Resources, ideas and tips
for van builds, life on the road
and earning a remote income.
Van Build
VAN BUILD DETAILS
A complete overview of everything that went in to our van conversion. This is a great place to start if you’re looking for all the basic details of our build.
HOW TO GET HOT WATER IN YOUR VAN
We use the heat from our engine to heat our water, giving us a full 16 litres of water after just 15 minutes of driving. Here you’ll find our full installation process.
SPRINTER VAN BATHROOM
All the build details on our Sprinter van bathroom as well as full information for our toilet and shower.
VAN BUILD: PIGLET'S BED
How we built Piglet’s van dog bed including all the details on our sliding barn door. Part of our Camper Van Build Series.
BUILD A DIY VAN ROOF RACK
A step-by-step guide on how we built an affordable DIY van roof rack and all the items you’ll need to do the same.
COOKING ON INDUCTION: PROS & CONS
We cook on induction in our van and have no gas at all. After a year of cooking with electric here’s our complete list of pros and cons.
VAN LAYOUT & HAPPIJAC BED LIFT
Click here for all the information around how we decided on our van layout and why we opted for a Happijac Bed Lift.
BUILDING YOUR VAN FOR WINTER
Our van build essentials for undertaking a van conversion that will keep you cosy throughout the coldest of winter months, even to -30°c!
We’re Ceri, Will and Piglet and together we make up the To the Mountains and Back team! We’ve been travelling in our self converted Sprinter van since the beginning of 2019.
Here we’ll be sharing all things van life, including how we built our van, tips for life on the road, van life logistics and ways of earning a remote income. We hope our content will inspire you, whether that’s to take the plunge into van life, build that dream weekend van or to travel a little more. Whilst you’ll often find us heading to the mountains and back, we like a bit of beach life too. Anything goes! Hope to see you on the road soon!
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Latest Posts
Lewis and Harris are part of the Outer Hebrides archipelago located around 43 miles off the west coast of Scotland. There’s an incredible 119 islands that make up the Outer Hebrides but very few of them are inhabited now. Often referred to as separate islands, Lewis and Harris are actually located on one landmass, making them the perfect place to visit by campervan.
Aug 23, 2021
The Callanish Stones (or Tursachan Chalanais in Gaelic) are a 5000-year-old mystery that look like something straight out of Outlander! Older than Stonehenge, this incredible stone circle complex features a series of stones arranged in a cross shape with a central circle and 4.8m tall centre stone.
If you’re visiting Lewis and Harris or are a fan of the fantasy series Outlander the Callanish Stones are a must-see. Luckily this enchanting area is really easy to get to, completely free and open 24/7!
Jul 24, 2021
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We’ve been searching for the perfect camping slipper for a while now (anything to get Will out of a certain shoe that will remain nameless!). As we spend a lot of time outdoors, we need something that’s really durable with good grip but also super comfy, especially for wearing after a long hike or a day’s skiing!
Jul 12, 2021
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About to embark on your first van build? Congratulations! We know how exciting it is and how eager you can be to jump right in. Get these first few planning stages right and we’re sure your van conversion will go perfectly.
We did lots of research for our van and yet we still made a few mistakes during our build that we’d definitely try and do differently on another conversion.
Jun 23, 2021
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If you’re anything like me a cold outdoor shower in the middle of winter might not sound very appealing! Luckily, there’s now lots of solutions for getting your campervan equipped with hot water so you can enjoy a lovely (albeit quick!) hot shower no matter where you are.
Apr 05, 2021
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We’ve been living and travelling in our van for over two years now and we’re always being asked if there’s anything we would change about our van. We’re really happy with how our van turned out and whilst we’ve made a few minor changes along the way she’s still pretty perfect to us! That being said, if we ever do another van build there are 10 van build changes we would definitely make.
Mar 17, 2021
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Want to know what we think of our Happijac bed lift? We’re always being asked whether we like it and if we’d fit another one if we did another van build, so, by popular demand, here’s our Happijac bed lift review!
Mar 01, 2021
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I think it’s fair to say 2020 didn’t really work out like any of us planned! We’d hoped to spend around 9 months of the year living in our van and travelling around Europe. In the end, however, I think we managed around 3 months or maybe slightly more.
Jan 07, 2021
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We love a bit of winter van life! We’ve spent two winters in our van and there’s nothing better than opening your door to a foot of fresh snow, just waiting for the hound to dive in to! Our very first trip in Genevieve (our van) was skiing in the Alps. Then we straightaway headed north to the Arctic for a month in Norway. We had a lot of snow and survived temperatures as low as -29.7ºc (that’s -21.4ºf for our American friends!).
Dec 10, 2020
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Looking for the perfect gift for outdoor lovers or vanlifers this Christmas? Look no further! We’ve pulled together a list of some of our favourite products, some of which we already use and others that we’d love to try. Whether you’re shopping for an adrenaline junky, a weekend adventurer or even a travelling dog, we’ve got you covered!
Nov 24, 2020
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It’s that time of year again! The weather is getting colder, it’s dark ridiculously early and you’re desperately hunting for all your winter layers. Unless you’re planning on chasing the sun this winter you’re definitely going to need some form of campervan heating to keep you cosy and comfortable.
Nov 17, 2020
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The Lifesaver Jerrycan is a water carrier and filter in one. It’s perfect for life on the road as it allows you to take water from anywhere and make it safe to drink. It stores 18.5lt of water which is filtered as and when you need it, perfect for drinking, cooking and washing.
Nov 10, 2020
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