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Getting started on any van conversion is nerve-racking and every van build is a delicate balance of identifying the correct order to do things in so that you don’t end up tearing your hard work down because you forgot that one key step. So where do I start?
The first step in any van conversion is to strip out any pre-existing materials that are not part of the original van; this may include subflooring, carpeting, added tie down points and rails. This is important so that you can get your eyes on the van body to ensure there is no rust or major faults hidden under these added materials.
Cleaning Your Van Pre-Conversion
Once all areas have been thoroughly cleaned it’s time to rust proof. This protects your van from developing rust over time and is especially important on any extra holes that may now be exposed due to removed screws or bolts. You can get rust proofing paint / primers from most hardware stores in various colours; we went with red Rust Guard so we could quickly identify which parts had been done. This will all be covered up by our insulation and flooring once the build is complete.
Planning Your Van Build
Mapping out your build is perhaps the most exciting and complex part of van conversion prep; it doesn’t matter how many 3D designs or 2D tape outs you do in your backyard, it really is different when you’re standing in the space. We taped out all our spaces to see how much walking space we would have and if the whole layout would be functional and even had to make a few minor adjustments to our original plans to ensure we would be comfortable.
Should I Add Sound Deadening To My Van?
Sound deadening your van goes a long way to make your van comfortable to live in – not only will it limit road noise getting in but it will also block out some of that camp ground noise and add a layer of privacy as you go about living your best life.
We cannot recommend https://www.carbuilders.com.au/ enough for their support and service in helping us work out how much we sound deadener we would need for our Mercedes Sprinter LWB (not sponsored, we just like it). They recommend that you cover between 50-70% of the resonating surfaces for best results.
Now you’ve ticked off these preparation tasks you can start the real work that will make your van life dreams a reality.
You can watch the video version of these steps over on our YouTube channel for more detail on the process: