People’s wants and needs dictate what their ideal home on wheels looks like. Some want to fit an entire family in one vehicle, others want to be able to cook just the same, and the list goes on and on. Well, if you’re the type of person who wants to take their motorcycle with them on the adventures of their van-based life, then you’ll definitely be a fan of the camper I’m reviewing today.
Meet Karl, also known online as “PaveChaser.” As his name suggests, Karl is all about discovering new places. He is also an avid motorcyclist, so he combined these two passions by building a mobile home that can accommodate his two-wheeler.
Before we take a look at the rig, I wanted to give you a little background so you can better understand this project. Karl had no experience with camper conversions before starting this build. However, he did a fantastic job, as you will soon see. Amazingly, aside from the floor and L-Track system, he built everything inside the van.
Karl had several construction requirements. First, as I mentioned above, he wanted to be able to carry a full-size street motorcycle and sleep in the van without unloading the two-wheeler. Second, he wanted the van to remain usable as a van for hauling large cargo.
The final requirement was that the van was as modular as possible, to allow equipment such as fuel systems and refrigerators to be used in other applications when the van was not in use.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / PaveChaser
As usual, I'll start the tour from the outside. This vehicle not only can be used as a cargo van, but it looks like one too. It's finished all in black and has no exterior upgrades that give away its “camper's identity.” This makes it suitable for stealth camping, as it will not attract unwanted attention.
The transformation has taken place inside. Slide the door and you are greeted by a dark and finely designed living space. It is one of the most open layouts you will ever see, as the entire central part of the interior is left empty to make room for the motorcycle and cargo. Additionally, there is no wall between the cockpit and the living space, making the interior feel even more spacious.
Karl used 3m Thinsulate to insulate the van. He then used 3/4″ birch plywood for the cabinetry and frame, 1/4″ grooved pine for the ceiling, and 1/2″ plywood for the floor. He also covered the floor with diamond plate rubber mats and installed an L-Track system.
Starting in the rear, you’ll find an office/storage space on the passenger side of the cabin. It features a 47-inch (119-centimeter) long pine worktop with two cabinets underneath (one of which houses a 5-gallon gas can), a small shelf, and a charging station with outlets and USB ports.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / PaveChaser
The rest of the office furniture is designed for storage. There are two large wall cabinets and a taller wall cabinet. They have plexiglass panels and LED lights inside them for a more modern look. These compartments are large enough to hold Karl's motorcycle gear, including two helmets and jackets.
Under the wall cabinet, a compartment houses the rig “wiring room” as Karl described it. It contains various wires and connections, but the main power supplier in this platform is a Bluetti portable power station. Additionally, Karl uses flexible solar panels and a DC-DC charger to charge the station.
On the opposite side, you will find the kitchen. It is equipped with a small stainless steel sink, a decent sized countertop, a single burner camping stove, and a coffee maker. Most of Karl's cooking equipment is camping gear, as he often uses it when he goes camping on his motorcycle.
For storage, you can use cabinets above and below the countertop, as well as a protruding shelf and a wall-mounted spice rack. You’ll also notice a tall cabinet that hides a ramp, wheel chock, and other tools needed to mount a motorcycle inside.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / PaveChaser
The sink plumbing is very simple. Two 5-gallon (19-liter) containers, one for fresh water and one for gray water, are housed in the cabinets under the sink.
Behind the driver’s seat, Karl designed a dining area with a large table with storage space inside, a long shelf above, another smaller shelf next to the table, and a few power outlets. Below that, you’ll find the Bluetti station I mentioned earlier and a mini-fridge. Karl also installed a fold-out seat on the opposite side, right next to the sliding door.
“But where does he sleep?” you might ask. Here, in the front of the interior. However, it does take a while to set up the bed. It has two legs that mount to the floor, to which it attaches three rails. Then, the table top opens up to cover the rails and everything in between, and the bed is ready. It's not the most convenient setup, as it takes a while to set up, but it gets the job done.
Every bit of space is precious in a campervan, so Karl made the most of the space in the rear door. He fitted a mirrored cabinet, shelf and Joolca shower/heater to the left rear door, so he could wash up outside.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / PaveChaser
All in all, this camper is pretty impressive. It has all the essentials you’d find in most full-size rigs, but its ingenious layout allows you to store so much inside, including a motorcycle – kudos to Karl for his unique creation.
