Custom Sprinter van build exterior

Your Build, Your Choices

Build Options & Components

We work with the best brands in the van conversion industry. Here's what goes into your build — and where you have choices.

Every build is custom. The categories below are where your preferences and budget come into play — things like which roof rack brand to go with, whether you need AC, or what kind of electrical system fits your travel style. Some things are standard across all our builds (like MaxxAir fans — everyone gets one, they're the best). The items below are where you have real choices that affect the final product and the final price. We walk through all of this during your consultation.

Roof Racks & Cargo Systems Ladders & Rear Cargo Bumpers & Armor Awnings Air Conditioning Heaters Windows Solar & Electrical Water Tanks & Plumbing Interior Trim & Finishing Bed Systems & Mattresses Storage & Interior Accessories

Category 1 of 12

Roof Racks & Cargo Systems

A roof rack changes how you use your van. It's where your solar goes, where you mount gear, and it affects your overall height clearance. Quality ranges from budget bolt-on to fully modular aluminum systems that last forever.

Aluminess

$$$

Explorer & Recon Racks

Modular aluminum racks, made in USA. The gold standard for Sprinter/Transit exterior. Lifetime investment.

Best for: Premium builds wanting bombproof aluminum construction

Flatline Van Co

$$–$$$

Safari & Standard Racks

Full rack ecosystem — racks, ladders, tire carriers all designed to work together.

Best for: Builders wanting a full roof system with matching accessories

White Top Adventures

$–$$

Strata Roof Rack

Solid aluminum racks at a lower price point. Good value, OC-based warehouse for easy pickup.

Best for: Budget-conscious builds that still want quality

Orion Van Gear

$$–$$$

Various Roof Racks

Multiple rack styles plus a CAD roof layout service so everything fits perfectly before you order.

Best for: Builds wanting CAD-verified roof layouts

Vanncamp

$

Roof Racks

Budget-friendly aluminum roof racks for Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster. A solid entry point for builds where the rack doesn't need to be the centerpiece.

Best for: Budget builds that want a functional rack without breaking the bank

Builder's Note

"Roof racks are one of those things where you get what you pay for. A cheap rack rattles, corrodes, and looks bad in two years. We spec Aluminess or Flatline on most builds because they're designed specifically for vans, not adapted from truck racks. That said, Vanncamp has some genuinely affordable options if your budget is tight — they won't match Aluminess quality, but they get the job done."

Category 2 of 12

Ladders & Rear Cargo

How you get on your roof and what you mount on the back of your van. Rear tire carriers free up interior space. Ladders should match your rack system.

Flatline Van Co

$$

Apex Side Ladder

Side ladder with optional wheel wrap. Matches their rack ecosystem.

Best for: Clean look, integrated with Flatline rack systems

White Top Adventures

$

High Roof Side Ladder

Functional side ladder at a good price.

Best for: Simple, affordable roof access

Flatline Van Co

$$$

Rear Tire Carrier + Ladder

Combined rear ladder and tire carrier. Frees up undercarriage space.

Best for: Vans that need rear-mounted spare tire

White Top Adventures

$$

Rear Tire Carrier Ladder

Rear tire carrier for Sprinter.

Best for: Sprinter rear tire mounting on a budget

Vanncamp

$

Side Ladders & Rear Door Steps

Affordable side ladders and rear door steps for Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster. Pair well with their rack line.

Best for: Budget roof access without overspending

Builder's Note

"Match your ladder to your rack brand if you can — the mounting points line up better and it looks way more intentional. The rear tire carrier is worth it on any build where you're losing the spare tire location to a water tank. Vanncamp also has budget ladders and rear door steps that work fine if you're already running one of their racks."

Category 3 of 12

Bumpers & Armor

Front and rear bumpers add protection and mounting points for recovery gear (winch, shackles, lights). This is where overlanding and van life cross over.

Aluminess

$$$

Recon Winch Bumper

Aluminum winch bumper for Sprinter. Heavy-duty recovery-ready.

