Swan River Vans

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Swan River Vans Custom camper and work van fitouts, done at your place. Affordable, local, and built with care New bookings are currently closed until December 2027.

Swan River Vans creates practical, custom campervan fitouts at your location across Perth and regional Western Australia. Owner-built for function and durability, each conversion can include beds, storage, electrical systems, solar, ventilation and plumbing.

Marine ply floor install. Why rebolt the seat holes in the floor? Well, it's due to the potential of exhaust fumes ent...
04/10/2026

Marine ply floor install. Why rebolt the seat holes in the floor? Well, it's due to the potential of exhaust fumes entering van via these holes. Picture of client co-working the build.

Another vent install. St James. Same frame size as our Maxxifan installs but a different fan. Will be working along s...
03/10/2026

Another vent install. St James. Same frame size as our Maxxifan installs but a different fan. Will be working along side my client on this custom build. Co-worker mode with an agreed upon hourly rate. This is the before photos.

Busso build. Finishing cladding passenger side wall and framing windows. Also, I added a double bed base to the garage...
23/08/2026

Busso build. Finishing cladding passenger side wall and framing windows. Also, I added a double bed base to the garage and varnished the kitchen top. Build is progressing nicely.

Started creation of the Battery Board for clients 300AH Lithium Battery (Long off grid time). I have used 3/0 AWG Cable...
11/08/2026

Started creation of the Battery Board for clients 300AH Lithium Battery (Long off grid time). I have used 3/0 AWG Cable (Overkill) to connect to 500Amp shunt, 350Amp Isolator Switch and 300AMP Bus Bars. Safety is important and its ready for future modifications like solar. I also have a 300Amp MRBF (Marine Rated Battery Fuse) that mounts directly on the positive terminal of battery. Client will not be drawing over 100amps all up. Every wire from the Positive Bus bar must be fused. I have the 35amp Fuse for a control box (6 Fuses) that powers the lights, usb charging and low amp draw fridge.

From Raw Wood to Road-Ready! 🚐🛠️​The foundation of a great campervan build starts from the ground up. Securing your timb...
05/07/2026

From Raw Wood to Road-Ready! 🚐🛠️

​The foundation of a great campervan build starts from the ground up. Securing your timber battens to the metal floor and topping them with heavy-duty marine ply is the perfect way to kick off a build.

​But before you start framing up cabinets, there is one final, critical step: sanding and varnishing.
​Sanding knocks down rough edges and gets those ply joints perfectly flush.
​Varnishing seals the wood against spills, coastal humidity, and damp gear, preventing rot down the road.

​If you’ve already done the hard work of installing the subfloor, let us handle the messy, time-consuming finish!

​As a fully mobile service, we bring our workshop van straight to your driveway anywhere in Perth or regional WA. At a flat labor rate of $95 an hour, we’ll get your marine ply sanded smooth and sealed with a durable varnish so you can get on with the fun parts of your build.

​Ready to get your floor adventure-ready? DM us or head over to the website to lock in a booking with Rodney! 👇
​🔗 www.swanrivervans.com.au
​

STAGE COMPLETE: Custom Lightweight Aluminium Bed Frame! 🚐💨The framework is officially locked in! Next up, we are going t...
24/06/2026

STAGE COMPLETE: Custom Lightweight Aluminium Bed Frame! 🚐💨

The framework is officially locked in! Next up, we are going to install the 15mm marine ply base to finish it off and get it ready for a comfy double memory foam mattress.

While we prep the ply, let’s talk about why we choose to build our bed frames with custom aluminium rather than heavy timber. When you're building out a campervan, every single kilogram matters. Lightweight aluminium is the ultimate foundation:

🔹 Massive Weight Savings: Aluminium is roughly one-third the weight of traditional timber or steel framing. Saving weight on the build means better fuel economy for your road trips and less wear and tear on your van's suspension and brakes.

🔹 Incredible Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Don't let the lightness fool you. Built using high-quality Connect-it tubes and 3-way joiners, this frame has incredible structural integrity. It won't bend, warp, or sag, easily supporting your mattress and two adults.

