Usually, we expect someone's first camper to be simple and straightforward. Well, that's not always the case. Today, I'm taking a look at a woman's first conversion, which looks like the work of a pro.
To be honest, most first-time conversions look okay. They have simple cabinetry and utility systems and generally look like the work of a beginner. However, this project proves that even beginners can do excellent work.
Meet Alba Harden, a photographer, graphic designer, and branding specialist. For the past 10 years, she has dreamed of living and traveling the world in a camper. Instead of buying one like many would, she decided to bring her vision to life on her own.
Alba started the project in June 2023. It took her 10 intense months of work to complete the conversion, which is based on a 2014 Iveco Daily van.
As usual, I'll start the tour from the outside. The great thing about this camper is that it is extremely stealthy. At first glance, there is almost no way to tell that this cargo van is, in fact, a tiny house on wheels. It is also finished in a standard white, which makes it very inconspicuous, as most cargo vans are white.
The only elements that could reveal it “Camper's DNA” are two Alba windows integrated into the rear door. Also, if you peek inside the cab, there is no indication that this is a camper. The only changes Alba made to the cab were replacing the passenger seat with a two-person bench seat and adding a screen that displays a rear-view camera feed.
Open the entryway and you are greeted by a gorgeous living space. Alba has gone for an earthy design with terracotta furniture, beige walls, a beautiful white and terracotta slatted ceiling, and a huge light grey tiled backsplash.
The interior has an open layout, which means the driver's cabin is separated from the living space by a wall, also known as a bulkhead. This configuration is standard on cargo vans, and Alba decided to keep it for more privacy and to make the interior feel more like a home. However, the wall has a sturdy, lockable door that allows her to quickly get behind the wheel in an emergency.
Part of the entrance is covered by a huge bench, perfectly positioned to serve as a seat on which to put on your shoes before leaving the platform. Inside, you will find a toilet mounted on sliding rails, which can be accessed by lifting the top and side panels.
As you will soon see, the toilet is designed to extend into the bathroom. Alba also installed a safe underneath it: it is a great place to hide it, since few people would think to look for it there.
The rig's kitchen is right outside the entrance. It features a built-in two-burner propane stove, a small exhaust hood, a deep sink with a cutting board cover, a 12V refrigerator with a small freezer compartment, and a narrow but long countertop that provides plenty of space for prep. For storage, you can use four drawers and five cabinets, three of which are above.
The kitchen is definitely the most beautiful part of the van, as the grayish backsplash blends beautifully with the terracotta cabinetry. Black details, such as the sink faucet and stove, complete the look.
The front of the countertop is larger to make room for the refrigerator. The cabinet above also protrudes a little further to match the shape of the countertop below.
You might think that the front of the van is quite dark due to the lack of windows. Alba addressed this by installing a large skylight above. She also added a retractable screen that covers the entire entrance so she can keep the door open to let in some light.
Next up is the bathroom, located on the passenger side of the cabin. It matches the aesthetics of the kitchen, as it has the same tiles, as well as black accents, such as the faucet and shower mixer. You’ll also notice the door that leads to the hidden toilet, which you can slide into the bathroom.
Other notable features of the bathroom include a small sink, a 1 gallon per minute shower, a round mirror, a small light, and a small skylight that helps with lighting and ventilation. Also, next to the door, Alba created a small bedroom with an arched entryway for her dog.
Go further inside and you will find yourself in the lounge area. It consists of two decent-sized benches and a huge pull-out table integrated into the bed frame.
It's larger than most similar seating areas I've seen in other RVs, so there's plenty of room to eat or work on your laptop, especially since you have USB ports and 240V outlets nearby. The benches also provide plenty of storage in the lower and seatback areas.
Finally, we have the back bedroom. It boasts a mattress slightly larger than a twin, two reading lights, a small shelf, and a skylight above. Such a small bed is a bit disappointing, but don't worry: Alba has found a clever solution to make it look bigger.
All you have to do is pull out a large extension from under the bed and slide out the table to use as extra support. Then, rearrange the dinette cushions, add some bedding, and you're ready to go.
As in most campers, the space under the bedroom is used as a garage. It is quite spacious and is covered all around with non-slip rubber mats.
The garage is divided into two sections: one houses a propane tank and a water heater, while the other contains a StarLink and electrical system. The highlights of the latter are a 200Ah battery, a 1,200W inverter, a DC-DC charger, and an MPPT charge controller connected to the solar panels on the roof.
The control panel for the vehicle is located near the entrance, integrated into the outside of the bathroom wall. It includes light switches, controls for the water heater, and a switch for the underfloor heating. Yes, you can keep your feet warm in this vehicle even when traveling in cold environments. Additionally, a 75-liter (19-gallon) fresh water tank mounted underneath provides all the water for the camper.
All in all, I am in awe of what Alba has managed to build, considering it is her first time doing so. Her mobile home looks exceptionally beautiful, but still manages to pack in a lot of creature comforts that make van living not only doable, but enjoyable.
And the cost? The cherry on top of this project is that it wasn’t even that expensive to make. The base vehicle cost €15,000 ($16,573) and the conversion cost €10,000 ($11,049), bringing the total cost of the vehicle to around €25,000 ($27,622) – a fantastic deal.
