You know those days when you think, right, I’m finally getting my act together — and then your camera decides to record everything except the audio? Yeah, that’s been the general theme of my van build lately.
Progress has been slower than a pensioner overtaking on a hill, partly because I’ve been wiped out by some mysterious bug, partly because every job I start turns into a saga. But I’m stubborn, and apparently delusional enough to believe I can turn a 2016 Mercedes Sprinter into a home before July.
Rust Be Gone (Sort Of)
So, I’ve been on rust-duty this week. Everything came back out, got a generous coat of K-Rust, which turns this lovely shade of “miserable-grey-brown”, followed by a layer of beige Rust Beater. Why beige? Because Homebase was closing down, and I’m a sucker for a bargain.
That’s the first layer done. Next step: covering the holes. There are many. Some are small, some are “I could lose a finger in there” big. But that, my friends, is a future me problem.
JB Weld vs Steel Stick — the showdown
Now, if you’ve ever tried to fill a hole in van metalwork, you’ll know it’s a sticky, messy, swear-inducing process. I started with JB Weld steel epoxy, because apparently it’s “simple”. Spoiler: it isn’t. Equal parts, mix it up, try not to get it everywhere. Fail.
Then I found “Steel Stick” — basically Play-Doh for adults with trust issues. You tear off a bit, mush it into the hole, and pretend you know what you’re doing. It’s less messy, more satisfying, and if nothing else, gives the illusion of progress.
Of course, halfway through filming my time-lapse of all this glorious DIY mastery, the camera decided to stop recording. So the entire bit where I actually did the work? Gone. Classic.
Tea, Solar, and Small Victories
By this point I was half-delirious, half-caffeinated, but the sun came out — which felt like divine intervention. I set up my 200 W solar panel, hooked up the Allpowers unit I’m reviewing, and boiled a kettle purely on sunlight.
Each boil probably saves me a mighty 6p in electricity, but it’s about the principle, right? Plus, there’s something magic about sitting in the van, hearing the kettle click off, and realising — for a few minutes — that it’s all actually working. Even if it cost about £600 to get to this point.
The solar panel pulled 120 W, charged up in about 10 minutes, and powered a proper brew. That’s what I call a win.
100 Days to Go
Here’s the reality check though: my last day here is 30 July 2025. That gives me about 100 days to finish the van — though realistically it’s more like 25 weekends, if I don’t collapse first.
There’s still flooring to seal, insulation to sort, a “monstrosity” of a repair job to fix, and about fifty things “future me” will definitely regret putting off. But on sunny days like this, I actually believe it’s possible.
I won’t lie — I’ve had moments of doubt about moving into a van full-time. But when the light hits right, the solar hums, and the tea’s free… it feels worth it.
You can see the full build series on Youtube and a like maybe with a sub would be well appreciated
