Van Tour: Off-Grid Off Road Toyota Hiace

Рет қаралды 58,798

Жыл бұрын

This little van has proven herself to be one of the best compact all-rounder vans you could imagine! These vans are proven million mile vans and with the mods we've made she turns into an adventure animal. It has a spacious and comfortable living space whilst also being like a Swiss army knife and packing in everything you need for any adventure. Come an take a look.
If you'd to see the van build you can watch the videos here:
1- • Starting Our Off-Grid ...
2- • 48 Hours Building Our ...
3- • Van Build Week 2: Crac...
4- • Van Build Week 3: Givi...
5- • Van Build Week 4: Almo...
Or the full time-lapse is here:
• DIY Camper Van Convers...
You can also see what we are up to on:
📘Facebook: profile.php?...
📸Instagram: / trueblue_travellers
🛒We have an amazon associates shop where you can find all the things we buy from and recommend on amazon. Please note that if you buy using these links it does not cost you anymore but we earn commission on qualifying purchases.
www.amazon.co.uk/shop/trueblu...
🛠️You can get a 10% discount on all Shadow Foam products by using the code 'Trueblue' at the check out: www.shadowfoam.com/ref/True%2...
💙Support the channel. Buy Jon a tool 🔧 or Jess a cake 🍰: www.paypal.me/truebluetravell... or www.buymeacoffee.com/trueblue...
#vanlife #tinyhome #hiace #vanbuild #offgrid #offroad

Пікірлер: 137

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

If you want to see this beauty little van put to the test then check out our eventful beach camp up here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gNF8hdJytNapZ3k.html

@jessicarockliff Жыл бұрын

Brilliant, I love the table/bed integrations!

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

🥰 thanks Jessica

@steverobbo55 Жыл бұрын

Great job 👍Enjoy your travels 👍👍

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve 👍

@stephenbulmer7148 Жыл бұрын

you guys have some great little tricks for van builds, thanks for sharing👍👍👍

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Oh thanks very much 😀 glad it was helpful 😀

@barriemather3945 10 ай бұрын

Great use of space guys. One of the best I’ve seen.

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Barrie 👍

@The_Recusant_Vagabond 11 ай бұрын

Very clever...thank you so much for the inspiration!

@truebluetravellers 11 ай бұрын

Thanks 😁👍

@e210dall3 Жыл бұрын

Welcome to Australia. Have fun and enjoy the weather. We reckon it's the best place on earth. Cheers

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, it’s an amazing place that’s for sure 🙂

@amsterdam9940 3 ай бұрын

You two are fantastic, love watching your videos of your builds and adventures. Keep doing what yous do 👌🏽. 😊

@truebluetravellers 3 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 😊👍

@paulmorgan9775 Жыл бұрын

Great skills. Awesome set up.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul 👍

@Mark.G475 Жыл бұрын

Nice to see that your in a warm sunny place. Here in Milwaukee Wisconsin it's below freezing 🥶 still. 🍻🧀

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Yeah my folks were saying that the weather is drifting over to the uk next week🥶🥶

@RhonVanErman 11 ай бұрын

Nice, great job!

@truebluetravellers 11 ай бұрын

Thanks 😁

@snoman1999 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant 🤩

@truebluetravellers 8 ай бұрын

Cheers mate 👍

@pringles8462 8 ай бұрын

Great video.thank you

@truebluetravellers 8 ай бұрын

Cheers mate 👍

@charlottepaine7542 Жыл бұрын

Really impressive what you guys have built, a great use of every bit of space 👏🏻 #vanlife #vanbuild

@charlottepaine7542 Жыл бұрын

That said, not sure about the toilet, you can be sat on it whilst cooking 😆

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

It’s done us proud for sure

@me-cq7wv Жыл бұрын

Done a job fantastic job of the van. I got one too and great vans get a mill kms out of it. Two things that you might want to get is a power socket with usb chargers on it for the electronics and an air horn. In case someone breaks in. No one going to hang about with that thing blowing.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, 😂😂good idea about the horn, we installed a 240v socket that runs off the inverter and 3 usb points to charge the phones etc, can never have too many usb point hey

@ndogtosca 11 ай бұрын

Keren banget🎉

@truebluetravellers 11 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

@ameyc2 10 ай бұрын

love the biuld out nice job I wondered if you miss having the head room to stand up?

