Dreaming of the open road? Look out for these roadblocks when renovating your van.

Look, we’d love to tell you that renovating a van is a simple process. And it is, if living your best van life means throwing a mattress in the back and hitting the road. But if you’re after something a little more comfortable – something with, say, electricity and running water – you’re almost certainly going to run into some roadblocks while building your dream home-on-wheels.

To help you put your best foot forward, we’ve asked a bunch of our experienced renovators about the problems they’ve encountered and how they’ve managed to overcome them. The general consensus? Be creative, be positive and don’t be afraid to ask for help. As one owner puts it: your phone is the best tool in your toolbox. So let’s get cracking.

Andrew and Queensie

For Andrew, every new stage of his renovation brought new challenges. He was by no means a skilled tradesman when he started, but he found that the solutions were out there thanks to so many online videos showing how others have paved the way. He managed to do most of the build himself, but for the more challenging parts, like finalising the electrics and gas fittings, he needed to bring in someone qualified.

Andrew was constantly surprised, throughout the renovation, by what he managed to achieve on his own. ‘It’s a bit like building a house on a small scale,’ he says. ‘You learn plumbing, electrics, insulation, solar, structure, design and, of course, a bit of interior design. I really valued the guidance of Marcel, from Saltyvanventures on YouTube. Being a fellow Northern Beaches resident, I was able to use a lot of his supply recommendations.’

Amy, Ted and Van Go

‘Everything is pretty much a roadblock,’ says Amy, whose vintage caravan proves these roadblocks can be overcome in style. ‘We had zero experience with renovating a caravan and had no idea what to look out for, but you learn on the go. There were a few things that were trial and error, but after watching a lot of YouTube movies and digging around on the internet, the hubby learned how to weld, install air-conditioning and even do some plumbing.’

Georgia, Joel and Terry the Transit

Like Andrew, Georgia and Joel brought in the experts for power and gas. ‘Though Joel being a carpenter was a huge advantage, we made sure these [power and gas] were professionally installed,’ says Georgia. ‘But we made our own benchtop with wooden offcuts, which was a labour of love, and I learned how to make curtains. A van is such a unique space, so you definitely have to be creative. The planning and problem solving along the way were little roadblocks for sure.’

Julia, Josh and Yotchi(s)

For Julia, there were unexpected problems to be solved at every turn. ‘Finding the right materials and supplies is always a challenge,’ she says. ‘During Covid, we had a number of logistical nightmares to secure products and materials, which held up other parts of the build. There were also many roadblocks in the design and building stage. Building the perfect van requires creativity in the use of space and choices on what is most important. Moving one little part affects all the other parts to the design. Every millimeter of space counts, so there were countless roadblocks in getting our design and functionality to work within the constraints of the van and the space restrictions.’

Rocky and Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Having completely restored Dizzy Miss Lizzy before starting his build, Rocky is no stranger to creative problem solving. ‘There will always be roadblocks and the goal posts are always moving,’ he says. ‘But when there seems to be no solution, walk away and do something else. Sleep on it and come back fresh. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either – the best tool in your toolbox is your phone.’

Rocky points to his Kombi’s front seats as an example. ‘I needed foam cushions, but all the suppliers were completely out of stock because of Covid. I found what I wanted in California, but they didn’t ship to Australia, so I asked my sister, who lives in Philadelphia, if she’d receive them and bring them to a family wedding in Ireland later in the year. She put them in an old suitcase, brought them to Ireland and I returned from the wedding with the trusty Kombi seat foams – I guess you could say that they’re well travelled. The point is, sometimes you have to think outside the box to make things happen.’

Feeling like you could overcome anything? Check out the rest of the articles in our van renovation series and start planning your renovation project today.