10 Essential Criteria for a Better Conversion Kit

RoadLoft was born of our knowledge of the real needs of the road. This article features 10 essential criteria which guided our conception of a sustainable, non-permanent conversion kit.

In 2016, back from a long trip to India and Sri Lanka, we took off to explore the Canadian and American West. We designed our first transformation kit from mini-van to camper, in which we will lived daily for over eight months, travelling from northern Yukon to southern Arizona. Between that first trip and today, several other extended trips have followed, with constantly improving amenities and materials.

This series of road tests and extended life on board as well as the invaluable expertise of an industrial designer, counting thirty years of experience in the development of innovative products, were the key to allowing us to bring to the market an instant mini-van conversion kit that met fundamental requirements: ingenuity, accessibility, sustainability, practicality and eco-responsibility. These makes our kit the best solution out there!

 

1. Strong but light wood

To the RoadLoft equipment (conversion kit or camping kit), each traveler also adds equipment and luggage that add up in total vehicle load, suspension components, engine and fuel consumption. The combined components of the RoadLoft kit weigh as little as 56 kilograms for the minivan kit and 28 kilograms for the SUV kit.

 

2. Moisture resistance

On the road, we’ve met people who had become ill from mold fumes from equipment that was poorly protected from humidity. Therefore, we have systematically taken care to eliminate any risks of this occurring. As a material, what could be better than the wood used for furnishing sailboats? The RoadLoft kits are made from marine grade poplar wood, that is strong, lightweight and ultra-moisture resistant.

 

3. Superior quality and ecological varnish

This is an extremely important and significant element to ensure a sustainable conversion over time and which also ensures a healthy environment. Your mini-van-camper or your SUV-camping-kit will be exposed to various outdoor conditions, including humidity and significant variations in temperature. It is therefore essential that its wood is protected with a water-resistant varnish to make it free from mold. The protection of the varnish must be of exterior-quality and non-toxic for your health, because it is exposed to great heat. While sleeping in your vehicle, you must be safe from any toxic fumes.

 

 

4. Multi-layer protection of all edges

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. What is a varnish good for, if not applied to all surfaces? We have seen conversion kits made from pre-varnished wood but where some edges were unfinished prior to assembly, making them vulnerable to mold. While this may cut costs, it leaves the door wide-open to moisture, mold and its damaging effects on the health of occupants. An unprotected kit will need to be thrown away when mold sets in.

A varnished kit protected in its entirety is therefore a non-negligible consideration when you want to be able to use your equipment for years and years, without having to worry.

 

5. The ventilation of wood and mattress

A design that promotes ventilation allows the wood and mattress to breathe, once again preventing moisture build-up and the creation of mold. Our RoadLoft design © with its top air vents is optimal in this regard.

 

 

6. Avoid moving parts

Simple assemblies should be favored and mechanical components avoided as much as possible. As our designer often says: “What is mechanical breaks”. It is for this reason that the use of hinges, screws, etc. should be limited, as this will tend to break with the vibration of the road. When it comes to the inevitable, like drawer slides, no compromise, we go for premium hardware and assemblies designed to withstand road vibration and extended use of the kit. 

 

 

7. The ease of use and multi-access of an ingenious design

Another essential criterion in choosing your conversion kit should be its ease of use. On the road, the slightest manipulation can become irritating. You should therefore favor a design that allows easy access to all your equipment. So think about looking not only at the storage space, but also the way you will access it. In the cramped environment of a mini-van, different ways of accessing storage spaces in order to adapt to all situations is greatly appreciated! 

For example, in their RoadLoft conversion kit for minivan, our customers have access to their clothes in two ways to meet different contexts. The first with a drawer that gives quick access to personal belongings from the outside without having to rummage under the bed platform or open bags. The second, directly under the bed, without having to open the doors of your mini-van. This way, you can get dressed in the morning in the privacy of your van or do it in shelter from the rain. In their SUV camping kit, our customers have easy access to their belongings under the bed pannels.

We repeat, the slightest manipulation can become an irritant on the road. It is therefore essential to limit handling to transform the mini-van from one configuration to another. Less handling, more comfort in each configuration!

 

 

8. Queen-size bed, high-density mattress

If you are 6 feet or taller, you will not be comfortable in a bed that is too short. The comfort of the mattress is an important feature, as the majority of the time spent in your van will be spent sleeping! Our RoadLoft conversion kit for minivan is 80 inches long and the SUV camping kit is 72 inches.

Remember that a greater thickness does not mean comfort. It is the density that matters, because it is what causes the foam to keep its shape and prevents it from sagging over time! The ideal mattress is of high density. For example, the RoadLoft mattress is high density 30 kg / m³. Finally, make sure the mattress cover is waterproof.

 

9. Visual clearance at the rear

A final item that can influence your decision is the clear space behind your vehicle. In the daily use of the minivan camper conversion kit, when you are stopped in front of a grandiose view, you will want to enjoy it. Whether sitting at the table enjoying a good meal, or simply lying in bed, take the time to contemplate the magnificent landscapes that nature offers you.

 

10. Transportability

The RoadLoft minivan conversion kit is divided into 5 modules. The weight of the heaviest (the bench that many leave permanently in the mini-van) is only 22 kg, the other modules being 12.25 and 6 kg. So it’s easy to take it out of its storage to install it in your mini-van and put in storage when returning from a trip or for the winter season. The SUV camping kit can be disassembled into several parts, so you only have the kitchen unit left which weighs approximately 9 kg.

With a conversion kit that meets all of these criteria, you will be able to enjoy your RoadLoft kits for a long time. Gathering all these qualities is a little more expensive, but with use and in the medium term, the investment is quickly recovered by our customers.

You can also download the list of criteria for your shopping here.

By Laurence Dufour, co-founder of RoadLoft