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, you can stand up but if you’re tall just have to bend your neck a bit. It didn’t bother us as much as we thought it would to be honest, especially being able to be outside so much in Australia. I think it’s get a bit more wearing in cold weather when you have to be inside and cook inside more

@syauqi4714 Жыл бұрын

👍

@NoName-ds5uq 26 күн бұрын

The LSD, lift and all-terrains would make a massive difference in capability. I’ve gotten stuck quite a few times in standard work Hiaces simply by lifting one rear wheel on uneven surfaces(on sealed roads in the ‘burbs!), an LSD would’ve avoided that. The short-travel suspension didn’t help either.

@truebluetravellers 25 күн бұрын

We were so happy with it 💙 got us to some pretty cool spots especially considering it’s designed to be be a suburban people carrier 😂💙

@Kingpingamer Ай бұрын

you need a gas tank upgrade also get a mini reverse osmosis system

@truebluetravellers Ай бұрын

We have sold this one now mate 👍👍

@thebeerhunter817 Жыл бұрын

Low roof is ok untill I don't want a low roof. Love my pop top van.

@traceywilson6257 4 ай бұрын

Hi from New Zealand. We love your van build and have just purchased a 2012 5 door SLWB hiace are going to base our van on your layout with a few tweaks like swapping out the fridge and sink area with your stainless shower tray and swivel toilet hopefully, yes it will be a sit down shower lol with the sink tight in the corner. we will see. My question to you is we see you have used the car builders sound deadener and wondering if you also used their closed cell insulation for the walls and ceiling and van floor products? Was it worth putting in the sound deadner as this seams to be the bigger cost of the products? Thank you in advance for your help. We love your humor and think your a great couple and very much enjoy watching your videos.

@truebluetravellers 4 ай бұрын

Thanks very much guys, yep the sound deadening makes a huge difference to be honest, and then insulation we just used the stick on closed cell stuff, again worked brilliant, I would highly recommend it 👍👍 we were very cool in it and also the curtains made a massive difference too 😊

@robynegan2054 10 ай бұрын

Im looking at a Hiace, your layout is fabulous. What brand is your toilet plase. Thanks in advance 👍

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

Hi thanks very much, it’s called a separett tiny, I’ll drop a link in below www.waterlesstoilets.co.uk/toilets/separett-tiny-with-urine-container/?v=79cba1185463

@roscored1000 7 ай бұрын

Simple and effective, well done, nothing too fancy that breaks or too heavy, that slows you down, i assume it is 2wd only not 4?

@truebluetravellers 7 ай бұрын

Yep that’s the only shame about it but it’s got a diff locker in the rear so at least a bit better 😁👍

@joshuawright7081 5 ай бұрын

Hi, Great video !!! is your van RWD with rear dif locker or AWD with rear diff locker ?

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

Thanks mate. Ours was a rwd with a truetrack LSD diff 👍

@joshuagillespie763 Жыл бұрын

Man I was thinking you would need 4x4 to go on beaches. This will probs knock off $5000 in cost. Not sure what the new diff is for though. The ladder solution is genius.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks josh, the new diff is a limited slip diff, so when a wheel starts to spin it will automatically lock up the diff and put power to both rear wheels, if you had a standard diff in when a wheel starts to spin it would then put all the power to just that spinning one wheel, so really without an lsd diff or a diff locker, a 2wheel drive vehicle is technically a 1 wheel drive when you start spinning wheels in soft ground, 😁

@andyedison2416 Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers What was the cost to put in the LSD if you don't, mind? Love the ladder option, it also cuts down on wind drag so extra bonus points!

@professionalandtradeservic9545 8 ай бұрын

yes what was the cost?

@GDGardner 10 ай бұрын

I need to know, what is the conditioner next the the loo used for??

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

Took us minute to think there 😂 it’s just laundry liquid for when washing our clothes, it was just a good place to store it that’s all

@brendanlesko2306 5 ай бұрын

Hey guys Love what you have done with Van . If you could do it again using a commuter ( 200 series ) what would you do differently? Would you have bought a manual 4x4 ? What model and year would you recommend? I’m looking to purchase myself with a 45k budget for purchase . TIA

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

We absolutely loved this van, she did us proud and the layout worked a treat. A 4x4 would have been brilliant but they still don’t have the ground clearance. Our LSD made a big difference but if we could do it again we’d probably go for a troupe as there was lots of places we could get to even if the Hiace had been 4x4. Hope that helps

@emilygeale486 5 ай бұрын

Hey! With the 3pc ladder bolt ins, where did you purchase them?(: Definitely including this in our budget for the van build!! Super helpful!! But I can’t seem to find them! Even just their technical name would help immensely!(: thankyou !!

