How to Frame the Ceiling in a Van Conversion: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Today we're diving into the process of framing the ceiling of my Ram ProMaster camper van. If you’ve been following along, you might remember that I previously covered how we framed the walls of our van, and this tutorial will use some of the same tools and techniques.
Why Proper Planning Is Key
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned from this van build is the importance of preparation. During our wall framing project, we didn’t take the time to prep during the week, which resulted in us spending a full day just measuring, gathering supplies, and making cuts. This time, we approached it differently.
Throughout the week, we did all of our measurements, gathered materials, and completed our cuts in smaller chunks. This method saved us a lot of time when it came to the actual installation. I highly recommend you adopt a similar strategy if you're working on your van conversion.
Tools and Materials You'll Need
Play-Doh (trust me, it’s a lifesaver for marking drill spots)
Now, let’s get into the specifics of what we did to frame our van ceiling.
Step 1: Measuring the Ceiling and Prepping Furring Strips
The first step in the process is measuring and cutting the furring strips. These strips will serve as the base to which the ceiling panels will attach. To ensure precision, we measured from where the van ceiling starts to curve on both sides and cut all furring strips to 2½ inches wide.
We opted to use half-inch birch plywood for the furring strips because of its sturdiness and moisture resistance. Though it's a bit pricier, the investment is worth it for a durable and long-lasting build.
Step 2: Installing Rivnuts
Rivnuts are an excellent solution for attaching furring strips without drilling into the van’s body. They allow for a secure connection while minimizing the risk of rust, a crucial consideration for a van that will be exposed to varying weather conditions.
In the front part of the van, where the rivnut tool didn’t fit, we used a small handheld device instead. This method requires a bit of finesse, but with an Allen wrench and patience, it gets the job done.
Step 3: Marking Drilling Spots with Play-Doh
We used Play-Doh to mark the spots where our rivnuts would go. By pressing the furring strips against the van ceiling with Play-Doh in place, we were able to see exactly where we needed to drill. This simple trick saved us a lot of guesswork and ensured precise alignment.
Step 4: Drilling and Preparing Furring Strips
Once we marked all the drill spots, we drilled holes in the furring strips. We then used a paddle bit to create a recess in the wood, ensuring that the screws and washers would sit flush against the surface. This detail is essential for when we later attach the tongue and groove ceiling panels, which need a smooth, flush surface to adhere to.
Step 5: Installing the Back Furring Strip
The furring strip in the back of the van was a bit tricky to install, but we figured out a solution that worked for us. First, we removed the van’s rear light to ensure it wouldn’t interfere with the ceiling installation. Then, we added insulation to the top of the van before screwing in the back furring strip. For this part, we used a 1x2 (which really measured at 1x1½) piece of wood instead of the birch plywood, as it provided the perfect fit for this section of the van.
Step 6: Adding Furring Strips for the Ceiling Fans
To frame the ceiling fans, we connected the front and back furring strips with horizontal pieces. We used Kreg pocket hole screws to ensure that everything would be flush, maximizing ceiling space and avoiding the loss of valuable height. This step is critical for creating a professional-looking finish when you later install your ceiling panels.
Step 7: Reinforcing with Gorilla Glue
We also used Gorilla Glue to reinforce the furring strips. While this might not be strictly necessary, it’s an extra layer of security that we used on the wall framing, so we decided to stick with it for the ceiling as well. The good thing about Gorilla Glue is that it can work on multiple surface types.
Lessons Learned: Always Double-Check Your Supplies
After all of that preparation, we ran into a common problem: the screws we had were the wrong size. So, despite our best efforts to avoid last-minute runs, we found ourselves heading to Home Depot multiple times. The lesson here? Always double-check your supplies and measurements before starting a project!
Conclusion
With all the furring strips in place, we’re now ready to start installing the tongue and groove ceiling panels in the next step of the build. Stay tuned for that tutorial, where we’ll walk you through the process of creating a beautiful, finished cedar ceiling with 12v puck lights.
If you’re embarking on your own van conversion journey, remember: preparation is everything. By measuring, cutting, and organizing your materials in advance, you can save yourself a lot of time and headaches down the line.
We're not professionals, but we're learning as we go and are excited to share our journey with you. I hope this breakdown gives you an honest look at what it takes to build out a van. If you found this post helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram @adventurvan for more updates.
Also, be sure to check out our van build budget spreadsheet for a detailed list of all the materials we've used.
We’d love to hear from you—drop a comment with any questions or suggestions for what you'd like to see next. Your support means everything to us, and we're excited to have you on this journey with us!
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