DIY campervan conversion kits offer adventurous campers and perpetual nomads the perfect way to customize vehicle interiors. However, if you’re new to the world of campervan DIY builds, you may feel a little overwhelmed. Fortunately, at Van Builder HQ, we’ve got you covered!
In today’s guide, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the best campervan conversion kits on the market and help you find the right kit for your DIY build. So, let’s get started!
What is a campervan conversion kit?
To get straight to the point, a campervan conversion kit is simply a kit that includes the materials needed to furnish the interior of a DIY van build. These materials can vary widely, including things like basic plywood and wall structures all the way up to pre-upholstered panels and insulation.
Depending on the type of kit you buy, you may be able to just begin installing it right out of the box, or you may need to cut individual panels, seek out your own insulation, and basically do most of the work yourself. In short, a campervan conversion kit is an interior van system in a box. But what comes in that box will vary based on how much you’re willing to spend and what exactly you’re looking for, but we’ll get more into those details a little later on.
The benefits of using campervan conversion kits
There are a few different benefits of choosing campervan conversion kits over the alternatives, but it depends on what other options you’re considering. For example, a conversion kit is comparatively easier and faster if you think you might want to do a completely custom build from scratch. When you buy a kit, it will come with the essential materials, and in some cases, even the tools you need to install everything.
On the other hand, if you’re considering getting a professional to do all the work for you, a DIY campervan conversion kit is far less expensive. Why? Because you’re doing all the labor yourself. Paying a professional to do it may take a lot of the responsibility off your shoulders, but it will do so at a cost.
This means that campervan conversion kits can save you time and money. Rather than shopping around for all of the tools and materials you need, you can get a campervan conversion kit that provides you with most or all of the things you need to finish your build. If a lot of the materials are precut, you could even shave days or weeks off the time it takes to measure and cut everything yourself. And since kits are already styled and designed, you could potentially finish your interior build in a few days, as opposed to a few weeks or months. So, if you really want to jumpstart your campervan conversion, a preset kit is one of your best options.
How to choose the best kit for a DIY build
Choosing the best campervan conversion kits is one of the hardest parts of the process. There are a lot of different elements that come into play, and the price is one of the most important factors to consider. The cost of a kit can vary widely, but many of the most complete and comprehensive kits can get pretty pricey. So if you want a kit that looks great and is extremely easy to install without searching around for different tools and materials, you’re going to have to pay a lot more for it.
First and foremost, you should set a budget for your project. It’s generally best to have a range in mind, rather than a fixed number, as you may need to adjust your budget as you do more research. If you prefer not to think about your budget yet, that’s okay too. Sometimes it can be helpful to determine the kind of style you want first, then consider your budget before you make a purchase.
Search around to see what you like. You’ll often be surprised that the stuff you really like can be very, very expensive. But it’s good to assemble a list of anywhere between 8 and 10 campervan conversion kits that suit your tastes. From there, you can get a better idea of how much kits cost and what factors are most likely to increase the price. For instance, you may gather a list with prices that range from $1,000 to $16,000 (or more).
Typically, the lower-cost kits will provide bare, Baltic birch wood panels that you’ll need to upholster yourself. These are ideal if you plan to do a lot of modifications in your van, like bump-outs or a customized ceiling, that wouldn’t work with a more modular kit. As you move up in the price range, you’ll find more “ready-made” kits that don’t require as much DIY know-how.
So what does this all mean when choosing a campervan conversion kit? It means that you’ll need to evaluate your budget, your stylistic or aesthetic preferences, and your ability to do more customized projects. Doing this will help you land the perfect campervan conversion kit for you!
What typically comes in conversion kits?
Before looking at what conversion kits have inside, it’s important to consider what they exclude. Typically, a campervan conversion kit will not include seating or bed systems; those are additional items that you would need to purchase separately.
In a standard conversion kit, you can generally expect to get what you’ll need to build out the interior ceiling and walls of your van. However, there are also specialty kits that specifically work for the floor of your campervan. You could opt for a basic floor template that you cut yourself, or you could opt for a more comprehensive floor system with pre-cut panels.
In any case, what you actually get will depend, to a large degree, on your budget. Basic kits may come with standard plywood panels and not much else — no tools, no insulation, and no upholstery. On the other end of the spectrum, you might get a high-end kit that comes with pre-upholstered panels, framing, insulation tools, sound-deadening materials, lighting, and even vent fans. It all depends on what you need and how much you’re willing to spend.
