Promaster · Resources ·Jul 15, 2026

First Upgrades for Your New Ram Promaster Van: Where to Start

You just picked up a Promaster. Good choice. Now the question every new owner runs into: where do you actually start?

The Promaster doesn't get the same volume of build content as some other platforms, which means less noise to sort through, but also less guidance when you're trying to figure out the right order of operations. That's what this guide is for.

This is a build roadmap, not a top-10 list. It's structured so each step sets up the next one cleanly, saving you from rework, duplicate installs, and buying things in the wrong sequence. The Promaster has the widest interior of the three major cargo van platforms and the lowest cost of entry, which makes it a genuinely strong conversion candidate. It's built for all-weather driving and comfortable living space, not off-road use, and the upgrade path here reflects that.

Everything in this guide applies to the High Roof Promaster in all three lengths: 136”, 159”, and 159” Extended.

Still deciding between platforms? Check out [Sprinter vs. Transit vs. Promaster - Which one is the better Adventure Van?] and see where the Promaster fits in as the value pick.

Jump to a section:

Before You Buy Anything: Know Your Promaster and Your Use Case
- Know Your Configuration
- Know Your Use Case
Phase 1: The Foundation
Phase 2: Exterior Storage and Utility
Phase 3: Interior Build-Out
Why Promaster? The Platform's Real Advantages
The Connectivity Upgrade: Starlink Mini Mount
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start Your Promaster Build?

Before You Buy Anything: Know Your Promaster and Your Use Case

Know Your Configuration

Config	Options	Why It Matters
Wheelbase	136", 159", 159" Extended	Sets roof rack size and bed length. Racks are length-specific.
Roof Height	High Roof (best for conversions)	FVC Promaster racks and ladders are built for High Roof.

Know Your Use Case

Profile	Description	Upgrade Priority
Weekend Warrior	Camping trips and road trips, used as a daily driver in between. Wide and roomy, with front-wheel drive that handles weather well.	Comfort and convenience first
Budget-Minded Builder	Getting the most build for the money. The Promaster is the value platform of the group.	Foundation first, add extras as needed
Full-Time Van Lifer	Living in the van. Lowest entry cost of the big three plus the widest body means the best livable space per dollar.	Interior livability first

Phase 1: The Foundation

1. Roof Rack: Do This First

The roof rack goes on first. Solar panels, storage, your awning, and lighting all mount to it, so everything else waits until this is done.

We build the Promaster Low Pro Roof Rack specifically matched to your Promaster's wheelbase: 136-inch High Roof, 159-inch High Roof, and 159-inch High Roof Extended.

While you’re ordering, it’s worth considering your add-ons at the same time: Solar Panel Mounting Brackets, Universal Decking Panels, additional crossbars or hardware, and the Starlink Mini Van Mount if mobile internet is part of the plan.

Shop Promaster Roof Racks

2. Side Ladder

Once the rack is on, roof access becomes something you actually need on a regular basis: loading gear, checking on solar panels, setting up camp. The Promaster Side Ladder is a single, dedicated mount built for the High Roof body. It’s designed to complement the Promaster van body lines, pairs perfectly with the Promaster Low Pro Roof Rack, and has built-in traction that works in all weather conditions.

Shop Promaster Ladders

3. Awning

An awning turns wherever you park into usable outdoor living space, and it mounts directly to the Low Pro rack you just installed, so there's no reason to wait on this one.

The Fiamma F45S Awning is the tried and true awning we recommend for Promaster, mounting it directly to the installed Promaster Low Pro Roof Rack. Pair it with Fiamma Awning Leg Bracket Pads to keep the mounting feet from marking up the van's finish over time.

Shop Awnings

Phase 2: Exterior Storage and Utility

This phase is about storage and access, not armor. There are no bumpers in our Promaster lineup, and that's intentional given how the platform is primarily built and used. Phase 2 and Phase 3 are interchangeable depending on your priorities. If a livable interior matters more to you right now than exterior storage, jump ahead and come back.

4. Rear Tire Carrier

Mounting the spare to a rear tire carrier frees up undercarriage space, keeps it accessible, and opens up the option of running a larger tire than what fits stock.

