It can be overwhelming to try and cram all of the things that you're used to in your house or apartment into a Van Build or Short Bus. Often we find ourselves giving up certain creature comforts and compromising on space, but it doesn't have to be so! Skoolie and Van videos show a lot of repetitive design ideas, but here are some unique and creative ways to keep the comforts of home while living on The Road.

We're listing them by category (Water, Solar, Kitchen, Storage, etc.), so please scroll down to find what you're looking for. Adapt these ideas to fit your own Build or lifestyle, or use them for inspiration to create even better ways to maximize space and efficiency! -Let us know if you have a great idea not listed below.

Water

Convertible Shower: - We're listing this one first, because it is a Game Changer. A Standard Shower Enclosure takes up a 3ft by 3ft space that you probably only use 20-30 minutes a day... What if you could have a full-size shower when you wanted, but extra counter space when you didn't? You can accomplish this by building an enclosure that “folds open” to form the shower, and then closes down into extra counter space after you've showered and dried off.

A DIY version of this may prove difficult to fully waterproof, so we recommend a wrap-around shower curtain, and be sure the surrounding area can take a little moisture. Also, you definitely want to be sure the enclosure has a Vent of some sort to allow it to dry out (in Both compartments). The images below should give you a rough idea of how to put one together.

Outdoor Shower: - Designing a shower for Vanlife or a Short Bus Conversion can be tricky. You either wind up with a tiny space (forcing you to perpetually bend over or turn sideways), you give up and decide to cough up the extra dough for a gym membership, or just pay to bathe at a truck stop or campground. But Wait! What if you could have a Large Shower Enclosure and not give up any kitchen or living space at all? - You Can! There are plenty of videos on this topic, so we won't go into great detail, but it essentially amounts to installing a shower fixture outside, or a faucet that will reach out the window, and coming up with an enclosure for privacy. This is easily accomplished with a portable shower tent (Click Below) or a shower rod that will mount between the open doors.

Take it a Step Further and use a Solar Shower Unit to save energy. - It's up to you if you decide to wear a bathing suit or shower in the buff. ;-)

Solar Water Heater: - Solar Swimming Pool Heaters have been around for a while, and adapting that concept to work in a Skoolie is relatively easy. There are existing kits and complete units available for purchase, but a DIY version amounts to placing Black coiled Tubing, or Pipe, inside a Plexiglas enclosure, usually mounted on the roof. This enclosure will retain more of The Sun's heat for increased efficiency. Not only will this save money and power, but might allow you to avoid the cost and installation time of a Standard Water Heater altogether. This isn't recommended for our Cold-climate Nomads, although, you can always heat water on the stove. -Click the links and Images below for inspiration. -Lots of DIY versions on YouTube.

Tech Tip: - You can get crazy on the engineering here. Use Copper Pipe, painted black, line the bottom with a reflective metal, and leave a gap for air mass. You can even go Parabolic and crank up the heat! Click Here for a video (Not ours. No ownership implied).

Recirculating Shower: - Shower as long as you want with as little as 1-2 gallons of Water! - Before you let that idea “gross you out”, bear in mind that 1). The Water is filtered each time it recirculates, and 2). If you've ever taken a Bath you were essentially sitting in (non-filtered) recirculating water at the time. The Filter will even remove the soap, so you don't have that “filmy residue”. Again, kits are available, but a Shower Head, Pump, and Filter Assembly, along with a Basin to catch the water will do the trick. (You can even plug the drain of a standard Shower Pan.) Click the images.

Gravity-Fed Plumbing: - Cut out the Pump entirely by mounting your Fresh Water Tank and a Solar Water Heater on the roof, and just let it rain down upon you! (Saving Living Space for storage and other Build elements.) - Water Tanks come in all shapes and sizes. See The Water Page. With a little creativity aerodynamics can be improved. - The water pressure may not be the best, but it is absolutely adequate. (A low flow shower head won't know the difference.)

