VAN BUILD COST! How Much Was Our Self Build Van Conversion? 

I think Greg is a bit of a genius. His videos were recommended to me by a work colleague and I've addictively binge watched them. A fantastic bench mark for any DIY van conversion. Inspiring and enthralling.

The craftsmanship, time and thought gone into that van is priceless.

I just watched you spend 27 minutes reading out a spreadsheet and was enthralled the entire time. Why can't work budget meetings be as entertaining?

Uncle Greg has taught me more in his series about valuable skills and traits within one month than my 1st year in uni. I am forever grateful and hope I can one day begin my own build.

That’s an amazing price for what you’ve achieved and shared with so many. My bare van alone was just under your your total price and I’ve spent another £20k self converting it. At the end of the day these are very personal projects and a chance to create something unique. And in my case they never seem to end! Just adding air suspension and Wi-Fi.Thanks for taking us along for the ride Greg and safe travels.

Greg, I really must thank you for the brilliant meticulous way you have gone about your Van build. As someone contemplating a build myself your videos are easy to follow, full of ideas and easy to listen to. I realise you may recoup some of your investment through these videos but I certainly think you’ve earned it. Thanks again and we’ll done to you and yours.

I just want to thank you for the incredible detail of your van build videos. I'm now building out my own van, and if mine can be even half as good as yours I'll be very pleased! I do have a sinking feeling that my original budget was, like yours, well below reality. By the way, your furniture panels are absolutely brilliant, and were well worth it. Your build looks like it came out of the factory! Thanks again for documenting everything so well. I've learned SO much from your hard work, and I'm very grateful.

You are such a gent, with a kind heart, not many like you out there. Your build is first class and done for your comfort, so you don't need to justify the materials used. May you have many enjoyable years in her, well done, brilliant video's.

The van conversion is a delight and your knowledge and willing to share all your research and how-to videos with us is more than generous. Thanks Greg.

Been waiting for this video Greg! Mercedes Sprinter van £6,600 Appliances and materials £15,000 Experience of building your dream camper van PRICELESS! Well done!

£22k and your workmanship has produced an absolutely brilliant van. Well done! Your videos are well produced, informative and honest.

By far the best series of how to do a campervan conversion on RU-vid, the detail you go into is brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing.

Thanks Greg, it's really helpful to see a breakdown of the costs, I wish other builds would share this level of detail too. The breakdown will help others decide on where to follow suit and where to perhaps go for lower cost options. Your van is top quality, better than most factory builds. I have seen a few videos of whats under the skin of some factory builds, such as insulation and wiring and some definitely cut corners on what's not seen, you built in quality right the way through.

Excellent resource for the self build camper van person, thank you for your generosity in sharing this.

The best van conversion on RU-vid!! Worth every penny. I'm embarrassed to say my van stands me in about £1200 with a build budget of £3000 🙄 lol

I have never in my life given a comment on a video but i really take my heat off to you Mr. Vigroe. Your calm demeanour and detailed explanation really help to make a leap of faith into free and more meaningful way of life without winning a lottery. Sincerely, Ivan

Hats off to you Greg , you made a great home, and don’t forget the labour , top job👍

Best van build series I’ve seen. Van is a credit to yous. Excellent level of finish, really impressed.

Absolutely à fantastic build....... This is like a production someone could find on a TV programme... Brilliant... 📺👍👏

Just as I thought: Greg and Lou kept meticulous detail on the cost of the build. Incredible (and incredibly useful). Greg, you're being exceedingly modest. I'd stand your roughly £22,000/$27,600 build up against upfitters' conversions of £80,000/$100,000! This is precisely the reason I chose a 2011 Ford E-350 cutaway with 12' Supreme Iner-City box (FRP) as the platform for my self-conversion. The cost for my truck with 75,000 miles on the odometer was $14,500. An additional consideration for my truck was that it was fleet maintained, so it's in excellent condition. As added bonuses, the truck came with a 1,000W pure sine wave inverter (though a larger inverter is needed to run the induction cooktop, etc.), and is equipped with a 1,600 lb. lift gate that functions as a back porch. All tolled, my build budget is $11,000. As I already possess every tool needed, purchase materials wholesale and am doing 100% of the work myself, I'm confident in this figure. Included in this budget are lithium batteries (24V/120A/3kWh), urine diverting composting toilet, recirculating indoor shower, lift bed, undermount tanks from large diameter PVC pipe and ultra-filtration water system, all of my design and construction. These alone save me at least $7,000! So, in the end, while a non-traditional RV, I'd stand mine up to anything available commercially at $100,000+. All for $25,000. Due to modular construction techniques, everything in the box is removable. This restores the truck to a utilitarian cargo carrier while affording reuse of the components in future builds. My plan is that this maximizes the available market for the truck when it's time to upgrade to a newer chassis. Of course, completely removing the box, with all it's contents, and installing it on a newer chassis is also an option. This could also prove extremely useful in the event that the truck chassis is damaged beyond repair in a collision (God forbid!).

