Our Process & FAQ
A small crew that sweats the millimeters
Crescent Moon Vans started the way most good workshops do: with one van, one set of tools, and the stubborn belief that a van interior should be built like fine furniture, not assembled like flat-pack.
Today we're still a small crew on purpose. Every build gets the same four sets of hands, the same standards, and the same rule: nothing leaves the shop unless we'd drive it home ourselves.
Five steps, no surprises
the same path for every van, custom or set plan-
Consultation
A call or a shop visit. We talk about how you'll use the van, your budget, and your timeline with honesty in both directions.
-
Design & Deposit
We draw your floorplan, spec the systems, and lock the materials. A deposit reserves your build slot on the calendar.
-
The Build
Insulation, electrical, plumbing, then cabinetry, built start to finish in our shop with photo updates at each milestone.
-
Walkthrough
Before handoff we walk every system together, including power, water, and heat, until you could explain it to a stranger.
-
The Long Haul
You leave with documentation and our number. Questions from the road get answered by the people who built your van.
Built from things with grain in them
We build with real hardwoods, usually walnut and white oak, joined and finished the way furniture makers do it because that's who taught us.
Underneath the pretty parts: closed-cell insulation, marine-grade wiring practices, and fastening that's engineered for a structure that lives through potholes. A van is a house in a permanent earthquake, so we build like it.
If a cheaper material would do the job just as well for decades, we'll tell you. If it won't, we won't use it.
First place at USC's 2022 Proving Grounds Competition
Crescent Moon Vans was the first-place winner of the University of South Carolina's 2022 Proving Grounds Competition, an entrepreneurial-based event that highlights promising startups.
That recognition sits beside the shop work: a small business built around careful craft, practical design, and the belief that a van conversion can be both a serious product and a deeply personal object.
The questions everyone asks
and the honest answersHow far out are you scheduling builds?
Our calendar typically books a few months ahead, and slots are reserved in the order deposits arrive. The consultation and design phases can happen while you wait, so the earlier we start talking, the sooner your build begins.
How does payment work?
A deposit reserves your build slot and kicks off design. The remainder is split into milestone payments tied to real progress: systems complete, cabinetry complete, final handoff. You'll see photos at every milestone before a payment is due, and the full schedule is in writing before we start.
How long does a build take?
Most full builds take roughly 8–16 weeks in the shop depending on complexity. Shells are faster, four-season customs with full plumbing take longer. We'll give you a realistic window during design, and we'd rather quote long and deliver early.
What happens during a consultation?
It's a conversation, not a sales call. We'll ask how you plan to use the van, who's traveling, what gear comes along, and what budget you're working with. You'll leave with a clear sense of what's possible and what it costs, whether or not you build with us.
Do I supply the van, or do you?
Either works. Many clients bring us their own van; we can also help you source the right chassis for your build, and we'll happily talk you out of the wrong one before you buy it.
What materials do you build with?
Real hardwoods, typically walnut and white oak, over properly insulated, properly wired bones. Everything is fastened for life on the road: a van flexes, vibrates, and freezes, and the construction has to be designed for all three.
Can I visit my van during the build?
Please do. We send photo updates at every milestone, and shop visits are welcome by appointment. It's your van, and watching it come together is half the fun.
What if something breaks after handoff?
Call us. Every van leaves with documentation of its systems, and the crew that built it answers the phone. We stand behind our workmanship, and the details get put in writing with your build agreement.
Why "Crescent Moon"?
Because the best part of having a van is being somewhere quiet enough to actually see the moon. That's the whole point of all this woodwork.
Ask us anything we missed.
If your question isn't up there, it deserves a real answer from a real person. Write to us, and we'll read it ourselves.
no question is too early- WorkshopVisits by appointment
- Emailhello@crescentmoonvans.com
- Phone(555) 555-0123
USC Proving GroundsCrescent Moon Vans was the first-place winner of the University of South Carolina's 2022 Proving Grounds Competition, an entrepreneurial event highlighting promising startups.