System for a Van Conversion or off-grid power in an emergency. This is a simple, straightforward, kook-proof way to wire your van conversion. In this video, we will be going over step-by-step how to wire your van conversion.

We will start with wiring our 12-volt batteries in parallel and how to ground your batteries to your van chassis. As well as installing a battery shunt to monitor our batteries and a master on /off kill switch.

Next, we will move on to wiring bus bars to distribute our positive and negative cables through a common ground. We will also walk you through wiring a fuse panel and how a fuse panel works, and how to wire your cables, wires, and fuses accordingly. From here, we will move on to how to set up an MPPT charge controller so we will be able to charge our house batteries via a solar array.

We will then move on to wiring a 2000 Watt power inverter and how to size the wire and fuses for your inverter. Lastly, we will go over how to charge your 12-volt house batteries off your alternator so you can charge your batteries while driving. We will go over how to install a DC to DC charger or a Smart Battery Isolator for those of you with AGM 12 Volt Batteries.

Tools and Parts

16 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3z7YeE5

14 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3lDsGCO

12 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3K2pry9

14 Gauge Stranded Marine Wire - https://amzn.to/3JUjv91

12 Gauge Stranded Marine Wire (AC Loads) - https://amzn.to/42PtjK6

Plastic Split Loom (Wire Protection) - https://amzn.to/42L1nqV

3/4” PVC Flexible Wire Conduit - https://amzn.to/3lMwTnJ

Bouge RV Solar Cables - https://shrsl.com/3zrfd

2 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/3Z9OWBT

Heat Shrink Butt Connectors - https://amzn.to/3ZhEoRn

Heat Shrink and Terminal Lugs - https://amzn.to/40gmaRv

Wire Strippers - https://amzn.to/3Z9hyvj

Wire Cutters - https://amzn.to/3ZkkaGt

Heavy Duty Wire Crimpers - https://amzn.to/3G8734N

Bus Bars - https://amzn.to/3lKqRnI

On Off Disconnect Switch - https://amzn.to/3ZiIWqJ

Heat Gun - https://amzn.to/405OgyR

12 Volt LED Lights - https://amzn.to/3lEcpgW

12 Volt Rocker Switch - https://amzn.to/3TEIQsl

Unowix 100 AH LifePO4 Battery - https://amzn.to/3McvO3D

Renogy Lithium 100 AH Battery - https://shrsl.com/405qz

Renogy 100 AH AGM Battery - https://shrsl.com/405r6

Battery Shunt - https://amzn.to/3K998j2

Multimeter - https://amzn.to/3TN9TBR

DC to DC Charger - https://shrsl.com/405qj

50 AMP Breaker - https://amzn.to/3LVunq3

ANL Fuses - https://shrsl.com/405qn

BougeRV 40 Amp MPPT Charge Controller - https://shrsl.com/405q9

BougeRV 2000W Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter - https://shrsl.com/405qb

BougeRV 180W Solar Panel - https://shrsl.com/405q6

BougeRV CIGS 200W Solar Panel - https://shrsl.com/405q0

Solar Panel Fuse Holder 30A - https://shrsl.com/405qe

Mango Solar 200W Modular Solar Panel - https://shrsl.com/405rp

Installing Walls in a Ford E-Series Van

Now, we are wrapping up the project with Adam and his Ford E-350 4x4 Powerstroke Diesel. Today's project is installing knotty pine tongue and groove wall panels inside his van. We have finished this project in just under a week and have realized that this is a huge help for vanlifers just beginning their build and need a helping hand. To see how we got to this point check out the videos below.

Here are a few products we used in this van

Renogy 200W Solar Starter Kit - https://amzn.to/2M52ifM

Need More Power? Renogy 300W Solar Starter Kit - https://amzn.to/2M52ifM

Renogy 100 AH AGM Batteries - https://amzn.to/2XavwQS

Epever MPPT Charge Controller - https://amzn.to/3d8tEh3

12 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3gtrr1I

14 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/3gtAQpZ

16 Gauge Stranded Wire - https://amzn.to/2X7TIDh

6 Gauge Wire - https://amzn.to/2M8mtJy

Copper Battery Terminals - https://amzn.to/2Mao2Xr

Blue Sea Fuse Box - https://amzn.to/3caLn5W

Battery Doctor Isolator - https://amzn.to/2X7YoJl