Without doubt the best self build I have seen, your attention to detail during the build was unsurpassed compared to others; that said each to their own and all manage to fit out to suit their needs. I am one of those with not a clue and purchased a van conversion already done, but from a small quality company Murvi in Devon; certainly not cheap but great quality and gives me peace of mind when using it. Just shows if you have the skills and time you get a quality van conversion and the satisfaction of having done it all yourself. Congratulations

A superb account of how everything comes together. Your channel really is an awesome resource.

Your videos are GOLD ❤❤❤ Thank you for doing them, I'm just about to start my conversion and I feel so much more confident after watching your videos! You're a star!

Hi Greg, well done. I must admit I did smile a little when you mentioned the possible cost of the sprinter and the conversion. Your honesty and thorough cost breakdown is a wow factor, but it really does give one the idea of cost which is what one really needs at the outset. Especially if one has no idea of the full reality. So thanks for all your diligent accountancy.

Just how organised are you ! 😊. Fabulous

Greg, you are a legend! Thank you for sharing all your work, insights and research. The dropbox list of parts is also massively helpful too, along with all the other resources you've shared. You are Lou seem super lovely and I wish you all the best adventures.

Thanks again Greg for another very informative video! Without your channel we doubt we would have taken on the challenge of our self build.. Your videos made the difference! A huge thank you once again! 😀👌🏽👏🏽

A very comprehensive build cost video. And you know all of the jobs are done properly. 💙❤💙❤💙❤

for the end product .. that is a bargain , as Greg said for a ' pro ' coachbuild you would shell out at least double ( and because he build it himself , he will have an idea where to start faultfinding any issues )

Decent, honest cost video, nice one Greg! Ours was just short of 20k, it soon adds up!

Greg you are amazing! The detail contained within your build is second to none. We’ve missed your vlogs so good to hear from you. Keep them coming Greg. Take care.👍🐶🐾😀

Hello Greg and thank you for your detailed van conversion serious. It helps me a lot in my van build. You are number one youtuber in my list when it comes to van build. Hope to finish my van in August. Thank you for your job - very well done.

Thanks for the budget breakdown. This has answered a lot of my questions

Absolutely brilliant honest down to earth video,this should be a must see video for anyone contemplating the self build journey,thanks for taking the time to make and publish it,stay safe guys.

What a great van build series. I watched everyone from start to finish. Very professionally done Greg. 😎😎

I just returned from NEC disheartened by the quality of finishes and robustness of many of the vans have started to look at self builds, I think I’ve hit gold with your channel👍👍

Great Job! Greg, I want to thank you for the many detailed videos of your van build, The references, places of purchase etc,etc. Your wife also has knowledge and skill of van building. Seeing glimpses of her assisting and your detail videos has given me confidence to give van building a try. Once I find a decent 6m high top van, I will like to do a van build. I’ve been looking at the Murivi,; Vanguard and Dexter panel-van layout. You are so correct regarding the cost of the ready built panel-vans they are so expensive, The purpose of having a panel-van or Motorhome is to enjoy traveling at your leisure, a person should not go into debt to buy a pre-built panel-van.

thanks for answering my question about fans, this is a super video I really took a lot from it, especially liked that you didn't use lots of loud graphics music or special effect just the facts well presented in a calm clear style - I really like it - thank you! will be watching more subsribing etc

Love your van and videos, the standard and quality of your build is amazing, you can see that you really enjoyed doing this!

honest and realistic summary of true costings,not to mention the top shopfitting skills that went into it,well done.

Thanks Greg. Another brilliant, well informed and useful guide which is helping me no end through my van conversion. Cheers!

Thanks for your vids Greg I’ve been working on my day van for 14weeks I’ve finished it now your vids were superb thanks 😊

Been waiting for this Vlog, I did exactly the same thing as you two. We calculated a £7500 build and it turned out to be £14000. Thats without the things we wanted to make the outside look cool like meaty tyres etc. loved the Vlog. Hope your both good. Hope to see you at Quirky !!.

Thank you very much. Great to get a true picture of what it really costs. Appreciate the time you take making your videos.

Calmly explaining the build was a winner for me a very watchable guy, in one word inspirational thanks for all the help 👌🏻🇬🇧

I found it amusing the disparity between your original and resultant budgets but fact is your van is stunning and your engineers expertise showed through on every step of the build. Vantastic 👍

Greg I watch all your videos because you are thorough in all you do. We are alike because on my last roof conversion of my house I itemised every cost, so at the end of the day, you just like you, I knew how much it cost me. Well done to you.

