Clearing Out Years of \"Not Mine\"

Before I could even begin building the van...

The very first job was stripping everything out of it.

The van had previously been a Milwaukee Tools work van, so the inside was full of commercial fittings and equipment that all needed to go.

There were heavy metal shelves, metal ceiling pieces, yellow grab handles, side panels, a thick rubber floor mat, tie-down bolts, signage above the headliner, and a metal cargo barrier separating the cab from the back of the van.

And every single bit of it had to be removed solo.

This is what it looked like inside.

What I didn’t realise at the time was just how many bolts and screws were involved. Hundreds, honestly.

Some came out easily,

The smile of accomplishment.

But others absolutely refused to move. A few screws were stripped completely, which meant I had to learn new ways to remove them as I went along.

Van build tip: Buy a Dremel!

Those stripped screws that laugh at your screwdriver? No problem. Pop on a metal cutting disc, put on your safety glasses, and cut a single slot across the screw head. Then use a flat-head screwdriver to remove it.

Honestly, this little tool saved me so much frustration during the van clean-out phase!

It was dirty work, frustrating at times, and far more physically demanding than I expected.

But little by little, piece by piece, the van slowly started emptying out.

Until finally… it was cleared.

This huge first step was done, and I had completed it by myself. I was utterly exhausted, but it was a happy exhaustion. For the first time, I was starting to feel as though I could accomplish anything.

And remember... if I can do it, so can you!

Every chapter is still unfolding. Thanks for being here and sharing the journey with me.

There’s still so much more to come.

A Quick Note About This Blog

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Every product I recommend and link, is something I have personally purchased and used during my van build. If I didn't find it useful, I didn't recommend it!

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Thanks for being here and cheering on the Little Red Engine! 🚐❤️

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