Cheap van conversion: Turn a rented van into an RV for $365!

By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Bob Wells from Cheap RV Living for a guide that will help would-be campers that don’t have much of a budget. In it, he shows a cheap van conversion where he turns a rented U-Haul van into a camping-ready RV for just $365!

Bob came up with this plan while he was in Alaska visiting his son. He didn’t want to drive to Alaska, so he flew instead. Then he rented the van, which he intended to stay in while he did some Alaska explorations (an interesting idea for an alternative to driving to Alaska). But, of course, Bob wanted a bit more functionality than just an empty cargo van.

Of course, as his channel is all about “cheap” RV living, Bob did not want to spend much on the endeavor. Instead, he went to thrift stores, Walmart, Sportsman’s Warehouse, and Home Depot to get the items he would need to turn this rented van into a comfortable home.

Below are the essential items Bob says you will need. Keep in mind that he was outfitting a full-sized van, but he talks about how you could do the same in a mini-van, car, or SUV too. Of course, since Bob is using a rented van for this project, he has to accomplish everything without drilling into the van or otherwise permanently attaching anything to it.

No matter what vehicle you plan to camp in, Bob says your goals are to replicate the four primary functions that the rooms of a house provide:

#1 Bedroom: You will need a comfortable place to sleep.

#2 Kitchen: You will need to store and prepare food.

#3 Bathroom: You will need to wash and clean yourself as well as eliminate bodily waste.

#4 Living room: You need space to hang out, work, and recreate, in other words, you need comfortable places to sit, both inside and outside.

Bob begins with sleeping. Watch the video as he discusses how to circumvent the wheel wells and fit a comfortable cot into your mobile camper van.

The cot Bob chose gives him a comfortable place to sleep with lots of storage below. A camping pad on top provides both insulation and comfort. Bob finished off his bedroom with layers of blankets that allowed him to adjust his sleeping temperatures as needed.

Next, Bob covers organization as it’s easy for a small space to get cluttered. He bought some plastic drawers that provide organized storage and double as small tables. He also picked up a 2-drawer filing cabinet at a thrift store that fit perfectly at the end of the bed. Lastly, three plastic totes fill up the rest of the space and hold the rest of Bob’s gear.

For his bathroom, Bob says a simple 5-gallon bucket proves invaluable. You can buy a toilet seat that fits on it, use a pool noodle to fashion one, or use it as is for a portable toilet. A portable basin is used to wash hair and for sponge baths (not to mention dishes). A small hanging mirror completes the “bathroom.”

When it comes to the kitchen, Bob uses a small single-burner propane camp stove. He picked up a large skillet and a 2-quart pot at a thrift store. He dedicates one of his plastic storage totes to kitchen supplies. That way it is quick and easy to take the whole thing outside to cook.

When camping in the continental U.S., Bob usually uses a 12-volt cooler. For his temporary camping digs, he just picked up a small ice-filled type cooler.

For his lounging and living area, Bob found a folding camping chair at a thrift store that he uses both outside and inside the van. He also just uses his bed as seating. A folding wooden TV tray provides a worktable inside or a dining table outside.

The last thing Bob considered when turning his rented van into a camper was the windows. Even though it was a cargo van, there were still windows where people could see inside. He simply cut Reflectix to the window size and pushed it into place. Not only did this provide privacy, it also insulated the van from both heat and cold.

Wow, I am truly impressed with how easy and inexpensive it was to turn an empty van into a perfectly functional camper. Bravo, Bob!

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