DIY vs Professional Van Conversion: Which Is Right For You?

When it comes to van conversions, van lifers often find themselves in the middle of two methods: DIY and professional conversion. Solving the DIY vs professional van conversion puzzle can be difficult. However, with the right dissection of both methods, your choice can be much easier.

That’s why, in this article, we will take you through every aspect of these two methods. We will look into the pros and cons of both methods. We will also explore the benefits of taking on the delicate task of converting a van. At the end of the article, you will find yourself in a firm position regarding selecting the best method. But first, let’s discuss different types of conversion.

What Are the Most Common Van Conversion Methods?

Converting a van gives you a mobile living space. You can take that space anywhere you want to. Many approaches are available for turning a van into a campervan, and each has its own pros and cons. Here is a list of some of the most common ways to convert:

• DIY Conversion

When it comes to camper van conversions, doing it yourself is one of the most popular choices. You can make your van exactly how you want it and save money on labor costs by doing it this way.

The downside is that it takes a lot of time and effort, and you might need special tools and knowledge to do it. And don’t forget how dirty it can be!

• Professional Conversion

Getting a professional conversion company to do the work for you is another choice. With this method, you can get a finished product that is safe, has all the necessary features, and meets legal requirements.

This option does cost more than do-it-yourself conversions. Still, it is the best choice when you think of efficiency.

• Kit Conversions

Another choice that is becoming more popular is kit conversions. With this method, you can purchase pre-assembled conversion kits and install them yourself. You can call it a modified DIY method with less adaptability.

The kits provide everything you need to easily put together the conversion. But they might not be as flexible as a professional conversion.

• Used Conversion

Lastly, purchasing a pre-modified used campervan can save you a significant amount of time, money, and effort. However, you will have to compromise your style and preferences.

Remember to carefully inspect the campervan and check its systems before the purchase. If you lack knowledge, don’t hesitate to ask a professional mechanic for help with the inspection.

DIY vs Professional Van Conversion: Which Works Best for You?

Now that you have a clear idea about different types of van conversions, let’s move on to our main focal point: DIY vs. professional conversion. When considering the final product and the potential hassle of the build, professional conversion stands out as the choice.

However, if you want to pick the best possible conversion method, you must look into them separately. Let’s analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each method. It will simplify your decision-making process.

• DIY Van Conversion

If you have the time, know how to work around your van, or just think it would be fun to build one, you can go DIY. You can change your conversion afterward if there is something about your build that you do not like.

However, there are also some downsides. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this method to get a bigger picture:

The Pros of a DIY Campervan Conversion

A DIY build comes with some exciting advantages, such as:

• A do-it-yourself conversion is usually less expensive than a professional converter.
• If time and money allow, you can build the van in stages.
• While the work is ongoing, you can utilize the van for camping and other activities.
• If you finish building your campervan, the sense of achievement will add to your confidence build-up.
• You will understand where everything is and how it all works.
• Anytime your design ideas need change, you can do it along the way.

The Cons of a DIY Campervan Conversion

Converting a van using the DIY method isn’t all a blessing. It has its share of disadvantages as well. Here are a few:

• You only get one chance to do certain things correctly, like cutting holes for the vent fan or putting in windows.
• You might not understand how to insert all the features you desire into your van.
• The process of designing and installing a van takes a lot of time, especially if you have never worked on one before.
• Online videos alone cannot help you figure out a lot of things, like how to choose the right wire size.
• It will be your job to troubleshoot and fix anything that breaks.
• Most van conversion companies will not work on a do-it-yourself project.
• Even if you get a professional company that wants to work on your van, it can sometimes take weeks to get on their schedule.
• Reselling a van that you converted yourself usually does not bring as much money back.

• Professional Van Conversion

Building a campervan takes time and effort. Expert van builders with skill and experience make the process easier, avoiding common errors. Such teams mostly consist of members who have lived in vans. They know what works best and how. They research everything for you.

Professional conversions cost more than DIY. However, they provide value through expertise, quality components, superior craftsmanship, and warranty coverage for issues that may arise. As we did for DIY, let’s make a complete breakdown of the pros and cons of this method.

The Pros Of Hiring A Professional Van Conversion Company

There are numerous benefits when you choose a top-class company for your van conversion, such as:

• It won’t be necessary to quit your day job in order to finish your conversion.
• Everyone on the building crew has lived in vans for years. So, you can be sure that everything you want and need will be built in from the start.
• A professionally-built van is more likely to hold its value than one that is constructed by a DIYer.
• If you hire a good conversion company, your campervan is more likely to be converted correctly the first time.
• Most companies that turn vans into utility vehicles offer warranties. Additionally, most of the parts they use have warranties from the manufacturers that last a lot longer.
• You can get help from the company if you have any problems with your campervan while you are using it.
• Getting insurance for an RV is easier if you hire a professional van conversion company.

The Cons of Hiring a Professional Van Conversion Company

Professional van building also comes with a few cons, like any other method, such as:

• It usually costs more upfront than a do-it-yourself conversion.
• Some businesses will only work on certain types of vans, like the Mercedes Sprinter.
• Following the conversion, it becomes harder to change things you do not like.
• The market is strong, and almost every day, there are new van conversion companies. It may be tough to figure out who you can trust the most and who will be around in the future.
• Maybe you do not know how everything works because you didn’t do the job yourself. So you will have to pay to fix it, as free service won’t be available forever.

Why Choose Highland Vans for Your Van Conversion?

Getting a trustworthy van conversion company for the project is a must. Otherwise, you can get conned.

Rest assured, Highland Vans is here to give you the best van conversion experience. Your trips will go smoothly in our vans because they are both comfortable and reliable.

We try to emphasize the pros of a professional van build while minimizing the cons:

• Competitive pricing – you can get a custom, high quality, handmade, designer adventure van that competes with the price of the mass-manufactured vans.
• Warranty – we stand behind our quality and craftsmanship and support our customers throughout their journey.
• Form and Function – not only are Highland Vans very thoughtfully crafted, designed, and engineered to perform, they are also styled with a refined, modern, and sophisticated aesthetic
• An industry leader in the Adventure Van space – With years of experience building premium custom vans, we strive to develop top-of-the-line products that withstand the use case of adventure campervans
• We take great care in building each van so that your life on the road is as great as you dream it to be.
• We make the planning stage easy and thorough by consulting with you in-depth and making changes to fit your needs.
• We use the newest computer-aided manufacturing technology to make sure that only the best vans are delivered.

Contact us today to avail of our services.

Conclusion

Although DIY conversion of a van comes with excitement and some possibilities,  professional conversion is by far the best choice. The cost upfront is a bit more than DIY, but other pros, like higher value, warranty, and effectiveness, overwhelm the cost.

You must not forget about getting a highly professional company for the conversion process. Features like warranties and insurance policies only come from the best companies. Hence, take your time, do thorough research, choose trustworthy professionals, and enjoy van life to the fullest!