Part II will cover the construction of the finished product and any extras we added to make our van life travel on the road more comfortable. . Hey Great conversion! 2. In your Honda Element you had your water on top for showers. We bought the standard roof version because we got a great deal on it (20k for a basically new van) and for us it was the best model since we planned on going places where height restrictions were common. DYO Online Suggestion first review all the info below, then go to the DYO Studio. Specialties: Full-service cargo van conversions in Santa Cruz. Hi, I dont see any mention of heat or what kind of heating system or appliance you used in your build. We found the perfect, slightly used Ram Promaster van for $20K and over the next 3 months converted the blank cargo van into a fully livable custom-built camper for just under $3k in conversion cost. Walts RV 1275 Railroad St Corona, CA 92882. These items are handy to keep in your RV toolkit for both regular maintenance and unexpected repairs in your rig. Just remember to test it all before you enclose it behind panels, otherwise youll have to tear it all down once you realize you accidentally crossed two wires. Layout & Must Haves 2. We cover the kitchen set up more in Part II of the post. The flange part pointed up and the roof rack was screwed onto the flange. Thanks for the help! No, the placement of the wiring is so individualized depending on where youre placing your components: the batteries, fuse block, solar panels/controller, and all the things you plug in. We like the basic layout of this camper van and contrasting light and dark colors. We used this isolator which has worked out great. This van has all of our dream features like a water heater, air heater, shower, TV, air conditioner and a microwave oven! This is so amazingly helpful, thank you for the information. In your Ram is there water storage under the sink? Avoid any delays to the start of your camping season by completing these necessary maintenance tasks before you hit the road. On the down side is the low back axle and it is not a 4X4. Also, does your van have dual sliding doors, one on both driver and passenger side? Thank you so much! Even after months of chronic over depleting, the batteries held strong once fully charged. Your email address will not be published. Thank you so much for sharing a great post. The sliding windows we chose came in medium size with screens to protect against bugs at night. The Ram ProMaster is one of the most versatile and customizable cargo vans on the market. Installing the plug would be easy, you just drill a hole and put the plug in. Your email address will not be published. Just make sure to add inline fuses to both sides of the cable in case theres an issue anywhere along the wiring. For showers we used a solar shower bag which was much more convenient than the black solar shower we built on the Element. This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy. But that's just the distance between the wheels. Its so helpful to read why you chose certain things. Dennis is a structural engineer and full time van lifer. The cabinet also holds the 12-volt Norcold cooler. . Hi,Good job and thanks for your information. BEST CONVERSION VAN LAYOUTS | How to Design Your Van Conversion Sara & Alex James - Custom Crafted Vans ALREADY PURCHASED THE VAN LAYOUT GUIDE? One question how did you mount the 80/20 system up top? In 2017 I moved into a Dodge Ram Van to travel the US and explore the outdoors. We made our own out of 80/20 tubing and made some mounts that slide in over the factory roof mount stubs. If so, cost? We liked the bright colors she used and storage attachments on the back doors. We like the clean woodwork and cozy design of the interior. This conversion pulls it off thanks to some very clever use-of-space, and if you really love it, $69,500 will put it in your garage. If you want to design you own camper van, its best to start with the dimensions. On our previous SUV camper conversion, we used a foam gap sealant to seal off all the small areas and ended up making a huge mess from the dripping sealant that was impossible to clean off. Out of all the insulation types, we decided R-max polyiso rigid foam insulation board from Home Depot would be the best fit for our van conversion because: The only downside to rigid foam insulation is that it takes a while to cut and fix into every panel, but considering we dont need to seal it off completely, it still takes less time than insulating with soft fiber insulation. The average weighted used dodge promaster camper van selling price is $66,431. Couch-to-bed: A small couch that slides out to convert to a flat bed. We are prepping our Dodge