As much as I love talking about high-end professional camper conversions, I find DIY builds much more inspiring. They prove that regular people like you and me can tackle the daunting task of creating a tiny home on wheels. Today, I’m taking a look at a cozy camper designed to serve as a mobile home for a couple traveling full-time across Australia.
So, what do you need in a camper to enjoy a full-time worry-free trip across a continent? Well, the most basic setup would include a no-frills kitchen, places to eat and sleep, and electrical and plumbing systems. The rig I’m reviewing today has all that and more.
Meet Daria and Cecilia, a couple on a mission to explore Australia's breathtaking landscapes from the comfort of their own comfy van. Their van of choice was a 2009 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a high roof, 170″ wheelbase and a 3.0-litre diesel engine.
Before we take a look inside the van, I want to tell you more about the outside. When you know you'll be traveling a lot and visiting a lot of places, it's a good idea to make your stealth camper stealthy. This way, you won't attract unwanted attention, increasing your safety, and you might even be able to park in some places you couldn't with a screaming vehicle. “camper.”
Here's what Dario and Cecilia did: they kept the exterior of their vehicle as discreet as possible. Their Sprinter is a passenger van with a window on the sliding door. However, unlike many other campers, it has no visible exterior accessories that give away its “Camper's DNA”, as a bike rack on the back or an awning.
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube / Dario and Cecilia
There is one exception. On the passenger side of the van (the left side, since it is an Australian van), you will notice a gas compartment, which is required by Australian law. The van is also finished in white paint, which makes it even more discreet.
The final exterior feature is the 500W solar panels on the roof. Because they are so high up and attached directly to the van (and not a roof rack), they are barely visible when looking at the vehicle.
Open the entryway and a bright interior greets you. In terms of aesthetics, Dario and Cecilia opted for a predominantly white look, with white cabinetry and walls complemented by several wooden accents and a black tile backsplash in the kitchen.
You will also notice that the interior has a closed layout, meaning that the cockpit is separated from the living space by a wall, also known as a bulkhead.
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube / Dario and Cecilia
However, for easier access, the couple built a large pass-through hole into the wall, allowing them to quickly enter the cabin in an emergency. They also created a canopy for privacy and to block out light.
Above this passage you will find a large storage compartment in the roof of the cabin, equipped with hooks on the door for hanging clothes.
Once inside, the first area you will find yourself in is the lounge. It consists of an L-shaped sofa, a swivel table, and two upper compartments, one of which houses some controls for utility systems, such as a battery monitor and various switches.
As in most mobile homes, the benches that make up the sofa offer storage space inside. However, the one adjacent to the bulkhead also hides the vehicle's power system. Its highlights are two 200 Ah batteries, a 3,000 W inverter, a DC-DC charger and a charge controller connected to the solar panels on the roof.
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube / Dario and Cecilia
Staying connected to the Internet can be a challenge when traveling. To ensure they can stay online even in remote locations, the couple uses a StarLink system. All they have to do is plug in the router, place the antenna on the roof, and enjoy a stable, high-speed Internet connection.
One of the walls in the lounge area has the remaining controls for the utilities. This control panel consists of a temperature gauge for a water heater, a gauge for the van's water tanks, and some USB ports. By the way, this rig has two water tanks: a 110-liter (29-gallon) fresh water tank and a gray water tank.
Next up is the galley, located on the passenger side of the cabin. It features a stainless steel sink with an extra faucet for filtered water, a built-in two-burner stove, and a small refrigerator under the bed. For storage, you can use a pull-out pantry, multiple drawers, and four cabinets that start in the galley and end in the back, above the bed.
Opposite the kitchen, the couple designed two small closets and a bathroom. Like many other van lifers, Dario and Cecilia ended up using the bathroom as a storage space, hanging their clothes in there. They prefer to shower inside and have a bathroom on board their van, reserved for emergencies.
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube / Dario and Cecilia
Finally, the bedroom occupies the back of the interior. It boasts a simple setup with a double memory foam mattress, two swivel fans, and a ceiling fan. The couple also created a bedside table that integrates storage and charging points for their gadgets.
The bed is positioned higher to make room for a garage underneath, which is by far the largest storage area in the van. It is filled with boxes and holds some tools, a camping table and many other items.
All in all, Dario and Cecilia have created a fantastic tiny house on wheels, equipped with everything needed for living and traveling. “over there”. Their camper is welcoming, discreet and, considering the numerous internal features, it also seems quite spacious.
