In the fall of 2021 I discovered the #vanlife movement and spent the next six months watching every YouTube video and reading every blog post and article I could find about the subject. I became enamored (obsessed?) with the idea of building my own little camper van.
After nearly a year of dreaming, on May 13, 2022 (Friday the 13th!) I took the plunge and purchased a 2007 Ford Econoline E250 cargo van with 128,000 miles for $6,500.
In its former life my van was a coin-op delivery vehicle and, before that, I believe, a cable installer’s van. The rear of the van had metal shelves and the windows were covered with metal security grates. In fact, everything behind the front seats was metal.
Between then and now the van has gone through many changes. Everything inside the van had to be removed. The inside of the van was sanded and painted. A floor mat and eventually walls and insulation were added, too. All of this has been documented both on this website and on my YouTube channel.
I toyed around with several names for the van (“the Yeti”, the “Happiness Hotel”, “Happy”) but in the end we just started calling it Big Rob’s Van.
I’m a married father of two who has no intentions of ever selling my “sticks and bricks” home and moving into a van full-time. However, I do enjoy adventures, new experiences, and writing about those things. Through the van I have enjoyed more time outdoors at lakes and campsites. I also enjoy road trips and have discovered stealth camping (parking and sleeping in places not designated as official overnight parking spots). People argue over the definition of stealth camping and whether or not it qualifies as camping at all. I’m less interested in labels and more interested in having fun and enjoying myself.
Below are the primary places you can find Big Rob’s Van content:
WWW: BigRobsVan.com
YouTube: BigRobsVan (video content)
Instagram: BigRobsVan (pictures and more)
Facebook: BigRobsVan (links to updates)
Gmail: BigRobsVan (ask me anything!)
And, here are ways you can support me and my content:
Amazon Affiliate Links: Amazon Links (I get a few pennies if you use these links)
Buy Me A Coffee: Buy Me A Coffee (good for one-time donations)
Patreon: Patreon.com (good for on-going support)
All of these links (and a few more) can be found here: BigRobsVan.com/Links
My interest in #vanlife is only one of my many interests. Outside the van I’m an IT professional living in Oklahoma who enjoys writing, blogging, and podcasting. I currently host four monthly podcasts, most of which are about old video games and retro computers. To discover what I’m up to besides working on a van, check out the following link:
Rob’s Links: RobOHara.com/Links
Special thanks to my dad for all the automotive tips, my pals Jeff and Andy for all the help with repairs and installations, my buddy Sean for all the brainstorming and dreaming, and most of all my wife Susan who has been putting up with this van nonsense for four years and counting.