Finding a Van for a Van Conversion
Finding a van for a van conversion is so exciting. Yet, there are a few questions that need to be be answered first. Probably the most important question is deciding which of these three options appeals to you the most:
- Self Build
- Part Conversion
- Fully Converted
There are pros and cons to each. Here are a few things to consider.
Self Build
This is by far the most flexible option. You can design the van around your exact needs. However, the cons are that you will need the budget and the time. More often than not both of these require a lot more than you think. Plus let’s not forget the skillset required.
You could opt for a hybrid. A hybrid means you could self build the parts of the van you feel confident in and hire professionals for the parts you consider outside of your scope. For many this maybe the electrics, gas and plumbing.
If you are considering the Self Build Van Conversion option then here are a few resources you may find useful:
- Nate Murphy’s Van Conversion Guide – we do not get any kickback from this but have found some parts useful and at only £14 (at time of writing this post) it will certainly save you £££ and time.
- Greg Virgoe’s Youtube Mercedes Sprinter Conversion – although this is for a Mercedes Sprinter there are some very useful videos and great in-depth explanations that will suit any van conversion.
- Youtube in general. I cannot even begin to share how many youtube videos we have watched to help us on our journey – you can even check ours out 😉
Here are some of the cons we experienced while finding a van for a van conversion.
Many of the descriptions on places such as Ebay, Facebook Market place, Autotrader were not always accurate or honest. See our tips below on how to give yourself the best chance of a good purchase when finding a van for a van conversion.
Part Conversion
We purchased a part conversion. The prep work had been started, the insulation and the vapour barrier along with some battens on the floor, walls and roof.
The owners had shared their conversion journey on instagram. Just like we have on our Instagram. This was great as it meant we could see the workmanship as well as how thoroughly they had completed each section.
It maybe worth taking along a mechanic if you are not so familiar with body and engine work. An electrician if electrics have been completed and even a gas engineer. If you were unable to do this at the time of purchase, definitely have these checked over after.
The obvious advantages to a part build is you are not needing to do all the work yourself. The cons are as stated above, knowing the quality of the build and the thoroughness of the preparation work.
Fully Converted
Fully Converted is the most convenient. It means you can get it and start adventuring immediately. This is the biggest appeal for many that choose this option.
Fully converted is the most costly option and the restrictions are really down to the layout and design of the van and whether they fit your needs. Fully converted van prices have hit a record high. Probably due tot eh economic changes in recent years. If you’re on a budget prepare yourself for a lot of searching and time to get the right van for you.
What else do you need to consider?
Van Type and Style
What type of class do you have on your Driver’s licence? You maybe restricted on some of the XLWB (Extra Long Wheel Based) vans if you do not have the right class on your driving license.
We also added the non-negotiables for the inside of the van before deciding the type of van we needed.
As an example we knew we would be living in the van full time, 2 adults, 4 children and a dog. So, for us a toilet and shower were non-negotiable and must have’s. We also knew we really wanted to have two separate seating areas. The girls would need space for homeschool, us for work and we still wanted areas to chill-out while this was happening.
Knowing this helped to dictate the size of van. For us this was an XLWB but we also know there is a compromise when it comes to parking. We would need to pay for two parking spaces. Certain parking areas would be restricted due to the size, Also as ours is an extra high, that restricts some roads due to height restrictions.
What do you need?
To help you to narrow down your search when finding a van for a van conversion consider the answers to the following:
- Do you want to be able to stand up in the Van?
- What essentials do you need? (ie kitchen, toilet, shower, bed)
- How many people will be travelling, even if only some of the time?
- How many people will be sleeping in the van, even if only some of the time?
- Do you have pets that will be accompanying you?
- What vehicles are you able to drive on your current driving license?
- Are you planning on Full time or part time Vanlife and if part time do you want the option to do full time?
- What appliances are a must for you? (fridge, cooker, microwave, laptop, hairdryer etc…)
- Are you planning on being off-grid?
Kitchen area, do you want a hob and an oven? Fridge? These appliances can really make or break a trip especially if the van is to be used on a regular basis.
How many people will be travelling in the van?
This is another important question to ask before you go finding a van for a van conversion. You will need to know how many seatbelts and the type that are required. 3-point seatbelts are the safest and in front or rear facing seats as they are not designed for side facing. If you have children travelling you will also need to know the latest regulations.
Your seatbelts will also need to pass the MOT and so proper fixings are required.
The next consideration is the layout to accommodate the amount of people travelling, some vans are better for certain layouts than others.
It is also important to consider the maximum number of people even if it is not on a regular basis. Maybe there will be times when it will be you and your friends or with children, your children’s friends – you get the gist!
How many will be sleeping in the van?
As with the seating knowing how many people you will need to sleep will also dictate the layout. For example we need to sleep 2 adults, 4 children and a dog. Some of our children all prefer to share the same bed (yes, they did this in our house, even when they all had separate beds and even separate rooms!). However, as they grow older they may not always want to do that. Also if you have children you know they are best of friends one minute and enemies the next – so we wanted options! This meant we created a bed on a winch system that could be higher-ed to the roof during the day and lowered at night.
If you like this design concept then when finding a van for a van conversion you will also need to consider the roof height.
Are you planning on being off-grid?
You can also charge your batteries through a split charge which charges your leisure or lithium batteries via the vans battery or alternator.
Then you also have mains hook up where you plug into shore energy at a campsite or home supply.
What you can do to make a safe purchase?
There are a few advisories before you even get to see the vehicle, a picture of the mileage will help you to match the description and it will indicate if there are any dashboard lights to be aware of, such as the engine management light. Get the registration of the vehicle so you can check the MOT history which will show any failures and sometimes advisories of the van which should link up with the owners information.
The safest option is to take a mechanic with you. They will know all the things to look out for and will also know the rough costs for any work that would need to be done. Some mechanics will do this for a set-price if you do not have any friends as mechanics.
Which option are you considering? Let us know in the comments
