In today’s video we welcome back Roman with Vanture Customs in Philadelphia PA (market) for his 14th episode. This time featuring a Mercedes Sprinter off road adventure vehicle, you can live in.
Van Conversions For Living – Sprinter Off-Road Camper Van Build
With van life so popular nowadays, it’s not hard to find a specialized conversion company to build your dream camper van. Today, I’m taking a look at one of Vanture Customs’ recent creations, a Mercedes Sprinter turned into a tiny home on wheels.
Vanture Customs is a Philadelphia-based company specializing in transforming cargo vans into premium campers. One of their latest projects is this custom build based on a Mercedes Sprinter.
At first glance, you might think this vehicle is a 4WD, but that’s because Vanture Customs fitted it with a Vancompass 2-inch lift kit, as well as Sumo Springs and upgraded shocks. It’s, in fact, a 2WD, but you can still go off-roading with it, just in less rugged environments than you would with a 4WD.
On the outside, you’ll notice multiple upgrades. For instance, the rig features Owl Vans running boards and rides on BF Goodrich all-terrain tires. Moreover, on the roof, you’ll discover a Camel roof rack holding two solar panels, a front LED bar, and a Fiamma awning. Finally, at the rear, the builders installed an Owl Van tire carrier and ladder combo.
Step inside, and you’ll find a cleanly designed interior. Vanture Customs opted for a slatted ceiling, marine-grade flooring, and laminated plywood cabinetry that completes the aesthetic.
Starting from the front cabin, you’ll discover the driver’s and passenger’s seats can be swiveled. Above, Vanture Customs devised an ample storage space where you can hold the custom window covers this van comes with.
Behind the driver’s seat, you’ll find the seating area. It consists of double bench CVC seats and a swivel table. Moreover, the seats are equipped with seatbelts and can also be reclined for additional comfort. In case you plan on traveling solo or simply want some extra space, you can remove them, as they’re mounted on L-Traks bolted directly into the vehicle’s frame.
Other notable elements in this area are the decently sized overhead cabinets and a window. Behind the double bench seats, there’s a massive storage bin with a toe-kick drawer specifically made to hold four dog bowls, as the owner of this van travels with two dogs.
You’ll notice the van’s control panel above the sliding door. It features a battery monitor, an inverter controller, a SeaLevel gauge that displays how much water you’ve got left, controls for a Webasto heater, and various switches.
There is one switch that I did not expect to find on a camper. It reads “Coffee” – do you press it and coffee starts being made? Well, not really. Housed in a cabinet above the seating area is a coffee maker. As soon as you press the button, the coffee maker starts dropping down, making room to place the coffee bean container above it. I feel like this was an unnecessary feature, but it’s cool and unique. However, it makes a lot of noise and drops down quite slowly.
Next, we have the kitchen on the passenger side. It’s pretty compact yet decently equipped, featuring a countertop imitating white marble, a sink, an overhead microwave, a fridge, and various drawers and cabinets for storage.
On the opposite side, Vanture Customs devised a bathroom consisting of a shower, a dry flush toilet, and a stainless steel shower pan covered by a teak mat. I like the look the company or customers chose, with walls covered by granite, marble-style sheets, and a sleek LED light above.
And finally, the last area in this van’s living space is the living room/bedroom. It boasts two long benches, one on each side, and a dinette table in between. The customers specifically asked for this layout because they wanted to use the couches as individual beds, but there’s also the option of transforming the space into a queen-size bed by adding two wood platforms and rearranging the cushions.
Underneath the bench on the driver’s side, you’ll discover a 33-gallon (125-liter) freshwater tank and some extra room to store stuff. By the way, all the water used in this camper ends up in an under-mounted heated 18-gallon (68-liter) gray tank.
The other bench houses the electrical system, comprised of 560 Ah batteries, breaker panels, fuses, and other components. Vanture Customs calls it a “get out, stay out system” because it provides sufficient energy to go off-grid for extended periods. For instance, the company claims the A/C can run 30 hours on Eco mode before the battery runs out.
Because of this layout, Vanture Customs couldn’t fit a garage at the rear like in other rigs. However, the company wanted the customers to have sufficient storage space. So, they added two rows of cabinets above and devised two under-floor compartments.
If you pop open the rear door, you’ll find an outdoor shower integrated into one of the couches, as well as another mount for the lagoon table, which enables you to place it outside to enjoy a meal or a drink. Lastly, I really like that Vanture Customs added a bug net covering the entire rear part of the van – this way, you can enjoy the views and the fresh air without being invaded by insects. There’s another bug net at the main door, too.
All in all, this is a great tiny home on wheels with a cozy interior and many practical features. How much does a conversion like this cost? This is Vanture Customs’ Summit base build, although it’s been heavily upgraded at the customer’s request.
The base price is $64,000 (€ 57,894), but it can quickly grow if you opt for extras. You can learn more about Vanture Customs and its builds and services on the company’s website.
