Rustic Simplicity vans are instantly recognisable. You can see the simplicity of design, notice the reclaimed whisky barrel oak that James takes such care over, cutting, sanding, paring down and shaping to fit into all the curious spaces created when he has finished fitting everything that needs to go in.
The campervan above might look complicated, but it really isn’t. There is a bed/seating area at the back and a small dining area towards the front. The kitchen is fitted around it, with the cooking and washing up areas split so two people can move around and not crowd each other. There is plenty of storage in hatches under floor in the bed area, large drawers, both in the bed and kitchen areas, and plenty of boot space. The compost loo hides under the dining bench, and the heater is the heart of the home, providing warmth, hot water (if you keep the kettle on it) and a brilliant little cooking hob. The tap on the sink swings out to the side and you can shower there, over by the side door, or wash your hair. Everything is powered by 200w of solar on the roof, and a split charge system which charges the battery as you drive along. That’s about as complex as it gets. The eclectic, mismatched upholstery is the only way I seem to be able to sew, so in it goes – in colours evocative of Morocco or Turkey, places we yearn to visit but have never seen. Each campervan is subtly different because we build them organically, making it up as we go along, winging it really.
Our design tools are pen, paper, Lego and cardboard. TV controllers and phones stand in for different elements as one of us tries to explain the crazy idea fermenting in our brain to the other – voices rising, frustration when we realise the other just doesn’t get it and it all ending in laughter when we finally get where the other is coming from! Sometimes we are totally in sync, and words are not needed – we just know. James will appear to be watching something on TV – in reality the cogs are whirring and he will jump up saying ‘ I’ve just had a eureka moment’, and some problem that has been plaguing him will be solved in a moment.
Building your own campervan is one of the most rewarding, fun and exciting things you will ever do – take time to relax and enjoy it. Ask questions, join forums, read everything you can find, but most of all keep it simple and don’t overthink it….remember those halcyon days of long hot summers and tents in the garden? Well those are the feelings you are trying to recapture….campervans should be just that…a van you camp out in. It’s not a smaller version of your house. Yes you will want to keep clean…but you can do that with a bowl of water and a bar of soap…or use a camp site shower….there is no need to have one taking up huge amounts of space in your van.
Storage is key, but don’t overstock your van with loads of stuff. It’s a good idea to find a place for things and stick to it, making sure you put it back…after a couple of trips you’ll know where everything is, and it’s simple things like this that make for stress free camping.
With all of the resources available now, it really is possible to build your own van, and for it to be both practical and beautiful. Prices have soared post Brexit, and Covid hasn’t helped, but the good news is that once you have your van you can take it step by step, enjoying every minute, and adding to it as money permits. We bought our first van in 2016. It cost £2500. We had to borrow the last £500. We had to sell a few highland coos (made of wooden offcuts) in order to buy the bits we needed to do the next stage. Everyone starts somewhere….if there is one thing to pass on after making 30 vans it’s this:
Make sure you enjoy every minute you spend building…that moment won’t come again, and if you approach your build with a joyful spirit, it will fill your van with positive energy that will seep into the very fabric of your camper, making it a sanctuary of peace and quite possibly your number one go to place to escape from the stresses of life, even if it stays on your drive!
See you down the road!
Rustic Simplicity ......The Story Behind The Name 