Do I need to Convert in stages?
- Thread starter JoshBT6
- Start date
How do I convert my van into a camper?
Planning on a van conversion but don't know where to start? Check out our campervan conversion guide, full of helpful videos and products.
www.combevalleycampers.co.uk
Also use the search function on the forum (top right corner), there won't be much you want to do to it that hasn't already been done before.
And you can also read the large number of How I Done It entries by @Dellmassive
In very big chunks,
Plan it first, or just go out and use it and decide what/how you want things to be.
Cut any holes (window/pop top) before adding any sound deadening or insulation.
there are quite a few build logs in the forum so you can see the steps others have made.
Enjoy it. Ask questions.
Post photos. Lots of photos!
Edit:
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Dellmassive’s "How I Done It" blogs.
-- Dellmassive`s -- "How I Done It" -- thread -- ************************************************** Dellmassive`s -- "how I Done It" -- Thread ************************************************** Kit List And Stuff -- How I Done It & What I Use --...
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It depends - doing the interior before the roof and windows means you’ll suffer some damage to carpet lining, for instance it being pulled back to allow the bodywork to be cut, as an example.
If you start with the basics, you’ll get there without too much backtracking.
So look at
- sound-deadening and insulating.
- fitting a DC-DC charger with L/B.
- running electrics to where you’ll want them.
- fitting a rear floor (OEM rubber mat is the best bang for buck sound deadener and underlay).
- fitting windows.
- fitting a gas, diesel or electric heater.
- fitting a seat or bed system (Rock n Roll on rails is the top choice for practicability - fitting this alongside your floor will be most efficient, fitting after the floor is down is doable, fitting once you have furniture on top of the floor is aggro).
- fitting a poptop.
- fitting furniture.
You can add alloys and suspension at any stage, but fitting suspension early may mean you’ll have to review it once more weight (such as your bed, pop top, furniture) is added. Not a problem with coilovers, more so with springs.
If you start with the basics, you’ll get there without too much backtracking.
So look at
- sound-deadening and insulating.
- fitting a DC-DC charger with L/B.
- running electrics to where you’ll want them.
- fitting a rear floor (OEM rubber mat is the best bang for buck sound deadener and underlay).
- fitting windows.
- fitting a gas, diesel or electric heater.
- fitting a seat or bed system (Rock n Roll on rails is the top choice for practicability - fitting this alongside your floor will be most efficient, fitting after the floor is down is doable, fitting once you have furniture on top of the floor is aggro).
- fitting a poptop.
- fitting furniture.
You can add alloys and suspension at any stage, but fitting suspension early may mean you’ll have to review it once more weight (such as your bed, pop top, furniture) is added. Not a problem with coilovers, more so with springs.
@JoshBT6
@Ads_Essex is a good list. However I would change it just a bit, however its not a hard and fast list, it partly depends on how long between stages and which part you need to use most:
- sound-deadening and insulating.
- fitting windows.
- fitting a DC-DC charger with L/B.
- running electrics to where you’ll want them. (think about if a pop top or not. I have spoke to converters who say they have to redo all the electrics because people ran them across the top from one side to the other.)
- fitting a poptop.
- carpet line
- fitting a rear floor (OEM rubber mat is the best bang for buck sound deadener and underlay). I doubt you could fit a ply floor over rubber mat so thats a consideration.
- fitting a gas, diesel or electric heater.
- fitting a seat or bed system (Rock n Roll on rails is the top choice for practicability - fitting this alongside your floor will be most efficient, fitting after the floor is down is doable, fitting once you have furniture on top of the floor is aggro).
- fitting furniture.
This is not the order I did things, or the order a converter would do them in, or the order I would do them if I did it again, but possible the easiest/must usable if converting in stages.
@Ads_Essex is a good list. However I would change it just a bit, however its not a hard and fast list, it partly depends on how long between stages and which part you need to use most:
- sound-deadening and insulating.
- fitting windows.
- fitting a DC-DC charger with L/B.
- running electrics to where you’ll want them. (think about if a pop top or not. I have spoke to converters who say they have to redo all the electrics because people ran them across the top from one side to the other.)
- fitting a poptop.
- carpet line
- fitting a rear floor (OEM rubber mat is the best bang for buck sound deadener and underlay). I doubt you could fit a ply floor over rubber mat so thats a consideration.
- fitting a gas, diesel or electric heater.
- fitting a seat or bed system (Rock n Roll on rails is the top choice for practicability - fitting this alongside your floor will be most efficient, fitting after the floor is down is doable, fitting once you have furniture on top of the floor is aggro).
- fitting furniture.
This is not the order I did things, or the order a converter would do them in, or the order I would do them if I did it again, but possible the easiest/must usable if converting in stages.
If I was starting with a blank panel van or kombi, this is how I'd tackle it.
Firstly - take a long hard look at what you need from the van. What the missus or you consider "non negotiables", and what is a must have.
Things like:
How many people do you need to carry, legally?
This will determine if you need a bench seat or single passenger seat, and/or seatbelts in the back.
Cooking/sink/toilet? Permanent or portable?
Storage for bikes? Dog?
Take your time, look at the countless threads on here of different builds, go and sit in the van and visualise your set up. Go and look at other converted vans.
I'd personally try and design my layout prior to any work. Your layout determines what you'll need in terms of windows, and other body changes.
Once you have a rough layout, start with the foundations:
Pop top
Windows
Body alterations for water/plumbing etc.
Rails for bed etc
All the stuff that will be a pain to do when you've got electrics or furniture in.
Next thing for me would be electrics:
Diesel heater
Battery
Solar
Hot water
All the wiring for your lights/sockets/fridge etc.
Install conduit so that any extra wiring needed later on is easy to fit. There's always extra wiring.
Then, once all the basic requirements are in and the structure is done, onto insulation and then building the actual inside of the van.
Firstly - take a long hard look at what you need from the van. What the missus or you consider "non negotiables", and what is a must have.
Things like:
How many people do you need to carry, legally?
This will determine if you need a bench seat or single passenger seat, and/or seatbelts in the back.
Cooking/sink/toilet? Permanent or portable?
Storage for bikes? Dog?
Take your time, look at the countless threads on here of different builds, go and sit in the van and visualise your set up. Go and look at other converted vans.
I'd personally try and design my layout prior to any work. Your layout determines what you'll need in terms of windows, and other body changes.
Once you have a rough layout, start with the foundations:
Pop top
Windows
Body alterations for water/plumbing etc.
Rails for bed etc
All the stuff that will be a pain to do when you've got electrics or furniture in.
Next thing for me would be electrics:
Diesel heater
Battery
Solar
Hot water
All the wiring for your lights/sockets/fridge etc.
Install conduit so that any extra wiring needed later on is easy to fit. There's always extra wiring.
Then, once all the basic requirements are in and the structure is done, onto insulation and then building the actual inside of the van.
We always recommend any cutting first.
If your adding a roof think of any lights that may need adding into fitting frame.
Add a cable inside fitting frame so you can always pull any extra cables if required ( solar etc )
Make sure you carpet line the panels separately so you still have easy access.
Flooring after it's carpet lined.
But also when we cut for windows, we wrap the carpet over cut edge before window is added. So I'd say carpet and windows at same time.
Like pic below...
If your adding a roof think of any lights that may need adding into fitting frame.
Add a cable inside fitting frame so you can always pull any extra cables if required ( solar etc )
Make sure you carpet line the panels separately so you still have easy access.
Flooring after it's carpet lined.
But also when we cut for windows, we wrap the carpet over cut edge before window is added. So I'd say carpet and windows at same time.
Like pic below...
