The Build

It was a thought that started to plant roots in my mind as I was getting ready to separate from the Air Force. Build out a van into an adventure mobile, then live in it like some kind of gypsy. I read everything I could find on van life—blogs, forums, Instagram posts. I planned it out in my head a million times.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered the Toyota Landcruiser. It has what I can only describe as a cult like following around the globe for its reliability, and ruggedness. I started to keep tabs on Cruisers for sale on Craigslist near me in San louis Obispo County California. Finally, I saw a 1991 for a reasonable price, and on my 29^thbirthday I bought it off a guy in an Auto Zone parking lot for $3,200. This is when the fun of converting it began.

I’ll break down the main components of the build here for anyone interested in doing something similar. Although it seems like a pretty daunting task, it is actually a blast. If you feed into the Instagram van life hype, it is easy to think you need a Mercedes Sprinter and $20,000 in upgrades before you hit the road. That is just plain false. Keep it simple, and you can get out there in a sweet adventure mobile for pretty cheap, then use that extra cash to extend your travels. The hardest part is having the confidence to start.

As a note, I actually built out my Landcruiser twice. After wrapping up my cross-country trip, I had lots of ideas on how to improve the experience, so the photos are a combination of both builds—same car, same idea, two different styles. They are also all shot on an old phone, so be gentle, this post is about documenting the build not artistic photos.

Getting Started

First things first, I brought it to a mechanic for a checkup, and to replace every fluid. Luckily it was in great shape, because to be honest at the time I really didn’t know much about evaluating the vehicle.

Next I took out the middle and back row of seats to make room for a bed. Out came the dingy carpeting, the bubble filled window tinting, the Disney Princess stickers covering the walls.

Sleep System

Essentially, I built a box out of plywood to create a sleeping platform, with room for storage underneath. The first build was pretty clunky, a bit too high—lots of storage but not enough headroom when sitting up in bed. The second version was shorter, but much sturdier, and had just the right amount of room. I actually measured the tallest component in the kitchen (the kettle) and built the whole thing to size.

The sleeping surface ended up being the exact same size as a full bed—not too shabby. After a visit to an upholstery shop, I got a 2-inch-thick piece of memory foam cut to size. A seamstress sewed a cover for it, and all in all it cost about $100.

Depending on the season, it is usually topped off with a sheet, a thick down quilt, and lastly, one of those green wool army surplus blankets to keep the dirt, rocks, and general muck out of the bed. It also does a great job of keeping our dog’s hair from between the sheets.

Kitchen

The kitchen is my favorite aspect of the Landcruiser. I built a drawer that pulls straight out of the tailgate for a little counter and food prep area. A simple Coleman 2 burner camp stove with those green disposable cans of gas is all you need. Some staples are a few pots and pans, cups, silverware, French press and kettle for the obligatory morning coffee.

A plastic container that slides under the bed makes a great pantry for canned or dry goods. We carry a small cooler that we stock with ice depending on the season.

Power

I hooked up a deep cycle battery that charges from the alternator while the car was running. Adding an isolator eliminates the fear of draining the main battery overnight. Throw in an inverter, and I could just plug anything I wanted to charge straight into the power strip. Initially I wanted to build a solar setup, but the cost was just too high for me. If I could do it over, I might try to invest in a Goal Zero, I have heard some pretty great things about them.

Storage

There is a fair amount of room under the bed to stash all our camping gear, non-perishable foods, folding chairs, and various odds and ends. On the roof rack is a box big enough to store a few big duffle bags, snowboards, surfboard, or whatever needs a home.

On shorter trips, storage isn’t an issue, but twice now Maren and I have used this Cruiser to move cross country. In those cases, we just play Tetris with our bags each night, stacking them carefully in the front seats so the bed is clear.

Here is an honest look at how messy it can look mid road trip when you have to dry your towels out, get firewood, and just wrapped up a long hike.

Paint Job

This 1991 Landcruiser spent it’s whole life in California—great to avoid snow induced rust, but the sun did a number on the paintjob. There was no way I could justify paying for a professional paintjob, especially since I was going to be doing lots of off-roading. I opted to sand down the factory paint, and apply roll on truck bed liner. It is tough as nails, and you don’t have to worry about scratching it up on trails. Top that off with a paint color of your choice, I went with electric blue initially, but on the second build switched it to forest green. It will cost about $75 vs a few grand for a professional job.

 

Miscellaneous

The first go around, I used fabric with magnets sewn into the edges as curtains. They ended up being a huge hassle and always fell. For take two, it was Velcro sewn onto the curtains, and super glued to the window frame. This was better by far, and I highly suggest it. People say that the adhesive will give out in heat, but we were in 100+ degree Utah and had no issues.

On the topic of windows, I cannot suggest enough to buy or make some mosquito netting with magnets to stick on overnight. There is nothing like being able to sleep with the windows down for a nice cross breeze without waking up to that obnoxious buzz of blood suckers circling your head.

A small folding table provides extra counter space to prepare meals, and it takes up almost no room.

Plug in string lights are great for cooking in the dark, and just adding a warm feeling to your campsite at night.

If you are going to be camping in rustic sites, or during the offseason, I recommend a 2-gallon water cooler. It is the perfect size to fill up water bottles, cook, and do dishes.

I hope you learned something or gained a bit of confidence from this write-up. You don’t have to be a finish carpenter or have a ton of disposable income to get on the road. Break the build into manageable tasks. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Feel free to email me or drop a comment with any questions, I’m always happy to talk about builds.