Vans and Camper Vans
Camper Van Conversion Repair and Build Out Serving Long Beach
About 6 min left
Camper van conversions on Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster and other platforms require both body skill and house systems knowledge. OCRV Center repairs and builds conversion electrical, solar, insulation, cabinetry, roof penetrations and collision damage, with work running $750 to $80,000.
Van conversions have gone from a niche to an industry, and the quality range is enormous. Some arrive built by professional outfits with proper engineering. Others arrive built in a driveway with residential wire nuts and a hole saw.
We repair both, and a meaningful share of what we do on conversions is correcting the original work rather than fixing new damage.
What Commonly Fails on This Platform
These are the failures we see repeatedly on this specific vehicle, rather than a generic list that applies to everything with wheels.
Conversion Electrical System Faults
Undersized cable, missing fusing, residential wiring methods and grounds bolted to painted metal are the recurring findings, and all produce intermittent faults that look like component failures.
Roof Penetration and Fan Leaks
Every hole in a conversion roof was cut by a converter. Sealing quality varies from excellent to a bead of silicone, and these are the leading conversion water entry points.
Cabinetry Coming Loose From Structure
Cabinetry fastened to sheet metal rather than into structural ribs works loose under vibration, and on hard braking a loose cabinet becomes a serious hazard.
Insulation Moisture and Condensation Damage
Poorly executed insulation traps condensation against the van shell, producing corrosion from the inside out that stays hidden until it appears through the paint.
Water System Leaks Behind Panels
Conversion plumbing runs inside walls and under floors with connections a body shop cannot see, and a slow leak damages structure long before it becomes visible.
Correcting Conversion Work
When a conversion arrives with a specific complaint, we look at the systems as a whole, because in this category the complaint is usually a symptom. An intermittent 12 volt fault is rarely a component. Corrosion appearing through the paint is usually condensation trapped by insulation.
We report what we find, including when it is larger than what you brought the van in for, and we prioritize by safety rather than by what is easiest to sell.
Build Out From a Bare Shell
We build conversions from empty vans: insulation and vapor management, electrical and solar, plumbing, cabinetry mechanically fastened into structural ribs, flooring, windows and roof penetrations.
Everything is built for vibration and weight, and every penetration is sealed to the same standard we apply to RV roof work, because the failure mode is identical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fix a badly done van conversion?
Yes, and a meaningful share of our conversion work is correcting original build quality rather than repairing new damage. The recurring problems are electrical systems with undersized cable and missing fusing, roof penetrations sealed with silicone rather than proper butyl and lap sealant, cabinetry fastened to sheet metal instead of structural ribs, and insulation that traps condensation against the shell. We prioritize by safety and tell you plainly what we find.
Can you build a camper van conversion from a bare van?
Yes, from an empty shell through a finished build: insulation and vapor management, electrical and solar, plumbing, cabinetry, flooring, windows and roof penetrations. Everything is built for road vibration and weight rather than treated as residential work, and every roof penetration is sealed to the same standard we apply to RV roof repair, because the failure mode is exactly the same.
Why is my van rusting from the inside?
Almost certainly trapped condensation from poorly executed insulation. Warm moist interior air reaches the cold metal shell, condenses, and has nowhere to go because the insulation holds it against the steel. The corrosion advances from inside out and stays completely hidden until it appears through the paint. Correcting it means opening the wall, addressing the corrosion and rebuilding the insulation with proper vapor management.
How much does a van conversion cost?
Correcting specific problems in an existing conversion runs $750 to $8,000 depending on scope. A partial build out covering electrical, solar and basic interior runs $15,000 to $35,000. A full conversion from a bare shell with complete systems, cabinetry and finishes runs $40,000 to $80,000. Electrical and cabinetry are the two largest line items, since both are labor intensive when built to survive the road.
Camper Van Conversion Repair is performed in shop at OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887, serving Long Beach, California. Call (949) 799-3387 to get started.
Get Your Vehicle Looked At Properly
Call the shop, describe what happened, and we will tell you what the realistic scope and timeline look like. All work is performed in shop at our 35,000 square foot facility.