5 Things to Look For in A Van Builder

The van building world is like the Wild West right now. Unfortunately, we’ve heard a lot of horror stories about other van builders, so we wanted to put together a quick list of 5 things you should look for in a van builder before you hire them.

Of course, these are just the basics - you’ll want to discuss a lot more about your layout, the process, payments, etc - but this should give you a good start and ensure your van is protected while it’s getting built.

On top of all of these, you’ll want to ensure they have experience with van builds, and see photos/videos of their finished work.

1) Make sure you have a full detailed quote, materials list, and signed contract

Your van builder should provide you with a materials list of every single thing that is going into your build! Not only that, but there should be no surprises when it comes to price. You will want to decide on your layout and the features/components of your build so your van builder can give you an accurate price for what you want built.

The most important part - sign a contract with your van builder! This should outline things like payments, timeline, change orders, liability, warranties, etc.

2) Make sure your van builder has liability insurance and a garage keepers policy

This is one that unfortunately a lot of “van builders” are lacking. If you are having someone else build your van, you want to make sure it’s insured and protected while at their facility.

You can ask your van builder what kind of garage keepers policy they have - if a fire starts at their shop, you want to ensure your van is protected by their insurance.

3) Ask for updates on your build and document any changes along the way

Communication is key when it comes to the van building process! Things sometimes come up and plans change along the way.

Make sure any changes are documented so that both you and your builder are on the same page.

4) Get a User Manual from your builder & do a full walk through at pickup

Vans have a lot of moving parts and complex equipment, so make sure you get a full walk through on how everything in your van works when you pick it up.

Even better? Ask your van builder for a user manual so you can reference things later on.

5) Ask about warranties on your build

Every builder will have their own warranty and policies for servicing/maintaining your van conversion.

Be sure to ask what warranty comes with your build and how you’ll address maintenance after pickup.

Bottom line, take your time deciding on who you want to build your van! Have multiple calls with a potential van builder and make sure it’s a good fit for you both.

Hopefully this helps give you a baseline of where to start when looking for a van builder.