Camper Van Stands Out With a Unique Layout and a Solar-Powered Gaming Setup

Dylan and Luiza have chosen a 2008 Renault Master with a medium wheelbase and a medium-height roof. On the outside, this vehicle is quite stealthy, with no indicator of its camper DNA, except for the solar panels up top, but you can spot them only from afar.

But once you step inside, you'll discover a beautifully designed and clean space with a one-of-a-kind layout. As soon as you enter, you'll have the kitchen dead ahead. Part of the entrance is occupied by a counter that holds a sink. By the way, Dylan and Luiza were obsessed with fitting a Belfast sink inside their rig, which they ended up doing, complete with an extendable faucet. It's pretty heavy, tipping the scales at about 88 lb. (40 kg).

Underneath the sink, the couple fitted a drawer and a cabinet holding the plumbing system for this camper, consisting of two 6.6-gallon (25-liter) freshwater canisters and a 2.6-gallon (10-liter) gray water tank.

Dylan and Luiza chose an open layout for their camper van. The driver's cabin is accessible from the living space via a curtain door. Above it, they devised a decently sized storage compartment.

On the passenger side of the interior, you'll find the rest of the kitchen. It features a large solid oak countertop, an oven/stove combo powered by a 13-lb. (six-kg), an enormous overhead cabinet, a Dometic fridge, and various other cabinets and drawers for storage. What's more, the couple integrated a diesel heater. Other notable details include two 240 V sockets, a spice rack, and a bookshelf.

There are two things I really like about this kitchen. First, the cabinetry's blue color is an eye-catcher and blends nicely with the rest of the interior. Second, there's a vast dual-pane Dometic window behind the countertop, which allows you to take in the views while cooking.

The kitchen occupies about half of the living space. The rest is taken up by the bedroom/living room, which also features a unique layout. On one side, you'll find a massive L-shaped couch that goes all the way from the sliding door to the back of the van and a lagoon table that allows the duo to enjoy a meal or work on the laptop.

Of course, it can be transformed into a bed by sliding its base out and adding legs for support. The bed isn't that big, but it's enough for the two to sleep comfortably. Both underneath and above the couch, you'll discover some cabinets for storage.

The area opposite the couch is also mainly used for storage. Dylan and Luiza added many cabinets and drawers, as well as a large mirrored closet. They only take up a little of the interior width, so plenty of walking space is left between them and the couch.

There's also a sizeable cabinet hiding the electrical system. It consists of a 200 Ah lithium battery, which, surprisingly, the duo built themselves, an MPPT charge controller connected to a 315 W solar panel on the roof, a DC/DC battery charger, an inverter, and a battery monitor.

Most of us need some form of entertainment – in this case, Dylan and Luiza added a 28-inch LG TV on a swivel mount, which is connected to a PS4. So, the couple can cozy up on the couch, grab the controllers, and start gaming. They even added some LED light strips to set the mood.

You might've noticed this camper van lacks a bathroom, which is a dealbreaker for many van dwellers. Dylan and Luiza hold a Porta Potti underneath a part of the couch. The only shower available is at the rear, in the garage, which is the last spot I haven't talked about.

To access the garage, you'll have to open the two rear doors. It might seem a bit too small because it's not that tall, but this space runs deep inside the van, so there's a lot of room to store bulkier items. The garage holds an inflatable kayak, a barbecue, coal, a tent, an awning, a hammock, and a shower tent.

The duo usually washes themselves at campsites. When they're out in the wild or after a nice day at the beach, they can mount the shower tent behind the van, and a water heater will provide hot water through an attached shower nozzle. Moreover, a (25-liter) tank in the garage is used solely for showering.

All in all, this self-built camper van features some distinctive traits that really make sense. What's more, it's roomy, warm and inviting. But most importantly, its utilities and features will keep you nice and cozy.