Micro Camper Conversion | Full van tour and build of my bright yellow VW Caddy

Рет қаралды 21,768

Күн бұрын

Thinking of trying out van life? I'm giving you all my secrets on buying and building a micro camper on a budget with a VW Caddy panel van.
I talk through my experiences, my advice, the costs and how I built each component, to give you inspiration for building out your own tiny campervan.
I talk VW Caddy injector problems and getting the work done for FREE under the Consumers Rights Act (2015)
The insulation debate (should I insulate my van?)
Space optimisation and how I built my cool shelves without losing any wall space.
How to build a van bed and how my slat and drawer system works.
Building a van conversion on a budget and keeping costs low, using Facebook Marketplace and up-cycling (I've barely spent any money!)
And lots more!
More VW Caddy Camper inspiration over on my Instagram page - / vanvistas
Feel free ask me any questions in the comments or over on Instagram and I'll do my best to help you out.
Happy advanturing!

Пікірлер: 69

@ItsJonnyKeeley 3 жыл бұрын

Great vid Kathryn, welcome to KZfaq. If you keep making videos as good as that, you'll smash it!

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! That means so much 😭 It’s been a long time since I’ve made anything for myself that wasn’t work-related, must commit to do it more now

@ItsJonnyKeeley 3 жыл бұрын

@@vanvistas If you decide to make a go of it, let's collab.

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, definitely!

@ash_posh_omg 3 жыл бұрын

Love the bright color! Brings sunshine 💛💛💛

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! It definitely brings be sunshine on these dreary winter days 💛

@renaulttraficconversion 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video. I love the way you present your videos. I had a 2003 VW Caddy for 10 years and ran it for 75.000 kM on homemade biodiesel. I insulated and carpeted the walls and doors. We used it for daily commuting and holidays. I loved that machine, but we decided to go for a Renault Trafic LWB van. I converted that into a "Touring Van". Have a nice day.

@jasonga 3 жыл бұрын

Of all the videos about this I've seen yours was the most inspiring!! Thanks for a good honest conversion video just like what I want ....I would never of thought of the door storage or the window bay.......

@KristinaWolff 3 жыл бұрын

I found this video really helpful! I also love how your van looks vibrant and cozy!! 💛🧡

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Good luck with yours! It’ll be the best thing you ever do 💛

@noelcxl2037 3 жыл бұрын

Lovely job. Ideal for weekends away and economical to run as well I imagine. Happy travels 👍

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

So economical to run! Can’t wait to be able to roam once more 🗺

@adiehull 3 жыл бұрын

Great little van 👏

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I certainly love it! ☺️🚐💛

@chrisgibson5803 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant work

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris!

@TheRaceface22 3 жыл бұрын

Great wee video and van 👍

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I’m currently sitting on so much video that I really need to edit and keep uploading 😊

@diwarburton5369 3 жыл бұрын

That was very useful info regarding the non-turbo’s being more reliable. Thanks.

@rachelp4511 3 жыл бұрын

Great van. Just got my first caddy, will be stealing your ideas for sure

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Yaaay! Have you got Instagram? Love to follow your journey

@karenrothner660 3 жыл бұрын

Hi from South Africa👋. I'm thinking of getting a caddy and converting it😍 love your style.

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

You should just go for it!! You won’t regret it. The freedom is like nothing else

@leeh1974 3 жыл бұрын

Love your van, i might have to pinch a few of your ideas for my caddy camper. The door storage is a great idea

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Yas! Pinch away! The door storage is such a cool one, hope it goes well

@leeh1974 3 жыл бұрын

I have most of it built but always open to fantastic ideas, i have a Instagram account for it @carpycaddycamper feel free to have a look i think i already follow yours 🤟🤟

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Just sent you a little follow ☺️ I was wandering what “carpy” was and then I saw your page 😂 🎣🐟

