Camper Van - "Emmy Lou" — https://www.jamiealexanderyoung.com/

Camper Van - “Emmy Lou”

c. 2021

Design and Construction

“Emmy Lou” is a 2016 Ford Transit Cargo Van that I renovated and used to travel around the United States with my partner. The van was built entirely from the ground up, and includes custom solar, electrical, water and propane systems to allow it to function as a livable space*. Specific features include:

Full kitchen with birch countertops, sink, refrigerator, pantry, stovetop and oven
Bespoke cabinets, cedar paneling and a raised bed platform with built in storage
Sliding side windows, rooftop venting fans and dimmable 3000K overhead lighting
Industrial swivels installed under the front seats to provide 270 degrees of rotation
Slide-out composting toilet with venting to the outside
“Garage” with slide out bike rack, general storage and heated shower
Two 100A Lithium-ion house batteries able to be charged from a rooftop-mounted 360W solar array, shore power or the car’s battery
Bluetooth solar and battery monitors, and fused 120V, 12V and USB 3.0 power outlets
33 gallon freshwater tank with filtered inlet, 8 gallon gray water tank and 3.0 GPM water pump
Vented propane locker housing a solenoid actuated 20lb propane tank
Gas heater with controllable thermostat and venting to the outside
Foamular insulated vinyl floor and Thinsulate insulated walls and window covers

Built with durability, vibration resistance and weight distribution in mind, at the time these pictures were taken the van had already seen 6 months and 30,000 miles on the road.

Battery monitor and various electrical controls and outlets

Thermostat and propane solenoid control

Relay and breaker for the car battery charger - note the car’s battery is located under the driver’s seat

Gray water tank and tap filter located under the sink

Main electronics panel with Lithium-ion house batteries

20 lb propane tank in its vented locker - note the solenoid and regulator

Water routing from the tank to the pump and accumulator

Water, propane and electrical cable routing

Propane and Carbon Monoxide detectors

Shower and water tank filling setups - note a magnetic shower curtain is not pictured

Garage all packed up!

System Schematics and Construction Photos

Electrical System Schematic

Electrical System Schematic [Cont.]

Propane System Schematic

Water System Schematic

Furring Strip Layout

The beginning! Rust removal and painting

Installing rooftop venting fans

Roof rust removal and painting

Roof finished! Fans and solar panels installed

Cutting out a panel where one of
the sliding windows will be installed

Window openings cut!

First window with trim installed!

Installing Minicell and Foamular insulation onto the floor

Installing 1/2” birch plywood onto the floor

Installing and gluing the sheet vinyl flooring

Installing the bed platform and Thinsulate wall insulation

Installing the water and propane systems

Finishing the countertops and bed storage with Tung oil

Stove/oven and sink cabinet installed!

Electronic panel almost finished!

Installing the wiring for the overhead lighting - note that furring strips and an additional insulation layer of Reflectix have also been installed

First overhead lights hooked up!

Cedar wall paneling going up!

Sink and stove/oven installed!

Overhead pantry installed!

Second cabinet base installed

Walls are painted and the appliances for
the second cabinet are being installed!

Almost Done! Living space is finsihed and we are
moving in! Still a bit of work to do in the garage…

* A special thanks to Isabelle and Antoine at FarOutRide (https://faroutride.com/) for design inspiration