What Grant from FreedomVanGo Learned Building Vans for Real Use
A van build can look great online and still be wrong for the way you actually travel.
That is one of the clearest lessons from this episode of Vanlife Roadmap. Grant from FreedomVanGo has built vans, used vans, refined vans, and helped customers think through what belongs in their own builds. His perspective is practical because it comes from doing the work, making mistakes, and changing his mind after actual travel.
Grant’s path into vans was not a straight line. He grew up in Myrtle Beach, worked odd jobs, got into cars and motors early, served as a C-130 engine mechanic in the Air Force, spent time in Japan and Saudi Arabia, built a Subaru-focused parts business, and eventually moved from camping setups into a Sprinter. Along the way, the same pattern kept showing up – he liked figuring things out, building things, and sharing what he learned.
That background matters because this conversation is not really about one perfect van layout. It is about how experience changes your standards. Grant’s first van worked, but it also taught him what he would not do again.
The first van worked – but not for him
Grant is unusually direct about his early van build.
He says he “did everything wrong in the end,” even though it felt right at the time. Like many first-time builders, he pulled design cues from Instagram, YouTube, and other vans that looked good. The result was not a failure. The van worked well enough. But after 20 or 30 nights in it, he started to see the difference between something that functions and something that actually fits the way you live.
That distinction is useful for any DIY van builder.
For example, Grant used shiplap in the first van. It looked great. However, changes in temperature and humidity caused squeaks and rattles. He also put the fridge on the driver’s side wall, then realized how inconvenient that was when using the van near the beach. Every time he wanted something from the fridge, he had to climb into the van and track sand inside.
That experience changed how he builds now. He prefers the fridge on the passenger side, near the slider, so it can be reached from inside or outside. The lesson is not that one fridge location is universally right. Grant is careful to say the driver-side fridge was bad for him. The bigger point is that small layout decisions become very obvious once you use the van in real places.
A floor plan is not just a drawing. It is how you move, cook, sleep, grab a drink, clean up, and get in and out all day.
Rent before you build
One of Grant’s strongest recommendations is simple. Before spending serious money on a van build, rent vans and see what works for you.
That advice comes directly from his own experience. In his first build, he chose things because they looked good or seemed like the right idea at the time. Now, when customers are preparing for a major build, he encourages them to spend money up front renting different vans so they can learn what they like before committing to a full build.
That may feel like an extra expense, but it can prevent much bigger mistakes.
A van build can easily become an exercise in imagined use. You think you need a certain cabinet, bed size, shower, fridge, or finish because it looks right in someone else’s setup. Then you spend real nights in the van and realize your habits are different.
Grant gives a simple example with bed size. Some people told him he did not need a queen bed. But with two people and a dog, he quickly learned that a smaller bed did not work for him. Again, the point is not that every van needs a queen bed. The point is that your real use should decide what will work best for you.
Spending time in rental vans will reveal things a spreadsheet cannot.
For a broader planning framework, VLO’s guide on how to build a camper van without getting stuck walks through why purpose should come before tools, layouts, or shopping.
Build around how you actually use the van
Grant’s current layout philosophy was shaped by use, not theory.
After the first van, he moved toward a more adaptable setup with Adventure Wagon and L-track because it allowed things to be mounted and changed more easily. That flexibility mattered because it gave him room to adjust the van as his needs became clearer.
He also explains why he generally avoided indoor showers for a long time. His thinking was practical. If you are traveling in a city, there are often gym showers or other options. If you are in the middle of nowhere, an outdoor shower can work, even in cold conditions, if you have hot water and the van’s heat running.
That may not be the right choice for every builder, and Grant says FreedomVanGo has more recently started doing indoor showers in some vans. But the reasoning is useful. A shower is not just a feature. It is space, plumbing, cost, weight, complexity, and maintenance. If you will truly use it, it may be worth it. If not, it may be taking over space that could serve you better in another way.
This is where Grant’s advice lines up with a bigger Vanlife Roadmap theme. Good van decisions are rarely about copying someone else’s build. They are about understanding what kind of travel you are actually trying to support.
Some cuts do not give you a second chance
When Grant talks about practical build advice, one line stands out.
“Measure 48 times before you make that first cut.”
