Van Conversion Guide

Base Build

Stripping Out The 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.

A woman in black shorts, a black tank top, and striped slippers is working inside a mostly empty van, which has no interior panels. She is reaching up and supporting herself with both hands against the van's ceiling while leaning forward. Tools and a yellow measuring tape are on the floor of the van.

Impact Driver/Drill

Tools

Screw drivers

Scraper

Method

  • Make sure your walls are done first
    Run your wall panels up high enough that the ceiling boards can run flush into them. This avoids awkward trim to cover joins and makes for a cleaner edge.

  • Pre-finish your ceiling boards
    Paint or stain all boards (front and back) before installation. This protects them from moisture and saves time (and your neck) once they’re installed.

  • Prepare alignment
    Measure out where each baard will sit so you know the correct poositiion to start on one side of the van to work across with the correct alignment. It’s important to have your two cuts on either side of the van nice and large to absorb any slight curvature down the length of the van. (planing for a join directly at the center of the van achieves this perfectly in a Hiace.)

A woman in black shorts, a black tank top, and striped slippers is working inside a mostly empty van, which has no interior panels. She is reaching up and supporting herself with both hands against the van's ceiling while leaning forward. Tools and a yellow measuring tape are on the floor of the van.

Stripping Interior

  •  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.

  • 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.

  • 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!)

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.