Leave It to the Germans To Show North America How To Build an Over-Achieving Camper Van

Before us lies nothing more than the SOD Proline, a camper van designed and crafted by none other than Germany's Stone Offroad Design, or SOD, for short, and if you're wondering why I brought this bugger to light, just look at it for god's sake! It's not every day that something this well-executed graces our eyeballs, so let's gather around for the next few minutes and get a feel for how they do things over in Europe.

Now, if the name SOD sounds familiar, it's because we've written about their machines before, in particular, the Peak, an ultra-capable Expedition vehicle with more hydraulic-actuated components than three lowriders put together. While this manufacturer builds an array of off-road-ready camper vans, toy haulers, and expedition vehicles, they only have one Proline, so this one's a stand-apart machine, to say the least.

Since SOD is a conversion crew, to bring the Proline to life, they typically start with a VW Crafter, or, if you feel like being different, a 2017 MAN TGE can also be used. But no matter which of these two base machines customers eventually choose, the same SOD touch is integrated into each one, and that means a whole lot more than just a visually striking machine.

For example, SOD has a habit of taking a vehicle, stripping it down to its bare bones, and building it back up to a level where the initial van appears to be nothing more than just a shadow under this feature-filled habitat. Two build or Bodykits are available to choose from, and no matter the one you go for, SOD messes with the chassis and suspension and even raises motor performance to either 220 hp or 245 hp, depending on the package chosen.

Regarding the suspension, it's not clear just what SOD throws in place, but they do mention that a 15 cm (6 in) or 30 cm (12 in) lift kit is applied, and each one can handle 4.6 tons and 5 tons of load, respectively. The Bodykit 2 package also brings "high-performance" braking along with it.

Those are some of the features we can't see, but there are also plenty that we can. For example, SOD throws in a wicked bar at the front, which looks as though it's hugged by the bumper trim in place, and each wheel includes high-rise and extended arches. Be sure to take notice of that snorkel, winch, and underbody protection, too.

Moving up this unit's exterior, SOD throws on a pair of tractions boards mounted neatly on a rail that runs along the camper's left side, a spare tire mount at the rear, a ladder next to it, and up above, a massive roof rack with a rooftop tent can be spotted, not to mention all the lighting you'd ever need to illuminate the wild world around you at night.

As for the interior of this machine, the manufacturer's website doesn't share any images as to what we're in for, and that makes a whole lot of sense. Why? Well, SOD is one of those crews that'll whip up a machine just for you and to your personal satisfaction. This means that each unit is completely different from every other one that ever came off the proverbial assembly line.

Nonetheless, I can't just leave you hanging like this, so as a bit of a treat, I've hunted down the interiors that SOD has of other van conversions they've showcased over the course of their lifetime. I must say that if the Proline is anywhere near what we see. It clearly is, then future owners are in for one of the most flawless camper van interiors the market can whip up.

Suppose you're not aware of how meticulous Germans are when it comes to campers, motorhomes, and RVs. In that case, all I have to say is that interested buyers will actually show up to a unit you're trying to sell and literally measure, knock, pinch, push, and pull at every inch of that thing. If one feature is off, you'll get a fat old "Denied" stamp. I can understand why, too; units like these have to be the most dependable vehicles around. God forbid you end up stranded in the middle of nowhere because a tad of water seeped into your battery bay and fried the circuits. That's clearly not going to be an issue with this one.

But how much can we expect to pay for the Proline? Well, I'll tell you, I had one hell of a hard time finding a price for this puppy, but knowing how SOD likes to roll, expect to drop several hundred thousand dollars on this beast; it's not for everyone.