Out of all the dwellings that Ethan and Katelynn Hunter have lived in, their favorite is a 2020 Ram ProMaster. “We designed our van to have everything we need, and all the comforts that a standard-size house brings,” Katelynn says. “We sacrificed nothing.”

When Ethan, a builder and a musician, and Katelynn, a coffee roaster, decided to try out van life, they were living in an apartment in Nashville, Tennessee. “Our landlord told us our rent would double the next year,” Katelynn says. “We both had multiple jobs, and the thought of putting most of our income toward rent every month with nothing to show for ourselves made us sick.”

Even though they each had several jobs, they couldn’t afford to pay a mortgage or fulfill their longtime desire to travel. To find financial freedom, they began researching small-space living. “We started watching videos on YouTube about tiny homes and alternative living, and stumbled on van life,” Katelynn says. Inspired by YouTube videos, they attended the Asheville Van Life Rally in North Carolina and became convinced that the lifestyle suited them.

“We got back to Nashville, told our landlord we weren’t renewing our lease, and sold everything we owned,” Katelynn says. The couple moved in with friends while they saved up for a down payment on a 2018 Ram ProMaster, which they purchased two months later in January 2019.

Soon after they purchased the van, Ethan and Katelynn drove to Southwest Florida, where they rebuilt the interior, using Ethan’s dad’s construction workshop. “It took almost a year and half while working full-time jobs,” Katelynn says.

They lived in the van for a year and then sold it, with plans to rebuild a second van. “We put the money we made from the sale into our current van, a 2020 Ram ProMaster,” Katelynn says. “We’ve been in this one for about three months now. It seems similar to our last, but the littlest things make a big difference when you live in a small space.”

The couple spent $25K and three months converting their second van, which they purchased from a fleet dealership in New Hampshire for $40K. “We built it together in about three months, working on it full-time,” Ethan says. “The only things we contracted out were the manufacturing of the kitchen counters and the cushion upholstery.”

Aqua subway tile gives the bathroom a coastal feel. “Since we’re pretty conscious about weight, we built the bathroom using metal studs and Schluter Kerdi Board, which is a super lightweight material,” Katelynn says. “This is the only reason we were able to install real ceramic tile and not worry too much about added weight.”" layout="" credit="Jack Robert Photography" photoUserId=""/>

They outfitted the vehicle with a small bathroom that makes room for storage for Ethan’s guitar and recording equipment. “In our first van, one of my guitars would always be out, and I didn’t have a spot for it that was easy to get to, so it would just be left on our bed or couch during transit,” he says. “We built this van around our passions.”

The couple also built a much-needed wall between the cab and the living space of the new van. “The curtain in the other van didn’t block out all of the light coming in and out at night, so having a fixed wall with a pocket door is a huge upgrade,” Katelynn says. “The wall also makes the space feel more like a small apartment.”

The new van features an upgraded electrical system with lithium batteries that take up less space than the AGM batteries that the couple used in their first van. “We also added a DC-to-DC charger that gives the ability to charge batteries using the alternator,” Ethan says. “This has been key, especially on cloudy days when our solar panels aren’t getting as much sun.”

Sanded plywood walls, vinyl flooring, and a pine shiplap ceiling lend warmth and practicality to the interior, where Ethan and Katelynn employed plenty of storage solutions. “Most of the things we use on a daily basis are stored in our lower and overhead cabinets,” Ethan says. “I built a pull-out guitar rack next to our bathroom, but I also have a hanger on the wall for a guitar if I want to grab it or put it down when we’re stationary.”

They devised built-in benches with integrated storage, and created niches beneath the lower cabinetry and the step that leads to the dining area. “We built our dinette/bed on a platform, so we’d have storage for gear like Katelynn’s coffee roaster, a foldable kayak, and our camping gear,” Ethan says. “This is also where our electrical and plumbing systems are—you need to put every inch to good use.”

The convertible dinette/bed creates a flexible live-work environment for the couple. “Having a comfortable space was really important, since we do a lot of work from the van on our laptops,” Katelynn says. “The table is on a Lagun pedestal that swivels in every direction.”

For the dinette, they cut seating cushions from a queen-size memory foam mattress and had them upholstered with a linen-like polyester fabric. “It only takes about two minutes to convert from day mode to night mode,” Katelynn says. “We pop the table off the pedestal and place it on two slats of wood to complete the bed platform. Then, we place our four cushions side-by-side to make a queen-size mattress. Next, we flip open one of the benches, grab the bedding, and make the bed.”

One of Ethan and Katelynn’s biggest design inspirations for the van was Katelynn’s love of coffee roasting. “I’ve been a roaster for over seven years now,” she says. “It’s a creative outlet and truly brings me joy. We left our regular jobs once we moved into the van, and I still wanted to be able to enjoy my craft, so I went from large-scale production roasting to using a small one-keg roaster.”

Katelynn, who roasts on a heavy-duty table that slides out from beneath the dinette, purchases green coffee from a trusted importer. “I’m able to get coffee from small farms all over the world, and I can roast out of the back of the van without having to take anything out,” she says. “Buying this way ensures that I’m buying sustainably, as well as supporting these farmers and their local communities.” Currently, Katelynn roasts about once a month and sells to family, friends, and people who order through Instagram and email.”

Ethan’s music was another considerable source of inspiration. “In our first van, I didn’t have a great space to sprawl out my gear and write,” Ethan says. “But with the pull-out studio in this van, I’ve space to start creating again.”

After living in under 80 square feet of van space for two years, Ethan and Katelynn can’t picture living anywhere else. “We’ve everything we need with us all the time, and we can live wherever we want,” Katelynn says. “It has given us a new appreciation for things we may have taken for granted before. This lifestyle has allowed us to be even more intentional with the items we keep around us—it’s all about consuming less and creating more.”

Related Reading:

This Chevy Camper Van’s Wondrous Wooden Interior Will Make You Look Twice

A Climbing Couple Turn a Delivery Van Into an Adventure Mobile for $8.5K

Project Credits:

Design & Construction: Ethan and Katelynn Hunter / @thehuntersvanlife

Photography: Jack Robert Photography / @jackrobertphotography

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