@krisbe11 Ай бұрын

They usually called something like foldable grab step

@ObsidianFrog 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video.

@truebluetravellers 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching 😁

@gold7771 7 ай бұрын

Hey there! Great conversation. I'm curious, did you import this model from Japan? Can you provide more details about the exact model?

@truebluetravellers 7 ай бұрын

Sorry I’ve sold it now and I didn’t import it, I bought it in oz 👍

@emilygeale486 5 ай бұрын

Hey! Could you send me in the right direction for the 3pc ladder bolt ins, and where you purchased them?(: Definitely including this in our budget for the van build!! Super helpful!!

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

Hi Emily, I’ll drop a link in below for them 😁 apparently boat builders stock them too 👍 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281396688273?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=_-OLaeA6SOa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=h77jMQulRBK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@emilygeale486 5 ай бұрын

Thankyou so much! You guys are awesome thankyou for your help and inspiration 🙏🏼🙏🏼✨

@MichaelJones-rs5ce Жыл бұрын

Really nice camper you've made! I'm just starting to convert my Hiace, what roof fan/vent did you go with? Cheers!

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks, we went with a TRA roof fan but to be honest we only went with that as we were on a deadline and that was the quickest one we could get, it wasn’t a bad fan but not the best either, I would recommend the maxair fan deluxe, it’s expensive but worth every penny, If there’s any other info you need or I can help with along the build just give us a shout, 👍

@MichaelJones-rs5ce Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers awesome, cheers for the quick reply! I'm trying to decide at the moment if I should block off the cab from the rest of the van or not.. did you find it got too hot keeping it open? Or was it okay? thanks :)

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

No worries. Happy to help. We were really pleasantly surprised by how cool the van stayed. A couple of things made a big difference with that 1) the silver foil insulation is awesome (didn’t know how well it would work but it really surprised us) 2) the curtains for all the windows made a huge difference, Jess made black out blinds/ curtains and on hot days we left them closed during the day, if you opened them you could notice the difference almost immediately 3) having the van open to the back made a massive difference. We had wind deflectors on the front windows so even when we were away from the van could leave the windows open slightly, we then put the Sirroco fans on on each side to draw air in and the fan over the bed on exhaust to suck the air out, keeping a really good flow of air. You can also buy specific things you can put in your windows and then close them to do the same thing. Also being able to get in the back without getting out the van is an essential thing for us on van builds. Makes the world of difference in our opinion. Last thing, the vehicles air con works just fine in the front when you’re driving with no bulk head More than happy to answer questions on here or if you prefer you’re welcome to message us on Facebook. Whatever’s easiest for you 😄

@MichaelJones-rs5ce Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers That is really helpful, cheers. I'm a bit paranoid about the van getting too hot so thats great to here. I now need to redesign my entire van layout though 😅 I tried clicking the Facebook link above but it wasn't working for me.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

I hope we have been helpful, sounds like it might be the opposite 😬 there are so many layouts you can do and they all have their good and bad points. Sorry the link didn’t work but if you just search True Blue Travellers on Facebook we should come up and it’s the same profile picture as on KZfaq 😀

@enjay8950 Жыл бұрын

Nice van! how tall are you guys? I have the same van and considering building the bed sideways like you have but not sure if i'd fit at 6 foot.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Cheers, I’m 6”2 mate and it’s too short for me sideways, my mrs is 5’6” and she’s ok, we don’t sleep in the bed sideways tho, we use the bed sideways as like a day bed during the day and then we still have the two seats too, then we sleep front to back at night, if it’s just you you’d be fine mate as you can sleep at an angle but 2 in the bed and it’s not really comfy

@enjay8950 Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers Ahh I see.. Thanks a lot. Great layout and cool vid! shame yall are selling it and moving on

@juancho7236 Жыл бұрын

It seems my wife can stand straight up at 5’4”. I imagine I would be tilting sideways at 5’8”. We’d love to find a nice balance between high top, and a decent center of gravity. Great video btw.

