What Is a Conversion Van? Classic Conversion Vans vs. Camper Vans
A conversion van is a standard van that a second company modifies with a finished interior. The term has two meanings: the classic conversion van of the 1970s through the 1990s, built for comfortable travel, and today's camper van conversion, which adds sleeping, cooking, power, and water so you can live in it.
Two meanings, one term
| Classic Conversion Van | Modern camper van conversion | |
|---|---|---|
| Base vehicle | Full-size passenger or cargo van | High-roof cargo van (Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster) |
| Interior | Captain's chairs, a sofa that folds flat, carpet, lighting | Bed, kitchen, storage, power, water, heat |
| Built for | Comfortable road travel | Camping and living on the road |
| Typical systems | Lighting and entertainment | Battery and solar, plumbing, heater, refrigerator |
| Standards | Varies | RVIA seal if the builder is certified |
Classic conversion vans were most popular in the 1970s and 1980s. When people search "what is a van conversion" today, they usually mean the second column.
What goes into a camper van conversion
A builder starts with an empty cargo van and adds, in roughly this order:
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Insulation and sound deadening, so the van holds temperature.
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Electrical: a lithium battery bank, solar, and a way to charge from the alternator or shore power.
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Water and plumbing: fresh tank, pump, sink, and often grey water.
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A heater and ventilation, including a roof fan.
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Windows, ideally set into the factory openings.
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A bed, galley, and storage engineered to fit the space.
Conversion van, camper van, or Class B?
They overlap. A camper van is a van converted for sleeping and living. In the RV industry, a van-based motorhome is a Class B, and a professionally built camper van from an RVIA-certified builder falls into that group. See what RVIA certification means.
What does a van conversion cost?
Titan's conversions start at $44,995 for the Classic, with the van priced separately. Our full cost breakdown covers chassis prices and options, and how long a build takes covers the timeline.
Three ways to get one
Professional builder: the van is built and tested for you. Kit: a pre-engineered interior you install yourself, such as Timber Van Kits. DIY from scratch: the most flexible and the most time-consuming.
Frequently asked
Is a conversion van the same as a camper van? Not always. A classic conversion van is built for comfortable travel. A camper van conversion adds the systems to live and sleep in it.
What does "van conversion" mean? Building a living space inside a van.
What's the best van to convert? See our guide to which van to convert.
Updated October 13, 2026
