If you’re on a tight budget or just want to build a DIY van, you’re going to think about installing the camper van windows yourself. There might be a little fear at first if you’ve never done this before.
It is, however, possible to do the job if you do enough research and have a little faith in yourself.
In this blog post, I will talk about the different types of retrofit van windows, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to put them.
Why you need to put windows on a van?
Most of the time, people don’t add van windows because they don’t want to spend money on them or because they think they are always safe. There is a good chance that the cost for each van conversion window will be several hundred dollars. When it comes to van security, a big piece of glass on the side is another thing to think about.
You might not be able to leave your doors open, or the weather is bad, so you won’t get much natural light into your car. It also helps to open up your living space, making it look bigger even when the doors are closed.
To make room for fresh air and ventilation if you only have one roof vent, you’ll need another hole. When you have a panel van with windows and a roof fan, you get a great cross breeze and you can control the temperature inside the car. This is a must-have for newborns and pets, and it should be in every home.
To get your conversion van approved by the DVLA as a campervan, you need windows in the living space. This is another reason why you should put windows in your conversion van.
See Through vs. Tinted.
Tinted and clear windows are very different. The main difference is how much light they let in, compared to how much they keep people from seeing through them. See-through windows let more light in, but black (tinted) windows keep people from seeing through them.
If you choose see-through windows, you can make them more private by putting shades or drapes on the windowsills. On the other hand, if you go with tinted windows, you can choose how dark you want the tint to be.
Campervan Skylight.
If you choose a skylight that can be opened or has a fan, it will be used as a way to get fresh air. You need to know the pros and cons of campervan skylight before going for it.
Because there is more space in the ceiling, they are better for having a group conversation with a lot of people. If they were there, they would take up space that could be used for a solar panel and more storage in a small car.
Related Link: Kev’s Travel Essentials
Best Window for Van Conversion.
Bonded van windows are the most common type of van window. These are simply where a hole is cut out of the side of the car and a window is pushed over the hole to let air in. In this case, a strong adhesive sealer is used to stick it to the outside of the car. It then sits flush with the surface of the van.
Bonded campervan van windows are easy to put in and come in a lot of different colors.
Even so, there is another type of retrofit van window worth looking into as well.
Also, these are acrylic window frames for a campervan. Because they’re light and come with built-in shades and mosquito nets, they have a lot of benefits. They also come in a lot of different sizes and shapes. In order to install these types of window, you will most likely need to add an extra frame that will greatly increase the thickness of your van.
Van Window Fitting Locations.
There are usually two windows on the side of the car that is closest to the passenger. A bonded universal vent window with a flyscreen can be on the back wall of your bedroom. On the other side of your sliding door, you can have a bonded half slider window with a flyscreen. If it’s dark outside and there’s a light inside, you can’t see in through any of them.
As well as on the side panels and sliding door, van windows can also be put on the back doors as a second option. Most of the time, camper van windows can be put in the holes that are already there in the vehicle. If it were a minibus, you might think about where the windows would be.
If there are camper van windows outside, they must be placed and sized in a way that makes sense with the inside plan. The universal vent or van bunk windows, as they are called, are great for places where there will be a lot of furniture, because they can be placed at any height in the panel that is best for the owner.
The bigger windows that are bonded to the whole side of the van will only work if you get the windows that are specific to your van’s make and model. They come in a wide range of sizes, so it’s just a matter of picking the one that fits the space between your panels.
Check to make sure you get the correct window for the right side. It is required for the direction of travel and there are also drainage holes in the bottom.
Campervan Window Installation.
I’ll show you how to do it step by step in 10 simple steps. Because the process for both windows is a lot the same, we’ll show you how.
The first thing you should do before you start installing bonded van windows is check your supplies. Make sure that you have everything you need before you start. To avoid this, don’t start cutting a huge hole in the side of your car only to find out that you can’t finish it.
The job should not be done quickly. Also, pick a day when there is no chance of rain. This will help you avoid getting wet. Before you start cutting holes in the glass, check it for any damage or flaws in the body of the van.