Types of campervan conversion kits
Even though there are technically a lot of different types of campervan conversion kits, it’s generally best to break them down into two categories: Full Interior Systems and Wall Panel or Cabinet Kits. The former category is essentially a van interior system in a box, while the latter refers to kits that offer more specialized builds just for wall panels and/or cabinets. You can also find other specialized types of kits for specific areas or needs, and we will cover some of the most common specialty kits in the sections below:
Complete modular conversion kits
So if you’re looking for complete modular conversion kits, there are a couple of really great providers on the market. Just remember, with a complete modular conversion kit, you’re paying to get high-end, fully built-out kits that require less work on your part. Some excellent providers include:
- Adventure Wagon (Great for Mercedez-Benz Sprinter conversion kits)
- ZenVanz
- Wayfarer Vans (Great for Ford Transit and RAM ProMaster conversion kits)
- Infinity Vans
You can generally expect these kits to cost anywhere between $16,000 and $30,000, depending on the provider and what the kit offers.
Furniture and Kitchen kits
Furniture kits generally refer to cabinet builds, as seating is not something you’re going to find in most campervan conversion kits. Alternatively, kitchen kits can include materials for refrigerators and/or kitchen galleys. OurKaravan is one of the best providers of DIY kitchen conversion kits, and they also offer some great kits for standard van cabinets.
Plumbing and bathroom kits
When you think of a bathroom, you probably think of a traditional household bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. This isn’t really how campervan bathrooms look or function. That said, the truth is that you can set up your bathroom in a lot of different ways. You can opt for no bathroom inside the van to save space, you can have a miniature porta-potty setup, or you can even have a shower stall that integrates a porta-potty. Unfortunately, there’s no comprehensive bathroom kit available for purchase as of this writing. However, you can find a variety of quality plumbing kits at Titan DIY Kits to start your own DIY bathroom build.
Electrical kits
There are dozens, if not hundreds of different electrical kits on the market, encompassing a very large price range. If you don’t want to deal with wiring everything in your van, Goal Zero is a great place to start. The Goal Zero Yeti Power Station is perfect for keeping the lights on, operating a small refrigerator, and recharging your personal devices. It can even run using your campervan’s engine or be hooked up to solar panels.
Either way, Goal Zero offers some of the simplest solutions for campervan DIYers. It’s also a good starting point to learn the ropes. After all, if you don’t know much about electrical work, you could do a lot more harm than good. With Goal Zero, you have a chance to ease into the electrical aspect of your campervan and eventually become comfortable with more expensive and complex all-in-one electrical solutions, like those offered at Van Land.
Heating and ventilation kits
When it comes to heating your van, you will typically have three different options to choose from. You have the budget heaters, often known as Chinese Diesel Heaters, that will generally cost somewhere between $100 and $200. They’re not always the most reliable option, but they do get the job done at a low price.
The other two options are the Webasto and Espar heaters. Both of these will cost substantially more, but you should always make sure that you’re getting the U.S. version of these products. You may find them cheaper online, but these are typically European models, which means their warranties will not be honored in the United States. If you want something a little more advanced but still DIY-friendly, Timberline offers a hydronic heating system, which can keep your van warm and give you hot water.
You also need to consider your ventilation needs. You naturally produce moisture when you’re in your campervan, and if you don’t have proper ventilation in place, you could end up with mold issues. While there are no ventilation kits per se, there are ventilation fans that you can install in your van. You can get some great options through MaxxAir, from manual solutions to fully automatic fans with thermostats and closable latches.
It’s important to remember that ventilation fans will not help keep you very cool when the temperature rises. For this, you will need some kind of air conditioning system. The great thing about A/C is that it can act as both a cooling and ventilation system. Having A/C in your van is particularly important if you have pets, and some good options include the Dometic RTX 2000 and the Coleman Mach 10.
FAQs
How much are campervan conversion kits?
You can get conversion kits for $1,000 or less, but most are going to start at about $2,000 and go all the way up to $30,000. The price range can be vast, and it all depends on what you want and how much DIYing you’re willing to do.
How long will it take to DIY the conversion?
There’s not one good answer to this question, as it can vary based on the specifics of your build. Doing a simple DIY conversion could take a few days (if you have people helping you out) while doing a more complex build (on your own) could take more than a year.
How long do companies take to convert a campervan?
If you choose to hire a company to do the conversion, it will generally take somewhere between 3 and 6 months to complete. Some high-end conversions may require you to be put on a waiting list, in which case the entire process could take more than a year.
What comes in conversion kits?
Conversion kits range from the very basic — wood panels and not much else — all the way to the very comprehensive — which may include upholstered panels, flooring systems, insulation systems, sound-deadening panels, ventilation parts, and even electrical components.
