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Campervan Build Standards: What Coachcraft Means and Why It Matters

By Jack Roadie | The Drift


Most people begin with the visible choices—layout, finishes, the feel of the interior. And they should. A Drifter campervan is meant to be beautiful. But beauty isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point.


What protects that beauty over years of real use is what lies beneath it: the systems plan, service access, fastening methods, and tolerances—details you rarely notice until something rattles, leaks, or fails.


That’s why we built Drifter Coachcraft Standards around one core idea: campervan build standards should elevate design, not compete with it. Our standards exist so a campervan doesn’t just photograph well—it lives well, mile after mile.


Because the road is a stress test. Standards are how a campervan stays quiet, safe, serviceable, and solid long after delivery.


Why We Created the Drifter Coachcraft Standards


Drifter workshop team working together on a campervan interior, highlighting coachcraft standards and hands-on construction.

I’ve seen what happens when standards are treated as optional: inconsistent wiring, poor service access, moisture issues, rattles, and failures—problems that don’t show up on delivery day, but appear months or years later.

Drifter builds custom campervans, not pre-manufactured RVs. That distinction matters. In custom work, things are always evolving—layouts change, materials shift, systems are refined. Every build requires constant coordination and adjustment.

That’s why we created a proprietary production process to support our Coachcraft Standards—so no matter how a design evolves, the level of quality never slips.


What Drifter Coachcraft Means in Real Life


Hands-on leather craftsmanship at a workbench, detailing a custom component for a Drifter campervan interior.

Coachcraft isn’t marketing language. It’s how we build every campervan:


  • Design before production — no cutting first and hoping later

  • Systems planned, not stuffed in — electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling engineered from the start

  • Serviceability matters — access panels and maintenance paths are part of the plan

  • Materials are road-correct — chosen for vibration, movement, and seasonal change

  • Quality checks throughout — not just a final walkthrough


These standards ensure that beauty and functionality stay aligned long after the campervan leaves our workshop.


Standards + Process: How We Enforce Them


Three members of the Drifter workshop team collaborating on a custom campervan build, focused on craftsmanship and precision.

Our standards work because our production process enforces them.

Every Drifter campervan is shaped by a coordinated team:


  • A Production Designer responsible for structure, engineering, and cabinetry planning

  • A personal Interior Designer guiding materials, finishes, livability, and flow

  • Our Master Builders executing each detail with precision and durability in mind


This is why our builds feel consistent. It’s not one person’s opinion—it’s a system.


RVIA & NFPA: The Standardized RV World (and the Gap in Campervans)


In the pre-manufactured RV world, RVIA is the most widely recognized benchmark. Its program aligns with nationally recognized RV safety standards, including NFPA 1192, which addresses minimum safety requirements and system installation for electrical, fuel-burning, and plumbing systems. RVIA also describes an audit and inspection culture that checks units against hundreds of safety-related requirements.


Here’s what many buyers don’t realize:


Campervan conversion companies are not universally required to follow RVIA or NFPA-style standards.


Many shops build excellent campervans. Others do not. And because the market isn’t regulated in the same way as factory RV manufacturing, quality can vary more than people expect.


That’s the gap.


Built to Hold Up


Drifter van sitting on ice in a dark setting

Drifter Coachcraft Standards aren’t a tagline—they’re the benchmark we build to so the beauty you choose stays intact long after the first thousand miles.

A high standard shows up quietly:


  • doors and drawers that close the same way in year three as they did on day one

  • systems that are planned, labeled, and serviceable

  • materials, fastening, and tolerances chosen for vibration, movement, and seasons

  • details that don’t loosen, rattle, or fade once real travel begins


Interior design and layout matter—they’re what you live with every day. Coachcraft is what protects them.


Because the real luxury isn’t just how a Drifter campervan looks on delivery day. It’s how confidently it lives on the road ahead.


Let’s Get You Moving in the Right Direction


Kick tires. Ask questions. Drift awhile.


🎥 Explore Our  YouTube Channel

Watch van tours, build reveals, and behind-the-scenes footage straight from our shop.

The Drift Facebook group is a community where you can ask questions directly to the builders and designers at Drifter Vans, gaining insights and advice about campervan builds and design.

Created by builders. Filled with vanlife tips, design inspiration, product reviews, and real client stories from the road.

🖼️ Check Out The Clients Gallery 

Browse layout inspiration, interior finishes, and the creative details that make each Drifter Van unique.



Contact Drifter Vans Today


If you’re ready to start exploring, click below. There’s no pressure—just a starting point. This isn’t a commitment. It’s a door opening.


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