Ever since I drove around New Zealand in a decrepit campervan, I wanted to build my own (I had a lot of ideas about what they should’ve done, including have a functioning speedometer). Thus, I introduce: the perfect COVID project. It took a month to plan and acquire a van, and three months to build—it’s easy to do it quickly when you don’t have the distractions of soul-crushing social obligations.

My temporary home away from home.

The countertop and sink. The fold-up countertop allows for a generous amount of space for meal prep and cooking. Additionally, the passenger seat swivels around for an additional workspace.

The view from the outside. The back of the kitchen counter is there, with all the plumbing particulars behind that door. Behind the kitchen counter is the pantry cabinet. (PS: That faucet swivels around for a shower!)

The ins and outs of the plumbing. There’s a 25 gallon freshwater tank that is plumbed through a Shurflo water pump and accumulator. From the stainless steel adaptable faucet with pull-down sprayer, the water flows into the sink and down to our 7 gallon greywater tank. The greywater tank has a quick release hose to make dumping easy. All tanks and plumbing are secure for driving.

The living room. There are mesh nettings to hold materials and things to charge. There are also two DC outlets, an AC outlet, and the main light switch (complete with dimmer function). Little does the outsider know that beneath that loveseat is all of the electrical gear.

There is ample storage space within the cabin for longer hauls. The pantry fits all kitchenware, food, toiletries, first aid, and cleaning supplies inside the top door and long door. The bottom left of the pantry can hold a Nature’s Head or other composting toilet. Using natural materials was a priority, primarily wood. The ceiling consists of strips of cedar (for the smell obviously). The countertops, as well as the slide-in table table are oak finished.

A peek inside of the pantry…

The dining area consists of a loveseat and a single seat with a pull out counter top between them. Beneath the single seat is more storage space (linens, boardgames). And behind the chair is a large nook with an AC outlet, a DC outlet for a signal booster, and a switch to turn the water pump off. It is also a great place to store things (namely laundry).
On the right there is a Dometic 65X refrigerator. It also has a great freezer section, which is crucial for ice cream.

Bedside cubbies: the perfect place to put books, phones, and other things before bed. There is also a reading light and outlet for charging any devices in bed. Not pictured: a shelf that runs the length of the bed, which is ideal for a library of books to read!

Above the bed there are open cabinets for ventilation. It is enough storage space for two wardrobes.

The garage space is under the bed and the perfect place to store larger items. There are two huge heavy duty drawers to keep miscellaneous camping and recreational items organized. On either side is storage space for more outdoor things like a lantern, grill, chairs, etc. It is lit by LED lights for accessibility after dark. There is one DC outlet and two AC outlets for any outdoor needs.

A photo proving how massive these drawers are. I could sleep in this comfortably.

There are three 200W solar panels anchored to a roof rack. Pictured up front is the MaxxAir 5100K, which allows for airflow both in and out, which is great for cooking and keeping cool and comfortable.

Electrical set up. Pictured here are: Victron Energy 2000W Inverter/Charger for all AC functions, including plugging into shore power to charge batteries; Victron Energy Orion battery to battery charger for driving or when you need power in a pinch—simply turn on the vehicle; Victron Energy Solar Charge Controller to moderate the power coming from the panels and going to the batteries; Victron Energy Lynx Distribution Box, which acts as a large bus bar, connecting everything together, including the grounding. Though the distribution panel tried, it couldn’t make it into the photo—that is where all the interior power is wired (think of it as a fuse box).

Check out those sexy 100Ah Battle Born Lithium batteries.














