Building a Van Vol. 2 - Ready for the Van Trip!

Woohoo! Van Bertta has undergone a little transformation while waiting for spring and is now ready for the trip!

The biggest need was to convert the single bed into one suitable for two, and the easiest way was to start from scratch. The van was emptied, the interior cleaned, and we took some time to ponder what to do next.

In essence, nothing new has been added. Inside the van, you’ll find everything that was there last year: a refrigerator, a gas stove, a bed, a dining table, a terrace table, storage space, and small-scale electrical systems sufficient for keeping the fridge cold and charging the camera and computer.

Bertta also got a bit of a makeover with wooden panels on the walls.

The electrical system we built last year with the help of a skilled friend, using a fun battery system (you can find out what that means on Google), thankfully works again this year, even though I haven't touched it at all during the winter. That's a relief; I wouldn't want to dive back into studying electrical engineering and connecting wires. I'll admit that’s where I draw the line with my own expertise.

Last year's electrical work was quite a complex task for someone inexperienced, but for someone knowledgeable, it surely isn't as challenging. Thankfully, help is available when you ask. Thanks again, M <3

The light on the extension cord is on—power works!

The electrical system was placed in a waterproof plastic box last year for safety reasons. Inside the box are the battery, inverter, and fuses. The box can be easily secured to the van's frame, making it convenient to handle everything in one corner when maintenance is needed.

Since purchasing the van, there has been a very worn plywood board on the floor. To cover it, I got some sort of terrace mat, which I cut into pieces last year to fit the measurements of the first van, which, of course, are not the same as this van’s.

No worries! I screwed the pieces down to the plywood below so they stay in place. Last summer, they were loose, albeit under the furniture, but they would occasionally shift annoyingly. Now, everything should stay put on the floor. The mat is soft and warm underfoot, although it collects all the twigs, hay, and dog hair. I'm not too particular about cleanliness, so it serves its purpose quite well!

The interior of the van has now changed so that the kitchen is immediately behind the backrests of the front seats, and the bed is positioned sideways near the rear doors. The bed can just barely fit two people sleeping, although the interior width falls short of the standard bed length. The positive side is that the high bed allows for plenty of storage underneath, accommodating the refrigerator and a small wardrobe. From the elevated bed, you can easily see out the back windows if you happen to find a nice camping spot with a view to admire right from bed in the morning.

All the windows in the van have blackout curtains that can be pulled down (since it stays light around the clock), but we also decided to add one that runs from the bed area to divide the space between the kitchen and the sleeping area. When you close it, it feels like being in a blanket fort you built as a child. At the same time, it provides some privacy, allowing one passenger to continue sleeping while the other wakes up to brew morning coffee.

The kitchen has the same gear and gadgets as last year. It features a "dinnerware set" made up of genuine dishes for two. I say "dinnerware set" in quotes because the collection, gathered from extra bowls found in storage and cups bought for a euro at a flea market, doesn't quite meet the expectations of a proper dinnerware set, but it will do.

For the dining table, I applied the same folding table concept I came up with last year. Now, the kitchen table folds from the edge of the bed into the center of the van and locks in place with supports borrowed from an Ikea shelf. This arrangement also provides easy access to the refrigerator, which is now placed under the bed to save space.

The same manual water system serves as plumbing as it did last summer. A ten-liter tank with a faucet and a sink, which this year has been integrated into the kitchen table. This was the only addition I wanted to make after last summer's trip. It was a bit inconvenient to empty the enamel basin that was serving as the sink on the table after each hand-washing or salad-rinsing session.

Inside the table, a simple pipe leads to the ten-liter waste tank. The key is that both tanks are the same size. You know it's time to empty the waste tank when the clean water is running low.

The details are also roughly the same and just as simple as last summer. I have lace curtains that can be spread as mosquito nets, which I find so beautiful that I would keep them even without any mosquitoes. There are blackout curtains that can make the inside of the van completely dark, which is a crucial addition for the endless nights of the North, where the sun shines in through every crack. A couple of loose chairs provide seating for when it rains inside or at the "patio table" outside. Of course, the guitar and camera gear come along too.

Upon entering, there's a designated shelf for the shoes to be stored. There's plenty of space behind the van, with loose storage boxes for packing all the gear, tents, sleeping bags, tools, ropes, and other repair and patching supplies, as well as any extra food and clothes that don't fit elsewhere. Strangely enough, it feels like there’s suddenly more room in the van, even though it's built for two, than there was last summer.

Last year, the van was ready for summer trips about a month later. This time, E and I are heading out on our journey at the beginning of May. The summer vibe isn't quite there yet, with plenty of snow and frost still lingering, but the travel spirit is starting to kick in.

In May, it is not yet possible to fully get into the summer vibe.

Last year, the van trip was about to start at the beginning of June. Summer was much further along then.

There are still a few days left, but plenty to do. We will likely need to reserve half a day just to pack the car with gear and food, and it would be nice to get the cabin in order before the trip (right now it's in complete chaos because all the time has been spent on van preparations). The dogs also need to be taken to their caretakers.

Papu will stay in Lapland, vacationing with the neighbor's elderly dog, and E's dog will head to Southern Finland for care. Without the dogs, there is even more freedom on the trip. We won't have to worry about whether it's too hot to leave them in the van, if they'll have the energy to walk long distances, or if they can manage to climb Norway's mountains. Now they get to enjoy their own vacation, and we ours.

Hopefully, Papu will also get slightly better summer vacation weather than this morning’s snowstorm.

I will write about the trip here on the blog, just like last year. I’ll also make a YouTube video, maybe more than one, so be sure to keep an eye out for those as well. I have no idea if this summer's trips will turn out similar to last year’s, but I’m excited for them nonetheless.

If you’d like to take a look at what the van looked like last year, you can find photos and text here. On my Instagram profile highlights under the title "Van Build," you’ll find short video clips from last summer showing the stages and details of the van build. This year, I’ve made more YouTube videos than Instagram posts. On my channel, you’ll find videos covering the van build at various stages and the overall experience. I also made a few videos about last summer's van trips.

Wishing you a lovely spring and sending lots of hugs 💛

❤ Sanna