The Core Build

A Roost build starts with a core build. We take your van down to bare metal and build up from there as an essential first step. This lays the proper foundation to our modular van build system.

With a solid foundation in place, your van presents a finished look, and an easy access platform; ready to connect your components and accessories in a plug and play fashion.

From there the sky is the limit! Our unique system provides flexibility, modularity, and incrementalism to the build process.

More Info

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Incremental Builds

A few of our customers have experience with living or vacationing in a van. They tend to know exactly what they want/need in terms of layour, design, and features.

However, we deal with a lot of first time van owners as well. Every client has unique needs for their home on the roam, and it can be difficult to predict exactly what will and won’t matter in the abstract. Getting out there and using your van a little can be an invaluable part of the process.

That is why many of our customers choose an incremental approach to their van build. Sometimes this is for budgetary reasons, and for others it is from a desire to get on the road quickly. Ultimately it often proves to be the best approach. It gives you the opportunity to spend some time in your van before finalizing some of the design and layout decisions.

For these reasons and more, many find the option of an incremental approach an excellent choice. The Roost Vans modular system provides the opportunity for all of these options, and many more!

Flexible Solutions

Roost’s modular van build systems are available for professional installation or DIY. Some customers land completely inside one camp or the other, but many lay somewhere in between.

A full van build can be a significant undertaking. Some first time DIY builders can be overwhelmed with the full build, and most ultimately end up under estimating the time and timeline involved.

The Roost system is designed to offer full flexibility in this process. Some ask us to do their core build, and complete the rest DIY. Others have us do their entire build start to finish.

Modular Systems

A van build is a long term investment in freedom and enjoyment, but our lifestyles change over time. Singles become couples, couples have children, infants become toddlers, teenagers leave the nest, and our bodies age. As a result, over time our needs change.

One of the more overlooked aspects of the Roost Vans modular system is the modular nature of our system. With a core build in place, most components and accessories can be removed, replaced, or relocated. This can be accomplished trip to trip, but also from time to time as our needs change.

Even if you plan to sell your van in the future, the modularity of our build system can be a key selling point, allowing the new owner to adapt the van to their liking with minimal investment.

Pricing

A typical, professionally installed Core Build will run anywhere between $15-$25k.

Most aspects of the core build (detailed below) are very standardized, but the four largest “X factors” that will determine where you land within that range are:

Van Size: Long versions (170″ and 148 EXT) cost 10-15% more than short version (144″ and 148″ Standard).

Windows: Addition of new windows, and/or dressing out the interior for any window pockets without windows.

Seat Work: Whether or not there will be any changes to the standard seating (removing a seat, or installing a new standard seat). Note: Additional specialty seating options can add many thousands to a typical core build cost.

Paneling & Floor Choices: Typically we recommend Bamboo in the uppers and insets, fabric wrap in the mids, and Hexply in the lows. More bamboo adds cost.

Example Prices

Below you will find 3 examples, one for each platform. Please note, this is actual pricing using our standard pricing tables. In other words, if you literally want a quote for a build that fits the exact profile of one of these examples, you should expect your quote to match it to the dollar.

We can offer this level of precision in pricing, because our core build process is fast, efficient, and standardized. If you want a core build using standard options, we can get you on the road fast and at an affordable price!

Short (144" & 148" STD)

144" Example #1 - $18,620

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1750
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3575

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3450
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1400
2 Bamboo Inset Panels – $1100
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Standard Hexply Floor – $2975

Notes:

This is a pretty typical 144″ build. It had a full floor, with an added vent fan, and bamboo inset panels in the rear window pockets.

144" - Example #2 - $20,060

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995
Add 2 new windows (rear passenger and driver) – $1990

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1750
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3575

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3450
Fabric Wrapped Midsw/ premium trim on beveled transition – $1400
1 Bamboo Inset Panel (Front Driver) – $550
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Standard Hexply Floor – $2975

Notes:

This is an example of a fairly standard 144″ build with more extensive envelope work (adding 2 new windows).

144" - Example #3 - $14,100

Envelope Work:

No envelope work needed

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1750
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire with a few removed items – $2975

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3450
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1400
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Remove, insulation and replace factory floor – $1150

Notes:

This is an atypical lower end build with no envelope work needed, re-usable factory floor, and a small pairing down of the typical electrical pre-wire to assist with budgetary constraints. Not something we recommend, but something we are willing to do to help a customer meet their budgetary goals.

