Our DIY Campervan Cost Less Than Half the Price of the Factory Vans We Hated…
And we built it in less than 70 days - from a tiny gravel driveway in Maine - by obsessing over the planning first.
without the ridiculous $200K price tag and constant second-guessing.
Sounds impossible?
We thought so too… Right up until we built our own van in just 70 days.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you about DIY campervan builds:
It’s usually not the tools, woodworking skills, or lack of experience that derail people.
It’s the endless second-guessing.
The layouts that looked good online but don’t work in real life.
The expensive little mistakes that quietly snowball once the build starts.
What changed everything for us was getting painfully clear on the plan before we started cutting holes in things.
The Toolkit walks you through the same thoughtful design and planning system we used to create our Sprinter campervan “Harry”
The whole process feels a lot more manageable, a lot less chaotic, and far less likely to turn into a money pit.
Now you have access to the same thoughtful planning system we used to turn a very overwhelming project into a campervan that actually feels like home.
See What's Inside Your DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit 
Just picture it for a moment...
Pulling into a special place you’ve always wanted to see – not rushing to a hotel, not wrestling with reservations, not settling for someone else’s idea of “vacation.”
Just your van. Your space. Your pace.
A DIY campervan that feels like you – quietly comfortable, thoughtfully designed, built for the kinds of trips you actually want to take – not the curated influencer version.
Because you’re not trying to “do vanlife.”
You’re trying to build a small, beautiful, functional campervan home you can take anywhere.
And to do that, you need a DIY campervan that...
- Feels like you - not some generic builder’s template
- Fits the way you actually live and travel (because tiny spaces get frustrating fast when they’re designed for someone else)
- Works beautifully on real trips - rainy days, long drives, lazy mornings and all
- Feels calm, comfortable, and good to come home to… not just impressive in photos
But here’s the part no one really talks about...
- The design decisions pile up fast: Layouts. Storage. Materials. Bed size. Garage space. Seating. Lighting.
- And somehow every single decision feels weirdly permanent once you start cutting holes in things.
- Meanwhile, the advice online is all over the place: incomplete, weirdly overconfident or clearly designed for people building totally different kinds of vans.
- One bad layout decision can quietly haunt the entire build.
- And it’s honestly terrifying to get months into a project only to realize: “Uh oh… this doesn’t actually work for how we live.”
So instead of making progress, a lot of people end up stuck in research mode for months – overwhelmed, second-guessing everything, wondering where they’re even supposed to begin.
That overwhelming, “Where do we even start?” feeling is exactly why we built this DIY campervan design system.
We’re Sam and Justin.
And don’t forget our four-legged cowboy, Ralphie!
(he's the cute one in the "tuxedo")
These days you’ll find the three of us crisscrossing North America in our hand-built DIY Sprinter campervan, “Harry.” Forty-one states, eight Canadian provinces, and counting…
But just a couple years ago, we were exactly where you are now.
We didn’t build a campervan because we were bored. We built one because everything else felt… small. Routine. Boring. Maybe even pointless.
We loved the idea of hopping in a van and zigzagging the country:
Hidden forests. Quiet beaches. Places we’d only ever seen on postcards.
But the truth is after my mom died – way too suddenly – all those “someday” dreams felt like excuses.
She always loved decorating a home. Always believed you could build something good for your family, even if you didn’t have a lot of money. And I got a lot of that from her.
So when I looked at the cookie-cutter vans on the market and saw cheap cabinetry, “pleather” upholstery, layouts made for “Instagram vanlife” not real living…
I got pissed – I saw price tags that made no sense. I saw designs built for weekend getaways, not real travel.
Even the small “custom van builders” weren’t much better – just another version of the same generic campervan layouts, only with long waitlists and even higher prices.
We wanted a van that felt like an actual home – something solid, comfortable, thoughtful, and built for real travel… and we couldn’t afford (or stomach) paying $200K+ for mediocrity.
And I knew: if we really wanted a van that felt like our home, we’d have to build it ourselves.
Sound nuts? Maybe. Definitely terrifying.
Because we didn’t have…
- A garage. Just a tiny gravel driveway.
- A shop. Just a crappy $100 Amazon pop-up tent to shelter us from the rainy Maine weather.
- A lot of free time. We were knee-deep in our busy T-shirt business.
- Professional-builder experience. Just a notebook full of crossed-out ideas and a sinking feeling we might totally screw this thing up.
Every cut felt permanent.
Every decision felt expensive.