@Pathro.Martha 5 ай бұрын

Would like to know the name of the composting toilet. Thanks in advance😊

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

Hi I’ll drop a link below to it www.waterlesstoilets.co.uk/toilets/separett-tiny-with-urine-container/?v=79cba1185463

@augustusomega4708 Жыл бұрын

how does john sleep in that east west bed in a toyota hiace? that van has gotta be 1.5 wide max

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

It’s about 1.7m wide as I can fit but Jon has to lay diagonally. We only used it like that way during the day to chill out and at night if you put 3 cushions on the seat next to the kitchen and one on the table then it makes a longer than full length bed 😀

@sirslaythelot6018 10 ай бұрын

Is your van 4x4 or has the tru trak diff upgrade made your van decently capable

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

No mate not a 4B just a rwd but she’s decent with the tru trac in her, I should of aired down the tires alot more than I did when I went on beaches with it but was lazy 🤦‍♂️

@leylandroberts4820 Жыл бұрын

I love the steps but cant find them on google. Can you give some detail of the name /brand / site to buy them? I hope you are both enjoying Australia!

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks, not sure exactly where In the world you are but if you Google folding boat yacht step they should come up 😁 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385431604382?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ev-4eGl_RU-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@leylandroberts4820 Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers Cheers for that! I live in Noosa QLD. Love the idea and might put some on my 200 series Landcruiser. The Hiace looks quite capable offroad. Diff lock a must!

@cccmmm1234 21 күн бұрын

Folding mast steps.

@Lee_Proffit 5 ай бұрын

Slowly catching you up 🙂 In the loo, is the fabric conditioner for smell issues, if so how much per use (or is it a deposit 🙂) ?

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 no it was just a good storage place for it for the clothes😁👍

@Lee_Proffit 5 ай бұрын

@@truebluetravellers Ahh, thought I had discovered a new travel hack 🙂 Do you add anything to the toilet or just rely on the internal fan ?

@truebluetravellers 5 ай бұрын

@@Lee_Proffit there is one of them tablets that they put in urinals that goes on the top of the pee bit because believe it or not that smells worse than the other bit, but the fan does an amazing job 👍

@FabioPintoTalks Жыл бұрын

Excellent design. Where did you get the lift kit? :)

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Thanks Fabio, The front is just lifted by winding up the torsion bars, the rear is just a case of replacing the spring shackles, I got these from eBay www.ebay.com.au/itm/253569075762?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=FO-kKasvR6K&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=wksvvltes8q&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

@FabioPintoTalks Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers Thanks so much, you've got a new subscriber! I just got a Hiace in Canada.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

@@FabioPintoTalks thanks Fabio, I didn’t realise they had the hiace in Canada, 👍

@FabioPintoTalks Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers They dont, I imported it from Japan because the engine is the same as Toyota Tacomas here. Its definitely more ideal in Australia since its so popular and parts are more abundant.But its cool having a unique looking vehicle and it has 52k kms. They are rare here. Yours is lovely.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

@@FabioPintoTalks yeah I think Japan are quite strict on the laws regarding vehicles so after a certain age they export them, 54k km, that’s incredible, especially when you see quite allot over in oz run to nearly a million km, defiantly nice to have something unique, it will show a few sprinters up that’s for sure

@escapethemaya 3 ай бұрын

Wha fridge did you guys use? 😊

@truebluetravellers 3 ай бұрын

Kings upright one mate 👍

@blackblackblackblack4444 Жыл бұрын

Could you please let me know if it's possible to run an 85L Kings Fridge/Freezer, a laptop, phone charging, and occasionally fans using a 200A battery and 360W solar setup in Australia during the summer? I would greatly appreciate it if you could inform me. Thanks!

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Hi, would you be installing 200amp lithium or agm ?

@blackblackblackblack4444 Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers I will choose lithiums.

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

@@blackblackblackblack4444 ok no worries, yep we went with a 200ah lithium battery from kings ($800) and it powered a 110litre kings fridge freezer, 240v inverter that we charged our laptop from every day. A roof fan and 2 schirocco fans, that we used pretty much constantly, a fan on the toilet and we charged our phones, go pro and drone everyday, we ran 360watts of Solar and we never had a problem, the power dropped slightly over night but would be back to full in no time at about 11:00am everyday, so yeah all good and I would recommend 👍

@blackblackblackblack4444 Жыл бұрын

@@truebluetravellers Perfect! Thank you for the detailed answers! Have a great day!

