Why you should (or shouldn’t) renovate a van

Ah yes, the age-old question: should I buy a new van or renovate an old one? And the honest answer is, uh, we don’t know. That’s why we asked a few Camplify owners for their thoughts on the matter. They gave us the lowdown on why they chose to renovate, who should consider renovating, and how long a van renovation might take. Check it out.

Georgia, Joel and Terry the Transit

Georgia and Joel love a project. And they were already spending their spare time watching van renovations online, so they figured they might as well have a crack at it themselves. ‘We both had a heap more free time during Covid,’ says Georgia, ‘and we wanted to make the most of it. We got stuck into it and ended up on a year-long roadie around Australia.’

Despite Joel being a carpenter, the renovation process wasn’t as speedy as they thought it would be. ‘The total reno took about six months,’ says Georgia. ‘We were surprised by how detailed each step was. If you only have a short amount of time, it’s probably worth investing in a tradie to help you out with a simple build. But I think it really depends on your skills and how determined you are to learn.’

Rocky and Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Rocky’s wife reckons he’s a sucker for punishment and he’s happy to admit that he enjoys a bit of a challenge. ‘Especially if it’s to do with an old Kombi,’ he says. ‘This is the second Kombi I have on Camplify and they look nothing like they did when I first bought them.’

Bringing Dizzy Miss Lizzy to life wasn’t just a matter of fitting the Kombi out to be a camper. ‘Most of this build was actually spent on the restoration side, which meant hours and hours of grinding, sanding, scraping and swearing,’ says Rocky. ‘I was pulling my hair out at times, but it was all worth it. And now I know every nut and every bolt in my Kombis.’

Rocky spent a year of evenings and weekends to complete his restoration project. And while he believes there really is no feeling like sitting back and proudly looking at the fruits of one’s labour, he’s in no way against people buying a new camper. ‘Not everyone is so hands on, so each to their own,’ he says. ‘Everyone is different and so are their budgets. I love the thought of renovating it yourself as it turns into a project. You can put your own style on the camper and enjoy a sense of achievement once it’s complete.’

Amy, Ted and Van Go

Amy and Ted have always loved vintage cars and caravans, so for them, it felt like a privilege to give new life to what Amy describes as a beautiful, curvy, golden oldie. ‘People always come up to us, or our hirers, and compliment the caravan, sharing their childhood memories of holidaying with family in something similar. We love how our caravan brings a smile to people’s faces.’

When it comes to choosing between buying a new caravan or renovating an old one, Amy recommends the former if you’re looking for something quick and easy with more luxury. ‘But if you like old-style vans and want to bring some charm and character to your glamping life, then absolutely the old one,’ she says. ‘It probably took a year to renovate ours, because we were only able to work on it in our spare time.’

Julia, Josh and Yotchi(s)

For Julia and Josh, a van conversion presented an opportunity to build something that had never been created. ‘We felt that van designs weren’t making good use of the space and that there had been a lack of innovation to keep up with how people want to live, work and play,’ says Julia. ‘While it was a lot of hard work to build from scratch, we loved the creative journey and still get so much satisfaction when guests and onlookers first see the Yotchi Sky Bed all set up.

Despite having five van conversions under their belt, Julia and Josh still take 3–7 months to complete a build. ‘Pure blood, sweat and tears,’ says Julia. ‘Though there are a few laughs in there, mostly in month one.’ And despite the effort that goes into every build, Julia can confirm that it’s all worth it. ‘Owning a campervan gives you a lifestyle of flexibility and allows you to experience living off the beaten track. Plus, through apps like Camplify, you’re able to generate a significant income.’

Want to learn more about renovating a van and making money off it? Check out the rest of our van renovation series for inspiration and advice from those who have been on the journey before you.