Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Kage & Ellie
If you have the money, you can build a camper these days with all the comforts of a conventional home. Today I came across this fully equipped tiny house on wheels that will blow your mind with its ingenious and comfort-focused setup.
Even though I write articles about RVs every day, I am sometimes amazed at how far the RV and camper industry has come. Today's technology allows us to create the same conditions as a conventional home in portable abodes. You just need pockets deep enough to accommodate all these amazing features.
Anyway, back to the vehicle I’m reviewing, which in my opinion has everything an adventurer needs to live full-time on the road. Obviously, wants and needs vary from person to person, but this vehicle has everything I would need to leave my apartment and start living on the road.
Meet Kage and Ellie, the owners and converters of this 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 van with a 170″ wheelbase, a All-wheel drive transmission and doubles in the back. It is designed as a four-season ready mobile home that can take the couple (almost) anywhere they want to go.
As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. As soon as you lay eyes on this van, you'll notice its mean and imposing appearance, mainly due to the Gunmetal Grey Plasti Dip of the body and the numerous exterior upgrades. In addition, its rocker panels are covered in Raptor Liner protective coating.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Kage & Ellie
The fact that the van is AWD already makes it capable of going off-road. However, Kage and Ellie wanted to enjoy worry-free off-road adventures, so they beefed up the suspension with Sumo rear springs and installed a larger 47-gallon (178-liter) fuel tank.
The couple installed a roof rack on the vehicle, which contains a 360-degree camera system, a 360-degree lighting system perfect for camping, a Wi-Fi antenna, and a large 455W solar panel that charges a 400Ah battery pack. They also installed a large window on the driver’s side toward the rear.
The interior theme couldn't be further from the rugged exterior theme. Kage and Ellie went for a bright, modern aesthetic with white walls and ceiling paired with dark/blueish gray furniture and various black accents, such as the upper cabinet trim. You'll also notice that the interior has an open layout, meaning the cockpit isn't separated from the living space.
The couple skipped the more typical RV layout, which has a fixed bedroom in the back. Instead, they opted for a less common layout that better suits their needs.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Kage & Ellie
Specifically, they designed a sofa/bed right in front of the entrance. To transform the sofa into a bed, all you have to do is slide the bottom panel, rearrange the cushions and hang out the laundry.
There is also a huge drawer built into the sofa, which houses a huge Dometic fridge/freezer. Additionally, the two front seats can also become part of the seating area if you rotate them inward.
Then we have the custom kitchen located on the driver’s side of the cabin. It features a four-burner stove, an overhead microwave, more than enough prep space on the 8-foot (2.4-meter) long countertop, and a massive stainless steel sink.
For storage, there are several drawers built into the kitchen counter. You’ll also notice a long top shelf. And when I say long, I mean it: this thing stretches across the entire passenger side of the cabin. It has an 80/20 aluminum frame for extra strength and holds books, ornaments, and baskets that allow them to neatly organize their things.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Kage & Ellie
You will find the rig's bathroom in front of the back of the kitchen, right next to the rear doors. I love its “unfinished” industrial aesthetic, with what looks like a concrete micro wall.
The bathroom boasts a Nature's Head compostable toilet and a shower that drains into an undermounted grey water tank. Plus, the shower head is on the back, so it can be used outside the van.
Then we have the largest storage area in this mobile home: a huge closet. It has a hanging area with three drawers underneath, three sizeable cubicles and a cabinet.
During the six years they lived in this Sprinter camper, Kage and Ellie endured some harsh Canadian winters. As they described, one of the things that helped them get through the winters was an in-floor heating system. They built it themselves using a hose system connected to a heater.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Kage & Ellie
However, the main heating system is an Espar D2 heater housed under the passenger seat. Both heaters can run off the fuel tank and can be controlled separately or together.
Overall, Kage and Ellie did a fantastic job with this camper. I love its four-season construction, efficient layout, and overall homey feel.
