Curious about how the van conversion process works? Read through our FAQ that provide answers about pricing, dealers, warranties, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VAN CONVERSIONS
Q:
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK?
A:
It’s always best to talk with us first about what you want in a camper conversion van. We will advise you which one of our Sprinter conversion vans may be best for your requirements. We secure the van for you at our prices, or refer you to a number of quality dealers we work with.
Q:
WHAT WARRANTIES DO YOU PROVIDE?
A:
In addition to the manufacturers’ warranties on the vehicle chassis, components and electronics, your conversion van comes with a three-year, 36,000 mile warranty covering materials and craftsmanship on upfitting work done by El Kapitan.
Q:
DO YOU OFFER FINANCING?
A:
At El Kapitan, we will be glad to help you arrange financing on new camper conversion van, usually through the dealer who sells you your van chassis. If you purchase a van through us, we will put you in touch with Mercedes Benz of Stockton where they will provide you with many financing options. Van manufacturers offer attractive financing rates, not only for the chassis, but for van conversion work as well, so you can roll everything up into one payment.
Q:
DO I BUY THE VAN FROM YOU OR A DEALER?
A:
You may purchase the van chassis from a dealer, or we can convert a van you already own. El Kapitan can help arrange purchase from Daimler/Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans.
Note: We only convert CARGO chassis’s
Q:
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WILL I KNOW THE COSTS IN ADVANCE?
A:
In our Inventory, we have Sprinter 144 Story Maker and Sprinter 170 Dream Weaver pricing available. The price includes the full conversion with MSRP and excludes the van taxes and licensing. The pricing involves all design specifications, features, equipment, and labor. Price always varies based on the MSRP specifications, the type of van conversion you want, and the upgrades. Please call us or fill out the “contact us” form located at the bottom of our Contact Us page and we will be glad to provide general guidelines for you.
Q:
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
A:
We complete most van conversions and upfitting in 8-12 weeks from the time the chassis arrives at our facility. Conversions may take a little longer based on availability of selected components. Our goal is to always deliver your conversion van as quickly as possible, commensurate with our high standards for quality and safety.
Q:
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
A:
Give El Kapitan a call at 714-896-8267 or visit our facility in Newport Beach. We would love to show you examples of our work so you can see the high quality for yourself. From there, we can discuss with you the type of Sprinter model you are considering and then determine the best course of action. Going forward, we will be glad to procure a van chassis for you or introduce you to trusted dealers who will arrange purchase and financing of the vehicle and custom upfitting.
Q:
DO I PICK UP MY VAN FINISHED OR DO YOU DELIVER?
A:
If the van is being registered in the state of California, then you are more than welcome to pick it up from our showroom in Newport Beach. If you are registering the van out of state, then the van will be transported out of California state lines. Depending on your choice of delivery, we will either provide a complete walk-through of all your van’s features in person or a fully detailed description.
Q:
ARE YOU CERTIFIED WITH ANY MANUFACTURERS’?
A:
El Kapitan is proud to be among an elite group of conversion van upfitters to have the gold standard certification in our industry – Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van Master Upfitter.
Q:
WHAT BRANDS OF VANS DO YOU CONVERT?
A:
Mercedes Benz Sprinter’s 144 and 170 cargo vans 2500 or 3500
Q:
DO YOU HAVE SET FLOOR PLANS?
A:
We offer two camper conversion floor plans, one for the 144 Story Maker and another for the 170 Dream Weaver. After completing more than 15,000 van conversion projects, we have a pretty good idea of what works best and what most people tend to prefer. We will share that knowledge with you to ensure your van will be everything you want it to be.
Q:
DO YOU USE SUBCONTRACTORS FOR ANY OF THE CONVERSION PROCESS?
A:
No. El Kapitan does all work in-house with our experienced and highly skilled staff.
Q:
HOW EXPERIENCED ARE YOUR CRAFTSPEOPLE AND TECHNICIANS?
A:
El Kapitan employees are the finest in the industry. We have specialists in wood work and cabinet making, upholstery, van seats, engineering, electrical systems, custom van window installation, computers, and more. Most of our staff have been with us since we opened our doors in 1984. Since then, they have helped build an industry with every completed van. We challenge and reward our people with exciting work and a great work environment and have been rewarded with exceptionally low employee turnover.
Q:
WHERE CAN I SEE SOME OF YOUR FINISHED WORK?
A:
Please come to our conversion van facility headquarters at 600 W. Coast HWY in Newport Beach, CA. We will be thrilled to give you a tour and show you our demo vans.
