GET CONVERTED

Scrolling through Instagram, there are hundreds— thousands, even—of beautifully put-together vans, all blond wood, bright kitchens, hidden storage and personal touches. But where does all of this awesome design come from? Given the dearth of good design in RVs and vans in general, it should be no surprise that these wheeled travel pods have been overhauled from their original form, molded into the shape and feel that’s required for a specific person’s (or persons’) lifestyle.

This van-conversion trend is sweeping North America. What began as a grassroots movement for a few intrepid adventurers has quickly become a viable option for people looking to get off-grid, but in a way that makes sense to them and their needs.

Those looking to jump on the bandwagon can choose one of two routes for a van conversion. The first is to pick up a van that’s in need