DIY Chevy Camper Van With Custom Roof Raise Packs Many Features in a Very Compact Space

As soon as you lay eyes on this vehicle, you can tell it's a camper conversion. First off, I love the dual orange and white paint job. This rig was fitted with many exterior features that make it capable of going off the beaten path. For instance, the entire vehicle is covered in Raptor liner, which protects it from scratches.

The most significant upgrade for this Chevy was the roof raise. The couple contacted a Washington-based company, High Top Vans, specializing in Chevy, Ford, and Dodge Van tops. They ordered a fiberglass top, which provides an additional 17 inches (43 centimeters) of room. Still, the interior height is not big enough for you to stand up (except if you're a shorter person), but it certainly helps create the feeling of more space and creates more room for storage.

This fiberglass top is mounted on a custom aluminum rack with 330 W solar panels. Alex also built a tilting mechanism for the solar panels. In low sun conditions, tilting them increases the solar collection by 30% - 40%.

This van features quite a few other exterior upgrades. It rides on Firestone Destination MT2 mud tires and boasts a WeldTec 3-inch Spindle lift and Stage 1 Fox shocks. At the front, you'll find a bumper custom-built by Alex, equipped with a 10,000-lb (4,536 kg) winch complete with synthetic rope and off-road amber lights.

Even though it's not a 4x4, this rig can still go off the beaten path with ease. Alex explained that they prefer spending the money they would've paid for 4x4 conversion on day-to-day stuff. Moreover, he claims that their van can still reach 95% of the places where they want to go.

On the side, you'll find a Rhino-Rack awning that offers 98 inches (2.5 meters) of shade and protection. Another essential modification was to remove the van's original main door window and replace it with an 8-inch aluminum sheet. They also integrated an RV window that can be opened because they wanted additional ventilation. On the driver's side of the van, the duo carries a surfboard and an outdoor solar shower, which works by storing water inside it and letting the sun heat it.

And finally, at the rear, the couple installed yet another piece of equipment built by Alex: a steel bumper with dual swingouts. They mounted a frame on it, which holds a spare tire, a backpack, and a large aluminum box with a jerry can on top.

Moving on to the interior, the purpose of this build was to maximize storage space. You'll see that there are many compartments and all sorts of nooks and crannies all around.

As you step inside the van, the first thing you'll notice is Alex and Meg's pride and joy, the kitchen. I was surprised to see how equipped it is, given the interior's compact size. It features a two-burner propane stove, a decent amount of counter space, and some drawers and cabinets underneath the countertop.

Above, Alex built a special shelf for holding dishes. Even though it looks like the plates will fall at the first bump, Meg explains that because of the way they're slotted inside, they won't fly away even on the roughest roads. Next to it, above the stove, you'll notice a spice rack. Another nice detail is a window behind the spice rack, which, despite its small size, lets some light shine inside.

On the opposite side, the couple built a counter integrating a sink and a flip-up table. Underneath it, they added a drawer and a cabinet. Open the latter, and you'll discover a three-stage water filtration system from Clearsource RV and three 5-gallon (20-liter) jerry cans that make up the freshwater system.

Next to the counter, you'll find this van's main heating option: a tiny wood stove. And no, it's not a Cubic Mini, which is one of the most popular options among van dwellers, but rather a prototype of the "Peanut" stove built by one of Alex's travel friends. Moreover, its exit pipe is a hatch, so the couple can remove the flue pipe while driving.

For kitchen storage, Alex and Meg use various compartments across the interior. For instance, one cabinet above the driver's cabin holds dry goods, and another overhead compartment stores coffee and tea. Regarding clothes storage, there's a spacious closet that also features a mirror, as well as three overhead cabinets surrounding the bedroom.

The bedroom/living room is located at the rear. In the day setup, you'll notice a couch, but as soon as they want to go to sleep, the couple can transform it into a bed that features a 4-inch latex mattress. Other notable elements in this area include a nice personal touch, a framed cork board with Polaroid pictures, a laundry hamper, and additional cabinets for storage, including one charging their devices.

There are a couple of features I missed, so let me tell you about them. First, between the driver's and passenger's seats, there's a 12 V fridge box. Second, the couple stores a Boxeo composting toilet in one of the van's cabinets, but they also have a pee funnel integrated into a compartment in the kitchen counter for quicker use.

Regarding utilities, the electrical system is housed behind the driver's seat. It comprises a 200 Ah self-heating lithium phosphate battery, a 1,500 W inverter charger, and a 40 amp DC/DC MPPT.

The last space I haven't talked about is the garage, which is located just under the bed and accessible only from the rear. It offers a decent amount of space.

All in all, this is an excellent conversion – Alex and Meg have managed to really maximize the available space, and they carry quite a lot of stuff, considering the compact size. What makes this build even better is that it wasn't even that expensive considering its many features – the couple invested CAD 30,000 ($22,715 or €20,601) into it.