As much as camper life is associated with freedom and the hippie movement, the price of models like the Volkswagen California has skyrocketed, moving away from the possibilities of the vast majority. Camperization is presented as an alternative that also allows you to create a unique space according to your needs. Given the rise of "Do it yourself" (do it yourself) there are many companies that sell modules to turn your van into a house.
The love of traveling on wheels has encouraged the creativity of those who prefer to prepare their van to taste, either for economic reasons or for the advantages of customization. The first reason is the most common, since a Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo starts at 70,421 euros and a Volkswagen California Ocean from 67,955 euros.
Both have a module with a kitchen, a bed on the pop-up roof and the possibility of another on the lower seats. It is the same configuration, or similar, followed by more recent rivals such as the Peugeot Traveler, Toyota Proace Camper or the Citroën SpaceTourer, prepared by Tinkervan and with cheaper prices of around 45,000 euros. It's still a remarkable investment.
For this reason, due to the price, many campervan users have decided to opt for a cheaper solution: camperization. Of course, it requires more time, patience and certain skills related to professions as demanding as cabinetmakers, electricians and interior designers.
Luckily, the Internet is an inexhaustible source of courses, video tutorials, and camperization projects that have come to fruition. Not only that, there are also ready-made modules that can fit perfectly with the idea of a home on wheels that you have in mind.
The first step to convert your van is to choose a reliable commercial vehicle, hence the favorites are models such as the Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Fiat Jumper and Opel Vivaro. All of them share a compact silhouette and a spacious and versatile load space, a good base from which to start with very interesting second-hand prices.
The next step will depend, to a large extent, on your knowledge and abilities to face a project that will transform a cargo box into a living space. For this you will need time, space to work and investment margin, in case something unforeseen arises during the camperization. What's more, before starting you must take into account the final approval to always comply with the regulations that will allow us to pass the ITV.
After acquiring a van, measuring it and considering the furniture we need, we get down to work. Cleaning is the starting point, as well as fixing possible rust and installing one or two skylights on the sides, ventilation and light are essential. Then it will be necessary to insulate it thermally and acoustically with special attention to weak points such as doors, windows and beams. For this you can use materials such as: polystyrene sheets, cork, rubber foam (Kaiflex) with multilayer, and wood and PVC panels as a final layer.
With the idea of furniture and facilities in mind, or in a scheme, we will start up the possible plumbing with basic elements such as: water tank (clean and gray), water pump, expansion vessel, hoses and pipes, as well as a system for hot water (heater).
Once the base is achieved, it is time to create or choose the furniture. This second option is more expensive, but also faster and easier, so let's review what options exist. In Furgomanía, for example, you will find furniture designed by true fans of the camper world and the use of each space. Its 4in1 furniture is extremely practical, offering in a single module the sink, the outdoor table, the 30-litre fridge and the lower drawer for the utensils.
As they themselves say, the most requested piece of furniture in their catalog is the wide module bed kit. It is the lower bed structure but with a 10-centimeter block of furniture on the passenger side, ideal for placing a 21.5-liter Dometic fridge and spaces to store luggage. Of course, the key lies in the prior assembly of some rails that ensure their fixation during circulation and allow the modules to be removed according to your needs.
Kitcamper is another of the companies dedicated to the manufacture of removable furniture and the most elegant. Without having to affect the structure of a conventional or passenger van, you can add a rear module that hides sub-drawers with a mobile stove, refrigerator or a small storage room. A similar idea is that of Camper Land, but for smaller models, where the same block of furniture serves as the base for a bed. Even the curious Across Car Camper Van Freedom Kits system, which consists of boxes that are fixed to the ground by magnetism.
But do not think that only specialized companies have found the ideal furniture for your van, others like Leroy Merlin are also joining the camper trend. At its facilities, or online, you will find camper kits such as trunks, extendable tables and plywood boards to cover surfaces such as the floor. The most basic versus complete projects like those of Fur
