Wall and ceiling panels
ACM aluminum, prefinished ply, Plyboo, melamine, tongue and groove, shiplap, hexa ply or marine-vinyl upholstery. It all depends on the design.
The surface you live with every day
Walls and ceilings set the look of the whole van and hide the insulation and wiring behind them. There's no single right material: it depends on the design. We build in ACM aluminum composite panels, prefinished plywood, CNC-cut Plyboo, melamine, tongue-and-groove and shiplap boards, and phenolic hexa ply, and we upholster panels in marine-grade vinyl for a soft, wipeable, factory-like finish on walls or ceilings.
Panels mount on rivnuts at the factory holes where possible, or on furring strips that give a flat plane and an air gap. We trim openings cleanly and plan removable access panels over wiring runs, fuses and fan connections, so a future upgrade doesn't mean tearing out finished walls.
Driver-side wall of a 144 high-roof Sprinter from inside. Full-height panels are cut to the van, meet on the ribs, wrap the window opening and wheel well, and screw into rivnuts with finish washers. The rear doors and slider get their own panels.
- 1Front wall panel
- 2Window cutout rounded to the window opening
- 3Rear wall panel wheel well cut from the bottom edge
- 4Seam on a rib panels meet where there is structure
- 5Rivnut and finish washer
- 6Door panels rear doors and slider, separate pieces
Wall and ceiling materials
| Material | Look | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACM aluminum composite | Clean, modern, solid colors | Light, rigid, waterproof, wipes clean | Modern look won't suit every design |
| Prefinished plywood (maple, birch) | Natural wood, ready-finished | Durable, easy to mount things to | Rustic look won't suit every design |
| Plyboo bamboo plywood | Premium bamboo grain | Striking, durable, CNC-cuts cleanly | Heavier and moisture sensitive |
| Melamine | Bright, smooth, solid color | Tough, easy to clean | Often on an MDF core |
| Tongue and groove | Warm cabin look | Classic look, hides fasteners | Hard to remove and service |
| Shiplap | Farmhouse look | Shadow lines, easy to paint | Hard to remove and service |
| Hexa ply (phenolic) | Black textured, rugged | Waterproof, tough, great for garages | Utilitarian look |
| Vinyl-upholstered ply | Soft, factory-like | Quiet, follows curves, wipeable | Labor intensive |
Many builds mix materials: wood or ACM where it shows, hexa ply in the garage, vinyl on curved ceiling edges.
How we do it
Template
CNC files or hand templates made to your van's year and window layout.
Cut and finish
Panels cut, edges finished, and wrapped or sealed as specified.
Mounting points
Rivnuts in factory holes and furring strips where a flat plane is needed.
Install
Panels hung with foam tape at contact points to prevent rattles, openings trimmed.
Access
Removable sections over wiring, fuses and fittings.
What to know before you buy
Weight
Tongue-and-groove and thick sheet goods add up. Thin ply and wrapped panels save payload.
Future access
Plan removable panels now so upgrades don't mean tearing out walls.
Rattles
Rivnut mounting, foam tape and butyl on large panels keep things quiet.
Ceiling curve
Following the high-roof curve keeps headroom at the edges; a flat ceiling loses it.
Questions about panels
What material should I use?
It depends on the design you want, how much weight you can carry and what mounts to the walls. We'll walk you through options with samples.
Can I get behind the walls later?
Yes, if access panels are planned in. We build them over wiring and fittings.
Do you upholster panels?
Yes, in marine-grade vinyl for walls or ceilings.
Can you add panels to my DIY build?
Yes. We template from your van as it is, around what's already installed.
Get a panel quote
Send a few details and we will call you back with ideas, options and a ballpark.
- 6771 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City
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