Hi all - first off I'm really sorry if I've posted this questions twice - I posted one the other day but had no replies and after checking cannot find it anywhere so I'm assuming it must not of worked!
This is my first post, and possibly one of many as I'm looking to convert a van in the next few months - this is a great community and I'd appreciate any advice I can get, so please bear with me!
My initial question is is it common/a regular aim to make money/equity on a camper conversion. Don't get me wrong, my aim isn't to make money, but it's primarily a great way to convince my other half 
and also would have a bearing on how much money I sink into the project as it would be nice to know it wasn't going down a hole.
Obviously how I do the project would determine the value I make/lose but I was wondering if anyone had any stories and pointers as to what are such factors that decide this.
I would probably be looking to do most the work itself, although possibly get someone to do any parts that I would be highly recommended against doing. I've never done a conversion before, but I'd like to consider myself pretty handy (just finished renovating a house) and both i and my wife are designers, so I'm confident we'll be able to bring some skills to the fore (with your help of course!).
Thanks for your help!
Well, your message has arrived this time.
If you do most of the work yourselves, you can certainly keep the costs down, and can end up with a van to your specifications for far less than you would pay for a professional conversion.
Re-selling the van on the open market may not get you very much in return, but it would be of more value to interested parties such as visitors to this site or other sites where "understanding" people will have a big interest in it.
My plan is to use my van for about 5 years - by that time the mileage will be quite high as it is my only vehicle. Not sure it will be worth much by then, but it will have saved me from 5 years of "hotel/holiday cottage/putting wet tents away in the gale-force wind costs", plus it is there on-demand for daytrips etc.
Hope all goes well,
Dave.
If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants.
Yep, I tend to agree with Dave in that the real value comes in the money you save by not spending money on b&b's / hotels etc. Its also a big lifestyle choice more than anything of course. I was chatting to a mate recently whose van was just about dying and when he went to trade it in they were only going to offer him £800 for the van but then looked at the conversion work inside and offered him £2,500! It wasn't an amazingly professional conversion either so it shows they are worth something...
The fact is - converting yourself is the only way to get something good without paying a complete fortune for it
Thanks for the reply guys. If anything it's probably made me realise that it's not worth worrying sbout getting an anazing low mileage vehicle for the base as resale vslue isnt worth banking on. Looks like I won't be sble to play that card to my Mrs - she always said that camperhomes has better resale value than van conversions and looks like she was right!
Hi Dilby, I'm Vanman's wife and when my husband suggested turning a transit van we'd acquired, which was actually kitted out for car valetting, into a campervan I thought it was a stupid and over ambitious idea. I wasn't so much convinced as just couldn't be bothered arguing over it so went along with it all.
Soooo glad I did because I absolutely love it. It didn't take anywhere as near as long as I thought it would take to do it, although my husband is retired. However ever since he decided to start it back in April 2011 he has been severely hampered by two years of rain and only had the street outside our house to do the work.
I suppose it all depends on how much experience your wife has of camping/caravanning. If she prefers the luxury of a hotel and all the trappings that go with it she might not be that keen on holidaying in a very confined space but we had a caravan for years so am used to it. Even if you never use it for holidays, they are brilliant as a day van for trips out. You've got somewhere comfy to sit, you can prepare lunch in there, park up near the sea, have a brew whenever you fancy, put your feet up and just watch the world go by. If you do a high quality, professional job you will definitely get your money back and more besides - campervans seem to be getting more and more popular. Hope this helps to convince her
Thank you Van woman - or should I say Mrs Vanman? Sorry for the late reply, but I showed this to my wife who replied 'well said.' So I think you've helped me out ;) !