Conversions

Planning any camper van conversion is

There are always lots of vans for sale.  Try eBay (eBay.co.uk and eBay.com).

Vans For Sale on eBay

Deciding what to put in your camper van conversion is something you should decide from the start. Planning your layout is essential before your start buying or making any interior parts. What you fit to your camper van will be mainly determined by your intended use of the vehicle, the size of the vehicle and your budget. If you haven't already, then look at the example layouts of other peoples camper vans. This will give you a good idea of the options available to you. Most people will build their camper van as a living area on wheels, with somewhere to sit, cook and sleep. Many people have specific uses for their vehicles, such as surfing, windsurfing or motocross, and special consideration has to be paid to these special requirements. People with large families need vehicles with a large number of beds. Building your own camper van is perfect for these groups of people, as the vehicle is tailored to your needs. It is always better to only fit the features you really need. Don't fit something just in case you need it. Space is valuable, and you do not want to carry unnecessary weight.

Seating

Seating is probably the most important thing in the living area of the camper van. The seating needs to be comfortable, and you need enough seats for everyone, including any expected guests. Here are the typical seating configurations people use:

Across the van seating

VW style interior

The classic seating arrangement of the VW camper van is perfect for small vehicles. It makes great use of space. 3 people can sit on the seat, more if there are children. It is possible to convert the front seats of the van so that they swivel around. This makes a nice social area with everyone facing each other. Making use of the front seats like this is a great way to maximize the resources in your van. The seat in this example converts into a double bed. It pulls forward to occupy the empty space. This is typically called a rock and roll bed. If making the seating yourself, consider using the space under the seat as storage. Fitting doors to the front of the seating box, rather than the top, makes access much easier. The downside to this layout is that the back end of the van is permanently separated from the front. This does leave lots of storage space in the back. This layout works best in small vehicles, especially those where you cannot stand up, such as low height VW Transporters, Ford Transits, etc. For a really cheap solution you can bolt a small futon in place of the seating area.

L shape, or along the van seating

L shape, or along the van seating, is good for bigger vehicles, particularly those you can stand up in. It allows more room to walk around. If you want to be able to walk between the living area and the cab you can just have seating along the side of the van.

If you intend to use your camper van for other things, such as occasionally moving furniture, transporting bikes, carrying surfboards, etc, this layout is great as it is really flexible, and allows lots of things to be loaded.

This layout is also good for panel vans as you can sit on the seat and look out of the open side loading door.

Cupboards can be added above the seating area, and other items, such as surfboards can also be stored there.

Under the seats there is plenty of room for storage.

Storage

Storage is important to consider when planning and building your camper van. If you camper van is for weekend use, or for sports, then storage can be kept to a minimum. But, if you are building a camper van for long trips, then plenty of storage is vital.

Tall cupboards are a great use of space.

Overhead lockers are good above the kitchen area

Small cupboards can make use of small spaces

Kitchen areas typically have their own storage.

Kitchen

Where you put the kitchen area often depends on where you put the seating. If you are using the class VW across-the-van seating arrangement (see above), then you will almost certainly have to put the kitchen area behind the drivers seat. If you are planning on L-shape type seating then you have a few options.

Kitchen area behind the cab
Fiat Scudo conversion

Kitchen area at the back of the van

The quickest and easiest way of fitting kitchen cupboards is to buy pre-made units from DIY stores. Some adjustment is normally necessary to allow fitting to panel vans, as the van walls are never flat. I created my kitchen unit entirely from 9mm plywood, as this maximized my limited space.

Bathroom

If you have a medium or long wheelbase vehicle you can consider fitting a dedicated bathroom area. Short vehicles don't have enough room typically.

When fitting a bathroom area, most people make a dedicated bathroom. Inside you can add a wash basin, perhaps one that folds up against the wall when not in use to save space.

A toilet can be integrated into the van, which requires the vehicles be parked at the right place on the campsite to empty it. A much easier option is to use a regular portable toilet, and secure it to the floor of the bathroom.

If you don't have a bathroom area you can use a portable toilet, and store it away in an easy access cupboard when not in use.

Showers

Many people fit showers in their camper vans, only to find they do not use them. Showers use a massive amount of water. If you use the shower regularly you have to fit a large clean water tank and a large waste water tank to collect the dirty water. Carrying large amounts of water in a vehicle is not a good idea. Water is heavy and upsets the balance and handling of the vehicle, as well as making it drive more slowly whilst using more fuel. If you intend to stay in campsites every night they you do not need a shower, as you can use those on the campsite. If you intend to free camp then you might want a shower, but consider a water efficient shower. Many people fit a tap with a hose to their kitchen sink. They then pull the hose out of the back of the van and shower outside with it. It's a good idea.

Furniture Examples

Here are some examples of how people have built their furniture. Hopefully the examples with give you some ideas.

Seating area with pull-out bed

The seating area, with the bed retracted.

Seat and bed example

The bed slides out and locks into place. Bed pulled out

Clever bed idea that uses slats

The slats are stored away during the day. The slats are from wood frame bed, and are available separately from Ikea. Pull out bed, retracted At night the slats slide out on a frame. Pull out bed, extended

There are a number of companies offering professional camper van conversions. These companies are specialists and deliver excellent work. Most will convert any vehicle you provide them, and most will source a new or used base vehicle for you. A lot of these companies also provide parts, and complete kits for your own camper van conversion.

