Big Bear Vans creates unique camper vans and specializes in family builds. In Santa Monica layout one will find everything they want. It can sit and sleep 2-5 people with an elevator bed lift system, dinette transformer to bed and extra seats with proper seat belts. Full bathroom and functional kitchen, under mount 12v A/C and glycol diesel combined air and water heater. Epic roof with decking, solar and a hammock. Beautiful real wood design. Different options to have 30 gal of fresh water inside or up to 40 gal of fresh water outside, under mount 25 gal gray water tank. You can bring your van to our shop or get Santa Monica ready to go camper van from us. Next two units will be completed in August 2023. DM us to know more. Outfits and color scheme can be personalized. All aluminum shower or real tile bathroom, different toilet solutions are available. Up to 1000 amp hours of lithium batteries for maximizing your off grid experience. We deliver all over the USA.
BEST family layout for 144 Sprinter van Santa Monica! AWD sprinter camper van that sits and sleeps 4
The smallest Mercedes-Benz Sprinter you can get is the short 144-inch wheelbase model. That’s the starting point for this impressive camper conversion from California-based Big Bear Vans. It ends with a compact mini-motorhome called the Santa Monica that has all the amenities of a much larger RV, and somehow, it doesn’t look cramped inside.
The dual full-size beds at the back captured our attention. Instead of a raised bed with a small garage/storage area beneath, there’s one permanent bed that can be lowered or raised electrically. When up, the space beneath serves as a dining area with two benches and a table. That converts to the second full-size bed, slightly shorter than the one above but still large enough for two adults.
Should anyone desire a snack with both beds set up, there’s a second mini-dining area at the front of the Mercedes. A small table on a swivel arm is positioned between the front seats, and it can swivel rearward for use in the second row of travel seats. As such, this 144 Sprinter can easily accommodate four people for safe travels in belted seats, dining when stopped, and sleeping after a long day of fun.
In between the front and rear dining areas you’ll find a sizable kitchen with a deep sink, a single-burner induction stove, and plenty of counter space. There are two deployable shelves that can extend counter space further, one for the exterior when the door is open and another running parallel to the door. A 3.3 cubic-foot refrigerator/freezer is next to the stove, and across from all that is a full bathroom with a toilet and tiled shower.
The van carries a 30-gallon tank for fresh water, with 40 gallons optional. Gray water is held in a 25-gallon tank. Batteries provide 600 amp hours of power with up to 1,000 amp hours optional; solar panels are on the roof but you won’t find air conditioning gear up top. It’s installed below, freeing up space for a rooftop terrace complete with a hammock. A diesel heater draws fuel straight from the van’s fuel tank to heat both the van, and water for hot showers.
Big Bear Vans doesn’t mention a price for the Santa Monica floorplan featured in the video. We’ve reached out to the company asking for a cost on this specific build, but in the meantime, a quick look at the company website shows a rear-wheel-drive model with a gasoline engine starting at $147,200.
