For some people, design comes naturally; for others, managing it can feel like a lot. When it comes to a van, there’s more to think about than just how it looks, so I’ve developed a simple framework for designing my vans. Every build starts with some loose ideas, a vision board, and a pencil and paper sketch—no high-tech tools or complicated software. In this chapter, I’ll walk you through my approach, from layout decisions to must-have features and how to create a look that brings it all together.

This easy-to-follow guide covers my complete design process across from a value-creation perspective, covering areas such as:

- Crafting an objective to align your van design with prospective target market, desired margin, selling price point, and overall theme.
- Selecting features and placement for your layout to align with your objective
- Creating a theme and selecting colors for maximized aesthetic appeal
- Selecting lighting, creating continuity, and staging your van

Building profitable vans requires a wide range of skills across three major areas: carpentry, electrical, and plumbing. Each of these areas could take years to master individually, but fortunately, you don’t need that level of expertise to succeed in van building. Surface-level knowledge will get you far.

You’ll need to learn the basics of construction—things like cutting wood, installing fasteners, and sanding. These are best picked up through YouTube tutorials and firsthand experimentation. My goal is to help you take those foundational skills and apply them specifically to van building. Once you’ve learned the fundamentals, you’ll find that many of the skills overlap, equipping you to handle most of the challenges during a build.

In construction, there are countless ways to tackle a task, and it can be overwhelming to choose the right path. The key here isn’t to create the most extravagant product but a beautiful, practical one. To maximize your margins on a van flip, you need to focus on the most efficient methods in terms of time and materials.

This section delves into my go-to methods for the nuanced, yet essential tasks in van, covering:

• Scribing

• Fasteners and adhesives

• Cutting metal panels of the van

• Building a subfloor

• Framing the van

• Building cabinets

• Building a shower

• Creating round shapes from wood

• Plumbing freshwater

• Drainage

• Electrical connections

Assembling a van can be a non-linear, intricate game of brainstorming, backtracking, and problem-solving. The process requires patience, attention to detail, and a clear vision. You must train yourself to think several moves ahead, evaluating all potential consequences of each action. If you install each piece of the puzzle in the wrong order, you can drastically harm the efficiency of the whole project.

When I built my first Sprinter, all I wanted was a clear, detailed order of steps I could follow; I couldn’t find one anywhere.

So, through years of trial and error and studying other builders, I’ve put together a streamlined order of operations for building a camper van. Though individual building processes can be highly nuanced, use this as your road map.