🔹 Maximised Storage Space: Because aluminium profiles are sleek and thin compared to bulky timber studs, you get a lot more usable "garage" space underneath the bed for your surfboards, camping gear, or electrical setup.

🔹 Rust & Moisture Proof: Unlike steel which rusts, or timber which can mould, rot, or expand in damp weather, aluminium is completely resistant to the elements. Once we install that sealed 15mm marine-grade plywood top, this bed is built to last a lifetime.

A strong, lightweight, and durable build means a safer and more efficient home on wheels.

👉 Drop a comment below and let us know what you think of this clean setup!

🚐 Rolling Workshop Diaries: Rural Oz Van Build Update! 🛠️​Out in the bush (farm), a van build requires working smart. Ou...
20/06/2026

🚐 Rolling Workshop Diaries: Rural Oz Van Build Update! 🛠️

​Out in the bush (farm), a van build requires working smart. Our mobile workshop setup (home on wheels) and some strategic pre-prep saved us days of sweat on this floor and ceiling install.

​❄️ Winter Build Hack: Managing the Cold
​We are tackling this build in the middle of winter, which adds a serious challenge for finishing. If you're painting or sealing and the temperature drops below 10°C, the varnish just won't dry properly. We put a heater inside the van and crack a window open to keep the air moving so the finish could cure.

​💡 The Big Time-Saver: Pre-Varnishing
​We varnished all our timber sheets before arriving at the job site to avoid the bush dust and bugs. Every time we made an on-site cut—like that circular floor cutout—we sealed the edge with varnish right away to lock out moisture.

​📐 The Foundation: Marine Ply Floor & Hidden Cables
​The Base: Built entirely from tough 12mm marine ply over 9mm cross battens (furrings).
​The Hold: We secured the battens to the van floor using a bulletproof combination of Sika glue and metal screws.
​The Trick: We spaced our floor battens exactly 30cm apart, using the floor cavity to run our electrical cabling instead of going through the roof space. It keeps the wires cooler and makes routing way easier!

​🔩 The Floor Screws: More Torque, Less Stress
​To fasten the 12mm flooring into the 9mm battens, we used 20mm square-headed screws (labeled as "pine screws" at Bunnings). The square head gives you massively increased torque and completely stops your driver bit from slipping. Plus, they come with the matching driver bit right in the packet!

​🌲 Overhead: Shiplap Pine Ceiling
​For the roof, we went with a classic shiplap pine finish for that ultimate cabin vibe. Shiplap is ideal because the overlapping joints allow the timber to naturally flex without buckling as the van tackles rough, corrugated country roads.
​Floor is down, ceiling is up, and we're ready for cabinetry! 🇦🇺🪚

This took us 5 days. But the results are worth it.

🚐 VAN BUILD WARNING: Don't ruin your winter paint job! 🛑​If you are working on your van layout this winter, timing and t...
15/06/2026

🚐 VAN BUILD WARNING: Don't ruin your winter paint job! 🛑

​If you are working on your van layout this winter, timing and temperature are everything. We are currently tackling our varnish, and we had to learn a few product rules the hard way so you don't have to!
​⚠️ The Golden Rule: Applying varnish inside your van when it's below 10°C (50°F) is completely against product recommendations. If it's too cold, the varnish won't cure properly, leaving you with a sticky, ruined mess. Check your local weather and heat your space if you need to!
​Here is exactly what we are using to make sure the build lasts:
​For the Marine Ply Floor: We are using CFP Floor Clear. It’s incredibly durable and built to handle heavy foot traffic.
​For the Roof: We opted for Cabots External Clear.
​💡 Pro Tip: Do not use internal clear varnish on your van roof! Van roofs deal with massive temperature swings, condensation, and constant movement/vibration while driving. Internal clears will crack and peel under that kind of stress—exterior formulas have the flexibility to handle it.
​Keep an eye on the thermometer, plan your build days carefully, and happy building! 🛠️
​

Address

Perth, WA
6110

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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