Planning a camper van layout sounds simple at first.

Put a bed in the back, maybe a kitchen along the side, add some storage and call it good.

But once you start working through the details—seating, sleeping arrangements, water, power, gear storage—you quickly realize that van layout design is really a process of prioritization and compromise.

At Roost Vans we’ve built well over a hundred vans over the years, and one of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that the most functional layouts come from deciding what actually matters most, and not trying to fit everything into the van.

This article is a deeper dive into how we think about planning and layout when building camper vans.

Start With Priorities (Not Products)

The first question we ask customers has nothing to do with cabinetry or materials… It’s about how the van will be used.

Typically the priority list looks something like this:

1. Seating
2. Sleeping
3. Kitchen / cooking
4. Storage
5. Power

Seating tends to be the biggest driver because it immediately affects how much usable floor space you have.

For example:

• A second-row bench seat opens the van up for families, but takes up a significant footprint.
• A two-person cab-only setup gives you far more design freedom.

Once seating is determined, the rest of the layout starts to take shape: Sleeping arrangements, kitchen size, and storage capacity all begin to revolve around that first decision.

And one thing becomes clear quickly: You can’t have everything. Even the longest Class B camper vans still have limited space.

Think in Zones

One of the easiest ways to conceptualize a van layout is by dividing the van into three zones:

1. Seating Zone

This is where people gather, eat, work, and relax.

For example:

A second-row bench seat paired with a Lagun articulating table mount can create a surprisingly large and flexible workspace. Check this video out of a Second Row seat we installed with our Lagun specialty mount.

By mounting the table to the seat frame rather than the wall, you can run a much larger tabletop without interfering with movement through the van. This gives both the passenger and driver the ability to use a table.

Storage and Garage Space

Garage space underneath the bed is often where large gear lives:

• Bikes
• Skis
• Surfboards
• Storage bins

Many people initially request sliding trays, but in practice we’ve found they’re not always necessary.

With a flip-up kit installed on our FU-Kit bed system, you can often access the entire garage area simply by lifting the bed panel.

This avoids the weight, cost, and complexity of large sliding trays.

Power Systems: Simplicity vs Complexity

Power systems are another area where simplicity can go a long way.

Traditional custom electrical systems involve:

• Battery banks
• Inverters
• Solar controllers
• Multiple electrical components
• And a lot of crimped connections

A much simpler option we are using is portable power stations.

We commonly use:

Goal Zero power stations and the expandable EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus

These integrate:

• Lithium batteries
• Inverter
• Charging: ‘Shore’, solar charging, and engine
• Power management
• A powerful 12v DC supply

All in one compact unit.

They can deliver roughly the equivalent of a 400Ah system in a much smaller footprint. You can read our deep thoughts on power blog for more information.

Design Tools That Help Layout

Beyond physical layout, we also use a few design tools when working with customers.

Mood Boards

A van can get visually busy very quickly. 

Between flooring, cabinetry, wall panels, upholstery, and hardware there are a lot of materials involved.

Creating a simple mood board helps determine:

• How much bamboo paneling to show
• Flooring styles
• Color palettes
• Fabric combinations

It helps keep the final design cohesive. 

Inset Panels

Inset wall panels are another useful design trick.

They can add 4–8 inches of usable interior width, which can be the difference between sleeping sideways or lengthwise.

And, this can eliminate the need for expensive external flares.

Short Couple Vans

These are some of the most efficient layouts.

With no second-row seats, you gain space for:

• Larger kitchens
• Bigger benches
• More cabinetry

Long Couple Vans

This is where layouts start to feel more like small apartments.

With a longer van body you can include:

• Large dinettes and… 
• Multiple lounging areas
• Expanded kitchens
• Dedicated workspaces

These builds are excellent for people living or working on the road.

The Biggest Layout Lesson

After designing hundreds of vans, the biggest takeaway is this:

Good layouts are intentional.

Trying to fit every possible feature into a van rarely works.

Instead, the best vans come from understanding how many people travel in the van; What activities the van supports; And how often those activities happen. From there, the design becomes much clearer.

Thinking About Your Own Van Layout?

If you’re planning a build and want help thinking through layout options, we’d love to help. Start with our products and build ecosystem here.

Smooth Rail Mounting System

Our modular mounting platform allows cabinetry, beds, and other components to be installed, removed, and reconfigured as your needs evolve.

Because your van should grow with your adventures, not limit them.