Best for: Serious off-grid/overland builds needing winch capability

Flatline Van Co

$$–$$$

Front & Rear Bumpers

Part of the broader Flatline exterior ecosystem.

Best for: Builds wanting full exterior armor package

Orion Van Gear

$

Bumper Brackets & Hardware

Brackets and hardware for various bumper setups.

Best for: Builds that need mounting hardware

Vanncamp

$

Fender Flares

Budget-friendly fender flares for Sprinter. Adds a clean, aggressive look and protects paint from road debris.

Best for: Sprinter builds wanting wheel well protection on a budget

Builder's Note

"Most van builds don't need a winch bumper — that's more for the overland crowd doing serious backcountry stuff. But if you're going off-grid in the desert or mountains, Aluminess is the move. Vanncamp's fender flares are worth a look if you want some exterior protection without a huge spend."

Category 4 of 12

Awnings

An awning gives you instant outdoor living space. The quality difference is mainly in ease of deployment, wind resistance, and how well it integrates with your rack.

Fiamma (via Flatline Van Co)

$$–$$$

F45S Awning

The go-to awning for van conversions. Reliable, well-supported, tons of accessories available.

Best for: Most builds — the industry standard van awning

Orion Van Gear

$

Awning Brackets & Mounts

Brackets designed to integrate awnings with different rack systems.

Best for: Mounting hardware for various awning brands

Builder's Note

"Fiamma F45S is basically the default. It works, parts are available everywhere, and every rack company makes brackets for it. Unless you have a specific reason to go different, this is what we install."

Category 5 of 12

Air Conditioning

AC is the biggest comfort upgrade for hot-climate van life. It's also one of the most expensive systems and the heaviest draw on your electrical. The choice here significantly impacts your electrical system design and budget.

Dometic

$$$

RTX 2000 (12V rooftop)

The top-tier van AC. Runs on 12V DC (no inverter needed). Quiet, efficient, purpose-built for vans. Requires significant battery capacity.

Best for: Premium builds with large electrical systems

Mabru

$$

12V DC Air Conditioner

12,000 BTU 12V unit. Solid alternative to Dometic at a lower price point.

Best for: Builds wanting AC without the Dometic price tag

Dometic

$$

FreshJet (rooftop)

More traditional rooftop AC. Runs on AC power (inverter or shore power).

Best for: Simpler AC needs, RV-style rooftop unit

Builder's Note

"AC in a van is a whole system decision, not just picking a unit. A Dometic RTX is amazing but it needs 400-600Ah of lithium to run comfortably. If your budget is tight, sometimes the answer is a good fan setup and insulation rather than adding $5K+ for AC plus the electrical to support it. We'll talk through this in your consultation."

Learn more about this system →

Category 6 of 12

Heaters

If you're using your van in cold weather, you need heat. Diesel heaters are the standard — they tap into your fuel tank and run all night on minimal fuel. The main choice is brand reliability and BTU output.

Webasto

$$$

Air Top 2000 STC

German-engineered diesel heater. Industry standard for commercial vehicles and van builds. Extremely reliable, clean burn, quiet.

Best for: Premium builds wanting proven reliability

Espar/Eberspächer

$$$

Airtronic D2

Another top-tier diesel heater. Comparable quality to Webasto — often comes down to installer preference.

Best for: Equivalent premium option to Webasto

Chinese diesel heaters

$

Various (generic/unbranded)

Cheap but inconsistent quality control. They work, but you may go through a couple before finding a good one.

Best for: Budget builds, or as a backup unit

Builder's Note

"We install Webasto or Espar on our builds. The cheap Amazon diesel heaters are tempting at $200 vs $1,500, but we've seen ones with wiring issues and poor combustion. In something you're sleeping in, that's not where you want to save money. A heater running while you sleep needs to be reliable."

Learn more about this system →

Category 7 of 12

Windows

Windows add light, ventilation, and the view. The main choices are fixed vs. sliding, tinted vs. clear, and the brand quality (seal longevity, fit, rattle-free installation). This is one area where local suppliers make a huge difference — shipping glass is expensive and risky.

