Budget-Friendly Camper Van Features a Refreshing and Modern Micro Concrete Interior

Most camper vans follow a similar design direction – wooden cabinets, white walls, and a wooden ceiling are the most typical options. And most of the time, it ends up looking fantastic. But because there are so many builds with this kind of aesthetic, it makes the different ones, like the one I'm checking out today, stand out.

Meet Deyana and her 2020 Ram ProMaster 2500, which serves as her full-time mobile home. Its interior is finished all around in micro concrete, something I haven't seen in camper vans. Usually, van builders finish some of the walls or the countertops with micro concrete, but not the entire living space.

Before we take a closer look, let me tell you more about how this van came to be. Deyana used to travel in a self-built short skoolie. She sold it, and the very next day, she got her hands on this used Ram Promaster with 38,000 miles (61,155 km), which set her back $30,000 (€27,543).

She invested $25,000 (€22,953) into its renovation, which she carried out herself, bringing the total price of this rig to $55,000 (€50,496) - that's a fantastic deal, especially when you consider that many conversions (which exclude the price of the base vehicle) run north of this sum.

On the outside, this rig is pretty standard, boasting white paint. The only elements that make you think this is a camper are a roof rack and two windows toward the back that Deyana installed herself. But the real change happened inside.

Enter, and you'll be greeted by a superb interior – I'm really fond of its textured look, and its many black details blend in perfectly with the micro concrete. Deyana used micro concrete for the walls, part of the cabinetry, shower, and ceiling, while the floor was finished with vinyl planks. What's more, she opted for an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the rest of the living space.

Deyana made this conversion all by herself, applying the micro concrete all around the interior. She got it from a Spanish company, Smartcret, which makes it pre-prepared for use, so there's no need for you to mix it with any components.

Dead ahead as you step inside, you'll discover a seating area comprising a bench and a swivel table. There are three storage spots in this area: the space underneath the bench, three overhead cabinets, and a tiny compartment integrated into the floor.

Deyana was keen on having a mirror inside her van but couldn't find a good spot for it since she came up with the idea pretty late into the build. However, she devised a clever solution – she added the mirror on the wall behind the bench on slides. So, whenever she wants to use it, she can pull it and use it while standing up.

Next, we have the kitchen. It features a deep sink with an extendable faucet, a small oven, a dual-burner induction stove, and a sizeable fridge/freezer. Moreover, for storage, you can use three drawers and a cabinet with walnut faces, an overhead shelf, and a spice rack.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll find the wet bathroom - it's very compact, measuring 2 x 2 feet (61 x 61 centimeters), but it does the job. I like its aesthetic, with a black sliding door frame, a stone tiled floor, and, of course, micro concrete walls. By the way, water inside this van is provided by a 33-gallon (125-liter) freshwater tank connected to a 12 V, 2.5-gallon (9.5-liter) water heater.

And finally, we have the bedroom, located at the very rear of the interior. It has a hanging closet underneath, a full-size mattress designed to accommodate people from side to side, a fan, and two overhead cabinets.

To access the garage, you'll have to exit the camper and open the two rear doors. It provides a bunch of room to store stuff, and Deyana packed it with all sorts of items. She came up with simple wood shelves to make full use of the space.

She installed the freshwater tank and water heater on the right side. Furthermore, the power system is on the opposite side, boasting 600 Ah batteries, a 3,000 W inverter/charger, and a solar charge controller connected to 400 W solar panels on the roof. The system can also be charged via a shower power connection and a DC-DC charger while the vehicle is running.

All in all, Deyana created a fantastic mobile home all by herself. I love its unique interior, which not only catches your eye but also packs many features that make van life enjoyable. Considering its creature comforts and striking aesthetic, I'd say that $55K is a fair price.