A NEW mum has told how she and her partner built a camper van into a “studio flat on wheels” using videos on YouTube so they could travel with their baby.
Hannah Felce, 33, and Rory Rooney, 31, installed heating, a kitchen and even a shower as they look to set out on the road as parents for the first time.
SuppliedHannah Felce and her partner Rory Rooney turned their camper van into a ‘studio flat on wheels’[/caption]
They snapped the van up for £5,000 in 2020Supplied
They kitted it out with all the mod-consSupplied
The pair got together seven years ago and immediately realised they shared a dream of travelling together full-time
Hannah told The Sun Online: “The plan was to build out a camper van, do a bit of travelling but also try and work and save a bit of money.
“We wanted to travel the UK first…and then maybe go to Europe and stuff and try and work remotely.
“We though it would be a good solid base for us to have a converted van so we had the option to go on holiday if we wanted.
“Just freedom, freedom is really the answer.”
The loved-up couple took the first step in that journey in 2020, taking advantage of the pandemic to commit the time to starting up their project, snapping up a panel van for £5,000.
They did all of the work themselves, relying on Rory’s background in carpentry and plumbing.
Hannah took inspiration from fellow van lifers on Instagram to jazz up the interior, while the build itself was based on several YouTube instructional.
After gutting the van, they constructed a bed frame taking up most of the rear portion as well as a kitchen unit opposite the sliding side door.
This includes a set of drawers, some worktop space and a gas hob.
They even managed to install a stylish shower cubicle that wouldn’t look out of place in any plush pad.
This is supplied with hot running water, while the whole van benefits from central heating.
After a couple of years working on it over the weekends, Rory and Hannah were all set to head out to live on the open road.
However, there was a happy little hiccup in their plans in the form of their adorable baby girl.
Hannah explained: “We were all set to move in when I found out I was pregnant.
“It was wonderful but it completely changed out plans.
“We’ve done quite a few trips now.
“It’s great, you’ve got everything you need, it’s a little house on wheels.
“We’ve been to Scotland, to Wales, to Norfolk and down to Devon.
“Our little girl’s only ten months old but we’ve already taken her on like three trips in it.”
How a £20 Ikea item lets you transform a van in a camper in just 10 minutes
Stephen Reid went viral when he uploaded a TikTok clip showing how he converts his work van into a kitted-out camper in 10 minutes using a £20 Ikea item.
He used a few sheets of plywood and some railing bought from the popular furniture chain to construct a temporary bed in the back of the vehicle.
In no time at all, he was able to screw the frame together and create a comfortable place to sleep almost out of thin air.
Once it’s built, he can pile the rest of his camping equipment into the back of the van and get going on his travels.
Best of all, once he’s done it takes just moments to collapse the bed, which can then be stored in the van until he needs it again.
And in the future, they are planning much grander road trips, with some European hotspots in mind, including France and Spain.
However, the van will need a few modifications first to make it more toddler-friendly as their daughter gets too big for her bassinet.
Overall, the van cost them about £10,000 to fully kit out but Hannah reckons they could have done it for much cheaper if they had used more second-hand materials and budgeted better.
Not only is it a great holiday motor, but the van has now even found national recognition, winning the best beginner build in eBay’s Van Conversion of the Year awards for 2023.
Hannah recalled: “I was on Instagram and a friend of mine had tagged me in a post and it was for the conversion of the year.
“I just thought ‘I’m going to apply, why not?’ and then a couple of months later I got an email saying that we had been shortlisted, which was very exciting.”
It comes after a student was left devastated when she had to write off her third car in two years after boy racers smashed into them while parked.
It boasts a kitchen unit and central heatingSupplied
SuppliedThey even installed a swish shower cubicle[/caption]
They relied on Rory’s skills in carpentry and plumbing, as well as YouTube tutorialsSupplied