That came from experience. He tells a story about installing bunk windows early on and realizing after the cut that one measurement was about an inch off. The window still worked, but it was higher than he wanted. The mistake was fixable enough, but it left a mark.
For DIY builders, that is a useful reminder. Some parts of a van build are forgiving. Others are not. Cutting holes for windows, fans, or other exterior components deserves extra patience because the cost of being wrong is high.
This is also a good example of why van building can be both empowering and stressful. You can learn a lot and do more than you think, but confidence should not replace careful prep. A van is not a blank canvas in the abstract. It is a vehicle, and some decisions become permanent very quickly.
Electrical is different
Grant is encouraging about DIY work, but he draws a harder line around electrical systems.
He sees electrical as one of the hardest parts of a van build because there is so much information, and much of it comes with bias. Some people recommend one battery brand, others recommend another. Some people push full Victron systems, while others point builders toward simpler power kits. In Grant’s view, the challenge is not just finding information. It is understanding the tradeoffs behind each option.
His advice is not to skip the research. He says builders should put real time into learning. But if someone spends dozens of hours trying to understand electrical and still does not feel comfortable, he recommends paying someone.
The reason is straightforward. Bad electrical work can do more than annoy you. It can damage the van or create a real fire risk. Grant says he has seen fires in vans from DIY electrical work done incorrectly.
That does not mean every builder needs the most expensive system. It means the electrical system should match the builder’s needs, and the installation should be done safely. A simpler system that is understood and installed correctly is better than a complicated one chosen because it looked impressive online.
VLO’s camper van electrical diagrams and camper van electrical planning resources are good next steps for builders trying to compare system types before buying components.
You do not need all the fancy stuff to start
Near the end of the conversation, Grant gives one of the most useful pieces of advice for future vanlifers.
Do not start with a full build. Put a mattress in the back, add a fridge or cooler, and go use the van.
That advice cuts through a lot of noise. The internet can make it seem like vanlife requires a long list of expensive parts before you are allowed to begin. Grant pushes back on that. He points out that people were having great experiences decades ago with much simpler vans.
His point is not that nice parts are bad. FreedomVanGo builds vans, sells parts, and works with people who want more capable setups. But he is clear that much of what people see in modern vanlife is a luxury, not a requirement.
A heater, air conditioner, electrical system, roof rack, suspension upgrade, super singles, shower, and cabinetry may all be useful in the right situation. But “useful” is not the same as “necessary.” Grant’s advice is to separate what you want from what you truly need, then make the choice honestly.
If you want the upgrade, that is fine. Just do not convince yourself it is required before you have tested how you actually travel.
When you are ready for a complete system, Vanlife Outfitter’s build-your-own electrical system bundle can help organize the choices – and reach out to our support team if you want to talk through your plans and ensure you get what you need.
Saying no can be part of doing better work
Grant also talks about FreedomVanGo as a business, and one theme connects directly back to van building itself – focus matters.
He says they say no to far more projects than they say yes to. That may sound strange for a business, but his reasoning is practical. If a shop is not good at something, or if the work is not a fit for how they build, taking the project can be unfair to the customer. Figuring everything out on a customer’s van takes time, and customers are paying for that time.
That mindset shaped the way FreedomVanGo grew. Grant describes starting in a two-car garage, helping local people, installing fans and electrical packages, and eventually moving into a warehouse. The growth was real, but it was not framed as growth for its own sake. He talks more about focus, fit, and not trying to become everything to everyone.
For DIY builders, the same principle applies. A good build is not a pile of good ideas. It is a set of choices that work together – and sometimes the smartest decision is leaving something out.
The bigger lesson for DIY builders
Grant’s story comes back to a simple idea: Use the van before you overbuild it.
Learn what matters to you. Be careful with permanent decisions. Take electrical seriously. Be honest about the difference between what you need and what you want.
A good camper van build does not have to be the most impressive version of someone else’s layout. It has to support the way you actually travel.
Related resources from Vanlife Outfitters
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Vanlife Roadmap podcast – More conversations about real van build decisions
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How to Build a Camper Van Without Getting Stuck – Start with purpose before layouts and shopping
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Camper Van Electrical Planning – Plan power around how you actually use the van
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Free Camper Van Electrical Diagrams – Example systems for DIY van builders