We seriously considered bailing.
But then we got smart. We slowed down. We planned every little detail of our DIY campervan layout: Cabinet placement. Insulation. Plumbing.
Even where Ralphie would get the best sun patch for his naps!
Nine weeks later – in less than 70 days – we climbed inside our DIY campervan and said:
“Holy s**t… we actually built a home.”
…we built this Toolkit for you.
We didn’t just finish a build….
We built something better than what you get from a factory.
A van made for real travel.
Made the way we wanted it.
Made for real life.
And when we finally were tucked under the redwoods at dusk in a campground in California’s Big Sur – soup simmering on the stove, Ralphie kneading a blanket on the sofa, the van quiet around us – that’s when it hit:
This wasn’t a hotel room on wheels.
This was home.
Now we’re sharing everything we learned – the smart planning, the mistakes we almost made, the little tricks that saved thousands – in our DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit.
Not because we want to brag.
But because we don’t want you to waste time, money, or end up with a van that’s just “meh.”
Because we think you deserve better than “assembly-line vanlife.”
- If you’re tired of bland, overpriced, cookie-cutter vans…
- If you want a van that feels like yours…
- If you want a van that works – not just looks good in photos…
A great DIY campervan isn’t built with tools.
It’s built with good decisions.
Here's the problem:
Most van build courses focus on “how to build”: how to cut wood, run wires, install plumbing, frame cabinets.
All useful, of course.
But none of that matters much if the van itself doesn’t actually work for the way you live and travel.
That’s why we became obsessed with the planning side first – layout, flow, comfort, storage, lighting, how the space would actually feel to live in.
That’s the part most people skip.
Because here's the truth...
Building a DIY campervan is a huge investment of time, money, energy, and patience.
And without a solid plan, you end up:
- wasting money on parts that don’t actually fit your layout
- redoing decisions that looked good on paper but don’t work in real life
- losing weeks (or months) fixing avoidable mistakes
- building a van that quietly drives you nuts to live in, but photographs beautifully
That’s exactly why we created this DIY campervan design system...
Before we built a single cabinet, we got crystal clear on what we needed, what we could skip, what would make life on the road easier, and what we absolutely could not afford to get wrong.
Because once the build starts moving, bad decisions get expensive fast.
That planning process – the one that kept us on budget, on schedule, and (mostly) sane – became the foundation for this Toolkit.
The DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit walks you through the same thoughtful design process we used to create a van that actually works in real life: comfortable to travel in, calm to come home to and far less overwhelming to build in the first place.
We built our Sprinter campervan “Harry” in a tiny gravel driveway in less than 70 days – for less than half the price of many factory-built vans.
And the result?
A refined, functional, grown-up campervan that feels like a real home – not an RV knockoff!
Meanwhile, many of the “gurus” teaching van build courses online… haven’t exactly built vans you’d want to model.
We’ve seen the awkward layouts, the cheap finishes, the bloated price tags, and the little compromises that would quietly drive us crazy after a few weeks on the road.
You want something better.
A van you’re proud of.
A van that fits your style, your routines, your trips – without the typical DIY regrets.
That’s exactly what this Toolkit helps you plan.
We had to figure all of this DIY campervan planning out ourselves.
But you don’t have to.
We took the exact DIY campervan design and planning process we used to build Harry in less than 70 days - without a shop, without a crew, and without losing our minds - and turned it into a complete step-by-step system
Inside, you’ll get 219+ pages of practical, real-world campervan design guidance, examples, and 175+ photos – including the behind-the-scenes planning details most builders never show.
No fluff. No vague “just trust the process” advice. No generic layouts designed more for photos than real travel.
Just a thoughtful, proven design process you can follow at your own pace – one that helps the entire project feel a whole lot less overwhelming from the very beginning.
Because designing your campervan should feel exciting… not like a constant cycle of second-guessing every decision.
This toolkit makes sure it stays that way!
Whether this is your first build or your fifth, the Toolkit helps you create a campervan that actually works for the way you live, travel, and want to feel on the road.
Here's What's Inside Your DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit...
Inside, you’ll find eleven in-depth design guides that walk you through the same thoughtful planning process we used to make every major van decision.
So instead of staring at a blank cargo van wondering where to even begin, you’ll have a clear, practical framework for designing a campervan that actually works for your real life.
Even if this is your very first build!
#1 - "The Grand Tour"
You’ll round up ideas for your own DIY campervan as we take you along for 52 pages and pick through and explore (in nitty-gritty detail) the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom and the garage of our own hand-built Sprinter campervan, “Harry.”
