Frodo The Van Conversion
A small stove for a van conversion ~ the installation process
Living a slow, nomadic life travelling across the world, Jessica and her partner Risi left their 9-to-5 jobs behind in 2023 and haven’t looked back since. After a year of saving, they bought their first van, Bilbo, and set off on an adventure that took them through stunning corners of the world.
In time, their paths began to branch in new directions: Risi returned to focus on his studies, while Jessica continued her travels solo. With her faithful dog Heidi by her side, she decided that Bilbo was a little too big for just the two of them. So, Bilbo found a new home, and in his place came a smaller van—Frodo.
We were thrilled when Jessica reached out to us, dreaming of having her very own Hobbit Stove in her van. Read on to follow the installation process of a small stove for a van conversion!
Every detail inside Frodo has been chosen with care — each piece blending seamlessly to create a beautifully cohesive space. When searching for a compact stove for her van, Jessica wanted something that matched her interior’s charm while keeping the space open and uncluttered. That’s where our little Hobbit Stove came in ~ the perfect small stove for a van conversion.
From the moment she discovered it, Jessica knew it was the perfect addition to her home on wheels. After plenty of discussion with our flue and stove technician, Grace, she finally brought her dream heating setup to life.
Watch the Installation Process
The majority of the van is built from upcycled materials ~
- Jessica built a lot of areas of the van with pallet wood off-cuts from the walls and ceiling to minimise waste. Most of the furniture was built with off-cuts, and she also used them to level out uneven sections of the wall
- All of the decor was found at a local car boot sale (rugs, mirrors, bellows etc)
- Most of the jars, kitchen utensils and cutlery are thrifted/vintage
- The cabinets are vintage (found on Facebook Marketplace)
- The curtains are from a car boot sale. She altered them to fit the van windows and used the fabric off-cuts to decorate the driving area
- Jessica also used some materials that were left over from the last van build (tiles, fabrics, paints, wood stains, etc.)
Considering the environmental impact was also an essential aspect of this build, Jessica thoughtfully kitted out the van in a way that allows her to drive less, for example, relying less on the alternator charger to recharge the battery. Solar panels are installed on the roof of the van, with a spare foldable solar panel inside. There is also a large water tank with a full filtration system, meaning she doesn’t have to drive often to refill water, and the filtration system allows her to refill from rivers and lakes! Jessica also opted for fewer electric appliances in this build ~ a woodburner for a van instead of a diesel heater, a cool box instead of a fridge.
All of that — plus plenty of creativity and hard work from this amazing duo — has resulted in the most magical, whimsical, and cosy home on wheels Jessica could have imagined for her travels across Europe. Be sure to follow her journey on YouTube and Instagram.
Are you on the hunt for a small stove for a van conversion? Our Hobbit Stove has been fitted into thousands of vans, from compact campers to spacious conversions. Browse our case studies for inspiration, then take advantage of our range of small stove flue kits for vans and free bespoke flue consultancy. Get in touch to find out how our little van stove can bring warmth and charm to your home on wheels.
