How to build an off grid camper van using a DIY van build kit…

We’ve been working for years on creating a high end, easily installed van conversion kit that would enable anyone to convert their van at home, with the quality of a professional build.

With this goal in mind, we’ve created our Foundation Kit. The Foundation Kit forms the core of a Habitat van build. It provides everything you need to prep, insulate and complete the entire structure of the interior. This includes upholstering the metal columns and pillars, covering the ‘blobs’, installing rivnuts throughout to provide secure bolted mounting points for the cabinets and wall panels and planning and wiring wire runs. Once the van is fully prepped, there are three layers of insulation to go in and then the van is ready for its wall, floor and ceiling. The final piece of the Foundation Kit is our Range bed system, which provides comfortable sideways sleeping with or without flares.

We’ll talk more about our Foundation Kit in a future blog, but if you’re interested in learning more, head on over to the Foundation Kit page. The kit is available for purchase now as a flat packed product, and we also have options for in house install as well if DIY isn’t your style.

This van began with the Foundation Kit. We wanted to demonstrate a sleek and simple van build, with some added features that might commonly be added on top of the Foundation Kit when setting off on your own van build journey.

This van tour can begin on the outside of the van: with a 2023 High Roof Ford Transit with 14,000 km on the clock, to which we added a roof rack and a rear tire carrier and ladder from Tec Van, as well as flares with RSC Bunk windows. A Maxx Air deluxe fan has become a van life essential, and we wanted this van to seat three people, so a JMG seat with Iso mount (child seat mount) was important for us to add.

Next comes the Foundation Kit: this includes a 3 layer insulation package comprising sound deadening, duckling and thinsulate insulation, the walls and ceiling finished in a Duramax tweed (the Foundation Kit comes with your choice of fabric). All pillars are also fabric wrapped for a clean finish. The floor is part of our Foundation Kit, and we selected the upgraded integrated wiring and hydronic heating loop for underfloor heating too. The bed, also part of our Foundation Kit is a strong and modular solution, allowing comfortable sideways sleeping.

Once the Foundation Kit had given us the base for our van build we wanted to add a few features to fully equip this van with everything you would need for off grid camping, summer adventures and a comfortable life on the road.

We installed a JMG seat to comfortably seat three people.

We started by covering the floor system with a cream vinyl tile, and added an in floor shower pan.

We next moved on to cabinetry, using marine grade birch and finishing each cabinet with formica for an easily maintainable and clean finish. We installed a full length kitchen with two burner induction cooktop, a Tec van nanotec sink with cover, pull out pantry storage and 65 litre dometic fridge/freezer. There is also a full suite of window coverings.

We wanted easily accessible hot water in this van. The water system itself is contained within a purpose built cabinet in the garage of the van. The water system comprises a 10 litre hot water tank, 30 gallon stainless steel fresh water tank, fresh water pump and accumulator and 10 gallon grey tank.

Opposite the water cabinet we have the electrical box. The power in this van comes from an EcoFlow Independence Kit (5kwh). we included Alternator charging, shore power charging and a 3800 watt inverter.

Our electrical and water cabinets in the van garage with a sliding storage tray for bikes or accessories.

This fully converted off grid adventure van is now for sale, though Habitat Kits. There is also the option of further customisation including adding additional windows and accessories, and the option of the seat being removed and replaced with an additional unit or bench seat at an additional cost.

If you are interested in this van, please contact us at info@habitatkits.ca or fill out any of the intake forms on the website.