High-End Camper Van Is Made Using Only Off-the-Shelf Components, You Can Build It Yourself

Before we take a closer look at the van, let me answer this question: "Why would someone go for a van like this?" Custom vans ensure your wants and needs will be fulfilled, but they are quite expensive. A pre-built van is also an option, and some builders let you modify some parts of it, but they're still pricey.

On the other hand, a DIY build is the cheapest way of creating a camper van but also the most challenging and time-consuming. One might also consider making a mobile home using off-the-shelf kits and accessories built specifically to fit various van models.

This way, you save yourself the hassle of designing and making components fit inside while also saving some money that would've gone to the builder's labor. By the way, if you're interested in finding out more about the financial side of van life and camper van building or buying, check out my recent article exploring this topic.

The tiny home on wheels I'm checking out today was brought to life by Van Land, a specialized conversion company based in Santa Rosa, California, which doubles as an online marketplace for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van parts and accessories. I've covered one of their custom projects here on autoevolution.

Van Land's base vehicle of choice for this conversion, as you can expect based on what I just told you above, is a 2023 AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 144" wheelbase. Like always, I'll start with the exterior features.

This Sprinter van rides on 17-inch Black Rhino aluminum wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. What's more, it's equipped with a Van Compass 4.3 suspension lift kit, which consists of a rear mini leaf spring pack, Falcon adjustable shocks, and front Sumo Springs.

The exterior is finished with a ceramic coating designed to last for up to five years. This extra layer is meant to prevent dust, bugs, and any other debris from sticking to the vehicle. Moreover, it offers a satin feel to the touch and makes the paint shine more.

At the front, you'll discover an Owl Vans Pismo bumper complete with D-ring shackles and a 12,000-lb. (5,443-kg) winch, as well as upgraded fog lights and grille lights. Other notable front features are a sizeable LED light bar mounted up top, Terrawagon fender armor, and a connection for an ARB air compressor.

Moving on to the sides of the vehicle, Van Land fitted a CR Lawrence T-Vent window on the passenger side. Furthermore, you'll find two Flarespace flares with slide-screen windows painted to match the rig's color.

On the back, the builders added an Owl Vans ladder/spare tire carrier above a swing-away 1UP RakAttach bike rack. Climb on top, and you'll discover an Owl Vans Touring rack holding a Fiamma awning, a StarLink, and a WeBoost.

That's it for the exterior, so let's move on inside. You won't have to slide open the main door, but rather just pull on its handle, and it will open by itself. As soon as you do that, a step is deployed to make it easier for you to enter.

You'll discover a cozy interior with an open layout, meaning the driver's cabin isn't separated from the living space. Instead, Van Land installed a black-out curtain for privacy, above which you'll find a Van Wife headliner shelf.

As I mentioned earlier, this camper van's interior was made using a pre-designed kit. Specifically, it's a ZenVanz cabinetry kit that comes with a kitchen/galley, upper cabinets, a three-panel bed system, and a fold-out gear drying rack.

If you pay extra, you can also opt for a bamboo ceiling, as well as bamboo door and wall panels. This kit is priced at $18,000 (€16,818) for short-wheelbase vans and $22,000 (€20,555) for long-wheelbase models.

The basic platform of the van (specifically, the walls and ceiling) was made using an Adventure Wagon kit. This kit will set you back $16,000 (€14,923) for the Sprinter 144" and $19,000 (€17,721) for the 170" model.

Dead ahead of the entrance, you'll find the ZenVanz galley kitchen. It features two spacious black countertops, one of which is near the entrance, a tiny yet deep stainless steel sink with a drinking water tap, a single-burner induction stove, and a dual-drawer fridge/freezer.

There are plenty of drawers and cabinets (including a total of five overhead cabinets) you can use to store stuff. The upper cabinets have a nice curved design, which not only looks good but makes it easier on your head if you end up hitting it on them. Moreover, one of them houses the rig's control panel – it consists of a Cerbo GX display that controls the electrical system, remotes for the Maxxair fan and A/C, and a heater controller.

Since the Sprinter van is quite narrow (compared to other vans such as the Ram ProMaster), this unit's builders had to fit the Flarespace flares to be able to mount the bed side to side. With this current setup, the width of the bedroom is a bit over 6 feet (183 centimeters).

Underneath the bed, you'll find two drawers, with one of them serving as a small table, as well as a slide-out toilet with a tiny storage spot for toilet paper and cartridges for the toilet. Above, the builders installed a 24 V Nomadic X3 A/C.

The last part of this camper van is the garage underneath the bed, accessible by opening the two rear doors. Its middle part is where you can store your belongings, while the sides are occupied by Tiny Watts cabinets housing the utility systems.

Specifically, it's a Tiny Watts 3 in 1 system – since all its components are already fited in the cabinets, all you have to do is fit them and connect the systems to the rig. It's quite a pricey kit, currently offered for a hefty $39,950 (€27,260).

The left side houses the 24 V power system, its highlights being a 3,000 W inverter/charger, two 100 Ah batteries, a DC-DC charger, and a solar charge controller connected to the solar panels on the roof. The opposite side holds the plumbing system consisting of a 20-gallon (76-liter) freshwater tank, a water filter, a heater, and an outdoor shower.

All in all, a setup like the one on this 2023 AWD Sprinter isn't cheap, but it makes the van conversion much easier, especially compared to custom builds. Van Land didn't share a price for this project, but if we add up the costs of the components from the three manufacturers I mentioned throughout the article, we'll get almost $74,000 (€69,017).

Factor in the price of a 2023 AWD Sprinter van, which is around $70,000 (€65,286) or more, and we'll get to $150,000 (€139,900), to which you'll have to add the costs of all the exterior accessories and other components I haven't included. That's a lot than most people would be willing to pay, but it saves you the hassle of designing and building custom features for your tiny home on wheels.