AVC Chronicles

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the blog!

Today, we're going to show you how to easily mount a Fiamma F45S Awning to your AVC Roof Rack. The great news is that our roof rack is specifically designed for this! All the slots for our crossbars line up perfectly with the standard Fiamma hardware, making this a straightforward install.

Hey guys, welcome back to the blog! Today, I’m going to be showing you how to upholster our Baltic Birch Wall Kit panels from AVC with fabric. I’ll demonstrate on a small panel, but these methods apply to all panels we provide.

Hey, welcome back to the shop! Today on AVC Chronicles, we’re wrapping your C-Pillar and the area over the passenger sliding door—two key areas that define the finished look of your interior.

Let’s get to work!

Welcome back to AVC Chronicles! Today, we’re going to be showing you how to wrap your driver’s side B-Pillar.

Wrapping the B-pillar is essential for a finished look in your van build and is surprisingly simple once you know how to handle the factory plastics.

Hey, welcome back to the blog! It's Matt here for AVC, and today we're tackling one of my biggest pet peeves in van builds: unwrapped rear columns.

Wrapping the rear columns of the Ford Transit not only finishes the insulation and sound-dampening package but also provides a clean, professional aesthetic. We're going to show you how to properly prep, foam, and cover these complex columns.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

On today's edition of the blog we're talking about how to install Unistrut. We've found that Unistrut is the most effective, safe, and versatile way to mount cabinets directly into the van's superstructure while offering endless flexibility for future modifications.

Hey everybody, Matt here at AVC and welcome back to the blog!

When you're out adventuring in your van, the places you end up—visiting family, crashing at a friend's house, or prepping the van at home—often don't have the large 30A service found at RV parks.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the blog!

On today's edition of AVC Chronicles we're showing you a crucial step to completing the flooring of your camper van: finishing the edges and adding crucial tie-down points by installing our AVC Step and Trim Kit and the specially designed L-Track from our friends over at Stay Ready (thanks, Greg, for the great US-made L-Track!).

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

Today, we're tackling the installation of those popular "pill" or "bunk" windows. While we've installed tons of windows, getting this specific style right can be tricky. Over-tightening can cause little ripples along the bottom of the window, affecting the look of your van's metal. We'll show you how to get a clean, professional fit.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the blog!

We've been working closely with Espar to ensure their D2L/S2D2L furnaces are properly integrated into the Ford Transit platform. To further this integration, we developed this custom AVC Espar Trim Unit. This unit ensures proper duct alignment, a superior fit with the Ford Transit seat base, and a professional, finished appearance.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

On our latest crew van build, we're doing something that might sound counterintuitive: we're cutting out perfectly good factory windows!

The answer is simple: more venting is always better. Controlled airflow from one end of the van to the other is crucial for comfort in a camper build. While many DIY builders are comfortable cutting metal for a new window location, removing factory bonded glass is a different beast entirely.

Hey, welcome back to AVC Chronicles! Today we’re diving into the essential first steps for preparing a brand-new Ford Transit for one of our interior wall kits. Stripping down a new van can be nerve-wracking, but understanding the factory components and where you need to add mounting points is key to a professional, safe build.

We’re going to cover what needs to come out, how to modify the foam, and those crucial factory details you need to know about hardened steel and rivnuts. Let's get to work!

Hey, welcome back to the blog! Today, we're diving into what many van builders consider the most challenging part of the interior finish: wrapping the foam "blobs" in the Ford Transit.

These irregularly shaped styrofoam pieces (designed for crash protection) are notoriously difficult to cover smoothly, but a meticulous approach and a willingness to try twice will get you a professional, wrinkle-free finish.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the shop!

The core of any successful van conversion is a robust, well-insulated floor. That’s why we’ve completely redesigned our best-selling insulated subfloor system. We’ve stepped up our manufacturing quality, improved the materials, and—most importantly for the DIY builder—made the installation process simpler and more forgiving than ever before.

On today's edition of AVC Chronicles, we're not just customizing our vans—we're customizing the ride itself! We're diving into a fun, low-cost DIY project: spray painting steel wheels for our Ford Transit.

We’ve seen the results on both spray-painted and powder-coated wheels, and the durability of a properly prepped, quality spray paint job is surprisingly resilient. This is the perfect opportunity to take those beat-up old steelies and give them some lipstick!

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

Today, we're installing one of our favorite accessories: the AVC B-Pillar Lagun Mount. This mount is a game-changer for adding a sturdy, versatile table to your van's front cab. It’s perfect for using your laptop, having a snack, or sharing a meal—and the best part is you can install it any point in your build, even if your camper is already finished!

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the shop!

Today, we're diving into the technical details of setting up and operating your Espar EasyStart Pro timer for your new Espar furnace. Mastering this controller will help you get the most efficient heat out of your system all winter long.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the shop!

So you’ve got a new van, and you're ready to turn it into your dream home on wheels. But before you get to the fun stuff like cabinets and beds, there are a couple of crucial first steps that will make a massive difference in your comfort: sound deadening and insulation.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the shop!

On today's episode, we're installing one of our most popular DIY products: the AVC Cab Locker. This is an aluminum locker designed to mount securely between the driver and passenger seats of a Ford Transit van, providing a safe, out-of-sight storage solution.

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

One of the persistent challenges of van life, especially when boondocking or exploring remote areas, can be finding a reliable hose bib to fill your water system. If you've ever tried to fill up in places like Moab, you know exactly what I'm talking about – it can be tough!

Today's project is all about solving that problem. We're going to build a DIY water transfer pump that allows you to easily fill your van's water tank from a jerry can, a bucket, or any other water source, all without needing a traditional garden hose hookup. It's a quick and simple assembly of parts that will make your adventures much smoother!

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to the shop! On today's post, we're tackling a popular van upgrade that adds valuable storage and a touch of personalization: installing an over-cab headliner shelf using Vancillary brackets.