TIMELINE:
THE REAL
SCHEDULE
Instagram shows 30-second montages. We show the 600 hours of labour. A realistic guide to scheduling your conversion.
Strip & Prep
Removing ply lining, cleaning, treating rust, and installing windows/vents.
First Fix
Sound deadening, insulation, and the core wiring/plumbing runs.
Structural
Floor installation, internal framing, and ceiling/wall lining.
Fit Out
Cabinetry, bed frame, kitchen install, and final appliance hookups.
Final Fix & Test
Gas certification, weighing, DVLA notification, and local testing.
The DIY Reality
A professional conversion team (2-3 people) can finish a van in 6-8 weeks. For a solo DIY builder working weekends and evenings, **6 to 12 months** is the average timeline.
Life happens. Parts get delayed. Decisions change. We recommend taking your estimated timeline and adding 25% for 'contingency'. It prevents the burnout that claims so many unfinished projects on eBay.
Want to speed it up?
Our pre-specced 'Build Kits' eliminate the weeks of research and ordering. Get every component for a system delivered in one batch.
Shop System KitsThe "Maiden Voyage" Trap
Don't book a ferry to France for the day after your predicted finish date. Every self-build needs at least **3 local weekend shakedown trips** to find the inevitable rattles, leaks, or electrical tweaks needed.
A van is never 'finished'. It just reaches a state of operational reliability.