Nohma van conversion | Vanlife Freedom Interview

Inside Nohma’s Vanlife World: Tips, Stories, and Insights

Read the full Nohma Van Conversion interview by Alex Brown published in issue 14. Photos by Nohma (previously Climbing Van).

Discover the journey behind vanlife with Charlie and Dale in this Nohma van conversion interview. From quitting their jobs to building a bright yellow campervan named Ringo, they share the highs and lows of designing a mobile home for climbing adventures. Learn how their experience inspired The Van Conversion Bible and get expert tips for creating your own dream van conversion.

Charlie & Dale, founders of Nohma Van Conversion

Charlie and Dale, climbers and authors of Van Conversion Bible, turned their dream of a mobile climbing home into reality with a bright yellow van named Ringo. “We are both climbers and ever since we met we had both dreamed of having a little climbing home on wheels to take wherever we wanted to climb,” they explain.

Over 12 months, they converted the van themselves, from electrics to plumbing to woodwork. “We spent just over 12 months converting the van, and completed the entire build ourselves, from electrics to plumbing to all of the woodwork.” Today, their campervan is fully equipped for life on the road, reflecting their love of adventure and freedom — and inspiring others to do the same.

This is just a glimpse into Charlie & Dale’s vanlife journey — read the full interview, complete with behind-the-scenes insights and photos, in the latest issue of Advanture Magazine.

DIY Journey Begins: Converting a Dream into a Yellow Campervan

For Charlie and Dale, vanlife didn’t start as a full-time plan—it grew out of a shared dream and unexpected circumstances. In the full Nohma van conversion interview story, you’ll find out exactly how it went. “When we first met back in 2016, we both had a dream of one day converting a van for climbing trips. Then, in February 2019 we took the plunge and bought a bright yellow ex-DHL courier van, which we named Ringo (think The Beatles – Yellow Submarine!),” they recall. After spending a year converting Ringo into a rock climbers’ home on wheels, their plans were derailed by the UK’s first lockdown. “So, the start of vanlife for us was delayed by a year. But in April 2021, we finally quit our jobs, moved out of our house and into our campervan to start three years of full-time vanlife.”

Both brought unique professional backgrounds to their new life on the road. Charlie, with a degree in Physics and Astrophysics, had climbed the ranks to Head of Analytics & Insight in adventure travel, while Dale’s career in Product Design and engineering took him to roles including Lead Engineer at Dyson. When the pandemic and furlough disrupted their careers, they pivoted their focus. “We had documented our conversion online and on social media, and when we finished we received lots of questions every day about different aspects of the build. We realised that there was no definitive guide on how to convert a campervan, so we set about writing one of our own.” Their journey from job loss to full-time vanlife became both a lifestyle transformation and the inspiration for The Van Conversion Bible.

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Creating The Van Conversion Bible: From Idea to Finished Book

Charlie and Dale took a hands-on approach to writing The Van Conversion Bible, relying entirely on their own skills to bring the project to life. “We set out to write our book completely by ourselves. We decided not to use a publisher as we believed that between the two of us, we had all of the skills needed,” they explain. Their backgrounds in science, engineering, and design allowed them to craft the content, design the layouts, and even produce most of the photographs and graphics themselves, ensuring the book reflected their vision and expertise.

While most of the work was in-house, they knew the front cover needed to make a statement. “The only job we outsourced was the front cover, as we knew that it had to ‘wow’ and catch the readers’ eye. We found an amazing illustration studio in France called Fagostudio, who we commissioned to create the perfect front cover.” To cover the initial print run costs, they partnered with sponsors, including Dometic, for advertising spaces, allowing them to maintain creative control while sharing their knowledge with a growing audience of vanlife enthusiasts.

Budget Vanlife: How to Build a Camper on £10–15k

Charlie and Dale emphasize that creating a van on a modest budget is all about making smart compromises. “You’ll probably want to start with an older but solid van, something like a Ford Transit or FIAT Ducato, ideally from 2013 or later to ensure it’s at least rated Euro 5. They’re generally more affordable, still reliable if well looked after, and give you decent space to work with.” For cost efficiency, they suggest a smaller model, such as an L2H2, which saves money upfront while still leaving room for a comfortable interior.

When it comes to the interior, Charlie and Dale advise investing in the essentials. “We’d definitely still invest in the bits that matter inside, such as good quality ply and timber, and a solid electrical system. Cutting corners on those can come back to bite you later. We always recommend Victron components, even for smaller, lower budget systems — it’s just so much more reliable and it’s not worth scrimping here.” According to them, a £10–15k budget is perfectly doable, but it requires careful planning and a few extra weekends with tools in hand.

This interview is only a fraction of what’s inside Advanture Issue 14. Discover the full vanlife story, conversion insights, and a host of other adventure features packed into the print edition. Limited copies available — order yours today!