If you're active on TikTok, you're bound to have seen some of the amazing ways in which people have transformed their vans into Pinterest-worthy living spaces.
Over the past three years, details of vehicle conversions made to revenue showed that hundreds of people in Ireland are opting for a van over bricks and mortar. But what is the big appeal?
Dylan Bradley joined Louise McSharry on RTÉ 2FM to talk about Louise about the conversion, the practicalities and tips for anyone considering their own #Vanlife.
Dylan and his partner Luiza originally opted to convert a van into a home on wheels because they wanted to hit the road and travel the world. Seeing so many van conversions on social media, the couple decided to put their blood, sweat and tears into making their dream mobile home.
"We bought a completely unrenovated Renault Master van," Dylan told Louise. "It was a work van, so it had a lot of bits that they had installed that we had to take out - it was a lot even just clearing it out and getting it ready to start."
"We didn't have any DIY experience, we just learned everything on YouTube - there's so many resources out there to learn everything. My girlfriend, Luiza, has a really good eye for design so she kind of planned most of the layout. We did it all together but we had no experience."
Converting a van into a livable space is no small task, and the couple had to rip everything out and start again in order to get it right. Now, though, they say the van has practically everything their apartment has - except an indoor shower.
Charged by both the car engine and solar panels, the vehicle runs off batteries and is fully capable of powering up a TV, Playstation, laptop or any other home comforts you may want on your travels.
And although the two have put their heart and soul into making the Renault as cosy as possible, Dylan says they can't totally give up on their apartment just yet.
"We still have our apartment as our home address," he says. "That's another issue, insurance companies don't want people living in their van full time, they won't insure you. It's not our primary address, we just travel in it a lot."
So, if you're considering adopting a #VanLife, how much money should you be setting aside?
"We spent more than necessary because of all the mistakes," admits Dylan. "We spent way more on materials than we should have but people do conversions, including the van, for €5,000 up to €50,000 - some are insane."
His top piece advice for those considering a conversion? Plan, plan, and plan some more.
"If I could do it again, I would choose what van I wanted, choose my budget, plan it and then order all the parts in one go."
Listen back to the full chat with Louise McSharry on RTÉ 2FM here.
