How to Convert a Van Into
A Camper Van
A Camper Van
By Van Guy
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I was recently at a get-together of
some of the members of the
VanDwellers group and met Van
Guy, who bought this nice Dodge
Hi-Top conversion van and
converted it into a great camper
van. I was so impressed with his
work I asked permission to take
pictures and post them here. He
graciously agreed, but didn't have
time to write anything. So I am
going to write about his camper
conversion. Unfortunately, I didn't
take notes so I am going to have to
rely on my sketchy memory.
Notice the box on the ladder below
his right hand. Van Guy keeps his
green propane bottles there, since
he didn't feel comfortable with
them inside the van
some of the members of the
VanDwellers group and met Van
Guy, who bought this nice Dodge
Hi-Top conversion van and
converted it into a great camper
van. I was so impressed with his
work I asked permission to take
pictures and post them here. He
graciously agreed, but didn't have
time to write anything. So I am
going to write about his camper
conversion. Unfortunately, I didn't
take notes so I am going to have to
rely on my sketchy memory.
Notice the box on the ladder below
his right hand. Van Guy keeps his
green propane bottles there, since
he didn't feel comfortable with
them inside the van
This is the view from the sliding
door. His bed is behind the drivers
seat with storage underneath.
Notice the green cooler and
Coleman 2 burner propane stove
under the bed. A 13 inch TV is
mounted on the wall above the bed.
He wired the van for 110 volt for
when he was in campgrounds with
electricity. On bottom left of the
picture is his 110 volt electric
heater mounted on a cabinet.
One question all vandwellers have
is how to have privacy and cover
the windows. Van Guy used
Reflectix to both provide privacy
and shade the windows from solar
gain. Reflectix has a heavy layer of
aluminum foil on the outside and
bubble wrap on the inside. It does
a great job of keeping the heat
from the sun out in the summer,
keeps warmth in during the winter,
and provides perfect privacy
This view of the front passenger
door shows how he mounts the
Reflectix. He screwed in channels
above, below and on one end of the
window and just slides the
Reflectix into the channel when he
wants to use it, and it is easily
removed when traveling.
door. His bed is behind the drivers
seat with storage underneath.
Notice the green cooler and
Coleman 2 burner propane stove
under the bed. A 13 inch TV is
mounted on the wall above the bed.
He wired the van for 110 volt for
when he was in campgrounds with
electricity. On bottom left of the
picture is his 110 volt electric
heater mounted on a cabinet.
One question all vandwellers have
is how to have privacy and cover
the windows. Van Guy used
Reflectix to both provide privacy
and shade the windows from solar
gain. Reflectix has a heavy layer of
aluminum foil on the outside and
bubble wrap on the inside. It does
a great job of keeping the heat
from the sun out in the summer,
keeps warmth in during the winter,
and provides perfect privacy
This view of the front passenger
door shows how he mounts the
Reflectix. He screwed in channels
above, below and on one end of the
window and just slides the
Reflectix into the channel when he
wants to use it, and it is easily
removed when traveling.
Living or traveling in a van requires very
efficient use of all of it's tiny space. Van
Guy built cabinets along the wall opposite of
his bed, and near the roof on the sides and
across the back. Notice the use of
cardboard boxes held in by bungee cords.
This helps with organization and keeps the
weight of the van down.
efficient use of all of it's tiny space. Van
Guy built cabinets along the wall opposite of
his bed, and near the roof on the sides and
across the back. Notice the use of
cardboard boxes held in by bungee cords.
This helps with organization and keeps the
weight of the van down.
On this wall is his kitchen area. Notice the
large work area where he puts his propane
stove to cook. On the wall to the left is his
inverter for when he is not in a campground.
Above it is the power center everything
plugs into. The white object on the bottom
left is a water purifier.
His kitchen works very well. There is
enough room for anything he needs to do,
and everything is easy to reach and at hand.
The sink is behind the partition as we will
see below.
large work area where he puts his propane
stove to cook. On the wall to the left is his
inverter for when he is not in a campground.
Above it is the power center everything
plugs into. The white object on the bottom
left is a water purifier.
His kitchen works very well. There is
enough room for anything he needs to do,
and everything is easy to reach and at hand.
The sink is behind the partition as we will
see below.
You can't really see it, but between the
drivers seat and the bed is a deep cycle
battery in a sealed box. The box is vented
outside for safety.
Notice the passenger seat is swiveled
toward the back. Van Guy bought the
swivel base from J.C. Whitney and
installed it himself. Later he found a cheap
one in a wrecked class B at a junk yard. A
good reminder (if too late in this instance)
to search for parts at junk yards.
drivers seat and the bed is a deep cycle
battery in a sealed box. The box is vented
outside for safety.
Notice the passenger seat is swiveled
toward the back. Van Guy bought the
swivel base from J.C. Whitney and
installed it himself. Later he found a cheap
one in a wrecked class B at a junk yard. A
good reminder (if too late in this instance)
to search for parts at junk yards.
From the back door you can see his
bathroom. He put a sink in the cabinet for
washing. He originally put in a hand pump
but didn't like it so he just keeps water in
one gallon jugs. The sink drains into a 5
gallon water bottle underneath it for easy
disposal.
Looking toward the front of the van, you
can see a microwave in the storage area
above the drivers area that came with the
high-top roof.
bathroom. He put a sink in the cabinet for
washing. He originally put in a hand pump
but didn't like it so he just keeps water in
one gallon jugs. The sink drains into a 5
gallon water bottle underneath it for easy
disposal.
Looking toward the front of the van, you
can see a microwave in the storage area
above the drivers area that came with the
high-top roof.
In the area behind the bed, Van Guy
created a closet and extra storage.
You would think that the partition which
seperates the back area from the front
would make the van feel smaller and
cramped, but it doesn't. In fact, it
makes it feel more homey and
comfortable. Counterintuitive, but true.
Under the bed you can see more water
stored in a milk crate.
Wanting more ventilation, he mounted a
fan in one of the back doors. The window
opens outward for when he turns it on.
created a closet and extra storage.
You would think that the partition which
seperates the back area from the front
would make the van feel smaller and
cramped, but it doesn't. In fact, it
makes it feel more homey and
comfortable. Counterintuitive, but true.
Under the bed you can see more water
stored in a milk crate.
Wanting more ventilation, he mounted a
fan in one of the back doors. The window
opens outward for when he turns it on.
