EVER THOUGHT ABOUT CONVER TING A VAN INTO A CAMPERVAN?

The authors of The Van Conversion Bible, a new how-to guide for campervan connoisseurs, discuss the perks and pitfalls of #VanLife. Words: Sarah Barrell

Offering the chance to get outdoors, live off-grid and take less-frequented back roads, travel by campervan allows the journey to be as important as the destination. But with high costs and long waiting lists for new campervans and bespoke conversions, more people are choosing to convert regular vans into mobile holiday homes themselves.

The National Caravan Council reports threefold increase in sales since 2000, while demand for commercial vehicles is up 57% year on year, according to Auto Trader, whose 2020 survey found that more than half of all new van buyers wanted a van for personal use, travelling and converting into campervans.

An Instagram search using #VanLife reveals around 10 million posts, most of which give a sense that campervan trips today equate to something akin to mobile glamping — with all the show-off home comforts to hand. It seems the lifestyle is increasingly appealing to those working remotely; campervans have proved to be excellent mobile home offices.

Today, companies offering van conversions or purpose-built vehicles are reporting wait lists of up to 18 months. So, an increasing number of people are doing it themselves. It’s the lockdown project that’s launched a litany of lifestyle blogs — but is the process as easy as social posts suggest?

“Planning is everything,” says Dale Comley, who co-authored The Van Conversion Bible with his partner, Charlie Low. “No single task is that difficult or technical — YouTube is helpful for tutorials. The hard part is understanding the order in which things need doing. We know people who have spent lots of money converting and ended up with a van that doesn’t work. It’s crucial to look at potential pitfalls at the drawing-board stage, weighing up all options before you build.”

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