How a lot does a DIY van conversion price?
DIY van conversion price anyplace between $4,000 and $90,000.
It is dependent upon the dimensions of your van, the supplies you employ, the gadgets you embody in your ground plan and the gear you put in. A wise DIY van conversion like this one by Ladi & Margaret can price as little as $6,000.
Maintaining the entire rig easy and sensible is not going to solely make it easier to hit the highway sooner, however it can additionally decrease prices considerably.
1-week van conversion plan
Let’s get began with this 1-week van conversion.
Day 1
Day 1 is all about getting the van able to get insulated. We suggest finishing day 1 lots sooner than days 2 to 7 as a result of it will provide you with time to plan your construct in additional element.
On day 1 you’ll:
- Take away the bulkhead
- Intestine and clear the van
- Measure the inside area of the car
- Design a ground plan
- Set up a roof fan.
First, intestine the car so you possibly can clear the metallic ground, partitions and ceiling. Eradicating the bulkhead will enable much more pure mild into the van. That is a type of enjoyable jobs you are able to do whereas listening to your favourite music.
As soon as the van is clear, you possibly can take measurements. Take every measurement thrice to verify it’s correct and make notes. Subsequent, design your format based mostly in your wants and preferences. Don’t overlook to maintain it plain.
Putting in a roof fan in your van
Now that you understand the place the furnishings shall be it’s time to chop a gap within the roof. Scary however important. With out satisfactory air flow, your van will lure quite a lot of moisture, smells and mould. Getting a gentle circulation of contemporary air may also assist regulate the temperature.
Right here’s how you can get it completed:
- Lay some outdated blankets on the van ground to gather the metallic shavings and tape any magnetic surfaces
- Take measurements for the fan on the roof and draw its form
- Drill pilot holes within the corners of your drawing – these have to be sufficiently big to suit your noticed blade
- Reduce alongside the traces utilizing a jigsaw
- File down the metallic edge to make it easy utilizing a metallic file and sandpaper
- Paint all alongside the minimize to maintain rust at bay
- Apply loads of waterproof sealant to the realm across the minimize
- Add Butyl tape to get a stronger seal
- Press and screw the fan flange into the roof
- Screw the fan into the flange
- Apply caulking to all screws to verify the entire space is waterproof
- Check for leaks utilizing a water hose or a bucket.
Day 2 and three
Days 2 and three are more difficult, particularly if you happen to personal an even bigger van. You’ll must work quick and effectively. When you have a buddy who owes you one, that is the time to name them up.
On days 2 and three you’ll:
You could be tempted to skip the insulation step if you happen to’re in a rush, however you shouldn’t. You received’t have a second probability to get it completed with out taking all the pieces out of your van, together with the ground and partitions. And that’s a colossal ache.
Whilst you can simply make do with out {an electrical} or plumbing system for some time, you’ll probably remorse not insulating your van. The warmth and chilly will journey by way of the metallic physique and make the inside of your own home on wheels uncomfortable, regardless of the season.
Insulating the van ground
To insulate the roof of the van:
- Measure the area between the ribs
- Reduce foam boards to suit between the ribs (don’t overlook to make use of a masks)
- Place the boards between the ribs and repair them in place utilizing Duct tape.
Insulating the van partitions
To insulate the partitions:
- Reduce metallic bubble wrap insulation like Reflectix or Thinsulate to measurement to suit completely different areas of the physique
- Use spray glue to repair it in place and canopy as a lot of the partitions as you possibly can
- Reduce fiberglass insulation to cowl all of the bubble wrap (keep in mind to put on a masks and gloves)
- Use Duct tape to repair it in place, the place crucial
- Use foam insulation the place you possibly can’t repair the opposite forms of insulation, however cowl solely 50% of the gaps (foam expands).
Insulating the van ground
As soon as the partitions are insulated you possibly can insulate the ground. We wrote a complete article about this right here.
To provide you a fast abstract, you’ll must:
- Lay strips of insulation on the metallic ground
- Reduce and glue wood furring beams to the ground utilizing Sikaflex
- Reduce and place foam board insulation between the beams (don’t overlook to make use of a masks).
Day 4
Issues will nonetheless look messy on day 4, however we promise it will likely be price it.
On day 4 you’ll:
- Construct a subfloor
- Set up strapping
- Arrange a easy electrical system.
As soon as the insulation is dry you possibly can construct a subfloor. To do that, merely minimize 1/2 plywood sheets to suit between the beams you put in yesterday. Screw these to the beams. Et voila; you’ve a subfloor.
Now you possibly can set up strapping onto the partitions and roof. Work out the place you need the wood furring to run so you possibly can simply connect furnishings to it later. Connect the strapping to the partitions and roof utilizing self-tapping screws.
