Upfitting Our Vanagon Home Away From Home

by Brooke Bowman

2 Materials

$500

2 Weeks

Medium

My husband is an Eagle Scout and absolutely loves camping and doing anything outdoors. While I’m a country girl at heart and could spend the entire day outside if it were possible, I’ve never been too hip on setting up a tent, cooking over a campfire, and sleeping on the ground. I’d much rather have the comfort and convenience of my warm home and bed! Yet, I tried not to flinch too much when my husband suggested that we invest in a Volkswagen Westfalia camper vanagon as the next addition to our home. With two small children in tow, we knew that if we were ever going to fulfill his dream of camping, we’d need to upgrade our facilities quite a bit. With two areas for sleeping, a sink for washing, and plenty of charm, this retro, throwback van totally fit the bill. The only problem? It was in need of major repair. Here are a few ways we worked to restore it to its original beauty.

upfitting our vanagon home away from home

First, the original owner offered to get involved and upfit the vanagon. It was an act of service and dedication to his beloved van, which he was happily selling to us, though the experience was a little bittersweet. He painted the outside of the van a vehicle paint color called “Mouse Gray.” This made it a little more in keeping with the color schemes that were popular during the late 1960s, early 1970s when this model of vanagon was popular. Somewhere along the line, the van had been painted a light tan that simply wasn’t in style and was quickly chipping off. This taupe tone was ideal and made the van look instantly new.

He also recovered the driver’s and passenger’s seat in new leather, as the original seats were ripped. A new, shiny dashboard also added instant appeal and driveability. While he was installing that new system, he also added a radio to the vehicle, which had previously been without one.

He also worked to restore the interior of the van, so it would be as comfortable as possible for us on the road. He covered the cushions with a sweet, yellow checkered fabric, and used the excess, leftover fabric to make the most precious cafe curtains I’ve ever seen. As the van does not have air conditioning (though it does have heated seats!), we need to hand crank the windows open to allow a breeze to creep through, especially during hot summer months. As such, any extra shade that a window covering can provide is definitely needed and appreciated!

Here, you can see how the van opens up to create a comfortable camping experience. When we take it to the local campgrounds to sleep under the stars, there’s room enough for two people to fit up in the top compartment, though the low ceilings make it virtually impossible for my husband and I to go up there. It’s perfect, however, for our two toddlers, who have claimed it as their hideaway spot! You can also see the tiny side table in this picture. It’s not too big, but it’s great for propping up supplies while we’re sitting on camp chairs outside of the van. When we’re inside, there’s actually a longer, full-length table that pops open from the side that makes indoor picnics possible. Our seller made, using a miter saw to give it a smooth, beveled edge that makes it perfect for traveling with children.

I’ll admit, buying a camper van wasn’t the first thing I considered when we talked about ways to make the camping experience as enjoyable as possible for both me and our little ones. Yet, since we brought the van home, it’s been such a great addition to our lives and we can’t imagine seeing the great outdoors without her. Plus, we get plenty of happy honks as we cruise down the road in this beast!

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