If you’re into traveling non-stop, and adventuring as you make your own way through life, you’re probably into the idea of living in a van, or at the very least having one equipped to be able to travel in it for long periods of time.
And the thing is, minivan camper conversions are ideal for saving money, making the most of the space available, and traveling with comfort and practicality in equal measure. Plus they can look incredible if the design is well thought out!
Of course, there are limitless options and possibilities when converting your minivan to a camper. That is why we’ve made a list with some creative design ideas, to get you started! All of them are budget-friendly (mostly), and are perfect for solo travelers, multi-people traveling, weekend getaways, and more!
Let’s get right into it!
8 Minivan Camper Conversions:
Volkswagon T4 camper conversion
First up we have this wonderful Volkswagon T4, converted into a practical and comfortable camper. This was done by Caro Caspers, and you can visit her Instagram in order to access the original post, for some close-up pictures of the inside of the van after it was converted. Here are two pictures as an overview:
Some of the more noticeable features in this conversion are the pop-top for sleeping, with the extra area that can be created by folding out the couch, meaning there is always room to relax!
If you visit the original post, you can also see that the kitchenette makes use of a propane-powered stove and a gravity-fed sink. There are also plenty of shelves and draws, cleverly packed together to create plenty of storage space without getting in the way!
And judging by the rest of her Instagram posts, she makes good use of this camper conversion with plenty of traveling!
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan conversion from My Basic Journey
Another amazing minivan camper conversion is this 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, converted by “My Basic Journey”. You can actually see the whole process of the conversion, in this video. But here are two pictures so that you get an overview of the design:
What Chantelle focused on, for this minivan camper conversion, was to make it as cheap and as easy as possible. And to do so, she used many creative ideas.
For example, she placed furniture that she already owned within the van, and then secured them with bungee cords and netting, which is not only practical but stylish! She also created a closet area with PVC pipe. So it goes to show that you can make do with whatever materials you have, and end up with a great result!.
VW T4 Camper conversion by Ester and Muriel
Ester and Muriel live the van life on the beautiful island of Menorca (Spain), and you can see all about their camper conversion on their Instagram: nafradavan.
You can also see the good use they give it, with plenty of travel posts and day-to-day updates on how they use the camper conversion! But just in case you don’t want to go straight to their posts, here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the design they went for:
From the outside, this conversion looks pretty small. However, they have managed to incorporate a vast amount of storage space, by combining shelving with bungee cords, so that extra items can be easily secured.
They have also focused on including a workspace, which is a fold-out desk. For relaxing and sleeping, they have a couch that folds out, perfect for their travel lifestyle for two!
4×4 Toyota Hiace conversion by Joriën and Sandra
If you’re looking for inspiration for a minivan camper conversion perfect for living out your traveling dreams full-time, then take a look at this 4×4 Toyota Hiace conversion by Joriën and Sandra. AS self-proclaimed hippies, they travel around Europe in their camper, with their corgi named Fudge.
You can follow their adventures on their Instagram: twocampersandacorgi. This is also where you will find plenty of pictures and videos of the camper so that you can take note of all the details. Here are two pictures as an overview:
As you can see, they have gone for a fun and colorful design, perfect for them. It includes a pop-top for sleeping, with storage space underneath that is easy to access from the back. They also installed a 30-liter water tank, a diesel heater, and a mini camping fridge. It has everything they need to live life on the go!
VW Caddy camper conversion
If you want a simple yet efficient design, we recommend that you check out the VW Caddy camper conversion by the Canary Caddy. They are UK based, and on their Instagram, they not only document their travels and adventures but also, they have a full breakdown of the entire conversion process, with costs and materials included! Plus they have a dog, so cuteness is ensured. Here is a photo of their camper:
Their colorful conversion utilizes inexpensive materials, and a very simple design, that is effective and comfortable. The perfect size for the two, and the dog. The sofa slides out to become a bed, there are back drawers that slide out to provide a kitchen cooking space, and there are shelves on the side for storage space.
