If you want to move into a tiny home on wheels full-time, there’s never been a better time than now. If you don’t have the time, skills, or energy to convert a van yourself, there are plenty of companies that can build a mobile home off the grid for you, provided you have the money. One such company is Bellco Vans. Today, I’m taking a look at one of their recent projects, which surprised me with its premium build quality.
Nowadays, technology allows us to create machines that will take you off the grid without worrying about running out of electricity, water, or other essentials. The only downside to these machines is that, as expected, they are not cheap: they can easily exceed $100,000 (€89,225).
Bellco Vans is a van conversion and manufacturing company based in Canada. One of its representatives said that the company has a background in aircraft maintenance engineering.
The truck I'm talking about today is based on a 2007 Dodge Sprinter 2500, which is the same as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter but with a different badge. It's the longest version of the model, with a 170″ wheelbase. It was also originally an empty cargo van, but has been remodeled into a beautiful mobile home. Most of the stuff you'll see inside this truck was created in-house by Bellco.
As usual, I'll start the tour with the outside. Bellco Vans didn't make any drastic changes to the outside of the vehicle. The company installed two windows and kept the standard white paint. In fact, you might be able to stealth camp in this van, but the extra windows might give the vehicle away. “camper's identity.”
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
The only other external accessories are on the roof. You will find two solar panels with a total capacity of 400W and a Maxxair fan.
The generic exterior of this camper does not match the interior aesthetics. As boring as the exterior may seem, as elegant and exciting as the interior is.
Bellco Vans went for an earthy aesthetic with (sort of) beige walls paired with a slatted ceiling, laminate flooring, and various wood accents, including beautiful trim. The look is completed with LED light strips cleanly integrated into the ceiling, under the cabinets, and more.
The van has an open layout, which means that the driver's cabin is not separated from the rest of the interior. Right in front of the entrance, you will find the seating area. It consists of a long sofa that can also be used as a bed. It has two seat belts, so two guests can sit safely while the van is in motion.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
There are two ways to use the sofa for sleeping. If you are tall, you can rotate the driver's seat to support your feet while you lie down. Or, you can pull out a wooden frame and double the width of the sofa to create a larger bed.
Under the sofa, the designers have designed two large drawers with soft-closing mechanisms and two hinged drawers, perfect for hiding away your most precious items.
This is where you will eat or work on your laptop, as a large swivel table can be attached. It is also positioned so that it is within easy reach of the two front seats.
Then there’s the bathroom, located on the driver’s side of the cabin. It boasts a shower, a stainless steel tub with a teak mat, a self-cleaning Nautilus door, a portable cassette toilet, and a ceiling fan that helps to evacuate humidity. You can also hang your gear in the bathroom to dry.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
Bellco Vans has also included an electrical connection for a fan and a vent hose in case you want to replace the cassette toilet with a composting toilet.
All the water in this system is supplied by a 20-gallon (75 liter) fresh water tank mounted underneath. There are two ways to heat the water: via a 12V heater or a coolant heater. The latter uses the vehicle's coolant while the engine is running, keeping the water warm for a good 8-10 hours.
The water then drains into a 20-gallon gray water tank, which is also mounted under the vehicle. One disadvantage of mounting water tanks under vans is that they can freeze in cold environments. To prevent this problem, Bellco Vans has installed heating pads on both tanks.
It’s hard to call a van premium or luxurious if it doesn’t have a well-equipped kitchen. The kitchen in this truck features an 8-foot (2.4-meter) long countertop that provides plenty of space for preparing meals, a deep stainless steel sink, a small fold-down table, a Breville toaster oven, and a built-in two-burner induction stove.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
The latter is positioned near the door at the end of the kitchen counter, so you can enjoy the surrounding view while you cook. Plus, a Maxxair fan above ensures that it doesn't fill the interior with cooking fumes and odors.
The builders have designed an additional worktop facing the rear of the kitchen, integrating a storage drawer and a small fridge/freezer.
The bedroom occupies the rear of this van's interior. The nearly queen-sized bed measures 6' x 5.5' (183 x 167 centimeters) and offers plenty of room for sleeping. Other notable features of the bedroom include two reading lights with USB ports, a French cleat system for convenient and accessible storage, and a small window on the passenger side.
Here’s where it gets even better: Bellco Vans had the brilliant idea of mounting the bed frame on electric actuators. This allows you to set your preference. But why is this feature so useful?
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
Well, that's because the entire space under the bed serves as a garage, which can be accessed from inside the van. By raising the bed, you create space for larger items, like mountain bikes. In fact, you can even fit a motocross bike inside the garage when the bed is in the highest position.
On the driver’s side of the garage, Bellco Vans installed the electrical system, which allows the vehicle to go off the grid. Its highlights are four 100Ah lithium batteries, a 3,000W inverter/charger, a 30-amp DC-DC charger, and a charge controller that connects to the solar panels on the roof. Of course, the system can also be charged via shore power.
And what about storage? There are plenty of places to stash your belongings. You’ll notice a total of seven cabinets of varying sizes: two above the sofa, two above the additional countertop, and four large ones in the bedroom. Bellco made sure you wouldn’t suffer too much if you accidentally bumped your head on the cabinets by giving them a rounded edge inspired by airplane furniture. The kitchen also offers plenty of drawers and cabinets.
Bellco Vans has installed a diesel heater at the base of the passenger seat. Three vents throughout the cabin will ensure the van stays nice and toasty. One is under the seat, near the heater, while the other two are in the bathroom and in the back, in the garage.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Bellco Vans – Colten Bell
All in all, this tiny house on wheels is definitely ready for off-the-grid adventures. Not only does it pack in tons of creature comforts, it does so in an aesthetically pleasing way—a combination that’s not often found in RVs.
Bellco Vans said this van is for sale. Unfortunately, we do not know the price. You will need to contact the company for more information on this.