So you have bought a vehicle, hopefully you have already thought about what you are going to use it for and now you are wanting to convert it into a campervan.  How do you plan your conversion?

Planning a Campervan Conversion Project

Introduction

I reckon most DIY projects are 10% inspiration, 80% preparation and only 10% perspiration.  A campervan conversion project is no different.

Think about what you want to do, sketch it out, think about and think about it some more!  Also measure, measure and measure.  Planning is really an extension of all the things you will have considered when choosing a vehicle, what you want it for, what you are going to put it in, how and where you are going to drive it, and who you are going to take with you?  (If you are still at the stage of choosing your vehicle have a read of the Vehicle section).

Look at what other people have done, hopefully by the time you are reading this there will be examples on this site from other readers.  Also, look at professionally converted campervans to see what layouts and space saving designs are common.

Planning Considerations

This is all about questions and what you need to ask yourself.  Some things to think about:

• Usability - how easy is it to get at what you need?  Food, clothes, the kettle!  How high do surfaces need to be for comfortable use? Seating needs to be the right height too both in terms of leg and head space.  Do you have enough room for all the people who will be travelling?

• Appliances - what applicances will your campervan have?  Fridge, stove, sink, toilet etc.  What size will these be and where will they be located?  Do they need to be near something else? e.g. a gas supply for the stove, the water tank for the sink.

• Units and Storage - you need enough space to store all you will be carrying but you want this to be accessible in accordance with use i.e. everyday items need to be easy to get at whilst less frequently used things can be tucked away.  Remember you will want things to be secure and not rattling about when you drive - otherwise, believe me, it will drive you nuts!

• Order - this is about which tasks you need to do before others.  Things like fitting the windows or a heater which is messy are best done first.  They also dictate the postion and height of things like the stove and units.  Soft furnishings can generally be left till last.   

Planning Tools
 
Converting a campervan from scratch requires a range of skills and knowlegde and hopefully this is where this site can help.  There is no reason why you can't do all the tasks required yourself.  Although, before working with gas or electrics make sure you are sure you know what you are doing.  For any aspect of your conversion, if in doubt, get professional help.

Sketching your Design

Draw out the floorplan and if possible a number of 3D internal views of your van from different angles.  It can be handy here to rope in a friend who is skilled with a pencil and paper if like me, you have the artistic abilities of an amoeba!!  If you can draw these to scale all the better but ensure you have an accurate set of internal measurements for when you come to make and fit things.

It can be useful to chalk out floor layouts or create cardboard cut outs of furniture so you can get an impression of how things will look, and importantly, fit. 

Campervan Layouts

Below are diagrams of my current campervan layout.  There are loads of ways to layout your camper van so it would be great to see what others have done (email info@campervanconversion.co.uk to submit your layout and I'll try to put them up here). 

Campervan Layout - Daytime (driving and sitting)

Campervan Layout - Nighttime (sitting and sleeping)

Campervan Layout - Internal side view (opposite sliding door)

In general it is best to plan everything before buying any applicances, however, if you already have items say from a previous campervan or conversion i.e. a stove or bench seat then you can place this in the van and move it about to get an idea of layouts.  This obviously restricts you to but also gives you a frame of reference.  Sometimes having nothing fixed it can be really hard to know where to start!!  I'd recommend deciding on a couple of key components. For me this was the bed / bench and stove, drawing these where you want them and then working round them to fit everything else.  

The initial planning stage is nice and cheap and easy.  All you really need are:

• Tape Measure
• Pencil and Paper
• Inspiration

You might think that a spirit level is essential, but be careful - vans are rarely parked properly flat and as soon as you climb in it starts rocking about!  Time, lots of cups of tea, some good tunes on the radio and a mate to chat about the endless possiblities is also useful!

I hope to have a separate section on all key aspects of converting a van into a campervan on this website.  Currently there are separate more detailed articles available on:

Choosing a Vehicle to Convert                                     
Campervan Electrics
Installing a Heater
Fitting Van Windows
Soft Furnishings
Installing a Water Supply
Fitting Swivel Seats
Campervan Insulation

What are you waiting for?.............................