Sprinter and arent whether we should do the insulation or the electrical first. To have all the amenities they wanted and nothing extra, the couple decided to purchase a new ProMaster cargo van rather than a pre-owned vehicle. But overall our insulation works for us and wouldnt change it. We installed a double layer of 1 insulation on the bottom wall side panels and 1 insulation on the top back wall side panels to maximize space for sleeping at night. Whether you're a mountain biker, climber, hiker, digital nomad, full-time traveler or weekend warrior; we will build a van that is right for you. We used the factory mounting studs on the roof and created some diy mounts. We did not use glue, just snapped them together over the sound insulation and they were pretty hard to move because of the friction with the insulation. Best information I have found! The standard roof versions fit inside of drive-thrus, garages, parking structures, power lines (in other countries), and low-hanging branches where tall roof versions would not. Buzz LWB Spied Undisguised Ahead Of June US Debut, Bentley Continental GT S One-Off Celebrates Model's 20th Anniversary, Nissan Arizon Concept Debuts As Electric SUV With Loads Of Tech, Toyota bZ Sport Crossover And bZ FlexSpace Preview Production BEVs, 2024 Renault Clio Debuts Major Facelift And Esprit Alpine Version, BMW XM 50e Debuts Quietly With Less Power Than Expected, BMW M340d Touring Doesn't Deliver As Expected In The Moose Test, Cupra Leon Facelift Spied Testing In Wagon Flavor At The Nrburgring, 2024 Hyundai Elantra N First Official Images Show The Facelifted Sporty Sedan. They used both sides of the van when building. This gave the windows a really nice finished look that was much easier to make than paneling. The Wally Camper Van Conversion Kit for the Promaster City Cargo, Tradesman SLT or Standard models costs under $6000, including the costs of shipping. We have the standard roof, not the high roof. Just curious, what the height is inside, this is not the typical high-roof builds you see but still dooable. In fact on the Promaster forum, there's a strong contingent of folks who feel the 136 wb version is plenty big. This system worked great on our Honda Element conversion as long as we turned on the car for at least 15 minutes a day. Ethan is an electrician and packed 1000W of solar on the roof as well as 600Ah of Lithium batteries! Any maintance on these batteries? I saw that it was for sale on Facebook, is it still available? The ceiling was covered with flexible 1/8 poplar. Jackery Power Station. They decided to build shelving on just one side of the van to leave extra room for the two of them plus their three dogs. The Backpacker Build *LAYOUT ONLY* Silt, Colorado $ 34,000. Her camper van has benches on both sides and a removable table. Overview of my Glampervan Promaster van conversion. Sergio. Thanks for sharing all the details of your build out! so cool, great job! We then used foamboard adhesive to stick the insulation onto the walls and flexible duct tape to seal around the edges. Ram Promaster Custom Camper Has Unique Layout With Two Large Beds 2023 Airstream Rangeline Debuts On Ram ProMaster Chassis, Costs $132K Meanwhile, the van is equipped with a 200aH Lithium. We hope these ProMasters have given you some ideas for your next camper van build. Some stock vehicle imagery licensed from EVOX images, Tiny Home Maker Builds Its First Camper Van, And It's Impressive, 2025 Volkswagen ID.7 Debuts With Up To 382-Mile Range In WLTP Test, 2024 Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Revealed In All Its Two-Tone Glory, 2023 Lincoln Corsair First Drive Review: All Good Things Come With A Price, VW ID. Made to last, the Ram ProMaster City has best-in-class horsepower with a full factory warranty. People spend a lot of unnecessary money on their builds to get the top stuff, its their choice. Thanks! And if you happen to find a good deal on a standard-roof version like we did, dont sweat it, just hang out with people in older Econolines and youll feel so good about all your extra space. The couple tent camped for years but wanted to extend their travels into more areas and the National Parks with a comfortable hard-sided van. We decided not to currently sell it but potentially in the future. . This location worked out great because we could easily place the fuse blocks and solar charge controller right above it and have easy access to them in case something goes wrong. Both are using the new Dodge Ram Promaster, which starts around $35,000. "Dandy" Vanlife Customs 136" Purple Promaster Conversion Camper Custom Van Builder | Vanlife Customs. If youre tall, a high roof would be more comfortable for the 1% of time you