Professionally Converted High Roof: Off-Grid Ready, Heat + A/C

We are genuinely sad to let this van go, but after welcoming a baby, our little family has simply outgrown it and it’s time for us to size up.

This Ram ProMaster 1500 High Roof was professionally designed and converted by Contravans in Colorado — not a DIY build — and has been an incredible adventure van for us. We’ve taken it from cold mountain ski trips to hot summer music festivals, and it has kept us comfortable through both.

After a day of skiing, there was nothing better than climbing into a warm van with the Webasto heater running. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the roof-mounted Nomadic Cooling A/C kept us comfortable during a music festival in roughly 90° Tennessee heat.

And somehow, our favorite feature may still be the bed.

The elevated bed is outfitted with a Tempur-Pedic mattress that we genuinely find more comfortable than the $5,000 mattress in our house. It feels much more like a tiny home on wheels than “camping.”

Built for comfortable off-grid travel

The electrical system was professionally installed and includes:

• Four 100Ah lithium batteries (400Ah total) with battery warmer

• Two 100W rigid solar panels with charge controller and Bluetooth monitoring

• 60-amp alternator charging system, allowing the battery bank to recharge while driving

• 2000W inverter/charger

• 30A shore power connection (with converter to plug into your outlet at home)

• 110V outlet and USB charging stations

• Nomadic Cooling 3000 12V roof-mounted A/C

• Webasto Evo40 air heater with SmartTemp 3.0 Bluetooth-enabled controller

• MaxxAir 7000K roof vent fan

Whether you want to plug in at a campground or get away from everything for a while, the van was built with off-grid capability in mind.

Kitchen + living space

The driver’s-side kitchen includes a Dometic CRX110 refrigerator, stainless steel sink, 6-gallon fresh water tank, 6-gallon gray water tank, butcher-block countertop and three storage drawers.

We will also include a barely-used two burner electric hot plate and small toaster oven, which can easily be stored after use to allow for plenty of counter space.

There are four overhead cabinets throughout the van, including two over the kitchen with diffused LED lighting underneath and another two above the bed.

The passenger seat swivels around to become part of the living area, and the adjustable/removable Lagun-mounted table creates a great little spot for eating, working or hanging out inside.

Dimmable LED lighting runs through the living space, with additional lighting beneath the elevated bed in the rear garage.

SO much storage

The garage underneath the bed is surprisingly huge.

We routinely fit all of our luggage, two hammock stands, camping chairs, a large YETI cooler AND a large dog bed underneath the bed at the same time.

There is also a cushioned bench beside the sliding door with additional storage. A brand-new Dometic portable toilet is included and has its own discreet hideaway storage space underneath the bench.

That little bench was also our dog’s favorite place in the entire van — he’d sit there watching the world go by through the window as we drove from one adventure to the next.

Thoughtful extras

• Fiamma F80S manual crank awning with tie-downs

• Driver- and passenger-side half-slider windows with mesh covers

• VanEssential insulated window cover set (surprisingly great at blocking out external noises & keeping the van insulated)

• Insulated wall and birch ceiling paneling

• Timbercraft Misty Dawn Hickory flooring

• Elevated permanent bed platform

• Under-bed “garage” storage

• Dimmable dual-zone interior lighting

• Passenger swivel seat

• Adjustable Lagun table

• Brand-new Dometic portable toilet

One thing I especially appreciated about the ProMaster 1500 is its size. I felt completely comfortable driving it myself. It doesn’t feel like you’re trying to maneuver a giant RV, it’s easy to park, and yet once you’re inside, the high roof and thoughtful layout give you a surprising amount of usable space.

It really hit the sweet spot for us: small enough to actually enjoy driving and taking places, but equipped well enough to comfortably travel off-grid.

The van has now been professionally cleaned inside and out and is fresh and ready for its next owners.

This isn’t a van we’re selling because we stopped loving van life — quite the opposite. Some of our favorite memories were made in it. We’re simply at a different stage of life now and need something that can better accommodate our growing family.

If you’re looking for a professionally built camper van that’s comfortable enough for real travel, manageable enough to use regularly, and already equipped for everything from ski weekends to summer festivals and off-grid camping, this one is ready for its next adventure.