From Japanese Import to Australian Adventure Machine
Matt and Chrissy kick off their epic DIY camper van conversion, transforming a 2016 Toyota Hiace Super Long Wheelbase High Top 4x4 into their perfect off-grid home on wheels.
Meet Sugar Van
Our journey begins with this exceptional Toyota Regius Ace - a low-mileage JDM import with genuine 4WD capability. Learn why this specific model is ideal for Australia's challenging landscapes and why Toyota's reputation for reliability makes it the perfect foundation for van life.
The Master Plan
We reveal our complete conversion strategy: Space optimization in the SLWB configuration Climate-appropriate insulation techniques Balancing livability with practicality Safety considerations for high-roof vehicles Design choices that maintain resale value Long-term durability planning
Series Preview
This marks the beginning of our comprehensive van build documentation. We'll share every triumph, challenge, and lesson learned as we create our mobile sanctuary. Whether you're planning your own conversion or just love transformation projects, this series offers genuine insights into the van life reality.
Perfect for viewers interested in: Van life lifestyle and culture DIY vehicle modifications Toyota 4x4 capabilities Off-grid living solutions Australian travel and camping
Chapter Breakdown: 0:00 Planning Our Toyota Hiace Build for Optimal Space Use 0:17 Introduction to Our Hiace 1:00 How the Sugar Van was named 1:53 Our Vision for the Campervan 3:18 What to expect in the Campervan Conversion series 3:32 Our futureproofing considerations 4:48 Driving considerations after your renovation
Follow our complete van build transformation from concept to completion!
Keywords: van life, Toyota Hiace, camper conversion, 4x4, DIY build, off-grid living, Australia, JDM import, vehicle modification
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00:00Off they go, bags in tow. Matt and Chrissy hit the road. Maps unfold, stories told. Adventure's never getting old. Matt and Chrissy roam so free through the city, past the sea, finding joy in every night.
00:17G'day guys. Matt and Chrissy here from Couple of Sitters and guess what we have got?
00:22We bought a bag. Look, I can almost stand up in it. You can stand up.
00:27Yeah, touching the ceiling.
00:29So what did we get, Chris?
00:31We purchased a Toyota Hi-Ace, super long wheelbase with a high roof, four wheel drive, jack and port. It's a Regus Ace model.
00:42So we had a bit of an interesting chat when we were picking the vehicle up and one of our friends who came with us, you should have seen that video. If not, check the link.
00:53Pretty cool. He gave us some really, really helpful tips when it came to looking at the vehicle and making sure that it was mechanically sound.
01:00And he looked at the Regus part of it and he said, oh, you can call it Rodriguez. I've never named a vehicle before.
01:06So that led us down an interesting little path and we went from Rodriguez to Sugar Man and I couldn't get the Sugar Man song out of my head. That is a cool song.
01:16So now we have Sugar Van.
01:18Sugar Van.
01:19Sounds a little bit like a pimp mobile.
01:21It does. We are going to pimp the Sugar Van.
01:25That's the plan. We're going to pimp the Sugar Van.
01:28So what is it that we're looking at doing today?
01:32So we're going to get some measurements of our interior and we've already done a little bit of research which we'll share with you in relation to the ideas that we're going to throw together to kit out the van and turn it into a nice little camper.
01:49So we reckon we could quite easily get the insulation and the flooring done.
01:54So insulation along the sides.
01:56We're going to pull the roof out and do the top of that as well.
01:59With the side panels you can see here, we probably can see them more better from the front there, who knows.
02:04They're side panels.
02:06I'm going to put this down just to...
02:09Yeah, well that seat, that's going to be coming out.
02:12Yeah, Matt wants to get rid of the seat. It's a bit of a conversation of contest, that one.
02:17The rationale behind it is that it does take up a lot of space for what it is and I think we'll be able to utilise the area more effectively.
02:27But these panels, we'll pop these off. We'll do the insulation behind them.
02:32So initially we're just going to take it in stages.
02:34We've obviously laid a lot of cash out to buy this little beauty.
02:40But we don't want to rush into spending $30,000 plus on a fit-out when we can potentially halve our costs and make it a little bit more unique.
02:52Yeah. So today, measuring.
02:56Yes.
02:57Yeah.
02:57We do have the benefit, not sure how well you can see it on the camera right now, but we do have the benefit in that this van came with a plastic vinyl flooring.
