This Rustic Camper Van Makes You Dream About Peaceful Vacations in the Middle of Nature

One of these outfitters is Handkrafted Campers, a Bristol-based crew that specializes in converting regular panel vans into stunning mobile homes with rustic wooden interiors and all kinds of modern amenities. One of their latest creations is called Jimmy and is designed as a fully functional tiny home for a family of four.

Jimmy is based on a 2018 Peugeot Boxer L3H2 van that was a school minibus in its previous life. On the outside, it boasts a brand-new Raptor grey (Anthracite) bodywork that gives it a rugged and adventurous look, and its interior is characterized by a modern rustic aesthetic underscored by the boutique builder's signature reclaimed pine and copper features.

Equipped with on and off grid capabilities, this camper van is ready to keep outdoor enthusiasts comfy in any location, which offers flexibility in terms of where you can travel. Moreover, this build ticks all the right boxes for a pleasant van life experience, boasting an efficient layout with dedicated areas for traveling, living, cooking, dining, and sleeping for the whole family, convenient amenities, ample storage space, and clever features aimed at self-sufficiency on the road.

All the camper vans built by Handkrafted Campers exude calm and serenity and make you dream about stress-free, peaceful vacations in the middle of nature, and Jimmy is no exception. With its warm interior atmosphere enhanced by the extensive use of reclaimed wood, especially Victorian pine floorboards, and a clever lighting system with fairy lights on the ceiling, this van conversion will allow you to unwind in serene landscapes and reconnect with nature.

Jimmy's interior boasts an open floor plan, with no bulkhead between the driver's cab and the actual living space, and includes four seatbelted seats, a functional kitchen, and a spacious rear seating area that functions as a lounge and dinette during the day and turns into a bed at night. There is a double-seat passenger seat up front, while the third passenger seat has been installed right in the entryway, but it's a flip-up seat, so it doesn't hinder the entrance too much.

Right behind the driver's seat, you'll find the handcrafted, bespoke kitchen decked in reclaimed Victorian pine combined with an aged copper tiled backsplash. It offers plenty of storage options for cooking utensils, including two overhead cabinets with rattan inserts, and a walnut worktop. Though compact, it is well equipped for on-the-road cooking, with a Thetford Triplex oven/hob/grill and a huge eye-level fridge/freezer. A pull-out pantry and pull-out bins are also integrated into the driver's side section of the kitchen. The sink is incorporated into a separate cabinet on the other side of the van.

In day mode, the rear of the van is a welcoming family living space with a comfortable U-shaped sofa and a handcrafted, reclaimed pine dining table mounted on an adjustable Lagun table leg. With the back doors open, it's the perfect spot for lounging, playing games, dining, and admiring the surrounding views. During the day, oodles of natural light pour in through two large windows on either side and a huge skylight overhead, and when the sun sets, mood lighting gives the interior a peaceful and whimsical vibe.

Since this is a family van, the builders also thought of their storage needs, so they incorporated loads of storage solutions in the design, including overhead cabinets in the seating area, a storage compartment above the cab, drawers under the bed, and some garage space for extra stuff.

When it comes to the sleeping arrangements, Jimmy cleverly squeezes within its compact interior no less than three beds: one big king-size bed (195 by 170 cm) that converts from the seating/dining area, a fixed elevated one-person bed, and a removable bunk bed between the first two. However, it's not a permanent configuration, so it offers great versatility. For instance, the lounge benches can be kept as two large singles, the middle bed can be removed if you don’t need it or use the cushions to create a sofa backrest, while the fixed elevated bed can double up as extra storage space.

Obviously, the designers' aim was to maximize living and lounge space inside this van, so you won't find an interior bathroom. Instead, they included an external shower point at the back of the camper and a removable Thetford Porta Potti toilet.

Jimmy will take care of the van's and its owners' energy needs during their road trips with an intelligent Victron Energy electrical system comprising two 160W solar panels on the roof, a 200Ah Lithium battery, and a Victron EasySolar Charger/Inverter. The van is also equipped with an underslung 25-liter gas tank, an 82-liter fresh water tank under the sofa, and a 62-liter waste water tank. A Truma Combi 4E boiler running on both electric and LPG heats both the interior and the tap and shower water.

With four seatbelted seats, clever sleeping arrangements, and a well-appointed kitchen, Jimmy is not just a functional family camper van that will take you places but a dreamy home on wheels for exploring the outdoors in comfort and style. The good news for those living in the UK is that this whimsical camper van is for sale for just £65,000 (about $87,300).