Can I Build my own Camper Van?

I grew up with a ‘fix it’ father.

When I was in elementary school I slept on a bed frame that he built. In high school I helped him build a new house after we moved. And in college I built my first woodworking project with him.

I never went to a mechanic to get my car fixed. Instead, he would teach me how to change my oil and replace my break pads myself.

Then I bought my first van and I planned every detail of the build. I built it with his help and learned how to wire an electrical system, set up plumbing and build cabinetry.

I planned and executed every part of that van build and learned so much along the way. And throughout the build process, my dad and I bonded in a way we never had before.

But little did I know that this kind gesture & bonding experience would later be weaponized against me by hundreds of people online.

I have had all my hard work and skills invalidated and questioned simply because my dad helped me on the last build. This is a critique that my dad has never received, even though he also learned how to build from his dad.

There is still a big misconception about women who build and there are a lot of people who are quick to discard a woman’s hard work as soon as she’s received even a little bit of help from a man.

So for this next build I have set a goal for myself to build it on my own, without the help of my dad. I want to prove to myself that I am capable of building something beautiful without anyone’s help.

And at the same time, I want to make it clear that it is completely okay to receive help. We all have to learn from somewhere - whether it’s a friend, family member, or even from YouTube videos - and that does not invalidate your skills or all the work you’ve done.