DIY camper van conversion: shop our van build

In 2020 we bough an empty Ram Promaster cargo van and embarked on a full camper van conversion. It’s one of the hardest and most rewarding things we’ve ever done! Looking to shop our build? Below is a breakdown of of van, what we used for the build, and the “everyday” items we love using in the van when we travel!

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Shop our build

Our camper van model:

We purchased our van new in August 2020 and then spent ten months building it out on the weekends. We purchased a 2019 Ram Promaster 2500, 159″ wheel base.

Electrical: 

We have 200 amp hours worth of batteries in our van. These batteries power our lights, fridge, and other electrical components. Most of our power comes from our 600 watts of solar panels, but we can also charge our batteries when we drive. We also installed shore power, but haven’t used it. The biggest draws on our batteries is our hot water heater (for showers). On cold days in winter showing can use up to 70 amp hours. Below are the components of our electrical system.

• Two 100 AH Lithium Battle Born Batteries
• Three 200W Newpowa solar panels
• Victron Smart Solar (MPPT 100-50) Charge Controller
• Victron Orion-TR Smart 12/12-30 DC to DC charger
• Victron 2,000W multiplus inverter charger

Bathroom, water, and plumbing:

We have a full shower and bathroom in our van! This is an essential feature for us — we use our shower often, and we also have a composting toilet. We installed a DIY 13 gallon gray water tank under the van, and we also have the option to use a jerry can in the winter when it’s below freezing outside. We used PEX for our plumbing. Our faucet and shower head were designed for RVs, so they have a relatively low flow rate. This helps us conserve water on the road. Below are all the components of our camper van water system.

• ​Nature’s Head composting toilet
• Bamboo shower mat
• Shower pan
• Dura Faucet shower head
• Dura Faucet valve diverter
• Dura Faucet sink faucet
• Drinking water faucet and water filter

Miscellaneous: 

Below are some of the miscellaneous items we rely on to make van life work for us.

• Brabantia kitchen trash can
• Brabantia bathroom trash can
• Handheld USB-rechargeable vacuum
• TruckFridge 12 volt refrigerator
• MaxxFan Deluxe
• CTA swivel seats
• Telescoping ladder
• Laptop stand

Van kitchen:

We use a camping stove in our kitchen, which gives us a lot more counter space. Below are the items we rely on to make and serve meals while in the van.

• Sea to Summit Delta plates
• Sea to Summit Delta bowls
• Humangear sporks
• Insulated tumblers
• Eureka Ignite Plus 2-Burner Camp Stove
• GSI stackable pot/pan set
• GSI toaster
• GSI kettle
• GSI spice rack
• Propane adaptor hose

Looking for more campervan resources? Click here!