@leeh1974 3 жыл бұрын

I know its very sad 🤣🤣 but carpy is cool to us carp angling saddos, keep the videos coming if there as good as that one you'll be a star in no time 🤟🤟

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Ah thanks so much! Looking forward to seeing more updates on yours soon

@markbovill1667 2 жыл бұрын

Hiya Kathryn. Top vid. Lovely van. If you get a moment could you tell me where you got your fairly lights from please? They’ve got that warm glow that’s so hard to find. Thanks ✌️

@ant_hart 3 жыл бұрын

I do love a Caddy 💙 considering one myself...I’m only 5ft9 so it may just be possible!lol new sub btw looking forward to watching more 👍🏼

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

I think so! I’m about 5’7 and it was find for me 😊 (p.s welcome to one of the clumsiest conversion pages out there 😂 I hope you stick around for the fun)

@leilal8053 3 жыл бұрын

I want that 😸 Kitten-puddle!

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Haha!! Perks of growing up on a farm! They are too cute not to bundle up and snuggle

@STUDIO7Collectibles 3 жыл бұрын

So in the winter have you not had any condensation?

@Zwakkie05 3 жыл бұрын

You have turned it into a nice camper ☺️👍🏻, maybe one tip that loop to open the back door is sensitive to burglary 😬.

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. I’ve since made some magnetic back window covers and I keep them up at night, so nobody would know (unless they follow me on social media 👀😂🙈)

@charlottedb5631 2 жыл бұрын

Hey! I just bought a Caddy and was wondering what the dimensions of your bed were? Height etc! Im worried if I make it too high I won't have enough space to sit, but if I make it too low, I won't have enough storage!

@amismith6477 3 жыл бұрын

i love your van! i've been looking at getting a caddy van myself :D

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Caddy’s are brilliant! Probably quite a bit more expensive than lots of other microvans though and really you’re just paying for the VW badge. But saying that she’s been my most reliable vehicle yet and the space and freedom you get with having a little bedroom on wheels is honestly life changing 💛

@amismith6477 3 жыл бұрын

@@vanvistas Yeah the reliability is the selling point for me really, plus my family all own like older vw campers so just makes sense! Honestly so excited to travel again

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

@@amismith6477 That’ll be so exciting! Family VW convoy trip 😅

@altnarrative 3 жыл бұрын

More vids please. I have a vw caddy short wheel base too that I've converted.

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

A shorter tour with lots more hacks and less DIY coming up very soon 😁 x

@cliveroulstone9366 2 жыл бұрын

Hi wot is the length of the back part of the none caddy max ? Please

@TheIrishShoeStringTripper 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video. Your chill vibes of explaining are pretty enjoyable to watch. Can you tell me how you edit your videos? I would love to know how you were able to feature the extra clips in the frame of your video while still having a main frame of your discussion still featured. Great work gal , new subscriber! ❤

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Hey! Thanks to much 🥰 I use Final Cut Pro to edit and most of the time for those sorts of shots I just layer footage on top of each other and resize and position them. But sometimes I achieve similar, slightly more fancy clip layering with shape masks. There’s so many KZfaq tutorials for every sort of editing, you’ll smash it once you get used to it

@TheIrishShoeStringTripper 3 жыл бұрын

@@vanvistas thanks so much.

@AndyHercliffe 3 жыл бұрын

Yo, your van is as rad as you are. The Stoke is high

@filiphthorsen1893 3 жыл бұрын

Love your van and you really show that its possible to do this affordable 😍 Im just wondering. Do you feel the need for like a small fridge?