The Promaster Rear Tire Carrier is a standalone option. The Promaster Van Rear Ladder + Tire Carrier combines tire carrier and rear roof access into a single unit. Go with the combo if you want rear roof access in addition to your side ladder. Go standalone if the side ladder already covers what you need.

Shop Promaster Tire Carriers

5. Rear Door Platform and Storage

The rear doors on a stock Promaster are completely bare. Installing a rear door storage system gives your wet gear, tools, fuel cans, and outdoor kit a dedicated home that stays separate from the living space inside the van. It all starts with the Promaster Van Rear Door Platform, the base that every add-on in this section mounts to.

From there, build out based on what you carry:

Van Rear Storage Box: Large, weatherproof, lockable enclosed storage that keeps gear secured and protected from the elements. One of the most popular rear door upgrades we offer.
Ski and Snowboard Locker: Weatherproof dedicated storage for skis and snowboards. Keeps gear off the van floor and ready to grab without digging through anything.
Van Rear Storage Box Slim / Small: Compact enclosed storage for setups where the full box is more than you need.
Wet/Dry Gear Box: Enclosed storage with drainage built in. The right call for wetsuits, muddy boots, or anything you don't want dripping inside the van.
Adventure Van Rear Platform Gear Cage: Open containment that keeps bulkier gear from shifting in transit without locking it away.
Rear Storage Box Topper / Shelves: Adds an organized layer on top of the main storage box for smaller items, or adds interior shelving.
Rear Storage Box Bike Rack Adapter: Mounts Kuat bike trays on top of the storage box, so you keep your exterior storage and add bike-carrying capability in the same footprint.

Shop Promaster Rear Door Accessories

6. Specialty Gear Storage

If you travel with specific sports gear, we cover a variety of options to accommodate certain gear:

Adventure Van Ski & Snowboard Locker
Adventure Van Wet/Dry Gear Box for wetsuits or muddy kit
Promaster Surf Pole with Universal Surfboard Hooks
Kuat Piston SR Bike Rack with the Rear Storage Box Bike Rack Adapter

Shop Promaster Exterior Upgrades

Phase 3: Interior Build-Out

This is where the Promaster's widest-in-class body really pays off. A wider van means more flexibility in how you lay out the bed, the galley, and your storage, and it's worth leading with that advantage before getting into individual products.

7. Bed System: Anchor the Layout

The bed is the first interior decision, because everything else, your galley placement, your storage, your table, gets positioned relative to it.

The Promaster Width Advantage

The Promaster is wide enough to fit a bed crosswise, side to side, without needing window flares. That's something a Sprinter or Transit can't do at standard width. Sleeping crosswise frees up the rest of the van's length which is a meaningfully different layout than what most van platforms allow.

The Promaster Bed System is the full setup for couples or anyone planning to sleep East/West in the van. We recommend it with the Promaster Van DIY Bed Mount Kit for the simplest installation process that does include mounting hardware for the system, and offers height adjustability. At this time, our Promaster bed system only fits the 159” Promaster out of the box.

For solo travelers who want maximum daytime floor space, or anyone who wants an extra single bed, the Adventure Van Solo Bed can be suspended from the van’s walls at a height that makes sense for your use, or can be used with adjustable legs for a compact bed that folds up against the wall when not in use.

Both options pair with a mattress cut to size for each system. The Promaster Van Mattress is a bi-fold option built to fit the platform, and the Solo Bed Mattress is a single panel mattress. All mattresses have multi-layer foam for optimal comfort, a removable cover for easy washing, and are available in medium-firm or soft firmness options.

Shop Promaster Bed Systems

8. Galley / Kitchen

A real galley is what makes cooking in the van practical instead of a workaround. The 41" Galley gives you a full counter and prep area, suited to full-time living and regular cooking. The 24" Galley is the compact version, a good fit for the 136" wheelbase or for weekend builds where floor space is at more of a premium. Both options come ready to add a fridge, with a 1.5” solid bamboo top that you can use as a full counter top or cut in your own sink.

