We love a DIY project, but oftentimes it’s not the best choice.

Building out a camper van yourself has become increasingly more common, as it’s sometimes cheaper and gives you more customization options. However, there are many challenges involved: safety concerns, low resale value, and loss of time and money. We’re outlining the 10 reasons why letting Peace Vans convert your van is a great choice.

1. There are less safety risks when you use a conversion company.

There’s nothing more important than ensuring your van is safely assembled before hitting the road.  Our pop-tops are crash-tested, and we have done a lot of heavy lifting with FMVSS standards to ensure we’re meeting safety requirements. At Peace Vans, we typically convert brand-new Mercedes Metris vans. These vans are high-quality vehicles–but most importantly, they come with a variety of safety features (crosswind assist, attention assist, blind spot assist, rearview camera, and more). Despite most modern vans coming with similar safety features, we’ve seen DIY-ers accidentally disable airbags or block blindspot monitoring during their build process. When we partnered with Mercedes-Benz, our processes, products, and plans went through engineering reviews by their team.

2. A professionally converted van is easier to fix and maintain.

If something breaks on your DIY conversion, you’ll likely have to put aside time and purchase the materials to fix it. At Peace Vans, we offer a warranty on your conversion, so if something breaks, you can contact us or drop by the shop, and we’ll be more than happy to repair it for you!  This really hits home if you’re not the original owner of a DIY project.

3. It’s easier to get insurance for your van if it is from a conversion company.

When you build a camper van yourself, the process of getting it insured can be complicated. You’ll typically have to keep a record of every purchase you make and sometimes have it registered as a motorhome. When using a conversion company, you’re more likely to be covered by insurance if something were to happen. At Peace Vans, we do everything we can to make the insurance process easy–we have a handful of insurance companies who know us and our products.

4. Our team has years of expertise in converting vans.

We are a deeply established company with an impeccable reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and transparency. We’ve converted hundreds of Mercedes Metris’ and serviced thousands of Volkswagen vans. Pop-top campers are in our DNA—we leverage the finest materials and use our top-notch craftsmanship to produce the best camper van conversions in the market. With hundreds of completed Metris conversions, we’ve gained the experience, resources, and expertise to get you adventuring the open road.

5. The resale value is higher on professionally converted vans.

When you have your van conversion done by a team of highly skilled professionals, the resale value will be higher. Buyers tend to be skeptical of purchasing a used DIY van due to the uncertainty: was the electricity done correctly? The plumbing? Is it safe? If you need to sell your van for any reason (moving, financial, etc.), it will come in handy to have a professional build-out.

6. No risk of making a costly mistake.

Building out a camper van involves a lot of trial and error, especially when doing it yourself for the first time. There’s always a risk of making a costly mistake, especially when you’re drilling holes into your van. When you use a conversion company, any costly mistake like this would be on us–you wouldn’t risk losing thousands of dollars on a project you’ve invested so much time into.

7. You join a community of dedicated Peace Vans customers.

At Peace Vans, we frequently host community events. We have previous customers, prospective customers, and Vanagon owners who enjoy gathering and telling their road trip stories. If you enjoy solo travel but want to have a community of other like-minded individuals, then using a conversion company is an excellent choice. Just last weekend, a group of women including our staff and customers attended A Roam of Our Own, a unique van life event!

8. You don’t have to mind all the fine print–everything is taken care of with a conversion company.

There are a lot of laws, rules, and regulations when it comes to hitting the road in any vehicle. One of the biggest issues DIY builders encounter is going over weight limits. This causes wear and tear on your van by putting stress on your suspension, steering, brakes, axles, and transmission, which can lead to safety issues. This can also cause compliance issues in many states. When you work with Peace Vans, you know your van is compliant in whatever state you register it in.

9. Saving Time=More Time Out On The Road

A DIY build takes a lot of time–a lot more time than you might realize. When you purchase a Metris from Peace Vans, the process is quick and easy–you don’t have to do anything, and within 4-6 months your van will be ready for pick-up!

10. Financing Options

When you build out your camper van yourself, you will have to purchase the materials as you go and pay for everything upfront. Conversion companies often offer financing options for both the van and the conversion. When you buy from Peace Vans. You can finance the vehicle through Mercedes-Benz, and your conversion can be financed through a company such as Lightstream.

Ready to order your camper van?

We have a few vans left for the 2023 year! Place a non-binding order form using the links below and a member of our team will reach out with a quote and more information.

Still want to DIY your own conversion? We have a limited supply of empty Metris Cargo vans we can do the basics on for you! Contact us to learn more.