For a moment, I want you to try to imagine a camper that sits somewhere between a Class C motorhome and a camper van. When you think about it, there’s no need to try to imagine anything; Maxvan has already done it, and it’s called the Route.
Ladies, gentlemen, and roadies alike, if you’ve ever wondered what the limits of a camper are in terms of size and space, look no further: the Route is here, and it’s ready to take a beloved Ram ProMaster chassis and transform it into a widebody vehicle.
Now, this isn’t the first time manufacturers have pushed the limits of a camper. Window flares are one of the most common ways to expand the interior of your unit, aside from creating a whole new shell. But Maxvan goes beyond just flares, they don’t rebuild the entire shell either.
They do this by completely cutting off the left side of the shell and rebuilding it around a steel frame that is welded directly to the original chassis. This creates eight inches of extra space on the sides, and while it may look awful on the highway, once you get there, the real fun begins. That “to stick out” is made of fiberglass.
Photo: Maxvan LLC.
For the rest of our introduction to the Route, imagine that you’ve just arrived at the campgrounds and people are already starting to look at your habitat. After you’ve parked and stretched your legs for a moment, you may even have to answer a few questions here and there.
Once you've left your things, you and your travel companion or significant other will begin to prepare the campsite for the stay that awaits you. Open the rear and side doors and let's start preparing everything.
Let’s start at the rear of the Route, because that’s where you’ll store a large amount of gear on a Flex rack system mounted along the starboard side of the unit. Grab your e-bikes, outdoor grill setup, climbing gear, whatever, and clear the space so you can organize a neat little workspace.
Photo: Maxvan LLC.
Opposite this Flex area, Maxvan adds a large kitchen with a separate bathroom and shower. The latter is also supported by a 360-degree shower curtain for complete privacy. You can even shower with the rear doors fully open and admire the valley below while you bathe.
Moving toward the front of the Route, we begin to really see the results of such a widebody design. Starting with the bedding, two twin mattresses sit on each side of the Route, and in the center, a 24-inch-wide (61 cm) walkway allows guests to easily pass each other as they move around the cabin.
A couple of neat tricks up this area's sleeve are the one-piece storage bins above, a rotatable and removable table, and even more storage under each bed. The only downside is that this camper is only available in this split-bed configuration. Currently, the only solution for a beam-to-beam bed is to create a platform that allows padding to be placed in between.
A kitchen block sits right at the front of the Route’s living space, facing the side door. Here, we can access a microwave, sink and faucet, flush countertop for food preparation, and a refrigerator unit. More overhead storage and a two-compartment drawer are part of the mix, and that’s pretty much all you’ll find inside the Route. Or is it?
Photo: Maxvan LLC.
Well, there are countless other features and systems that you can’t see, and some of them are even designed for off-grid living. I’m talking about an Onan generator, 24 gallons of fresh water, two 100Ah batteries, an inverter, and wiring for optional solar panels.
Now, this all sounds pretty sweet, so it stands to reason that this thing is going to cost an arm and a leg, right? Well, kind of. First, you have to consider the base vehicle used, a ProMaster 3500 Cargo 159WB Ext with a high roof, which retails for about $60,000, the modifications that Maxvan did, and all the extras they put in there, not to mention labor. That said, these beauties have an MSRP of about $110,000. Of course, dealers are expected to put some cash in their pockets, so bring a little extra if you’re planning on buying one of these beauties.
From here on out, all you have to do is look at the pictures again, spend ten minutes watching the video below, and once you’re done, contact your significant other or best friend and convince them to buy a new camper that literally pushes the limits of Class B RV performance.
