Camper Van Build: START HERE Photos + Specs

The Camper Van Build Series: What you’ll learn

This how-to series is a comprehensive guide to a DIY camper van conversion. But, DIY isn’t mutually exclusive with Instagram vans from professional companies. You can build a van yourself with rock solid function and polished aesthetics.

These articles cover a camper van conversion electrical system, body modifications (e.g. window and fan installation), plumbing, creature comforts, and more. It covers design and layout for traveling with kids.

Camper Van Conversion Articles

Coming soon

  • Plumbing
  • Insulation & Heating
  • Structures & Flooring
  • Creature Comforts (e.g. port-a-potty, cell signal booster)
  • Kids: Designing a van and traveling as a family
Installing CR Laurence windows on a camper van, practicing cutting with reciprocal saw in center
The start: cutting the first holes in the sheetmetal! Here, for windows.
Looking in from the sliding door. Full (double) size mattress
Porta-Potty slideout. Rule: liquids only!
Fridge and slide-out pantry.
Slide-out pantry.
Under the sink. 1.3L Camplux water heater.
Clothing storage in overhead bins.
Jacket storage on the back doors. Great extra insulation!
Shower pan in floor. We can hang a portable hula-hoop with shower curtain from the ceiling and pull a hose from the sink galley.
Shoe rack.
Control panel.
LED color lightstrip under the galleys. Extremely useful at night so you don’t blast the rest of the van with white overhead LEDs to pee.
Lagun table arm. We made the table top ourselves.
Cabbunk bunk for our son! He loves it!
Empty garage. Electrical and batteries housed over left wheel well, back of refrigerator protruding in center, and 30gal water tank over right wheel well.
Everything that can fit in the garage. More than you think!
camper van conversion roof solar fans
2x MaxxAir fans, 4x 100W solar panels.
2x 2,200 lumen pod lights on side. 27,000 lumen front lightbar!

Specs

  • 2018 Ford Transit 250 high roof, mid-length (148″ wheelbase), Diesel
  • Quigley 4×4 conversion + BF Goodrich KO2 tires
  • SumoSprings + SuperSprings added suspension
  • 400Ah lithium (2x 200Ah batteries)
  • 400W solar
  • 3000W inverter
  • Recessed ceiling LED lights + undercounter LED lightstrips
  • Diesel air heater
  • LowE + Thinsulate + PolyIso insulation, Heatshield + wool batting window shades
  • Waterproof floor
  • 2x ceiling fans
  • Sink + faucet + water pump
  • 32gal fresh water tank, 8gal grey water tank
  • 1.3gal tank water heater (runs on AC)
  • All-aluminum welded framing with steel angle iron for wheel well boxes/bed support
  • Swivel front seats
  • Refrigerator 3.7cu ft
  • Portapotty
  • Cell phone signal booster
  • Wifi signal booster/aggregator/broadcaster
  • Interior shower: shower pan + break-down hula hoop curtain
  • Seats 4; sleeps 2 in full-size bed + 2 kids in hammocks
  • T-vent windows on driver and passenger side
  • 10ft awning + rear ladder
  • Exterior 27,500 lumen LED lightbar + 4x 2,200 lumen pod lights

Conversion Build Cost

We didn’t skimp on anything in our camper van build. We want to travel in luxury, with solid components that will last through upgrades, and creature comforts like a cell signal booster. You can certainly go cheaper.

Total: ~$100k

  • Conversion: $35k
  • Van incl. tax+fees: $50k (2018 van bought in 2018)
  • Quigley 4×4 + suspension + tires: $13k

Conversion Cost Breakdown

  • Electrical system: $8.8k (roof rack, solar, batteries, wiring, inverter, monitoring)
  • Amenities: $6.7k (interwebs, portapotty, fridge, mattress, bench seat, fans, windows, etc.)
  • Insulation + heating: $3k
  • Structures: $3k (framing, cabinetry, floor, roof rack)
  • Misc: $2.5k (glue, paint, nuts & bolts & screws & washers, alltheotherthings)
  • Water system: $2k
  • Tools, e.g. welder not included

Weight + Fuel

After conversion, we get ~15.2mpg diesel, and ~10% better than that with PropelFuels clean diesel. Curb weights:

  • Before conversion: 5600lb
  • After conversion, dry: 8000lb (+2400lb)
  • After conversion, + gear + water + fuel: 8400lb

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