Cost & Labor

Last Updated: October 19th, 2017

Correctly calculating the cost of materials and the number of hours, you spend on the van conversion, is virtually unattainable. Do you include the cost of the 20 screws you use or the box of 100 that you had to buy? Do you count the number of hours designing and researching or only those spent installing?

My numbers reflect the actual cost as much as possible, yet I exclude the extra money for tools that are specifically bought for this project as I can use them in the future for other purposes. The number of hours are only those that are closely related to the conversion, but in reality two or three times more is spent on research, design or simply by going to the local super store.

OVERVIEW

projected
13 925
dollar
505
hours
Heating & Cooling
$2 450
Electrical System
$4 600
Interior
$4 875
Other
$2 000
actual
3156
dollar
35
hours
Heating & Cooling
$515
Electrical System
$1264
Interior
$1307
Other
$70
 

HEATING & COOLING

projected
2 450
dollar
85
hours
Insulation
$300
MaxxAir 6200K
$250
Webasto AirTop 2000ST
$1 100
Curtains & Screens
$500
Other
$300
actual
515
dollar
16
hours
Insulation
$189
MaxxAir 6200K
$270
Floor Vent
$14
Webasto AirTop 2000ST
$0
Cabin Curtain
$42
Other
$0
 

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

projected
4 600
dollar
70
hours
Solar
$1 200
Lithium Batteries
$2 000
Inverters
$1 200
Other
$200
actual
1264
dollar
7
hours
Solar
$696
Breaker Box
$58
Charge Controller
$0
Battery Monitor
$0
Lithium Batteries
$0
Inverters
$42
Wiring
$166
Other
$303
 

INTERIOR

projected
4 875
dollar
300
hours
Building Materials
$1 000
Hardware
$700
Swivel Seat
$250
Mattress
$75
Refrigerator
$500
Toilet
$800
Cooktop
$100
Sink & Pump
$150
Water Tanks
$500
Lighting
$300
Other
$500
actual
1307
dollar
8
hours
Building Materials
$478
Media
$392
Flooring
$94
Cabinets
$134
Swivel Seat
$0
Murphy Bed
$207
Refrigerator
$0
Toilet & Shower
$0
Cooktop
$0
Sink & Pumbling
$0
Water Tanks
$0
Lighting
$0
Other
$3
 

OTHER

projected
2 000
dollar
50
hours
Unexpected
$2 000
actual
70
dollar
4
hours
Tools & Materials
$70
 

Conversion Started: March 1st, 2016

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2 comments

    1. Hi Steve,

      I start with a few articles I wrote around the time of the purchase; they contain a lot of useful background information.

      What do Ford, Mercedes Benz, GM, Chrysler and Nissan have in common.

      2015 Cargo Van Comparison.

      How I choose my cargo van.

      Count down to cargo van purchase.

      How to get a great buy on a new cargo van.

      Ford Transit 2015 model – Now or wait for the 2016 line-up.

      The cargo van purchase.

      The waiting game.

      My Ford Transit Medium Roof LWB 148″ had a purchase price of ~$38,500.00 mid 2015. That included upgrades like wheels, All-Around Windows, HD-alternator, etc. Also including all ‘dealer’ cost and taxes. An out-the-door price. But…
      That may not be so relevant today. Prices have changed. It also was a factory order that took a couple of months till delivery. If you buy one from the dealers lot, you may be able to negotiate a better price. Then you have the model. Interior standing height was very important to me, but because I’m not too tall, a medium roof model was sufficient for me. If you are closer to 6′, you’ll probably go with a high roof model. The van should also be based on your plans/design; will a bathroom be a necessity, probably the best model is a LWB-Ext with HR. Soo many variables.

      If you still have specific questions, let me know. Good luck!

      Van Willams

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