Building a DIY camper van can be one of the most exciting journeys, but it can also be full of challenges!
You’ve watched all of the YouTube Videos, read Nohma’s Van Conversion Bible and you finally have it all figured out, or have you?
As someone who’s spent 10 months building my own dream VW Crafter, here are 6 mistakes you should do everything in your power to avoid.
Underestimating Your Electrical Needs
One of the biggest mistakes van lifers make is underestimating their electrical needs.
It’s easy to assume that a small battery and a couple of solar panels will be enough, but once you start running a fridge, charging phones and laptops, using lights, and maybe even working remotely, you quickly realise that power drains fast.
Many people forget to calculate their daily watt-hour usage and end up constantly running out of electricity, especially on cloudy days or in shaded areas. The truth is, it’s really hard to plan your daily usage, but it’s worth doing as a ‘best endeavour’.
Think about how you’ll be using the van on a day-to-day basis. Someone who works remotely from the van will need a lot more battery capacity than someone who’ll be out all day and just using the van as a place to crash for the night.
I’d always recommend three ways of charging; solar panels, a DC-DC charger and shower power. A lot of people tend to skip shore power as they don’t intend to use campsites, however we’ve found it invaluable for making sure the van is fully charged before leaving home.
Cutting corners on your power system might save you money upfront (as it can be a huge outlay), but you’ll regret it when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with dead batteries and no way to charge them.
Skimping On A Comfortable Bed
One of the most overlooked mistakes in a van build is skimping on a comfortable bed.
And we’re not just talking about the mattress here, but more specifically, the size and shape of the bed.
Many van owners choose to sleep width ways in their vans. This makes sense in terms of saving space, but what it can do is sacrifice a good nights sleep, particularly if you’re over 6 foot.
You’ll quickly find that if you build a bed that way, you’re having to slightly bend your knees in order to get into a comfy position to sleep.
Personally, this is something I wasn’t willing to put up with, so we ended up designing a slide out bed in out bed in our VW Crafter. This gave us the best of both worlds; more floor and countertop space, but also a full king sized bed that we can stretch out in!
If you can, try not to compromise on your sleeping space, as you spend a third of your day or more in bed!
Ignoring Ventilation & Airflow
As soon as you stay overnight in a van, you’ll quickly realise how much condensation is created.
It seems to drip from every corner, and will quickly highlight any areas that you’ve not properly insulated!
The fact of the matter is, vans we’re not meant to be lived in, or exposed to temperature changes that come with cooking and heating in such a small space.
The solution to all of this? Good ventilation and airflow. (Sorry stealth campers!).
As an absolute minimum we’d recommend a Maxxfan and this seems to be the go-to product for both DIY and professional van converters. They really are a great product and worth every penny.
Without a fan or other means of airflow, you’ll quickly find yourself with lots of condensation, potential mould and no ability to regulate the temperature throughout the seasons.
Not Using The Van While You’re Building It
With so many options for building your van, it makes so much sense to start using it as quickly as possible. – Nobody talks about this one!
If you can, plan some small trips away to test parts of the build.
You’ll be surprised at how your thoughts of how you may/may not use the van change.
For example, we had always planned to build a proper door on our shower room. But as we had a weekend away planned mid-build, we bought a simple shower curtain which from experience has actually ended up being perfect for the job.
We also realised that we didn’t actually need as much head height storage as we had previously anticipated.
Aside from large-scale changes, it also makes a lot of sense to test the intricate parts of the build like electrics closer to home.
The last thing you need is to be in a foreign country with an electrical setup which isn’t quite working as it should be.
Iron out the kinks as early as possible!
Fitting Campervan Windows As A DIYer
Fitting windows in your campervan is by far the most nerve-wracking part of the build.
You’re essentially cutting very large holes in something you’ve spent a lot of money on. – A process which can go very wrong if you cut even a millimeter out of place.
In my experience, if you’re not confident in your DIY skills, or you’re still learning how to use tools, I’d leave it to the experts.
There is just so much that can go wrong with it, from measuring wrong to not using enough primer or bonding agent.
I fitted three out of four windows in my campervan. One of which leaked within a couple of days. It was at this point that I brought in an expert to fit the final window and sort out the mess I’d made.
For just £100 he had the window fitted in minutes, and saved plenty of stress!
The Bottom Line
Building a van is an exciting adventure, but making the wrong choices early on can lead to frustration down the road. From underestimating your power needs to choosing an uncomfortable bed, these mistakes can make van life more challenging than it needs to be. Proper insulation, ventilation, and weight distribution are key to creating a van that’s not just functional but truly comfortable for long-term travel. It’s also important to keep things simple—overcomplicating your build can add unnecessary weight, cost, and stress. And before you hit the road, test everything! A short trial trip can reveal issues you never anticipated.
By avoiding these common but often unspoken mistakes, you’ll set yourself up for a van life experience that’s smoother, safer, and way more enjoyable. At the end of the day, van life is about freedom—so build wisely and enjoy the journey! 🚐✨
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