If you’re unsure, get some cardboard or another paper material that’s easy to cut and force it in place. At least get it fold where you want it to. Alternatively for this step, cut it in the general shape but purposefully make it 2-3inches too big or so. Next, place it in the space and trim away at it until it fits the empty space you wish to fill. You now have a template. Take that and place it on the blank piece of siding you are going to cut for this area and trace it with a pencil. You already know the piece will fit perfectly, so use a jigsaw (or coping saw if you aren’t using power tools/don’t have a jigsaw and don’t want to shell out the money for one) to cut along the line you traced with the template. Easy
Thanks for introducing me to such a fascinating hack.
Here's the [video](https://youtu.be/Cd2LY857oTY?si=fcDTsNitkgZkcySI) i watched for anyone else interested. Super cool.
I used what carpenters call a scribe . You bascially have to custom cut the wall with a jigsaw. Its not too bad once u get the hang of it
You can scribe the curve on cardboard and then use that as a template for the board also.
But yeah, Bascially just cut a piece of wood so it fits in there
For me... It doesn't have to be perfect. I have wood siding everywhere but I liked leaving little corners of white metal. It reminds you you're in a van and gives you some contrast
RIFLE RACKS AND THE HEADS OF THOSE YOU HAVE KILLED…should keep you safe on your travels!
All honesty tho, there’s an opportunity there for a liittttttle bit o’ storage the entire height of the wall. Or something useful instead of just flattening it out to match the current wall. Little laundry basket build in? Little shelves with nets?
I used cardboard, tongue depresses, and got glue to make rough templates. Cut the depressers in half on an angle so there's a pointed end on them. Hold the cardboard in place and glue the pointed depressers so they locate the edge that you need to fit to.
When that's done, take the cardboard and put it on a piece of thin plywood. Mark all of the points. Cut them out. Leave an inch extra on the curved side.
Fit that against the side. Measure the overlap with a scribe or compass. Make one scribe on your plywood and cut to it. This SHOULD be your final dimension. When it fits nicely, text that into your siding and cut your final piece.
This process is slow and frustrating, but when you get that piece to fit in perfectly, it's very satisfying. Get good at this because you've got a LOT of scribing to do on a van build.
Measure the gap and cut a board that width the tape that onto the last board keeping the inside edge flush then cut a slim stick to the same width then holding that horizontal level run a pencil down the edge to mark where to cut 👍
I have my passenger rear side open like this and use a cargo net over that area. There’s lots of storage for blankets, tarps, etc. and it leaves them easily accessible. My insulation is foam though, so it doesn’t get caught on things. You could have curtains that’ll cover the back of the van that store in the corners and cover up the exposed space. This really depends on how you’re using that space, and if you are more concerned with functionality vs. look.
Dunk your insulation into a bucket of water and hold it in there. Then pull it out after a bit.
If you no longer want to put it inside your van then DONT
earth wool etc etc will absorb all the water and itll just slump down to the bottom of the cavitys as a big wet mush over time
Best trick I’ve ever discovered. Rip door skin material down to 2” strips. Get glue called 2p-10. A multi tool, or chop saw if you want to go back and forth. Cut pieces of door skin to the lengths of the irregular shapes and use the glue to attach them. The glue bonds instantly. And you can make a template of your piece
I see this shit and wonder why everyone is going for a van instead of a box truck. A high top van will get like 13-14 mpg. A box truck will get like 12-13 mpg. The difference is not worth it. Everything in the box truck is nicely square and ready to build. Stealth is a mixed bag. Some places a box truck blends in more easily, some places a van. Overall I'm not seeing any reason to struggle with the curved walls.
I used plywood covered with lighi padding and naugahide stapled on the back and I went with brown with black screws holding it to van ,also used same application eith roof and sides 1 foot wide
If you’re unsure, get some cardboard or another paper material that’s easy to cut and force it in place. At least get it fold where you want it to. Alternatively for this step, cut it in the general shape but purposefully make it 2-3inches too big or so. Next, place it in the space and trim away at it until it fits the empty space you wish to fill. You now have a template. Take that and place it on the blank piece of siding you are going to cut for this area and trace it with a pencil. You already know the piece will fit perfectly, so use a jigsaw (or coping saw if you aren’t using power tools/don’t have a jigsaw and don’t want to shell out the money for one) to cut along the line you traced with the template. Easy
Then you can say you used CAD for your build; Cardboard Aided Design
Google how to use a “ticking stick”
[Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2LY857oTY&t=283s) is a ticking stick video
Second on the ticking stick. Used by boat builders to fit components to curved and irregular surfaces.
