A SAVVY man has revealed how he converted an old yellow DHL delivery van into a chic and cosy hotel on wheels.
After being inspired by the prominent ‘van life’ trend content on social media, Tom Leatham decided to get creative and sample a slice of the nomad life himself.
So, he purchased an ex-DHL van for £8k using money he'd saved for a house deposit and spent a further £5k designing and recreating a whole kitchen and living space from scratch.
To make the money back, Tom has since listed the van ‘Colman’ – named after the famous yellow mustard – on Camplify, one of the biggest global operators in the peer-to-peer RV rental market worldwide.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Tom explains: “The money was a mixture of regular savings and inheritance, that was due to be used as a deposit for a house."
"My fiancée wasn’t very happy – if we hadn’t made the money back so quickly through Camplify, I may have not been around to tell the story!”
READ MORE ON TINY HOMES
ROLL WITH IT
Why you need to keep your toilet paper in the fridge
GET YOUR MITTS OFF
DIY whizz reveals 80p trick to paint your home in an instant
After seeing countless videos of motorhome adventures, I decided that I wanted to have a go at it myself.
"With new motorhomes costing tens of thousands pounds to buy, I knew that I had to make a go of a van conversion of my own.
FABULOUS VEGAS: JOIN TO CLAIM £100 BONUS PLUS 50 FREE SPINS
"As well as being massively rewarding, I learned so much in terms of DIY skills, even learning from ‘how-to’ style videos on YouTube.
"I work as a Dental Technician, so I knocked up a quick render of how I wanted the interior to look on 3D CAD software we use in the practice – after a bit of trial and error, I’d say it was bob on!”
Most read in Fabulous
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Mum reveals regrets at having twins and says they’re needy & clingy
CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER
You’ve been eating Pringles all wrong – you lose half the flavour
TAKE NOTE
Gynaecologist shares embarrassing mistake ‘95% of women make’ before an exam
BRAD-Y BUNCH
Brad & Angelina’s bizarre rules for kids – including ban on Googling parents
After months of hard work converting the van and to make money back, Tom listed the van ‘Colman’ – named after the famous yellow mustard – on Camplify, one of the biggest global operators in the peer-to-peer RV rental market worldwide.
Standing at eight feet high, Colman is the perfect size for a home-on-the-road, as most will be able to stand up in the living area quite comfortably.
Along with its super stylish Scandinavian-inspired interior, it has all the necessities needed for a holiday on the open road – mains power (no hookup needed), heated outdoor shower, king-size bed with bed linen, solar panels, toilet, fridge, and outdoor furniture.
"I do love Scandi-style home interiors, and I wanted to channel the same theme here," he says .
"It’s an interior that seems to suit everywhere it goes – it’s a mobile chic cabin."
For those who like a caffeine boost at the start of their adventurous days, Colman even includes a Nespresso machine.
“I’ve been all over in Colman – from big adventures to the New Forest and all over Wales and Snowdonia to short weekend trips down to the south coast – Colman has never let us down," Tom explains.
"This year, we plan on ticking the North Coast 500 box and heading up to Scotland for a couple of weeks – it’s the ultimate road trip.
"Because we are based in St Albans, Colman is situated perfectly for any Londoners wanting to escape the city."
He adds: “The best thing about owning a converted motorhome like Colman is that I’m able to leave the busy life and go away whenever I feel like it.
"I’m pretty proud of what I have created – a warm and toasty home away from home!"
Source: Read Full Article