The campervan offers a unique camping experience that millions of people love and sleeping out in a vintage can adds a special dimension. For a truly special campervan experience converting an old van into a new camper can’t be beaten. But if you’ve never done any custom work on a vehicle the prospect of kitting out a van of any age is a daunting thought. Our beginner’s guide is designed to make such a project achievable for any novice who want to design and build their own awesome campervan.
Choosing Your Vehicle
While the VW California has been purpose built for the small campervan market, nothing can beat the charm of a custom converted vintage van. But before you get started you need to make sure your vehicle is up to the job of become your home away from home. Consider factors such as space, drivability, and road worthiness. A cute compact station wagon or van is perfect for one or two people, but a family on long trips needs something bigger.
A vintage van that requires a lot of expensive and time-consuming work to make it road worthy may not be the best option, especially if your budget is tight. Ideally, you’re looking for a vehicle that is easy enough to drive and manoeuvre on back country roads, while being comfortable for your passengers. Some older models like the Ford Econoline truck, have excellent after sales of parts making it easy to update and upgrade parts and features to create a comfortable campervan.
Budget
As with all vintage car projects your budget covers more than the upfront cost of the vehicle itself. If your chosen van isn’t roadworthy, initial repairs need to be factored in, as do the costs of materials for the conversion. Beyond this your budget needs to account for maintenance costs, because if you didn’t need to look for difficult to find parts at the start of your project, chances are you’ll have later.
Most people go a fair distance in their campervan, putting additional wear and tear on old parts. If you budget for the ongoing maintenance cost of an older vehicle from the start, your van will spend less time off the road. After all you’ve gone to the trouble of kitting it out as a campervan to get away, so you don’t want to be stuck at home because you can’t afford that one pesky part right now.
Features
Once you know which vehicle you’re going for and what your budget is, it’s time to decide what features you need and what materials to use. Some basic fixtures that a campervan need is, insulation, a sleeping space, storage and a sitting space. If you’re not planning to cook often, you can do away with a kitchen area, though you may appreciate some bench space for making hot drinks and snacks if nothing else. It’s easy to assume you’ll always be able to cook outside, but often the weather will have other ideas!
Storage space needs will depend on how far you plan to go, then number of people travelling, and the activities planned. Basic storage can be built under seating, allowing supplies and bedding to be securely stashed away. If your outdoorsy adventurous types, then enough space to keep equipment is essential. Climbing gear can be stashed tidily in lockers, but bikes and kayaks will require a roof rack or rear mount rack.
Finishes
Finishes should be considered after you’ve decided on what features you’re installing.If you’re not fussed on looks cheap MDF and plywood will serve well to create the required cupboards and features, with paint and upholstery adding a finished look. For a more upmarket look, you may want to dedicate some of the budget towards veneers and fabrics that add a look of luxury to your mobile home. It comes down to personal taste, requirements, and budget.
What To Take
As well as fitting out your vintage van camper with fixtures and fittings, you need to fill it up ready to go on holiday. Bedding and soft furnishings, cooking equipment from cooker to pots and utensils, a toolkit for breakdowns and a first aid kit for holiday mishaps. They may all seem obvious, but it’s amazing what essential items can be overlooked in the excitement.
Choosing to convert a vintage van into a stunning campervan is an exciting prospect, which need not become on overwhelmingly daunting project for beginners. Careful planning and budgeting will soon see you getting away on holiday in the style you deserve.
