Dive deeper into our DIY camper van conversion guides below. After two of our own camper van conversions, and helping countless others via Virtual Consulting, we began creating FREE DIY guides for you to do the same. Enjoy!
Looking for a good place to start? Check out our Step by Step Guide to Converting a Camper Van.
Converting your camper van with extruded aluminum (80/20) is an excellent decision for longevity and efficency. In these guides, we teach you everything from the basics of building a van with extruded aluminum to how to build specific modules like cabinets and bed systems.
Learn how to DIY your camper van water system, how to create the proper water filtration system, shower & toilet options in your DIY camper van, & more.
Learn the basics of how to DIY your camper van electrical system, how to properly size your components, read deep dives, and more.
As full time engineers on the road, we have perfected internet solutions to keep us connected and are sharing everything with you.
Learn how to keep your rig cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.
A catch all for all of the interior components such as swivel seats, bug screens, wall installtion, and more!
Roof racks, raptor liner, lifts, and more!
Looking for something else? We have DIY guides to all components of your van build, big and small!
We also have Van Life guides that are less about building, and more about living life on the road.
The cost of a DIY van build ranges greatly and can generally be catered to your budget. We have seen van build total costs vary anywhere between $2,000 and $50,000. As a rule of thumb, we recommend that the van build portion cost about .5 – 1x the cost of your base chassis. We highly recommend purchasing quality materials for the bones of your build and the properly sized and high quality electrical components. The #1 way to get strong bones is to build your van with extruded aluminum.
Tools are our bread and butter. We believe in the power of having the right tool for the job; however, we have also seen folks DIY their van builds with a few tools such as a jigsaw, chop saw, and tape measure. This of course yields a different end product than a full blown workshop would. Check out our Definitive List of Tools for Van Building to determine what tools you will need.
Choosing right chassis for your van conversion matters just as much as your final layout does. We have a Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Chassis for Van Life. Here are some topics we address:
You definitely came to the right place for this one! We have chased deep powder for 3 years in our camper vans and have dialed in the insulation strategy. Here is what we recommend for all season camping:
Read more in the following guides:
Similar to DIY van build cost, the timeline can vary greatly. The quickest we have seen a DIY van build is 30 days working full time on it. However, most folks will take anywhere from 3 months to a year to complete their build, especially if they are also working a full time job.
On this note, we want to stress the importance of patience and doing the right thing. We know how excited you are to get on the road, but you will thank yourself if you take the time to really do your van build right.
The “perfect” camper van layout starts with getting honest with yourself about your requirements and then fitting in your “nice to haves”. Requirements tend to include a full to queen sized bed, storage for specific things, a counter top, and a toilet. Check out our Complete Guide to Planning Your Camper Van like a PRO for more information.
Have a more specific DIY Van Building question? Let’s hop on a call! We offer 1:1 Virtual Consulting.