Every nook and cranny. Under the kitchen sink. Inside our cabinets. The toilet.
And yep – even inside our underwear drawers!
Packed with over 80 vibrant photos, descriptions and a slew of inspirational & clever ideas that you can steal for your own DIY campervan interior design and layout.
#2 - Little Tricks That Will Save You Thousands On Your Campervan
We’ll let you in on the secret little DIY campervan design and planning tricks we used to save thousands of dollars on our campervan conversion without sacrificing quality.
And we’ll reveal how you too can save major moola on your DIY campervan budget with some easy peasy ideas you’ve probably never even thought of.
#3 - Your Campervan Design Idea Planner
A nifty, fill-in-the-blanks DIY campervan design options guide that cuts through the BS to thoroughly walk you through your own unique campervan needs and helps steer your campervan layout and interior design in the right direction.
Perfect for getting unstuck when you’re staring at a blank cargo van wondering:
“Okay… where the heck do I even start?”
#4 - A “Brag-Worthy” Campervan In Less Than 70 Days - How We Did It
We spill the beans on exactly how we designed and built our DIY Sprinter campervan – in a tiny gravel driveway, on our very first build, with limited experience, and for way less than half the cost of many factory vans.
Inside, we’ll walk you through the planning decisions, time-saving strategies, and real-world lessons that helped us move quickly without ending up with a rushed, chaotic, “good enough” build.
# 5 - DIY Campervan Blueprint
You’ll get the exact step-by-step DIY campervan design, layout, and build timeline we used to design, plan and build our campervan in our teeny, tiny gravel driveway in less than 70 days – a project that many DIYers can easily spend a year or more toiling away at.
Swipe our plan and use it as a plug-and-play roadmap for your own DIY campervan project.
#6 - Campervan Decorating Secrets
We’ll show you our little DIY campervan decorating details – item by item – for decorating a snug, personalized campervan.
You can do it too with just some simple targeted little details (that make a huge difference)!
#7 - 7 Van Design Mistakes That Quietly Cost DIYers Thousands
We expose the 7 van design mistakes that “quietly” cost DIYers thousands and the simple fixes that saved us a ton of cash!
#8 - Our Top Secret List: Everything Inside Our Campervan
You’ll get an over-the-shoulder peek at our private list of products, materials, finishes and everyday products we chose to make our DIY campervan a comfortable space to live in.
Inside this buyer’s guide, you’ll get a complete run-down of our product sources so you can adapt our ideas for your own DIY campervan build – without spending countless hours researching everything yourself.
#9 - How To Pick A Signature Design Style
Your personal cheat sheet to picking your own signature DIY campervan design style complete with vivid photos, patterns and color ideas to inspire your campervan interior.
#10 - How To Build Your Own “Van-spiration" Idea Board
We’ll show you the photos, spaces, colors and little details that inspired our own DIY campervan interior design, then send you on a scavenger hunt to collect and organize ideas to create your own “Van-spiration” Idea Board.
A surprisingly helpful starting point when you’re staring at a blank cargo van wondering where to even begin.
#11 - 3 Essential Habits To Confidently Tackle Your Campervan Project
We share the practical mindset shifts and planning habits that helped us design and build our DIY campervan in less than 70 days – without turning the entire project into a chaotic, stressful mess.
We’ll show you how you can confidently design, plan and build your own DIY campervan using our super simple approach.
Extra Bonus! Your Campervan Design Journal
Use this handy-dandy companion journal alongside the DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit to organize your ideas, track important decisions, and keep all your campervan plans in one place as your build starts taking shape.
A surprisingly useful little sanity-saver when your notes, screenshots, layouts, measurements, and “wait… what were we thinking again?” moments start piling up.
Here’s exactly what you get...
-
The full 11-guide DIY campervan design system we used to plan and build our van in less than 70 days
Clear explanations, real examples, and the reasoning behind every major layout, storage, and interior design decision. -
219+ pages of practical DIY campervan design guidance
Including all the real-world stuff people usually don’t learn until they’ve already made expensive mistakes. -
175+ real-world photos from our van build
Not polished glamour shots - actual campervan details, layouts, storage solutions, materials, and little design choices you can learn from and adapt for your own build. -
The step-by-step planning process that kept our build moving
So the project didn’t drag on for a year while we endlessly second-guessed every decision. -
A complete sourcing guide for everything inside our campervan
Fixtures, finishes, appliances, materials, hardware, and everyday details - without spending weeks hunting everything down yourself.
The DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit walks you through the exact planning system we used to build a campervan that actually felt like home…
DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit is perfect for people who want...
- A DIY campervan that fits the way they actually travel
- A campervan interior design that feels intentional, not slapped together
- A proven campervan design system to avoid expensive mistakes
- A campervan layout they won’t regret in six months
- A van that feels like a home – not an RV knockoff
- Guidance from people who’ve actually built a DIY campervan, not people repeating lame YouTube advice
- A faster, clearer, more organized path to a finished DIY campervan build
But this DIY campervan design system isn’t for people who…
- Are perfectly happy with a generic, builder-basic campervan layout
- Don’t care how the space feels or functions
- Want the cheapest possible build, no matter how inconvenient
- Prefer to “wing it” and hope it works out
- Think good interior design is optional
But we know you're anything but average...
Average folks are content with mundane choices, repeating the same routine day in and day out.
A boring, “assembly line” campervan is A-OK with them.
We strongly believe that everyone should have a stylish, comfortable “home-on-the-road” and we want you to have all the ideas and tools to design your very own DIY campervan.
DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit is tailored to those who aspire to design and plan a one-of-a-kind campervan layout and interior that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Ready To Design A Campervan That You'll Love?
If you’re tired of guessing, tired of conflicting advice, and tired of wondering whether you’re about to make an expensive campervan design mistake… this is the part where you give yourself a thoughtful plan instead of a giant headache.
Grab the DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit and start designing a campervan that actually fits the way you want to live and travel: comfortable, functional, personal and genuinely good to come home to after a long day on the road!
Please Note:
With so many varied options for cabinets, plumbing, electrical, etc. we don’t want to bog you down by covering typical “van build” instructions in this planner & toolkit.
After completing the 11 design guides that make up the DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit system, you’ll walk away with the knowledge, ideas and confidence to get started designing your own dream campervan – even if this is your very first stab at it.
Still Have Questions?
What if I don’t even have a van yet?
Totally fine. In fact, this DIY campervan design toolkit is a great place to start. It’ll help you think clearly about what kind of campervan layout, space, and features you actually need – before you choose a van. Way better than buying a van first and realizing you want something totally different.
What if I’m scared I’ll mess something up?
That’s exactly why we made this toolkit. We built our DIY campervan fast – but only because we spent weeks getting ultra-clear on every decision before we made it. The toolkit walks you through that same campervan design and planning process – step-by-step – so you know exactly what to do, and why.
Does this information apply to any van?
Yes. We are confident that the clever ideas inside DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit can be applied to a van of any make / model, size or age.
What if I already started my build?
Then this might be exactly what you need. A lot of people hit a wall mid-build – realizing they forgot something important, or feeling like the whole DIY campervan design project is becoming a mess. The Toolkit helps you step back, regroup, and make a smart plan for what’s next. It’s not too late to fix what’s not working – and finish with a van you actually want to travel in.
I’m not a designer. Will this still work for me?
Absolutely. We created this with DIY campervan builders in mind. It’s practical, step-by-step, and easy to follow – even if your Pinterest board is the closest thing you’ve done to design so far.
What if I’m not planning to build it myself?
You don’t have to be the one holding the drill to benefit from a solid campervan design plan. Whether you’re DIY-ing, hiring help, or a mix of both – this toolkit helps you make smart, informed campervan design choices before the build begins.
Is this just a pretty photo book?
Nope. It’s 219+ pages of organized, detailed, real-world DIY campervan design guidance – including photos, checklists, timelines, and fill-in-the-blank worksheets. And yes, it’s nice to look at, but it’s built to help you take action.
Does this system cover “van build” instructions?
With so many varied options for cabinets, plumbing, electrical, etc. we don’t want to bog you down by covering typical “van build” instructions in this planner & toolkit.
After completing the 11 DIY campervan design guides that make up the DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit system, you’ll walk away with the knowledge, ideas and confidence to start designing your own DIY campervan layout – even if this is your very first build.
What is the format of DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit / Is this a digital product?
Yes – this is a digital DIY campervan design system. The entire toolkit is delivered instantly online via 11 PDF files that can be downloaded and/or printed. You’ll receive login information via email after checkout to access everything.
What is your refund policy?
This is a digital product and you get instant access to the entire DIY Campervan Design Planner & Toolkit system upon purchase. Because of that we can’t accept any returns or refund requests.
