Cabinets and storage
Benches, full-height and overhead cabinets built around how you live and what you carry, and built to stay shut on washboard roads.
Storage that stays shut
Van furniture gets shaken on dirt roads and used every day. We build drawers, benches, bulkhead and full-height cabinets from prefinished maple plywood, Baltic birch and lightweight plywood, tied into the van's structure, with lock-in, lock-out drawer slides and positive push latches so nothing opens on the road.
Overhead cabinets
Overhead cabinets add a lot of storage in space you are not using anyway, above the windows and along the upper walls. There are three ways to get them: we can build them custom to match the rest of your cabinetry, install an off-the-shelf kit such as the upper cabinets from Timber Van Kits or The Vansmith, or go light and quiet with soft-sided bins like Adventure Wagon's.
Section through a galley cabinet. Each layer is chosen to survive washboard roads and daily use.
- 1Countertop maple or butcher block
- 2Cabinet box birch ply, edge-banded
- 3Full-extension slides lock-in, lock-out
- 4Positive latch stays shut on washboard
- 5Aluminum frame 80/20 tied to structure
- 6Anchored to floor not just screwed to panels
Overhead storage options
| Option | Good for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Custom-built cabinets | Matching your cabinetry, odd spaces, built-in lighting | Most labor |
| Off-the-shelf kits (Timber Van Kits, The Vansmith) | A clean, proven Sprinter fit at a lower cost | Set sizes, finish varies by kit |
| Soft-sided bins (Adventure Wagon) | Light weight, quiet on the road, easy to add later | Less rigid, softer look |
Custom carpentry, 80/20, or off the shelf
Each approach has a place. We'll recommend the mix that fits your van, budget and timeline.
Custom plywood carpentry
Cabinets, galleys and benches built from plywood and hardwood to fit your van exactly.
- Fits every curve and corner of your layout
- Warm, finished look with hardwood and butcher block
- Easy to repair or modify later in wood
- Heavier than aluminum framing
- More shop hours than off-the-shelf
Best for: Galleys, visible cabinetry and anything that should look like furniture in a home.
Custom 80/20 framing with panels
Aluminum extrusion frames (10 and 15 series) skinned with lightweight ply, Plyboo or composite panels.
- Light and very stiff
- Bolts to the van's structure
- Reconfigurable: move a shelf or bed height later
- Industrial look unless it's skinned
- Fittings and extrusion add parts cost
Best for: Bed frames, garages, structural walls and builds that may change over time.
Off-the-shelf components
Prebuilt systems such as Flatline Van Co bed systems, White Top Adventures platforms and pull-out slides, and Tec Vanlife bed panels and L-track.
- Proven, tested designs
- Fastest install
- Predictable parts list
- Built to fit most vans, not exactly yours
- Less personal look
- Limited to what the maker offers
Best for: Beds, slides and garage systems, or a fast start you can customize around.
How we do it
Plan around how you live
Where you cook, what you store and how you move through the van.
Frame
80/20 or plywood structure tied into the van, not just the wall panels.
Build
Boxes, drawers and counters cut, assembled and edge-banded.
Install and finish
Fitted, wired for lights and outlets, and finished.
Hardware check
Every latch and slide tested so nothing opens on the road.
What to know before you buy
Weight
Hardwood and Baltic birch are heavy. Lightweight ply and 80/20 save pounds where it counts.
Latches and slides
Locking slides and positive latches are what keep drawers shut on washboard.
Plan the wiring
Lights, outlets and fridges need wiring inside cabinets before the boxes close.
Matching existing work
We match as closely as materials allow and tell you where new work may look different.
Questions about cabinets
Can you add cabinets to my DIY build?
Yes. We add storage, rebuild galleys and work around what you have.
Do overhead cabinets need special mounting?
Yes. They mount to the van's structure or a rail system, not just the wall panels, so they stay put with weight in them.
Get a cabinetry quote
Send a few details and we will call you back with ideas, options and a ballpark.
- 6771 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City
Office visits by appointment - 5.0 on Google from 39 reviews
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