Components

This is a section of components we put together to build the van, some we did, some we changed, arranged by general categories of what they were related to. It's also a list of where we got them.

I've broken it down into several areas, mainly Kitchen, Plumbing and Electrics, with a section of wood which most of our build used.

The list of areas down the left hand side give a bit of an idea but this is a starter list. 

•  Wood was used for most things, all sorts of dimensions and types, but the main usage was for covering the walls and for making internal furniture. The walls are covered in plywood sheet, insulated behind, and covered on the top with either furniture or carpet. Seats, beds, wardrobe, toilet/shower and kitchen all made from a framework of wood, and finally wood panelling used for a more decorative finish.
• Key areas built were, kitchen, toilet/shower/wardrobe, cupboards, seating/bed and we also made a table
• Windows, skylights and ventilation, lots of these for light and air
• Roof mounted gear, awnings, roof rack, solar panels, aerofoils and aerials but no windmill.
• Kitchen consists of a single unit with a worktop, fridge, cooker/hob, water taps, sink and storage cupboards. Makes preparing, cooking and washing up easy.
• Toilet/shower/wardrobe made of one construction of wood, to house a toilet and shower, the walls covered in vinyl flooring for waterproofing and wardrobe for hanging clothes and storing other items.
• Bed/seating was made up of two areas, one seat near the front which covers up the water tank, water/air heater and water pump, and two seats at the rear with storage areas underneath and pull out sections join it up to provide a bed, The seats and bed were fitted with wooden slats/springs made for beds and provide ventilation
• Lots of overhead cupboards wherever there was room to fit them, in addition to the wardrobe, under counter kitchen cupboards and under bed storage. Main reason for this it to keep stuff from flying round the van when driving down the road and not tripping over it when living in the van.
• Plumbing is a nice luxury, 100 litre water tank saves on fetching water all the time, kitchen tap and shower fed by water pump really nice to have, and waste water tank means that you aren't dumping filthy water next to your camping spot.
• Electricity came already fitted in the van by the manufacturer as the usual range of bits essential to running a van, a radio and various lights all of which are useful. Separate electric systems were built to provide a mains electric system and a 12V system, to run standard mains equipment, water pump, additional lights, gas ignition, water and air heating, fans, and for charging phones etc. The biggest 12V user is the fridge, and for the most part that's what the 12V electrics are there to run, the rest is just convenience. We tried not to use an inverter to generate mains electricity from 12V but in the end it was just more to convenient to do so rather than work round it. Central to this were the 12V batteries, and the various way of keeping them charged, be it mains charger, charging from the vehicles alternator or via solar panels. Looked at wind generation but not that great if moving about, but keep revisiting the idea.
• Cushions, bean bags, mattresses, throws, blankets and all other soft stuff which makes a van feel cosy and comfortable. 
• Odd things like coat hooks, door retainers, gas tanks/cupboards, external storage, water hose/watering can and buckets, camping chairs, all of which have been useful.