Build a DIY campervan in 2019: Tips from van life experts

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure and privacy policy for more information

So you want to build your own DIY campervan in 2019? This could be the year when you ditch your 9-5 job for a life of freedom, adventure and exploration.

But first, you’ll have to put a lot of thought into your campervan build.

What type of van do you want? How much room do you need? Which components are essential for your DIY campervan? Do you need a shower? A toilet?

There are so many options for living the van life that it can become overwhelming, which is why we wanted to put together a list from van build experts to help you with your journey.

If you want to test out some vans before you buy, you might want to look into renting a van from Outdoorsy, where van owners put their rigs up for rent. 

How to choose the right campervan for van life

Looking around the world of van lifers, there are all types of shapes and sizes of vans. There are high-top vans like the Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit, cargo vans like the Ford Econoline E-350, conversion vans like a Chevy Astro or Chevy Express, or small vans like the Ford Transit Connect or Ram Promaster City.

You could even go with a small minivan for cost savings or a truck camper for more of an off-roading 4×4 experience.

You’ll need to think hard about how much space you need and whether you need to stand up in your van. 

If you’re not sure which type of van to pick for van life, check out these articles:

The 5 best vans for your DIY campervan conversion – via Curbed.

Picking the best vehicle for van life – why we chose a conversion van – via Go Nomad Home

Sprinter van conversion – the ultimate guide to a Mercedes campervan – via The Wayward Home

What is the best van to live in? – via Parked in Paradise

Choosing a van – via The Vanual

The best 4 small cargo vans for a camper van conversion – The Wayward Home 

How to insulate your DIY campervan

Insulating your campervan is an important aspect of your van build. Insulation isn’t only important for van life in cold weather climates, but can also work to keep the warm air out.

Proper insulation can also increase ventilation and reduce condensation and air flow. 

Some vans don’t need insulation, like if you buy a conversion van which is sent to a third party to turn into a luxury-style van. My Chevy Astro currently doesn’t need additional insulation. 

But if you’re doing a van build on your own, you’ll have to put some type of insulation into the walls and sometimes floor and ceiling.

Here are the top resources for insulating your van build:

Insulating your van – everything you need to know about a DIY van build – via Go Nomad Home

DIY van insulation for cold weather – via Parked in Paradise

Insulate your van – via The Vanual

11 campervan heating hacks to keeping your van warm in winter – via The Wayward Home

Installing electrical and solar into your DIY van build

Many van lifers choose to install some type of electrical system in their vans. Sure, you can get away with your 12-volt cigarette lighter for simple things like charging your computer with an inverter or temporarily running a portable refrigerator or heater.

But if you want a more sustainable setup, you’ll have to put some sort of electrical system in your campervan.

There are a couple ways to do this. You can use a portable solar generator to power your devices off the sun, or you can build an integrated system into your van with solar panels and an external leisure battery.

Here are some articles to help you with your electrical system:

The top solar generators for van life in 2019 – via The Wayward Home

DIY campervan solar system – via Parked in Paradise

DIY campervan solar setup – via Explorist.Life

Setting up your campervan kitchen

Anyone living a life on the road will want some sort of campervan kitchen. Whether you put a kitchen inside your van or install it in a pull-out drawer is up to you.

Some people choose to put the whole 9 yards inside their van- a sink, water, portable refrigerator, burners and even a stove. Others choose a simpler setup with a pull-out drawer with a propane camping stove.

The awesome thing about van life is you can get creative when designing your campervan.

Here are some campervan kitchen setup ideas for your new ride:

9 campervan kitchen ideas to make van life cooking a breeze – via The Wayward Home

DIY campervan kitchen for under $50 – via Two Wandering Soles

Creative Van Life Kitchen Setups – via Parked in Paradise

How we made custom kitchen cabinets for our DIY build – via Go Nomad Home

The best portable refrigerators for van life in 2019 – via The Wayward Home

13 kitchen essentials for campervan life – via The Wayward Home 

Putting a bathroom into your campervan

There are various opinions on whether you should put a bathroom in your campervan. Some love the convenience of having a toilet indoors, but others don’t like to deal with the mess. Some choose to go just in campgrounds, rest stops and in nature.

What you want to build inside your van is entirely up to you, which is one of the main draws of van life.

Personally, I don’t want to put a toilet inside my Chevy Astro van because its so small and I don’t want to deal with the stink, but I know plenty of van lifers who choose to go that route.

But if you absolutely need a toilet in your van, here are some articles you should read:

Sprinter van bathroom pros and cons – via Bearfoot Theory

The best composting toilet for a campervan in 2019 – via The Wayward Home

The best portable toilets for camping and van life – via Parked in Paradise

How to choose a cassette toilet for a van – Your RV Lifestyle

The best gear for living the van life

Once you have your campervan build out you’ll need to stock it with gear. Here are our favorite tools from the experts on living the van life:

15 kitchen essentials for campervan cooking – via Bearfoot Theory

The best campervan gear in 2019 for living the van life – via The Wayward Home

10 essentials for boondocking, or free camping – via The Wayward Home

11 van life must haves – via Vancognito

Tips for living in your new DIY campervan

Once you convert your van into a camper, you’ll have to learn how to start living in it. Where do you sleep? Where is legal to park? How do you get away with parking on city streets?

For more intel on living the van life, check out these articles:

How to legally insure a campervan, tips from a van lifer – via The Wayward Home

How to find health insurance as a van lifer – via The Wayward Home

How to get internet in your campervan – via The Wayward Home

Is it illegal to sleep in your car overnight – via The Wayward Home

14 secrets to stealth camping in your van without getting caught – The Wayward Home

How to find public showers when living the van life – The Wayward Home

30+ ways to make money from your campervan – via The Wayward Home

Conclusion

Building out a campervan if you don’t have any DIY skills can be daunting, but plenty of people do it. You can find campervan build videos on YouTube that can teach you most everything you need to know about building a van.

If you need a little help, you could always hire a van build company or purchase a pre-made campervan conversion kit. 

You can also purchase campervans from sites like Craigslist or Class B Campervans for sale on Facebook.

Good luck on your van life journey!