9 Space-Savvy Chevy Express Camper Builds You Can Actually Copy

The Chevy Express Van makes for a great, nimble, and stealthy home on wheels, which is perfect for van lifers who spend a lot of time in cities. But there are also campers who have fit enough camping gear on the vehicle to be able to go boondocking off-grid for a whole week. 

This low-roof cargo van is very versatile. You can choose to use it for long weekends and holidays only, big outdoor trips, or full-time living. In this article, we’ll show you some cool options for DIY conversions and conversion kits, so you can start daydreaming about your own van adventure.

Before we get too carried away, let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of a Chevy Express Van, so you can decide if it’s the right vehicle for you.

DIY Chevy Express Van Builds

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of converting a Chevy Express Van into an adventure vehicle, we’ll give you some inspiration for your own build. We have selected our favorite 5 DIY conversions, so you can start planning your own.

Casper

Eric and Ashley converted their Chevy Express Van into the perfect boondocking camper and called it Casper. They live in it full-time with their pup Jonie. 

The couple spent a long time planning their build in detail and even tested various floorplans by taping them out on the floor of their spare bedroom to get a feeling for the space. The result is a super-cozy and spacious camper. 

Inside, there’s a couch that turns into a bed, swivel driver and passenger seats, a slide-out table, and a beautiful, modern kitchenette. On the roof, the couple fitted some solar panels, which are connected to a power system, and a deck on which to hang out.

A super stealth conversion for city van life

Brad has lived full-time on his Chevy Express for over a year and a half now and he loves it. In order to keep the vehicle as stealthy as possible, he decided to buy one with no extra windows and covered the rear ones with panels.

The interior looks very modern and cozy. In the front of the camper, the van lifer installed a platform between the driver and passenger seat, on which he fixed a fridge. The passenger seat swivels, so he can sit there to relax and read. 

Behind the front seats, there are two kitchen units – one with a sink, and one with a countertop and storage space. At the back, there’s a platform bed, which folds into a couch. Throughout the van, there’s overhead storage and the walls are covered in pine wood paneling.

Brad also installed a roof rack made of wooden planks, on which he mounted solar panels. It also doubles as a deck. The solar panels aren’t visible from the street, as they have a protective barrier around it to conceal them.

Silver Bullet Chevy Express Van Build

Blackhawk and Madi created one of the most gorgeous and equipped DIY Chevy Express Van conversions out there. The floor plan is ingenious, as it allows you to use both the bed and the couch at the same time. The interior has a very modern and snug Scandi style. On board, there’s everything you need to live the van life full-time.

On the left hand side of the camper van, there’s a decent-sized kitchenette with a sink and fridge. The couple decided to create a counter space that’s as big as possible, so the sink is the only fixed piece of equipment, but they can attach their camp stove to it when they need to. 

At the rear of the van, there’s a platform bed with lots of storage underneath. In front of the kitchen, there is a bench with a swivel table. Under the bench, there’s a well-hidden cassette toilet and the electrical system control panel. 

In the garage, there’s a diesel heater, and an outdoor shower. The shower and its water heater are fitted to one of the rear doors and the guys can get total privacy by using the doors in conjunction with two shower curtains. Super smart.

On the roof, there are a roof rack, a side-awning, LED lights, and solar panels. This little Chevy Express camper really has it all.

A $1,000 rock climbing base

British rock climber Mark needed a camper van to live out of for his 9-month long climbing trip around North America. So he bought a Chevy Express Van and fitted it out for camping on the road. He equipped it all with economical, yet functional gear.

On the left-hand side of the van, Mark fitted all his furniture – a kitchenette with sink and camp stove, plus some cabinets where he stores his clothes. On the right-hand side, there’s a bed. This folds into a couch, so he can have friends over for a meal or a cup of coffee. It’s not a fancy camper conversion, but it worked great for his long trip.

30-Day Chevy Express Van Conversion   

Emily built her Chevy Express Van camper while in quarantine in just 30 days. Ever since, she’s toured the United States with her boyfriend Ryan full-time. Emily built everything DIY out of plywood, painted it green, and installed it in the empty van. 

Her conversion features a sitting area with one couch that turns into a bed, two cabinets, a sink and storage unit on one side, and a worktop with a fridge underneath on the other. The couch faces a wall with overhead cabinets and a swivel, removable table. 

The most innovative and interesting feature is her minimalistic toilet, which is a pee funnel. At the back, there’s a pull-down table for cooking outdoors. Everything about this build screams DIY, and that’s what makes it special. Emily built it all by herself, and shaped it around her needs. 

