This Van Conversion Shows How Little You Need To Take On the Nomad Lifestyle

And you don't need as much as you'd think to be able to live out on the road if you adopt the correct approach, which is minimalism. This kind of nomad lifestyle is mainly about the experiences you live through, the memories you make, and the places you explore. So, a home on wheels can be simple, with few necessary amenities, as most of the time, you'll spend your time outside.

This is exactly what the approach Brttany took when deciding to convert a Ram ProMaster van into a camper where she could live full-time along with her pet dog. However, this kind of build might seem too lackluster for some people, which could be problematic for a straightforward reason.

There's no bathroom in sight, meaning you'd have to rely on public restrooms and gym memberships. This choice also makes it almost impossible to go off-grid, which is bizarre considering the van has a 300 Ah battery bank and 300W of solar.

However, at least a composting toilet could be hidden in some compartment. But even if that's not the case, this kind of design choice is not uncommon within the nomad community. So, it can work, albeit the way you approach traveling must accommodate this choice.

But this is about the only drawback of this van conversion, as otherwise, it has quite a few advantages, the most crucial of which is its mobility when compared with bus builds or RVs. And not only can it reach more secluded spaces, but it can also overnight camp just about anywhere, thanks to looking like any regular van.

This van's final advantage lies inside, specifically in the driver's compartment. As it's a new van, it has all the bells and whistles, like safety features, and a big display with Apple Car Play and Android Auto. It also features two swivel chairs, which can work wonders when it comes to making better use of the limited space available for hosting guests. The only other features here are the overhead storage compartment and the air fan.

This leads us to the kitchen, which is almost always the central area of a van conversion build. And that's the same for this ProMaster, with most of the budget going into making the kitchen a nice place to be in. Granted, some money also went into making sure the aesthetic is lovely, with richly-colored wooden floors and ceilings contrasting the white ambiance that defines the rest of the van.

There's a brand-new mini fridge and freezer combo, an induction cooktop, and a large sink with a hose attachment faucet. The cabinetry situation is a slight annoyance here, as there's not much space for storage or countertops, with the 7-gallon (26.5-liter) fresh and gray water tanks beneath the sink. But it is enough to manage, especially combined with an outdoor cooktop.

There are also plenty of wall-mounted cabinets that provide the much-needed storage space for kitchen utensils and pantries. The final detail is the large window behind the countertops, covered in an isotherm blanket and flanked by a spice rack.

On the wall opposite the kitchen, not much has been done, although it's not empty either, as there's a bench seat with hidden storage and a swivel-mounted table that acts like an impromptu dinette and office space. That's important in a full-time van build, as remote work is paramount to sustain this lifestyle, and office space and internet connection are details that cannot be overlooked.

The final area here is the bedroom, which, again, features a quirky design. It's mounted lengthwise, which takes up quite a lot of space. However, it allows a lot of storage space to go on the sidewall, which in this case, included a hanging closet. Keep in mind; this is not the best use of space.

On top of this choice regarding the bed placement, there's not even a garage space underneath, despite the massive amount of space available. Instead, the entire area serves as the puppy's private sleeping quarters, which is incredibly cute, albeit impractical. Still, if the need arises, part of the space could be used for storage, as there are already a couple of items there, including the electronics bay.

Overall, this van conversion is simple and does the job it needs to, showcasing how little is required to enjoy life on the road. And while this one is expensive due to being brand new, it's a great design blueprint for a potential nomad to try and DIY starting with a used van, as it can serve as a cheap way to dip one's toes into life on the road.