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

@@blackblackblackblack4444 no worries, enjoy your travels 👍

@user-ok8et5rl3n 8 ай бұрын

Hi , how many miles per gallon do you guys get ?? Thanks Nicky.

@truebluetravellers 8 ай бұрын

Sorry I have no idea, I never checked really 😁

@tiredclimbing 11 ай бұрын

Hi! Is this a SLWB?

@truebluetravellers 11 ай бұрын

Hi yes it’s a commuter 😀

@billschneider1893 4 ай бұрын

How'd you lift your van?

@truebluetravellers 4 ай бұрын

Just using rear spring shackles front and Toyota Hillux and would the torsion bar for the front 👍👍

@chubetwat Ай бұрын

You've grown as presenters

@truebluetravellers Ай бұрын

Thanks very much, we’d only been going a couple of months here, still not much idea what we are doing but a years more practice 😂💙

@komradwide4660 Жыл бұрын

What year model is your hiace?

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

I think it’s a 2008

@michal1249 Жыл бұрын

is it petrol or diesel?

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

Hi it’s a diesel d4d

@Mark.G475 Жыл бұрын

Petrol? Gas Gasoline, boot trunk, jockey box glove box, Dog and Bon phone, Torch Flashlight! You Brits talk 🤣 funny. Cheers from Milwaukee 🍻

@truebluetravellers Жыл бұрын

@@Mark.G475 😂😂😂 different words in different countries can be so funny! I (Jess) got myself into a few awkward situations when I first moved to the UK talking about thongs 😂😂

@kimboslice8434 9 ай бұрын

Did you sell this when you left Australia?

@truebluetravellers 9 ай бұрын

Yea we did, we thought about keeping it in storage but decided if we go back we would build another 👍

@kimboslice8434 9 ай бұрын

@@truebluetravellers loving your builds. Wish I’d known. Hopefully you come back soon. 😁

@cccmmm1234 21 күн бұрын

How tall are you?

@truebluetravellers 20 күн бұрын

6’2” 👍

@cccmmm1234 20 күн бұрын

@@truebluetravellersI am 6ft 5. Makes things a bit tougher in a van.

@zo1dberg 10 ай бұрын

4:23 How tall are you?

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

I’m 6’2”

@zo1dberg 10 ай бұрын

Wow, ok, is that the slwb? I thought they were about a foot shorter inside than what you are. Doesn't seem so bad.

@truebluetravellers 10 ай бұрын

@@zo1dberg I think it is the slwb as it’s the comuter, I was really surprised how tall it was to be honest as I thought it would be way too low too

@CharlieHoliday369 8 ай бұрын

Cool! What's wrong with her voice ?

@truebluetravellers 8 ай бұрын

Cheers, she’s looses it constantly due to giving me grief all the time I recon

@blackdogbite 8 ай бұрын

Why does every one of these "young vanlife couple" videos concentrate on annoying loud repetitive music? Do you play that evey place you pull up to? Then why do it here? There's nothing wrong with quiet.

@truebluetravellers 8 ай бұрын

To be honest you could be right here, we had only been making videos a couple of months here and we didn’t really know how to level the audio properly so most early videos have really loud music, I’d be interested to know if you watched say our latest video to see if you still think the same as hopefully we have sorted the audio 👍

@stuartcoopalnd6975 6 ай бұрын

@@truebluetravellersyour video and layout is great. I’ve subscribed 😎. It does amaze me how blunt people are online. Imagine saying that to you face to face in the pub. Nnoope. Maybe it could be levelled a bit the music. That’s all needs to be said 🤣. It looks like the bed is manageable width wise if you sleep bent legged a little! I’d be really interested to know what the span is window to window if you’re ever with a tape in hand near the bed 🥰👍🏼👍🏼

@truebluetravellers 6 ай бұрын

@@stuartcoopalnd6975 when we first started we had no idea it was loud 😂😂😂 we look back now and cringe but it’s all learning hey 👍 sorry mate we have now sold the van and build a new one 👍