Custom Campervans

🏕️ Building a Camper Van: Why Fiberglass is the Best Choice

Minimum Material Durability

Choosing the right material for finishing your van or camper directly affects lifespan and comfort. Here’s a clear table of minimum durability for common materials under different conditions:

Operating Conditions Plywood Lightweight Plywood MDF ABS Plastic Fiberglass
Harsh conditions (70–80% humidity, 40–50°C / 104–122°F) 1–2 years 0.5–1 year 0.5–1 year 3–5 years 50–100 years
Moderate conditions (50–70% humidity, 25–35°C / 77–95°F) 3–5 years 1–3 years 2–3 years 5–7 years 50–100 years
Optimal conditions (30–50% humidity, 20–25°C / 68–77°F) 5–10 years 3–5 years 5–8 years 7–10 years 50–100 years

💡 Note: Actual maximum lifespan in real-life use may be up to +50% higher than the minimum values when handled carefully.

🔹 Material Overview

Plywood

  • Harsh conditions: up to 12 months with leaks, up to 2 years with simple dampness.

  • Water-resistant plywood under heat and condensation: up to 5 years.

  • Ideal conditions (ventilation + varnish): up to 10 years.

Lightweight Plywood

  • Can delaminate and develop mold within 12 months under moisture or leaks.

  • Water-resistant with varnish: up to 5 years; ideal conditions: up to 8 years.

MDF

  • Harsh conditions: can deteriorate in 6 months.

  • Water-resistant MDF with varnish: 2–3 years.

  • At +50°C / 122°F, glue weakens and panels can delaminate.

ABS Plastic

  • Heat (+60°C / 140°F) and aggressive use: 1–2 years.

  • Moderate use: 6–7 years.

  • Requires factory processing; manual handling is difficult and costly.

Fiberglass

  • Resistant to moisture, vibration, and impacts.

  • Even under harsh conditions: up to 50 years.

  • Proven by yachts and boats: fiberglass lasts decades.

🔹 Flexibility and Custom Shapes

  • Plywood, lightweight plywood, and MDF — low flexibility, custom shapes are nearly impossible without expensive processing.

  • ABS Plastic — factory-only processing; manual work is extremely difficult.

  • Fiberglass — can be molded by hand, allows creating curved panels, integrated furniture elements, and rounded or dome shapes without joints.

⚡ Example: Shower trays perfectly fitted to the van’s interior or side openings with maximum functional use.

🔹 Advantages of Fiberglass for DIY

  1. Lightweight and Malleable

    • Easy to shape, becomes strong after curing.

  2. Space Efficiency

    • Curved forms avoid bulky corners.

    • Can increase bed height and free interior space.

  3. Vibration and Impact Resistance

    • Handles vehicle movement without cracks or chips.

  4. Minimal Tools and Learning Curve

    • No industrial machinery required — basic tools and tutorial videos are enough.

    • Can achieve factory-level quality and save up to 20x in cost.

🔹 Conclusion and Recommendations

  • Fiberglass is the most rational choice for DIY camper conversion.

  • MDF and plywood deteriorate quickly in hot and humid climates.

  • DIY builders can finish projects faster, with durability, convenience, and design flexibility.

💡 Tip: Watch tutorial videos on YouTube — once you master working with fiberglass, you can achieve professional results yourself.

🔹 Key Takeaways

Fiberglass provides:

  • Longevity and resistance to moisture, vibration, and impacts

  • Optimized space and flexible design

  • Minimal tools and training required

DIY Camper Van

🔹 Why You Should Build Something Yourself 🛠️

Many people enjoy creating things with their own hands. It’s not only great for self-development but also gives a real sense of pride in your work. It’s especially satisfying when the result looks like a piece of art—or, in our case, like factory-quality workmanship or the work of a professional auto workshop.

Building something yourself boosts self-esteem, teaches discipline, and immerses you in a process that gives a strong sense of control and accomplishment. 😎👏

🔹 Where to Start and How to Overcome Fear 

Many ask: “How can I do something I’ve never done before?”