Vantek Glass / Van Glass USA

$–$$

Sprinter/Transit/ProMaster windows

Local manufacturer in Huntington Beach. 16+ years in vehicle glazing. Will-call pickup saves shipping costs on fragile glass.

Best for: Builds wanting local pickup and good value

VanWindows Direct

$$–$$$

VWD + CRL + AM Auto windows

Carries multiple window brands. Builder pricing available. Good for builds needing specialty window configurations.

Best for: Wider selection of styles and brands

CRL (via VanWindows Direct)

$$

Various van windows

Established window manufacturer, available through VanWindows Direct.

Best for: Standard window replacements

Vanncamp

$

Window Vents

Budget-friendly window vent inserts for Sprinter, Transit, and ProMaster. Let air flow without opening the full window.

Best for: Adding ventilation to existing windows

Builder's Note

"We use Vantek/Van Glass USA for most builds — they're 20 minutes from our shop in Huntington Beach, so we can pick up windows same-day and avoid shipping damage. For specialty windows or configurations they don't carry, we go through VanWindows Direct. Vanncamp makes affordable window vents if you want airflow without replacing the whole window."

Category 8 of 12

Solar & Electrical

Your electrical system is the backbone of the entire build. It powers everything — lights, fridge, outlets, water pump, heater controls, and optionally AC. The choices here cascade through every other system.

Victron Energy

$$–$$$

Inverters, charge controllers, battery monitors, DC-DC chargers

The gold standard in van electrical. Bluetooth monitoring, expandable, well-documented. We have dealer pricing through two suppliers.

Best for: Any build that wants reliable, monitorable electrical

Lion Energy

$$

UT 1300 lithium batteries

Quality lithium batteries at a good price. Solid alternative for builds where Victron batteries are out of budget.

Best for: Budget-friendly lithium battery option

Orion Van Gear

$–$$$

Walkable solar, rigid solar, hood solar panels

Full range of solar panel types including walkable panels (great for racks) and hood-mounted panels for extra capacity.

Best for: Various solar mounting needs

Vanlife Outfitters

$$–$$$

Complete electrical system packages

Victron-based packages from simple to full off-grid. Good option if you want a system designed as a complete package.

Best for: Builds wanting pre-designed electrical kits

Builder's Note

"We spec Victron on every build, full stop. The monitoring alone is worth it — you can see exactly what every system is doing from your phone. For batteries, Victron is premium but Lion Energy gives you solid lithium at a lower price. Solar sizing depends entirely on how you use the van — we'll figure out the right setup in your consultation."

Learn more about this system →

Category 9 of 12

Water Tanks & Plumbing

Fresh water and gray water tank sizing directly affects how long you can stay off-grid. The main choices are tank size, mounting location, and material quality.

NW Conversions (via GoCode Overland)

$–$$

Spare tire, undercarriage, and wheel well tanks

Tanks designed specifically for van platforms. Multiple mounting options to fit different layouts.

Best for: Purpose-built van water tanks in various configurations

Vanlife Outfitters

$$

Undermount grey water tanks

ProMaster-specific undermount grey tank. Platform-specific fit.

Best for: ProMaster grey water specifically

Aquor Water Systems

$

Outdoor water connections

Pro-grade water connections for the outside of your van. Makes filling up easy and clean.

Best for: Clean exterior water fill hookup

Builder's Note

"Tank placement is a layout decision, not just a plumbing decision. Where your tanks go affects your center of gravity, your cargo space, and how you route lines. We figure this out during the design phase so nothing is an afterthought."

Learn more about this system →

Category 10 of 12

Interior Trim & Finishing

Trim kits cover the raw metal and give your van a finished look. The difference between a basic and premium build is often visible in the trim quality, material choices, and how cleanly everything is integrated.

GoCode Overland

$$–$$$

Full interior trim kits (Transit, Sprinter)

Purpose-built trim kits: B-pillar covers, bulkhead pieces, D-pillar trim, sleeper capsules.

