Paneling a van used to be one of those jobs. You know, the kind where you’d spend three weekends swearing at plywood sheets, fighting with warped edges, and wondering why you ever thought van life sounded like a good idea. You’d start with a fresh cup of coffee and a YouTube tutorial, and five hours later you’d be covered in sawdust, muttering something about “living in a tent instead.”
Yeah… we’ve been there.
At Roost Vans, we decided to put an end to that madness. Paneling shouldn’t be a multi-day war with your walls. It should be clean, fast, and look really good when you’re done… Whether you’re a DIY builder on phase one of your build or wrapping up the finishing touches.
The Old Days of Paneling
Before products like our paneling kits, van builders were out here trying to bend and trim massive sheets of wood to fit every odd curve of their van. The measuring, the cutting, the inevitable “oops, I cut the wrong side” moment; it’s enough to break the spirit of even the most determined DIYer.
And serviceability? Forget about it. Once your panels were in, you prayed to the van gods that nothing behind them would ever break, because removing everything was like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube.
We got tired of seeing people go through all that. So we fixed it.
The Roost Vans Paneling System: Lower, Mid, Upper
We’ve taken the pain and guesswork out of paneling with a modular paneling system that’s as simple as “open box, install, smile.” Well, it doesn’t install itself, but it sure is a ton easier that starting from scratch. Our paneling kits pair seamlessly with our Smooth Rail Mounting System and the best part? They’re not trapped behind the mounting system. You can pop off a single panel for access without tearing apart your entire van allowing for future serviceability behind the panel.
Upper Paneling Kit
The upper kit is pre-cut and ready to drop in. Install it using the Smooth Rail Mounting System, and you’ll have easy ceiling access anytime. Just unscrew a few thread-forming screws and pop it down.
Options? We’ve got finished bamboo sealed with Osmo hard wax, unfinished bamboo for your custom finish, or fabric wrap.
Mid Wall Paneling Kit
The mid kit, shown in our gray heather fabric wrap, but you can also grab it in finished or unfinished bamboo.
Inset bamboo window panels make side-to-side sleeping possible, even if you’re six feet tall and not using flares. No more hitting your elbows on cold metal.
Lower Paneling Kit
Available in anti-skid hex-ply, finished bamboo, unfinished bamboo, or fabric-wrapped options for a softer look.
And here’s the kicker: we’ve installed this kit in nearly 100 vans now, and it just works. It’s clean, durable, and easy to service. Most importantly, it makes your van feel done.
Why DIYers Love It
We designed these kits for builders who want a professional look without sacrificing weekends to tedious cutting and guesswork. You can start your build with paneling in place and still make changes later, no redoing your work.
Want to add wiring later? No problem. Need to get behind a panel? Pop it off and go.
It’s the perfect blend of flexibility and finish, and it’s why our paneling has become one of our best-selling systems.
Why We Did It
Because we were sick of seeing people suffer.
Paneling your van shouldn’t feel like a rite of passage that leaves you traumatized and half bald from stress. We wanted to make it so that DIYers (and shop builds) can get fast, clean installs with zero guesswork.
Ready to Panel Like a Pro?
If you’re ready to stop fighting with plywood and start building your dream van, check out our full lineup of Paneling Kits.
Or watch our full DIY paneling breakdown video on YouTube for a closer look at the Lower, Mid, and Upper kits in action.