DIY vs. Professional Van Conversion

Are you considering a DIY campervan conversion project? Then this article is for you!

At Contravans, we have seen many Do-It-Yourself (DIY), semi-professional, and high-end professional campervan conversions. From dangerous fire hazards to “huh, that’s a really cool van!”, we’ve seen it all!

If you’re considering building your own campervan, we fully support it! In fact, DIY van building is how our company got started. However, if this is your first foray into van building, be aware that is a lot of work. It may be even more work that you think!

From researching the right parts to designing your ideal layout to ordering the components & researching proper installation to installing the parts, building your first campervan is a large undertaking. Even a professional conversion company can take 300+ hours to complete a high-end Ford Transit High Roof van conversion.

Challenges builders face

Sufficient TIME to plan the conversion
SPACE to store the parts
SPACE to store and work on the van
Accumulating the proper TOOLS
EXPERTISE to install some of the more complex components
TIME to complete the conversion.

Most folks we know that have been able to complete their vans in a short period of time have not been working full-time jobs when building their campervan conversion.

You don’t have to be a designer, mechanic, carpenter, electrician, and plumber to build a nice DIY campervan. Countless how-to DIY campervan videos can be found on the internet. DIY van conversion parts are now available for most makes and models of vans as well. However, the more skills and upfront knowledge that you bring to the table, the easier it will be to complete your campervan on-time and on-budget.

So, what should you do now? How should you think about the benefits of building your own van conversion vs. hiring a professional? Since Contravans is a professional van conversion company with years of experience and over 100 completed campervan conversions, the easy answer would be: “Give us a call and let us do it”. However, we know that the decision process is not that simple. In this blog post, we’ll do our best to give you an honest evaluation of the pros and cons of a DIY campervan vs. a professional campervan.

The Pros and Cons of a DIY Campervan Conversion:

The Pros of a DIY Campervan Conversion:

A DIY conversion is often cheaper than a professional van conversion
You can build the van in stages as time and budget allow
You can use the van for camping and other purposes as you complete the work
You’ll have a lot of personal pride and satisfaction when your campervan is complete
You will know where everything is located and how everything works
You’ll be able to make changes along the way if your design ideas or needs change

The Cons of a DIY Campervan Conversion:

You only get one shot at doing certain things right e.g. cutting holes for the vent fan or installing windows
You may not know how to build/design all of the features that you want into your van
The design and installation process is very time consuming, especially if you have little experience with working on vehicles
Many things like selecting the correct wire size are hard to determine with online videos alone
If something breaks down, you will have to troubleshoot and fix it yourself
If you are traveling in your van and away from your tools, most professional van conversion companies will not work on a DIY project
If a professional company will agree to work on your van, it may take weeks to be able to get on their schedule
The resale value of DIY van conversions tends to be lower

With a DIY van build, you have full control over your conversion. The satisfaction of building your own campervan is very rewarding! You can make the van as fancy or simple as your budgeted time and money allow. Just remember that a campervan conversion requires a lot of space, time, knowledge and tools. Be prepared to dedicate many nights and weekends to your project to get it right.

The Pros and Cons of Having Your Campervan Professional Built

As we mentioned above, a lot of time, planning, and energy goes into converting a Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, or Ram Promaster into a campervan. Professional van building companies like Contravans have a staff of highly skilled technicians that can ease the burden of creating your ideal van conversion. We already made the most common mistakes years ago.

We have lived in our vans, so we know what works and what doesn’t. We’ve done all of the research so you don’t have to. With a knowledgeable staff with backgrounds in 3D computer modeling, mechanics, plumbing, and electrical, we create great campervans that have all the features that you want and need.

The upfront cost of a professional van conversion will be greater than a DIY van conversion. However, it will be worth it. You’re paying for the expertise of the staff, the right combination of components, the quality of the product, and a warranty to fix anything that might go wrong.

Pros of Purchasing a Professional Campervan Conversion:

You won’t have to quit your day job just to find the time and energy to complete your conversion
Our years of van life experience will give you peace of mind that your conversion will have everything you want and need designed into it from the start
Our years of technical van conversion experience guarantees that your campervan will be done right the first time, especially with the high-risk areas like insulation and electrical work.
Most van conversion companies provide warranty coverage. Contravans provides a minimum 12-month warranty on parts and installation. Most of the parts that we use come with manufacturers’ warranties that are much longer
Contravans will help troubleshoot and fix any problems should you happen have them while using your campervan

Cons of Purchasing a Professional Campervan Conversion:

The upfront cost is usually higher than a DIY conversion. Hint: remember to ask us about our financing partners and other creative ways of offloading some of the financial burden of owning an expensive campervan
Some companies only work on certain models of vans e.g. the Mercedes Sprinter. However, at Contravans, we work on almost all makes and models of vans
The market is hot. There are new van conversion companies popping up nearly every day. This can make it hard to know who is the most trustworthy and likely to be around in the future. Hint: remember to ask for references and check a van conversion company’s ratings before choosing to work with them

If you choose to go the professional route, figuring out which conversion company is best for you can be challenging. Take the time to search for a company that has BOTH the styling you prefer AND the expertise necessary to create a long-lasting campervan conversion.

Contravans is a unique campervan conversion company. We often work on existing van conversions, whether DIY or from another van conversion company. Contact us if you need help diagnosing or upgrading your current campervan conversion. Just keep in mind that our time and expertise is valuable 😉