Stripping Out Interior
Stripping out any parts or paneling to reveal the van’s interior is a must to be able to properly insulate. But more importantly it allows you to inspect the health of your van before permanently covering every surface with a van conversion. Starting with a clean, rust free interior is critical for the health and longevity of your conversion.
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Remeove parts left from the previous owner, like tradie shelves or partitions between the front cab and cargo area. You can often sell these parts to help cover renovation costs. Whether to remove a partition is up to you; removing it can create more space and allow crawl-through access in emergencies, but keeping it offers better security and insulation. Personally I recommend removing them as the space they take up is far too valuable.
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Take down all panels from the walls, doors, and ceiling to inspect for rust and install insulation. Save these if you plan to reuse or cover them with carpet for a simple finish. Discard panels only if you’re replacing them with new materials like timber panelling, and can’t use them as a stencil.
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Even if the existing floor boards appear to be in good condition, this step is essential to ensure the health of your conversion. Remove any existing floorboards to allow you to properly clean the bed pan (metal floor), thoroughly inspect for rust, and install insulation in following steps.
(Note: Make sure to keep these boards to use as a template for cutting your new subfloor!)
