Choosing the Perfect Campervan Base Vehicle
Every great campervan adventure starts long before the first campsite, mountain view, or questionable attempt at outdoor cooking. It begins with a decision that can spark endless debates among van enthusiasts: choosing the right base vehicle.
Think of your base vehicle as the foundation of your future home on wheels. Get it right, and you'll enjoy years of comfortable travels, reliable road trips, and enough storage space for all those "essential" gadgets you swore you'd use. Get it wrong, and you may find yourself wishing your dream camper had just a little more headroom, a little more power, or a little less enthusiasm for visiting fuel stations.
The good news is that there isn't one perfect van for everyone. Whether you're planning weekend escapes to the countryside, epic European road trips, or full-time van life, there's a vehicle out there that fits your needs, budget, and sense of adventure.
At our workshop, we primarily build conversions on Fiat, Peugeot, Citroën and the newer Vauxhall vans. One of the main reasons we favour these models is their slightly wider, more box-like. This extra width allows many layouts to accommodate a bed fitted across the vehicle, making the most of the available living space.
We also build conversions on the Crafter and MAN models from 2017 onwards. While these vans aren't quite wide enough to comfortably sleep widthways in their standard form, side flares can be added to create the extra space needed for a transverse bed layout. All vehicles now offer excellent driving characteristics and a premium feel that many customers love.
Ultimately, the best base vehicle comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use your campervan. Everyone's idea of the perfect layout is different. That's why it's always worth taking the time to look around as many conversions as possible, attend campervan shows, and explore different layouts in person. A little homework at the beginning can save a lot of time, money, and second-guessing later on.
After all, choosing the right van is the first step towards creating a campervan that's perfectly suited to your adventures.
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Lightweight Campervan Floor System
Our pre-cut campervan floor has been designed to make your conversion as simple as possible. Manufactured from lightweight 15mm board, it offers excellent strength while helping to keep overall vehicle weight down.
Each floor is precision cut, making installation quick and straightforward. When paired with our 3mm closed-cell foam underlay, it provides additional insulation and helps create a thermal break between the van floor and living area.
Unlike the flooring methods that some home builds are creating with timber battens, our system sits directly onto the insulated foam. This not only saves time during installation but also maximises valuable headroom inside your campervan—something every van owner appreciates.
Easy to fit, lightweight, insulated, and designed to make the most of your available space.
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Fiat Ducato Peugeot Boxer Citroen Relay Vauxhall Movano
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Insulation
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Good insulation is one of the most important parts of any campervan conversion, helping to keep your van warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and reducing road noise while travelling.
For the past 15 years, we've used 8mm closed-cell foam insulation in all of our conversions. It's an excellent thermal insulator, offers sound-deadening properties, and is self-adhesive for quick and easy installation. It can be easily cut with a Stanley knife and applied to most areas of the van, including side panels, roof sections, and other voids.
We recommend covering all sides and the roof for the best results. As a guide, around 10 metres is typically enough for a long wheelbase van.
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Fabric & Wall Panels
All of our wall panels are precision cut and supplied ready to be finished in your choice of fabric. Designed to follow the contours of the van, they fit neatly against the bodywork to maximise the available living space.
In a campervan, every millimetre counts. By keeping the panels tight to the van's shape, you retain valuable interior room—after all, 200mm can make a big difference in a compact space.
For the exposed metalwork, we use a high-quality 4-way stretch fabric that moulds effortlessly around the van's curves, recesses, and contours, creating a clean, professional finish. To complete the look, the wall panels can then be covered in your choice of luxurious fabric, adding comfort, style, and a premium feel to your conversion.
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We have carpet lining and we will be adding more fabrics as we go along
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Next stage getting your electrical wires in place before you go too much further into your build.
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Electrical systems can be as simple or as sophisticated as you want them to be. For most campervans, we recommend a straightforward, reliable setup that can easily be expanded as your needs change.
Our electrical kits are designed to work with traditional AGM leisure batteries or modern lithium systems and can be upgraded with solar panels at any time. You can add extra 12V sockets, USB outlets, and 240V sockets wherever they suit your layout—after all, it's your campervan, and the design should work for you.
One of the biggest advantages of our system is its flexibility. Components can be added or upgraded as you go, and because we use widely available parts, replacements are easy to source if needed.
The main consideration is whether your vehicle has a smart alternator. If it does, you'll need a B2B (battery-to-battery) charging system rather than a traditional split-charge setup. The good news is that this can be easily incorporated into your installation from the start or added later. You can always speak to one of our technicians who will be happy to help you
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Adding extra electrical items to your build
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Roof & Roof Lights
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When it comes to the roof, it’s not just about finishing the space—it’s about how you want to use it. Roof lights can completely transform a campervan, bringing in natural light, airflow, and even a touch of stargazing romance on a clear night.
You’ll need to consider whether you want integrated fly screens to keep out insects, blackout blinds for better sleep, and whether a vented or non-vented unit is best. The depth of the roof space is also an important factor when choosing the right option.