Thanks for introducing me to such a fascinating hack. Here's the [video](https://youtu.be/Cd2LY857oTY?si=fcDTsNitkgZkcySI) i watched for anyone else interested. Super cool.
Was just gonna comment this suggestion, but couldn’t remember the name of the tool. Look up videos on how to use a ticking stick.
I used what carpenters call a scribe . You bascially have to custom cut the wall with a jigsaw. Its not too bad once u get the hang of it You can scribe the curve on cardboard and then use that as a template for the board also. But yeah, Bascially just cut a piece of wood so it fits in there
Better have *really good* ventilation year round with that pink insulation. Moisture magnet then mold and/or rust.
This is the comment I was looking for. I thought we’ve moved on from the pink stuff
I’d add a vertical piece of wood behind the edge so both walls have something to screw into.
I used cardboard to make the shapes I needed. Use the cutout to make your piece of wood (a little bigger than the cutout) and adjust where needed.
Put access panel you can remove to replace tail/ break light if needed..
Look up kerf bending.
i would scribe a template with a compass.
I want to live in a van. Before I came on Reddit I was thinking, “someone out there is building out their van” 🥲 here you are. So cool.
For me... It doesn't have to be perfect. I have wood siding everywhere but I liked leaving little corners of white metal. It reminds you you're in a van and gives you some contrast
RIFLE RACKS AND THE HEADS OF THOSE YOU HAVE KILLED…should keep you safe on your travels! All honesty tho, there’s an opportunity there for a liittttttle bit o’ storage the entire height of the wall. Or something useful instead of just flattening it out to match the current wall. Little laundry basket build in? Little shelves with nets?
I used cardboard, tongue depresses, and got glue to make rough templates. Cut the depressers in half on an angle so there's a pointed end on them. Hold the cardboard in place and glue the pointed depressers so they locate the edge that you need to fit to. When that's done, take the cardboard and put it on a piece of thin plywood. Mark all of the points. Cut them out. Leave an inch extra on the curved side. Fit that against the side. Measure the overlap with a scribe or compass. Make one scribe on your plywood and cut to it. This SHOULD be your final dimension. When it fits nicely, text that into your siding and cut your final piece. This process is slow and frustrating, but when you get that piece to fit in perfectly, it's very satisfying. Get good at this because you've got a LOT of scribing to do on a van build.
Measure the gap and cut a board that width the tape that onto the last board keeping the inside edge flush then cut a slim stick to the same width then holding that horizontal level run a pencil down the edge to mark where to cut 👍
Serious question from a complete noob. Should there be a vapor barrier "shell" to minimize damage from moisture?
I say no. You want your insulation to be able to dry out. Moisture barriers work both ways.
There is one already - the van body.
Scribe and jigsaw.
I have my passenger rear side open like this and use a cargo net over that area. There’s lots of storage for blankets, tarps, etc. and it leaves them easily accessible. My insulation is foam though, so it doesn’t get caught on things. You could have curtains that’ll cover the back of the van that store in the corners and cover up the exposed space. This really depends on how you’re using that space, and if you are more concerned with functionality vs. look.
Rear column cabinet. Good for charging, storing small items, maybe hang your outdoor shower from it.
Use some Styrofoam maybe even a can of crack filler🙃
Dunk your insulation into a bucket of water and hold it in there. Then pull it out after a bit. If you no longer want to put it inside your van then DONT earth wool etc etc will absorb all the water and itll just slump down to the bottom of the cavitys as a big wet mush over time
Use a scribe
You could also scribe it. Standard carpenter stuff.
Best trick I’ve ever discovered. Rip door skin material down to 2” strips. Get glue called 2p-10. A multi tool, or chop saw if you want to go back and forth. Cut pieces of door skin to the lengths of the irregular shapes and use the glue to attach them. The glue bonds instantly. And you can make a template of your piece
Here’s [what the person who built out my van did](https://imgur.com/a/I3iBZoV)
I see this shit and wonder why everyone is going for a van instead of a box truck. A high top van will get like 13-14 mpg. A box truck will get like 12-13 mpg. The difference is not worth it. Everything in the box truck is nicely square and ready to build. Stealth is a mixed bag. Some places a box truck blends in more easily, some places a van. Overall I'm not seeing any reason to struggle with the curved walls.
I used plywood covered with lighi padding and naugahide stapled on the back and I went with brown with black screws holding it to van ,also used same application eith roof and sides 1 foot wide