As the van life trend continues to grow and gain more adopters, we've come to the realization that we're never going to grasp all that is possible to create within the confines of a camper van. Both DIYers and professional van outfitters continue to impress us with their creativity and ingenuity, and we keep discovering amazing builds that leverage the versatility of these vehicles every day.
Today, we're going to explore a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter MWB 314 that has been skilfully converted into a four-berth camper van by the talented team at Van Life Builds. If you're not familiar with the name, Van Life Builds is a Bristol, UK-based van outfitter that focuses on transforming standard vans into premium off-grid living spaces that prove vanlife can be an experience as glamorous as social media depicts it.
Jasper is one of the latest one-off designs coming out of their workshop, and it was purposefully built as a prize for a giveaway organized by VannyCampers. It is a camper van built for year-round exploration, offering four adventurers the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and hit the road in comfort and style in any season.
It boasts a rather unassuming exterior, with almost no hints that someone might be living inside. It is finished in dark blue paint, and toward the rear, it boasts Vanny Campers' signature two-tone decal depicting mountains and trees. The MWB Sprinter it is based on rides on Rogue Alloy all-terrain wheels and is equipped with a reverse camera.
Photo: Vanny Campers
Aimed at adventurers who can't resist the allure of off-grid locations, the camper is fittingly equipped with various features that make it suitable for anything from weekend family staycations to road trips with friends to far-flung destinations. Worth mentioning is the premium energy setup with 430 watts of solar power, a 340 Ah Lithium-Iron Phosphate Renogy battery bank, and a 3000W 12V Pure Sine Wave Renogy inverter charger with LCD. A 60-liter (16-gallon) freshwater tank, a 60-liter waste tank, and a Truma Combi water and space heater are also part of the design.
Crafted with the intention to maintain the warmth and familiarity of a home, behind the self-effacing exterior, Jasper hides a cozy mobile habitat with an ingenious layout and unique features for comfort on the road. With a bit of ingenuity, the designers managed to squeeze inside this medium wheelbase van sleeping space for four people in a rear double bed and a pop-top, four seatbelted seats, a chic kitchenette, and a full wet room.
Since space is at a premium inside a van, most outfitters choose to forgo the bulkhead and keep the interior open. The folks at Van Life Builds don't shy away from incorporating walls into their designs, and Jasper is one of the builds that come with a partition wall between the cab and the actual living space. However, the team also integrated a sliding door that offers walkthrough access to and from the cab, enabling an easy transition from driving to relaxing. The door comes with a convenient viewing porthole.
Photo: Vanny Campers
Right behind the cab, a handcrafted oak ladder with a unique design leads up to the pop-top roof, which is designed to sleep two people in a cozy double bed measuring 4 feet x 6 feet. Next to it, you'll find an elegant bathroom with a Nautilus self-cleaning retractable shower door, a high-quality black rain head and handheld shower set, and a slate-effect textured shower tray. The wet bath also includes a removable Thetford toilet. Black wall art adds a bit of elegance to the design, and a 12v fan guarantees moisture control and ventilation.
The kitchen inside Jasper is compact but truly unique, with a handcrafted rounded edge oak worktop, custom-made shaker-style cabinets, and sleek hardware. A wavey-edge upstand and overhead shelf are also made of oak for a unified look. A couple of light-up storage pods and under-shelf LED strips create a nice ambiance for cooking in comfort and style. Speaking of cooking, this chic kitchen is equipped with an undermount black sink, a Vango twin induction hob, and a Bekule silver 50L fridge.
The sink has a black tap with a pull-out hose that extends to the outside for outdoor showers. The portable induction hob can also be used outside.
Photo: Vanny Campers
The rest of the van is occupied by a large seating area that serves as both living room and bedroom. The U-shaped sofa wrapped in luxurious boucle green fabric offers the perfect spot for hanging out. It comes accompanied by a rustic oak table in the middle, which makes it suitable for dining, working, and other leisure activities as well.
The sofa has two belted seats for safe travels and can easily transform into a generous double bed measuring 6 feet by 4.1 feet. Space is cleverly utilized down to the very last inch, with clever storage solutions integrated wherever possible, including under the raised platform of the sofa/bed. Various overhead storage cupboards are also installed on both sides of the van.
Designed with comfort and versatility in mind, Jasper is a highly liveable mobile habitat that has the ability to elevate your camping adventures. The best part is that it can be yours if you enter Vanny Campers' current competition.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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