Best for: Complete trim coverage in one purchase

AVC Rig

$$$

Custom aluminum cabinetry & trim

Tailored aluminum cabinet program. Custom-built to your layout. Quote-based pricing.

Best for: Premium builds wanting custom metalwork

Flatline Van Co

$$

Headliner shelf

Headliner shelf system. Adds storage without custom fabrication.

Best for: Adding overhead storage

Vanncamp

$

Headliner Shelf

Affordable headliner shelf for Sprinter. A lower-cost alternative to Flatline for adding overhead storage space.

Best for: Budget overhead storage

Builder's Note

"GoCode kits are a great shortcut for getting clean interior trim without fabricating everything from scratch. For premium builds, we combine kit pieces with custom woodwork and cabinetry — the kit handles the hard-to-reach spots and we build the furniture. Vanncamp also makes a headliner shelf that's lighter on the wallet if you're watching your budget."

Category 11 of 12

Bed Systems & Mattresses

You spend a third of your van life sleeping. The bed platform affects your storage underneath, and the mattress determines whether you actually sleep well. Custom mattresses make a huge difference in a van where standard sizes don't fit.

White Top Adventures

$$

Sprinter Platform Bed System

Aluminum honeycomb core, 60% lighter than wood alternatives.

Best for: Lightweight aluminum bed platform

Flatline Van Co

$$–$$$

ProMaster Bed System

Full bed system with optional DIY mount kit.

Best for: Complete ProMaster bed solution

RoamRest

$–$$$

Custom van mattresses & cushions

Custom-cut to any size, foldable configurations, choice of firmness. Also does cushions with velcro/snap/strap attachment.

Best for: Any build needing a perfectly fitted mattress

Builder's Note

"We're working with RoamRest for custom mattresses — they cut to your exact dimensions and can do any fold configuration. Way better than trying to shove a standard mattress into a weird-shaped van bed. Mattress specs get finalized once the bed platform is built."

Category 12 of 12

Storage & Interior Accessories

How you organize the inside of your van determines how livable it is day-to-day. Swivel seats, table mounts, window covers, and pull-out systems all make the space more functional.

Vanlife Outfitters

$–$$

Lagun table mount, Scopema swivel seats

Lagun mount for flexible table positioning. Scopema swivel base for Transit captain chairs.

Best for: Functional interior upgrades

Vanessential

$–$$

Window covers, Sprinter storage solutions

Window covers for insulation and privacy. Sprinter-specific storage products.

Best for: Privacy, insulation, and organization

White Top Adventures

$–$$

Pull-out trays, foot platforms

DIY pull-out trays and foot platforms for better use of space.

Best for: Organized cargo and galley access

Orion Van Gear

$

Mounts, hardware, tie-downs, storage

Brackets, tie-downs, and organizational hardware. The small stuff that makes a build feel finished.

Best for: Small hardware and mounting solutions

Vanncamp

$–$$

Window covers, bug screens, storage cabinets, rear door panels, grab handles

3M Thinsulate-insulated window covers, magnetic bug screens, upper storage cabinets, rear door storage panels, and grab handles. Covers Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster, Econoline, and Express/Savana.

Best for: Budget insulation, privacy, and organization across platforms

Builder's Note

"A Lagun table mount and a swivel seat completely change how you use the cab area. The window covers from Vanessential are great for stealth camping and insulation — Vanncamp also makes Thinsulate-insulated covers and bug screens at a lower price point if you're outfitting the whole van. These aren't flashy upgrades but they make a massive difference in daily livability."

Understanding Price Tiers

The price tier badges on each product show relative cost positioning, not exact dollar amounts. Your actual cost depends on the specific product, your van platform, and your build scope.

$ Budget-Friendly

$$ Mid-Range

$$$ Premium

Ready to Start Your Build?

Tell us about your van, your plans, and your budget. We'll walk through all these options together during your consultation.

Tell Us About Your Build