Most camper van conversions out there come with a white or light wood interior. If you’re like me and like dark aesthetics, you’ll surely enjoy the rig I’m checking out today, which boasts a modern, dark, and moody interior.
VAN TOUR | Clean Modern Dark and Moody Sprinter 170 Conversion
What we have here is a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170″ wheelbase and all-wheel-drive, a custom creation made by ActiVan. ActiVan is a conversion company based in Reno, Nevada, specializing in camper vans based on the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit.
ActiVan builds 17 to 20 vans annually, each personalized according to the customer’s requests. The company has eight floor plans available for both the 170″ and 144″ wheelbases of the vans mentioned above. Moreover, the firm is certified by Mercedes-Benz as an approved “eXpert Upfitter”.
It makes sense that most van builds outfit their campers’ interiors with light colors – not only are they trendy, but it’s a safe solution that can please most customers. Even ActiVan explained that most of their builds have a modern and bright farmhouse style, and this project was the first time they implemented a dark and moody theme.
This unit is based on ActiVan’s Cypress 170 floor plan, designed to sleep three or four people. The only changes to the original floor plan are an extended kitchen and a Lagun table. Moreover, the builders took inspiration from modern mountain homes and created a cozy and edgy interior. I know I’ve emphasized the aesthetic, but the company’s vans are also very well-equipped regarding features and utilities. Let’s get into it, starting with the exterior.
ActiVan didn’t go all-out with the dark aesthetic. What I mean is that even though that’s the theme for the interior, the exterior is finished in a light grey paint.
Since this van is a 4×4, you can take it off the beaten path (although I wouldn’t take it too deep) without worrying about getting stuck. One addition that makes the rig even more capable off-road is BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires.
Other notable exterior features are a front LED light bar, an FVC side ladder that leads to an FVC roof rack, a Fiamma F80S awning, and an Owl Vans Expedition spare tire carrier at the rear. The roof rack houses 300 W solar panels and a wooden deck.
Pop the sliding door open, and a finely designed interior will greet you. Even though most of it is black, including the finishes, fixtures, and floor, the custom-stained cedar wood walls and ceiling with a matte black backer board fit in perfectly with the theme.
Dead ahead, you’ll discover a seating area comprising a long bench with a memory foam cushion and a large window behind. The bench houses a storage space and a huge Dometic CFX 95 fridge/freezer box. Above, you’ll notice a spacious cabinet with a long LED dimmable light underneath. Moreover, this area can be turned into an additional sleeping space by swiveling the driver’s chair and using it to support your legs.
Next, we have the kitchen on the passenger side. It features a sizeable faux concrete countertop, a large and deep black sink with an extendable faucet, a single-burner induction stove, and an overhead microwave.
For storage, you can use the many drawers underneath the countertop to store utensils, as well as everything else you need in the kitchen. When it comes to clothes and other personal belongings, ActiVan devised four huge overhead cabinets in the bedroom, two on each side. You also have the garage – more on that in a bit.
Opposite the kitchen, you’ll find the wet bathroom, which is surprisingly roomy. It comes with a 24 x 32-inch (61 x 81) shower pan, a black shower, a portable toilet, and a sliding retractable door. What’s more, love the faux concrete finish the customer chose for the walls.
The last part of the living space is the bedroom. It’s got a slide-screen window on each side and a queen-size mattress, allowing you to sleep length-wise. There are a couple of inches left between the bed and the wall, and they can be used as a nightstand, especially since you have charging points.
Just like I mentioned earlier, you get an excellent utility system inside this van, housed in the garage. The rig is equipped with a potent electrical system, some of its key components being a 3,000 W inverter/charger and 400 Ah lithium batteries.
When it comes to cooling, a Nomadic ceiling A/C will keep you nice and cozy in hotter environments. Moreover, there’s also a Dometic FanTastic vent integrated into the ceiling toward the front of the interior. I’m sure there must be some sort of heating system, but the presentation video didn’t mention anything, nor could I find anything on the company’s website.
All the water for the sink and shower is supplied by a 42-gallon (159-liter) freshwater tank. Furthermore, there are two under-mounted greywater tanks, a 20-gallon (76-liter) one for the shower and a 5-gallon (19-liter) one for the sink.
The control center for the van’s utility systems is integrated into a wall above the seating area. It features an inverter/charger controller, a Victron battery management system, USB outlets, switches for the water heater and pump, as well as gauges for the water tanks.
Finally, we have the garage area, which features a lot of room in the middle to store bulkier items. There’s also a humongous slide-out tray, perfect for storing bikes. Other notable details are some plugs and an outdoor shower.
All in all, I’m very fond of the dark-themed interior. I know that’s just my taste, but you can’t deny it looks stunning. Mix in the serious off-road and off-grid capabilities of the rig, and you have an extremely attractive package.
I couldn’t find any exact information on this rig’s pricing (or for other of the company’s floor plans). However, ActiVan currently has another camper van with the Cypress 170 floor plan, a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 RWD, for sale for $155,000 (€142,929).
This base vehicle is newer, so the price for the rig I discussed in this article will be higher, but you can get an idea of how much the manufacturers ask. You can learn more about ActiVan and its products/services on the company’s official website.