148" #1 - $19,615

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995
Add 1 sliding window (forward driver position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1750
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3575

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3850
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1400
2 Fabric wrapped insets (rear driver & passenger) – $700
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Standard Hexply Floor – $2975

Notes:

This is a pretty typical 148″ build with standard paneling, a full floor, and with the addition of a vent fand, forward driver side window, and fabric wrapped inset panels in the rear.

148" #2 - $21,960

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (forward position) – $995
Add 2 pill windows (rear driver and passenger) – $1790

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1750
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3575

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3850
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1400
2 Bamboo insets (rear driver & passenger) with pill window trim – $2250
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Standard Hexply Floor – $2975

Notes:

This is definitely a more premium build with the installation of pill windows and the upgraded bamboo pill window trim package.

148" Example #3 - $15,245

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $1875
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $500
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3275

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $3850
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1400
2 Fabric wrapped insets (rear driver & passenger) – $700
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1500
Remove, insulation and replace factory floor – $1150

Notes:

Another example of a paired down build to help a customer with price. In this case we kept their factory floor. Though they needed insets in the rear, we used fabric wrapped over bamboo. To further help with budget, the customer did a significant portion of their insulation work ahead of time, and were able to remove a couple items from the electrical pre-wired.

What's Next?

We could go on and on with example after example. However, we feel like the above information should give you a really good idea of what to expect in terms of pricing. If you want a specific quote for your exact circumstances, you can use the Build My Van quote request system. We can typically provide a specific price quote for your exact setup within a day or two.

Long (170" & 148" EXT)

170" Example #1 - $20,870

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1875
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3775

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4050
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1700
2 Bamboo Inset Panels – $1100
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Standard Hexply Floor – $3350

Notes:

This is a pretty typical 170″ build. It had a full floor, with an added vent fan, and bamboo inset panels in the rear window pockets.

170" Example #2 - $22,310

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995
Add 2 new windows (rear passenger and driver) – $1990

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1875
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3775

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4050
Fabric Wrapped Midsw/ premium trim on beveled transition – $1700
1 Bamboo Inset Panel (Front Driver) – $550
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Standard Hexply Floor – $3350

Notes:

This is an example of a fairly standard 170″ build with more extensive envelope work (adding 2 new windows).

170" Example #3 - $16,225

Envelope Work:

No envelope work needed

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1875
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire with a few removed items – $3175

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4050
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1700
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Remove, insulation and replace factory floor – $1400

Notes:

148" EXT Example #1 - $21,965

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995
Add 1 sliding window (forward driver position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1875
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3775

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4550
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1700
2 Fabric wrapped insets (rear driver & passenger) – $700
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Standard Hexply Floor – $3350

Notes:

This is a pretty typical 148″ EXT build with standard paneling, a full floor, and with the addition of a vent fand, forward driver side window, and fabric wrapped inset panels in the rear.

148" EXT - Example #2 - $24,310

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (forward position) – $995
Add 2 pill windows (rear driver and passenger) – $1790

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $1875
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3775

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4550
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1700
2 Bamboo insets (rear driver & passenger) with pill window trim – $2250
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Standard Hexply Floor – $3350

Notes:

This is definitely a more premium build with the installation of pill windows and the upgraded bamboo pill window trim package.

148" EXT - Example #3 - $17,345

Envelope Work:

Add 1 new vent fan (rear position) – $995

Pre-Shell Work:

Smooth Rail Mounting System – $2275
1.5″ Thinsulate Insulation & Fatmat Sound Deadening – $500
Standard Electrical Pre-Wire – $3475

Shell Work:

Bamboo Upper Paneling – $4550
Fabric Wrapped Mids – $1700
2 Fabric wrapped insets (rear driver & passenger) – $700
Hexply Lower Paneling – $1750
Remove, insulation and replace factory floor – $1400

Notes:

Core Build Phases

The Core Build is divided into 3 distinct phases: Envelope, Pre-Shell, and Shell. See below for details.

Envelope

The envelope is the bare metal modification work of your van. It can involve removal of existing builds/paneling, addition of windows, vent fans, AC Units, and other points of egress. Anything that involves cutting or modifying the exterior shell of your van is performed at this stage. Click on the expandable boxes to the right for more details.

More Info

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Demo & Prep

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