Shop Galleys

9. Tables, Trays, and Smart Storage

The Promaster doesn't have a dedicated cabinet line, so this phase centers on universal storage and usable surfaces rather than built-in overhead cabinets.

The Adventure Van Pull-Out Tray works well for bikes or as a slide-out surface for heavier gear. The Universal Wheel Well Box puts the dead space above the wheel wells to use. The Adventure Van Fold Down Table gives you a real surface that folds away when you don't need it. If you're carrying boards, the Adventure Van Interior Ski & Snowboard Rack keeps them organized inside the van. And the Van Paper Towel Holder is a small detail that makes a real difference at the galley.

For securing gear, the L-Track Anchors with D-Ring Hooks (10-pack) paired with 1" cam straps in your choice of L-Track anchors, coated S-hooks, or L-Track loops gives you a flexible tie-down system throughout the van.

Shop Promaster Interior Accessories

Why Promaster? The Platform's Real Advantages

The Promaster has a reputation as the budget van of the big three. That reputation is accurate, and it's also the case for buying one.

The Promaster has the lowest entry cost of the three major platforms, which leaves more of your budget available for the actual build. It has the widest interior, which means you can sleep crosswise, run a wider galley, and generally have more livable room to work with. Its front-wheel drive layout gives you a flat floor and some decent snow and rain traction, making it a strong all-weather daily driver. And because it runs a gas engine and is serviced at any Ram dealer, maintenance tends to be easy to schedule.

The honest trade-off: the Promaster is not an off-road platform. Lower clearance, front-wheel drive, and no AWD option mean it isn't built for the kind of terrain a Sprinter or Transit AWD can handle. Where it shines is full-time living, all-weather commuting, and getting the most build for your money.

Browse the full Promaster collection.

The Connectivity Upgrade: Starlink Mini Mount

The Starlink Mini Mount is a purpose-built mount for your Promaster roof rack, giving you reliable internet wherever you park for remote work, navigation, or just staying connected. It installs to the crossbars of all of our roof racks for Promaster vans any time after the roof rack is on, so it's an easy one to add whenever it fits your build schedule.

Shop the Starlink Mini Mount

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first upgrade I should do on my Ram Promaster van?

A roof rack. Solar panels, storage, awnings, and lighting all mount to it, so it goes on first. We offer Low Pro roof racks for every Promaster High Roof configuration: 136", 159", and 159" Extended.

Does the Ram Promaster come in 4x4 or AWD?

No. The Promaster is front-wheel drive only. That gives it a flat floor and surprisingly good snow and rain traction for a cargo van, but it isn't built for off-road the way an AWD Sprinter or Transit Trail is. Think all-weather daily driver, not rock crawler.

Does Flatline Van Co. make a Promaster front or rear bumper?

Not currently. The Promaster is a front-wheel-drive platform built for livable or cargo space and all-weather driving more than off-road use, so our Promaster lineup focuses on roof racks, ladders, tire carriers, storage, and interior build-out rather than bumpers.

Can you really sleep sideways in a Promaster?

Yes, and it's one of the platform's biggest advantages. The Ram Promaster is wide enough to fit a bed crosswise without adding wheel-well flares, which frees up length for your galley and gear. The Sprinter and Transit can't do this at standard width.

What's the difference between the 136", 159", and 159" Extended Promaster?

Wheelbase and overall length. The 159" has roughly 19 percent more interior room than the 136", and the 159" Extended has roughly 30 percent more. The 136" is the compact, city-friendly option, while the 159" is the most popular length for conversions. Roof racks and bed systems are length-specific, so confirm your configuration before ordering either one.

How much does it cost to build out a Ram Promaster van?

It depends on how far you take it. A basic exterior setup with a roof rack, ladder, and awning is the most accessible starting point. A full exterior and interior build is a larger investment, though Promaster builds generally come in lowest of the big three platforms once everything is accounted for. For reference, a full ground-up DIY conversion typically runs anywhere from 8,000 to 30,000 dollars or more, excluding the van itself. Contact us for current pricing on our Promaster lineup.