And it just goes to show that you don’t have to overcomplicate the conversion in order for it to look good! As long as it has the essentials and enough room to make do, it’s perfect! And they use it to travel and adventure all around the UK, so definitely check out their posts.
Nissan NV200 minivan camper conversion
Another simple design with a classic layout, is this Nissan NV200 minivan camper conversion, by Nerea and her partner.
You can follow their travel adventures on their Instagram, nereiton, where you will also find plenty of pictures of the camper and details on its build. Here are two photos of the building process that show the bare bones of how they structured the design:
Perfect for solo traveling or for a couple, this minivan camper conversion makes use of very simple design choices, for an effective result. It has a slide-out bed, which can be used as a sofa and for sleeping, and some basic shelving for storage.
You could then incorporate other items and essentials, such as a mini-fridge, and some cooking appliances. But the basics are all there, and it’s perfect for quickly converting your vehicle and getting out on the road to find adventure!
Roadloft Company
If you’re looking for more of a professional approach, you could look into Roadloft. It is a company based in Quebec, Canada, that designs different camper van conversion kits, all of them highly optimized to make the most out of the space available in the vehicle, and with some efficient features to make the end result as amazing as possible.
You can check out the website here.
The main selling point of the Roadloft company is that the conversion kits are very budget-friendly while being durable, comfortable, multi-functional, and very easy to install.
However, before you browse the different design options that they offer, you should make sure that they cater to your specific vehicle.
Roadloft can provide conversion kits to the following: Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and Nissan NV200.
If you have a different vehicle you might still be able to find some features and items on the website, but they will not be part of a full camper conversion kit.
Oasis Campervans company
Another professional option for converting your vehicle into a minivan camper is to go through the Oasis Campervans company. Based in Boulder, Colorado, they provide budget-friendly options that are highly efficient, with durable and comfortable designs.
They specialize in vehicles such as the Toyota Sienna, the Honda Odyssey, the Dodge Grand Caravan, and the Chrysler Pacifica. However, they cater to a wide range of vehicles, and their custom builds are great for making your conversion unique to your own style and preferences.
The custom builds are also pretty fast, taking between 3 to 4 weeks. As a general rule, they include all of the essential appliances and features and will leave you with a set-up perfect for traveling long periods of time.
You can check out their website here.
How to design your minivan camper conversion
Okay, so we have given you 8 different amazing minivan camper conversion ideas, with different designs, styles, and focuses. However, when it comes to designing your camper conversion, you have complete freedom to choose whatever suits you the most, according to your personal needs and preferences. Plus, you can get as creative as you want, to make sure it’s comfortable and appealing to you!
Here are some factors that you should consider when designing the process, that can help you form a plan:
The space available
You have to be very aware of the amount of space that you have within your minivan before you start the conversion so that you can plan out the structure in order to fully optimize what you have!
The use you will give the camper
Are you going to use the camper for solo traveling? With a partner or small group of people? Are you going to use it during weekend getaways? Or are you going to go traveling for long periods of time? All of these affect the amount of space and storage that you require within the camper, as well as the types of essentials that you will need in order for it to be efficient and practical.
Practicality and essentials you will need
What features do you need the most? Sleeping, of course, but do you need to cook inside the camper? Do you need running water? Heating? Consider all of these before you begin the conversion.
Level of comfort that you want
Campers can be simple and practical, or they can feature more complicated designs with extra comfort. It is completely up to you, your budget, and the amount of time and effort you want to put into it.
Stylistic and personalized choices
Don’t be afraid to make the camper your own by adding stylistic choices that suit your preferences. Think outside of the box!
Final thoughts
A minivan camper conversion is perfect for quickly turning a minivan into a chance for adventuring and traveling, making the most of the space to have a comfortable yet practical means of living.
You can check out the 8 amazing design options we featured, or think about designing your own from scratch. Just remember to combine practicality with comfort, by optimizing the space and making it your own!