SS Tuna —
Ford E150 Van Conversion
Traveling the States in Style
Originally a restaurant equipment service van with over 200,000 miles, the Tuna was converted into a livable space on wheels. New engine, transmission, and all-terrain tires were added to handle many more miles and forest roads, but see below what we added to make it our home.
ESSENTIAL
FEATURES
The van is equipped with everything you need besides a bathroom. A full sized custom mattress (technically 5" short) easily fits two. A pull out stovetop is perfect for cooking on the go, while our cooler style refrigerator keeps our food cold during the day. And lastly two Jackery Solar batteries (Explorer 1000 & 1500) keep the fridge running, lights on, and fans blowing.
FULL SIZED
BED
STOVE & TRUNK STORAGE
DOMETIC REFRIGERATOR
JACKERY SOLAR BATTERY
Foot-pump sink w/ two 5 gallon containers.
360 passenger seat.
Pull-out awning.
Trunk drawer capable of holding up to 500 lbs.
Custom drawers and cabinets.
Backdoor storage.
ADD-ONS &
STORAGE
We didn't stop at just the essentials though — every inch was utilized to make the van functional, cozy, and able to carry all of our stuff. A stainless steal sink for washing dishes and brushing teeth. A swivel seat for lounging inside. An awning for lounging outside. And plenty of storage solutions making the most of the small space.
01
Prep Metal
After buying a used van, you're sure to find some rust. The first step was to gut the van, treat the rust, and also use it as an opportunities to cut any holes you need. In our case we needed a hole for a MaxxAir exhaust fan.
02
Insulate & Frame
Next we insulated the sub-layer of the van using 3M soundproofing material on the walls and 1/2" XPS foam board on the floor. Over the insulation is plywood and wood strips for mounting the walls and furniture.
03
Electric & Walls
Before lining the walls with pine tongue and groove planks, wires were ran for powering the 3 puck lights and two fans. Once the electrical was in place, the walls were then screwed into place.
04
Bed & Storage
After the walls were painted an Oxford White, the bed frame and underneath storage was added, with wheel well storage easily accessible via lifting the bed boards.
05
Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinets, drawers, and countertop were fitted to fit our clothes, food, and other necessities. Painted the same color as the walls, accented with rounded openings, and finished with a dark countertop starts to bring the open space together.
06
Sink & Finshes
The sink surprisingly was one of the more difficult additions. Once added, custom counter tops, vinyl flooring, and the finishing touches brought our build to an end and was ready to hit the road.
HAND DESIGNED & CRAFTED
Years of research and a few power tools helped build the finished product you see above, but take a glimpse below to see where it started. From the electrical, to the sink, to the bed, to the countertops, to the five drawers all were built in just over 4 months. Many more than 6 steps were taken, but below you can get the general idea how it came together.
