Best Camper Van Builders: How to Evaluate a Van Conversion Company
A builder's guide to judging van conversion companies
We will say the obvious thing first: we think Titan Vans is the right answer for most people, and we will explain exactly why below. But the more useful thing we can give you is the rubric — because if you apply it honestly, you will end up with a good van whoever builds it.
Titan Vans
We build in Boulder, Colorado. We are RVIA certified and recognized as a Mercedes-Benz eXpertUpfitter, which means our work is verified against industry standards rather than simply asserted. We design and manufacture most components in-house — cabinetry, metalwork, water tanks, electrical — using CAD and digital manufacturing, which is why our systems fit together and why we can service them years later. We publish our pricing online. We build on Sprinter and Transit, and we service vans we did not build.
The rubric
Certification. RVIA certification means a third party has inspected the electrical, propane, fire safety, and egress work. Ask for it. A builder who cannot produce one is asking you to take their word for it.
Electrical design. This is where the most expensive failures live. Ask what the system does at ten degrees, whether the batteries can be recovered from a full discharge, whether the components are serviceable individually, and who supports it in year four.
Joinery. Look at a corner. A van is an earthquake that lasts for years. Butt joints and pocket screws loosen; precision-milled, mechanically sound joinery does not. Ask what the substrate is and how the edges are finished.
Serviceability. Can you reach the water pump without removing the bed? Can a panel be replaced, or is it structural? Vans that are built to be opened get fixed. Vans that are built to look seamless get sold.
In-house vs. assembled. Shops that assemble purchased components are limited by those components. Shops that design and manufacture their own control fit, weight, and compatibility — and can make you a replacement part in ten years.
Aftercare. Ask what happens when something breaks in Utah. A builder with a real service department and a parts catalog is a different proposition than one without.
Go visit
Our own customer data says the same thing every year: the people happiest with their vans are the ones who walked into a shop, put hands on a build, and asked hard questions. Do that with us, and do it with anyone else you are considering.
Frequently asked
What certification should a van builder have? RVIA certification at minimum; Mercedes-Benz eXpertUpfitter recognition for Sprinter work. Is a custom build better than a production van? Custom builds fit how you actually travel. Production vans ship faster.