So, let’s get started on the van side window installation right now, OK?
1. Mark out the cut.
Putting in a sliding door or full-panel camper van windows is a lot easier at the start because you don’t need to make a template. Instead, you just follow the edge of the submerged panel as it moves.
A template comes with some vent window kits; if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to make one by tracing around the part of the window that goes inside the car.
The first step is to put the template where you want it in the inside of the car, taking into account the height of any furniture that will be in the space and making sure it is level across the panel. As you drill two holes through the middle of the tape, hold it in place with tape.
Next, remove the template from the van and tape it to the outside of the car in the same way that the template was put on. Double-check from afar that it looks level and in the middle of the widthwise direction from this side. Draw a circle around it to show where your cut line is.
Related Link: Kev’s Travel Essentials
2. Drill starting holes.
Drill several holes inside the cut that are big enough for your jigsaw blade to fit through. When installing a window in a van, take extra care to make sure that the holes don’t go over the line, or the hole will be too big.
This is easier when you are installing a full panel van window, because you only have to work to the edge of the panel that is already there.
However, working from the outside so that you can cut against a flat surface may be better. In this case, you’ll need to drill holes around the perimeter and connect them on the outside so that you can see where the cut line is on the outside.
You may have read in some van window installation instructions that it is best to use an angle grinder to remove the vertical struts in their entirety. This is not true, though. It’s easy to cut through both parts of metal with a good jigsaw that is powered by the mains.
In addition, only the part of the support where the window is going to be installed needs to be taken down, not the whole thing.
3.Cut the hole.
So, the jigsaw is now used to connect all of the holes. Tape the underside of the jigsaw before you start cutting. This will keep metal on metal from causing damage to it. You can also put masking tape on the car around the cut area if you prefer.
Slow down and be extra careful when you’re nearing curves and crossing the supporting struts. Keep a fine-tooth metal blade in your jigsaw and a few more on hand before you start cutting.
Every now and then, stick some masking tape to the cutout. This will keep it from flying around and just dropping out when you’re done with it.
4.File and treat edges.
Use a metal file to smooth the edges and remove any sharp burrs that remain.
Vacuum up all of the metal shavings from inside and outside your van. This is the most important step.
If you don’t have an air compressor or a strong magnet at home, you can rent one or both of these things. They get into everything, and you won’t know you haven’t gotten them all until you see specks of rust on the outside of your car.
Also, the edges of the metal must be painted with a rust-proofing paint to keep them from rusting.
5.Add the trim.
Afterwards, the sliding door window hole will need trim added to the inside skin of the door. This will be part of the kit that comes with the window installation. Using a rubber mallet to hit it into place and sharp scissors to cut it to size at the end is a good way to get it to the right size.
6.Clean with alcohol.
This package will also come with an alcohol wipe. This is utilized for cleaning the exteriors of the van and the back of the window.
7.Apply primer.
The primer will be put on the edge of the van metal next, and that will be the last step. Instead of painting it on, try to do it all at once to avoid streaks. In order to cover the whole window, you’ll need a thick strip, but be careful not to go too wide.
8.Apply adhesive.
It’s time to use the polyurethane glue. When applying window film to a car on a cold day, it’s important to warm the film up with hot water first.
9.Stick window in.
Two people will make it a lot easier to handle the large panes of glass in the next step. If you’re on your own, a lot of suction cups will come in very handy. It’s important to make sure the window seals well all around when you put it in place. You can do this by pressing the window into place and twisting it a little.
10.Support with tape.
When your van side window fitting is drying, put some tape on the top of the window fitting to keep it from moving. To add more support to the bottom, you can use folded card to fill in some of the empty space at the bottom.
Make sure the bonding adhesive dries for a few hours before you get behind the wheel of the car. It’s better if you can leave it overnight if it’s possible. Then, make sure to thoroughly clean it to get rid of any metal filings that might be left behind.
Finally, your project should look like a campervan, or at least a van with windows, depending on what you want. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Related Link: Kev’s Travel Essentials
