Vantopia's Turnkey Kits Transform Your Van Into a Tiny Home on Wheels, No Drilling Needed

A camper conversion kit is a budget-friendly option for transforming a van into a tiny home on wheels. Naturally, the more you pay for it, the better its features will be. Moreover, most kits are designed to be easy to install. One example of a camper van kit I wrote about is from Timber Van Kits.

This time, I'm talking about the kits from Vantopia. This Costa Mesa, California-based company specializes in bespoke van conversion kits designed to be installed with basic tools. You can buy components individually from the company, or you can fully build your van through a five-step process in which you'll select the base kit, flooring, wall and panels, modules, and accessories.

Prices start at $5,950 (€5,500) for a raised bed cabinetry base kit, which offers a kitchen island, a queen-size bed frame, and multiple storage options. Technically, those are the essentials you'd want in a camper van (excluding the utility systems), provided you install a mattress and some kitchen features.

Today, I'm looking at a 2023 Ram ProMaster camper van outfitted with Vantopia components. I'll check it out as a whole, starting with the exterior. The rig rides on Maxxis all-terrain tires and boasts a swing-away rack at the rear holding a massive Yakima storage box and a snowboard rack from the same brand.

You can use a ladder attached to the driver's side of the vehicle to get on the roof. Up there, you'll discover a Backwood roof rack holding two 200 W solar panels. Moreover, Rob, the owner of this van, plans to install a Yakima RoadShower. This piece of equipment is a water tank that can heat its contents using the sun and then provide pressurized water. It comes in 4, 7, and 10-gallon sizes.

Pop the main door open, and you'll notice that the interior is fully equipped with a Vantopia kit. It's made from birch wood paired with hardwood panels for the cabinet and drawer door. The kit is CNC-ed to fit perfectly inside the van, and it comes with simple wood latches that keep all the storage spots tightly closed.

So, what makes this kit so easy to install? The entire kit connects to a metal track, which in turn is attached to the van's factory crossbars and beams, so there's no need to drill holes into the body unless you want to fit a fan or an A/C.

Part of the entrance is covered by a kitchen galley, with a compartment that can be opened from outside the van. The kitchen also features an enormous flip-up countertop extension and a sink with an extendable faucet. For storage, you can use a drawer and three cabinets, one of which is above.

Straight ahead as you step inside, you'll find Vantopia's "Pantry Combo Module". It comprises an overhead cabinet, two other cabinets underneath, and two drawers, one of which is enormous. The latter is where Rob will hold a fridge/freezer box. By the way, this module is priced at $1,950 (€1,806).

Next to the pantry, Rob fitted a "Toilet Pod Closet." It offers extra storage space in a closet and comes with a slide-out bottom part meant to hold a toilet. What's more, beside it, there's a floor-to-ceiling unit holding three shelves and a control panel consisting of various switches for the A/C, a WeBoost, lights, and more.

And finally, the interior's rear is where you'll spend most of your time, either lounging or sleeping. It features two benches, one on each side, and two swivel tables, as well as overhead cabinets on both sides and a floor storage compartment.

The benches' top panels can be removed to reveal extra storage spaces and the van's electrical system, consisting of a Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 portable power station, which has a 3,600 W power output, as well as some other components. Moreover, the space can be transformed into a bed by dropping the tabletops and rearranging the cushions.

You'll find some other features if you open the two rear doors. On the right side, Rob fitted a propane-powered water heater, connected to a canister which will be housed inside the driver-side bench. Even though you can't see it in the video, an outdoor shower will be connected to the heater. What's more, integrated into the bench on the left side, you'll notice a small door that leads to the power system.

All in all, Vantopia provides some great kits for those who don't have the expertise or time to build an interior themselves, nor the funds to pay a specialized company.

The most basic kit you can opt for costs $5,950, but the price will quickly increase if you choose other parts or systems (which you will probably need if you plan on staying overnight in your rig).

I estimate Rob's camper van setup to be about $23,000 (€21,297), and that's without the accessories, wall insulation, or utility systems. But if you're cool with just the basics in your van, you could probably make things work with a relatively low budget of $10,000 (€9,260).