15 Genius No-Build Van Ideas for Budget-Friendly Adventures

Even though Instagram and YouTube shows tons of fancy van builds, living or camping in a van doesn’t have to be expensive.

Whether you’re a road tripper, weekend warrior or full-time van lifer, there are plenty of inexpensive no-build van ideas to get you comfortable set up.

Here are a bunch of affordable ways you can build out your campervan, car, or SUV.

Modular Bed Frame with Storage Underneath

A comfortable sleeping area is the heart of any van conversion. My dad added a simple wood platform bed to his minivan to go on weekend camping adventures.

You can either build your own platform bed with storage underneath, which is the cheapest route, or you can buy one that’s already made.

Here are a few of our favorite premade bed frame kits:

• Home on Wheels DIY Furniture Kit
• Roadloft Interior Kits
• VanPackers Interior Kits

Pro tip: Add a memory foam mattress topper OR a camping mat for extra comfort on those long nights under the stars.

Mattress or Camping Pad with a Sleeping Bag

To enjoy camping in your car or van, you don’t have to BUILD ANYTHING. When we lived in our Toyota Prius, we just put a futon in the back of the car with some dark blankets. A camping pad and a warm sleeping bag does the same thing.

Not building out anything and testing sleeping in your vehicle is a great way to know if you really like it and what you actually need.

Portable Power Station or Cigarette Lighter Inverter

You don’t need a lithium battery bank and solar system to charge devices in a campervan. A simpler and more affordable option is a portable power station, which you can charge before you leave home, in your cigarette lighter when you are driving, or using a solar panel.

The Jackery Explorer 500 is a popular choice among van lifers, offering multiple outlets and USB ports in a compact package. This Jackery can charge things like computers, cameras, phones or run a portable fridge for a shorter length of time.

Consider a cigarette lighter inverter if you ONLY need to charge your computer. Be careful that it doesn’t drain your battery, though. When charging a larger device like a computer, it’s best to do so while the vehicle is running.

Collapsible Furniture

Maximize your living space with furniture that folds away when not in use. We use the REI Flexible Boss Chair, which is not only comfortable but collapses into a small bag that’s easy to store in our Sprinter van.

Many camp tables are also collapsible. This REI Camp Roll table is what we use.

Storage Ottomans

We did a no-build Chevy Astro van conversion as our first campervan. The back bench seat folded down, making the first part of our bed, while the storage ottomans made up the bottom part of the bed. Not only did the ottomans help complete the bed, but they also served as bins for our clothes, and a tabletop for our stove.

String Lights for Interior Lighting

To create a cozy feeling inside your vehicle, you can get some string lights like these ones from Luci, then hang them up in your van to get evening illumination.

We’ve had our Sprinter van for three years and still haven’t added a lighting system. We rely solely on Luci lights!

You can charge these string lights using the sun or via USB.

Simple $50 Campervan Kitchen

Kate and Ben of Two Wandering Soles added a $50 kitchen to their first campervan. They used 2x4s to build a simple frame that fit a Coleman stove, a sink, water container, and cutting boards.

Underneath was a storage area where they put water and a gray water capture system.

Check out their blog post with instructions on how to build one of these in your van!

Or, No Kitchen at All

In our first van, the Chevy Astro, we didn’t have any type of kitchen. We put a cutting board down on a storage ottoman with a one burner stove on top, and then we just cooked right there. When we were boondocking, we had a tiny folding table we’d put outside with the stove on top.

If you don’t want to deal with cooking at all, you can get a Jet Boil backpacking stove for heating up water for coffee and things like ramen. You can keep no-cook food on hand, like canned food, bread, peanut butter, etc.

A Pee Cup

Instead of buying a portable toilet that you’ll probably rarely use for #2, go to the grocery store and buy a white kitty litter container. Empty out the litter and use the container to pee in your van. You can empty your “pee cup” in a public restroom, or out in nature far from people if you are boondocking.

If you’re female and have a hard time aiming, you can grab a female urination device so you hit the mark.

My suggestion is to use a WHITE pee cup rather than a clear one so people don’t see pee sloshing around when you’re carrying your cup to the bathroom.

An Outdoor Bathroom

If you don’t have the space or inclination to put a bathroom in your campervan, you can carry around a portable privacy tent and a toilet. Set these up outside your campsite to create a small bathroom. To make things even more portable, choose a folding toilet that you can tuck away after your trip. Simply attach a bag to the toilet and do your #2 in there, or dig a deep hole if you’re boondocking. Remember to follow Leave No Trace rules.

A Simple Van Shelving System

If you’re handy, you can go the lumberyard and build a shelving system for your van. Put the shelving into the rear of your vehicle or alone one of the sides, next to your bed.

If you don’t want to build one yourself, we like this one from Camp n Car.

USB Powered Fans

Many campervans benefit from a roof vent. We put one in our Chevy Astro and it made a world of difference in bringing cool air into the van at night after the end of a hot day. A roof vent also helps keep cooking smells OUT of your van.

However, if you can’t add a roof vent, you can use simple USB-powered clip-on fans to move air throughout your space.

Simple Bug Screens

Instead of spending a fortune on campervan-specific bug screens, you can take a lesson from my dad’s girlfriend. She bought some mesh screen and some magnets from a crafts store and cut the mesh to fit their minivan’s windows. They attach the mesh to the window frames using magnets so they can sleep with the windows open on hot summer evenings.

If you don’t want to make your own screens, you can grab these bug screens from Luno Life.

Shoe Organizers

Keep your campervan interior organized and tidy with one of those hanging shoe organizers. You can use show organizers to store not only shoes but also other small items like electronics, cords, towels, toiletries, etc. You can cut the shoe organizer into pieces to fit nooks and crannies in your rig.

Easy-to-Install Curtains

Create privacy and style with simple curtain solutions. Use tension rods and lightweight curtains, or try magnetic curtain rods for easy installation on metal surfaces.

Magnetic or Suction Cup Hooks

Use magnetic or suction cup hooks to hang items like jackets, bags, or towels. These can be moved around depending on your needs.

What Would You Add to This List?

Embarking on van life doesn’t have to mean extensive renovations or a hefty price tag. These no-build van ideas prove that with a bit of creativity and some smart purchases, you can create a comfortable, functional living space on wheels. The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and adaptability – you can easily modify your setup as you learn what works best for your lifestyle.