spend standing inside the van. We used LED lighting all throughout because they are really efficient and dont get hot as regular lights do. We drilled a 1 hole near the very top of the side of the battery box, facing the rear doors. Its not often you find a van with a 136-inch wheelbase outfitted with a kitchen, queen-size bed, and a fully-operational bathroom with shower. It's pretty foolproof. The ProMaster we have is a high roof, 1500, 136 WB. Obviously Ill still be able to come check on em a couple times a day but dont want to leave them where it could get too hot. Want to build a camper van? Jeff's 170" Sprinter . Dan's 148 . Promaster conversion step by step: Step one is to get the van. Would you like me to email you the details? The rear cabinet holds the auxiliary battery, inverter, and wiring for the 12-volt Norcold cooler. To make this Promaster camper van conversion guide easier to follow, we divided our how-to guide into two parts. 6cyl Gas. This fully built out conversion van was our full time RV for nearly two years. You can expect the Promaster to be at least 10 thousand cheaper than Ford or Chevrolet. Vanlife Customs builds one of a kind Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram ProMaster camper van conversions. Any thoughts on the need for 220 amp alternator vs. 180? Where exactly did you make your positive cable connection on the vehicle battery? Then add another wire to the fuse block and connect something else, again running a positive wire from the fuse block to the thing, and a negative wire from the thing back to the battery. ProMaster cargo vans are manufactured primarily for use as commercial vehicles, but many DIYers like the open cargo space and up to 462 cubic feet to create their own camper. Rinse, repeat. If you get the foam mattress we suggested from amazon, you can easily cut a few inches off the width if you dont want it to be that wide. Its a weighted price based on the amount of the ads per month. If you choose the high roof option of the Transit, you are looking at a roof height of 77 inches. I have a dog and a cat and will still work 24 hour shifts so I need to be able to keep the van cooler for them while Im in the station. Hi guys, Im looking to buy a Promaster and start a build, my question is have you ever regretted not getting a high roof? What were your thoughts on purchasing the standard van? So on the vinyl flooring have you used glue to hold it down? Good luck! Categories. We also really like the touch of color and mountain painting for decoration. A jigsaw works really well too though and has more uses beyond cutting sheet metal so I would stick to that. . We dont have a heater, just use blankets when it gets colder. The Promaster 159WB is a great size van if your goal is full-time van life. Thank you & continued happy trails to your future travels . Before building up the interior of the Promaster van we wanted to install insulation to keep the van cooler in hot temperatures and warmer in cold temperatures. DYO Cut & Paste See below Suggestion scan all the pages first, then review the ones of interest to you. There is a 118" wheelbase, a 136" wheelbase, and a 159" wheelbase. How/where did you add wall outlets to your electrical setup? Do you have any regrets about this? All these prices in our database are reduced to one average single price. Photos used with permission of Skala Conversions. The company focuses on three "well-defined" Ram ProMaster conversions that fall between $33,750 to $42,750, not including the base van: the BaseCamper, the BaseCamper Pro, and The Wanderer.. Thanks so much for doing this How-to instructional with pictures, very helpful! Adventure Awaits! The Ram ProMaster is very popular for camper conversions, and this 2019 model by SKALA Conversions recently caught our eye. There are many products people weve met use, like a folding toilet or this product for women that can be used with doggie bags. For this, we used aluminum square tubing like these cut into 6 inch long pieces. We used a jigsaw to cut the hole for the fan and a hole puncher powered by compressed air to cut the window holes. We decided not to create a permanent table or chairs to leave more open space in the van so it doesnt feel too cluttered. With the windows, fan, electrical, and insulation in place, we were ready to seal it all up and start working on building up the van interior and giving our Promaster conversion a finished customized look. The Bright Purple paint job is contrasted elegantly with a responsible interior design. Then, the builds range from $25,000-$50,000 depending on how many bells and whistles you want for your Dodge camper van conversion. 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