Almost every regret we hear about a van conversion traces back to a decision made before anyone picked up a tool.
Not bad workmanship. A layout built around the wrong assumption. Here are the five we ask about first — whether we're building it or you are.
1. How many nights a year, honestly?
Twenty weekends is a different van from six months on the road.
Weekend vans can trade storage for space, skip the fixed bed, and get away with a simpler electrical system. Long-trip vans can't. Guess high and you pay for capability you never use; guess low and you outgrow it in a season.
2. Who else is coming?
Two adults is the easy case. Add a dog and you need somewhere it sleeps that isn't your feet. Add children and you need belted seats, which changes the layout before anything else does.
Belted travelling seats are a build decision, not an accessory. They have to be planned from the start.
3. Where will you park it?
The one people forget.
Height matters — car parks, ferries, the barrier at the campsite, your own driveway. A pop-top or a roof tent changes what you can get under. So does a roof rack.
Measure your driveway before you fall in love with a high-top.
4. Off grid, or plugged in?
Hookup means a smaller electrical system and a smaller bill. Genuinely off grid means solar, leisure batteries, and thinking hard about every amp.
Most people want somewhere in between, and that's fine — but it needs deciding early, because it determines battery bank, roof space and how much of your budget goes to things you'll never see.
5. What are you not willing to compromise on?
There's always one. A fixed bed you don't make up every night. A proper shower. A worktop big enough to actually cook on. Somewhere the bikes go inside.
Tell us that first. We'll design around it, and everything else can flex.
Then the boring bit
Weight. Every van has a maximum, and conversions are heavier than people expect — water, batteries, timber and a full wardrobe add up fast. Going over it isn't just a fine, it's an insurance problem.
We work it out as we go. If you're building your own, work it out before you buy the timber, not after.
Want a second opinion on your plan? A design consultation covers exactly these questions — and it's yours to keep whether you build with us or not.