Amazing how things can mount up, we bought our LWB Sprinter 2014 80k £9,000 and the build cost is at just about at completion at £6,000 so total cost is £15k. People like you and many others have saved me thousands, I owe you a beer. 💙♥️💙♥️💙♥️💙💙♥️💙♥️💙♥️💙

Hi Greg, For the quality & spec that you have achieved you have done amazing for that overall spend, all I can say if your were in the business of van conversions, I'll be first to buy one from you even with you labour costs added (and so would many others) top job 👍

Super video Greg and what a fantastic finished product. A real credit to your handcrafting and organising skills. There are really not too many out there that could deliver this - I know for sure I couldn't and I'm reasonably handy. Now time to enjoy😊

Very useful thank you. Thank you to my friend Max for recommending your videos too.

Do you regret not making a recirculating shower, instead of your regular shower? I've seen some people install those (look for a genius setup by Curt from Snow & Curt channel) and it feels like an absolute must-have, now that I know how it works. You save on water weight + can take proper unlimited showers. Check out Curt's recirculating shower setup + walk through shower "room" + automated tilted solar roof using 12v linear actuators. They are all absolutely genius. He even has an AC running off his solar + Li-ion battery setup. He pretty much got everything one would want from a house (on wheels or not). Now my ideal setup is pretty much everything from Snow & Curt channel, but with the finish, style & quality of Greg Virgoe's build. That would make for the best van on the planet.

Thanks Greg for all your videos, I have just completed my van build and I must say I borrowed quite a lot of your ideas lol. I agree you put all this effort into building a van why cut corners on quality totally the best van build series on RU-vid thanks again

Excellent video. Clear & comprehensive. Now subscribed

I found it very helpful to keep a spreadsheet as I built mine I had a good figure to give the insurance company for value, and a list of modifications for the DVLA to re-register it.

Finally we get to the juicy stuff 🤣keep being awesome Greg and Lou!

Your channel is a wealth of information and I thank you for all the effort you have put into it. Fantastic conversion. Hats off.

G'day Greg. Thanks for sharing the financials for the conversion you undertook, very detailed. While we have a caravan not a motorhome I still understand the items you mentioned as they are similar in a caravan. You have inspired me to watch your fit-out series which I will now do. Thanks again mate, from us in Oz kmdc.

Brilliant build and end product, everything bespoke costs money and it works for you both perfect so well worth it, my build was a compromise on cost and build but again it works for me so perfect, well done

What about the swivel seat and the telly hahaha, we love you Greg, I build my van to and I love to show her to you ,if you coming down the South coast to Teignmouth you gonna be my guest, I got an Italian restaurant to, come to see me

great helped a lot with simple stuff for me a novice thank you

Superb. Extremely thorough - well done fella! 👍

Always enjoyed watching your channel from the build to your trips - but this one was one that I got the most useful information, I have been looking to do my own build in the not to distant future and often wondered what a realistic cost would be Thanks for the update- Stay safe😁

Fantastic conversion Greg, I was expecting a lot lagrer amount :) I really appreciate that I've put in so much effort to detail everything. I hope your mobile home has no copyright ;) because it looks like perfect project for me to build and for my needs. I hope you enjoying full time living in your own build

You know what mate. You are so genuine and bang on the money. You can do a van build from reclaimed materials that cost ZERO or you can do a van build and many many thousands later your thinking Fxxx. Almost completed our latest build and I've gone soooooo far over what I told my wife our budget would be that I am now saying, it's because you wanted this and that. Gotta blame someone for being 7k over budget lol. Our build will be on YT very soon please drop by

This was a real eye-opener. I haven't costed anything yet, so this was good to see. Like you my first thought was quite a low figure, going to have to re-evaluate that now. Thank you for this, informative as ever.

Very informative as usual. I am currently starting to working on my own van, and I appreciate all the tips and tricks you provided.

I really found fantastic the way you explaining how you built your van step by step. I have a clear idea how I will built my. Well done!!!!!

Greg, this is fantastic to understand a budget, just been working on my own, and this confirms i am way out, at moment best option van wise is around 10k but still looking every day,. Thanks for the posts learning more every time

I think you’ve done a brilliant job building the van. It worked out cheaper than I expected, it’s a very professional looking conversion.

I have for a long time now had a figure in my head and was only £242.00 out. I actually thought the van cost more but the fit out a little less. You put a lot of work into you van Greg, manufacturers couldn't do it better 👍

So informative and really helpful to someone just starting the panel van conversion project. Your videos have really helped me! Thanks Greg 👊🏼

Your van is the best build van I've ever seen. You are amazing!

what a legend , i took a lot of advice and my vans great , your the best guy on the internet by an asses roar , keep them comming ,love the channel, Tommy in Ireland

Wow it's been a pleasure to follow you throughout the 2 years of building your van, Keep the series going when not in lockdown as I want to see the adventures you now have in your new home, Take care be safe 👍😎

Can't tell you how helpful this video is... just about to start a 2019 Crafter conversion... on air ride.... Thanks for taking the time..🙏

Amazing honesty Greg , good job you could take it on the chin , I was looking wanted a low mileage 70k van lab merc and fit out looking around 20k It’s the little bits , alarm , immobiliser, tracker , roof vents , insurance , solar, bed and elevated mattress👍👍👍

A smashing conversion, and you still have the tools for future use. Well done, great vlog.

