Campervan Self-Build Resources: Power, Cooling, Shade, Storage and Outdoor Cooking
Craig Waller
Planning a campervan build? Start with what you need to power, where equipment will fit, how you want to cook and where everyday gear will go. The resources below help answer those questions before you buy batteries, solar panels, an air conditioner, an awning, a camp stove or a storage setup. They include calculators, fit information, storage ideas and manufacturer manuals you can save for later.
You do not need every product mentioned here. Use the guides to narrow your choices, then check the exact model and local-market specifications. Manufacturer resources naturally focus on their own equipment; they are useful planning tools, not an independent ranking or a complete design for your van.
Work out what you need to power
Make a simple appliance list first: refrigerator, lights, ventilation, phone charging, laptop and anything else you expect to use. Record the actual ratings and how long each item runs. A quick weekend away and several days working remotely can make very different demands on the same van.
Renogy’s RV calculator is a useful starting point for estimating daily energy needs and the equipment you might run together. Battery capacity and output power answer different questions: how much energy you have available, and what the system can operate at one time. Check both rather than choosing by the biggest number on a product page.
For solar, Victron’s sizing guide explains the relationship between your energy demand, panels, controller and battery. Before choosing panels, measure the usable roof space around vents and other fittings. Think about charging while driving or at a campsite as well as solar. The right combination depends on your travel pattern and equipment; a roof full of panels is not a promise of unlimited off-grid power.
Choose portable or installed power
A portable power station can suit a removable setup. An installed system needs more planning around mounting, charging, distribution and access for servicing. Compare the complete setup you would use, including any required accessories, instead of treating the battery as the whole purchase.
EcoFlow’s manual library lets you check the selected model’s outputs, charging inputs and operating limits. Its Power Kits range provides an example of an integrated installed system. Neither approach is automatically the right answer for every build. Start with your appliance list and where the equipment will live.
EcoFlow manuals and downloads | EcoFlow installed Power Kits
Choose the regional product and manual that match where the van will be used. Plugs, mains voltage and installation requirements differ across markets. Victron’s Wiring Unlimited is useful background reading on batteries, cable selection, protection and grounding, but it is not a substitute for an electrician designing and checking your installation. Victron explicitly calls for qualified electrical work and compliance with local requirements.
Victron Wiring Unlimited and safety guidance
Plan cooling before you size the power system
Air conditioning belongs in the early power discussion. RecPro’s Houghton range and Dometic’s FreshJet range provide two useful starting points, but compare the exact unit and installation requirements rather than choosing by the brand or BTU number alone.
The RecPro 13.5K low-profile heat-pump model and Dometic FreshJet 5 15K examples linked here are US 115V AC units. They need a suitable power supply. If battery operation is part of your plan, have the whole system checked for continuous load, compressor startup, usable battery capacity and recharging. A soft-start option does not make an air conditioner run indefinitely off-grid. Confirm whether your chosen model has a soft start, hard start or neither; those terms are not interchangeable.
RecPro Houghton low profile 13.5K | Dometic FreshJet 5 Series 15K
Check the roof structure, required opening, clearance around solar panels and the matching ceiling or control assembly with your installer. Do not assume everything needed for installation comes in the same box. Choose the appropriate regional model and save its installation manual before ordering.
Check the awning mount before the fabric size
An awning needs a compatible mounting arrangement, not just enough space along the side of the van. Write down the vehicle make, model, year and roof type, then check the bracket or adapter required for the exact awning. Look at door movement and the position of vents, panels and existing roof equipment before committing to a layout.
Fiamma’s adapter information is a useful place to start. Its F80s product hub also links to technical and installation documents; do not assume the correct brackets are included. Keep the adapter part number with the awning model so you can check the combination with the supplier or installer.
Fiamma vehicle adapters | Fiamma F80s documents and details
An awning also needs a weather plan. Fiamma advises closing awnings in strong wind, heavy rain or snow. Follow the limits and instructions for your own model rather than borrowing a wind-speed claim from a different product. Clear access to the controls and a workable pack-away routine matter just as much as shade at lunchtime.
Fiamma awning questions and care
Choose your outdoor kitchen around actual meals
Do you mainly boil water for coffee and simple meals, or cook for two people with a pan and a pot? Primus’s stove guide separates camping, backpacking and expedition needs. That is a more useful starting point than picking the smallest stove and discovering your usual cookware does not suit it.
Primus guide to choosing a stove
Check cookware compatibility, fuel availability on your route, packed dimensions and the setup process. Jetboil’s how-to library shows different cooking systems being assembled and packed, including its basecamp options. Watching the routine can reveal whether a system fits the way you camp before you buy it.
Jetboil setup and packing videos
Portable fuel-burning stoves are for outdoor use only. An open van door or window does not turn the van into an outdoor cooking space. Set up on a stable surface, keep clear of combustible materials and follow the appliance instructions. A purpose-built installed vehicle hob is a separate project that needs its exact regional installation requirements and qualified help.
Outdoor cooking and carbon monoxide safety
Plan flexible storage with LoftLockers
Think about the gear you use every day and how you want to get to it before deciding where storage will go.
LoftLockers from Aspen Frontiers are a mounting system for compatible duffel bags, turning them into removable soft cabinets for vanlife and overlanding. Check the supported bag models and mounting requirements before choosing your setup. Duffel bags and mounting hardware are sold separately.
LoftLockers van storage details and compatible bags
Save this before you buy checklist
- Vehicle and roof details, with measurements of available space and access.
- Actual appliance ratings, expected running time and charging options.
- Exact product model, regional version and required adapters or accessories.
- Installation and operating manuals, saved somewhere you can find them offline.
- Supplier or installer confirmation of compatibility and local requirements.
- Bag dimensions, mounting requirements and room to access or remove your storage.
- A plan for storage, routine checks and packing everything away.
Keep your everyday gear in that layout too. If bikes come along, allow for loading, door access and storage rather than treating them as an afterthought. At Bike-Hook, fit questions start with the specific van and bike details. Check the relevant guidance before choosing a setup.
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