If you are thinking of building your own camper van the images on these websites are good for ideas.

Whether you are building your own camper van, or looking to replace or upgrade parts in your existing vehicle, finding parts can often be difficult and expensive. But there are a number of places that make things easier and often much cheaper.

eBay.com or eBay.co.uk are particular useful and I highly recommend them.

If you need a lot of materials, like wood, screws, bolts, etc then you'll save a lot of money by making a list any buying everything in one go.

Here is list of places that should help you find the parts you need.

UK

I'd highly recommend having a stereo in your vehicle. Listing to music, or a language CD, is great when driving along. Music is also great when you are parked up and enjoying a drink, watching the sun go down. Most vehicles have a stereo fitted to the dashboard, powering speakers in the doors. It is generally better to add additional speakers to the living area of the vehicle, and wire these to the dashboard stereo. This is easy to do for you technical people. It is always better to run your stereo off the leisure battery, rather than the engine battery. Some people prefer to add a different home entertainment system to the living area of the vehicle. This provides a multi-speaker setup, and normally a much better sound. However these systems require 240 volts, and you will need to run it from a mains electricity supply. This is not a problem when on a power hook-up at campsite, but will require an inverter when free camping. This will use a lot more power than using a 12v stereo dashboard. MP3 compatible CD players allow you to play MP3 CDS, upon which you can store about 10 albums, rather than the 1 album that fits onto a regular audio CD. If you are looking to replace your dashboard stereo, and are comfortable creating your own MP3 CDS with a computer, than an MP3 CD player is the way to go. If you have an MP3 player, such as an iPod, then also consider attaching this to your dashboard stereo. More expensive stereos have a dedicated input for an iPod or other types of MP3 player. If your stereo doesn't have such an input you can buy an FM transmitter. This transmits the music from your MP3 player using FM. You then simply tune in your dashboard stereo to hear the music. Very simple.

Shopping guide

Your local vehicle music store can give you expert advice about what to buy for your camper van or motorhome. They can also assist with fitting equipment. Below are some websites that we recommend for buying music equipment for your vehicle

UK

• Amazon.co.uk - The worlds biggest online retailer. Lots of choice, great value, probably the safest place to buy online.
• Argos.co.uk - One of the UKs biggest high street stores. Great range, very competitive prices

You may wish to include some media entertainment in your vehicle, to help with the dark evening or raining days. Most vans will include a radio/CD player in the cab, which provides music for the living area also. The advances and falling prices of media technology make it easier and more affordable to add other entertainment to a camper van or motorhome.

Sections

• Music, stereos and speakers
• Computers, laptops and WiFi
• DVD, television and aerials

There are several types of vehicle suitable for a camper van conversion. The type of vehicle you choose should not be limited by your budget. Most types of vehicle are available at most budgets. Below are the most popular types of vehicle used in camper van conversions.

Panel Van

Mercedes Sprinter, LWD red

Panel vans are popular, spacious and ideal for a large camper van conversion. Most come in high top versions that allow you to stand up inside. They also come in short, medium and long wheelbase versions, so you can choose one to fit your needs. If you are building a camper van for a long trip then a panel van is probably the best choice. Popular models include the Mercedes Sprinter, VW Transporter, Ford Transit and Iveco Daily.

Mini bus

Minibus

Mini buses are a good alternative to panel vans. Many are panel vans with windows already fitted, which is good if you want lots of light. Some models are available that are bigger than panel vans, like the Dormobiles used as library vans.

Car derived van

Fiat Scudo

Car derived vans are compact, easy and cheap to drive. They are more suited for a weekend camper van. For long trips you might want to consider something larger than you can stand up in. Popular models include Fiat Scudo, Citroen Jumpy and Peugeot Expert.

Luton or box van

Luton van

If you want more space then consider a large luton or box van. Most are simply a box mounted on a pickup chassis. The boxes are normally made of fiberglass, which are light, but also noisy. Insulating them is a good idea. Popular models include Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Fiat Ducato.

Bus

Bus

For maximum space and a permanent home then consider a bus. Whilst they offer incredible space, they will limit where you can drive and park. Used models are not normally expensive to buy, but parts and fuel can be expensive.

Choosing a used panel van

The best and most popular base vehicle for a camper van or motorcaravan conversion is an empty panel van. There are a few options to consider when choosing the make and model of van, what the van has previously been used for, and from where to buy it.