03:10So we're actually going to use the vinyl flooring as a guide when we're cutting our material for the floor.
03:17Yeah.
03:18There will be some cool little tricks and tips that we're going to share along the way here that came courtesy of Dommo with his extensive experience in mechanics.
03:27Yep.
03:28Making sure you don't need to rip your floor up.
03:30Yes.
03:31If you do have a Toyota Hi-Ace, there is a filter in the floor of the main cabin area of the van.
03:41And so when people are kitting out their camper vans, quite often they'll just cover it over.
03:48And mechanically that's a really bad idea because if something happens and the mechanic needs to get to that filter,
03:56and the change is that they have to go underneath rather than through the top,
04:02we're talking about probably three hours worth of work versus 15 minutes.
04:06So they're going to charge you for that time.
04:09And that could cost a bundle.
04:11So what filter is it that we need to make sure we keep accessible there, Chris?
04:14So that is the fuel filter.
04:17Hence why we don't want the mechanic having to drop the fuel tank out of the base of the van
04:25because they'll have to hoist it up obviously.
04:27And being a high van as well, I imagine in a mechanic's shed, there's only so much room that they have.
04:33Yeah.
04:34Yeah, I suppose by the time we get the solar on top of this and one of the airflow units installed,
04:39it could have a 2.45 metre clearance.
04:41And if you're chucking that on a hoist in a workshop, that could present some challenges.
04:46For sure.
04:47Now, yesterday you were sharing a few helpful hints from a driving perspective
04:54because this style of van, once you add that extra height on, is not going to drive like a car.
05:01So there's a few things we need to consider.
05:04One is you're going to be limited to where you can drive.
05:09So no more underground parking, no more driving in towered parking lots and stuff like that.
05:17We need to make sure that we can actually fit in the space because it is a high vehicle.
05:23But more importantly, which is what you shared with me yesterday, is you're going to have to change the way we drive.
05:28Yeah, your driving habits might need to shift.
05:30If you're used to being in a vehicle that sits lower and closer to the ground,
05:33you might have taken corners with a bit more speed.
05:37And next time you are driving, when you're doing that, just feel how much you pull with that momentum shifting
05:44in the opposite direction of which way you're steering.
05:47So if you're steering to the left, going around a corner, getting onto a motorway,
05:51you'll feel that you'll start to lean to the right.
05:54As you increase the height of a vehicle and the vehicle's centre of gravity increases as well,
05:59so there's more weight further up, that weight on those sorts of corners,
06:04particularly if you're turning at speed, does present a bit of a challenge as far as a vehicle's potential to roll.
06:11Now that's not saying that there's something like this would roll once we've got the air unit and the solar panels and everything on top.
06:17It may well still be able to take those corners at that sort of speed,
06:21but you just need to be mindful that the higher the vehicle, the higher the centre of gravity on those corners,
06:28speed is a role factor.
06:30Yeah.
06:31So the main thing to consider is that we're not driving a little Suzuki Swift anymore,
06:37and yeah, it's not a race track.
06:40So take it slow, people.
06:42Be safe.
06:43You want to take care of your vehicle so that it lasts the distance.
06:47These vehicles have a really good track record,
06:50and there are some people have, what was it, 1.3 million kilometres or something.
06:55Yeah, that was what we saw last month.
06:57That we saw.
06:581.3 million k's and the engine finally died.
07:00Finally died.
07:01Now that is fantastic.
07:03That's very rare in a vehicle.
07:05And yes, the technology has changed, so the kilometres may not be as much of a factor,
07:10although people still look at the kilometres and have a bulk factor.
07:14Well, that was something that was key for us with this.
07:16So if we pick the unit that we've got because it had low kilometres,
07:21it's got maybe 50,000 kilometres.
07:2353,000.
07:24Yeah, not a lot.
07:26So it really gives us the opportunity to be able to make sure that we've got a good start with the vehicle.
07:31There's not a long history of it having been used and thrashed around,
07:35so we're happy with that.
07:37And I'm a little bit mindful.
07:40I don't know that this is everybody's thing.
07:43This is a JAP import, so we are the first Australian owners outside of the importer.
07:49But for me, one of the big things was that because we've bought this new,
07:58obviously not many people have had a chance to drive it like a few.
08:04Oh, yeah.
08:05So we're going to leave it there.
08:06We're going to see what's going on with these dogs behind here.
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