Who doesn’t dream of customizing their own camper? I certainly do – and this time I wanted to do it differently. No ready-made system, no expensive carpenter parts. My tool: a standard 10 W laser with 415 × 395 mm working area. Sounds crazy? Maybe. But that’s exactly what makes it exciting.
Starting point – My T5 needs an upgrade
I drive a VW T5, which I converted into a camper some time ago. I had built the kitchen in it manually back then – without much planning, just winging it. The result was… let’s say: functional, but not pretty.
Over time, more and more little things bothered me. So I decided to redo the whole thing – this time more precisely, thoughtfully, and with laser-cut parts.
From the idea to the plan
I use LightBurn as software and honestly admit: I’m not very familiar with construction files or CAD programs. So I first searched online for templates or DXF files for the T5 – unfortunately without success.
Either they didn’t fit my laser or they were so complex that I couldn’t easily adjust them.
So I thought: Why not just measure and design everything myself?
With a maximum working area of 415 × 395 mm, I wanted to see how far I could get with a small laser. The goal: To do the camper conversion completely myself – without CNC, without 3D drawings.
The material – light, affordable, and easy to work with
I chose 6 mm poplar plywood. The material is light, can be cleanly laser cut, and is still stable enough for interior construction.
To achieve a more robust board thickness of 12 mm, I glued two boards together each time – this keeps the overall weight low but significantly increases stability.
In LightBurn I use the settings 300 mm/min at 100% power 3x – this results in a clean cut through 6 mm poplar plywood with my Toocaa L2 Laser, without burn marks or fraying.
First steps – The front panels
I started with the front panels of the kitchen. The question immediately arose:
What do I actually want to store there?
In the upper compartments, mainly light items like cables, small parts, or cooking utensils should find space. So I planned small compartments with holders into which I can later insert rubber bands to secure everything during the drive.
For this, I inserted 6 mm laser holes in the rear holders – cut directly with the Toocaa L2. This saves time, looks clean, and is more precise than I could ever achieve by hand.
Base panel with finger joints – precision that pays off
I constructed the base panel for the upper shelves with finger joints.
This has several advantages:
I always keep the same distance, the parts can be aligned exactly, and I can glue them cleanly and additionally screw them together.
Especially with recurring elements in camper conversion, this makes a huge difference – everything fits perfectly together without constantly having to measure or adjust.
Why the laser is a real alternative
Many underestimate what is possible today with a small 10 W laser.
Of course, the workspace is limited – but with some planning, you can achieve surprisingly much: precise wood joints, exact measurements, and modular components that fit together perfectly later.
For me, this is the ideal combination of creativity and technology, even without engineering knowledge.
Part 2 – How do I build the cabinet?
In the second part of my camper conversion project, I show how I built the cabinet under the upper shelves.
It's about stability, precise joints, and clever use of space – all again with my 10 W Toocaa L2 Laser and 6 mm poplar plywood, which I glued into 12 mm panels.
I explain step by step,
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how I connected the side panels with finger joints,
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which hinge solution I used,
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and what you should pay attention to so that doors and compartments later close flush and cleanly.
So stay tuned – Part 2 will be published here on the blog shortly! 🚐✨
🔗 Tip: My tools
If you feel like working on your camper with a laser yourself, check out the Toocaa L2 laser engraver & cutter here at 3DDruckBoss.
With the discount code Camper5 you get 5 % off your purchase. 🔥
I regularly post updates, small setbacks, and new ideas about my camper conversion on Instagram.
Feel free to stop by at
👉 @sulli.vanture5
and accompany me on the way to the perfect DIY camper!