Used panel van essentials

• The vast majority of panel vans will have been owned by companies, and used purely to make money. They will range from very well maintained, to completely trashed.
• There are panel vans which have been privately owned from new. These vans are more likely to have been well cared for.
• Modern panel vans are designed to go on for years and do hundreds of thousands of miles. A modern, well maintained, van that has done 200,000 miles (320,000 km) is far from near the end of its life.
• Almost all modern panel vans will have diesel engines. Compared to petrol engines: they are cheaper to run and cheaper to maintain, they can cost more to by from new, and some servicing can be more expensive.
• Full service history, or some service history is a big bonus. Not only has the vehicle been maintained properly, but it shows the owners have shown some care for the vehicle, which is a good sign.
• There are specialist use vehicles that should be considered , such as ex-AA and ex-Ambulance vehicles (see below).
• Modern panel vans, from about 1996 onwards, are all very similar. In fact many vehicles with different manufacture names on are in fact the same. Manufactures with less than impressive build quality in the past (Citroen, Fiat, etc.) now make great vans.
• Part prices for most vans are reasonable.

What the vehicle has been used for

What the vehicle has been used for can make a big difference to whether it will reliably run for years, or constantly keep breaking.

Privately owned panel van

Privately owned panel vans are generally the best option. This will be owned by individuals for use at car boots sales, moving personal possessions, fishing trips, small private jobs, etc. The vehicles tend to be well-cared-for and could have service history. Privately owned panel vans are often the best base vehicle for doing your own camper van conversion.

Company owned panel van

A van used by a company is likely to be used as a workhorse, purely to make money. Larger companies (such as couriers) will see the vehicle as an investment, and will regularly service the vehicle, and sell it after a selected period of time. The are thousands of ex-company vehicles around, most are a good buy, and are generally the cheapest place to buy a panel van. Many companies, such as the RAC, sell their vans at motor auctions. This can be a good place to buy a panel van. Vehicles owned by builders will be used hard, and probably neglected. A van used by a painter and decorator will always be covered in paint inside. Buying a vehicles that has converted for refrigeration is not a good idea. Vehicles with high mileage can be great vans, if they have service history, and are in good condition.
Look for: Service history, good condition, bargains at auctions, good value ex-fleet vehicles
Avoid: Builders & painters vans, neglected vans, custom paintwork or stickers that cannot be removed

Ex-AA VW T4 Transporters

The AA use VW T4 Transporters, and sell them after a few years of service. They are very well maintained, and come with a clear glass window in the sliding door. They are a good buy. However, they often come with additional wiring for a winch. The used vans are normally sold through used vehicle dealers. Be sure to check any additional fittings before buying, as they can be difficult to remove, and may leave holes.

Ex-Ambulance (various models)

Ex-Ambulance vehicles can make an excellent base for a serious camper van conversion. The distinct advantages are that they will almost certainly be well maintained, although with high mileage, they will be insulated, and will probably have a hard finish interior. More modern vehicle engines will have: 2 alternators, one for the engine battery and another for the leisure batteries, a more powerful engine, and air suspension. Popular makes include Mercedes and Renault. When the vehicles are decommissioned the internal fittings and the external lights will be removed. On older models, such as the square nose Mercedes, they are generally tidy when decommissioned. When more modern vehicles are decommissioned, which are equipped with more equipment, they can be left with masses of wires hanging everywhere, and a lot of work needed. Decommissioned ambulances are often sold by used vehicle dealers, and at motor auctions. Ensure you check the inside carefully, and check what additional work is required to get it on the road, especially when buying at auction. This is not always possible at auction, so only buy it if you know a lot about it.

Where to find a base vehicle

There are a number of places to buy a panel van. Finding the right vehicle from the right source can save you a lot of money and effort. See the guide to buying a used vehicle.

Private sale

Most used vans are sold through private sales. Vehicles are at their cheapest when sold through a private sale. However, you will have no guarantee through a private sale. If the vehicle is stolen you will loose the vehicle. See the guide to buying a vehicle privately.

Motor trade dealer

More and more vehicles are bought and sold through motor trade dealers. People with little time to look for vehicles go straight to dealers. Dealers generally offer some sort of guarantee on the vehicle, often 3 months, and you are better protected if the vehicle has been stolen, although they will have checked this already. Whilst you are more likely to pay more for a vehicle at a dealer, you can assume the vehicle is is good general order. Dealers also have part exchange vehicles which they will want to get rid off. These can be great value, but ask around, as they may not be on display, but parked around the back. Ex-fleet or commercial vehicles are often sold exclusively through dealers, so it pays to look around.

Motor vehicle auction

Buying at auctions is risky, but you can find yourself a bargain. Many companies will be looking to get rid of lots of vans quickly, and will sell them all at auctions. However, people looking to sell wrecks will also try and sell them at auction. The disadvantage with an auction is that you are unlikely to be allowed to see inside the vehicle or hear the engine running. See the guide to buying at motor auction.

eBay

eBay may seem like an unlikely place to buy a van, but it is possible to find great deals, as well as lemons. The advantage is that you can see the photos of the vehicles on the website, from your own computer. You should also be able to see where the vehicle is, the seller should list information about its past, and you can contact the seller to ask questions. However, once you place a bid it is a binding contract, should your bid win. Should your bid win the auction you must buy the vehicle when you visit the seller, you cannot decline once you see the vehicle. Therefore, always see the vehicle, and drive it, before making a bid. Buying via eBay is actually a great way to buy or sell a vehicle, as long as you see and drive the vehicle before bidding, and follow the eBay rules and guidelines carefully. Many people are put off in buying a vehicle this way, which leaves more bargains for you and me.