Phase 1: Your First 8 Steps to a Mobile Home
The engineering-led build sequence that avoids rookie mistakes.
The sequence of your build determines how many times you have to take things apart to fix a mistake you made three weeks ago. Follow this order. It was written in blood (and sawdust).
STRIKE & CLEAN
Strip the van to bare metal. Remove all ply lining, flooring, and bulkhead. Scrub with sugar soap and treat every tiny speck of surface rust with a converter.
CUTTING & CHASSIS
Cut your holes for windows and roof vents BEFORE you insulate. It's messy and generates metal shards. Clean carefully.
SOUND DEADENING
Apply sound deadening (e.g., Silent Coat) to 30-50% of the flat metal panels. Any more is just adding weight for zero acoustic gain.
CABLE RUNS
Run your conduit and main wire lines. Even if you haven't bought your battery yet, pull the lines through now. Leave 20% more space than you think you need.
INSULATION & VAPOUR
The big job. 25mm-50mm of closed cell foam, Thinsulate for voids, then a 100% air-tight vapour barrier. No gaps.
FLOOR & BATTENING
Insulate the floor, lay 12mm-18mm ply, and bolt your furniture battens through the floor into the chassis ribs where possible.
SUB-SYSTEM INSTALL
Install your diesel heater, water tanks, and battery bank. Get the infrastructure working before you build cabinets around them.
CABINETRY & FINISH
The fun part. Build your units, fit doors, and wire up the aesthetic lighting. Now it feels like home.