Van Conversions: Our top tips
Not sure where to start when it comes to van conversions?
Well there is no need to worry as we have you covered! Here at Wildworx, we know how difficult it can be to get all the information that you need regarding van conversions in one place. We’ve tried to bring everything we can into one place. Let’s begin!
What is a Van Conversion?
Firstly, we need to start at the beginning. What is a van conversion? Typically, most people have a general idea of what a van conversion is. However, if you are completely new to the ‘van life’, then this may not always be the case. A van conversion is literally just when a van of your choice is modified to suit all of your needs. We mostly convert VW Transporters. VW T5, VW T6 and VW T6.1. Want to know more about the base vehicles? Check out our guide to Van Conversion Base Vehicles.
If you’re someone who is after a van to go away on holiday somewhere in the UK, then a campervan conversion is for you. Campervan conversions also provide you with so many different types of benefits too. One of these being to do with saving money on accommodation. What this means is that you can go wherever you would like in the UK, and you won’t have to worry about paying so much for accommodation.
Don’t forget the cost of the campsite. A campsite is usually around £25 - £100 per night. This depends on whether you have an electric hook-up or if you’ve got the best view on the site!
Day van conversions are also a popular choice. Day van conversions are perfect for those of you who are after a van which will be suitable for work purposes, or even for just a day away at the beach. Day vans have more space inside them compared to campervan conversions, as they do not need to have as much stuff inside them.
This means that you will easily be able to carry all of your equipment with you whenever you need too. If you are still confused, campervan conversions are perfect for those of you who are interested in ‘staycations’, whereas the day van conversions are great for those of you who are looking for the perfect van for work. Just make sure that you are going to be investing in the van conversion which suits you best.
Why should I invest in a Van Conversion?
Well, there are actually numerous different reasons as to why you should invest in a van conversion. For starters, if you are someone who loves to camp, then campervan conversions will be perfect for you.
This is because it will be a lot more comfortable to sleep in a nice bed, rather than on the floor. You will also have all your useful things inside your campervan, meaning that things will be a lot easier for you!
Another major benefit is that vans are very car-like. What this means is that you will be able to use your van as an everyday vehicle, as well as a leisure vehicle. Van conversions are also great for those of you who are looking to get outdoors quite often. Also, if you are someone who is after a fully functional work van, then it is definitely worth considering investing in a day van. There are so many different types of base vehicles on the market that would be perfect for you!
How much will it cost me to get a Van Conversion?
Money is always important when it comes to a van conversion, and people always want to know how much they are going to be spending overall. Typically, most van conversions cost around £8,000 - £20,000. But, it is important to keep in mind that this total can vary as a result of multiple different factors.
Things such as what type of van conversion you get, who will be completing the van conversion, colours, van accessories, and the base van itself, will all influence the overall price in some sort of way. If you are someone who is on a tight budget, then you may want to find some cheaper alternatives when it comes to van conversions.
For example, you could purchase a second hand van, complete some or all of the conversion yourself, or even have just a simple van conversion. If it is a second hand base van that you are going to go for however, be sure to check the van thoroughly before purchasing it to ensure that there is no damage that you may have to fix before you have the conversion. Again, if you are going to be getting a professional company to do the van conversion for you, be prepared to pay an extra fee.
Safety Advice
It is always important to keep the factor of safety in mind whenever it comes to van conversions. When you go to purchase anything for your van, be sure to check that it has gone through some sort of safety tests to ensure that it is suitable for you and your van. You never want to be in a position where your safety is compromised, or where anything else inside of your van could become damaged.
If you are going to be doing any part of the van conversion yourself, it is important to make sure that you know exactly what you are going to be doing. There is no point in trying to complete a DIY job in order to save a bit of money, as you could potentially do something wrong meaning that you may then have to spend even more money in order to get it fixed. Instead, it is always best to get a professional company to do the van conversion for you. Yes this may cost a little extra, but it will be totally worth it!
Make sure you check the reviews of any companies you get to work on your van. There are lots of not so professional conversion companies out there. Best to do your research.
Personal safety is also something else you will want to think about when it comes to van conversions. You will tend to find that a lot of people have fire extinguishers or fire blankets in their van.
You will definitely want to purchase a carbon monoxide alarm for your van too. Also, remember to ensure that there is some sort of ventilation in your campervan too. It can be quite dangerous not to have any sort of ventilation inside your van, especially if you have any gas appliances in there. Another major thing to keep in mind when it comes to safety, is the safety of your van.
Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t take into account how they will protect their van when it is not in use, which can actually sometimes result in some serious issues. GPS trackers are definitely a great place to start when it comes to protecting your van, as they can alert you if your van has been stolen. You may even want to invest in and install some deadlocks, so that it will be a lot more difficult for people to break into your van. A lot of thieves tend to go for vans which have a lot of valuable tools in. Because of this, it may be best to take your valuables with you whenever you are not using the van.
Remember the essentials!
Moving onto the essentials. There are lots of things that you need to remember when it comes to a van conversion, and the essentials are definitely something that you do not want to forget about.
The first major is essential where you are going to be sleeping. If you are someone who is going to be outdoors most of the day, you are most certainly going to want a very comfortable bed to sleep on at night. Now, there are loads of different types of beds that you can go for, and it will definitely be worth checking out as many as you can so that you can find the perfect one for you! Most people tend to go for a convertible or platform bed for their van. However, there are so many more different types of beds that you can go for if neither or these options will be suitable for you.
Another major thing to remember is the electricity inside your van. You are definitely going to need lighting in your van, as well as electricity in order to run your fridge. We highly recommend that you hire a professional to complete this job for you, unless you are confident to do it yourself. Check out the campervan Solar Panel System here.
The ventilation is also another major thing that you are going to need in your van. You are going to want your living space to be as comfortable as it possibly can, and in order for this to be achieved you are going to need some sort of ventilation.
Taking care of your van
It is so important to make sure that you are looking after your van properly, especially if you want to ensure that it lasts. In order to do this, you will need to clean your van properly and efficiently. However, when it comes to cleaning your van, it is not as simple as you think it is. For starters, you definitely should avoid just cleaning your vehicle with a simple bucket of water and soap.
You will definitely need to purchase proper car cleaning kits and products for your vehicle, to ensure that none of your van’s surfaces will be treated correctly. We also recommend that you use a microfiber cloth when you go to clean as it is not a coarse material, so it is perfect on any of your surfaces. They are also perfect when it comes to absorption, and leave the best possible results afterwards!
When you go to clean your actual vehicle, be sure to start with the wheels first. Yes that may sound strange at first, but the wheels are actually going to be the dirtiest part of your van and you really do want to avoid splashing that dirt on all the other surfaces that you have just cleaned. However, when you have finished the wheels you can then move onto the rest of the van.
Car shampoo is perfect for this, and we highly recommend that you invest in some. We also suggest purchasing some car wax for your van too! When you go to clean the windows, it is best if you clean one side of the glass vertically and the other side horizontally. By doing this, you will be able to easily spot any streaks or dirt that you may have missed whilst cleaning.
Wildworx Van Conversions
If you're considering a van conversion, we hope this post has given you some helpful tips and inspiration. These are just a few of the possibilities when it comes tovan conversions - the sky is literally the limit! So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today and let us help you turn your dream van into reality.
