Camper Van Build: Framing, Storage & Kitchen Progress!
After a productive first day, the camper van rebuild is coming together nicely! I’ve now got the bed frame marked out and tested—it’s super solid, and I’m happy with how it’s shaping up. There’s plenty of headroom above the mattress, so we won’t feel cramped while sitting on the bed. Plus, the garage space underneath is going to be perfect for storing all our gear.
Building the Cabinets & Storage Areas
Now that the bed frame is sorted, I’ve moved on to enclosing the cabinets and garage area. A good friend donated some 12mm plywood sheets, which I’m recycling for the lower cabinets and garage walls. Time to measure twice, cut once!
The next step is putting together the kitchen unit, which will house:
✅ Sink
✅ Portable toilet
✅ Fridge/freezer
I’ve also made space for the gray and fresh water bottles next to the kitchen unit. The facade will extend to the garage area, with another plywood panel running across the van.
Reusing Materials & Optimizing the Space
One of my goals is to reuse as many materials as possible, so I’m keeping the custom-made lightweight 15mm plywood cabinet doors from the original build. These will be used in both the kitchen unit and overhead storage above the bed.
The power points at the back of the van will also stay, which means the 12V socket will be perfectly positioned to power the fridge. I’ll also relocate the table rail and cup holders, but all the electrical points (including the LED light above the kitchen workspace) will remain in place.
Final Fit & Overview
After cutting and assembling the panels, here’s how things are shaping up:
🛏 Bed – 90cm wide but extends to 180cm when pulled out
🍳 Kitchen – Sink, portable toilet, fridge/freezer, and a cooker positioned near the door
🚲 Garage Space – Perfect for bikes, kayaks, and paddleboards
Everything is fitting well, but I’ve run into one issue—the paint color on the cabinets and support beams isn’t quite right. Looks like I’ll have to rethink that!
What’s Next?
🔨 Finalizing the cabinet finishes
🎨 Repainting the cabinets
🚐 Starting on the final assembly of the living space
If you’ve been enjoying the build, give the video a thumbs up, subscribe, and stay tuned for the next update. Happy Days! 😃
