Surfing is one of the many activities that go hand in hand with van living. You can park your camper on the beach and have your mobile home just steps away from your surf spot. Today, I'm taking a look at a luxury camper conversion designed as a tiny house on wheels for surfers.
What we have here is a 2023 Ford Transit van with a high roof and a 148″ wheelbase. It has been converted into a mobile home by Nova Conversions, a company based in San Diego, California that specializes in building adventure campers.
The company specializes in custom conversions. The customer of this rig had two main requests for this build. He wanted enough space to store his surfboards, as well as comfortable places inside the van to sit and work on his laptop. And as you will soon see, Nova Conversions delivered.
As usual, I'll start the tour with the outside – there's not much to say here. Nova Conversions repainted the van blue and installed four Wilderness Vans windows (two on each side) and a roof rack. The latter holds three 100W solar panels. However, it's inside that the biggest transformation has taken place.
Open the entryway and you’ll discover a warm and inviting living space. The client opted for a white and beige color theme, with white furniture and walls paired with beige upholstery. Various wood accents, such as the countertops and the beautiful slatted ceiling, complete the look.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nova Conversions
The interior has an open layout, which means that the cockpit is not separated from the living space. This makes the interior feel more spacious and allows you to quickly get behind the wheel in an emergency, but you do lose some privacy. This problem can be solved by installing a large awning: this is exactly what Nova Conversions has done.
Right in front of the entrance, you will find a seating area. It consists of a long bench and a revolving table. Above, the builders have integrated a simple control panel into the wall, consisting of controllers for the inverter and solar panel.
When swiveled inward, the passenger seat is also within reach of the table. Additionally, a fold-down table in the galley can also serve as a place to eat or work while sitting in the passenger seat.
Then we have the kitchen, located on the passenger side of the living space. It is equipped with a large stainless steel sink with cover, a 65-liter Isotherm refrigerator with a small freezer compartment, an overhead microwave and a portable two-burner stove. For storage, you can use two drawers and two cabinets.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nova Conversions
Nova Conversions has designed a tall cupboard facing the back of the kitchen. However, it is not a normal cupboard like those we have seen in other installations. What sets it apart is an ingenious folding door.
When you open it, you can extend it fully for easier access to the clothes rail. The closet also has a top light, shelves for more efficient storage, and even a safe. The safe is hidden behind a bottom panel and has a lock. It's a great place to hide your valuables, because I find it hard to think of anyone lifting the bottom panel of the closet.
The rear of the interior is occupied by the bedroom. It boasts a memory foam pillow, two wall units, and a Maxxair fan overhead. Additionally, windows on the sides let in plenty of light and fresh air.
As in many RVs, the bed is positioned higher to make room for a garage underneath. Utility systems are housed in boxes on the sides, while the center section is split into two parts.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nova Conversions
The left side is the most distinctive feature of this setup: the surfboard rack. Van dwellers usually prefer to store their surfboards outside, on the roof or side of the vehicle. However, they are at risk of theft and are subject to weather damage.
They are best stored inside, but they take up a lot of space. Luckily, there are several solutions, like the one Nova Conversions has made. This surfboard rack is simple but effective, consisting of six poles. They are padded so they don't damage your boards, and they rotate as you push your boards inside, deep into your camper.
The other central part is mainly occupied by a sliding chest. This is where the customer can store surfing equipment, such as a wetsuit, since it is waterproof inside.
Power is on the left. The system highlights include a 300Ah battery bank, an inverter, and a solar charge controller connected to the solar panels on the roof. While we're on the subject of utilities, you should also know that this system is equipped with a Webasto heater.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Nova Conversions
Plumbing on the opposite side includes a 40-gallon (151-liter) fresh water tank connected to an outdoor shower. Water you use at the sink drains into a 5-gallon (19-liter) container housed in the cabinet below. Additionally, shower water is redirected to a 33-gallon (125-liter) gray water tank.
All in all, this tiny house on wheels is definitely surf-ready. Even if you're not a surfer, you've still got all the essentials for van living, all expertly packed into one beautiful living space.
I searched Nova Conversions' website to find out more about how much the company charges for its conversions. However, the website is down or under maintenance, with no information on when it will be available again. Additionally, the company hasn't posted anything on Instagram or YouTube in over a year, so it's unclear if it's still operational.
