How to turn your car into a camper: Tops tips for a car camper conversion
After my 2020 international solo travel plans got cancelled due to Covid 19, I decided to explore my home country of the UK instead. Looking to save money on accommodation, I had the idea to part convert my MINI One (affectionately known as Zippy) into a camper, so I could camp and pitch up as I toured the country. Inspired by the growing VanLife and Car Camper community (check out Halle who spent three months visiting 48 states of the USA in her converted Kia Soul) I gave myself six weeks to transform my car before I hit the road in September 2020.
I get a lot of questions about my conversion, so I thought I’d share my top tips for those considering converting their own car. I’d recommend watching my full conversion on YouTube, which takes you through how I transformed my MINI on a step by step basis.
Tip 1: Do your research
Research will give you guidance and ideas to help you form a plan when converting your own car. It may sound obvious, but you’ll be surprised just how many different approaches people have taken when converting their cars. It’s amazing how innovative people can be. I got a lot of inspiration from YouTube or through online communities on platforms like Facebook (there are many car camper groups on here) and Instagram. I guarantee there is someone out there who has converted your car or a car of similar size to yours. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get a second opinion from those who have done their own conversion either.
Tip 2: Set a budget
Converting your car into a camper can be relatively inexpensive. However, it can be easy to splash out on materials if you’re not careful, so if money is tight, I’d recommend that you set yourself a budget. Take into consideration what materials you will need to convert your car, the time you have to carry out the work and any additional help you might need. Here is a breakdown of items and costs for my own conversion:
Breakdown of items
· Base bed frame: MDF boards x 3, screws, hinges, wood to support the entire frame - £28.37
· Mattress: including fabric covers (all made to measure) - £475
· Pop in black out curtains: Black out fabric, double sided Velcro - £58.75
· Mosquito net and elastic - £5
Total cost: £567.12
As you will see, the majority of my budget went on upholstery services. If you don’t have the budget for this, then a cheaper option would be to purchase your own foam and cut it yourself which I have seen many people do successfully.
Tip 3: Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you’re confident to do the conversion yourself then go for it! However if you aren’t confident when it comes to the hands-on stuff, don’t let that put you off converting your car. Is there a family member or a friend (even friend of a friend) who can help you out? I’m sure there is, just ask around. I’d be lying if I said I was confident when it comes to DIY. Fortunately my best friend’s husband, who I now dub the handyman extraordinaire, is not only confident with tools, but he is also a huge fan of the MINI brand, having owned a number of classic MINI’s in his time. I also approached my local upholstery shop, who helped me to make a made to measure mattress and pop in blackout curtains for my conversion.
Tip 4: Make Room For Storage
Make sure you take into consideration where you will store personal items safely and securely for a conversion. By creating a frame which still gave me access to the boot, I was able to use this space to store smaller items. I also chose to remove the passenger seat to make additional space to store larger items including food, camping equipment (cooker, pots/pans etc) and clothing. I would also make sure to consider allowing space for yourself to move in and out of the car so that you can car camp comfortably.
In hindsight, I would have invested in a secure roof box to store personal items and removed the passenger seat to be able to move in and out of the car, without having to empty out contents every time (this wasn’t great in wet weather). The extra space would have also allowed me to have a place to change clothes easily, as well as have somewhere for shelter in wet weather when prepping meals.
Tip 5: Take Your Car Out for A Practice Run
Before setting off in your converted car, I would recommend you take it out for a test run at home so to resolve any issues that may arise and make sure it is fully functional. The last thing you want is anything breaking whilst you’re miles away from home. My main concern was making sure the wooden bed frame and the supports held my weight and that everything remained in place whilst driving. A test run allows you to make any necessary changes and gives you the chance to experience what it’s like to actually car camp. I wish I had practiced more so I could have considered issues that I hadn’t anticipated, mainly condensation and storage issues.
Tip 6: Don’t forget to check your car insurance
One of the most frequent questions I get about my conversion is whether or not the changes I made to my car affected my car insurance. The general rule is that if you make any modifications that alters your car's look or performance from the factory version, you need to inform your insurer. If you have bought a car to permanently convert into a camper, then you absolutely should notify your insurer. If you don’t declare all modifications to your insurer and later need to make a claim, your policy could be declared invalid.
If your conversion is only temporary, it is not likely to impact your insurance but it is still worth discussing with your insurer nonetheless. I notified my car insurer of my conversion and in my case my modifications were deemed temporary and therefore it did not impact my insurance. I would advise checking with your insurer to avoid any issues in the event of an accident; it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this has given you some useful tips when it comes to your own car camper conversion. I managed 9 weeks on the road in my MINI camper and was met with very little problems along the way. I pitched up at campsites and the sight of my car proved a great way to meet new people. Car camping is a great adventure and I hope you enjoy your own.
If you have any questions about my conversion, please feel free to drop a comment below.
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