From the first empty shell to the first night sleeping in it, here is the order we work through on a typical conversion. No mystery, no endless waiting, just a clear sequence of stages and what each one means for your rig.
Before you plan your build around our suggested schedule, read the fine print. These stages reflect how we work through a typical Kombi conversion, but every rig arrives with its own surprises. Rust hides, wiring turns out older than expected, and parts sometimes take a week longer to land. Treat the timeline as a guide, not a contract.
We start by looking at your Kombi together, checking the state of the body, the floor pans, and the engine bay. If you bought a bus that has been parked for years, we will tell you what that means for the budget and the calendar. Some projects need a month of metalwork before any camping gear goes in. Better to know that now than halfway through.
Once the shell is sound, we map out where the bed, the kitchen slide, and the water tank will live. This is also when we plan the electrical system, battery capacity, and how many amps your fridge will actually draw. We keep the design practical, so you can still carry surfboards and a cooler without rearranging everything.
Carpentry, insulation, gas lines, and wiring happen in this window. We work in a logical order, so the ceiling goes in before the cabinets and the electrical runs before the panels close up. If you are doing a DIY build with us, expect to spend full weekends here. If we are doing the work, we will send photos as each section gets finished.
A conversion is not done until it has been driven and slept in. We recommend a short overnight trip close to home before you head off on a long route. This is when you find out if the mattress is too firm, if the gas hob rattles on gravel, and if the water pump is louder than you want at 6am. Small fixes are easier before a big journey.
You get a folder with the wiring diagram, the gas certificate, and a list of maintenance reminders specific to your setup. We also include a simple checklist for trip prep, so you do not forget to check the tyre pressure or drain the water tank before winter storage. The Kombi is yours to enjoy, and the paperwork should not be a mystery.
We get asked a lot about how long a conversion takes and what happens first. This is the honest timeline we work through, from the first inspection to the first night sleeping in the back. It changes with every rig, but the order of work stays roughly the same.
Week 1
Before we buy or start cutting, we go over the body for rust, check the state of the floor pans, and look at the engine bay for oil leaks. We also drive the Kombi for a few days to see what rattles and what actually needs attention. This step decides whether we are doing a light refresh or a full strip-down.
Weeks 2–3
We sort out the things that keep you from getting home. That means fresh brake lines, checking the fuel system, replacing worn suspension bushes, and doing a full service on the engine. If the gearbox is noisy, we deal with it now rather than after the interior is fitted.
Weeks 4–6
This is the messy part. We cut out rusted sections, weld in fresh metal, and treat the remaining panels. We also seal every window and door opening so water stays out. It is not the glamorous stage, but skipping it means your new interior will smell damp within a season.
Weeks 7–9
Before the plywood goes in, we run the wiring for lights, a fridge, and USB sockets. We also map out where the gas bottle lives and how the ventilation works. Getting this right on paper first saves a lot of frustration later. We test every circuit before covering it up.
Weeks 10–13
We build the bed frame, kitchen unit, and storage boxes from marine plywood. Everything is measured twice and fitted so it can be removed if you need access to the engine or the wheel arches. The upholstery goes in last, after all the dusty work is done.
Week 14
The last step is a proper weekend drive with the rig loaded as it would be on a real trip. We cook, sleep, and drive on gravel to find the things that only show up in use. A loose drawer latch or a rattling gas bottle gets fixed before the build is called done.