Electrics
You’re now prepared to put in a easy electrical system across the strapping. If you wish to hold your construct time to round every week you’ll have to purchase {an electrical} equipment. These are pre-designed electrical programs that include all of the components you want – together with cables, lugs, fuses and fuse holders – in addition to detailed directions. They take all of the headache (and far of the time) out of putting in {an electrical} system DIY. You possibly can all the time improve your system with photo voltaic charging later.
When you’d reasonably skip putting in {an electrical} system since you don’t really feel assured in your abilities, you will get a conveyable energy station that fees when you drive, like a Jackery. You possibly can set up the electrics later. To cover them from view, match them inside furnishings and glue wire covers to the partitions or ground the place wanted.
Day 5
After day 5 your panel van will begin to appear like a camper.
On day 5 you’ll:
- Set up the completed partitions, ceiling and ground
- Add lighting and charging ports.
Subsequent up is becoming the partitions, ceiling and ground. Select the best and quickest materials that will get the job completed to avoid wasting time. For the ceiling and partitions, you may use ACP or cladding, whereas for the ground you may go for sheet vinyl. Observe the directions offered by the producer or discover a how-to video on-line.
As you lay the partitions, be sure to chop holes the place you need your lights and charging ports to be. To put in these, merely screw them in place and join them to {the electrical} system.
Day 6
Day 6 is all about making your ground plan come to life.
On day 6 you’ll:
- Assemble and set up conversion kits.
If you wish to construct all of the furnishings in a day you’ll need to purchase conversion kits; there’s no means round it. Constructing a mattress, sofa and kitchen from scratch sometimes takes a minimum of three days and plenty of mind energy. Observe the producer’s directions to assemble and match the kits to your van.
The Van2b camper van beds take 3 to 4 hours to construct and set up. Its form adapts completely to the Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster.
Day 7
Practically there! Yet another work day and also you’ll be able to hit the highway.
On day 7 you’ll:
- Add easy plumbing to the kitchen
- Set up a heater
- Make cushions for the sofa
- Reduce a mattress to suit the mattress
- Add a privateness curtain.
When you purchased a kitchen conversion equipment, it might have include plumbing put in. If that’s your case, you possibly can skip this step.
To create a easy water system you’ll must:
- Set up two tanks (one for freshwater, one for grey water) in one in all your kitchen cupboards
- Measure the sink and tap and draw them on the countertop
- Reduce two holes to deal with the sink and tap
- Set up a water pump – if you happen to didn’t set up electrics select a handbook pump
- Join the pump to {the electrical} system, if you must
- Seal the holes and mattress the sink and tap
- Join the sink to the grey water tank
- Join the freshwater tank to the pump and tap.
To attach all of the parts use versatile pipes, connectors and reducers. It could take some time to determine what you want, so we suggest figuring the connections out earlier than you go forward with the construct.
Et voila. You now have a easy plumbing system on board. You’ll must disconnect the tanks for emptying and filling each few days. Keep in mind to not drink the water, because it’s not filtered.
Putting in a diesel heater in a van
Now is an effective time to put in a heater.
Typically, to put in a diesel heater you’ll need to:
- Select the place to mount the heater, like underneath the passenger seat, and clear the realm
- Measure the ducting, gas traces and wiring
- Map out the fittings and adapters that include the product you selected
- Drill a gap within the ground for the traces to journey to the again of the van – drill a pilot gap first to test the situation works
- Set up the gas tank, gas pump, exhaust ducting and gas line
- Join all of them
- Match the heater within the spot you selected on an insulated base, like some ply wrapped in foil
- Feed the traces by way of the ground to the underside of the van
- Run the wires from the management panel and gas pump to the fuse panel
- Check if the lights come on
- Drill a vent gap as shut as attainable to the heater so the nice and cozy air can journey by way of the vanFasten the consumption and exhaust hoses underneath the van, 3ft aside
- Set up a carbon monoxide detector.
Please keep in mind that this listing isn’t complete – you must fastidiously comply with the producer’s directions and ensure you fulfill all their necessities. There are many movies about how you can set up a diesel heater on a van, like this one.
Van cushions and mattress
Subsequent, you possibly can take into consideration the cushions for the sofa and mattress. In case your mattress and sofa are customary sizes it can save you time by shopping for pre-made cushions and mattresses. In the event that they aren’t, you must get inventive.
We suggest shopping for high-density foam and chopping it to measurement utilizing an electrical carving knife. You possibly can then cowl it with cloth by making cushion covers or attaching the material to the froth with pins.
Van upholstery
Lastly, you possibly can add a privateness curtain to your construct. Moderately than spending a very long time creating custom-shaped covers which are awkward to take away and have to be saved away, set up a easy curtain between the cabin and the camper. Use blackout cloth, magnets, and a bungee wire to hold it up. Easy but efficient.
Are you able to convert your van right into a camper?
Choose the equipment you want:
Or take a look at right here all our van conversion parts.
We make our mattress and cupboard models in California utilizing premium supplies and ship them free of charge to the Decrease 48.
For a extra detailed information to a extra complicated DIY camper van conversion, check out this article.
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