It all begins with self-control, mindset, and knowledge. Anyone can achieve a lot if they work on themselves and look for solutions. The key is not to give in to excuses:

  • “I don’t have time ⏰”

  • “I’m not handy ✋❌”

  • “It’s easier to just buy it 💸”

Even wealthy people often choose the “easier to buy” route, but this isn’t always the best choice in terms of quality and durability. ⚡

🔹 Common Mistakes in Van Conversions 

It’s common to see a beautifully converted van fall into disrepair within 3–5 years. Reasons include:

  • Using cheap materials (MDF, plywood) that degrade quickly when exposed to moisture 💧

  • Manufacturers fearing legal issues, leading to the use of plastics instead of more durable materials

  • Weight and rigidity restrictions that force the use of lightweight plastic or fiberglass

Understanding these points is essential for anyone aiming to create a long-lasting and high-quality DIY camper. 🏆

🔹 Types of People and Approaches to Conversions 

  1. Wealthy DIY Enthusiasts 💎
    They can afford high-quality materials and hand-crafted work but often make excuses. They need a “trigger”—information about new materials and methods.

  2. People on a Budget 💰
    They may have a steady job and salary but prefer not to spend a large sum at once. They work in stages, often using materials not designed for long-term durability.

In both cases, knowing modern techniques and materials is key. Fiberglass, for example, allows you to create durable interior panels that can last for decades without damage. 🛠️✨

🔹 Step-by-Step Video Guide 

I created a video for anyone who wants to learn how to do it themselves:

  • Shows step-by-step fabrication of interior van panels using simple tools everyone has 🪛🔧

  • This is not a guide to start a business, but a personal project tutorial

  • Nearly 10 hours long with sped-up segments to demonstrate each stage ⏩

🔹 Why the Video Is in a Paid Subscription 

  • Acquiring new knowledge requires payment—either with money or time ⏳

  • Material waste is inevitable, and that’s also a cost 💸

  • I value my work and want it to be appreciated by those genuinely interested in learning 🙏

🔹 Conclusion 

Converting a van into a camper is a project that requires patience, knowledge, and discipline. With the right materials and approach, anyone can create a durable, high-quality DIY camper they’ll be proud of for many years. 🚐💙

 

Buy Camper

🔹 Van Conversion to Camper — Example Build on Fiat Ducato L2H2 🚐

As everyone knows, there is no exact calculation for conversions — there can always be many additions, especially if the person has a vivid imagination. Ignoring rare cases, we can take the average price for the Fiat Ducato L2H2 family as a reference.
This is a mid-sized van, making it easier to base pricing on.

🔹 Interior Finish and Insulation

  • All walls and ceiling finished only with fiberglass

  • Insulation: 2+ cm foamed rubber with polyurethane or hybrid option

After selecting the finish and color, we move on to interior equipment, furniture, and storage:

🔹 Interior Equipment & Furniture

  • 🗄 Cabinets: small ones around the perimeter and one large above the driver’s seat

  • 🍳 Kitchen unit: approx. 1 meter

  • 🛋 Sofas: 2 pcs, 1.5 m each, with small storage space

  • 🪑 Table

  • 🚿 Shower cabin with built-in toilet

  • 🪟 Windows: 4 pcs (in shower, on sliding door, rear doors)

  • 🌞 Roof hatches: 1–2 pcs

  • ☀️ Solar panels: 2–3 pcs

  • ❄️ Air conditioner: specialized, low-energy, from Truma / Dometic family or quality European/US analogs

  • 🔥 Heater with water heater: Truma Combi or quality European/US analogs

  • 🔋 Lithium batteries: 10–20 kWh energy

  • ⚡ Full electrical system wiring

  • 🔌 Inverter, controller, charger

  • 💧 Water and waste tanks

🔹 Why This Build?

  • Top-tier setup for year-round travel with full autonomy

  • Energy-efficient air conditioner, solar panels, and large battery allow:

    • 🌞 Stay on the beach in extreme heat without turning off the AC for days

    • ⚡ Charge electric bikes

    • 🍳 Use an electric stove without spending on gas

    • ❄️ Travel in northern countries during autumn without needing to connect to the grid

🔹 Average Prices & Evaluation

  • Average price for Fiat Ducato L2H2 vans in Europe: ≈45,000 €

    • Interior finish typically lasts about 5 years (usually plywood or MDF)

    • No energy-saving air conditioners

    • Cheap roof-mounted units or none at all

    • Low-quality finishing materials

  • Considering high-quality materials (decades-long lifespan) and top-tier energy-efficient features — our configuration is priced from 40,000 €

🔹 How to Contact Us & Order a Conversion

✉️ Write to us by email describing your wishes and your vehicle
⏱   Within 1–2 weeks we send a cost estimate
📝 After approval, we sign a contract and you pay the advance
💡 Note: the contract is signed by both parties via express mail

🔹 Payment in 3 Stages

1️⃣ First advance 10% — secures your place in the queue
2️⃣ After vehicle delivery and start of work — second advance 50%
3️⃣ After completion and inspection (personal or video) before shipping — final payment 40%