Hilarious video of our 2014 road trip to 22 states and 15 national parks...
Ram ProMaster RV Camper Van Conversion - The Do Over
We bought our 2014 Ram ProMaster 2500 cargo van in July of 2015. We installed a used Braun Millennium II wheelchair lift in the passenger side sliding door, and built the rear of the van into a camper adding beds, A/C, a microwave, etc. You can see that part of the project on this page. This worked well for us and we camped in the van several times. Along came August 2016 and the VA decided they would replace our used lift with a brand new model. In the time we had the old lift, we discovered there are very few parking spots available that are wide enough to let the wheelchair out. We often had to park out in no man's land in parking lots just so no one would park beside us and block the lift. You know where this is going, don't you?
Yep, we removed the beds, the A/C, and most of the electrical components. We had the new lift installed at the rear doors and then we rebuilt the interior. We couldn't use the old beds as they were cut to fit the back of the van, so we had a lot of work to do. Here is a picture of what the van looks like from the outside. Just a normal cargo van that is secretly a comfy wheelchair accessible campervan.
Yep, we removed the beds, the A/C, and most of the electrical components. We had the new lift installed at the rear doors and then we rebuilt the interior. We couldn't use the old beds as they were cut to fit the back of the van, so we had a lot of work to do. Here is a picture of what the van looks like from the outside. Just a normal cargo van that is secretly a comfy wheelchair accessible campervan.
A Little About The Van
The van was purchased new on July 18, 2015 from Academy Dodge in Bessemer, Alabama. It is a 2500 series with the 159" wheelbase, a high roof and a gas engine. The van came with a lot of options including a 3.6L Pentastar Gas Engine, 6 speed Automatic Transmission, Rearview Camera, Uconnect Bluetooth, 5" Touch Screen in the Dash, Cruise Control, Power Windows and Locks, Keyless Entry, Power / Heated Outside Mirrors, Passenger Sliding Cargo Door w/Fixed Glass, Driver Sliding Cargo Door w/Fixed Glass, Aluminum Wheels, Fog Lamps, Silver Front Grille, Locking Glove Box, Overhead Storage Shelf, Underseat Storage Tray, Windshield Document Holder, Cargo Partition w/Sliding Window, 220 AMP Alternator, AM/FM/CD w/SiriusXM, Auxiliary Audio Port, USB Input Port, USB Charging Port and a lot of standard options not worth listing here.
The van was purchased new on July 18, 2015 from Academy Dodge in Bessemer, Alabama. It is a 2500 series with the 159" wheelbase, a high roof and a gas engine. The van came with a lot of options including a 3.6L Pentastar Gas Engine, 6 speed Automatic Transmission, Rearview Camera, Uconnect Bluetooth, 5" Touch Screen in the Dash, Cruise Control, Power Windows and Locks, Keyless Entry, Power / Heated Outside Mirrors, Passenger Sliding Cargo Door w/Fixed Glass, Driver Sliding Cargo Door w/Fixed Glass, Aluminum Wheels, Fog Lamps, Silver Front Grille, Locking Glove Box, Overhead Storage Shelf, Underseat Storage Tray, Windshield Document Holder, Cargo Partition w/Sliding Window, 220 AMP Alternator, AM/FM/CD w/SiriusXM, Auxiliary Audio Port, USB Input Port, USB Charging Port and a lot of standard options not worth listing here.
Expenses
What it cost us to convert the van into a camper.
Design and Planning
What went in the camper and where it all is located.
Insulation and Flooring
Wall, floor and ceiling insulation and the making of the floor.
Electrical
120v and 12v circuits, batteries, ventilation fan, lighting, A/C and heat, etc.
Walls, Ceiling and Overhead Cabinets
The framing of the walls, ceiling and cabinets and then the finishing touches.
Beds and Storage
Building of the bed frames and the storage under them.
Wheelchair Lift
The installation of a Ricon Reliant wheelchair lift.
Running Boards
The installation of a set of Ionic Factory Style running boards.
Accessories
Anything else that doesn't fit into one of the categories above.