
How to convert a campervan on a budget
Fancy living the vanlife on a shoestring? Do you have limited tools & zero experience with campervan conversions? Let us help you to covert youre your campervan
5/13/20255 min read
This Year’s Ultimate Festival Guide for Germany!
If you’re keen to transform a van into a camper without spending a fortune or using up all your time, you’re in the right place! This guide is packed with practical advice and all the steps you need to pull off a DIY campervan conversion on a tiny budget in just one week.
Fancy living the vanlife on a shoestring and need a lightning-fast turnaround? Got limited tools and zero experience with campervan conversions?
Is that too much to ask?
Not at all!
Van builds come in all shapes and sizes
From the very basic to a fully kitted-out home on wheels. After hunting for inspiration, we settled on something in between: a cosy, practical, and decent-looking holiday pad that’s easy to drive and use.
We’d set aside a budget of €9,200 (around £8,000) to cover everything apart from the van itself. I thought it would be a doddle, but upgrades add up fast! Our main aim was to finish it quickly so we could start enjoying life on the road. If we’d had months instead of weeks, we’d have sourced second-hand materials and thrifted more. Still, I’m thrilled—it came together in just under seven weeks!
I’ve only now calculated the final cost. Scroll to the bottom to see how we did! My advice: budget for the big-ticket items first—12 V fridge, composting loo, electrics, heater, tyres, etc.
Explore Germany’s Most Popular Events with Your Campervan
Travelling in a campervan is the ultimate way to enjoy Germany’s festivals. You’ll have the freedom to travel at your own pace, stay comfortably, and soak up the festival atmosphere without worrying about hotels or transportation. Many festivals even offer camping areas where you can park your campervan and be part of the community.
So, pack your campervan and head out on an unforgettable festival adventure in the summer of 2025! 🎉🎶
Here’s your complete guide to experiencing Germany’s top festivals—from major music events to boutique gatherings:
Major Music Festivals
Family-Friendly Festivals
Boutique Festivals
Other Events and Festivals


Buy a Van
Start by setting a budget and researching local pricing—even before you’re ready to buy. This helps you understand what models meet your needs and what’s realistic in your area.
We originally paid €19,000 (incl. VAT), but a few weeks later something came loose underneath and cost €640 to fix. We needed new front and rear brake pads and discs another few months on—as those cost €1,200. In total, the van ended up costing €20,840.
Tip: When searching online, use terms like “cargo van” or “panel van” rather than simply “van” to improve your search results.
Take a look at the best vans for camper conversions to compare what's available locally—it really does vary from region to region!
Things to inspect on a used van:
Tyres: Check tread depth—if worn, it’s negotiation ammo.
Air conditioning & heating: Repairs can be expensive, and you’ll want both if you’re living in it.
Ground clearance: Low-roof vans struggle on rough roads or in certain campsites.
Suspension noise: Strange sounds when shifting might indicate problems.
Leaks: Inspect the underside for fluids—some leaks may be harmless, others costly.
Brakes: Listen for squealing or soft pedal feel.




2. The Build
Prep the van – clean thoroughly
If you're buying a cheap used van, expect a mess! Ours had pet hair, mouldy windows, and a pretty foul odour.
We used an Arm & Hammer carpet cleaner, a vacuum, and a stiff brush on the carpets, then wiped down all surfaces with Simple Green industrial cleaner. After airing it out, it smelled brand-new!
Cost: Just €7 for cleaning supplies.
Products used:
Rust‑Oleum Aluminium Primer & Enamel spray
Mean Green multi‑purpose cleaner
GooGone adhesive remover
Take van measurements
Measure every nook and cranny: length, width, height, plus wheel arches and window frames. Also note the width across the floor, middle, and ceiling—many vans bulge slightly. Accurate figures make the next steps so much easier.
Sound-deadening and insulation
Kilmat sound-deadening mats
3M Thinsulate thermal and acoustic insulation
3M High Strength 90 spray adhesive
Great Stuff expanding foam
Reflective foil insulation and tape
Flooring materials
Coin mat flooring
3M Super 77 spray adhesive
12 mm birch plywood
Rigid foam insulation boards
Wood filler and stair-edge trim
Vent and window installation
Maxxair 5100K roof vent
Window kit for sliding door
Wide painter’s tape and butyl sealant
Self-levelling lap sealant and caulking gun
Boutique Festivals in Germany 2025
For those who want a more intimate and unique festival experience, these festivals are perfect.
MELT Festival
📍 Local: Ferropolis, Sachsen-Anhalt
📅 Date: 11–13 Juli 2025
👥 Capacity: 20 000+
💡 Kapacitet Kort om festivalen:
It is a futuristic and innovative festival in an old mining environment with electronic music, art, and an unbeatable atmosphere. Perfect for those who love underground music and spectacular stage designs.
Fusion Festival
📍 Local: Lärz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
📅 Datum: 26–30 juni 2025
👥 Capacitet: 70 000+
💡 Capacitet Kort om festivalen:
It is one of Europe's most alternative and artistic festivals where music, theatre, and performance art blend in a surreal world. Here, no advertising is allowed, only pure creativity.
MS Dockville
An indie and electronic music festival with a beautiful view of Hamburg's harbor. Here, well-known artists mix with newcomers, and art installations make the festival area even more magical.
📍 Local: Hamburg
📅 Datum: 16–18 augusti 2025
👥 Capacitet: 25 000+
💡 Kapacitet Kort om festivalen:
An indie and electronic music festival with a beautiful view of Hamburg's harbour. Here, well-known artists mix with newcomers, and art installations make the festival area even more magical.
Other Events and Festivals in Germany 2025
In addition to music festivals, there are many other iconic events to experience in Germany.
För dig som vill ha en mer intim och unik festivalupplevelse är dessa festivaler perfekta.
Oktoberfest
📍 Place: München
📅 Date: 20 september–5 oktober 2025
👥 Capacitet: 6 miljoner+
💡 Capacitet
The world's largest beer festival where you can enjoy German beer, traditional food, and live music in gigantic tents. An iconic experience with people in lederhosen and dirndls.
Karneval i Köln
📍 Plats: Köln
📅 Date: 27 februari–5 mars 2025
👥 Kapacitet: 1,5 miljoner+
💡 Capacitet
About the festival: Germany's largest carnival with colorful parades, live music, and a festive atmosphere that fills the entire city.
Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
📍 Plats: Berlin
📅 Date: 6–16 februari 2025
👥 Kapacitet: 500 000+
💡 Capacitet
About the festival: One of the world's largest and most prestigious film festivals where you can see international premieres and meet filmmakers.
Interior build-out materials
A mix of framing studs, underlayment plywood, hardwood for accents, screws, angle brackets, wood filler, primer/paint, sanding blocks, and clear caulk.
Building the kitchen
As cooking was essential for us, we built a simple galley with plywood and 50×100 mm pine. The countertop cost about €12, plus €28 for a double-burner stove and €18 for a small sink. Cutting the sink hole was the fiddliest bit, but overall it only took around two hours.
Kitchen components:
12 V fridge
Basin sink and drain kit
Compact tap and soap dispenser
Fresh and grey water tanks
Small 12 V pump and hoses with quick connectors
Cabinetry with pine fronts and IKEA-style fittings
Butcher-block countertop sealed with food-safe oil
Peel-and-stick tile backsplash
Beds and sleeping area
We constructed a bed platform from plywood, 50×100 mm and 45×145 mm timber, sized to fit a full-size mattress (150 x 200 cm). The entire assembly took around four hours and cost approximately €33 in wood. We used a thick foam mattress we already had, but a budget-friendly futon or foam mattress from IKEA works just as well.
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