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Hey! Thank you so much! I use a cigarette port powered cooler in the summer. I can only power it while I’m driving, so with freezer packs inside it normally stays cold for a weekend. If you’re hoping to travel for weeks at a time during summer, I think you’d definitely want something more permanent

@elliotjohn4874 3 жыл бұрын

Hi! Love the look of the van. I’m thinking of getting one second hand. There’s one for £3750 it’s 2009 with 95,000 miles. What do you think? I’m concerned that it might not have long left

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Every vehicle is such a gamble! But Caddys are generally pretty reliable beast and I still see 04s on the road trucking along just fine! I’d see how much info you can get on its history and how well it’s been looked after. If it’s a 1.6 you definitely want to know when the injectors were replaced, because they can go twice! Good luck with the search and hopefully all goes well. So exciting to be at the beginning of your journey 🙌🏼

@cbruceee4765 3 жыл бұрын

hey, see in your old van how did you find sleeping on the floor? similar to tenting?

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

I actually loved it in a way, because you have all the extra head space, there was just less storage and not as many places to hide my mess 😅

@PC9202 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kathryn. I’m looking at either a caddy or the maxi variant. I’m worried that at 5”11 I maybe to talk to sleep in the caddy. What’s your thoughts?

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Hey David, sorry for the suuuper late response. I’m about 5’7 and I feel like I have plenty of space! Especially with the full-width bed. I can just about lie fully straight head-to-toe so you would be a little tall, but it’s wider than a standard double, so I don’t think you’d feel it. If you wanted to put a little kitchen unit inside though, I would say you’d be much comfier in a maxi (I mean you’ll always be comfier in a bigger van, but I think you’d be more than fine in the swb) I hope that helps. I’m a little more responsive on Instagram, if you have anymore questions x

@sunnymas2656 3 жыл бұрын

I love stories like this. Because I want to do the same. I bought an used, ugly Vauxhall Combo C for 400 Euro = 360 british pounds. Made in 2007, red color, diesel engine. (Maybe 1,7 litre turbo engine, with 100 HPS) It was a wood handcrafter car. And I will convert it to a minicamper. All as cheap as possible. But I keep stealth, so you can´t see, that it is a camper. But another design, and more technology in the car. ie to cook, wash and heat. Many air ventilation. Air circulating is important, in every camper, even in tents. (And with a lot of isolation all around. It keeps warm in winter, and cool in summer) Greetings from sw-germany (liked + subschribed)

@lynnemarie7885 3 жыл бұрын

ooohhhh! This is lovely. Can you tell me the dimensions of the bed when you sleep on it? (Length) Thank you so much, your build is brilliant (and your dad is a champion!)

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! Me and my dad are both very stubborn so we fall out a lot about control 😂 the bed is the full length of the floor in the back which is about 180cm I’m about 176cm tall and I can just about lie completely straight from head to toe. You could probably get a bit more length with the seats as far forward as they’ll go. The width is a couple inches wider than a standard double bed x

@GaryAlanCohen 2 жыл бұрын

@@vanvistas I'll be so happy if all small vans are about 180cm in the back, been meaning to know but somehow that's hard to look up, thanks for the info. I'm coming over in may and straight into a van, looking forward to it! Thanks for the channel also!

@danieldanielsson5724 3 жыл бұрын

The plan was to buy a big van but i came home with a caddy life..Do you have a toilet in the car how does that work in a small car?

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Haha! The lure of a little van is so strong! I don’t have a toilet, usually I stay either in wild places where I can go in the bushes with a trowel 🙈 or I make sure I’m driving distance from somewhere I can use amenities

@herculesgonzalez8304 3 жыл бұрын

🥰❤️

@leonie2316 3 жыл бұрын

We really did not see your van....you talked fine but what about looking at your product...

@vanvistas 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Leonie. Maybe I’ll do just a van tour so you can just see the van and what’s inside 😊

@andreyg807 3 жыл бұрын

Супер идея,привет из России!!

@Radio4ManLeics 2 жыл бұрын

That "music" is so repetitive that it's really annoying, and louder than your own commentary. I would have liked to see more of the van rather than talking to camera, your layout, why you did things in a particular way

@vanvistas 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. I have an updated tour of the caddy that shows less of the build and more of what’s inside and how I use it 😊