Wherever We Land

Hey there, Outside Gang! It’s Nikki and Snatcher here from Wherever We Land. If you’ve been following our journey on YouTube, you know that building our DIY camper van, “Glorious,” has been one of the most challenging, rewarding, and faith-stretching projects we’ve ever tackled. We’re not professional builders—just a husband-and-wife team with a dream, a bunch of tools, and a lot of prayer.

We’ve had people asking for a central place to see the progress of our 2023 Dodge Ram ProMaster conversion. So, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to our van build playlist. Whether you’re looking for budget van life inspiration or practical DIY tips, here is exactly how we’ve been turning a cargo van into our home on wheels.

1. The Beginning of the Dream

Every journey starts with a single step—or in our case, a very empty, very orange van. In our kickoff video, we shared the raw excitement of starting this process. We knew we wanted freedom, but we also knew we had a massive learning curve ahead of us.

Watch the Journey Begin: Van Life – Our Process Begins

Snatcher’s Note: “I remember looking at that empty shell and thinking, ‘Where do we even start?’ But we decided to trust the process and just take it one project at a time.”

2. Protecting the Foundation: Rust Prevention

Before we could put in the “pretty” stuff, we had to make sure “Glorious” was protected from the inside out. Since we plan on taking this van through all kinds of weather, rust prevention was non-negotiable. We stripped the floor down to the bare metal, cleaned it thoroughly, and applied a protective sealant.

Step-by-Step Floor Protection: From Bare Metal to Rust-Free : Protecting our Van Floor

This is a crucial step for any ProMaster owner because moisture can get trapped under your subfloor and ruin your build before it even starts. We used a high-quality metal primer and sealant to ensure “Glorious” stays solid for years to come.

3. Building the Perfect Van Life Bed

If you can’t sleep well, you can’t enjoy van life! For our bed build, we wanted something functional and sturdy. Snatcher designed a custom frame that fits the ProMaster width perfectly, allowing us to sleep side-to-side and save a ton of floor space.

See the Bed Reveal: Our Van Bed Is Done! DIY Bed Build Reveal

Nikki’s Perspective: “Getting the bed finished felt like a huge milestone. It finally started to feel like a room and not just a van.”

4. The $200 Luxury Kitchen Galley

This is one of our proudest moments! We wanted a luxury look without the $2,000 price tag. Using mostly scrap wood, leftover materials, and some creative shopping, we built a full kitchen galley for under $200. It includes housing for our fridge, a stainless steel sink, and a beautiful countertop.

Budget Build Highlights:

• Custom-built galley cabinet using scrap wood.
• Secure mounting with plus-nuts and rivet nuts.
• Budget-friendly countertop with a matching backsplash.

Watch the Kitchen Build: Luxury DIY Van Kitchen Galley for Under $200

5. Framing the Ceiling and MaxxAir Fan

The ceiling is what really ties the aesthetics of the van together. We used natural wood stain for the panels to give it a warm, cabin-like feel. Snatcher took the lead on the framing, ensuring the MaxxAir fan and A/C unit were securely mounted.

Watch the Progress: ProMaster Ceiling Framing Pt. 2

Furring strips are essential here because van walls and ceilings are rarely straight. This video shows exactly how we dealt with those curves to get a flat, professional-looking finish.

6. The Custom DIY Love Seat & Layout Reveal

We wanted a place to sit that wasn’t just the bed. Nikki took charge of painting and finishing our custom-built love seat. The biggest challenge? Making sure it actually fit in the layout without making the van feel cramped!

Will it Fit? We Finally Installed Our DIY Love Seat!

This video also reveals a lot of our layout thinking—balancing storage, seating, and “walking” room.

7. Dealing with Curves: The Closet Build

If you’ve ever tried to build a square box for a round wall, you know the struggle. Our closet build was a masterclass in “measure twice, cut five times.” We had to scribe the wood to match the ProMaster’s curves to maximize every inch of storage.

Storage Solutions: DIY Camper Van Closet Build That ACTUALLY Fits

8. When Things Don’t Go to Plan: Plumbing & Faith

Let’s be real—DIY isn’t always smooth. We had high hopes for our plumbing system, but we hit some major roadblocks. We realized that sometimes “If you want to make God laugh, make a plan.” This video is more than a tutorial; it’s about how we handle setbacks on the road and in the build.

Lessons Learned: You want to Make God Laugh, Make a Plan

9. Top 5 Lessons from the Build

Now that we’ve been living and working in the van for a while, we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. We put together a recap of the top 5 things we’ve learned while building and camping in “Glorious.”

Don’t Make Our Mistakes: 5 Things We’ve Learned While Building Our Camper Van

Join the #OutsideGang!

This build is far from over. We still have cabinets, final electrical, and so many adventures ahead. If you want to follow along with Nikki and Snatcher, make sure you:

1. Subscribe to our YouTube: @whereverweland
2. Join the Channel: Get access to perks and support the build!
3. Follow us on Instagram: @WhereverWeLand

We are so grateful for this community. Remember, God’s got us, wherever we land. Let us know in the comments: What part of the van build should we tackle next?

#VanLife #DIYCamper #ProMasterConversion #OutsideGang #NikkiAndSnatcher