Watch the Full Planning Webinar

If you want to go deeper into this topic—including real van layout examples—we recently hosted a full webinar walking through dozens of builds and layout strategies.

You can watch the full presentation here: 

Alright, let’s talk about power.

We’re going to be going over our Power Panel Ecosystem. Whether you’re getting the DIY kit or one of the kits we install here at Roost Vans, the core idea is the same: bring all your wiring into one central spot so you can control how power gets distributed throughout your van.

Think of Your Battery as a Cup

Let me break it down. Imagine your battery as a cup of water. That’s your power capacity. Filling that cup? That’s your recharge. Draining the cup, those are your power loads. And the size of the cup, that’s the size of your battery.

You typically have three recharge sources:

• The Sun (solar)
• Your Engine (while you’re driving)
• Shore Power (when you’re plugged in)

Of those, your engine and shore power give you the biggest juice. Solar? Honestly, solar tends to be the third-best option. It’s restricted by clouds, roof space, and price per watt. And if you’ve got a vent fan or roof box up there, your solar footprint shrinks quick. 

But if you’re parking somewhere for five days and not driving? That’s when solar becomes your best friend. So it really depends on your trip style.

Power Needs: Big Draw vs. Small Draw

Here’s what I ask clients:

1. What are you powering?
2. How are you recharging it?

If you’re running big power draws, like an A/C unit, induction cooktop, hair dryer, or even a blender, we’ve got to plan around that. Even your fridge, which seems simple, is a constant draw making it important to get a quality fridge.

So, increase the battery size, or make sure it’s getting refilled. Often times it’s the Air Conditioner that is the big culprit. And in order to really accommodate that sufficiently. You are likely looking to invest about $10k to $15k apples to apples, specifically for the ability to power an Air Conditioner off grid for 8-12 hours. So, we suggest to our typical customers to wire the Air Conditioner in a way that it can be powered off of shore power. Then, if you know you are going somewhere hot, find a campground to plug into or bring a quiet Honda generator with you.

Smaller draws include:

• LED lighting
• Vent fan
• Heater (that uses a fuel tap)
• Water pump
• Laptop

Most folks fall into that smaller-draw category. Very few actually need the big battery setups they think they do.

Personally, I like a 200 amp-hour battery (~2400 watts). It’s the sweet spot in the camper van, out for a couple days use case. It’s just enough capacity, can recharge from the engine, shore power, and solar if needed. Add a couple of solar panels, and you’re looking at a solid 3-day or longer camping rig for most people.

Also worth noting: most of us are parking in the shade. So again, solar might not pull the weight you want unless you’re strategic.

Accessories Available:

• Highly Recommended > Charge Lines and Installation Kit: all your lines (solar, shore, ground, engine), ties, protectors, sleeves, sealants, and clips
• Goal Zero EZ Connect wiring harness (for the X-series). Our first choice
• Bare End EZ Connect wiring harness that connects your choice of power station ↔ power station. You will need to crimp and engineer this yourself
• AC Outlet Extension (household power extension)

We tried to think of everything so your install goes smooth.

Real-World Install Example

We dropped a Goal Zero 1000X in a cabinet with the link module and the easy-connect harness. You can see the power panel snugged right against the wall, clean and tight. From there, you bring in all your loads (lights, fans, etc.) to the distribution block on the power panel.

And when you’re ready for cabinetry, you can mount the switch panel to the front, passenger side, driver side, wherever works best. That’s the flexibility we built in.

Plus, there’s a 120V inlet option as part of our AC Outlet Extension Accessory that can be wired in the wall. You can plug an extension cord from your inverter into that inlet, which feeds power through to another outlet you can install in the van. Don’t need it? No problem. But if you want it, it’s a readily available accessory.

A Clean Solution for Real Life

In one of our recent builds, we installed the power panel behind a Goal Zero 6000X. All the wiring and switches are right there. Want dimmable lighting? Easy. Want to hide the main panel but have access for maintenance? Done.

We use a cigarette-style plug for USB-B/C or whatever the current tech is. That’s by design. Technology changes, and we want you to be able to pull the USB plug and upgrade without a total overhaul.

Final Thoughts

The Power Panel Ecosystem is built to simplify van wiring. You still have some work involved, this isn’t magic. But the lions share is done. It pulls everything into one spot, gives you switch control, and offers a clean, expandable, and future-proof way to handle power in your van.

And, it’s available now on our website.