Chevy Express DIY Van Conversion Kits

If you’re not very handy or would like to save time on your build, you can opt for a van conversion kit. This is pre-made furniture that you can easily and quickly install in your van by yourself. Doing it isn’t nearly as overwhelming as building every single piece DIY. A basic DIY kit is fairly economical, too.

VanLab Chevy Express DIY Kit

If you’ve got a Chevy Express or GMC Savana and want a no-fuss way to hit the road in comfort, VanLab’s new DIY kit (use the coupon code WAYWARD5 to get 5% off a kit) is a game-changer. Designed specifically for the 155” wheelbase, this kit makes the most of a compact space—offering a generously sized kitchen, a roomy sleeping area, and smart storage throughout.

The bed sleeps East to West and comes in at 73.5” long by 59” wide—about the size of a full bed—so you can stretch out without giving up precious kitchen or lounge space. It’s designed to work with both low and high roof models, and yes, you can sit up comfortably even in a standard-height van.

What’s inside? You’ll get a full bed platform, a built-in kitchen with fridge space (up to 47L), two pull-out tables, a third table over the fridge, and a thoughtfully integrated wiring system. If you opt for cushions, the included mattress and bench seat padding fit perfectly. Everything is made from durable, lightweight 9-ply Baltic Birch plywood—crafted to last and easy to move if you ever change vehicles.

Like all VanLab kits, this one is fully removable with no permanent installs. You can DIY the entire setup in a weekend with basic tools—no van build experience required. Reviewers rave about how stylish and well-designed these kits are, with one person calling it “the perfect combo of smart storage and good looks.”

Interested? Use the coupon code WAYWARD5 to get 5% off your order!

Freeway Camper Kit

Freeway Camper Kits specialize in producing economical and removable camper kits. Some of their kits are designed to fit specific vehicles, while others are universal. It’s best to get in touch to find out which kit would suit your Chevy Express van build best. 

You can choose between basic kits, which include just a sleeping platform, and more luxurious ones, which also feature a kitchenette and sitting area. Interested? Check out the Freeway Camper Kit site.

Professional Van Conversions

Finally, if you have a bigger budget, you can opt to hire a professional company. In this case, the van conversion process entails contacting a conversion company to discuss your project, approving a floor plan, waiting for your reserved spot, and then bringing the van over to their warehouse, where they do the build from scratch. Some businesses only have standardized floor plans, while others produce custom designs.

Let’s look at some companies that offer this service.

Contravans

Colorado-based Contravans specialize in converting Chevy vans, Ram Promasters, Ford Transits, and more. For each model, the company provides a number of options to choose from, so every build is tailored to the van lifer who will live in the camper.

A typical Chevy Express Van build features a kitchenette with sink, drawers, and storage underneath, a couch which turns into a bed, and plenty of storage throughout the vehicle. Their furniture is made of plywood, which gives the interior a warm feel. You can choose between various colors for the cushion covers and curtains.

Contravans can also do a partial van conversion for you. They can take care of the more difficult bits, and let you get on with selecting and installing the rest of the furniture and gear – you decide exactly what to delegate to them. 

If you can’t afford a full or partial conversion, Contravans also offer a DIY phone consultation to help you plan and build your own camper. 

Find out more on the Contravans website.

Sportsmobile

Sportsmobile is one of the top van conversion companies in the US. They specialize in building adventure vehicles for campers who are passionate about boondocking in wild locations. 

Sportsmobile offers a number of standard plans for the Chevy Express. These include a rear compartment where to fit a toilet, a kitchenette, a gaucho, and a pop-top. The interior is very modern and practical, with a slight minimalistic feel.

You can see a preview of your final design on their DYO Studio program, available on their site. Either mix and match their standard options, or create your own floor plan from scratch. 

You can read up more about the van conversion options and pricing on the Sportsmobile website. Sportsmobile has shops in Indiana, Arizona, and Texas.

Are You Ready to Turn Your Chevy Express into a Camping Machine?

The Chevy Express Van is an excellent low-roof van option for campers who want to enjoy a holiday or a longer trip on the road. It’s not huge, but there’s enough space to fit it with everything you need to go off-grid for a full week. It’s the ideal vehicle for van lifers who love to go city hopping and Boondocking near decent roads.

If you’d like to get something bigger for full-time living, look into Sprinter vans, Mercedes Metris campers, skoolie conversions, and more. There are plenty more options to weigh before you make a final decision.