Camper van designs – The top 31 for your camper

The biggest step in getting a campervan was already done. Now I had to think about what I would need. I knew I wanted a full kitchen and a big, comfortable bed. A large seat to relax with friends to end the evening was also needed. Since Emma is not really tall, I had to make a plan for every inch.

I looked at a lot of different conversions on the internet. Looked at how others have solved certain things and how I could implement it for myself. Then I made sketches.

I tried a lot of variations.

The kitchen behind the seats or by the window. The sitting area and the bed are elongated, to slide out or fold up and down. Each variant had to be considered carefully.

It was also important not to make the mobile home conversion too complicated. After all, I wasn’t a professional and I wanted to start the conversion as soon as possible.

When these things were clarified I had a plan how my interior would look like and the financial planning started.

I wanted my camper as nicely as possible, but the financial means have to be right. I didn’t have a lot of budget. For me, it shouldn’t be a luxury conversion either. I had planned to buy many materials as cheaply as possible and build a lot myself. That way I could save myself the cost of a carpenter or electrician.

To keep track of things, I created a list with the costs that I would have to pay. Sure, I could only guess at the time, but at least that way I knew roughly where my pain threshold lies.

A high investment, I have already done with the purchase of the motorhome. Everyone should know for themselves what their dream of a camper is worth to them. However, you should not be immediately scared off by the costs. It can be a lifetime investment.

In order to save as much costs as possible, I built most of my camper myself. For me it wasn’t just a question of cost.

After you have bought a camper and the most important questions have been answered, you can now start.

Before the interior work could start, I had to check the base of the vehicle. Is there any rust anywhere? Has fluid collected in some places in recent years? Do you have to fix anything?

If you don’t check the vehicle to the core for rust and remove the rust, you have to expect that it will get worse over the years and then it may be too late.

So if there is rust has in the vehicle, quick action is required. Even the smallest rusty spot can turn into a real problem in a short amount of time.

Therefore, the following applies here: recognize, remove rust, treat, prevent! I’ll show you how to do it  here. (english version coming soon)

There are a few ways to style the floor of your RV. Before doing that, you have to ask yourself a few questions: What do you like best? Would you like an easy-care floor or a particularly robust one? A particularly cheap floor, or can it be of very high quality and therefore significantly more expensive?

Then you can go to the hardware store, for example, and get advice. Which material is the most robust and which is the easiest to care for? Which material is the lowest or highest in terms of price?

In addition, the floor covering also determines the look of your camper and should also match the rest of the interior. Either you choose linoleum or parquet, you can also use wooden planks or make yourself comfortable with a carpet.

In my case, I chose linoleum with a wood look. The easy processing and the cost factor convinced me.

Insulation protects your camper against certain influences.

If your camper is in the sun, it will stay cool for longer inside with appropriate insulation and will not heat up as quickly. The same principle applies to the other direction. Heat retains better inside when it is colder outside.

The insulation helps you to “contain” the sound or absorb the noises of the vehicle. That definitely makes both driving and standing more comfortable for you.

The X-Treme isolator is available as a self-adhesive version and without it. I advise you to use the self-adhesive version, as it is much easier to use.

Having electricity in a camper is super important to most. For me too. So that everything works as you imagine it, I would like to show you my way to a working solution.

Please note that the use of electricity can be dangerous and is usually only carried out by experts. Care should be taken when installing the AC power cables.

Confusing the blue wire with the black connection can become a trap. But since we want to do everything ourselves, a specialist should check the wiring completely, at least at the end. Because safety comes first. You can find more information about this here. (english version coming soon)

I thought about this for a long time. There are a few variants, but for me comfort was the main reason. Your interior trim should match your camper.

Ask yourself what is important to you? The weight? The simple processing? The costs? The optics? This is where some options come together. For me it was a few thing.

Spruce wood is built into Emma that we bought as normal thin profiled wood.  Spruce in this thickness is amazingly light.

So whether with wood, colorful, white, kitschy or modern, that’s up to you. Of course, you should consider a few things, such as the individual functions of the kitchen or how flexible you want the expansion to be. Also how much storage space you need. But once these things have been resolved, make your van as beautiful as possible.

I have compiled all my knowledge about mobile home conversion in a book that should make it easier for you to implement your project.

The chapter on electricity clearly explains the basics that you should know before installing. Caution should be exercised when it comes to this delicate subject.

Electricity in the camper is usually insufficiently explained on the Internet, as there are many different versions. In this chapter I will give you a good insight into all the necessary details.

This guide for converting a motorhome is primarily intended for those who have less budget! It’s not about a full-fledged high-class expansion, but about an individual mobile home expansion that makes you happy.

Not sure how to build a camper? Then have a look here!

If you are interested in information on converting a camper, you will find many valuable tips and tricks in this 220-page guide on converting a van into a camper. Click here. {english version coming soon}