19-Year-Old Converts Vintage Box Truck Into a No-Frills Off-Grid Camper for a Mere $11K

Max installs and upgrades the camper van off-grid setup. He knew he wanted to do this ever since he was little. Max's parents both had their own vans. When he was born, they bought a Mercedes T2 box van and started converting it for full-time living – there are even pictures of him as a kid helping build the camper.

What we have is a 1995 Mercedes T1 310D, sporting a 2.9-liter diesel engine. It was initially used as a snack van before being repurposed into a lorry. You'll encounter several issues when dealing with older vehicles like this one. The most challenging one is tackling rust, especially if left in the open for a while.

Max says the vehicle was in a pretty bad state after being abandoned in a field for an extended period, hence the "Rusty Rose" name. But Max was up for a challenge, especially after acquiring lots of skills while helping his parents convert several vans. And so, he breathed new life into the vehicle.

He took the box off and had to reweld everything back together, learning how to do it from scratch. The box extends over the driver's cabin, providing more space. Of course, just like in most rigs, that's where he installed the bed.

The exterior was coated with a military green paint, applied by hand by Max. The idea behind it was for the rig to blend in with green landscapes and forests. The rig is partly stealthy in the sense that one of its sides has no windows. On the other one, you'll discover a port hole and another window.

On the roof, you'll discover two 600 W solar panels, which Max explains provide lots of power. At the rear, he removed the steel roller shutter, cut 50 centimeters (20 inches) from the box, and added a wooden wall. Other notable elements include a jerry can and a small compartment with a hose inside.

I like that Max kept sustainability in mind when developing his camper - instead of buying new parts for the van, he repurposed many used ones. For instance, he installed a stable door and an old ladder from Facebook Marketplace. Moreover, the interior is mostly made out of pallet wood,

The driver's cab didn't come with any seats, so Max bought and fitted old car seats. Furthermore, he welded the floor and added a plant pot in the glove box. You can't currently pass from the cabin into the interior, but Max plans on creating a door.

He designed the van to be 100% off-grid. So, he's got 1200 W of solar power; he has a DIY lithium battery bank and a 105-liter (28-gallon) water tank, which he claims is enough for more than two weeks. Moreover, you might be surprised, but his only heat source is a wood burner.

Before we move on to the living space, you're probably curious about pricing. He spent a mere £1,000 ($1,266) on the base vehicle and the same sum to get it delivered to him. Max explains it didn't cost him much financially to make the vehicle work, but it took him eight months to get it up and running. Moreover, he spent about £6,000 ($7.593) on the interior. That brings the total price of the camper to a very low £9,000 ($11,390). Regarding running costs, Max says that having a wood burner significantly reduces expenses. Still, the fuel can be pretty expensive since the vehicle achieves about 17 miles per gallon imperial (16.6 L/100 km or 14 MPG).

Heading inside, you'll instantly notice the feel is more like a cabin on wheels instead of a studio apartment. It's full of palette wood, which creates a rustic aesthetic, especially when paired with the wood stove.

As I mentioned, the bed is on top of the driver's cabin, and Max added some fairy lights to make a more pleasant atmosphere. He devised some stairs at the side to get into the bedroom, with the electrical system integrated inside them. There's also a skylight above with a narrowboat hatch, letting light shine inside. Moreover, on the wall under the bed, Max added a control panel.

The wood burner is another one of Max's DIY creations, based on a narrowboat wood burner – he used an old gas bottle to create it. There's a large branch beside, which contributes to the rustic look and serves as a drying rack. Moreover, he made a small compartment underneath the floor where he stores the "good wood" - it's basically his emergency reserve in case he can't find any proper wood for the stove.

There are some parts of the interior that are a work in progress. For instance, the ceiling still needs to be completed, and the L-shaped lounge requires proper cushions. Max plans to modify it to turn it into a double bed to sleep a guest. Underneath, there's plenty of storage space where Max stores his tools.

The kitchen features a large sink with drawers and cabinets underneath. On the opposite side, there's a large countertop, an induction hob, a small oven, a tiny fridge, and some extra storage spaces. Moreover, the water tanks are underneath the kitchen.

And lastly, we have the bathroom, located toward the rear of the interior, in a corner. It has a toilet but currently serves as a storage space – Max plans on adding a shower. Furthermore, he wants to run a loop behind the wood stove and devise a 15-liter (4-gallon) hot water tank.

All in all, it's impressive what Max has built by himself, especially considering his young age. His rig and its features might not be suitable for everyone, but it's just what he needs to enjoy life on the road, all for a very affordable price.