rv van owner

How much does it cost to convert a van into a recreational vehicle

• cannon
• February 7, 2021February 7, 2021
• 0

Building your own

When you want to travel the country at your own pace, you can buy a new or a used camper van and spend lots of money. Or you can build your own and save. If you already own the van, you are well ahead of the game and can use your money for the equipment you need.

That is one of the attractive features of turning your own van into a recreational vehicle. You can make it any way you want and make sure it fits your travel needs. To learn about the different costs involved as well as some pros and cons, just continue to read our article.

It has the information you want to know first before you get started on your project.

It all depends

That may seem like an end run around the issue but it is not. it is the most accurate statement that can be made when you are contemplating converting your van into an RV.

That is because your total cost will depend on if you do it yourself, you hire a professional to do it, and the value of the equipment you put inside the van. it is possible for you to spend as little as $1000 or as much as $20,000 or more on your conversion.

It also depends on if you buy a kit or have a professional do the work. Those kits can cost between $5,000 and $20,000 with one kit costing $12,000 and takes only 3 hours to install.

If you have professionals do the job, the average cost is going to be around the $10,000 to $35,000 mark depending on if you want a pop up or not, or a luxury conversion.

Then one DIY handyman who knows his stuff was able to convert an 18 foot van into a nice camper by using his own designs and spending only $6000 approx and 185 hours to install everything.

That should give you a rough idea on how much it may cost you to convert your van. Your costs will be different as it all depends on what you want inside and what your needs are.

A breakdown of expenses

As you have seen, the amount of money you will spend depends on what you want inside the van. Some people go with batteries but others recommend that you go solar. Of course, solar costs more than batteries do but you get more freedom with the former option. Here are some ball park costs for different specific items:

#1. Solar and accessories- the average will be around $2,000

#2. Kitchen equipment, appliances, etc- you are looking at between $700 to $3300 approx.

#3. bedroom supplies, bed, etc.- Between $500 and $2000

#4. Insulation and sub flooring- As low as $450 and as high as $2200

#5. Roof rack or deck (optional)- $550 approx.

#6. hardware and tools*- between $80 and $12,000 approx.

* you will save money if you already own certain power tools like a drill, jigsaw,  table saw, sander, or you can borrow or rent those tools and save as well.

Overall, the total cost of converting your van can be about $4,000 to as much as $21,000 but don’t forget to factor in labor costs. These prices are just for the supplies, equipment, and hardware that you will need.

The benefits of converting your van

There are some really good benefits to converting a van you already own or buying one and converting it. These conversions do not cost as much as a Class A, B, B+, or C RV and this option should be considered when you are on a budget.

1. you save money on the purchase of a new or used pre-made camper van
2. create your own design and be innovative at the same time
3. customize it to your needs and travel wants
4. use whatever supplies and equipment you want
5. you can do it yourself or have a friend help
6. you can do your own designs or buy a kit or buy a professional pre-design package
7. be as frugal or as luxurious as you want
8. travel at your own pace with no check out pressure
9. cook your own on a stove or build a campfire
10. go where you want and park almost anywhere you want
11. get away from the rat race and a house mortgage

The negatives of building converting a van into an RV

Just like there are a lot of positives for doing this project, there are some negatives you should consider before you start and spend the money.

1. it sounds fun in the thinking about stage but you actually have to convert the van once you start
2. it can be very frustrating to do as the design of the van may not be compatible with  where everything has to go
3. the van may be too small for everything you want in it
4. the suppliers and materials may not be available for when you want to start
5. you need to understand electronics, gas lines, connections, and more
6.  have the skills to connect everything correctly and install them right
7. also, you need to be prepared to live in such a small place for days or weeks on end

Some final words

Converting your old van into a nice recreational vehicle sounds romantic to many. The benefits that come with the freedom you get are hard to ignore. Plus, you get to be your own designer and create something that is unique.

But once you start, you can’t quit. It takes a lot of patience, dedication, and overcoming frustration to get the conversion just right and completed. Make sure you will finish or you will have an expensive piece of junk in your driveway that your neighbors will hate you for.

The reward will come when you finish the job and you get to take those dream vacations you have thought about for years. Plus, you can be proud of the work you did.