Greg just come across your channel after weeks of watching RU-vid videos on self builds. You are the real deal and I'm now persuaded to join the club of self build. Thanks again,Ben 😉

Thank you - this is the rest of the information needed to make a rational decision on jumping into such a major project. I agree with the advantage of doing your own. I'm not sure what the manufactures are thinking, but I much prefer your design and space utilization.

Hi Greg, I think you are my first subscription ever, I do follow yourself every video and the content is superb ,in detail and also information to where you get the products, you have done some job . I follow just a few in Ali and Trent, Amon and Bec Nate and the couple in Panama which I think is Nomadic movement. That said we as potential or realistic van lifers are a community and it’s great to share, I am on my third van build now but not to good with all the recording stuff, I’ve previously bought a mini bus but small and converted that and my last one was a patient transport ambulance. All insulated and windows in place.10 months ago I bought a 2015 transit and I am currently working on it. Put windows in and wired it myself following good tutorials on RU-vid. Another month and I will be on the road. I’m a Scottish guy and cycle and fish for salmon, just now iTs a weekender but want to full time lol. Got 4 bikes and about 50 fishing rods as I fish for all species, need to down scale but I love your content, honest open and transparent..... that means it it what it is, you are credit to van lifers by giving free information and help out to like minded people and I for one will maybe ask you a specific question for help and assistance in the future. My trade is fabrication and welding and if ever you need a wee hand in that field just send a message. Top man and well done,let’s all stay safe buddy. Kind regards Angus

I have watched your conversion and I think you have done a fantastic job, and you should be very proud of yourself, job well done.

This video was made on my birthday.....It's a sign from the van life gods.

Fantastic work Greg, probably the best quality self build van I’ve seen. Guess you had cabinet making skills already? Out of interest - how many hours do you think you’ve spent? Keep up the great work! And you should sell the plans for the cabinets (or kits!)

Hi Gregg I have been watching your videos on the Sprinter and have to say you have given me the drive I need to get going. Your videos are fantastic and very detailed im really impressed .Once again thanks for the videos they are truly amazing.

Absolute legend, the best ever van life / builds on you tube. Greg is the reason I am now building my own van. There should be a statue of you in parliament square !!!!!

After having a '74 VW bus and living in it in 1990, it's time for me to get on the road again. I'm pretty useless with my hands, but I'll definitely be giving some of it a go. Your videos are amazing and they've inspired me. Looking at vans now. Thanks for the inspiration and the amazing attention to detail :)

I read it all. It only took half an hour! Thanks for all your honesty and very accurate cost keeping. I did a similar conversion as you were doing yours and found your advice and experience really valuable. My total cost came to just under £15000 on a Renault Master ex disability vehicle with 18K on the clock (£8800). But my end result is way below yours in terms of quality of finish. I don't have your skills or tools. Having previously had a Merc sprinter van conversion I do worry about rust problems ahead for you. Perhaps you are comfortable in being able to deal with that.

Super useful thanks 👍 my next van I'm hoping will be a self conversion and this gives me a good starting point on budget. Ta very much 🙂

If you put labour on top of that that you done your self,thanks for your honesty ,and you explain things very good thank you

*cries in 2022 prices* I spent more on my empty shell than you did for your whole build. I can only hope it turns out half as nice. Thanks for all the videos Greg!

Great videos and really useful information, thanks a mil!

Yes! Your total build cost is about right. A full time winterised van for cold/hot climate (off grid) you sure find out what you need once you live in it. You sure are right about hole cutters. Living in a van is like building a home in permanent earthquake zone!❤

Brilliant video and great breakdown. I was as shocked as you probably were with the final price. Keep up the great work :)

Give this man 1 million subscribers

For just shy of 22K, I think you’ve done very well Greg, good job. I wonder how much it would’ve cost to have had a conversion company do the work for you? 🤔 at least double?

Great video again Greg, downloads very helpful. Cheers 👍

That is awesome. Your van is amazing as is the workmanship. Great job!!!!!

That van is crazy flash and way beyond any regular DIY buy. In that price range I'd be looking at buying a good used motor home and just doing a few mods

Hi Greg I got a friend who live in Derbyshire M.A.M conversion brand new 85k I like it how you have done your van top man you are well done .