THE DANGERS OF BUYING A CAMPER THAT HAD A DIY CONVERSION

There are so many benefits to owning your own VW campervan and it is no surprise that lots of people are deciding to invest in a leisure vehicle of this kind. The freedom that a camper provides is like no other and you can guarantee that they are a brilliant investment to make. However, you do have to be careful when you’re purchasing a pre-converted campervan and there are lots of DIY conversions on the market. 

Initially, people are drawn to DIY conversions because the campers are sometimes quite a bit cheaper, especially when you’re looking at popular models like VW T5 and T6 campervans. Yet, buying a camper that has been converted by someone inexperienced can actually be really risky. So, before you hand over your money to a private seller with a DIY conversion, make sure you think about the following. 

All converted VW campers will have an electrical system, but if this hasn’t been installed by a qualified technician, then there is a high chance that the system isn’t very safe. Installing the electrics is the most complicated part of a van conversion and it is absolutely essential to get right, so it simply isn’t worth taking a gamble with. For peace of mind, you should never purchase a VW camper that doesn’t have professionally installed electrics. 

Similarly to the electrics in the camper, the gas work can be complicated to install and it goes without saying that sleeping in a campervan with faulty gas can be incredibly dangerous. Lots of DIY camper conversions won’t come with Gas Safe certificates and there is no guarantee that everything will be installed to the standard it should be. This will undeniably be cause for concern every time you use the camper. 

It isn’t uncommon for people who are carrying out DIY camper conversions to skip the step of installing insulation and this is actually more important than many realise. The insulation will help to keep the camper at a comfortable temperature all year round, especially for sleeping in, and you would definitely regret investing in a camper without insulation. 

Another part of a conversion that can be forgotten about when doing a DIY job is heating and having a heating source isn’t just essential to keep a VW campervan warmer during the cold winter months. Without a suitable heating source, you’re likely to experience issues with damp and mould, and of course, this can go on to cause a whole host of other problems. 

Lots of campers will feature pop-top roofs and there are numerous advantages to having an additional sleeping area in the van. However, a DIY installation of a pop-top roof is something you should always avoid. There is a high chance that a recognised brand won’t have been used and you won’t know how safe it is to sleep in the roof area. Not to mention, it is unlikely that any of the beds in the camper will be M1 crash tested too. 

Many carrying out a VW camper conversion will do so on a budget and this usually means that cheap and low-quality materials are used throughout. This tends to result in the camper suffering more wear and tear over time, and as the second-hand owner, you will probably have to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacements. In addition to this, there may even be underlying issues with the van itself that you have to deal with as well. 

All in all, whilst there is a huge market for converted campers and you won’t struggle to find a VW T5 that you love, it is fair to say that you need to be incredibly careful if you choose to purchase a van with a DIY conversion. Understandably, the lower price of these conversions can be tempting, but you’re always best off turning to a professional company with expert campervan conversions over a private DIY seller. 

When you’re trying to find a VW T5 camper for sale that is perfect for your family, make sure you take a look at our current stock here at Coastal Vehicle Solutions Vans. We specialise in Volkswagen T5 and T6 conversions and as well as carrying out bespoke conversions, we also have a range of converted vans for sale that we have worked on ourselves. You can always purchase from us in complete confidence knowing that all of the conversion work is carried out to the highest standards, so there is no better place to go for your VW T5 camper.