Gravity-Fed Solar Recirculating Shower: - Take the above ideas a step further. Combine a Solar Shower, with a Solar Water Heater, and a Recirculating Pump and Filter for the best of All worlds! Couple this with a Gravity-Fed System and you are in the Driver's Seat! - A Recirculating System can also be adapted to your on-board shower, coupled with Gravity, to make life easy and free!

Solar

Tilting Solar Roof Rack: - There are several options and ideas covered in the Solar Setup Blog, but the idea of a tilting rack for Solar Panels is a recurring conversation. Factory units are available. Click the image to the right to shop, or just to scope out DIY ideas.

Battery Drawer: - Batteries are not light, and reaching into a confined space to work on them is difficult enough. How about Building a drawer on heavy slides that will allow you to pull them out for maintenance, replacement, etc. In fact, your entire collection of Solar Components (Batteries, Inverter, Charger, etc.) can be mounted in a similar way by just adding a foot or so of feed line to the appliances, and from the Panels.

Kitchen

Forget The Oven. Use a Portable!: - Many Nomads are able to get by without a full oven or even a permanent Cook top. A Portable Induction Burner, or even a Camp Stove might meet your cooking needs. A Solar Oven or Portable Camp Oven will even allow you to bake. You can run the one to the right on 1 pound Propane bottles. There is more info on the Cooking Page or in our Propane Setup Blog.

Folding or Modular Table: - Bus and Van Tour videos are full of ideas on this concept. You can spend money on a fancy bracket that will let your table fold and store out of the way, but modular and DIY options are possible with a little creative thought. Remember, a table can be for Dining, Working, and extra Prep Space. Some even give you a little added storage.

Slide out Cutting Board: - This was commonplace in older houses and even on old wooden desks. A simple slide-out or fold-up board allows for extra work space and convenience. It's easy to fabricate a “pocket” for one whether building your own cabinetry or retro-fitting a store model.

Storage

Skinny Pantry (also for the bath?): - Also Popular in Bus Tour videos is the Narrow Kitchen Pantry that slides out for spices, food-storage, etc., but what about a similar device for shampoo, lotions, and soaps in the bathroom? You can buy or fabricate these on your own, but it may be as simple as buying a narrow rolling rack and scaling up or down. - Don't forget to brace the wheels!

Dresser / Nightstand and Wall Mounted Closet: - Remember, it's all about multi-use. Buy or build a short nightstand with drawers to be used as a dresser for socks, underwear, etc. Couple that with a narrow, wall mounted “hanging closet” above it for more than enough clothes storage. *Note, a clothes hangar closet needs a minimum 18” depth and roughly 40” height, but even at 12” wide, it could still comfortably hold up to 30 shirts.

Rooftop Cargo Box: - The Roof Space of your Van or Skoolie might be spoken for in Solar Panels, Vents and Fans, and perhaps an AC unit (and Water storage). If there's any room left, it's a great place to store rarely used items like extra tools or clothing (even backup parts for the Rig).

While many Bus and Van Tour videos look similar, there's always that one idea that rings true for you. It's a great idea to start jotting these down or bookmarking as you see them.

This Blog will continue to be a work in progress. - More idea to come. - If you have an idea, send us a description (and photos and plans please!).

-Skoolie Supply

Quick Links:

Start The Engine - Establishing a Budget - Making a Living on The Road - Choosing a Rig - Do I Need A CDL? - Designing a Skoolie Build - Step By Step Build Order - Skoolie Toolbox - Doing a Build On The Cheap - 10 Tips to Save Power and Money - Skoolie Build Ideas - Solar 101 - “Inverter/Charger/Switch” or 3 Separate Devices - Simple Solar - Solar Cheat Sheet - Step by Step Solar - Water Setup - Propane Setup - Skoolie, Van, & RV Air Conditioning DE_Mystified! - Skoolie Heating - Insulation - Digital Nomad Connectivity - Choosing a Domicile State - Converting a Commercial Title - Van, Skoolie, and RV Insurance - Camping Clubs, Subscriptions, and Passes - Road-Skool / Home-School - The Simple Skoolie Kitchen