We personally like to install the Fiamma Turbo-Vent in washroom areas (28 x 28cm) for reliable ventilation, and the Dometic Mini Heki (40 x 40cm) in main living spaces non vented so no draughts when travelling and 43-60mm depth. They feature integrated blinds, multiple opening positions, and a clear dome—perfect for daytime light and stargazing at night.
To make installation easier, we developed our own infill pieces years ago for the roof channels on Fiat vans. These create a flat, secure surface for the vent to sit on, helping reduce the risk of leaks. We also have a helpful YouTube video showing how to fit the vents, which many customers find useful. https://youtu.be/-m8CisfV4Cc
We finish our roofs using 4 x 6mm panels, creating a smooth, seamless look that feels both practical and well considered.
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Roof Kit For Fiat Peugeot Citroen and Vauxhall
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The Build
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Now comes the fun part—planning where everything is going and shaping your campervan around your lifestyle.
We believe we’ve developed an ideal layout that suits most lifestyles, creating something close to a mini apartment on wheels. Each space has a clear purpose, designed to feel practical, comfortable, and easy to live with.
At the rear, we fit a fixed bed that lifts up, giving you full access to a large storage area underneath. Perfect for bikes, larger items, or everyday gear. The best part is your bedding can stay in place, so there’s no need to pack everything away each time you use the space.
The washroom is neatly tucked into the corner over the wheel arch, making clever use of what is often wasted space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m02dQXevhwU
Moving forward, you’ll find a well-designed kitchen area with generous cupboard storage for all your essentials.
Opposite sits a slimline 86L fridge—ideal for keeping your food fresh and, of course, chilling that well-earned drink at the end of the day.
The seating area includes a comfortable two-seater settee, perfect for relaxing with the door open and enjoying the view. its the ideal space for entertaining as you can sit 4 comfortably with the driver and passenger swivel seats. Just don’t forget a door fly screen—mosquitoes love campervans as much as we do. and a nice Thule step to get in and out the camper is a must they are quite a step up
The settee can also convert into a single bed when combined with the swivel driver’s seat, giving you a flexible sleeping
option—ideal for those times when you need a bit of space…
This layout brings together practicality, comfort, and flexibility to create a true home from home wherever you travel.
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Appliances
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Choosing your appliances is all about how you like to travel and cook. Some people wouldn't be without an oven, while others prefer the extra storage space. If you do choose an oven, it can be surprisingly useful—even if it occasionally doubles up as a bread bin!
A popular option is an oven the Spinflo Triplex with an integrated three-burner hob, leaving you to simply add a sink to complete the kitchen setup.
For larger builds where an oven isn't required, we often fit the Dometic Smev 9222. Its larger sink bowl and generous hob layout make it ideal for preparing proper meals, especially when cooking with larger pans.
Most modern sink and hob combinations come with black glass lids, which not only give a sleek contemporary look but also create valuable extra worktop space when closed. And if the washing up can wait until morning, they do a great job of hiding the evidence!
Some customers also choose to fit a microwave. If you do, always consider the manufacturer's ventilation requirements and mount it at a practical height where hot food can be removed safely and comfortably.
As with every part of a campervan build, the best appliances are the ones that suit the way you like to travel.
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Water and Heating
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When it comes to water and heating, there are plenty of options available, but if you're planning on having a shower, the most popular choice has to be the Truma Combi boiler.
Available in 4kW and 6kW versions, with gas/electric, or diesel/electric options, our preferred choice is the 4kW diesel model. It’s economical to run, draws fuel directly from your vehicle's diesel tank, and includes an integrated 10-litre hot water tank—perfect for those much-needed showers after a day of adventure.
If your build doesn't require hot water, a dedicated diesel heater may be all you need. The Eberspächer and Autoterm ranges are both popular choices, providing reliable and efficient heating to keep your camper comfortable throughout the year.
There are many systems, brands, and price points to choose from, and we're simply sharing what we've found to be reliable through more than 20 years of converting vans into campervans. Tried, tested, and proven on the road.
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For more water products and water tanks follow the link
Finishing Touches – Enjoying the Outdoors
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Once you've finished the build, it's worth thinking about the outside space too. After all, campervanning is all about making the most of the great outdoors, whatever the weather.
A wind-out awning is one of the best additions you can make, creating a sheltered area to sit, relax, cook, or simply enjoy the view. Whether you choose a Fiamma or Thule awning, both are supplied with vehicle-specific brackets designed to fit your van perfectly.
Another addition we highly recommend is an awning light with an integrated rain gutter. It provides useful lighting on darker evenings while helping divert rainwater away from the sliding door. There's nothing worse than opening the door after a downpour and having water run straight into the van, potentially damaging your hard work over time.
It's these little finishing touches that turn a campervan from a great conversion into a comfortable home on wheels, ready for adventures whatever the weather.
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Some extras that maybe of interest
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