Recommended Gear & Parts for Camper Van Builds
A curated list of commonly used gear and components for camper van conversions. Start with solar and electrical systems, and explore other essential build categories.
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Solar & Electrical
Power your van life with the right solar panels, batteries, and charge controllers. This is often the most critical system in any build.
💰 Budget Setup
Renogy 100W Starter Kit
Complete 100W solar panel kit — ideal for lights, phone charging, and basic off-grid needs.
⭐ Best Value Setup
Renogy 200W Solar Kit
A balanced solar panel kit with enough wattage for fridges, fans, and daily device charging.
Renogy 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery
Reliable lithium iron phosphate battery with built-in BMS for safe, long-lasting power storage.
Renogy MPPT Charge Controller
Efficient maximum power point tracking controller to get the most from your solar panels.
👑 Premium Setup
Renogy 400W+ Complete Kit
Full solar kit with panels, controller, and wiring for full-time van lifers who need serious power.
Renogy 200Ah+ Battery Bank
High-capacity lithium battery bank with monitoring and expandable modules for full-time off-grid living.
Renogy Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Complete off-grid power conversion — pure sine wave output safe for all electronics, laptops, and appliances.
Ventilation
Proper airflow prevents condensation, controls temperature, and keeps your van comfortable year-round. If there's one upgrade every van builder swears by, it's a good roof fan.
💰 Budget Setup
Basic Roof Vent (No Fan)
Cheap, reliable, and super easy to install. If you're on a budget, grab one of these alongside a powered fan — we recommend at least one vent and one fan per build for proper cross-ventilation.
⭐ Best Value Setup
Maxxfan Deluxe (MaxxAir)
The gold standard of van roof fans. The Maxxfan DLX is hands-down the most popular choice in the van life community — it's rain-proof, reversible, has 10 speed settings, and a built-in thermostat so it can run automatically. Honestly, most builders say it's the single best purchase they made for their entire conversion.
Water System
From fresh water tanks to pumps and filtration, a reliable water system is essential for life on the road.
⭐ Best Value Setup
Shurflo 12V Water Pump
The go-to water pump for van builds. Runs on 12V, has solid pressure, and just works. Great price for what you get — most van lifers don't look any further than this one.
Kitchen
Compact cooktops, sinks, and storage solutions designed to make cooking in a small space practical and enjoyable.
💰 Budget Setup
Camplux 2-Burner Cooktop
Gets the job done without taking up much space. Perfect for smaller vans or minimalist builds — heats up fast and is easy to install.
⭐ Best Value Setup
Camplux Elite 3-Burner Cooktop
Great middle ground — three burners with no oven keeps things simple while giving you enough cooking power for real meals. Easy to install and fits most van kitchens.
👑 Premium Setup
Camplux 3-Burner + Oven
This one's for the chefs. Full 3-burner cooktop with a built-in oven — if you love cooking and want to make proper meals on the road, this is the one. It'll always do you good.
Heating & Climate
Stay warm in winter and cool in summer with diesel heaters, insulation upgrades, and climate control gear.
Product recommendations coming soon. Check back for curated picks in this category.
Bed, Storage & Interior
Maximize your living space with smart bed platforms, modular storage, and interior finishing materials.
Product recommendations coming soon. Check back for curated picks in this category.
Tools & Build Essentials
The core tools and consumables you'll need to complete your conversion, from drills to sealants.
Product recommendations coming soon. Check back for curated picks in this category.
Connectivity & Off-Grid Extras
Mobile hotspots, signal boosters, and other tech to stay connected while off the grid.
Product recommendations coming soon. Check back for curated picks in this category.